Dude

Dude, talk about awesome! Christopher Aslan's newest book, Dude, illustrated by Emily Mullock is another home-run hit. Dude is a pretty simple book with an even simpler concept, but the way it is carried out really makes Dude a book parents and kids are going to enjoy.

On each page, the Dude character is illustrated in a different situation, using the word "dude" to express his different feelings. We see everything from exhaustion and surprise, to awe and amazement. There are more than 25 different scenarios for Dude, and even more opportunities for you and your child to have
fun saying "dude" in a rainbow of different ways.

My six year old son loves putting himself into the book, pretending to be Dude and then trying all the different voices Dude would use in each situation. My husband stands firm in his jealously in not having thought of this concept himself. Then, when I told my best friend about the book, she laughed and was amused and entertained by the idea. Simply put, this simple book brings so much to everyone!

This is the third book I've seen by Christopher Aslan and I already can't wait to see what he comes up with next. I think we are looking at another legendary children's author, to sit high with the likes of Dr. Seuss, Eric Carle and Sandra Boynton (just to name a few of our household favorites).

If you are interested in purchasing Dude by Christopher Aslan, visit the publisher and you can make a purchase from their site: www.benjaminbrownbooks.com/dude.php

You Don't Have to Learn the Hard Way: Making It in the Real World: A Guide for Graduates

Life lessons bound into a book. That's what You Don't Have to Learn the Hard Way: Making It in the Real World: A Guide for Graduates is all about. Sounds simple enough, but the trick is getting your graduate to read it! I suggest mom or dad read this book before handing it over to your high school or college graduate. Although this is something that needs to be in your child's hands, mom and dad or any other concerned elder could take the lessons in this book and slowly direct them to any child of any age.

Let's examine a topic directly from the book, "First Impressions." It immediately starts off with the "old saying" that you never get a second chance to make a first impression. It's very true and most adults will tell you that 95% of the time, you are not able to change what is impressed in the first few moments of meeting someone. So how does Parrish manage to reiterate the importance of this particular life lesson? Like countless other topics his book, he's got a red bolded statement right there in the margin area: A smile is an inexpensive way to improve your looks. Wow - not only is it true, but pretty simple! Certainly he's got other great things to say, right? Yes, he does! Parrish's statement grabs the reader and invites further reading. On the next page is a numbered list of ways to make a positive impression and/or reassure someone else's impression they've made upon you. Again, it is pretty simple and easy!

Even though this book is geared towards those starting out in life, it is still applicable to those still living their life, no matter how far gone that seemingly "bright future" is. Rarely is it ever too late to learn something new and then apply it to your current situation or even life in general. Chapter 3 of You Don't Have to Learn the Hard Way is all about making dreams come true. It's a lot easier to accomplish and realize your dreams when you are starting off fresh and new in life, just out of college, and ready to take the bull by the horns. Parrish gives you all the tools you need to get it done. But there are many of us who had to live life a little before we were able to realize those dreams, and for those of us who are mid-life and still have dreams, we can still use the lessons Parrish shares.

For example, Parrish reminds us that when we don't like the situation we are in, we should change it. Of course, the older you are, the harder it is to do… but it is possible! Parrish uses the bold red note in the margin to remind us that we can make our dreams come true as long as we are dedicated to it through and through. Our own thoughts, however negative or positive they may be, are what a reality becomes. It is really easy to forget these lessons between all the ins and outs of day to day life, and us "old folk" need to be reminded of this. However, for those starting out in life, it can be something that feeds their attitude towards their future and make the difference between personal and professional success or something less than desired.

Parrish tackles just about every topic under the sun that can help a young adult become successful in life, and if they read it, I do believe they will truly have the positive reinforcement they need to be successful where they dream of success. For parents and older adults needing encouragement to renew their spirit and outlook towards the world, they too will find the encouragement they need to look forward to life as opposed to just living it one day at a time.

Hopefully I can keep these great lessons fresh in my memory to share with my children and when the time is right, hand You Don't Have to Learn the Hard Way: Making It in the Real World: A Guide for Graduates over to them to read. Simply put, this is the kind of book we all need on the family bookshelf!

A Girl's Guide to Modern European Philosophy

I didn't really know what to expect from A Girl's Guide to Modern European Philosophy, but seeing as how I've always enjoyed Philosophy and I love a great novel, I figured I had nothing to lose in trying this book on for size. Within the first couple of pages, I was hooked. Not only is Charlotte Grieg's storytelling very casual, almost as if a friend were conversing with you, but the story itself is relatable to just about any woman who has survived (most of) her twenties or even the 1970's.

Although the story takes place in 1970's Europe, it's quite relevant to modern times. This coming-of-age story deals not only with Susannah Jones' life as a philosophy student, but also as a young adult trying to find her rightful place in this crazy, ever-changing world. Being a mere 20 year old, Susannah faces the same anxieties related to her surroundings and friends that just about every 20-something faces.

Susannah finds herself pregnant during the time where women's liberation was abundant, and her inner battle leads her to a philosophical debate that ultimately rules her decision making. Susannah is thoughtful and cares deeply about making the right decision for herself, even though she sometimes lacks the ability to carry out her decisions. Susannah as a character is imperfect, and I believe that is what makes her so real and very genuine.

As I mentioned before, many twenty-something women and even those who still enjoy reminiscing upon those years, may find some familiarity with Susannah even if they aren't able to relate to her unplanned pregnancy. This is a surprisingly light read considering the philosophical topics offered by the book, and would be perfect for reading over a lazy day or weekend!

The Get Organized Answer Book

Dingy Desk? 50 lb. Purse? STILL Haven’t Done Your Taxes Cuz of All the Mess??
Clear Away the Clutter and Save $$ NOW!!

Spring has finally arrived and you can start fresh with new organizational skills that will pay off big time and last all year round. Jamie Novak, clutter-free queen and author of the newly released The Get Organized Answer Book: Practical Solutions for 275 Questions on Conquering Clutter, Sorting Stuff, and Finding More Time and Energy, can help you de-clutter your home and open yourself up to all the possibilities extra space and organization have to offer.

Jamie is a nationally recognized home inventory expert and professional organizer who says that about 80% of the clutter in every home or office is a result of disorganization, not lack of space. Her strategies, tips, and tools for success can help everyone conquer their messes, learn how to save money, and start living a much richer, more productive life today.

· Lack energy to organize? How to get motivated

· Is organizing pricey? How you can save BIG bucks and BIG room at the same time

· Fooled by all the freebies? How you can and should stop taking home free stuff

· Kids who love to clutter? How to get your children involved in the organizing process

· And much more!

Known as the “World’s Most Relatable Organizer,” Jamie Novak is the organizing expert for NBC’s iVillage and the author of two bestselling books, 1,000 Best Organizing Secrets and 1,000 Best Time Saving Strategies. Jamie and her organizing tips are frequently featured in national publications and programs that include Family Circle, Woman’s Day, American Baby, Parents, QVC, and HGTV's Mission Organization. For more info, including Jamie’s new video reel, visit http://jamienovak.com/MediaRoom.html

The Last Days of the Lacuna Cabal

For the off-beat book readers and lovers of literature, The Last Days of the Lacuna Cabal supply much of what these types of readers are looking for - energy, imagination, and friendship. Although the characters are far from your garden-variety, everyday people, the story itself is unique and witty. If you enjoy storytelling and the artistry of epic literary works, The Last Days of the Lacuna Cabal is worth picking up and delving into.

The Last Days of the Lacuna Cabal
by Sean Dixon

“A heavily embroidered coming-of-age tale.... Energetic....Full of sound and fury.” —Kirkus Reviews

“Imaginative.” —Library Journal

“An unapologetically high-concept novel that is both giddy and reverential.” —Quill and Quire

The Last Days of the Lacuna Cabal by Sean Dixon is a mischievous rites of passage tale that takes place just as the Iraq war is exploding. The misfits and oddballs that make up the members of the Lacuna Cabal Montreal Young Women’s Book Club pride themselves on their good taste, intelligent discussions, and impeccable opinions. But what makes them different from other clubs is that they actually enact the books they are reading—until one of the books starts enacting their lives, so to speak.

And this book is The Epic of Gilgamesh—one of the earliest known works of literary fiction. As we know from the start, this epic poem begins “as an adventure story about a hero and his friend, but then somebody dies and everything changes and the hero goes on a long journey, in search of wisdom and the secret of eternal life.” Life imitates art, and our cast of characters set out on their own parallel journey to break their archetypes, discover their identities and places in the world, and grapple with the uncertainty of their futures.

The Last Days of the Lacuna Cabal is a wildly ambitious novel that is infused with literary references from Margaret Atwood to Anne Carson to Michael Ondaatje. While the story has a surface veneer of playfulness with its raucous dark humor, underneath lies a deep exploration of human fragility and loneliness. Sean Dixon has succeeded in creating an original work that resolutely redefines the postmodern canon of literature by bringing it back to its core—the power of storytelling.

About the Author
Sean Dixon is a writer, occasional essayist, stage actor, and banjoist. His work has been published in The Globe and Mail, This Magazine, Canadian Theatre Review, and Brick, A Literary Journal. He gave up jobs as a shipper-receiver, a poster boy (of the putting up on billboards variety), and a prison driver to become a writer. He lives and plays banjo in Toronto and is currently working
on his next novel.

Wenda the Wacky Wiggler

Wenda the Wacky Wiggler is the tale of a very spirited child. Much like my very happy and active son, she is filled with such joy, it can't be contained and she just has to move, move, and move. Then, just like in real life, the grumpy adults, who have lost sight of the daily pleasures life brings, want to keep Wenda from dancing around and enjoying each day the way she knows best. Despite their best efforts to keep Wenda silent and still, the grumpy adults saw Wenda's excitement for life welled from deep within. They opened their eyes and let Wenda's infectious love for herself and her love for life seep within their own hearts, and before they knew it, they were enjoying themselves, their lives, and all the things they were now able to do with a positive attitude - all thanks to Wenda!

Wenda's tale is inspiring for the young, and reminds those of us who aren't so young anymore, that the world through the eyes of a child can make us feel light and happy. Christopher Aslan has really poured his heart into this tale, and you feel that from the moment the story begins. If you don't walk away from this joyful tale with a smile on your face, you weren't paying attention, and you need to start over from the beginning!

Not only is Wenda the Wacky Wiggler a tale that is bound to become a treasured classic, but Emily Mullcok's illustrations are energizing and compliment the positive flow of the story.

I look forward to seeing more books from Christopher Aslan, and the positive messages they bring to the young and old. He's becoming a favorite of mine and I believe every other family will feel the same. Invite Wenda into your home today and you will feel her joy, too!

Lilly and Lucy's Shadow

From page one, it is easy to fall in love with Lilly and Lucy. I see myself and memories from the past playing out through the pages of this beautifully illustrated book. I then see my twin girls as younger versions of Lilly and Lucy. Just like the girls in the book, my girls have danced and played with their shadows.

Some stories really give you a warm feeling when you read them, and this is one of those stories. Regardless of gender, the story is identifiable by all readers of all ages. Christopher Aslan's writing style makes reading aloud easy because of the rhythm and flow of the words. Toddlers and preschoolers will definitely enjoy not only the story itself, but the sound and the pictures that go along. Early readers will be able to read along and identify the action verbs, which is very helpful for children like my first grader, whom is learning to read longer words.

Lilly and Lucy's Shadow is a great addition to your family bookshelf. Between the writing and the artistry, it's got at least a little something for everyone in your home!