By Nicki Richesin, The Children’s Book Review
Published: June 7, 2012
Father’s Day is almost upon us. Why not celebrate by reading a few books about the proud papas who brighten our days? So snuggle up with your little ones and thank your lucky stars for the doting fathers in their lives.
By Kristy Dempsey; illustrated by Henry Cole
This book is radical, dude. Seriously, Kristy Dempsey delivers a tidal wave of fun with this tale of a young would-be surfer chick yearning to rip the tides like her righteous dad. When she wipes out, she becomes more determined than ever. Cole’s sunny funny painted illustrations add humor yet a mellow yellow vibe.
Ages 3-7 | Publisher: Abrams, Harry N., Inc. | May 1, 2012
By Jeffrey Brown
If “Luke, I am your father,” is a familiar phrase and let’s face it, who hasn’t heard it, then you’ll love this hilarious sendup to single fathers trying desperately to be nurturing dads. The book poses the question if Darth Vader had been a real pop to Luke, what might have happened? Told in a comic way with light-hearted illustrations, you’ll laugh until you cry.
All Ages | Publisher: Chronicle Books | April 18, 2012
By Natasha Wing; illustrated by Amy Wummer
Wing employs “’twas the night before” as a clever convention in this rhyming story of a family working together to surprise Dad on Father’s Day. I especially appreciated the handy mom who could check the oil while leading her kids as they clean up the garage and wash the car. You should check out the other “night before” books from this bestselling series.
Ages 3-5 | Publisher: Penguin Group | May 10, 2012
Retold by
The Downside of Being Up by Alan Lawrence Sitomer
Review by Chris Singer
About the author (from the author’s website):
Alan Sitomer is California’s 2007 Teacher of the Year. In addition to being an inner-city high school English teacher and former professor in the Graduate School of Education at Loyola Marymount University, Mr. Sitomer is a nationally renowned speaker specializing in engaging reluctant readers who received the 2004 award for Classroom Excellence from the Southern California Teachers of English and the 2003 Teacher of the Year honor from California Literacy. In April 2007, Alan was named Educator of the Year by Loyola Marymount University and in February 2008 The Insight Education Group named Alan Sitomer the Innovative Educator of the Year.
Mr. Sitomer has also authored 11 books to date for esteemed publishers such as Disney, Scholastic, Penguin/Putnam, and RB Education. These include six young adult novels, three children’s picture books, two teacher methodology books, and a classroom curriculum series for secondary English Language Arts instruction called The Alan Sitomer BookJam. In the past he’s been honored by the American Library Association (the A.L.A. named Homeboyz a Top Ten Book of the Year 2008, receiving the prestigious ALA Quick Pick Recognition for young adult novel which best engages reluctant readers) and within the next 18 months Alan will have four new titles hitting the shelves.
Mr. Sitomer is currently on sabbatical from the classroom as he works to re-shape literacy education through policy dialogue, professional development workshops, and authoring new materials for classroom use. His next release, NERD GIRLS, will be available from Disney in June.
About the book (from the publisher):
Thirteen-year-old Bobby Connor is a normal adolescent boy – at least he hopes he is – just trying to survive middle school. But it seems he’s being foiled at every turn, and even his own body is conspiring against him. And when his math teacher is seriously injured from the shock and fright of witnessing just how out of control Bobby’s changing adolescent body is getting, he starts to worry he’s anything but normal.
Faced with expulsion from school for violating the student handbook code, Bobby opts for therapy – Correctional Erectional Therapy. It’s official: Bobby Connor is not normal. But in this uproarious and heartfelt novel, he’s going to do his darndest to make it seem that he is . . . or maybe just try to make it through middle school.
My take on the book:
When I learned what “The Downside of Being Up” was about, I knew it either could be a disaster or incredible. Luckily and happily, it was the latter. This is a really well written book and extremely hilarious. And in hilarious, I mean that it’s laugh out loud hilarious. I read it in one sitting during my daughter’s nap-time one afternoon. It’s a quick and fun read that is will truly engage teen readers.
The situations in which 13-year-old Bobby Connor finds himself are just too funny. From being expelled from school for “Flaunting his erection” to then being forced to undergo Correctional Erectional Therapy with the school counselor, Bobby also has to deal with parents who are a bit too concerned what the neighbors will think when they learn of Bobby’s “problems” at school.
My favorite character though was Bobby’s grandfather. For me, the grandfather made the story. He reminde
Ugh, I jacked my back AGAIN. Luckily, it wasn't too terrible this time and it coincided with the long weekend so I missed minimal amounts of work and got out of having to help Dan tear down the front fence and build a brick wall. (Which he did all by himself and it looks AWESOME. I would have just messed it up.)
Anyway, here are two books that I had to read for work and really didn't want to because I wasn't a huge fan of other books by the same authors. Luckily, I was pleasantly surprised in both cases!
Kendra Coe Booth
Ok, I really didn't like Tyrell. I wasn't going to read
Kendra, but I had to for work. I'm glad I did. I like Booth's online presence and felt bad that I didn't like her book, because I really like her as a person. Now I don't have to feel bad!
Kendra lives with her grandmother in the Bronx, in the projects, but she's a good girl and trying to stay that way. Her mom was 14 when Kendra was born, but Renee just got her PhD. Kendra can't wait to go live her, too bad it looks like Renee is still not ready to face up to her responsibilities as a mother.
Kendra's not going to end up pregnant at 14 like her mom. She's too much of a dork, she's too good. Plus, Nana won't let her out of house and watches her like a hawk.
Kendra has her head screwed on straight. Until her hormones take over.
Sometimes I just wanted to shake her. Kendra was believable and acted like a real teen and she drove me crazy. I am also not happy about the ending,
which you can read about in a spoiler-filled rant here.The story wasn't really my cup of tea, but I liked it a lot more than
Tyrell. I'll probably read Booth's next offering, whatever it turns out to be.
The Secret Story of Sonia Rodriguez Alan Lawrence Sitomer
Sonia wants to be the first in her family to graduate from high school and go to college. Her father works two jobs to support her family while her brothers sit around and watch TV. She's expected to run the house and do all the work, all while under her drunkle's perverted gaze. Then, if things couldn't get worse, her mother decides Sonia doesn't have enough respect and ships her off to Mexico for the summer. While in Mexico, Sonia sees the truth about her culture and her family, and comes home more determined than ever to reach her goals, only her life is more determined than ever to stop her.
I didn't want to read this because I did not like Sitomer's other work. My main complaint (Sitomer is just too angry about what he sees working with kids in urban poverty so his omniscient narrator is just too angry) held true for about the first half of this book. Sonia was really angry about her situation and her culture to the point where it wasn't believable any more. I feel this changed after Sonia's trip to Mexico. There her anger stops being at her culture and starts being directed towards members of her family for particular reasons. After that, I really got into the story and ended up liking it, but I would have put it down after 50 pages if I hadn't been required to read it.
Surfer Chick 
Darth Vader and Son 
The Night Before Father’s Day 
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