The Dangerous Book for Boys

The Dangerous Book for Boys Conn Iggulden Ok, I’m not a boy. But I could not resist buying this book today. It’s so awesome. Brilliant design. Fun and very informative topics, that include: The seven wonders of the ancient world Five knots every boy should know Making a bow and arrow Famous battles U.S. Naval… Continue reading The Dangerous Book for Boys

Water for Elephants

Water for Elephants Sara Gruen This week I finished Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen. I love where books take me – across America on a train with a traveling circus, stranded on a lifeboat with a Bengal tiger, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, the restaurant at the end of the universe, on an… Continue reading Water for Elephants

Franny and Zooey by J. D. Salinger

It was incredible to read Franny and Zooey right after finishing Francine Prose’s Reading Like a Writer. It helped me realize how extraordinarily talented J.D. Salinger is. I loved the story as well, especially the conversation at the end between Franny and Zooey on the phone – it was beautiful. But the writing was outstanding,… Continue reading Franny and Zooey by J. D. Salinger

Vox Hunt: Required Reading

Book:  Show us a book everyone should read before they die. Submitted by Rob. The Phantom Tollbooth Norton Juster Other suggestions: The Book Thief 3 comments A Tree Grows in Brooklyn Life of Pi The Great Gatsby (This post was brought over from emilyw.vox.com. Click here for the original post and comments.)

Top Five: Caldecott Books

Last summer I completed my quest of reading all 69 Caldecott Medal winners. Since then, one of my favorite children’s book authors and illustrators, David Wiesner, won the 2007 Caldecott Medal for Flotsam. The Caldecott Medal is primarily recognition for outstanding art and illustrations, though how these illustrations work with the text of the book… Continue reading Top Five: Caldecott Books