Happy Fall!!

I can't believe that yesterday was the first day of Fall and the start of the Autumn season. I enjoy this time of year when the leaves change and the burst of colors are beautiful. I like to cook more in the fall so I hope to try some new recipes.  I will share some of them here as many of you have commented that they like it when I share recipes. I have a few new cookbooks that I will also be reviewing in the next few months. I haven't been blogging as much as I started working part time and my free time is more limited. It's been an adjustment and I miss being able to keep up with reading and blogging. I hope to get back to regular posting and reviewing soon and visiting your blogs. Thanks for your patience and for those who continue to stop by and comment and email me.

Mailbox Monday ~ September 20th



Mailbox Monday is a fun meme that was created by Marcia of The Printed Page and is now on tour – the host for this month is Bermudaonion.  Here are some of the books that arrived in my mailbox last week:

Out of the Shadows by Joanne Rendell from the author (Enter to win your own copy through the giveaway I am hosting, HERE, ends September 26, 2010)

Natural to Super Natural Health by David Herzog from Atlas Books

Green Beauty Recipes by Julie Gabriel from the author

Review: It's a Book by Lane Smith

It's a Book by Lane Smith is a picture book geared toward young children but in my opinion it is more of an adult picture book. The premise is a cute one where a monkey is enjoying a book and his friend donkey who is quite tech savvy believes the book must have some digital advantages. He asks him a series of questions that are funny as he thinks the book must be like a computer or a cell phone. Although this book is presented in picture book format, I think that it's geared more towards adult humor. The publisher lists the grade range as 1st and up and the age range as 6 and up. I don't want to spoil the book but the final punch line may not be something that you want a 6 year old to hear. My son who is 11 read this and he was surprised at the ending as well.  Since it's a picture book he was surprised that this word was used and questioned if it was appropriate for younger kids. Of course, he thought it was funny but it may not be appropriate for all kids to hear as they may not have the maturity for the implication. I believe that as a parent, you should read the book yourself and then decide if you want your child to read it. It's easy enough to change the final word if reading the book aloud, as it is still funny for young children.

Overall, this book has great illustrations and it is a cute story. There is a great message about the value of a book vs. digital formats. I just think it's more geared toward the mature child, over 10-12 years old and adults.

Here's a cute trailer for the book...it doesn't tell you the end:)




Disclosure: Thanks to the publisher Roaring Book Press for sending me a copy of the book for review. I am an amazon and indiebound associate.

Mailbox Monday ~ September 13th

Mailbox Monday is a fun meme that was created by Marcia of The Printed Page and is now on tour – the host for this month is Bermudaonion. I haven't posted a Mailbox Monday post for almost a month. I am behind on posting and on reading! Here are some of the books that arrived in my mailbox the past few weeks:

  

• 31 hours by Masha Hamilton was from Unbridled books  
• Milo: Sticky Notes and Brain Freeze by Alan Silberberg was a surprise from Simon & Schuster 
• It's a Book by Lane Smith Roaring Book Press 
• The Limit by Kristen Landon was a surprise Simon & Schuster  
• The Art of Comforting by Val Walker was from Tarcher/Penguin  
• Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly was from Random House

Every Last Cuckoo by Kate Maloy  was from Paperbackswap

Thin is the New Happy by Valerie Frankel was from Paperbackswap

Magnolia Wednesdays by Wendy Wax was from Paperbackswap

The Passage by Justin Cronin was from  Paperbackswap 

Wicked by Gregory Maguire was a Flea Market Find