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The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street
10
9.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street by Karina Glaser is a wonderful book that's positively overflowing with charm. The Vanderbeeker children are hilarious, and I fell instantly in love with each one of them and with the happy chaos of their household of 5 children, one dog, one cat and one bunny.

The five Vanderbeeker children range from age 4-and-three-quarters to twelve; four girls and one boy. They also have a dog, a cat and a rabbit which all adds up to one bustling household. When they find out their lease will not be renewed for the new year, the kids all come up with their own ways to convince their landlord to let them stay.

Each of the kids are endearing in their own way, as are the the various neighbors who are such a big part of life as they know it. The Vanderbeekers face troubles, misunderstandings and heartaches, but in their lives there is also beauty, music, ingenuity, teamwork, and love.

I received this ARC from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Children's Book Group and HMH Books for Young Readers via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 
  
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Matthew Krueger (10051 KP) rated Lady and the Tramp (1955) in Movies

Dec 31, 2019 (Updated Jan 1, 2020)  
Lady and the Tramp (1955)
Lady and the Tramp (1955)
1955 | Animation, Drama, Family
Dogs Loves Spaghetti
Lady and the Tramp- This Disney animated classic follows a pampered cocker spaniel named Lady (Barbara Luddy) whose comfortable life slips away once her owners have a baby. When, after some tense circumstances, Lady finds herself on the loose and out on the street, she is befriended and protected by the tough stray mutt Tramp (Larry Roberts). A romance begins to blossom between the two dogs, but their many differences, along with more drama at Lady's household, threaten to keep them apart.

Dogs can talk!!!!

Its a classic to all.
  
Edna Lewis: At The Table with an American Original
(0 Ratings)
Book Favorite

"Most Americans have never heard of African American chef and cookbook author Edna Lewis. Despite her importance—she inspired culinary luminaries such as Alice Waters, MFK Fisher and James Beard, and is considered the progenitor of the farm-to-table movement—Lewis never became a household name. Though Miss Lewis’s contributions to the food culture of this nation far surpassed those of many of her white contemporaries, she and her work have actively been forgotten. This book is vital, introducing a new generation of readers and eaters to the deeply important life and legacy of Miss Lewis."

Source
  
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Georgia Hubley recommended Peeping Tom (1960) in Movies (curated)

 
Peeping Tom (1960)
Peeping Tom (1960)
1960 | Horror, Thriller
7.8 (16 Ratings)
Movie Favorite

"I saw this movie for the first time at the Elgin Theater on Eighth Avenue as part of a double feature with The Tenant a long time ago, when I was young and scared. I didn’t like it. But I was young and scared. Eighth Avenue used to be scary. I honestly don’t remember why I didn’t like it, but just a few years later I would be mocking my younger, uninformed self. I absolutely love everything about this movie, from its cheesiness (camera as murder weapon) to its sheer profundity (camera as murder weapon). Anna Massey should be a household name."

Source
  
Songs to Grow on for Mother and Child by Woody Guthrie
Songs to Grow on for Mother and Child by Woody Guthrie
1956 | Folk
(0 Ratings)
Album Favorite

"In 1950s Baltimore, my parents were pretty open. They read The New York Times and listened to Woody Guthrie records, so you can imagine what kind of a household that was. They were immigrants from Scotland, and their taste included a lot of American folk music like, Woody and Pete Seeger, both of whom made children’s albums, so that’s what I would hear. Later, I heard their other songs, which obviously had a political slant and a story to tell and a point of view. That was something to realize at a young age: that a song could do that."

Source
  
Léon: The Professional (1994)
Léon: The Professional (1994)
1994 | Action, Drama, Mystery
How Jean Reno didn't become a household name after his performance in Leon is incredulous to me. Pairing his stellar performance with that of a villainous Gary Oldman and a VERY young Natalie Portman and you have an acting trifecta for the ages. Matching Besson's direction tit for tat allowed this squad to create one of the more memorable movies of its time. Leaving no potential for a follow up, you begin to realize it simply had to be that way. And I believe Besson understood that. You can't replicate the level of excellence this movie achieved and call it a sequel.
  
<a href="https://awindowintobooks.wordpress.com">Full Review</a>
Recycled Science by Tammy Enz and Jodi Lyn Wheeler-Toppen is a book about recycling. The book aims to reuse common household items to become useful items such as lava lamps, flashlights and speakers. The book is filled with excellent pictures during the different stages of the experiment.

This book contains some interesting science projects. The book is geared toward upper elementary or middle school students; however, it is important that the projects are completed with adult supervision because of the potentially dangerous items required. These projects should be completed at home or outside as they would not work in a traditional classroom environment.
  
Dogtology: A Humorous Exploration of Man&#039;s Fur-Ocious Devotion to Dogs
Dogtology: A Humorous Exploration of Man's Fur-Ocious Devotion to Dogs
Jeff Lazarus | 2017 | Humor & Comedy, Religion
10
10.0 (3 Ratings)
Book Rating
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased opinion.

And two days after I received it (before I could even begin reading it), our "CEO", my service animal, and our "fur child", passed away. So I went into reading and reviewing this book raw, and somewhat unable to keep my opinion unbiased.

DOGTOLOGY is a humorous look at the growing dog worship in our culture. It's factual, even if it breaks the news to the dog-obsessed gently that they are, in fact, dog-obsessed. It gives helpful reminders of things like the difference between what we think dogs need versus what they actually need from us. It also helps remind those who are practicing Dogtologists in regards to relationships with those outside their practice.

I'm so grateful I had this book to turn to as we grieved in our household. There were parts I could share with my partner for us to laugh over. Parts that made me cry tears I wasn't sure I was able to cry yet. It made it clear to both of us, though we hadn't really had doubts before, that we are, and have been, Dogtologists even when we have not been "dog owners" during our relationship, and that will always be the case for us. And when we are ready, emotionally, it will be time for us to find a new CEO for our household.
  
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Suswatibasu (1701 KP) rated Great Expectations in Books

Oct 10, 2017 (Updated Oct 11, 2017)  
Great Expectations
Great Expectations
7
6.6 (19 Ratings)
Book Rating
Not as classic as some of Dickens' other tales
As much as I love Dickens' left-wing plots, his novels are depressing, and this is no different.

From orphans, to children living in danger, protagonist Pip falls in love with a young girl named Estella while visiting the home of the wealthy dowager Miss Havisham. Pip attempts to win her love by attempting to become a gentleman, but instead is made a common labourer in the Havisham household. After many trials and tribulations, he returns to the house and to Estella.

There are a lot of deaths, and it is a melancholic novel. However, I do prefer some of his other works because I find the unrequited love story rather tedious.
  
The Bear and the Nightingale
The Bear and the Nightingale
Katherine Arden | 2017 | Fiction & Poetry, Science Fiction/Fantasy
8
9.4 (17 Ratings)
Book Rating
A dark epic fairytale
This captivating fantasy is set in the frozen north of Russia in the 13th century, and used Russian myths and fairy tales as inspiration.

At the centre of the novel is the family of a local Lord, in particular the headstrong youngest daughter Vasya who is gifted with 'second sight'. The existence of the community is threatened when a dark power in the forests begins to wake up, just as the villagers start to turn away from the household spirits who've protected them, in favour of a charismatic new priest.

The Russian setting adds interest and mystique and the protagonist Vasya is fantastically outspoken and scrappy. The plot is easy to follow despite the odd Russian word. It truly is a compelling read.