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A Simple Plan for Killing al Qaeda
Alex Kingsbury Interviews Howard Clark
Howard Clark's answer is to both amplify the nihilism of its message and promote moderate Islamic voices. Clark, a former marine who served two tours in Iraq, now works as a consultant on counter-terrorism problems for the Department of Defense. He is also president and founder of Seventh Pillar, a nonprofit that seeks to combat al Qaeda's ideology. He recently spoke about his three-part plan for strengthening moderates and defeating extremists
The Mutilated Book: The Cartoons That Shook the World
Paul Greenberg
The same forces that have held much of the Muslim East in thrall now are reaching out to dictate to the West, too. And they've found a willing accomplice in Yale University, which has decided to publish 'The Cartoons That Shook the World' by Prof. Jytte Klausen without including the principal reason for it -- the controversial cartoons that Danish newspapers published in 2005 and early 2006 that so enraged mobs throughout the Muslim world. Here, you would think, ...
New Career Books to Grow On
Joyce Lain Kennedy
Consider catching up on reading aimed to solve problems in your career. Here some 2009 titles that fill that bill
Need To Lose Weight? 10 Ways to Conquer Emotional Eating
January W. Payne
Do you blindly turn to food as a source of comfort when you're feeling upset? Since emotional overeating doesn't provide any lasting satisfaction and can lead to health problems, it's far better to find other ways to deal with the stresses of daily life. That's the premise of a book out this month ...
Dealing With Irrational, Possibly Nuclear, Enemies
Louis R. Beres, Thomas G. McInerney and Paul E. Vallely
To back up credible U.S. deterrence against a still-growing number of adversaries, Barack Obama will need to rebuild a declining military infrastructure and doctrine. Otherwise, it is likely that this country's state and sub-state enemies may increasingly dismiss American retaliatory and other threats as empty bluster and false bravado.
How the CIA Became Dangerously Dependent on Outside Contractors
Allison Stanger
Recent revelations of contractor involvement in CIA covert operations have been shocking. The CIA deploys contractors because it no longer has the in-house capacity to pursue new mission-critical tasks without an assist from the private sector. At first glance, this looks like free-market fundamentalism taken to its logical extreme ...
Finding a Better Way to Prosecute Terrorists
Queenie Wong
At the center of the controversy surrounding the closing of the Guantánamo Bay detention center is what to do with the suspected terrorists once the prison camp shuts in January. Trying detainees before military commissions or in federal courts isn't the solution, argues Capt. Glenn Sulmasy ...
Book Review: Charles Higham's 'In and Out of Hollywood'
Liz Smith
Mr. Higham is a well-known chronicler of the famous and infamous. Although he is a noted poet and has written a number of reasonably received plays, his biographies are the meat of his career. His new book -- 'In and Out of Hollywood' -- tells many dishy tales.
Review-a-Day for Sat, Nov 7: Meditations (Modern Library Classics)
Meditations (Modern Library Classics) by Aurelius Marcus, a review from Powells.com by Doug Brown.
Daily Dose for Sat, Nov 7: The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair That Changed America
The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair That Changed America by Erik Larson
Reviewed by Lisa from Las Cruces, New Mexico.
Review-a-Day for Fri, Nov 6: The Complete Stories of J. G. Ballard
The Complete Stories of J. G. Ballard by J. G. Ballard, a review from Harper's Magazine by Nicholas Fraser.
Daily Dose for Fri, Nov 6: Mortal Coils
Mortal Coils by Eric Nylund
Reviewed by Jonathan from Covington, Georgia.
Review-a-Day for Thu, Nov 5: The Collected Stories of Lydia Davis
The Collected Stories of Lydia Davis by Lydia Davis, a review from The Oregonian by Erika Recordon.
Daily Dose for Thu, Nov 5: An Echo in the Bone
An Echo in the Bone by Diana Gabaldon
Reviewed by Debra from Troutdale, Oregon.
From the Author with Mike Cox
The Texas Rangers Versus the Texas Rangers
Review-a-Day for Wed, Nov 4: The Lacuna
The Lacuna by Barbara Kingsolver, a review from Bookforum by Celia McGee .
Daily Dose for Wed, Nov 4: Candor
Candor by Pam Bachorz
Reviewed by Karen from Pine Bush, New York.
Review-a-Day for Tue, Nov 3: The Fires of Vesuvius: Pompeii Lost and Found
The Fires of Vesuvius: Pompeii Lost and Found by Mary Beard, a review from The Nation by Joy Connolly.
Daily Dose for Tue, Nov 3: Methland: The Death and Life of an American Small Town
Methland: The Death and Life of an American Small Town by Nick Reding
Reviewed by John from Brooklyn, New York.
Review-a-Day for Mon, Nov 2: The Posthuman Dada Guide: Tzara & Lenin Play Chess (Public Square)
The Posthuman Dada Guide: Tzara & Lenin Play Chess (Public Square) by Andrei Codrescu, a review from Rain Taxi by John-Ivan Palmer.
Daily Dose for Mon, Nov 2: Perelandra (Space Trilogy)
Perelandra (Space Trilogy) by C. S. Lewis
Reviewed by Ryan from Portland, Oregon.
Review-a-Day for Sun, Nov 1: The Girl Who Fell from the Sky
The Girl Who Fell from the Sky by Heidi W. Durrow, a review from Ms. Magazine by Erin Aubry Kaplan.
Daily Dose for Sun, Nov 1: The Hunger Games
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Reviewed by Rachel from Sammamish, Washington.
Powell's Books: Overview
The latest book-related content from Powells.com
France and England in the 16th century: The tale of two families
The rise of the Guises and the Cecils Martyrs and Murderers: The Guise Family and the Making of Europe. By Stuart Carroll. Oxford University Press; 368 pages; $34.95 and GBP18.99. Buy from Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk The Cecils: Privilege and Power Behind the Throne. By David Loades. The National Archives; 256 pages; $34.95 and GBP9.99. Buy from Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk ...
Bridget Riley: Livid lines
A British painter colours her palette Bridget Riley's exhibition at the Timothy Taylor Gallery in London shows the 77-year-old painter in a new experimental phase. She has replaced the familiar black-and-white stripes with vivid curves of colour shaped into layers, each one different, and yet all so full of energy and movement they hustle and strain to escape. Prices: up to GBP400,000. ...
Knut Hamsun: Terrible man, celebrated writer
Norway's greatest novelist re-examined Knut Hamsun: Dreamer and Dissenter. By Ingar Sletten Kolloen. Yale University Press; 378 pages; $40 and GBP25. Buy from Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk KNUT HAMSUN, known as Norway’s greatest novelist, was a difficult and destructive person. He wreaked havoc with his family and his two wives and no day went by without some outburst or perceived slight. He hated and envied Ibsen and he loved Hitler. As an old man (born in 1859, he died in 1952) he refused to deny his worship of Hitler and his delight at the prospect of Norway becoming part of a greater Germany. After Hitler committed suicide, he sent a telegram of condolence to the German people. And throughout his life he railed against the Anglo-Saxons. ...
Suburbs: Invincible green lawns
Much derided, suburbs are where city-dwellers like to go The Freedoms of Suburbia. By Paul Barker. Frances Lincoln; 240 pages; GBP25. Buy from Amazon.co.uk SUBURBIA, at least in its British form, seems to be in good odour at the moment. The London Transport Museum has a show of the posters that did so much to promote suburban living in the early 20th century. Now Paul Barker, a respected writer on British society, has issued a trenchant defence of suburbia, which he describes as the great balancing act between urban and rural living, between privacy and price. ...
The fall of Communism: Wall stories
How communism in eastern Europe collapsed, and what came next. Scholars and journalists give their account Uncivil Society: 1989 and the Implosion of the Communist Establishment. By Stephen Kotkin. Modern Library; 197 pages; $24. Buy from Amazon.com 1989: The Berlin Wall: My Part in its Downfall. By Peter Millar. Arcadia; 220 pages; GBP11.99. To be published in America by Arcadia in April 2010; $16.95. Buy from Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk ...
Arlington cemetery: Hope eternal
What happened to General Robert E. Lee's family estate On Hallowed Ground: The Story of Arlington National Cemetery. Robert M. Poole. Walker & Company; 343 pages; $30. Bloomsbury; GBP25. Buy from Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk THIS engaging history of Arlington National Cemetery, America’s most hallowed military burial ground and home to over 300,000 soldiers, officers and statesmen, is also the story of America’s maturation through death and war. ...
Swedish crime fiction: Don't mess with her
Exciting and fast-selling stories from Sweden The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. By Stieg Larsson. MacLehose; 572 pages; GBP20. Knopf; $14.95. Buy from Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk The Girl Who Played with Fire. By Stieg Larsson. MacLehose; 569 pages; GBP17.99. Knopf; $25.95. Buy from Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk ...
New York theatres: Leaner the better
The neon lights of Broadway still shine but in a rather different way MANHATTAN’S West 40s have always been a battleground: between tourists and locals, musicals and plays, adults and children. Around 65% of the tickets for Broadway shows are bought by tourists from outside New York’s metropolitan area. A reliable choice for a family on the town has long been a splashy musical with some hearty laughs. But the recession is bringing about changes, some of which may be for the better. These days, the expensive tickets are for maudlin Danish princes, not singing mermaid princesses. Hard times squelched quite a few shows, especially musicals. Even award-winning crowd-pleasers, such as “Hairspray”, “Spamalot” and “Spring Awakening”, were forced to close because of their high running costs and dwindling sales. Investors were duly squeamish. But then producers began to shift strategy, moving away from extravaganzas towards leaner musicals and straight plays for grown-ups. Many of the shows had had a successful run elsewhere first, which lowered costs and soothed investors. Advertising moved online, where most people buy tickets. One way or another, the policy seems to have paid off: October saw 29 productions in full swing, filled to 87% of capacity. ...
Wall Street's crisis: Book of revelations
An excellent fly-on-the-wall account of what happened Too Big To Fail: The Inside Story of How Wall Street and Washington Fought to Save the Financial System—and Themselves. By Andrew Ross Sorkin. Viking; 624 pages; $32.95. Allen Lane; GBP14.99. Buy from Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk LAST year, as Lehman Brothers tottered, there was briefly hope that Barclays Bank would ride in with an 11th-hour bid. But the British government, fearful of contracting the American cancer, took fright and blocked it, helping to seal the investment bank’s fate. As American officials absorbed the news, an exhausted and exasperated Hank Paulson, the then treasury secretary, muttered that the British had “grin-fucked us.” ...
The story of Vincent van Gogh: An artist making art
An amazing self-portrait of Vincent van Gogh, in words and pictures Vincent van Gogh: The Letters. Edited by Leo Jansen, Hans Luijten and Nienke Bakker. Thames and Hudson; 2,500 pages; $600 and GBP325. Buy from Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk THE story of Vincent van Gogh’s life is more heartbreaking, and heart-lifting, than the romantic myth that has enshrouded him for decades. It is told, in his own words and works, in the six-volume “Vincent van Gogh: The Letters”. His 819 surviving letters (and the 83 addressed to him) form the core. The first letter was written when Vincent, aged 19, was a trainee at The Hague branch of Goupil & Cie, a firm of international art dealers. Like most of the letters, it was sent to his brother, Theo, then 15. The two remained close. Theo became an art dealer and Vincent’s main source of financial and emotional support. ...
Islam and the West: Those pesky cartoons
The inside story of the 2005 cartoon affair The Cartoons That Shook the World. By Jytte Klausen. Yale University Press; 240 pages; $35. To be published in Britain in November. Buy from Amazon.com HOW could a schoolboy prank (as The Economist called it) have become such a painful international crisis? Even now, the “cartoon affair”—the controversy that erupted in 2005 after a Danish newspaper, Jyllands-Posten, published a dozen cartoons depicting the Prophet Muhammad— is still something of a puzzle. Were Muslim protesters over-sensitive? Was the newspaper deliberately provocative? Or did the Danish authorities simply mishandle a situation that spun out of control? ...
A biography of Jacques Cousteau: A creature of the shallows
An explorer of the seas who wasn't quite what he seemed Jacques Cousteau: The Sea King. By Brad Matsen. Pantheon Books; 320 Pages; $27.95. Buy from Amazon.com THIRTY years ago Jacques-Yves Cousteau (pictured) was reckoned to be one of the ten most recognised men in the world. This biography, uncritical but revealing, shows how that happened. Nominally a captain in the French navy, Cousteau spent most of his working life pioneering a new form of celebrity, that of the TV explorer. With his ship, the converted minesweeper Calypso, and a crew of divers with attractive French accents and film-star looks, he patrolled the more photogenic corners of the oceans and documented these exploits in books and television programmes that turned him into a global godfather of undersea adventure. ...
Harlem's days of glory: Gory glamour
Champion of champions Sweet Thunder: The Life and Times of Sugar Ray Robinson. By Wil Haygood. Knopf; 464 pages; $27.95. Buy from Amazon.com OSTENSIBLY “Sweet Thunder” is the life of Sugar Ray Robinson, the middleweight regarded by many knowledgeable boxing fans as the greatest fighter, pound-for-pound, of all time. In fact, Wil Haygood, a biographer of Sammy Davis junior, is more interested in the exuberant glamour of the Negro elite in Robinson’s heyday. So his readers get two histories: of boxing and of Harlem in its glory days during the first half of the 20th century. ...
British military history: Paterfamilias Monty
Chip off the old block Where the Hell Have You Been? Monty, Italy and One Man’s Incredible Escape. By Tom Carver. Short Books; 356 pages; GBP16.99. Buy from Amazon.co.uk WHEN General Montgomery’s stepson Richard Carver was captured by the Afrika Korps two days after the battle of El Alamein in November 1942, he had every reason to be worried. If the Germans had established the family connection, he would have been sent to Colditz, with other prominent allied prisoners. Yet they never discovered the link, so instead he was sent to a prison camp in northern Italy, from where he and 600 other allied prisoners were released, minutes before the Wehrmacht arrived, by the commandant when Italy left the axis in September 1943. ...
The life and views of Ayn Rand: Capitalism's martyred hero
Most intellectuals don’t have much time for Ayn Rand with her “glare that could wilt a cactus”. But her uncompromising views are still worshipped by many Ayn Rand and the World She Made. By Anne Heller. Nan A. Talese; 592 pages; $35. Buy from Amazon.com Goddess of the Market: Ayn Rand and the American Right. By Jennifer Burns. Oxford University Press; 384 pages; $27.95 and GBP16.99. Buy from Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk ...
Cecilia Bartoli's new album: Celestial sacrifice
An album by the Italian mezzo-soprano that honours the art of the castrati LONG before singers became superstars by surviving humiliating television contests, they did so by surrendering much more than their dignity. For almost 200 years Europe’s biggest singing celebrities were the castrati: surgically snipped “man-boys” whose high voices and incredible breathing powers captivated audiences and commanded football-star salaries. Cecilia Bartoli, a mezzo-soprano—and one of the few classical artists today who can claim sports-star fees of her own—is trying to resurrect the art of the castrati with her new Decca album, “Sacrificium”. This collection of 15 opera arias from the early 18th century (11 of which have never been recorded before) is packaged with notes that illuminate the castrati’s glamorous and tragic world. ...
The art of deception: When it's fun to be fooled
An exhibition of trompe l’oeil and other illusions that can be enjoyed in Florence THE eyes of the boy are bulging with fear: he’s so scared, he’s trying to leap through the frame. Despite knowing it is only a painting, the viewer has an urge to step back and make room for his getaway. This 19th-century work by Pere Borrell del Caso is a classic example of trompe l’oeil, art made with the purpose of fooling the eye. It appears in “Art and Illusions: Masterpieces of Trompe L’oeil from Antiquity to the Present Day” showing at Palazzo Strozzi in Florence until January 24th. Artists have worked in the genre for more than two millennia employing an exceptionally wide range of materials. In this ambitious and engaging exhibition there are inlaid-wood doors, illuminated manuscripts and waxworks imitating human flesh and flower petals. There are also porcelain, clothing, furniture, holograms and many paintings. The quality of examples is high; the mixing of media very effective. A bulletin board turns out to be a painting. Nearby, another bulletin board fools the viewer into thinking it is painted. ...
The multilateral trade talks: Travails of trade
Tortuous negotiation, finger-pointing and other shenanigans Misadventures of the Most Favoured Nations: Clashing Egos, Inflated Ambitions, and the Great Shambles of the World Trade System. By Paul Blustein. Public Affairs; 344 pages; $27.95 and GBP16.99. Buy from Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk OH, TO have been a fly on the wall during the ministerial meetings of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in Hong Kong in 2005. One of the many entertaining moments that Paul Blustein describes in his new book involves Kamal Nath, then Indian commerce minister, pressing Peter Mandelson, then European trade commissioner, to specify the year by which Europe would phase out its export subsidies. “I want a date! I want a date! I want a date!” calls Mr Nath, adding “But not with you!” ...
The Cape Town Opera on tour: I loves you, Porgy
“Porgy and Bess” set in 1960s Soweto THE Cape Town Opera (CTO), the only professional opera company to survive South Africa’s transition from apartheid to majority rule, is on the point of bringing a new production of George and Ira Gershwin’s folk masterpiece “Porgy and Bess” to Britain. It will be visiting Cardiff, London and Edinburgh, for a few days each, at the end of October. Although just about everybody is familiar with the musical’s great songs—such as “Summertime” and “It Ain’t Necessarily So”—the Gershwin estate’s insistence on all-black casts has meant that performances in Britain have to rely partly on imported singers and are relatively rare. The story of the crippled beggar Porgy rescuing his adored Bess from the clutches of Sportin’ Life, a drug dealer, and her violent lover, Crown, occupies a seminal place in 20th-century music. The CTO’s staging transplants the action in “Catfish Row” from South Carolina to 1960s Soweto, a time when the township was suffering cruelly from poverty, unemployment and the brutality of the apartheid. “It is a period well known to the older members of the company,” says Michael Williams, the general manager. Survival in adversity, he goes on to point out, is the opera’s main message. Many of the singers were plucked from local choirs in poor townships and put through intensive training at the University of Cape Town’s opera school. ...
The Economist: Books and arts
Books and arts
Poker, Power Go Hand In Hand, Author Says
American history is filled with powerful men who have have honed their competitive strategies around the card table. In Cowboys Full: The Story of Poker, author James McManus details how the game's logic is reflected in our history of battles and business.
Refusing Flu Shots? Maybe You're A 'Denialist'
At the Ocean Charter School near Marina del Rey, Calif., 40 percent of the 2008 kindergarten class received vaccination exemptions. Author Michael Specter says the parents in this upscale enclave are prime examples of what he calls "denialism."
To See The Future, Use The Logic Of Self-Interest
Bruce Bueno de Mesquita knows what will happen in the future on a host of critical questions. Will Iran develop a nuclear bomb? Will North Korea? What major companies or economies will merge, grow or fall apart? De Mesquita has been predicting the future for 30 years — to a reported 90 percent success rate. Host Scott Simon talks to him about the new book that reveals how his secret: The Predictioneer's Game: Using the Logic of Brazen Self-Interest to See and Shape the Future.
How Market Crash Helped Hedge Fund Operator
Before the financial crisis hit, John Paulson was just your run-of-the-mill hedge fund operator, worth millions of dollars. But when the market crashed, Paulson made billions. How he did it lies at the heart of a new book called The Greatest Trade Ever. The book's author, Gregory R. Zuckerman, offers his insight.
Sapphire's Story: How 'Push' Became 'Precious'
The gritty realism of the film Precious is even more intense in the novel Push, upon which the film is based. Author Sapphire discusses the inspiration for her work — and her initial reluctance to allow her work to become a film.
Gore Urges Obama To Take Lead On Climate Change
In his new book, Al Gore argues that consumers have "all the tools we need" to solve climate change. But unless the United States takes a leadership role, "it would be impossible to resolve this crisis," he tells NPR.
Can Oceans Survive The Human Appetite For Seafood?
Faced with declining fish stocks, many nations are looking for sustainable ways to have their fish — and eat it too. But how much fishing is too much? Oceanographer Sylvia Earle discusses this and other topics in her book The World is Blue: How Our Fate and the Ocean's Are One.
Wal-Mart, Amazon Price War Extends To DVDs
Wal-Mart Stores Inc. is trimming the online preorder prices of some upcoming DVDs following last month's price cut on books. The move led rivals Amazon.com Inc. and Target Corp. to reduce some DVD prices, which pushed Wal-Mart to take a few more cents off its offerings.
Excerpt: 'Invisible'
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Seduction And Betrayal In Paul Auster's 'Invisible'
Intricate plotting, intermittent erotic tension and the author's powerful moral imagination combine to make Paul Auster's latest novel an absorbing literary thriller.
Harold Evans: A Long Career Of Chasing Stories
The British journalist talks with Steve Inskeep about his tenure as editor of the Sunday Times in London and his crusade to maintain journalism's commitment to public good. Evans has a new memoir called My Paper Chase: True Stories of Vanished Times.
A Candid Take On The Evolving Immigrant Experience
In his wide-ranging, expertly curated anthology Becoming Americans, Ilan Stavans collects four centuries of immigrants' stories.
'Obamanos!': One Year Into Obama's Presidency
Hendrik Hertzberg, author of Obamanos!, assesses the year since President Obama's election. And former Ark. Gov. Mike Huckabee and NPR political editor Ken Rudin talk about gains Republicans made in the 2009 elections.
NPR Topics: Books
Book reviews, interviews with authors, and NPR Book Tour, a weekly audio feature and podcast where leading authors read and discuss their work. Subscribe to the RSS feed.
Picture That! - For Teachers of Tweens and Teens
Among other uses of children's picture books, author and educator Sharron L. McElmeel recommends, "Using picture books to introduce a topic, to build a schematic background for content-area studies, and to develop higher-level thinking skills..." In her book Picture That! From Mendel to Normandy, McElmeel encourages teachers of tweens and teens (grades 4-12) to use picture books across the curriculum and provides guidance as to which children's books to use and how to use them. Using picture books with older kids can be very effective in getting them interested in a topic. I have found that some picture books, particularly wordless picture books like A Day, A Dog, make excellent writing prompts. Are their picture books that have captured the interest of the tweens and teens in your family? If so, please click on "Comments" and share their recommendations.
(over art courtesy of Libraries Unlimited, An Imprint of ABC-CLIO)
Picture That! - For Teachers of Tweens and Teens originally appeared on About.com Children's Books on Friday, November 6th, 2009 at 00:46:46.
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2009 Teens' Top Ten - Favorite Books
2009 Teens' Top Ten - Favorite Books originally appeared on About.com Children's Books on Thursday, November 5th, 2009 at 00:01:15.
From August 24 through September 18, teens voted for their favorite books in the 2009 Teens' Top Ten online poll. More than 11,000 of them chose Paper Towns as their favorite book. Teens' Top Ten is sponsored by the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), which is a division of the American Library Association (ALA). YALSA describes Teens' Top Ten as "a 'teen choice' list, where teens nominate and choose their favorite books of the previous year. Nominators are members of teen book groups in fifteen school and public libraries around the country. Nominations are posted online and teens across the country vote on their favorite titles each year." (YALSA Web site)
The 2009 Teens Top Ten
The Three Snow Bears by Jan Brett
If you have children, you probably already know about popular picture book creator Jan Brett, who has more than 33 million books in print. Her picture book, The Three Snow Bears, is a retelling of "Goldilocks and the Three Bears," set in a traditional Inuit village. Brett includes accurate details about Inuit lives and customs in the picture book. I have long been a fan of Jan Brett's illustrations and her books. Does your family have a favorite Jan Brett picture book? One of my favorites is Jan Brett's Christmas Treasury a collection of her holiday and winter stories. To share your family's favorite Jan Brett books, click on "Comments" below and post your recommendations.
(Cover art courtesy of G.P. Putnam's Sons, A Division of Penguin Young Readers Group)
The Three Snow Bears by Jan Brett originally appeared on About.com Children's Books on Wednesday, November 4th, 2009 at 00:01:22.
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A Book About Alzheimer's Disease and More
Related Links (Cover art courtesy of Lee & Low Books Inc.) A Book About Alzheimer's Disease and More originally appeared on About.com Children's Books on Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009 at 00:01:28.
Did you know that November is National Alzheimer's Disease Month? Alzheimer's disease affects the entire family. It's hard to explain to young children what has happened to their grandfather or grandmother when they are afflicted with Alzheimer's disease. The children's picture book Singing with Momma Lou might help. More than just a book about Alzheimer's disease, it also emphasizes family love and respect, family memories, and the importance of preserving and handing down family stories from one generation to another. Singing with Mama Lou is intended for the 4-8 year old child, but it would also be valuable for older children coping with a family member's Alzheimer's disease.
What is Alzheimer's Disease? (About.com: Alzheimer's Disease)
Early Alzheimer's Disease (About.com: Senior Health)
Video: The Effects of Alzheimer's Disease (About.com: Alzheimer's Disease)
Tsunami! - A Memorable New Book
The picture book Tsunami! is the dramatic story of a tsunami and one man's sacrifice that saves all of the people in a Japanese village threatened by the giant waves. Both the story by Kimiko Kajikawa and the striking artwork by Ed Young are strong enough to stand alone, but together, they create a memorable experience for the reader. I recommend Tsunami! for children six and older, as well as teens and adults. Ed Young's picture book Wabi Sabi, by Mark Reibstein, is on my list of the Best Illustrated Children's Books of 2008.
(Cover art courtesy of Penguin)
Tsunami! - A Memorable New Book originally appeared on About.com Children's Books on Monday, November 2nd, 2009 at 00:55:03.
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Movie Version of Diary of a Wimpy Kid Coming
Diary of a Wimpy Kid is not only a wildly popular series of kids' books, it is also going to be made into a movie, which will be released on April 2, 2010. After a national search, eleven year-old Zachary Gordon has been cast as Greg Heffley, the main character. Steve Zahn and Rachael Harris will portray his parents. In a recent interview for School Library Journal, Jeff Kinney, the author of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid books, talked about the movie and said, "It's live-action and is peppered with animations and fantasy sequences. I contributed to the writing and serve as an executive producer. I gave feedback on the casting of the principal cast." The fact that Kinney has been so involved with the movie gives me hope it will be good. What do you think? Click on "Comments" below and share your opinion.
(Cover art courtesy of Amulet Books, An Imprint of Harry N. Abrams, Inc.)
Movie Version of Diary of a Wimpy Kid Coming originally appeared on About.com Children's Books on Sunday, November 1st, 2009 at 00:01:09.
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Children's Books for Halloween and the Day of the Dead
Children's Books for Halloween and the Day of the Dead originally appeared on About.com Children's Books on Friday, October 30th, 2009 at 00:01:19.
It's almost time for Halloween, quickly followed by the Day of the Dead. Here is a recap of some of the chidren's books I recommend:
(Cover art courtesy of Scholastic)
A Gift for Abuelita: Celebrating the Day of the Dead
A Gift for Abuelita: Celebrating the Day of the Dead / Un regalo para Abuelita: En celebración del Dia de los Muertos is, as the dual titles suggest, a bilingual picture book. Author Nancy Luenn tells the story of a young Mexican girl's search for comfort after the death of her beloved grandmother. Another good children's book about the Day of the Dead is Pablo Remembers: The Fiesta of the Day of the Dead.
(Cover art courtesy of Luna Rising, A Bilingual Imprint of Rising Moon)
A Gift for Abuelita: Celebrating the Day of the Dead originally appeared on About.com Children's Books on Thursday, October 29th, 2009 at 00:01:02.
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Recommended! Lady Liberty: A Biography
(Cover art courtesy of Candlewick Press) Recommended! Lady Liberty: A Biography originally appeared on About.com Children's Books on Wednesday, October 28th, 2009 at 00:01:12.
Did you know that today is the anniversary of the 1886 Dedication of the Statue of Liberty? Ever since I first visited the Statue of Liberty as a very young child, I have been fascinated by it. When I read Lady Liberty: A Biography, I was delighted to find, in picture book format, the dramatic story of the building of the Statue of Liberty, from the initial idea to the grand celebration upon its unveiling. Between the story and the extra information presented at the end of the book, tweens (8-12-year-olds), as well as teens and adults, will learn all about this beloved American symbol. Lady Liberty: A Biography was written by Doreen Rappaport, illustrated by Matt Tavares, and published by Candlewick Press. I highly recommend it. If there are other children's books about the Statue of Liberty that you like, please click on "Comments" below and share your recommendations.
More Children's Halloween Books
I have added more books to my list of Children's Halloween Books. While not all of these books are specifically about Halloween, they are all good books to read during the Halloween season. One of the books I added is a glow-in-the-dark picture book version of a Dr. Seuss story. What was I Scared of? will delight ages 4-8.
(Cover art courtesy of Random House)
More Children's Halloween Books originally appeared on About.com Children's Books on Tuesday, October 27th, 2009 at 00:01:32.
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About Children's Books
Children's Books
2009 OSCAR NOMINEES 81st Academy Awards
2009 Academy Award Oscar Winners
2009 Best Picture Oscar Nominations
2009 Best Animated Feature Oscar Nominations
2009 Best Lead Actress Oscar Nominations
- Kate Winslet in "The Reader"
- Anne Hathaway in "Rachel Getting Married"
- Angelina Jolie in "Changeling"
- Melissa Leo in "Frozen River"
- Meryl Streep in "Doubt"
2009 Best Lead Actor Oscar Nominations
- Sean Penn in "Milk"
- Richard Jenkins in "The Visitor"
- Frank Langella in "Frost/Nixon"
- Brad Pitt in "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"
- Mickey Rourke in "The Wrestler"
2009 Best Supporting Actress Oscar Nominations
- Penélope Cruz in "Vicky Cristina Barcelona"
- Amy Adams in "Doubt"
- Viola Davis in "Doubt"
- Taraji P. Henson in "Benjamin Button"
- Marisa Tomei in "The Wrestler"