'B is for Bulldozer: A Construction ABC' by June Sobel Book Review

     

'B is for Bulldozer: A Construction ABC' by June Sobel is a book that helps children learn their ABCs as well as learn a little about construction sites and the like. 

This would be a great book for a child with a family member in construction. It could have more on the construction side, but children can only absorb so much information. 

In any case, this is a fine book and children will love it's colors and fun images. 

Who should read this book? Anyone.

Books Read? L

The Dales

 8^th December 2018

Dear Cassi,

In my last letter I described the two tech heads that I left behind when I ended my friendship with your ex husband Turtle Nose. Neither of these men were much of a loss. At best Tech Tower was a fair weather friend and at worst Tech Mole was a party to Turtle Nose’s cruelty. 

Well, the main stage for this opera, if there where one, would be the home of a family I would call the Dales because, well, they are named after another geological feature. Of the Dales there were six, five now from what I hear, and they were a messed up bunch.

Old Man Dale was a plump jovial fellow who was always good to sit down and have a drink with. I had spent many an hour in his home drinking only to be polite after he lost his job with IBM. I have to say the part he would play in all this was the most painful. By now I had lost what family I had and he was the closest thing I had to that kind of relationship.

His wife I would call Blind Dale. She was legally blind but had eyes enough to see and move around. She could not know me by sight but could tell me by my voice. She was a plump little woman to fit her plump man for the most part that fit. Blind Dale was prone to fits of rage and would often lash out. She was good spirited for the most part when not angry.

They had two twins who I will call Beard and Chin.  Chin is the one who died of cancer. Beard was the rude fellow who was always too loud. Beard Dale was the kind of man who would start screaming if you talked about cannibals. He felt that the world should know cannibals better I guess. Like his mother he was prone to outbursts.

Then there was the younger son, Beefy Dale, Beefy was the fellow who you thought was gay. You may recall that at one time he wanted to be a policeman. Last I heard he wanted to be a doctor. He was a hard man to deal with because he was always showing off and dumb as a stump. Beard would say that Beefy’s natural state of being was to be in his boxers. His state of conversation often lead to him taking off his shirt to show his work in the gym.

Last of the Dales was Fire Dale, who I name because of her attitude and that fact that of all the Dales she is the one to keep her red hair. The others let it go dark, or in the case of Beefy Dale, dyed theirs black. Fire Dale was also known for being in a half state of dress as jeans and a bra was her normal garb. I never said much to her, she kept rude company anyway.

Know your family, little sister,

 

Richard Leland Neal

The Elephant Family Book by Oria Douglas-Hamilton

'The Elephant Family Book' by Oria Douglas-Hamilton is a book about two elephant twins who really lived on a preserve in Africa. This is life in it's brutal honesty with real consequences.  The low point of the book is a picture of the writers two children playing nude in the mud, which is a bit odd given what the book is about. 

Other than the nudity this book is great for all readers. Otherwise parents need to decide if that is something they find appropriate for their children. As are the themes of morality and conservation. 

Who should read this book: People who are okay with naked children.

Books read: C

Tower and Mole

7^th December 2018

Dear Cassi,

My last moment as Turtle Nose’s friend was the last moment I was friends with another man. I mean, cutting your ex husband from my life took with it a good number of folks, but this one was the first to go. I guess in relaying this message and clearing my head I should describe this man. I figure he won’t play much of a part in my life or my letters but he’s one of two folks of interest here.

This fellow I will call Tech Tower and another of Turtle Nose’s friends I will call Tech Mole. You knew Tech Tower well so far as I can tell, because he spent some time living up there with you folks. This was the tall man, rather than the long haired man, and Tech Tower is so named because of his love of computers and his stature which put him as the tallest of the folks of this story.

Tech Tower was educated at U. C. Irvine and had spent time working at Boeing. I always wanted him to go back there, because it was a job that paid well, but he wanted to live with his folks. He was a good friend of mine during much of the time Turtle Nose spent in the army and so I was surprised when he turned on me so easily.

Now Tech Mole is another figure from Turtle Nose’s past who he had met before he became a guard. He had worked at an alarm company where he met the Mole man whose greatest love was video games and his second greatest love was turtle nose.

Turtle Nose had trained Tech Mole to hate me long ago and you had mentioned that folks were always rude to me. Tech Mole was one of those folks. So, here we have two characters in this story, but both minor ones that I will come up only slightly.

To me these men are like ghosts, because I haven’t seen them in ten years now. Still I remember them so very well. They are like demons I need to exercise I guess. Or perhaps I only let my thoughts linger on them long enough to let them go. Well, I need to speak of them so I have named them.

We all have our part to play, little sister,

Richard Leland Neal 

Unwanted Visitors by Harriette Sheffer Abels

 

Unwanted Visitors by Harriette Sheffer Abels is a science

fiction children's adventure book that features the Emergency Ship M88 and it's crew coming into contact with a not so new group of lifeforms. 

I have to say that I love science and I love to dream so science fiction is my jam. This was a fun little book I would have loved to have had as a child. I understand that there are many more books about the M88 crew and if it were not for that fact that I have books piled everywhere in my home I would certainly go looking for them. 

Who should read this book? Geeks who love to dream.

Books read:  calculate

Muscles: Our Muscular System by Seymour Simon

 'Muscles: Our Muscular System' by Seymour Simon is a book made to teach children about the red stuff that runs your body. I have a good feeling that this book has turned more than one child onto science and medicine. 

This is a big colorful book that is well made to help children learn about their bodies and that gets a stamp of approval from me right off the bat. 

Who should read this book: Everyone

Books read: L

Wetlands Explorer by Mary Quigley

 

 'Wetlands Explorer' by Mary Quigley is loosely based on a boat ride from the mountains to the sea exploring all the parts of the land touched by the water. Wetlands are wonderful divers places that are home to many living things and the more our children learn about them the better. 

I found this book to be a solid read for young people who may some day go into biological science. 

Who should read this book? Young science types 

Books read: L

 

Joe On the Go by Peggy Anderson

 'Joe On the Go' by Peggy Anderson is a book about a young frog at a family gathering who just wants to have fun. In simple language it gives you a list of family members and serves to further the mind of a child in understanding who is in his social group. Joe is rewarded for his perseverance which is a good moral. Joe's is a story of joy, and joy is something we need more of in this world.

'Joe On the Go' is a fun story with entertaining visuals that will keep your child coming back time and time again. I have to say I very much like this book and recommend it for your child. 

Who should read this book? Everyone

Books read: L

'Let's Talk about Being Bullied' by Joy Berry Book Review

'Let's Talk about Being Bullied' by Joy Berry is part of the 'let's get along' books that is intended to assist children with a situation in which they are being bullied. 

I must admit that the sad truth of life is that bullies come in many forms and most of them are simply not other children on the playground. Then, what does one do if they are being bullied by a teacher or parent? Clearly this is not a book that would help you if you are being bullied at work because children shouldn't have to deal with that situation. 

Still, what you have here is the best foundation one could have at a very  young age to deal with being bullied and so I can recommend this book. 

Who should read this book? Everyone. 

 

Books read: logged. 

'Poems for Fathers' by Myra Cohn Livingston Book Review

     

'Poems for Fathers' by Myra Cohn Livingston is an anthology work of poems for fathers. Some are about moments with fathers and some are about loss and sorrow. This is a book celebrating the connection between father and child which varies greatly in tone and temper. 

The muted color artwork that uses black, red, and blue is a little off putting at times. It can be frightening for very young children so be aware of that if your child is easily impacted by such imagery. 

All in all, this would be a fine book for children that don't have as much time with their father as is normal. If the father is missing, working long hours, or perhaps deployed overs sees this is a good book to use to help a child connect with them.  

Who should read this book? Children with distant or lost fathers.

Books read: logged 

Hard Man - Mae West

 

Ocean of Orange Soda

 

Surprised by My Mouth

 

An Old Shoe - Irish Proverb

 

Snowman's Nose

 

Life's Comb - Irish Proverb

 

Born with the Sound of Thunder

First of the New Year 2017

Dear Cassi,

Two thousand seventeen was born with the sound of thunder that shook the windows and set off car alarms. I was on duty when it happened and the roar of human jubilations was lost on me as I sat in silence for nearly twenty minutes letting the blasting play itself out.

The air is still burnt nearly twenty four hours later and smoke from the fire that scorched the night still lingers as a ghost. Every now and then the pop of a firework serves as the moan of this spirit of jubilation. As for me I don’t understand.

The world has moved on from the hard parts of life and the homeless still clog the streets in tent settlements like clumps of leaves in the rain gutters. The world still burns under the human touch and we have come no closer to changing things.  Still we fill the night with jubilation as if the world’s problems have been made nothing.

Perhaps I am a pessimist and all this should be stricken from my mind, but to me the future looks dark and that orange thing who will soon lead the world is making me feel sick and worried.

I don’t know what the future holds for me, but I do know that I will meet it as best I can. My life has been a fight and it looks like a fight one can never win, but so long as there is life there is that fight to keep me.

                

Stay safe, little sister,

Richard Leland Neal