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Your Kids Are Your Own Fault by Larry Winget

Reviewed by: Chris Singer

About the author:

Larry Winget, known as the Pitbull of Personal Development®, is one of the country’s leading business speakers and a member of the National Speakers Association Hall of Fame. He is also the host of A&E’s reality series Big Spender and author of the New York Times bestseller It’s Called Work for a Reason! He lives in Paradise Valley, Arizona with his family.

About the book:

I know what you are thinking. Why is Larry Winget writing a book about kids? As Larry explains, “Why am I writing this book? Look around. Our kids are a mess! They are overmedicated, over-indulged, over-fed, over-weight, over-entertained, under-educated, under-achieving, under-disciplined, disrespectful, illiterate brats with a sense of entitlement that is crippling our society. And it has to change!”

Along with in-depth research and experience from raising his own kids, Winget makes sure you “don’t expect to change your kids’ behavior, unless you are willing to change your own.” He uses the same tough love approach that has made him a bestselling author to make sure you are teaching your kids the right values to become productive adults and live a successful life.

Winget forces parents to take a good look at their own behavior and make a change. He offers five basic principles but maintains that it isn’t a matter of just doing them; it is how well you do them that counts. Winget touches upon all of life’s lessons from being responsible with money, to discipline, to dealing with your child as a dating teenager.

My take on the book:

I have a confession to make. When I got an e-mail asking if I would review this book, the e-mail was worded like I would know who Larry Winget was. However, I had no idea as the name didn’t ring a bell with me at all. So I googled his name and through a little bit of searching, I found myself on websites which made my left-leaning sensibilities cringe a little. Okay, I cringed a lot, but I decided to review the book anyway.

And I’m glad I gave Larry Winget a shot, because his message is a good one. The core of this message is that your kids don’t need you being their friend, but need you to teach them responsibility and to guide them. Throughout the book there are worksheets which were very helpful. My wife read this book after I did and we went through some of the sheets together. They were a good starting point for discussions about our parenting philosophies, which is also a key theme I took from the book.

My favorite section of the book was Winget’s discussion of self-esteem. I agreed with much of this discussion as I too feel many children today are told they are the wonderful and the best, while they aren’t doing and accomplishing things worthy of such accolades. Not that your child isn’t wonderful, but I think too many parents today are too eager to reward and praise their child, while finding

Tale of a Baseball Dream by Jerry Pearlman

Reviewed by: Chris Singer

About the author:

Jerry Pearlman graduated from Southwest Texas State University in San Marcos, Tx. (now Texas State University) in 1977, with a BBA in Business Management.

The inspiration for Tales of a Baseball Dream comes from his son who loved playing baseball. He believed it was important to give his son the opportunity to develop his talents, so he spent much quality time with him and his friends playing baseball. The extra hours of practice resulted in us having many positive, and fun experiences playing baseball.

He believes it is important as a parent, to set a positive example, and keep open communications with your child. His current and future goals are to try and make a difference, by being a supporter against bullying, and communicating positive ideas to parents and teachers.

About the book:

Tale of A Baseball Dream is the inspirational story of a boy (Dusty Hunter), who loves to play baseball.  He has an incredibly strong desire to become a great baseball player.  His dad works relentlessly with Dusty to give him every opportunity to develop his baseball skills..

The story entwines Dusty’s life with “The Legend of Bubba ‘The Brute’ Brugosee,” who was considered many decades earlier as “The Greatest Baseball Hero of all Time!”

Dusty is undersized, but has the Heart of a Champion!

My take on the book:

If you read the author bio above, you may already be able to get a sense of what the theme of a Tale of a Baseball Dream is in this excellent first effort from Jerry Pearlman. As an author looking to tell stories which can make a difference, he has certainly hit a home-run with this inspirational and positive portrayal of a father and son relationship.

Tale of a Baseball Dream is not only a wonderful story about a father and son’s mutual love of baseball, but is also the story of how a father’s belief in his son can live on long after his passing.

I think this book will be enjoyed especially by boys in the 8-12 age range. Fathers and sons can enjoy this book together and also be able to engage in some excellent conversations based on some of the themes in the story. Younger boys will enjoy this story as well, and dads can get an excellent opportunity to bond as they read-aloud together with their son. This is also an excellent book for reluctant readers. It is fast-paced and young readers will be able to relate to Dusty’s dreams of becoming a great baseball player.  If you’re into baseball history, you may realize some parallels as well with the characters and teams. I won’t spoil the fun though. You’ll have to step up to the plate and give this one a read for yourself.

Fahrenheit 451: The Authorized Adaptation by Ray Bradbury (Illustrated by Tim Hamilton)

Reviewed by: Chris Singer

About the author:

Ray Bradbury is one of those rare individuals whose writing has changed the way people think. His more than five hundred published works — short stories, novels, plays, screenplays, television scripts, and verse — exemplify the American imagination at its most creative.

Once read, his words are never forgotten. His best-known and most beloved books, THE MARTIAN CHRONICLES, THE ILLUSTRATED MAN, FAHRENHEIT 451 and SOMETHING WICKED THIS WAY COMES, are masterworks that readers carry with them over a lifetime. His timeless, constant appeal to audiences young and old has proven him to be one of the truly classic authors of the 20th Century — and the 21st.

In recognition of his stature in the world of literature and the impact he has had on so many for so many years, Bradbury was awarded the National Book Foundation’s 2000 Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters, an the National Medal of Arts in 2004.

About the illustrator:

Tim Hamilton has produced art for The New York Times Book Review, Cicada magazine, King Features, BOOM Studios, Mad Magazine, and ACT-I-VATE. He most recently adapted Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island into a graphic novel for Puffin Graphics.

About the book:

“Monday burn Millay, Wednesday Whitman, Friday Faulkner, burn ’em to ashes, then burn the ashes.” For Guy Montag, a career fireman for whom kerosene is perfume, this is not just an official slogan. It is a mantra, a duty, a way of life in a tightly monitored world where thinking is dangerous and books are forbidden.

In 1953, Ray Bradbury envisioned one of the world’s most unforgettable dystopian futures, and in Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451, the artist Tim Hamilton translates this frightening modern masterpiece into a gorgeously imagined graphic novel. As could only occur with Bradbury’s full cooperation in this authorized adaptation, Hamilton has created a striking work of art that uniquely captures Montag’s awakening to the evil of government-controlled thought and the inestimable value of philosophy, theology, and literature.

Including an original foreword by Ray Bradbury and fully depicting the brilliance and force of his canonic and beloved masterwork, Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451 is an exceptional, haunting work of graphic literature.

My take on the book:

Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451 is one of my favorite books and when I saw there was a graphic novel version I wanted to review it here on Book Dads.

I don’t think it matters if this is your first introduction to 451 or if you’re already a fan of the novel. Either way, you’re going to really enjoy this adaptation. For those familiar with the story, the adaptation stays

Head, Body, Legs: A Story from Liberia by Won-Ldy Paye  & Margaret Lippert (Illustrated by: Julie Paschkis)

Reviewed by: Chris Singer

About the authors:

Won-Ldy Paye is a multi-talented artist from the Dan people of northeastern Liberia, West Africa. He is a member of the Tlo Ker Mehn, the class of professional Dan entertainers who are keepers of the oral tradition. He was trained by his grandmother-Gowo to remember and retell the stories of the Dan people.  Some of the published credits of Won-Ldy Paye include The Talking Vegetables, Head, Body, Legs: A Story from Liberia, Why Leopard Has Spots: Dan Stories from Liberia.

Margaret Lippert is the author of 22 books, including 9 anthologies and 13 books for children and young adults. Much of Lippert’s body of work draws from the storytelling and folklore traditions of Africa, Latin America, and Asia. After moving from New York to the Seattle area in 1990, she began a collaboration with Won-Ldy Paye, a Liberian storyteller from the Dan tribe tradition. Her most recent books have grown out of this partnership, and are co-authored by Paye. She lives on Mercer Island, Washington.

About the illustrator:

Julie Paschkis is a painter and illustrator, specializing in children’s books and posters. She was inspired by the Asafo flags of the Fante people from coastal Ghana while illustrating this book. Julie lives in Seattle, Washington.

About the book:

Head is all alone. Body bounces along, Arms swing about, and Legs stand around. They can’t do much by themselves, so they try to join together. But how? Should Head attach to the belly button? Should Legs stand on Arms? If only they can work together, everything will be perfect. Straight from the oral tradition comes this magical retelling of a creation story from Liberia.

My take on the book:

Head, Body, Legs is the wonderful retelling of a Liberian creation folktale and a terrific example of the oral storytelling tradition. I am also very pleased that it is my first book completed for my Read Around the World Challenge!

Young children are going to love this beautifully illustrated story of how head, arms, body and legs met and worked together to become one complete body. Although perhaps a little young for this story, my daughter really enjoyed pointing at the body parts she knew! Readers will undoubtedly giggle at the difficulty the body parts have upon coming together, such as when head becomes attached to belly button and arms get attached to legs. The lesson for children to take from this story is that the reason the body parts are able to eventually fit together pr

Spaghetti in a Hot Dog Bun by Maria Dismondy (Illustrated by Kimberly Shaw-Peterson)

Reviewed by: Chris Singer

About the author:

Maria Dismondy has learned to tame her mane of hair since her tumultuous elementary school days. She celebrates her uniqueness and strives to make each day count. Having earned her master’s in education, she has taught elementary school for several years. Maria lives in southeastern Michigan with her charming husband, Dave and daughter Ruby.

About the illustrator:

Kimberly Shaw-Peterson has been drawing and painting since she could hold a crayon. Because of her passion for unusual food and her big hair, she was born to illustrate Spaghetti in a Hot Dog Bun. She is a self-taught artist and comes from a very artistic family. Kimberly attributes her ability to both of her wonderful grandmothers, Gloria and Marian, who were also artists. She lives with her husband, Scott, and her daughter, Ella, in southeastern Michigan.

About the book:

How can Ralph be so mean? Lucy is one of a kind and Ralph loves to point that out. Lucy’s defining moment comes when Ralph truly needs help. Because she knows what she stands for, Lucy has the courage to make a good choice. This charming story empowers children to always do the right thing and be proud of themselves, even when they are faced with someone as challenging as Ralph.

My take on the book:

I didn’t have the opportunity to put a week’s worth of posts together in recognition of No Name-Calling Week, but for the last few weeks, I have been saving this review of Spaghetti in a Hot Dog Bun by Maria Dismondy for today.

Lucy is an adorable girl who truly embraces her individuality. Time and time again though, Lucy gets teased and bullied by Ralph. On the playground, Lucy has the perfect opportunity to exact her revenge when Ralph is stuck on top of the monkey bars and is afraid. Instead, Lucy remembers the words of her grandfather (“We each have a heart with feelings on the inside”) and responds with kindness and respect.

This is a fantastic book! Maria does a beautiful job of using Lucy’s story to show children how to address bullying through kindness instead of giving into the temptation of bullying back. Not only did Lucy resist bullying back, but showed a lot of courage in doing the right thing and treating someone who has wronged her the way she would like to be treated. As a result, readers witness not only a w

Second Chance: How Adoption Saved A Boy with Autism & His Shelter Dog by Sandra Gerencher

Reviewed by: Chris Singer

About the author:

Sandra J. Gerencher is a special education teacher in the Bangor Area public school system. Prior to becoming a teacher, she worked at Lehigh University in a school-based program, as a Program Specialist for adults with disabilities. Over the past 20 years she has worked with children and adults with special needs in such areas as counseling, Behavior Specialist Consultation, behavioral research, crisis intervention and abuse therapy. Sandra graduated from Lehigh University with a M.Ed. in Special Education (2004) and from Chestnut Hill College in Philadelphia with an M.S. in Counseling Psychology (1999).

About the book:

Over the past 10 years, author Sandra Gerencher has been on a mission to save dogs from high-kill animal shelters. Her first rescue was P.J., the black and white Pomeranian in the story. She also adopted the orange Pomeranians Shelby and Lil Rascal, and of course, Chance, the big black Rottweiler/German Shepherd mix.

Her most significant adoption was her son, Terry. He was considered a special needs child because he was born with a genetic disorder known as Fragile X Syndrome. The disorder can cause many cognitive disorders, such as autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, mental retardation and depression.

All characters in the story are based on Sandra’s real life family.

Watch the book trailer:

My take on the book:

Second Chance is a beautifully written testimony to the power of love we can give to someone by offering them a second chance. Told from the unique perspective of the rescued dog Chance, young readers are the given the opportunity to learn about adoption and autism in a very simple yet beautiful way. The impressionistic photographs were fascinating for me and I thought were incredibly poignant as a metaphor for empathy and learning to see the world through someone else’s eyes.

Sandra Gerencher’s lifelong commitment to rescuing dogs and her love of both animals and people is incredibly inspiring. It’s easy for me to say this is a must-read for adopted children but I want to go a step further and say it&rsq

Red in the Flower Bed (An Illustrated Children’s Story About Interracial Adoption) by Andrea Nepa

Reviewed by: Chris Singer

About the author:

Andrea Nepa is the mother of an adopted Vietnamese daughter named Leah. In 2001, Adoptions from the Heart assisted with the international adoption. Her book is dedicated to her daughter: “For my dear Leah, whose journey in her young life has already taken her to far away and unexpected places.” In 2006, Leah was diagnosed with cancer. She is currently in remission. Andrea lives with Leah and her husband, David, in Haddonfield, New Jersey. She is a registered dietitian for the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

About the book:

The journey of adoption is beautifully depicted through the comforting imagery of a poppy flower who is welcomed into a garden family. It is a charming story of seeds being planted in the perfect place – exactly where they belong.

Watch the book trailer:

My take on the book:

Red in the Flower Bed is a charming and elegant rhyming poem telling the story of a lone poppy seed floating through the air in search of a place to call home. The poppy seed and gardening motif serves very nicely as a subtle yet stirring metaphor for interracial adoption.

I loved the simplicity in the pictures in this book. They reminded me of a homemade collage project and left me and imagine other readers with a warm feeling as you can see the love which has gone into the creation of this book. I was struck by the powerful emotions I felt while reading this book as well. I was in awe of this and found it to be quite a powerful and touching tribute (appropriate since it’s published by Tribute Books!!) to the infinite bounds of a parent’s love for a child.

I’m a huge supporter/proponent of adoption as I have had the opportunity to spend time overseas working with orphans of AIDS and also visiting orphanages. I will definitely be recommending this book to people I know who have adopted or who work with adopted children.

I also want to give Tribute Books a great deal of credit here as well by having the book available in so many different formats: Paperback

That’s Not How You Play Soccer, Daddy by Sherry Shahan (Illustrated by Tatjana Mai-Wyss)

Reviewed by: Chris Singer

About the author:

Sherry Shahan is a photojournalist and the author of numerous books for young readers, including Death Mountain, a young adult survival novel based on a real-life experience. Her bilingual picture books include Spicy Hot Colors and Cool Cats Counting. When not writing in her California beach bungalow, Sherry sits in the bleachers cheering on her grandsons’ soccer and baseball teams.

About the illustrator:

Tatjana Mai-Wyss was born in Switzerland. She grew up with her nose in a book and always wanted to be the one to draw the pictures. Today, she is a freelance illustrator in sunny South Carolina, where she can draw out on the screen porch all year long and listen to the birds. She has illustrated a number of picture books, including A Tree for Emmy and That’s Not How You Play Soccer, Daddy!

About the book:

Mikey takes his duties as captain of the Hot Diggity Diner soccer team very seriously. After a tough practice, his dad takes him to play in the park, but Mikey only wants to practice for the Big Game. Daddy offers to help, but to Mikey’s dismay he doesn’t put in much of an athletic effort. He keeps bending the rules and telling his impatient son to “just have fun.” After an irresistible ticklefest, however, Mikey comes around to Daddy’s way of thinking — and joins him and his dog Socks in the best soccer game ever!

My take on the book:

If you’ve been visiting Book Dads for awhile, you’ve probably noticed I have a tendency to review a lot of children’s books about soccer. Soccer is a beautiful game for so many reasons and while I can’t wait to share my love for soccer with my daughter (I already have, but there’s still more to share!!), I’m a little nervous about those soccer nazi parents who treat every game like it’s the World Cup.

One of the ways I plan on easing some of my nerves is by getting involved and coaching. Part two of my plan is to give everyone on the team a copy of this book. The beauty of Shahan’s book is that it is the complete opposite of so many sports books written for children which usually portray a young hero or heroine winning the game with a crucial play or having their team win the championship. Instead it focuses on the joy and good times when participati

This week I’m featuring reviews of books by one of my favorite book publishers – Peachtree Publishers.

Peachtree Publishers is an independently owned trade book publisher, specializing in quality children’s books, from picture books to young adult fiction and nonfiction. They also publish self-help titles covering education, parenting, psychology, and health along with walking, hiking, fishing guides from the South (Peachtree is based in Atlanta, GA).

Besides offering high quality books, Peachtree Publishers offer many resources for their readers and customers including: Teacher Guides, Information on Guided Reading Levels, Book Trailers, Information on Author Visits to Schools and more.

You can catch the latest news from Peachtree by visiting their blog: The World of Peachtree Publishers. By the way, please congratulate them on their first Blog-O-Versary!!

This week Book Dads will feature reviews of four books from Peachtree Publishers:

Tuesday, January 19th: Hey Daddy! Animal Fathers and Their Babies by Mary Batten

Wednesday, January 19th: Flying by Kevin Luthardt

Thursday, January 20th: That’s Not How You Play Soccer, Daddy! by Sherry Shahan

Friday, January 21st: Rolling Along – The Story of Taylor and His Wheelchair by Jamee Riggio

There will be more reviews of some newly released Peachtree books coming out later this Winter and Spring.

Martin’s Big Words: The Life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. by Doreen Rappaport (Illustrated by Bryan Collier)

Reviewed by: Chris Singer

About the author:

Doreen Rappaport is known for her ground-breaking approach to multicultural history and stories for young readers. In her many award-winning books, she brings attention to not-yet-celebrated Americans, along with well-known figures.

A former teacher of music and reading, Doreen knows how to capture children’s attention. Her dynamic formats engage even the most reluctant readers.

Martin’s Big Words: The Life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. is an Orbis Pictus Honor Book, Coretta Scott King Honor Book, Caldecott Honor Book for Illustration, ALA Notable Book, and is on the Blue Ribbon list of the Bulletin Center for Children’s Books.

We Are The Many: A Picture Book of American Indians, introduces the accomplishments of sixteen distinguished American Indians.

Her classic Escape From Slavery presents the history of the Underground Railroad through adventure stories.

The Boston Coffee Party introduces children to a neglected event in history books and shows the active roles played by women during the Revolutionary War.

About the illustrator:

Bryan Collier, award-winning author and illustrator, has illustrated numerous children’s books, including Rosa by Nikki Giovanni which was awarded a Coretta Scott King Award and a Caldecott Honor. He also won a Coretta Scott King Award for Uptown, his first attempt at both writing and illustrating. Collier’s latest book he illustrated, Dave The Potter, was just awarded a Caldecott Honor as well.

About the book:

Martin Luther King, Jr., grew up in a place where people used words that made him feel bad. This beautifully illustrated, award-winning book shows how Martin used words to fight for equal rights for black people.

When Martin was growing up, he saw the words “Whites Only” all over town. But he remembered the words of his mother, “You are as good as anyone.”

Doreen Rappaport has taken the words of Martin Luther King, Jr. and woven in her own to create a captivating yet completely accessible book for young readers.

This definitive picture book biography of Dr. Martin L

Cosmic by Frank Cottrell Boyce

Reviewed by: Chris Singer

About the author:

Frank Cottrell Boyce is the author of two other books for children: Framed and Millions, which was made into a movie by Oscar winning director Danny Boyle. Frank lives in England with his family.

About the book:

Liam has always felt a bit like he’s stuck between two worlds.  This is primarily due to the fact that he’s a twelve-year-old kid who looks like he’s about thirty. Sometimes it’s not so bad, like when his new principal mistakes him for a teacher on the first day of school, or when he convinces a car dealer to let him take a Porsche out on a test drive. But mostly it’s just frustrating, being a kid trapped in an adult world.

And so he decides to flip things around.

Liam cons his way onto the first spaceship to take civilians into space, a special flight for a group of kids and an adult chaperone, and he is going as the adult chaperone. It’s not long before Liam, along with his friends, is stuck between two worlds again – only this time he’s 239,000 miles from home.

Book Trailer: