Reading to children is, was, and always will be a good thing–it’s a great way to help them become readers: awakening their imaginations and improving their language skills.

*** BOOK: Kitchen Confidential–Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly (Updated Edition) AUTHOR: Anthony Bourdain YEAR OF PUBLICATION: 2007 (original edition, 2000) REVIEW: *** I really miss restaurants these days.  I like large parties, and happy hours after work, and tasting menus with wine pairings, and pub grub, and treating those younger and broker than me, and … Continue reading On Our Bookshelves – Kitchen Confidential →

*** We thought it might be interesting to see what Jonathan Todres has been up to since we last discussed his book Human Rights in Children’s Literature: Imagination and the Narrative of Law, co-authored with Sarah Higinbotham.  He was kind enough to answer a few questions over email.  Here’s what he had to say. *** Jonathan … Continue reading Preventing Child Trafficking – Catching up with Law Professor Jonathan Todres →

*** NOVEL: Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine AUTHOR: Gail Honeyman YEAR OF PUBLICATION: 2017 REVIEW: *** Eleanor Oliphant is not fine, not fine at all.  Gail Honeyman is a good writer, though, and she’s created a rather remarkable character here in her debut novel.  I am somewhat mystified by the reception this book has received–my … Continue reading On Our Bookshelves – Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine →

*** NOVEL: Momo AUTHOR: Michael Ende YEAR OF PUBLICATION: 1973 REVIEW: *** Back in 2018, I asked the musician Steve Sandberg for some book recommendations, and he mentioned a book for children called Momo, which I wasn’t familiar with.  (He also recommended Lizard Music, which is excellent–I’d just about forgotten about its existence, and was happy … Continue reading On Our Bookshelves – Momo →

I was introduced to Miguel Flores-Vianna and his lovely photography book, A Wandering Eye, last year, thanks to Rhonda Eleish and Edie Van Breems.

*** NOVEL: A Thousand Acres AUTHOR: Jane Smiley YEAR OF PUBLICATION: 1991 REVIEW: *** I really like when contemporary authors take on the classics.  It doesn’t always work, of course, but there are a lot of tales worth retelling, and it’s worth looking at them from different angles.  Here, Jane Smiley brings the King Lear story … Continue reading On Our Bookshelves — A Thousand Acres →

*** NOVEL: The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane AUTHOR: Kate DiCamillo YEAR OF PUBLICATION: 2006 REVIEW: *** More coronavirus reading!  My younger daughter’s entire elementary school was in the midst of reading The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane together when the schools were abruptly shut down.  Fortunately, we had the book at home, and so … Continue reading On Our Bookshelves – The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane →

A poem by Erik La Prade

I thought I’d give Patricia Wentworth a try.