Fathers Day Books

Days of the Black Bird is one of Tomie de Paola's children books. There are birds in this book. The birds make nice noise in this book. But they go away in the winter and they come back in the spring. The girl in this book tries to keep one of the birds so she will always hear nice music. She makes a nest to comfort the bird. My favorite part is when the white bird goes in the chimney. When the white comes to sing he is covered in soot and looks funny. I would recommend this book to children in the K2 and the 5th grade because it's appropriate and if your learning about Tomie de Paoloa then this would be a good book. This is just one of Tomie de Paola's books. If you want to read more of his books just go to the library.

There are three main characters in this book; Duca Gennaro, Gemma, La Colombia. Duca Gennero is a duke who has a huge house in the middle of the town. He lived alone with his daughter Gemma. He would let anyone in the town come into his house for anything they needed because Duca Gennaro was a kind and wise man. He was also known for his good advice that would bring people in. Everyday, he would ask Gemma how her day was and what she learned. They would go into the courtyard and listen to the birds sing. Gemma's favorite bird was a pure white one, that she named La Colombia.
Then the winter came and the birds flew away to somewhere warm. Duca Gennaro always would reassure Gemma that Spring would be here soon. Then Spring came again and Gemma and her father listened to the birds sing. Duca Gennaro got sick after one hot summer, a year later. He would ask Gemma to open the window, so he could hear the birds sing. Soon the winter came, and the birds were ready to leave. Gemma made them baskets to live in and feed them too, so they would stay tho sing to her dad.
Christmas came and all the children it the town came to Duca Gennaro's house to get a Christmas present. All the birds flew away because it was too cold. La Colombia was the only one that stayed there. The Duke was still sick. His friends knew that he loved the music from the birds, so they decided to play some music for him. The Duke wasn't happy because he wanted to hear the birds sing. It got even colder outside, but La Colombia still stayed. La Colombia flew up to the chimney to make a nest for himself.
Will Duca Gennaro get better? Will Spring ever come? What will happen to La Colombia? Read the book to find the answers to these questions.
I really enjoyed this book because I think that Tomie de Paola is a great author and illustrator. He writes books that the whole family can enjoy!

This is a somewhat unusual book because it may appeal to two age groups: Toddlers and Pre-Adolescents. The former will like the big colorful pictures and happy ending; the latter may appreciate the references to Italian culture and folklore. The plot and conclusion may be somewhat boring to children between these ages, and the very ill father may upset some toddlers. Still, very young children may enjoy the human-animal interaction and the happy denouement.

A well-loved father becomes very sick; bird song seems to cheer him. Most of the birds leave as winter comes, save for one white one who continues to sing. This bird climbs up in a chimney stack to stay warm and keep the father's spirits up through his eventual recovery. Nicely illustrated, with big, "folkish" drawings effectively highlighting an Italian village.

Jim Gorant really knows his stuff. If you love sports and could use a good laugh, don't hesitate to pick up this book and devour it from cover to cover. Bravo to Mr. Gorant for getting out there and giving us the real feelings behind these events.

I bought this book being told it would be great even if I wasn't a sports fan. I am told Jim is very funny. After reading this book I realize both are true.
I am not much of a sports fan, but his writing is very engaging and entertaing in the same way Anthony Bourdaine(Kitchen Confidential) and David Searis(Me Talk Pretty One Day) are. He is also the same type of as humor as they are more akin to Bourdaine than Sedaris. I must admit to laughing out loud through every section of the book.
As for not being a sports fan he does a great job at bring you to the experience with his observatioons and gives the reader enough backgroud to get a good sense of the "experience". He keeps himself relatable to both sports fans and non sports fans alike with a great balance of passion and knowledge.
From his time with the people he meets in Daytona to the craziness of the Superbowl it seems he finds somthing that goes beyond just sports. He manages to find and look for a sort of good quality and in fans that is more human and less alienating than I would expect. He is introspective enough really breath in the experience. It's the perfect summer read and just in time for Fathers Day
(My dad is a sports fan)....I could recomend this to just about anyone!

Jim has a great way of showing how people share their love of sport. Fantastic story-teller, very humorous and laugh-out-loud.
-"Ian"

Great book. I never really thought too much about grooming to be honest -- so this was a great starting point. Recommended for any man who wants to look their best.

Being a black male not many grooming books for men tend to have any tips that pertain to me however, this book surprised me because it did. There were tips to help a black man shave and tips on beard maintenance. The only problem that I had was the book was very short but again it did have some good advice on grooming for "all males".

I was looking for something like this for the longest time. I'm so glad to have found a book for men on this topic. I like that the author covers so many different areas of grooming and also talks about healthy eating, exercise and even meditation. I would truly recommend this to any man looking to improve his appearance. A+

I really enjoyed this story. I didn't expect it to be very good, proving that expectations are not always logical. The characters were realistic and intriguing and the book really held my attention. I'll look for more works from this author.

Not a bad tale, somewhat slow in the telling, and the overuse of metaphors gets on the nerves once in a while.

But he has a good turn of phrase and some of the phrases made me laugh out loud.

I haven't read this yet, but once I my Kindle arrives in a few days, I'll be able to do so. So why am I writing a review? Simple. I'm a fan. I've read Rick's Ramblings for years on www.fool.com where he's a regular, and enjoyed every one of his ramblings. Sometimes he teaches me something, sometimes he makes me think, but he always makes me laugh.
I look forward to reading this one!

Throughout the ages, poets and philosophers have extolled the virtues of womanhood and motherhood. Pablo Picasso is quoted: "My mother said to me, 'If you become a soldier you'll be a general; if you become a monk you'll end up as the pope.' Instead, I became a painter and wound up as Picasso.

Finally, a book about Picasso that tells a coherent biographical history and backs up information with references, and all by a family member who evidently did his research (the son of Maya, Marie-Therese's daughter).

The author never knew his grandfather so he had to do his research in order to write such a consice history. My favorite read on Picasso is still Francoise Gilot's "Life with Picasso" but this one is a close second. The Real Family Story is an excellent read on the artist's myriad families and the heirs of Picasso, though none of the other books by family members can be discounted.

The only real slant is that Olivier Widmaier Picasso appears to be closer to the Francoise side of the family than the Olga side of the family (which may be an understatement) but in such an expansive family there are naturally divides.

Importantly, delves into the troublesome estate matters left behind by Picasso, which all heirs seemed to have benefitted after a lot of legal process.

Finally, a biography about Picasso written by a family member (his grandson by Marie-Therese Walter)that puts right all the ogre mythology. Yes, Picasso was not an ideal family man. But so much written about him in other biographies deem him almost inhuman. This bio is good because it puts all the facts out there. Good and bad. Widmaier refutes many of the "evil man myths" and gives you a straight view of what the man was really made of. I felt after reading this, a real grasp on this man/legend. A good job, that maybe his Grandfather would have appreciated, even though he was such a private person.

This book will give one a real opportunity for reflection without having to take time off from every day life. Ms. Srubas' words take everyday events and situations and allow one to find spiritual healing and honesty. Most of us don't have time to "get away from it all" in order to gain perspective, so this little book allows that same gain of perspective while continuing with the daily grind.

"The desert will show you what you are and are not made of, what you do and do not need," writes the author as she introduces her personal reflections on the spiritual desert that is part of the life of every Christian. While her first book, "Oblation," used the Rule of St. Benedict as a springboard for her meditations, City of Prayer reaches back to an earlier time, to women and men who lived in the desert and were known and sought out for their wisdom and holy lives. A brief quote from one of these Desert Fathers or Mothers, introduces a personal reflection, often anecdotal, that gently invites readers to look deeply into their own experience.
These brief essays offer antidotes to the "numbing climate of excess in which the over-scheduling of time crowds out contemplation." They range from moments of grateful intimacy with our hands and all they have done for us, to encounters with scary desert creatures and violent summer storms; from loving a friend who is "an icon of practicality and calm, an embodiment of down-to-earth hope," to painfully recalling adolescent outbursts of anger in a dysfunctional family.
City of Prayer speaks powerfully and is beautifully written. It will make you smile, and at other times bring tears to your eyes. You meet colorful characters who behave outrageously as well as holy women and men who will inspire you. Wonderfully human, its honesty and practicality will speak to your heart.

Everybody loves Clifford the Big Red Dog, and in this edition of the popular Scholastic series, Clifford goes to visit his father in the country. This is a fairly typical Clifford book, with an easily understood story and pictures, but two things make this book exceptional. The first is that it shows that Clifford and his father live apart, but that Clifford misses his dad very much and wants to be with him. The second is that it shows the differences between father and son, since Clifford's dad is an ordinary dog of regular size who doesn't look like him at all. There are underlying lessons here for children of divorced/separated dads or adopted dads, not to mention a starting point for a discussion with any child of growing up and leaving home. That's quite an accomplishment for such a small book!

"Clifford has a father, too, but his father lives far away in the country. Sometimes, Clifford misses his Dad. Last year on my father's birthday, Clifford did something surprising. He ran off in the middle of the party!" --From the book

Clifford's Day With Dad is a story about Clifford visiting his father who lives far away in the country. Even though Clifford is much, much larger than his Dad, his father still thinks of him as the little puppy he loved so much.

This book shows the many things that Clifford's Dad taught him in his formative years, including how to fetch, dig a hole, rummage through the trash to find interesting stuff, and chase motorcycles.

Because Clifford is so huge, when he attempts these acts, the results are pretty disruptive...but amusing. For example, while his Dad digs a small hole, Clifford ends up digging a large hole that tunnels under the road! While his Dad rummages through the trash, Clifford gets the idea that it's easier to just dump the contents of the cans on the lawn. Of course, the neighbors aren't happy, so Clifford sheepishly cleans up his messes and restores things to their original state.

Clifford's Day With Dad will likely be a big hit with fans of Clifford. It's an entertaining book for Father's Day--or any day. The sentences are simple which makes this a good book for budding readers, as well.

Easy to get lost it. I cannot say enough about how wonderfully written this book is. Hightly recommended!

Near the Arizona Mazatzal Mountains, Natalie Forester runs guest services at Bear Creek Ranch, a position she is good at as she effortlessly makes everyone who visits feel welcome. Former rodeo star widower Aaron Reyes is the new owner of the ranch; he is in town on family business for a short time. He makes Natalie wary especially because of how he looks at her with desire and how she reacts to him.

She knows she is attracted to Aaron, but refuses to act on it; keeping him at a distance. The single mom knows she cannot afford emotional entanglements as everything she feels must be caring for her baby, Shilo. Aaron wants the mom and is falling for her precocious child, but love is not strong enough for this rolling stone to stop moving on or is it.

This is an interesting contemporary romance starring two individuals whose fears caused by failed relationships make neither particularly wanting to take the first step. Aaron and Natalie are two deer caught in the headlights as neither embraces love; in fact they are so wary of love they flee from it. Cathy David provides a warm tale of sometimes you must take a chance at risking your heart

Harriet Klausner

I bought this book for my husband after I recieved Women of Character. They are great books that compliment each other. We enjoy reading and learning from them.

Men of Character is a book that I bought for my son at his request. However, I too read it! I am a woman and I find the encouragements of this devotional to be exceptional. Each segment tells me about a particular man of God and his challenges. The segments ask thought provoking questions. Each segment takes but a few minutes to read, and I walk away each time with a new encouragement and perspective that I apply to my own life. I think this book would be a wonderful resource to men but I find it rich for me personally too. I have ordered this devotional for my nephew and for a female friend of mine. It is inspired and insightful!

Who doesn't like pizza? Well have you ever tried a pickle pizza? Try one, and try this book. This is a book that will demonstrate the wonderful fact: everyone has their own opinions and tastes and that is ok. A pickle of a book about a subject that most can relate to.

I liked this book because it was funny. The funny part of it was when the two girls tried Eric's father's day pizza and they spit it out!!! Then Eric gets upset because he doesn't have any father's day present for his grandfather. If you want to find out more just read Pickle Pizza (Cul-de-sac kids).