Buzz Review Blog

Dads are parents, too! Fathering your school-age child

Okay, I admit it.  I signed up with Parent Bloggers to review the book Fathering Your School Age Child:  A Dad's Guide to the Wonder Years 3 to 9 so that my husband would read it and then he could take over the review for a day.  But then something strange happened.  I read it.  And like it.  And by the very virtue of my reading a book, he pretty much read it, too.  Why?  Conversations like this:

Did you know you should weigh your child's backpack once in a while?

Why?

To make sure it is under the 10-15% of your child's weight.  Duh!

It does not say that.  Let me see that!

And then he was off reading and then telling me about what he read.  Of course, that is just an example.  But the whole book has practical advice for Dads. And no just Dads, but for any parent.  PRACTICAL.  Imagine that.

From playing, to volunteering.  From teaching your child to being your child's advocate.  It covers just about everything you can think about.  From the Mr.Dad.com website:

When is it the best time to encourage a child's independence? What's the difference between daycare vs. preschool? What are the unique ways fathers impact their youngster's life? The answers to these questions and hundreds more are found in the pages of this easy-to-follow, informative volume. With wisdom, compassion, and humor, author Armin Brott devotes a chapter to each school year from pre-kindergarten through the fourth grade. In each chapter he outlines the physical, intellectual, emotional, and social changes the child is going though, and examines the emotional and psychological development the father may be experiencing. He also discusses issues that develop between dad and mom as well as matters that involve the whole family. In addition, each chapter contains a section called "You and Your Child," in which activities and issues appropriate to the given age are discussed.

At the end of the book there is a plethora or resources.  Good resources.  Relevant resources.  Resources that would make a resource junky like myself weep. 

One of my favorite parts to discuss with my husband was the quick reference "Talking the Talk."  It is about Internet lingo and net-speak.

What does A3 mean?

What?

A3.  Tell me what it means.

I don't know.

Bad!  You need to know.  It means anytime, anywhere, anyplace!  Seriously!
What about IPN?

Something about urinating?

Ha ha.  Seriously.  IPN?  What do you do if you see that?

*blank stare*

It means "I'm posting naked!"  Naked.  We better NEVER see IPN.  Ever.  Read this.

That is when he grabbed the book and started reading more to me.  This is a great book that is relevant.  Honestly, it is not just for Dads, but awesome for Fathers.  A book that really does show the practical ways to interact, become involved and learn more about what is going on with your child. 

The author, Armin Brott has also written books for Expectant Fathers, New Fathers, Toddlers and Fatherhood for Life.  He is a wonderful author with resources I recommend all Fathers read.  Easily laid out with handy reference guides and resources with all of his books.

Go check out his site and find out more.  He has a lot more information on his site, too.  Including a podcast and newsletter.

Dream Weaver

<Recently my sister told me of her newly instated rule where her older son has a set time of 30 minutes of daily reading.  My first question of course was, "Does video game reading count?"  Obviously the answer was "Not so much."   It got me thinking of my own kids.  Two of them are older and I realized that summer does not mean a complete halt to anything that has to do with reading, writing or arithmetic.  (Though I am very lenient on the arithmetic except when it comes to making them add up how much money it will cost to actually buy the games/toys/electronics they want. They hate that math!)   So, when The Parent Bloggers Network offered up the chance to have a book geared towards my middle son sent out way, I jumped at that one.

My son loved reading Eragon and was plowing through the second one when The Dark Dreamweaver, the first in the Remin Chronicles,  arrived.  Just in time for vacation where I knew he would need and want down time.  At first, my son was hesitant to start a new series or book.  Until, I told him we could read it together. Any one on one time is a bonus for any of my children.  So, we jumped right in.

From the Dreamweaver website:

The Remin Chronicles are filled with adventure, endearing characters both human and nonhuman, magic and wizardry, subplots that teach a bit of environmental science, key roles for children, and of course, an epic struggle between the forces of good and the forces of evil. The young heroes triumph using their wits and imagination, and there is very little fighting.

I will confess to not being eager to jump in...simple because I am not a huge fan of sciece fiction.  (I was dragged into a few by my son and was never disappointed.)  Zarek and I jumped right in.

We found this book to be both imaginative and  creative.  The book is filled with a strong main character who is filled both determination and strength that is a great model for the tween set.    The book is filled with suspense and enough magic and wizardry to make any tween forget he is actually reading during the summer time!

But what is it about?

Eleven-year-old David is suffering from nightmares. Over and over again, he dreams about a strange, bear-like man with black eyes. He's not the only one; an epidemic of nightmares seems to have infected the Earth. David takes matters into his own hands and embarks on an adventure to Remin, a land powered by dreams. Aided by a caterpillar wizard, a jellyfish-man, two wise-cracking water serpents, and several other unusual characters, he sets out to find and confront the evil wizard who is causing the nightmares. The challenges that he encounters will require all of his intelligence, his courage, and most of all, his imagination.

It got my attention from that description.  And off we go into a world of wizards, magic and an adventure into the land of Remin.

Nick Ruth writes with a fast pace that keeps the interest of even the most active reader.  The book is action packed and filled with adventures that are not frightening but are in fact fascinating enough to get the imagination of your own child revved up. The imagery is  wonderfully vivid!  One of the features I enjoyed most was how good and evil confront each other in dreams. Each page taking you on a new adventure with the main character and never feeling the fear or gloom that many science fiction writers tend to include to keep a reader interested.  This book did not need that.

David a believable character most kids can identify with.  A "normal" kid who is forced to dig deep and find his inner strength, imagination, determination and strong will.  I am pretty sure that David is a kid that any one of us would have hung out with at that age.

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For more information on The Remin Chronicle be sure to visit the official website.  To order your own copy of The Dark Dreamweaver, click here.  Want to see what other readers thought, be sure to go over to The Parent Bloggers Network and read other reviews.  In fact, The Parent Blogger Network is giving away copies of both The Dark Dreamweaver and The Breezes of Inspire via a random drawing. All you have to do is comment on this post to be entered in the drawing. Free books for summer reading is good thing!

The 24- Hour Pharmacist

If you know my history, you know that when the fine people behind the Parent Bloggers Network asked me to review The 24 Hour Pharmacist, I was all over that bad boy.  Come to find out it really isn't a 24-hour free-for-all pharmacy, but an awesome replacement!

Seeing as I once thought a pill could cure all ills, I am now living in a world where I am more careful, more responsible, and definitely up for anything that is a natural remedy for what ails you.  Enter the wonderful Suzy Cohen and her book The 24 Hour Pharmacist.  And it is so well written!  No, really!  I laughed.  I laughed while reading a book about HEALTH issues. About someone saying pills are not the answer.  (I usually only meet them in meetings.)  But Suzy wrote with humor and fun!  Not so common when talking health and such.  Take the way she breaks down the book into these sections:  Above the Waist, Above the Neck, Below the Waist, and Everything In Between.  Not to mention, Think Outside the Pill. 

She had me at her chapter on Overcoming Fatigue.  (Sadly, the answer was not more coffee, but she did have answers! That made sense!)  She kept me at A Nation of Insomniacs.  I think I proposed at Surge Protection for your Hot Flashes.    All of these chapters have not only natural solutions, but practical advice that anyone can  take.

This book is truly a one of a kind resource when it comes to health and wellness.  With humor, candor and a an unflinchingly upfront approach to health, Suzy Cohen gives us a book that is better than any Google search could ever give you,  (And with more wit!)

This is one book that every home should have.  Really.  Don't believe me?  Buy it for yourself and you will thank me.  I will send you my address so you can send me your letters of adoration.

Leave a comment on the campaign launch post or mid-campaign post at PBN - you'll be entered to win a $50 CVS gift card and a copy of the book.  At which time you will write in the margins, I love Jenn for giving me the chance to love this book as much as she does!

Garage Sale America

When I was first asked to post  review for the book  Garage Sale America by Bruce Littlefield, I balked.  Garage sales?  I shudder at the thought.  However, I shudder at the thought of having a garage sale.  It wasn't until I got my hands this book that I began to see the fun and great deals that can be had with garage sales.

Garage Sale America opened my eyes!  Oh, the hidden gems one can find at a garage sale.  Just looking at the many (over a hundred) color photos of the fantastic finds that you can obtain made me salivate.  Yes, I am admittedly a pack-rat.  As I flipped through the amazing finds that Bruce Littlefield showcases, I begin to wonder what I may have in my house that is either worth something.  Surely there is something.

However, as I read through this book my mind shifted from what do I have to what can I get?  I am currently in the process of redecorating and remodeling my house.  V-E-R-Y slowly, I might add.  Suddenly, I am seeing adorable little gems that would make so much sense if I had them as accent pieces or decorative flair.  (We must have our 27 items of flair in our room.)

"Bruce has been hailed as a 'design and lifestyle guru' by Publisher's Weekly."

So seriously, a guru showing me the way to a better gain at a garage sale.  Bring it!

Now, for those who are a bit garage sale shy, he offers insight into how to get the best bargains, how to find the best unique buys and of course the best ways to set up your own garage sale.

After reading Garage Sale America, I am not as hesitant to go to a garage sale anymore.  I know I could find the NEXT BIG THING.  Or at least something really cool to go with my last big thing.  In fact, with Bruce's advice, I just may brave out into the big bad world of having my own garage sale.

I recommend this book to anyone who loves garage sale shopping.  I think you will really enjoy it.  If you dread the garage sale world like I have, I recommend you take a look.  Maybe it will change your mind.

It did mine.

Let's Get Ready for First Grade!

My daughter is currently in Kindergarten.  She loves to read and has loved what she has learned this year.  When we were able to take part in reviewing the book, Let's Get Ready for First Grade, available from Cedar Valley Publishing,  we jumped at it.  It is a neat little book that introduces the concepts that students should know by the time they complete first grade.  It was a great way to see what Gabriella was ready for and what we needed to still work on.  It covers everything from reading and math to science.  And of course, it was a great time to be able to spend one on one time with my daughter.

Seeing as she is the actual one who would do the reviewing, I asked her what she thought of this book.  She really liked the dry erase concept that the book used.  It was awesome that the book was laminated and not overly bulky.  Sometimes these educational books that have this much information seem overwhelming to young children.  However, because this book was so portable, she loved carrying it around.  She showed it to her class and her teacher proudly announcing that she was "getting ready for first grade" and that she would be ready!  (That pride was enough to keep me thrilled with the book!)

For such a small book, this educational series is packed with practical and interesting material.  I am sure that it will maintain it's prime spot in our car so that she can pull it out on car trips, playdates and  even long trips to the store.  One thing that kept her interest is the bright colors used.  It seemed more like fun than a typical educational workbook.  A bonus that we both loved was the reinforcements at the bottom of every page.  Phrases such "You're smart!" and "How extraordinary!"

I definitely recommend this book and any book in this series.  Not only do you feel good when you see your child enjoying it, you will love that your child has so much fun with something that is *gasp* educational.

Good Kids Bad Habits: Book Review

The title of the book alone was enough to get my interest.  But as I dug in, I began to become one of those parents who realized that this book was written for me. For my children.

Listen to the facts that should scare you when it comes to your children.

Kids today have developed so m any bad health habits that they're facing heart attacks in the 30's.  30's!!

Experts predict this will be the first generation of children to have a lower life expectancy than their parents!

Our kids our developing ADULT diseases as children:

• Kids with High Blood Pressure
• Kids with Clogged Arteries
• Kids who can't breathe
• Kids with Sydrome X (a cluster of conditions from high blood pressure to high triglycerides and insulin resistance)
• Kids with weak bones
• Kids with Self-Esteem problems
• Kids who can't sleep, Can't focus and can't learn
• Kids who get sick alot

Does that scare you? It scared me!  But those are just the things that COULD happen.  It is not at all too late to fix these things and to help our children battle and BEAT these conditions so that they can live healthier, longer lives.  (I mean, we want them healthy enough to take care of us in our old age, right?)  That is where this great book comes into play.

Good Kids, Bad Habits: The RealAge Guide to Raising Healthy Children  by Jennifer Trachtenberg, MD, gives you the tools to reverse some of these bad habits.  And who of us as parents don't want to help our children live the healthiest lives possible?

The first thing the book does is gives you the tools to see exactly where your children fall in their bad habits.  A test to help you determine what you can and should do to have healthier children.  (I took the test and passed out realizing how much work I need to do to get my kids back on a healthier track.)  BUT it isn't a book to say, "Bad parent!  Look what you have done!"  It is a book that says, "Hey, let's get these kids healthy NOW."  It actually provides you with the tools to start making simple changes now.   

Mama Lama Ding Dong

It is not often that I will find a person, place or thing to gush about.  Okay, I gush alot, but you totally need to understand that this particular gushfest involves a role model, a person I admire more than coffee (yes, that much) and a woman who took time out of a hectic publishing schedule to answer the questions of a wanna-be, naive author who had nothing to lose by bombarding her with questions.  Who am I talking about?  Why the amazing, cooler than cool, badder than bad Ayun Halliday.  (Ayun as is rhymes with ray gun, just so you know.)  I will admit that I pretended to be all cool when she asked me to be on her virtual bok tour, but that lasted about 5 seconds before I fainted, came to and emailed her back an emphatic YES.  I have admired her for years, so it was a no brainer. To celebrate the UK release of her book Mama Lama Ding Dong:  A Mother's Tales From the Trenches (The Big Rumpus in the United States) she called upon several bloggers to host her tour bus for a day.  Today is my day, so pull up a cozy chair, grab a drink and sit back while I completely gush about this amazing woman and her writing.  (If you are not familiar with her, check out this interview to get to know her a bit better and then check out her website.  While you are there, sign up for The East Village Inky.  You will thank yourself (and me!) if you do!  We'll wait here and braid each other's hair until you get back.) Back?  Good.  Now, let each of us Dare to be Heinies and dish about the book. When I first read this description of motherhood in the chapter, "The Daily Grind", I nearly wept with the realization that someone else not only felt this but ADMITTED it :

The pain of childbirth is a white hot constellation of torture, almost impossible to describe, remember impressionistically at best.  It inspires respect.Taking care of the little criminals day in and day out is another matter. Cutting their food into crouton-size cubes, wiping their spills and their heinies, washing their hair, forcing them to give the ball back, maneuvering them through the grocery store, clearing their mouths of golf balls, dice and Monopoly houses, goading them to  pick up their toys, strapping them into the car seats they loathe, reading those hideous Richard Scarry books incessently...that's like being eaten alive by ants.  Not even red ants, just the regular ones.

I fell in love as I read that passage and realized someone "got it" and was brave enough to put it out there.  I cheered her on while pretending silently that I loved the daily drudgery and didn't feel frustration because that is what you do in Stepford.  In the coolness that is her New York neighborhood, you can say things like that.

It's a Girl: Women Writers on Raising Daughters

For 7 years I was a mom to boys. I knew Hot Wheels, monster trucks and mud puddles. My world was all boy centered. It was in fall of 2000 as my perinatologist was giving me a routine ultrasound that I heard those words for the first time. "It's a girl." What?! I knew nothing about girls. Nothing! Girls were all pink, prissy and princess. I had no clue what I was getting into. Until I held her for the first time and knew that I was always destined to have this little girl. Which is why when I received a copy of Andrea Buchanan's It's a Girl : Women Writers on Raising Daughters, I was eager to read it up. What did these women have to say about having daughters? I decided to keep the car in my book the book in my car to read during soccer practices and carpool lines. Before I knew it, I had to bring it inside because I wanted to read more or reread something that had particularly touched me. It became a fixture on my nightstand table. (And is not quite dog-eared.)

It's a Boy: Women Writers on Raising Sons

(My apologies to Andi Buchanan.  This was to post last week and with the server change over (did I mention there would be a server change?) I was seeing this as posted but no one else was.) I was sent the book It's a Boy! a while back.  During the chaos of my personal life.  I carried it around with me to have something to read while sitting in the many waiting rooms, hospital rooms and traffic jams.  (What?  You don't read when stuck in hours of traffic?  What do you do?  Pick your nose?  Because I totally saw you on the freeway the other day.) This book was thoroughly enjoyable!  I lived 7 years of being mom to just boys.  I loved it!  It was all I wanted.  In fact, I could not imagine a life as a mom to girls.   

It's a Boy: Women Writers on Raising Sons, edited by Andrea J. Buchanan, features 30 essays exploring "boy-ness" and the mother-son relationship. Taking on topics from aggression ("The Bully's Mother") to mothering a teenaged boy ("Shapeshifter") to wishing for a daughter but getting a son ("Breaking the Curse"), the stories in IT'S A BOY reflect the ways women have found the particular experience of mothering boys to be different, but no less satisfying, than mothering girls. Featuring contributors Stephany Aulenback, Karen Bender, Kathryn Black, Robin Bradford, Gayle Brandeis, Faulkner Fox, Katie Allison Granju, Ona Gritz, Gwendolen Gross, Melanie Lynn Hauser, Marrit Ingman, Susan Ito, Suzanne Kamata, Katie Kaput, Jennifer Lauck, Caroline Leavitt, Jody Mace, Jennifer Margulis, Jacquelyn Mitchard, Catherine Newman, Sue O'Doherty, Marjorie Osterhout, Jamie Pearson, Lisa Peet, Jodi Picoult, Maura Rhodes, Rochelle Shapiro, Kate Staples, and Marion Winik.

I "met" Andrea a while back when I first started to blog.  She was so very helpful when I was asking her for help with the business (and busy-ness) of the writing life.  She was willing to help answer my questions. (My many, many questions!)  So, I was more than happy to help her out when she asked people to  help promote and share information about her newest book It's a Boy!  More than once as I was reading this book I found myself nodding my head in recognition.

Want to hear more about it? 

Confessions of Super Mom

...so tell me, just between us,  are you the real live   Super Mom?

When I went in search of my new friend's book, Confessions of Super Mom, I was completely surprised to find it in the nonfiction section. Nonfiction? I thought to myself.  After all this time getting to know Melanie and even sharing the beloved title of BFF, she never once told me that this was autobiographical.  How can that be?  I knew I had to get to the bottom of this and fast. So, I did what anyone else would do.  I called her up and demanded--okay, asked nicely--if she had anything she wanted to tell me.

Jenn:  "Melanie?  This is Jenn.  Do you have a few minutes?  I think you and I have a lot to talk about."

Melanie  *laughter* "Sure, Jenn.  I have a few minutes.  What's on your mind?"

Jenn:  "I'm not  going to really beat around the bush here.  When I went in search of your book the first time, I found it in the NONfiction section.  Non. Fiction.  Come on!  You can tell me, just between us, are you the real live Super Mom?" Thus began the interview I recently had with the amazing debut author, Melanie Lynne Hauser.

Jenn:  "Melanie, it is no secret that you dressed up as SuperGirl for Halloween one year.  Was that an unconscious way of shouting out to the world that you are in fact a super hero?"

Melanie: After more laughter she replies "You just never know."

Jenn: "Okay, I see you are not going to give me the scoop of a lifetime, so we'll just continue under the assumption that this book is in fact a work of fiction.  Let's talk about the characters. You are the mother of two teenage boys.  So, how did you nail the mother/daughter tension so well?"

Melanie: "I have friends with daughters, so a lot of that was based on situations they shared with me.  That and I made a lot of it up."

Jenn: "Do  you ever worry about writing about something you don't know personally?"

Melanie: "Honestly, I don't really follow the famous "Write what you know" rule.  I think that too often writers allow the truth to get in the way of good fiction."

Jenn: "Tell me about Carl.  He sounds like such a hottie!  Did you have someone particular in mind when you wrote about him?  Someone you know or a famous actor or anything?"

Melanie: "Carl is really just a creation of my imagination.  But I will admit to you that I have been known to have dreams about him.  In fact, the truth is, I think I just might have a small crush on Carl.  *laugh*"

Jenn: "And your husband is fine with that?"

Melanie "Sure, because I think he has a bit of a crush on Birdie.  Which is okay since she actually the only character I have written that is so similar to me.  At least physically."

Jenn: "Because you are Birdie?"

Melanie: "I didn't say that!"