The Original Super-nanny

The kids and I are reading The Collected tales of Nurse Matilda. This is the book that is the basis for the lovely movie, Nanny McPhee. We've finished the first tale, and working on the second.
A great read! Makes the kids think twice about being naughty (or could give them some good ideas for trouble!)

On Mice and Motorcycles

Max and I have been into the "Mouse and the Motorcycle" series. We started out of order with Runaway Ralph, and moved on to the first book The Mouse and the Motorcycle. We looked for Ralph S. Mouse on our last trip to the Argenta Branch of the North Little Rock library, but they didn't have a copy. I need to check the main branch!

As a kid I loved Beverly Cleary's work, and found that as a grown-up I still do! Easy, fun, reads!

Blue Shoes & Happiness

I didn't like this one as much as Tears of the Giraffe. I don't think the story was as interesting or fast enough to hold my attention. It was still fun to hear the language. Book club was fun- Christi made some wonderful Kenyan food (chai, greens, some polenta stuff that I can't remember the name of, beef stew which looked yummy, other goodies...)

Lions, and tigers, and bears, OH MY!

Yes, I'm on a Wizard of Oz kick, can't help it. After finishing the original with the kids I decided to read the third book in the "Wicked" series by Gregory Maguire. This one is called A Lion Among Men. It is, as you can guess, the story of the the Cowardly Lion. I really liked this book. I think it tied up the loose ends that have haunted me out of the other two book books Wicked, and Son of A Witch.
The lion is one of the most human characters that Maguire has created. In the midst of war and a shaky society he does what many might do and goes with the team that gets him the best gig. He does not stand on principal, until the very end of the book. Yackle, another strange character, is brought back to the series and elaborated on to the point where you really like her. (If you've read the other books I know you are amazed!)
Anyway, I do recommed this book if you are a Maguire fan.

The Wizard of Oz (again)

Just an update on how The Wonderful Wizard of Oz went...

I had forgotten...

• Just how many heads roll in this story (I couldn't even count)
• How much scarier the book is than the movie (more violent anyway)
• How I didn't like Dorothy in the book at all
• How much more of a learning tale the book is as compared to the movie
• That Dorothy's shoes from the wicked witch are NOT ruby red, but silver
• How long ago this book was written! In the late 1800's!
  

My kids liked the book but did comment on how violent it was. "Why do they have to chop everyone's heads off?" "Why would they just agree to kill someone (the wicked witch) when they didn't have anything against her?"

#1 Ladies Detetective Agency

This is our book club pick for the month. I started with the wrong book (see below) but was pleasantly surprised.

I really did enjoy it and it was a quick, fun read. Not what I usually would choose- why I love book clubs, it breaks us out of our little boxes.
Now I have to read Blue Shoes and Happiness!