What We're Reading: Tracy

All Kinds of Families, by Mary Ann Hoberman.

"A knife and a fork and a spoon are a family
The stars and the sun and the moon are a family
The socks in the drawer
And the rocks on the shore
And the blocks on the floor
They can all become families."

So begins this warm and whimsical new picture book, which offers up pages and pages of interesting "families" to be seen all around us. The unique illustrations, reminiscient of both modern Japanese cartooning and Disney's classic Small World attraction, feature scores of adorable anthropomorphic objects.
After perusing this book, you won't look at your refrigerator the same way again:

"Eggs in a carton can seem like a family
So can a loaf with its slices of bread
Celery stalks or a big bunch of carrots
They sleep in the fridge with a drawer for a bed."

What We're Reading: Edward

MYTH OF MULTITASKING by DAVE CRENSHAW

In this short book, much like the ONE MINUTE MANAGER,Phil coaches Helen on retaking control of her life and her business. According to Crenshaw there is no such thing as multitasking. There is really switch-tasking and background tasking. It takes time for the brain to switch from one task to another. This is inefficient and actually damages productivity and relationships both at work and at home. Using the exercises at the back of the book, you can plan for the best use of your work and home time to be more productive and satisfied.

What We're Reading: Tracy

Pandemonium and Parade: Japanese Monsters and the Culture of Yokai, by Michael Dylan Foster.

Japanese folklore is particularly rich in fascinating monsters, specters, and other supernatural creatures. Known collectively as yokai, they have a pervasive presence in Japanese art and literature. Foster's academic study of the yokai and their place in Japanese culture is a timely release, as yokai now turn up frequently in world-wide pop culture, including comics and video games. (The animated Hellboy film, Sword of Storms, features scores of yokai in its storylines.) Read with the lights on.

What We're Reading: Edward

If the exploits of James Bond and Jason Bourne seen unreal to you, try reading about Jack Reacher. Jack was a military policeman who got feed up with the system. Now he lives off the grid traveling the country. As he travels his policeman instincts alert him when he sees things that are not quite right. Jack has a true sense of right over wrong. Jack gets himself involved in situations that help the underdog achieve victory. Read the series from the beginning to get a real feel for Jack.

1997 Killing Floor

1998 Die trying

1999 Tripwire

2000 Running Blind

2001 Echo Burning

2002 Without Fail

2003 Persuader

2004 Enemy

2005 One Shot

2006 Hard Way

2007 Bad Luck and Trouble

2008 Nothing to Lose

2009 Gone Tomorrow

What We're Watching: Alice

Julie and Julia (2009) Columbia Pictures with Meryl Streep and Amy Adams.

Julia Child and Julie Powell find their lives intertwined. Though separated by time and space, both women are at loose ends...until they discover that with the right combination of passion, fearlessness and butter, anything is possible.

Meryl Streep is an absolute wonder as Julia Child. Her portrayal is uncanny. Amy Adams does a great job as the "going nowhere temp worker" Julie, who embarks on an insane project to cook the 524 recipes in Julia Child's cookbook in 365 days, and decides to blog about it.

The blog eventually turns into her book, Julie and Julia, on which this movie is based.

Both book and movie are great fun and deserve a FIVE STAR rating.

What We're Watching: Kathryn

The Wrestler
Mickey Rourke, Marisa Tomei, Evan Rachel Wood
This film, about a wrestler who must retire due to heath problems, but can’t get used to life outside the ring, was surprisingly touching to me. It was hard to watch because it was steeped in sadness, but touching as you see the main character, Randy “The Ram” Robinson try to make amends with his estranged daughter, get a full time job at a grocery store and try to make new life for himself. This movie is what it is due to the superb performance by Mickey Rourke. He completely deserved the Academy Award nomination, Golden Globe win and buzz about his comeback. His pain and desperation were palpable.

What We're Listening To: Tish

The Underneath [sound recording] by Kathi Appelt ; read by Gabra Zackman.

This is Kathi Appelt's first novel about an old hound that has been chained up at his hateful owner's run-down shack, and two kittens born underneath the house, who endure separation, danger, and many other tribulations in their quest to be reunited and free.

Gabra Zackman's interpretation of this Newbery Honor Book is so soothing that it captures the imagination of her listeners. Suitable for ages 10 and up.