Filed under: 24/8 Musings, Book Notes | Tags: Avery, Books, Gotham, Mother's Day Gift Ideas, Penguin Publishing
This list is courtesy of our friends at Gotham and Avery imprints, part of the Penguin Publishing family. If you look at this list it is almost impossible not to find a match for your mom or a special person in your life.
A book is a great gift and so appreciated, it takes you away, puts a smile on your face and can be enjoyed or shared over and over again. Very few things in life have that pedigree and the amazing price point is too good to be true.
For the Modern Mom:
For the mom on the go who’s clutching a loaded calendar, Amy Tiemann’s Mojo Mom (Gotham Books; On Sale: April 7, 2009; $16.00) is the perfect gift. Chock full of advice on how to balance the career, the husband and the kids, Mojo is the perfect companion for the mom on the run.
For Any Mother Who’s Ever Had a Friend:
Wall Street Journalwriter Jeffrey Zaslow’s heartwarming true story of eleven longtime friends from Ames, Iowa will tug at the heart of any mother whose close confidantes may be far away or down the street. The Girls from Ames (Gotham Books; On Sale: April 21, 2009; $26.00) will remind any mother of her near and dear friends.
For the Mom With a Wild Side:
Hilarious NPR commentator Lauretta Hannon will have any sharp-tongued mother rolling on the floor laughing after they come in contact with their alter ego in Cracker Queen (Gotham Books; On Sale: April 16, 2009; $24.00). From tales of southern heathens to twisted sisters and anti-southern belles, Hannon’s inspiring and hilarious memoir will put a smile on any mother’s face.
For the Curious Mom:
Discover the fascinating facts behind your child’s development by reading about their play patterns in Stuart Brown’s latest Play (Avery Books; On Sale: March 5, 2009; $24.95). Covering everything from Legos to playground antics, Play is a truly engaging read that’s sure to bring every mother closer to their child.
For Mom, the Bookworm:
Engage your little one with the joy of reading by learning the importance of children’s literacy in Pam Allyn’s new book What to Read When (Avery Books; On Sale: April 20, 2009, $16.95). Everything from Dr. Seuss to J.K. Rowling, Allyn prescribes a book for every stage in your child’s development while simultaneously helping you become a better teacher for your child.
For the Fashion-Forward Mom:
Kick up your style with Kendall Farr’s Style Evolution (Gotham Books, On Sale: April 7, 2009, $22.50), the how-to handbook that shows how to transform your style well beyond your years. Leaving you feeling confident, immortalized and cool, Style is the perfect gift for the style-conscious mom.
For the Tennis-Loving Mom:
Learn the gripping true story of your favorite champion Monica Seles in her new memoir Getting a Grip (Avery Books; April 21, 2009; $26.00). Go beyond the net to an inside look at the star’s rise to fame at the young age of 16, her horrible stabbing by a crazed fan, a secret eating disorder and how she battled her demons and got back on top. Getting will remind every mother of what truly matters.
For the Health-Conscious Mom:
Whip your body into shape with Lou Schuler’s The New Rules of Lifting for Women (Avery Books; January 1, 2009; $15.95). The ultimate guide to muscle toning, eating right and staying fit, New Rules will help every mother reach her goal of living a healthier life.
For the Elegant Mom:
Juice up your etiquette skills in more ways than one with The Real Housewives of New York Citystar LuAnn de Lesseps’s Class with the Countess (Gotham Books; On Sale: April 16, 2009; $24..00). Everything from the art of seduction to making others comfortable to the simple art of being yourself, Class will teach women everywhere how to become savvier moms.
Filed under: 24/8 Musings
is set to premiere on HBO on Sunday, March 29th. This Sunday is the two hour premiere so you won’t want to miss it. New episodes will be shown on Sundays at 8:00pm with encore plays at 10:00pm. Be sure to check your local listings.
Mma (aka Precious) Ramotswe, Botswana’s one and only lady private detective. This book has been heralded by many for its entertainment as well as its highlight of the conditions in Botswana. With a detective manual and Agatha Christie to guide her Mma Ramotswe is ready for cases.
Alexandar McCall Smith has been delighting readers with this series for years and many of the series fans hoped it would hit the big or small screen. Well those wishes have been heard and HBO is the vehicle bringing this to life, http://www.hbo.com/no1ladiesdetectiveagency/index.html.
To learn more about THE NO. 1 LADIES DETECTIVE AGENCY from the author himself you can visit this page on his website, http://www.randomhouse.com/features/mccallsmith/main.php. Along with the HBO launch Alexander is back in the United States be sure to visit his site to see if you are able to catch one of his rare personal appearances, http://www.randomhouse.com/features/mccallsmith/main.php.
2009 Medal Winner
The 2009 Newbery Medal winner is The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman, illustrated by Dave McKean, and published by HarperCollins Children’s Books. You might recognize this name as he is the author of Coraline which is just about to open on the big screen.
A delicious mix of murder, fantasy, humor and human longing, the tale of Nobody Owens is told in magical, haunting prose. A child marked for death by an ancient league of assassins escapes into an abandoned graveyard, where he is reared and protected by its spirit denizens.
“A child named Nobody, an assassin, a graveyard and the dead are the perfect combination in this deliciously creepy tale, which is sometimes humorous, sometimes haunting and sometimes surprising,” said Newbery Committee Chair Rose V. Treviño.
2009 Honor Books
The Underneath by Kathi Appelt, illustrated by David Small (Atheneum Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing)
Underneath the canopy of the loblolly pines, amid the pulsating sounds of the swamp, there lies a tale. Intertwining stories of an embittered man, a loyal hound, an abandoned cat and a vengeful lamia sing of love, loss, loneliness and hope. Appelt’s lyrical storytelling heightens the distinguished characteristics of this work.
The Surrender Tree: Poems of Cuba’s Struggle for Freedom by Margarita Engle (Henry Holt & Comapny)
The Surrender Tree utilizes compelling free verse in alternating voices to lyrically tell the story of Cuba’s three wars for independence from Spain. Combining real-life characters (such as legendary healer Rosa La Bayamesa) with imagined individuals, Engle focuses on Rosa’s struggle to save everyone–black, white, Cuban, Spanish, friend or enemy.
Savvy by Ingrid Law (Dial Books for Young Readers, a division of Penguin Young Readers Group in partnership with Walden Media, LLC
This rich first-person narrative draws readers into a wild bus ride, winding through the countryside on a journey of self-discovery for Mibs Beaumont and her companions. Newcomer Law weaves a magical tall tale, using vivid language and lively personalities, all bouncing their way to a warm, satisfying conclusion.
After Tupac & D Foster by Jacqueline Woodson (G.P. Putnam’s Sons, a division of Penguin Books for Young Readers)
This tightly woven novel looks back on two years in a New York City neighborhood, where life changes for two 11-year-olds when a new girl joins their game of double Dutch. Bonded by Tupac’s music, the three girls explore the lure of freedom and build a friendship that redefines their own identities.
To learn more about the Newbery Awards and Honors visit, http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/alsc/awardsgrants/bookmedia/newberymedal/newberymedal.cfm.