The Economic Naturalist: Review Haiku

Why do drive-up cash
machines have Braille? Fascinating,
mind-boggling stuff.

The Economic Naturalist: In Search of Explanations for Everyday Enigmas by Robert H. Frank. Perseus, 2007, 226 pages.

Moxy Maxwell Does Not Love Writing Thank-You Notes: Review Haiku

The chapter titles
can get tiresome, but the
gold spray paint? Priceless.

Moxy Maxwell Does Not Love Writing Thank-You Notes by Peggy Gifford. Schwartz & Wade, 2008, 159 pages.

Alvin Ho: Review Haiku

Selectively mute
Alvin speaks volumes on
being a gentleman.

Alvin Ho: Allergic to Girls, School, and Other Scary Things by Lenore Look, illustrated (marvelously) by LeUyen Pham. Schwarz & Wade, 2008, 172 pages.

P.S. Burning question: Isn't it odd that Alvin has a brother Calvin? Will this ever be explained? Especially given the part where both boys were putting their names on everything? . . .

MotherReader hearts my blog!

The gracious and charming MotherReader tagged me in the bloggy lovefest "I Heart Your Blog." Thanks, Pam!

Now I must return the favor. The rules, as I understand them, are this:

1) Add the logo of the award to your blog
Check.

2) Add the link of the person who awarded it to you to your blog
Check.

3) Nominate at least 7 other blogs

Let's see: let's be nepotistic, sort of, and link to authors and illustrators I either work with or aspire to work with.

Fiona Bayrock, my favorite Canuck (is that a slur? I hope it's not a slur)

Frank W. Dormer, who is gleefully insane

Sarah Miller, whose appetite for reading is truly impressive

Anastasia Suen, she of the boundless energy

Laurie Halse Anderson, whom I revere and whom I once alarmed at NCTE

Matthew Holm, possibly my new secret crush (sorry, honey

And as a big wet kiss on the bum, the Charlesbridge blog, Unabridged.

4) Add links to those blogs to your blog
Check.

5) Leave a nice warm message for each of your nominees!
Check . . . check.

Thanks for the pick-me-up!

Lamentations of the Father: Review Haiku

Not responsible
for coffee or other drinks
spewed in amusement.

Lamentations of the Father: Essays by Ian Frazier. FSG, 2008, 194 pages.

Judy Moody Goes to College: Review Haiku

Never thought I'd say
"ridonkulous" to my four-
year-old. Sick-awesome.

Judy Moody Goes to College by Megan McDonald, illustrated by Peter Reynolds. Candlewick, 2008, 129 pages.

The Year of the Rat: Review Haiku

Charming and sweet (if
hard to read objectively).
Grace nails emotions.

The Year of the Rat by Grace Lin. Little Brown, 2007, 182 pages.

Cybilly goodness

Ooh, cool! I'll be on the judging panel for the Cybils' nonfiction picture book category this year. After two years doing middle-grade/YA nonfiction, it'll be nice to look at shorter books for a change. And I get to be led by my favorite bubble expert, Fiona Bayrock!

(Of course, I harbor a secret wish that I'll have to recuse myself, since the finalists will surely all be Charlesbridge books . . . )

Vacation roundup, Disney edition

Took the Munchkin to the Happiest Place on Earth this weekend. (Left the Boy at home with grandparents, thank God.) Despite my general Disney meh-ness, had a great time -- those Mouse people really do think of everything.

Came back to at least two flaming crises, six overdue projects, two loads of laundry, and a partridge in a pear tree.

By the numbers
Us Weekly issues read: 2 (Shut up. I only buy it at the airport. Really.)
Chapters of A Tale of Two Cities read: 6 (sorry, Leila)
Pages of various coloring and/or activity books colored and/or . . . activated: eleventy billion
Anticipated book-reading to be done in the next, oh, six weeks or so: nil

Mother on Fire: Review Haiku

Gosh, I wanted to
like this more than I did. Just
take a Xanax, eh?

Mother on Fire: A True Motherf#%$* Story About Parenting by Sandra Tsing Loh. Random, 2008, 320 pages.

Lawn Boy: Review Haiku

Local boy makes good:
gets mower, hires migrants, learns
capitalism.

Lawn Boy by Gary Paulsen. Wendy Lamb/Random, 2007, 88 pages.

Allie Finkle's Rules for Girls #2: The New Girl: Review Haiku

Allie, meet bully.
Bully, meet Allie. Now go
learn big life lessons.

Allie Finkle's Rules for Girls #2: The New Girl by Meg Cabot. Scholastic, 2008, 240 pages.

The Cabinet of Wonders: Review Haiku

Impressive debut:
Just enough magic to thrill,
but not overwhelm.

The Cabinet of Wonders by Marie Rutkowski. FSG, 2008, 272 pages.