When the publicist contacted me about reviewing environmentally-friendly Scotch-Brite sponges, I almost laughed. But since I happen to already use that brand, I figured why not?
Besides, when I was a boy, my dad WORKED for 3M, the makers of Scotch-Brite. Dad would often bring home cool electronic toys before they were cool. I was like 7 at the time.
Our house is unusually busy leading up to Valentine’s Day. That’s because my wife, Anne, is wrapping up the annual children’s book awards – called the Children’s & Young Adult Bloggers’ Literary Awards –that she began with a friend a few years ago.
This year, because Anne reviewed my favorite category, Fantasy & Science Fiction, I had the pleasure of reading most of the finalists. I have to say, better stuff is being written for kids than adults.
If you read The Hunger Games or The Graveyard Book, you know what I mean. The finalists and books in other categories are fantastic too.
So, if you’re a parent who is wondering what books their children should read on spring break, check out the full list of winners here.
My 6-year-old son is a voracious reader. Just yesterday, I pulled a copy of James Herriot’s Treasury of Inspirational Stories for Children. Less than two hours later, he was halfway through the 260-page, picture-filled book.
Later the same day, we went to the library where I picked up a copy of The Time Warp Trio’s Hey Kid, Want to Buy a Bridge? Seth finished the 72-page book by bed time.
No, this isn’t a post designed to brag about my child. Rather, it’s to illustrate a common problem parents face: figuring out what is good reading material for our children. For example, I chose The Time Warp Trio series because the librarian assured me there was nothing scary in the books. (Seth recoils from all things scary.)
A good librarian is always a wonderful way to find out whether a book is age and/or quality appropriate. Another way, is to peruse Cybils, which just released its finalists for the best children’s books in 2008. The selections are made by tome-loving bloggers, most of whom are librarians, writers and teachers.
To learn more, just click on preferred categories and read why these books are considered the best of the best. In mid-February, Cybils will announce the winners in each category.
This holiday season, I have been asked to help sell more products/music/services than any other. Perhaps it’s the state of the economy. Perhaps it’s because I’ve reviewed a few things on this website.
Whatever, the requests have been coming in hot and steady. The majority seem quite worthy. So I apologize to all those hardworking (if not desperate) publicists out there putting their hearts and souls into selling products. I simply do not have the time or energy to respond to all your emails, much less write about them. You’re not doing anything wrong, so don’t beat yourselves (or me for that matter) up.
Every now and then, though, something catches my eye. In this case, I liked a San Francisco publicist’s SHORT and sweet email. (Long ones cause my eyes to glaze over.) Check out this simple opening pitch:
I’m a publicist representing a number of nationally recognized, award-winning children’s musicians.
When it comes to music and DVDs, award-winning generally means better. Not always (it depends on the awards of course) but often.
The publicist asked if she could send me some CDs and DVDs. Since I liked what I saw on her website, I said sure. She’s already sent me two DVDs:
The first is Readeez: Volume One, in which a cartoon version of a dad and daughter chat onscreen and sing songs. Every word spoken is printed in large easy-to-see text on the screen, which is intended to help kids learn to read. You can see samples on the website. My 6-year-old son, who already is reading at a level beyond half the adults in this nation, loves it anyway. Hopefully, my daughter will pick how to read.
The second DVD is Princess Katie and Racer Steve Live. Cartoon figures also play a role in this concert video, but they play a much lesser role. While I suspect the concert might have been a bit too loud for kids AT the concert, it’s great at home because parents control the volume. Princess Katie’s voice is reminiscent of Natalie Merchant of 10,000 Maniacs fame, by the way.
The concert includes puppets, silly outfits, happy horn players and a lot of energy. While watching, we had both kids dancing on the floor of our play room. Seriously, the music is a lot of fun.
So, if you’re still trying to figure out what to get your kids for the holidays, you now have two ideas worth considering.
When I first started this blog in the Spring of 2004, I never found myself at a loss for words. Lately, though, I’ve had a hard time posting.
Part of the problem is directly related to the annual flu from hell. Not sure if this time it is one flu, or several viruses working their way through our family, but being sick definitely has made it tougher to post over the last month or so.
Part of the problem is being busy with work and home life. I haven’t had as much energy left for writing as I’d like.
But I suspect the biggest problem is with myself. My fingers have been resisting the keyboard as I try to absorb all that is going on in the world, and my life.
Although it’s probably kind of stupid, for the first time ever, negative news has gotten under my skin:
The list goes on and on. It’s odd that it bothers me so much considering I’ve been reading, writing or editing news since I was a teen.
On the personal front, I also have found it difficult to write. Don’t worry, all is fine with me, my wife and our kids. It’s not that kind of problem. It more has to do with a personal crisis of confidence both career- and self-worth wise.
As a dad, I worry much about what the future holds for my children. Then again, my time frame only runs a few decades ahead, not the millions of years being mulled by some scientists.
Why am I thinking about millions of years from now? Well, my review of Year Million ran in the Los Angeles Times this week. It’s been a while since I’ve had a chance to professionally review a book and completing this one was particularly challenging in light of my recent move from Chicago.
Presuming my progeny have two kids every 36 years, which is the rate my family is reproducing at, I think I should have well over a billion descendants by Year Million if I did my math right.
I had few music-listening options growing up.
My choices included a few reel-to-reel Peter, Paul and Mary and Beach Boys “albums” and a handful of ancient 8-tracks. The latter I would play by plugging my D.C. slot car transformer into an 8-track player salvaged from an old car.
Thirty years later, I’m still trying to make up for the lack of variety in my childhood music options. So when I was offered the chance to review Putumayo’s Kids African Dreamland, I jumped at the chance.
Then I hesitated, because I’ve had little time of late to follow up with reviews. Then I got the bright idea of taking advantage of my two-day driving extravaganza last week to Connecticut and back.
What struck me about the selections is how artists from countries such as South Africa, Congo, Cameroon, Guinea and Mali, blend so well together. I would have expected the differences in style – and nationality – to result in more jarring transitions between tracks.
The second thing I noticed is that my son, Seth, who prefers fast-tempo music over slow, likes African Dreamland. For example, Seth never really took to multicultural The Planet Sleeps because the music is too “boring,” according to Seth. Even though African Dreamland is essentially easy listening, Seth walked into my “living room” office to listen in. “What I like about it,” Seth says “is it’s a different language. I might want to learn the language some day.” I didn’t tell him the music is in several different languages.
Despite the range of musical choices on African Dreamland, I’m still most taken by the two A cappella pieces: Nomatehemba by Ladysmith Black Mambazo and Agalilala by Samite. It never ceases to amaze me that the human voice can be as or more impressive than man-made instruments. Then again, the African harp is a beautiful instrument. Just listen to Salaman by Toumani Diabaté with Ballaké Sissoko.
Either way, it’s nice to listen to beautiful voices and instruments without the background hiss of an ancient 8-track player.
Can two men sound like an entire band? Sure, when they’ve been playing together for almost 30 years.
Can two men keep 100 children – and 100 parents – occupied and even dancing during kiddy witching hours of 3-5 p.m?
Sure, if they’re Keith Grimwood and Ezra Idlet, who form the Arkansas duo Trout Fishing in America. If you never heard of these guys, or listened to them, now is a good time as any. Click on this link, and then click on “Launch Trout Radio” for a sample.
Trout Fishing is one of those bands I never would have heard of if it wasn’t for a publicist – I’m not even sure which one – sending me a CD. I’m pretty awful that way: someone sends me a CD and I get around to listening to it weeks or months later.
For the last year and a half, I’ve had an office to myself, something I’ve never had before. One of the best things? I can listen to music in the background.
I tend to love Ambient radio stations on iTunes because they help me concentrate. Usually, I listen to Groove Salad on SomaFM, because the music plays well in the background.
After being out sick for a WEEK, I came back to discover Gotradio – The Big Score. I’ve only been listening to the station for 20 minutes, and love it so far.
Not because the tunes remind me of movies – heck, I’ve hardly seen any in recent years – but because the music is often so rich and interesting. So far, the station is picking out songs that generally play well in the background.
The only problem? I keep checking to see what’s playing. As I’m writing this, I started thinking, “that sounds familiar.” It was a song from Lord of the Rings.
I may never get up again.
I reviewed this book for my wife’s site, Bookbuds.
Evil Genius
by Catherine Jinks
Harcourt Children’s Books
Evil Genius is a better-than-usual attempt at capitalizing on the Harry Potter phenomenon. In this version, Cadel Piggott, who is being raised by nasty, uncaring parents, is directed toward the Axis Institute, a school for criminals seeking world domination.
Cadel hopes to find acceptance at his new school, but intrigues – such as the rapidly declining student body – test the boy’s super talents. Along the way, Cadel learns about his father’s evil plans, a little humility and more importantly, about his true nature.
While the discovery process is fun, creative characters and complex subplots blow by without much clarity; it’s a wonder an adult, much less young adult, can follow without a scorecard. Worse, it’s hard to really like and identify with any characters in this 496-page book. Still, I can’t help suspect that Evil Genius will be enjoyed by bored, smart teenagers who dream of running the world.
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