The Three Little Aliens and the Big Bad Robot by Margaret McNamara - OPTIONAL

McNamara, Margaret  The Three Little Aliens and the Big Bad Robot Illustrated by Mark Fearing.  Schwartz and Wade Books (Random), 2011. $16.99.  PICTURE BOOK.  Content-G.  In the same story format as The Three Little Pigs, three little aliens move away from home and the first two pick homes that are fun, while the last alien picks a house that is secure.  When the robot comes to destroy the aliens, they find their homes destroyed and end up at the safe alien’s house.  Great illustrations, but one of the aliens’ name is “Nklxwcyz” which is awful when you are trying to read a book to a child, which is the age group this book is geared towards.  EL (K-3)-OPTIONAL.  Reviewer, C. Peterson.

Hey, It's Okay Tuesday!

I got this idea from Glamour magazine. They have a section called Hey, It’s Okay and will list a bunch of things to be okay about. You're welcome to join in and do something like this on your blog. Doesn't have to be on a Tuesday either. Just make sure you link up!

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To think it’s funny that there was a fight over the $2 waffle maker at Wal-Mart on Black Friday.


To refuse to take the kids to see the new Chipmunks movie. Tom and I draw the line at singing rats. No thanks.


To have bought items online for Black Friday. Toys R Us had all their deals on their page so I got what I wanted without having to wait in line.


To love the deals on Amazon.com. They try to price match most things in stores for the holidays.


To have thrown out the rest of the turkey after two days. There are only so many leftovers I can handle.


To love the regular peppermint candy canes. There are so many different flavors now.


To think it’s cool that Ricky Gervais is hosting the Golden Globes again. Hopefully the celebrities won’t get their panties in a knot this time.


To have not bought a thing on Cyber Monday. I didn’t find any fantastic deals.


To be disturbed by this:

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Farewell to Sandi

My post is short today.  I am sad.  Last night I got news that Sandi Thurman McCool died on Wednesday.  She fought a long and hard battle against breast cancer and on Wednesday it defeated her.  Who was she?  Well at one time she was my precious daughter-in-law.  She was one of the sweetest people I know and even after the divorce she, Kat, and I stayed in touch. Sandi was a ray of sunshine in the lives she touched.  Before cancer began to take her life she was a surgery nurse at Flowers Hospital in Dothan, AL and loved by all she came in contact with.  Sandi was the kind of person who was destined to be a nurse. The world will miss you Sandi!  Please pray for her husband, Dr. Alan and her mom and family.  I know her passing will leave a huge hole in their lives. 

The Flint Heart by Katherine Patterson - ADVISABLE

Paterson, Katherine and John, The Flint Heart, 288 pgs.  Candlewick Press, 2011. $19.99.  Language-G (0 swears, 0 "f"), Sexual Content-G; Violence-G;  This book is a fun book of fairies and mystical creatures with a goal of keeping people pure and good.  The characters are up against an evil flint heart that, when in someone's possession, it gives them tremendous confidence and success with the dramatic side effect of being bad.  The authors take you on a trip through the many hands the flint heart happens upon.  The reading is fast and fun for elementary students.  Plus, the illustrations are gorgeous.  I was entertained the entire book, but mostly because my son of eight-years was enjoying it so much.  I don't think this would have been the case for me personally or if I was in High School.  EL (K-3) and EL (upper elementary) - Advisable.  Reviewer:  BMN

No More Hitting for Little Hamster! by Bernette Ford - OPTIONAL

Ford, Bernette No More Hitting for Little Hamster!  Illustrated by Sam Williams.  Boxer Books (Sterling), 2011.  $14.95  PICTURE BOOK Content-G.  Little Hamster has a short temper and whenever he wants something while playing with his friends he takes it, or he hits the friend that won’t give it to him.  Because he has a bad reputation, nobody wants to play with him, until Bunny comes along and tells Hamster that he will play with him if he will not hit.  Hamster learns that playing nice makes it so others will play with you.  Good lesson for kids, but the pictures are not very engaging. PRE-K-OPTIONAL.  Reviewer, C. Peterson.

The Downside Of Being Up by Alan Lawrence Sitomer - PUBLIC

Sitomer, Alan Lawrence The Downside Of Being Up, 213 pgs. G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 2011. $ 16.99. Language-R (3 swears, 0 “f” – LOTS of innuendo), Sexual Content-R (lots of innuendos to boy puberty challenges); Violence-G; This book is about an eighth grader who is experiencing puberty and love and life.  His goal is to make it through middle school with the girl of his dreams by his side.  However, he will have some of life’s unexpected fumbles thrown his way first. This book is super funny and a very easy read. In my opinion it doesn’t have a place in the normal classroom and is more for adult audiences.  I think this book would be great in a public library, because it repeatedly talks of boy puberty inappropriately.   PUBLIC LIBRARY ONLY.  Reviewer: BMN

Estie the Mensch by Jane Kohuth - ADVISABLE

Kohuth, Jane  Estie the Mensch  Illustrated by Rosanne Litzinger.  Random House, 2011. $16.99.  PICTURE BOOK  Content-G.  Estie is a little girl that likes to act like different animals, which can cause some embarrassing social situations for her parents and grandmother.  Her adult family members ask her to “Act like a Mensch” which means to act like a person.  But it takes an outing with her grandma to the zoo with a friend for Estie to learn when it is okay to play and act like an animal and when it’s important to act like a person.  Cute illustrations and good moral.  Pre-K and El (K-3) ADVISABLE.  Reviewer, C. Peterson.