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Books - Humor - 2010
Odd Mom Out: Marta Zinsser is not your typical suburban mom. Single, strong, and confident, she wears camouflage pants and chunky boots and rides a motorcycle. When her New York advertising firm asks her to open a branch in Seattle, she agrees to return to her hometown, mostly because of her mother's ill health. Now she's running her own firm out of her house, while her nine-year-old daughter is trying and failing to fit in at her new school. Eva is heartbroken, but Marta, who has never felt the need to be part of the pack, is at a loss as to how to help. Eva's subsequent attempts to change Marta into a normal mom and her sudden, not-so-subtle hints that Marta should get married and create a regular family are funny and poignant. With the increasing demands of her daughter, her ailing mother, and work, Marta's life begins to spiral out of control in a way most women will all-too-readily recognize. Porter's tale of a mother and daughter's journey to "normalcy" is keenly emotional and truly uplifting.
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Ten Little Kittens: Everyone's favorite countdown is back! Marian and Jim Harris have returned with another pet-tastic counting book.
Written in lyrical rhyme, Ten Little Kittens will charm pint-sized picture book fans (and their parents) with its richly detailed illustrations of the kittens' quirky adventures. Starting with the requisite bed-jumping, our furry little heroes go on to wrangle the Loch Ness Monster, play dress up rather royally, and do some ill-fated Christmas tree trimming. Kids will be kept on their toes, wondering, "what's next?" as they count all the way down to the last mischievous little kitten.
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Camp Wickitawa, here we come!
Mary Hershey's third book about fourth grader Effie Maloney is a hilarious Texas adventure, complete with a camp ghost, swim lessons, rescued armadillos, campfires, and cowgirl stew.
Effie has been waiting forEVER for St. Dom's special fourth-grade camp. Could there be anything more thrilling than an entire week with her two best friends? But when her big sister Maxey (Bosszilla) ends up working there, Camp Oh-So-Perfect turns into Camp Calamity. And Effie has to figure out how to hide the fact that she's not, um, the greatest swimmer. She can't even float. But she better learn fast, because she just HAS to be named Outstanding Camper of the Week and win back her family's good name! (And she is N-O-T homesick. Completely and totally not even.)
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How Do You Tuck In A Superhero: When Rachel Balducci looks for material for her writing, she doesn't have to look far. Her subject matter can be found climbing through the window, hanging on to the edge of the roof, and always at the refrigerator. Here she chronicles the exuberant, awesome life of boys through conversations overheard, rules she's been forced to make, and the many episodes of boy behavior that continue to mystify mothers worldwide. From the care and feeding of her team, to travels out in public, to their wide-eyed adoration of Walker, Texas Ranger, this laugh-out-loud celebration joyfully explores the sweet and wild side of boyhood.
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Living in a world of darkness and knowing only shades of black and gray, Tommy the bat stays up a bit too late one day and is greeted by the sunrise—astonishing him with a world of beautiful, vivid colors. He embarks on a quest to find color of his own, having to overcome initially distrustful animals, looming storm clouds filled with rain, and an absent-minded sun in order to keep the world awash in magnificent hues. Tommy’s tale, full of imagination and color, provides a new and fascinating perspective on the world people see every day.
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Perfect Piggies: Piggies rock! So does Boynton. Through her eyes, her words, her music, and above all her art, we see the world with whimsy and pleasure, appreciating round noses and curly tails, floppy ears and pleasing plumpness. And we're lucky to give that gift to our youngest children.
A new Boynton on Board book, in the amazing series that has over 11 million copies in print, Perfect Piggies! also comes with a song available free via a download from the Workman website. Reminiscent of a cappella swing, it's a celebration of the homey - of beauty in the eye of the beholder, of sunshine and fresh air, and a place to put up our hooves when the day is done. And, of course, the catching energy and rhythmic language of a beloved original:
We are all perfect piggies and we know what we need. It's really very simple, very simple indeed: a troughful of food, a place in the sun, and a little bit of comfort when the day is done.
That goes for the rest of us, too.
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Books - Humor - 2009
Read all about our exciting winners
of the Adding Wisdom Award
Guide to Pirate Parenting, by Tim Bete
Guide to Pirate Parenting showcases' Bete's warped, yet lovable, creativeness that makes this book a must-read for parents trying to escape the overwhelming trials of everyday life. See http://www.pirateparenting.com for more details.
If you can change a diaper in an airplane lavatory...If you can recite The Cat in the Hat by heart... If you find cookie crumbs in your pocket...Then you're a dad who'll get a good laugh and inspiration from -- "In the Beginning...There Were No Diapers." Tim Bete understands that in the midst of the challenges of parenting there's always a chance to smile and recognize the miracle of the young life that is yours to care for. www.TimeBete.com
More helpful than Baby Mozart tapes, sign language boot camps, or Mandarin lessons in the womb, this down-and-dirty field guide gives parents the exact steps they need in order to raise the next� highly paid TV anchorperson, Governor, rocket scientist, best-selling author, mega-lawsuit lawyer, or more than twenty other careers.
From how to decorate the nursery to what to download on your future teen's iPod, it's all here in what will become the must-have gift book on the baby shower circuit. This book illustrates how parents have to be prepared and still retain a sense of humor. Buy it on Amazon.
This unique and often humorous book of essays, written by Hugs and Hope Club founder, Marsha Jordan, will lift your spirit, strengthen your faith, and warm your heart. This wonderful mix of the serious and the zany will encourage anyone who has faced disappointment -- which is EVERYone!
Jordan's thought-provoking essays are illustrated with drawings created by children battling cancer and other life-threatening illnesses. www.HUGSandHOPE.org
In this second collection of Jelly Mom� columns you'll find over 50 laughter breaks to get you through the endless weeks of parenting as well as help lower the levels of cortisol in your bloodstream.
You'll also note that this book is fat free, high in fiber and low in calories. And although it has not yet been approved by the FDA, it is very likely that the frequent reading of Lisa Barker's humor can also reduce blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Buy it on Amazon.
Books - Humor - 2008
In this second collection of Jelly Mom� columns you'll find over 50 laughter breaks to get you through the endless weeks of parenting as well as help lower the levels of cortisol in your bloodstream.
You'll also note that this book is fat free, high in fiber and low in calories. And although it has not yet been approved by the FDA, it is very likely that the frequent reading of Lisa Barker's humor can also reduce blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Buy it on Amazon.
More helpful than Baby Mozart tapes, sign language boot camps, or Mandarin lessons in the womb, this down-and-dirty field guide gives parents the exact steps they need in order to raise the next� highly paid TV anchorperson, Governor, rocket scientist, best-selling author, mega-lawsuit lawyer, or more than twenty other careers.
From how to decorate the nursery to what to download on your future teen's iPod, it's all here in what will become the must-have gift book on the baby shower circuit. This book illustrates how parents have to be prepared and still retain a sense of humor. Buy it on Amazon.
Just Because Your Kids Drive You Insane...Doesn't Mean You Are A Bad Parent! If your kids drive you batty, don't worry! It could very well mean you�re an INVOLVED parent�a scar-bearing member of the Parent Corps�and your greatest ally is a good sense of humor as well as the ability to laugh at, and make light of, the challenges of parenting. Barker's hilarious stories will make parents laugh out loud and remind them that there is a lighter side to parenting.
Editorial review: "The appealing thing about Lisa Barker's sense of humor is that the joke is on her. She is the willing foil in this madcap menagerie and that's what makes it work...migraine-flavored shopping trips, toy-cluttered rooms, bad hair, a kidney infection, and loads of laundry." ~ Wendel Potter, Chronicler and Humorist, is a contributing comedy writer for Jay Leno and has also written for Joan Rivers, Phyllis Diller, and the Yakov Smirnoff Show. Buy it on Amazon!
This unique and often humorous book of essays, written by Hugs and Hope Club founder, Marsha Jordan, will lift your spirit, strengthen your faith, and warm your heart. This wonderful mix of the serious and the zany will encourage anyone who has faced disappointment -- which is EVERYone!
Jordan's thought-provoking essays are illustrated with drawings created by children battling cancer and other life-threatening illnesses. www.HUGSandHOPE.org
Guide to Pirate Parenting, by Tim Bete
Guide to Pirate Parenting showcases' Bete's warped, yet lovable, creativeness that makes this book a must-read for parents trying to escape the overwhelming trials of everyday life. See http://www.pirateparenting.com for more details.
Now, to celebrate the book's double-platinum milestone, there's a new edition: the original book, in a fresh cover, plus 48 new pages, including the Are You a Cat Person? quiz. The cat, Binky, is perspicacious and profound; the artist, Suzy, is utterly delightful; and the combined effect is one of immense and irresistible charm. Every cat fancier will recognize the book's timeless take on grooming, health, relationships, boundaries, and, above all, how to live in the moment. With new entries like "Be good at hellos. Don't drag out goodbyes," "Don't think too far beyond your next meal," "Celebrate the days you can open the windows," and "First one in has to warm up the bed," these teachings may very possibly change your life. Or at least let you know that there's always time for a nap. Buy it on Amazon!
Reinhardt's stories are often compared to that of a female David Sedaris or a married and middle-aged Bridget Jones. Buy it on Amazon!
Books - Humor - 2007
Not Tonight Honey, Wait 'Til I'm a Size Six (Paperback) by Susan Reinhardt - "Not Tonight, Honey Wait Til I'm a Size 6" is the book people are talking about. Syndicated Gannett News Services columnist Susan Reinhardt takes every topic on men's and women's minds and blows them wide open with a never-before-seen candor. The humor is explosive. Topics range from bodies that have gone to pot, to grandmothers taking up smoking at age 80 and hiding lit cigarettes in bras and aprons. Once, the author had to "marry" her best friend when the minister (also the bride's yard man) blew a gasket in his colostomy bag.
Reinhardt's stories are often compared to that of a female David Sedaris or a married and middle-aged Bridget Jones. Buy it on Amazon!
All I Need to Know I Learned From My Cat (And Then Some): Double-Platinum Collector's Edition - In the years since we first published All I Need to Know I Learned from My Cat , with over 2 million copies in print and the fastest-selling book in Workman�s history, one thing hasn�t changed�people are still starved for wisdom. Few oracles have dispensed as much common-sense truth as Binky, Suzy Becker's cat. "It's O.K. to wear the same thing every day." "Know all the sunny places." "Flaunt your hair loss." "Get mad when you're stepped on." Life lessons such as these and dozens of others propelled the book like a champagne cork to the top of The New York Times bestseller list.
Now, to celebrate the book's double-platinum milestone, there's a new edition: the original book, in a fresh cover, plus 48 new pages, including the Are You a Cat Person? quiz. The cat, Binky, is perspicacious and profound; the artist, Suzy, is utterly delightful; and the combined effect is one of immense and irresistible charm. Every cat fancier will recognize the book's timeless take on grooming, health, relationships, boundaries, and, above all, how to live in the moment. With new entries like "Be good at hellos. Don't drag out goodbyes," "Don't think too far beyond your next meal," "Celebrate the days you can open the windows," and "First one in has to warm up the bed," these teachings may very possibly change your life. Or at least let you know that there's always time for a nap. Buy it on Amazon!
Butt Rot & Bottom Gas - Seventh-grade language arts teacher Eric Groves Sr. has spent years listening to his students giggle after he used words like thespian, coccyx, and masticate. Now he has compiled hundreds of these foul-sounding terms into a delightfully innocent dictionary, complete with illustrated definitions of their true meanings. From air cock (a valve on a boiler) and bushmaster (a large venomous snake) to cummingtonite (a mineral) and beyond, Butt Rot and Bottom Gas is a wonderful reference for word lovers and the snickering seventh grader in all of us. Buy it on Amazon!
Guide to Pirate Parenting, by Tim Bete
Guide to Pirate Parenting showcases' Bete's warped, yet lovable, creativeness that makes this book a must-read for parents trying to escape the overwhelming trials of everyday life. See http://www.pirateparenting.com for more details.
Hugs, Hope and Peanut Butter
This unique and often humorous book of essays, written by Hugs and Hope Club founder, Marsha Jordan, will lift your spirit, strengthen your faith, and warm your heart. This wonderful mix of the serious and the zany will encourage anyone who has faced disappointment -- which is EVERYone!
Jordan's thought-provoking essays are illustrated with drawings created by children battling cancer and other life-threatening illnesses. www.HUGSandHOPE.org
Just Because Your Kids Drive You Insane...Doesn't Mean You Are A Bad Parent! If your kids drive you batty, don't worry! It could very well mean you�re an INVOLVED parent�a scar-bearing member of the Parent Corps�and your greatest ally is a good sense of humor as well as the ability to laugh at, and make light of, the challenges of parenting. Barker's hilarious stories will make parents laugh out loud and remind them that there is a lighter side to parenting. Buy it on Amazon!