Tom Henderson is King Dork, an outcast in his high school and pretty much in his entire life.  He and his fellow outcast Sam Henderson spend their time creating imaginary punk rock bands and trying not to get beaten up by their classmates or terrorized by their teachers.  Everything begins to change for Tom when he finds his dead father’s copy of Catcher in the Rye, containing a secret code and some obscure clues.  Suddenly Tom is trying to unravel the decades-old mystery of his father’s death, meeting not one but two semi-hot girls, learning how to say “whips and chains” in French, and generally turning his life upside down.

Portman’s portrayal of the confusion about ourselves and other people that often typifies adolescence is both occasionally painful and also grimly humorous, and Tom is a likeable narrator despite his flaws.  Especially touching is Tom’s ongoing attempt to understand his father’s life and death across the gulf of time, typical of the struggles that so many of us undergo to understand our fathers even while they are still alive.  Tom’s relationship with his hapless hippie stepfather, Little Big Tom, also explores this same issue.

This book does contain some portrayals of teenage sexuality, although the scenes are not graphic.  The excellent audiobook reading (ISBN 0739331132) includes a revealing interview with the author – a member of the influential punk band MTX – and performances of several original songs written for the book.

Read more reviews:

• Common Sense Media
• Teen Reads
• Librarina: Great Books for Tweens & Teens
• Mr.Quale.com

Product Details:

• 
• Buy from an Indie Bookstore
• Find in a Library

• Reading level: Young Adult
• Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers (February 12, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0385734506
• Book Source: Library

Post from: Book Dads: Fathers Who Read!

King Dork

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We’ve started a Facebook page for Book Dads and would like to invite anyone on Facebook to stop by and become a fan. It’s another we can connect with people and share ideas about books with positive views of fathers and fatherhood. We also see it as a great way to promote and share ideas that further the cause of literacy for men and dads, as well as for encouraging fathers to read to their children and help increase literacy in children.

Please feel free to start discussions, wall posts or leave links to relevant literacy programs or articles, as well as links to interesting book reviews that may interest fathers, encourage fathers to read to their children and/or books that present a positive view of fathers and fatherhood. And please leave us feedback on the books we review, did you like it? dislike it? and why.

Thanks, click here to become a fan of Book Dads.

Post from: Book Dads: Fathers Who Read!

Become A Fan Of Book Dads On Facebook

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While you are there please vote for Mommy Niri in the Nickelodeon Parents Pick Awards, she was  nominated for Best Local Blog Boston.

Post from: Book Dads: Fathers Who Read!

Mommy Niri Interviews Brian

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In this Smithsonian Institution book, a young boy and his male caregiver – seen only obliquely – go out to a ballgame.  The text of the book consists of the lyrics of the popular song.

Young children will enjoy the bold eye-catching caricatures that illustrate this story, as well as having the words sung to them.  Older children will enjoy the brief appendix, which explains the origin of the song and how it became a baseball tradition.

Product Details:

• 
• Buy from an Indie Bookstore
• Find in a Library

• Reading level: Ages 4-8
• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Soundprints Corp Audio; Paperback Book with CD edition (March 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1592495931
• Book Source: Library

Post from: Book Dads: Fathers Who Read!

Take Me Out to the Ballgame

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A little girl’s best friend is her stuffed bear, or as her dad calls him, Contrary Bear. Contrary Bear doesn’t want to wear shoes to go outside, throws sand at playmates, won’t be quiet at naptime, and much more. But after being naughty all day and getting dad very mad, it looks like Contrary Bear may have gone too far this time.

The poor dad in this book is stuck having to practice good parenting with a little girl who is behaving very badly (and blaming it on Contrary Bear as well). The beauty of this book is that the dad is shown applying proper discipline, but also getting frustrated and angry just as all real parents do (the drawings of him freaking out are priceless and will be instantly recognizable to any caregiver). In the end, all is well between the girl and her father with the promise that Contrary Bear will try harder to be good tomorrow.

If you and your child have been fighting lately or if you’ve recently had to endure a rash of bad behavior, this is a good book to share together to shed some humor on the situation. It also sends the very important message that fathers love their children even when we need to discipline them (or their bears).

Product Details:

• 
• Buy from an Indie Bookstore
• Find in a Library

• Reading level: Ages 4-8
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Laura Geringer; 1st edition (April 26, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060250852
• Book Source: Library

Post from: Book Dads: Fathers Who Read!

Contrary Bear

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Joining the carnival is easy, just submit your book reviews here.  The 21st edition of the Book Review Blog Carnival will be hosted by I’ll Never Forget the Day I Read a Book! on July 5, 2009.  Enjoy!

Father’s Day Finds:

• Janelle @ Brimful Curiosities presents My Daddy Likes to Say – Book Review and Giveaway posted at Brimful Curiosities. The children’s book My Daddy Likes to Say is an entertaining take on familiar idioms a dad might say to his children.
• Brian Frank presents Daddies posted at Book Dads. In this oversized paperback a little boy asks his dad for five more minutes of playtime before bed, so that they can pretend to be animals together. As father and son change shape from rhinos to chameleons to bears, the little boy recites rhymes about the fun things they do together as animals.
• Great Kid Books presents A picture book for Father’s Day: Molly and Her Dad posted at Great Kid Books. A fun picture book that celebrates a dad who lives far away getting to know his daughter.
  
• Anastasia Suen presents 5 Great Books about Fathers posted at 5 Great Books. A nice recommended reading list of 5 books about dads.
• Brian Frank presents DadLabs Guide to Fatherhood: Pregnancy and Year One posted at Book Dads. Now the four fathers of DadLabs – with nine children between them – have set their sights on sharing advice with other fathers on the joys and perils of pregnancy and year one of a baby’s life.
• Jim Murdoch presents The Truth About Lies: Dearest Father posted at The Truth About Lies. This is a new translation of a letter that Kafka wrote to his father in which he talks about his childhood, his jobs, his attempts at marriage, his writing, Judaism and more. It is a very detailed summing up of his relationship with his father and many of the issues that form the bases of his writing. Essential reading for anyone interested in learning more about Kafka.
• Susan Gaissert presents A Gift for Baby by Jan Hunt posted at The Expanding Life. A wonderful picture book that celebrates attachment parenting.

Fiction:

• Christina M. Rau presents Sworn Testimony posted at Livin’ The Dream (One Loser At A Time). Anita Shreve’s Testimony will haunt you for days.
• Bart presents Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer posted at Bart’s Bookshelf. Miranda’s disbelief turns to fear in a split second when a meteor knocks the Moon closer to the Earth. How should her family prepare for the future when worldwide tsunamis wipe out the coasts, earthquakes rock the continents, and volcanic ash blocks out the sun?
• KerrieS presents NAME TO A FACE, Robert Goddard posted at MYSTERIES in PARADISE. Crime fiction set in the Scilly Isles, a trail of deceit, murder and greed.
• switch2life presents switch2life: Book Review:”White Man Falling” posted at switch2life. White Man Falling is a quite interesting title for any book; it certainly raised my curiosity level so much that I picked up this book right away.
• Jim Murdoch presents The Truth About Lies: The Sonnets posted at The Truth About Lies. When and for whom Shakespeare wrote his sonnets has puzzled scholars for ages. In his novel ‘The Sonnets’ Collins takes some of the clues and wraps a convincing story around them painting a believable and revealing portrait of the young bard’s life and loves.
• KerrieS presents THE MYSTERIOUS MR QUIN, Agatha Christie posted at MYSTERIES in PARADISE. A delightful and very readable set of Agatha Christie short stories.
• KerrieS presents RITUAL, Mo Hayder posted at MYSTERIES in PARADISE. Just after lunch on a Tuesday in April, nine feet under water, police diver Flea Marley closes her gloved fingers around a human hand. Crime fiction set in Bristol, UK.
• Clark Bjorke presents The Last Witchfinder posted at I’ll Never Forget the Day I Read a Book!. James Morrow’s historical fantasy pitting Newtonian natural philosophy against witchcraft ans superstition in the 17th and 18th centuries.
• Clark Bjorke presents Life Sentences posted at I’ll Never Forget the Day I Read a Book!. Laura Lippman’s latest novel is set in her hometown of Baltimore but without Tess Managhan.
• Andy Hayes presents Life Imitates Art: Ayn Rand’s Atlas Shrugged | Sharing Experiences posted at Sharing Experiences. This is one of my favourite novels of all time – and while I know its contents are controversial, you can’t disagree that Rand has a knack for describing characters in superb detail.
• KerrieS presents RETIREMENT HOMES ARE MURDER, Mike Befeler posted at MYSTERIES in PARADISE. Simultaneously a cozy murder mystery with the usual red herrings, and a realistic exploration of the problems that be-set the elderly with advancing age.

Non-Fiction:

• Elizabeth Hargrave presents Bird ID books posted at The Natural Capital. In this post, we’ll review three current field guides to birds in our area. As a case study, we’ll use a bird that was an occasional visitor to our condo’s flower boxes in Dupont Circle: the house finch.
• MBB presents Personal Finance Book Reviews posted at Money Blue Book Blog.
• GrrlScientist presents Falconer on the Edge: A Man, His Birds, and the Vanishing Landscape of the American West posted at Living the Scientific Life. A review of the new book by Rachel Dickinson, a biography that provides a rare glimpse into one season in the life of one of the USA’s foremost falconers and his birds.
• Mike Bergin presents Review: Hope is the Thing with Feathers by Christopher Cokinos posted at 10,000 Birds. Charlie Moores recommends this personal chronicle of vanished birds.
• GrrlScientist presents Animals Make Us Human: Creating the Best Life for Animals posted at Living the Scientific Life. by Temple Grandin and Catherine Johnson, this book explores what the most commonly kept our pets and other domestic animals need to live a good live — to be happy.
• jim presents Review: Money Strategies for Tough Times by Matt Bell posted at Blueprint for Financial Prosperity.
• Jaynie presents Here’s Looking Like You, Kid » Blog Archive » Collecting Vintage Vanity Items posted at Here’s Looking Like You, Kid. A review of Vintage Compacts & Beauty Accessories by Lynell Schwartz.
• Sammy-Jo at The Only Number presents Her Review: Steve Harvey Gets Personal posted at The Only Number.
• David Gross presents The Pirce of Freedom posted at The Picket Line. Kirkus Discoveries calls “The Price of Freedom” “classic Thoreau presented in a thorough, illuminating volume.”

Post from: Book Dads: Fathers Who Read!

20th Edition Book Review Blog Carnival

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In this oversized paperback a little boy asks his dad for five more minutes of playtime before bed, so that they can pretend to be animals together.  As father and son change shape from rhinos to chameleons to bears, the little boy recites rhymes about the fun things they do together as animals.  This is an entertaining book with large and colorful illustrations, and the rhymes are playful and will be fun for parents to read.  What is especially admirable about Daddies is that this is not just a book solely about fathers, but rather about fathers and sons playing and working together.

Parents of adopted children should be cautioned that one of the rhymes begins: “My daddy is a snail, and I’m a snail by birth.”  This was certainly not intended to exclude adopted children, but it may prove problematic for some families, especially those who have adopted transracially. The companion volume, Papas, also presents the same book in Spanish.

Excerpt:

“It’s time for bed,” my Daddy said.
“Just five more minutes play.”
“Then let’s pretend we’re animals!”
is what he hears me say.

Product Details:

• 
• Buy from an Indie Bookstore
• Find in a Library

• Reading level: Ages 4-8
• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: NorthSouth; Ill edition (April 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0735822409
• Book Source: Publisher

Post from: Book Dads: Fathers Who Read!

Daddies

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Peeper the little frog is very excited to go to the Picnic and Diving Contest, but his plans are ruined when his mother discovers that he has a fever and calls the doctor.  Peeper is very disappointed that his mother and little sister Lily are going off to the picnic without him, but with some gentle care and company from his father he’ll soon be feeling better.  And when his mother returns with the news that rain has postponed the Diving Contest, Peeper may still get a chance to win a ribbon after all.

Peeper’s parents work together to help him in this story, and it’s Peeper’s dad who stays home to care for him and cook dinner while Peeper’s mom takes his sister to the picnic.  It’s a wonderful example of shared responsibilities for both children and adults alike, and shows how fathers as well as mothers can help to comfort a sick child.  Like the other books in the Dr. Hippo Series, Peeper Has A Fever can also help children understand what is happening to them when they are sick and reduce their worry.  It clearly explains some of the confusing things about having a fever, such as feeling too cold instead of too hot.  There is also a guide for parents included as a separate booklet, Figuring Out Your Child’s Fever, with very sensible and helpful advice on dealing with fevers, which can often be confusing and disturbing to parents.  The parent’s guide alone makes Peeper a good gift for new or expectant parents, including those adopting children older than infancy, since it contains guidelines for treating children of all ages.

Product Details:

• 
• Buy from an Indie Bookstore
• Find in a Library

• Reading level: Ages 4-8
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: The Hippocratic Press; Har/Pap edition (October 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0975351621
• Book Source: Author

Post from: Book Dads: Fathers Who Read!

Peeper Has A Fever

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We welcome submissions of any of your book reviews, but we’d love to here from folks who have reviewed any books with Father’s Day in mind.

Please submit your reviews to the Book Review Blog Carnival.

Post from: Book Dads: Fathers Who Read!

Upcoming Father’s Day Edition Of The Book Review Blog Carnival

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The DadLabs Guide to Fatherhood is brought to you by the same quartet of dads that produce the excellent DadLabs – Taking Back Paternity video podcast, featuring such regular segments as Gear Daddy, Daditude, and Hot Dad Action.  Now the four fathers of DadLabs – with nine children between them – have set their sights on sharing advice with other fathers on the joys and perils of pregnancy and year one of a baby’s life.

They begin at the beginning, with trying to conceive a baby, including Old Wives’ Top Hot Sex Tips for having a boy or a girl.  Then they move on to A Guy’s Guide to Gynecology and surviving the rollercoaster of pregnancy while preparing for the baby.  Finally, it’s time for the delivery and the best ways to support your wife, not to mention Taking Care of Dad.  Next comes a game plan for the first 48 hours after birth, and negotiating your way through the postpartum period including how to start having sex again with your wife.  Pregnancy and Year One ends with managing your way through colic, sleep deprivation, and your baby’s first developmental milestones.  The DadLabs dads seamlessly mix the expected practical advice (how to properly swaddle a baby) with unexpected practical advice (making nice with your wife’s labor and delivery nurse) and totally obscure practical advice (“Babies love ceiling fans!”).  All of it is delivered with the Dadlabs signature brand of dry humor, making it enjoyable to even read about such topics as how far a cervix has to dilate to pass the baby.  The book addresses not only practical topics but also emotional issues, especially when it comes to a dad’s relationship with his wife.  It guides dads not only through the mechanics of being an expectant or new father, but also through the social requirements as well.

Throughout, the DadLab dads emphasize the great joys and significance of engaged fatherhood, even when the process of birth and raising an infant is at its most challenging:

Maybe guys just figured out that being shown the door when it comes to pregnancy, labor and delivery, and raising the kids was a bad deal.  That men should have equal access to the experiences and relationships everyone knows are the most important in life.  How much do you really like your boss?  Is more time with him or her really that important?

The Guide to Fatherhood is a book by dads, for dads.  Reading it feels like getting encouragement and advice from a trusted buddy and fellow father that you can turn to for advice.  It’s a great gift for any expectant father that will let him know he’s not alone out there, and encourage him to be the best dad that he can be.

Product Details:

• 
• Buy from an Indie Bookstore
• Find in a Library

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Quirk Books (April 15, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1594743185
• Book Source: Publisher

Post from: Book Dads: Fathers Who Read!

DadLabs Guide to Fatherhood: Pregnancy and Year One

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