Elmer The Christmas Elf

For Faithful Friends

The Best Of Friends

Inside Out

No-one has ever accused me of being mainstream, and reviewing what obviously is a Christmas book in March does not bother me one iota. Christmas is a wonderful time, I for one advocate that we should celebrate it every day. The rest of the world seems fixated on not doing that, which I think is a shame.

One thing that you might not be aware of is the history of carols. We call the Christmas Carols today, but there were actually carols for every major holiday, Easter, and particularly Harvest time, or as it is known in the US Thanksgiving. So I vote we celebrate year round.

All-right, I know I am in the minority, but it is what I am good at

Marilyn Randall is no stranger to the book world, Elmer is her fourth young children’s book. I enjoyed the other three immensely and just knew I would love this one. If you have yet to experience Marilyn at work, you can find the reviews here, here, and here.

A successful children’s book requires a set of dynamics that to say the least are complex. It is a delicate line that has to join entertainment with education. A children’s book needs to impart a message. It has to turn a complex concept into a series of events that can be easily understood.

Elmer The Christmas Elf does exactly that. It shows that acts of selflessness do indeed come back in unexpected ways. The saying ‘It is better to give than receive’ is very true. Elmer toils endlessly, his joy is in his work. But Elmer also wonders about the little children that receive the efforts of his toils.

It is Christmas Eve, Santa has loaded up the sleigh and is on his way to deliver Elmer’s hard work to children across the world. It is with horror that Elmer discovers that they have missed one toy. A little boy or girl will not get a present! He has no sleigh, and no way to deliver the gift, in fact he does not even know who it belongs to.

I will not spoil the story by telling more, it may just be a young children’s book, but I like to keep some mystery to make people read the tale for themselves.

Marilyn Randall has once again done a wonderful job. I have to admit that I was not sure how this book would come out. In her previous works she has had animals as the main characters, rather than people. She has in fact done an outstanding job with Elmer. And once again she has done her own illustrations. This in itself is a rarity, I can think of very few authors in this genre that wear both the writer and illustrator hats. She also manages to capture the right style of illustration for the age group she is aiming for. That may seem a strange thing to say, but it is a very important aspect. There is a marriage and harmony required between the text and pictures that has to be achieved for a child’s book to work.

You can order your copy of Elmer The Christmas Elf by using the Amazon link above, in fact, I suggest that you order all of her books, you will not be disappointed.

Tomorrow, is the beginning of April, why not celebrate Christmas? In fact I think I will haul the artificial tree out of storage, my wife might moan and groan, but it looks so pretty!

Simon Barrett

I like Marilyn Randall’s books, I had read her first two and they were delightful. Writing a book for a young child is actually much more difficult than one might imagine. For Faithful Friends was her first foray into the young child genre (review here), and it really demonstrated her great ability. I have reviewed many books aimed at children but Marilyn is the first author that I have really enjoyed that did not just write the text, but did the illustrations as well.

She followed up For Faithful Friends with Best Of Best Friends (review here), once again she had a winner on her hands.

Inside Out is her third excursion, and she just goes from strength to strength. Although the characters are very different from the ‘friends’ series she has maintained a wonderful consistency in the style of both the prose, which is done in a loose rhyming meter, and the illustrations which are perfectly pitched for her target age group. So unique is Marilyn’s style I am pretty certain that if someone showed me 100 illustrations I could pick out the ones she had created.

The key to a successful children’s book is a complex one. Far more complex than many people understand. It is not merely a question of slapping a few words together and having some cartoonish illustrations. A well thought out children s book is a much deeper endeavor. The recipient is not the buyer! The buyer is usually a parent or grandparent. The author has to sell to an adult!

Most adults when looking for books for their young ones tend to seek out those that have some positive message. A book is a learning tool. To a young child it is nothing more than entertainment, yet in those pages can be important messages. When done well a child’s book is an educational tool that teaches some life values. A lesson learned and understood at an early age makes for a better person. As adults we understand many concepts, but what we view as concepts are often lost on a small child. However when you take a complex concept and break it into small, easy to understand ideas, the child can grasp it, and usually offer some commentary that you had never even considered.

Marilyn Randall is the King oops queen of taking a complex subject and putting it in terms that a young child can digest. Inside Out takes us into the world of how we perceive our self, and how we think others might perceive us. Beauty is on the inside, not the outside.

The best description is the one that Marilyn Randall offers in the dedication:

I dedicate this book to every child who at one time in their lives has thought they weren’t pretty or handsome enough. In our materialistic world it is easy for a child to feel that he or she isn’t good enough and we all need to know that true beauty is measured by who we are on the inside, not what we look like on the outside

In Inside Out we meet the wise old owl and the young frog. The young frog laments:

Why would God make me so ugly and green
Or for that matter, what of my warts?
He continued to cry on the bank of the brook
And his tears filled up by the quarts.

This simple stanza says much. Children are much more perceptive than people give them credit for. Todays world is a complex one, and one that is awash with peer pressure. A simple book like Inside Out might be just what your child needs. How many young children feel inadequate? In looks or achievement? They are perceptive, but often do not really understand the larger picture.

Inside Out is not triage, it is a true learning tool for a young child. Every child is going to feel some sort of rejection, it likely will be (in our grown up minds) just a minor thing.

To order your copy just click on the Amazon link above. I can say this, you will find a richness and satisfaction in this book that is lacking in many other authors that aim their works at being useful and educational to young children.

Simon Barrett

I first stumbled upon this very fine creator of young children’s books with For Faithful Friends, so taken with the book I decided to explore deeper. It transpires that Marilyn has a number of children’s books in print, The Best Of Best Friends is actually her second one of the series.

As a reviewer I have to admit that I do love children’s books. The dynamics are completely different from the adult world. Occasionally people will ask me what makes for a great children’s book. I have some theories, but they are no more than that. The adverts on the TV for a well known fast food chain talk about their secret recipe of 10 herbs and spices. In many ways that sums up the recipe for a great children’s book.

To be successful you need several elements, text that meets the age group you are aiming at, it is OK to challenge the vocabulary a little, but the new words have to be used in a context that the young reader will understand. The illustrations need to be in harmony with the story. What I mean by that is that they match the text from an age perspective. An illustration aimed at a 10 year old will be lost on a 4 year old, and vice versa.

Marilyn Randall is one of the very few authors that not only writes the story, but also illustrates them herself. This ability astounds me, few people can do this well. She has the ability to marry the text and illustrations to match the age group (pre reader – 7) with a wicked ability.

Another feature of a successful young child’s book is to include an educational component. The author is faced with a juggling act, the parents buying the book want the learning component, the child is looking for the entertainment value. This is a High Wire act for the writer. Marilyn Randall again comes through with flying colors.

As in For Faithful Friends the main characters are from the animal world, this time we have rather sedentary and bored pig, and a hyperactive bunny. They have little in common, yet become firm friends, each learning from the other. As in real life, people have different strengths, many friendships are at first glance strange, yet when you look into it a little more, you can see that 1 + 1 equals something larger than 2.

I think the reason that I was attracted to this book was actually the dedication page, a place most people gloss over. This made me sit down and think:

This book is dedicated to children everywhere. As you travel through this life, may you find your “Best of Best Friend” and keep them forever and remember always that no matter how tough things get, we must never, ever give up!

Friendship is a powerful message, and one that you cannot start teaching too early. The delightful characters in this book have very different personalities, very different strengths and weaknesses, this is just like the real world.

I could see this book being used a true learning tool by parents. I also like the way that Marilyn Randall encapsulates the segments of the story. A parent could read a page and discuss the story before moving on to the next adventure. The text itself is written in a four line rhyming poetic style. Simple concepts for young minds.

You can pick up your copy of The Best Of Best Friends by clicking on the Amazon link above.

Simon Barrett

I have a soft spot for children’s books, they are so much more fun to read than a lot of adult books and For Faithful Friends is no exception. It is a book that any young child would derive great pleasure from.

One of the unusual aspects is that Marilyn Randall not only created the text but is also the illustrator, this believe it or not is quite rare. The illustrations are done in a fairly soft watercolor style and and match the age group of the young reader very well. they are not overly complex, and convey the story line in a fashion that will appeal to any young reader.

The text is done in poetry style, a series of four line stanzas. While not in the quirky rhyming style of Dr Seuss it is most certainly pleasantly harmonic.

Children’s books are hard to create, it is the one genre where the purchaser is not the ‘end user’. It is mom and dad that have the money, and in order to appeal to mom and dad an author must try to incorporate an educational factor. In this case that is the importance of friendship. In fact, on the dedication page Marilyn says:

May you be lucky enough in life to have at least one Faithful Friend.

The story concerns a very shy little green turtle and a more boisterous field mouse. The turtle is so shy that he never ventures from out of the bramble bush that he calls home. Of course this solution works fine while his friend the field mouse brings ears of corn to eat, but what will happen when winter comes, the corn is gone, and his friend is underground sleeping?

Poor turtle must make a decision, but the open field seems like such a vast place, he can’t move very fast, and who knows what might be laying in wait to attack him.

His decision is made for him, the shadow of a cruising hawk spells danger for the field mouse, turtle must do something. By running as fast as his stubby legs will carry him, he distracts the hawks attention from his friend. He makes it to a nearby rock and hides beneath it, it is enough, his friend has made it to safety.

Also, turtles fear has gone, now he knows that while danger does lurk in the world, he can survive. A fear conquered through friendship.

At only 22 pages in length, For Faithful Friends should make for an ideal bed-time read. The text flows well, and the illustrations are very well done.

It is my understanding that Marilyn Randall has a considerable experience in the world of graphic design and that shows through in the illustrations. For Faithful Friends is actually the first in a series of children’s books by this author. I am looking forward to reading the others. I know that a new book Elmer, The Christmas Elf is rolling off the presses right now. Hopefully I can get hold of a copy soon, as Christmas is just around the corner. Based on my experience with For Faithful Friends suspect that Elmer, The Christmas Elf will be a must have for under the Christmas Tree.

You can order your copy of For Faithful Friends by clicking on the Amazon link above. Marilyn also has a web site in support of her books.

Simon Barrett

“DOUBLEBACK” marks the return of P. I. Georgia Davis as well as another very good book by Libby Fischer Hellman. It also unites Georgia and Ellie Foreman (An Eye For Murder and others) in a case that resonates for parents everywhere.

It is a morning like any other in June when Molly Messenger is kidnapped. The mother, Christine Messenger, calls a friend who in turn calls Ellie for help. The eight year old vanished from a day camp in the Chicago area. The kidnappers have threatened to kill Molly if law enforcement becomes involved and Mom is a shattered wreck. Ellie can’t help but respond to her and asks Georgia Davis to look into things. They go back and Georgia knows if Ellie’s asking for help it is a bad sign.

From the start, Georgia doesn’t want the case. The Police, The FBI, etc, should be involved but they aren’t. Christine Messenger is clearly hiding something and her various explanations don’t really explain things. In a matter of three days little Molly is back home and while the case isn’t solved, the parents ordeal is over. The police, who were working the case, have zero leads and zero reasons as to why Molly was kidnapped and with her return are moving on to more current matters. Just when all consider it over, Mom is killed in a freak accident leaving behind a motherless daughter, devastated ex-husband and some bizarre circumstances involving her job at a major bank. Wanting answers to everything, the ex-husband hires Georgia to investigate in a case that will lead her across state lines before finally coming home.

Much like “Easy Innocence” there are dark nebulous forces at work through out the novel. Slowly, author Libby Fisher Hellman reveals clues in a tale that has links to both national and local human interest stories. By using two different major series characters, the author provides an interesting and very different personality driven take on events through each of the characters. Ellie is, for the most part calm and controlled, while Georgia has a passion that drives her into dangerous and violent actions and situations. This device also turns into a drawback at different times in the novel as suspense with one character is pushed back for a chapter while the other major character is brought up to speed. The result, from a storytelling angle designed to build character nuance and complexity, does work. However, from a reader standpoint, the tactic became occasionally annoying and interrupted the natural flow of the novel.

Despite that flaw which will affect readers in different ways, the overall novel is a very good one where the author pulls you deep into her fictional world where everything becomes all too real. Billed and written as a sequel of sorts to the very good “Easy Innocence” it can easily be read as a stand alone.

DOUBLEBACK
Libby Fischer Hellmann
http://www.libbyhellmann.com/
Bleak House Books
http://www.bleakhousebooks.com
October 2009
ISBN# 978-1-60648-053-3
Paperback
300 Pages
$14.95
ARC

Review copy provided by publicist P. J. Nunn, owner of BreakThrough Promotions, in exchange for my objective review.

Kevin R. Tipple © 2010

As the book opens, recovering alcoholic Bruce Kohhler is dragged out in the rain in New York in the middle of the night by his friend Barbara. Barbara works as an addictions counselor and is sponsoring a woman, Luz, in Al-Anon. Luz was being abused by her drug dealing boyfriend, Frankie, who was also a married man with kids. Luz came home to find him dead on her kitchen floor. At some point after finding the body, Luz made a semi hysterical call to Barbara telling her about the death and that the cops think she did it. So, Barbara is riding to the rescue and dragging her boyfriend, Jimmy, and Bruce along with her.

Frankie had a history of mentally abusing Luz and most likely physically abusing her which would clearly give Luz motive. Beyond the fact that the guy had the bad grace to die in Luz’s apartment, it also appears that Frankie knew his killer and let him or her in. Then there is the whole adultery angle that she was having sex with a man she knew to be married and wanted him to leave his wife. These points and numerous others make Luz the obvious suspect.

Before long, with the police focused on Luz, Barbara and Jimmy are wading to help investigate and dragging Bruce right along with them. As if Bruce doesn’t have enough to deal with concerning his own sobriety. His ex-wife, Laura, is in heavy contact with Bruce, seems to be deep in her own abusive relationship with another man in her life, and apparently off her meds for her bipolar disorder while making various plays for Bruce’s attention.

The second book in a series is frequently not as good as the first series and that certainly is the case here. While the first novel stayed away, for the most part, from jargon this one does not. It also moves far slower than the first novel. However, the biggest problem is the twin storylines of abuse.

Abuse and issues relating to abuse do not lend themselves to humor or enjoyable reading in a novel that ultimately concludes in a depressing and not at all unexpected ending. “Death Will Help You Leave Him” is a mystery that isn’t much of a mystery and therefore relies on the internal conflict Bruce has dealing with his ex-wife. This extremely slow moving sequel illustrates all too well the dangers with destructive relationships. It also clearly illustrates the long history of the experience the author has as a New York City Psychotherapist.

Death Will Help You Leave Him
Elizabeth Zelvin

http://www.elizabethzelvin.com
Thomas Dunne Books (Minotaur/St. Martin’s Publishing Group)
http://www.thomasdunnebooks.com
October 2009
ISBN# 978-0-312-58266-1
Hardback
275 Pages
$25.95

Book provided directly by the author in exchange for my objective review.

Kevin R. Tipple © 2010

I have a soft spot for children’s books, they are so much more fun to read than a lot of adult books and For Faithful Friends is no exception. It is a book that any young child would derive great pleasure from.

One of the unusual aspects is that Marilyn Randall not only created the text but is also the illustrator, this believe it or not is quite rare. The illustrations are done in a fairly soft watercolor style and and match the age group of the young reader very well. they are not overly complex, and convey the story line in a fashion that will appeal to any young reader.

The text is done in poetry style, a series of four line stanzas. While not in the quirky rhyming style of Dr Seuss it is most certainly pleasantly harmonic.

Children’s books are hard to create, it is the one genre where the purchaser is not the ‘end user’. It is mom and dad that have the money, and in order to appeal to mom and dad an author must try to incorporate an educational factor. In this case that is the importance of friendship. In fact, on the dedication page Marilyn says:

May you be lucky enough in life to have at least one Faithful Friend.

The story concerns a very shy little green turtle and a more boisterous field mouse. The turtle is so shy that he never ventures from out of the bramble bush that he calls home. Of course this solution works fine while his friend the field mouse brings ears of corn to eat, but what will happen when winter comes, the corn is gone, and his friend is underground sleeping?

Poor turtle must make a decision, but the open field seems like such a vast place, he can’t move very fast, and who knows what might be laying in wait to attack him.

His decision is made for him, the shadow of a cruising hawk spells danger for the field mouse, turtle must do something. By running as fast as his stubby legs will carry him, he distracts the hawks attention from his friend. He makes it to a nearby rock and hides beneath it, it is enough, his friend has made it to safety.

Also, turtles fear has gone, now he knows that while danger does lurk in the world, he can survive. A fear conquered through friendship.

At only 22 pages in length, For Faithful Friends should make for an ideal bed-time read. The text flows well, and the illustrations are very well done.

It is my understanding that Marilyn Randall has a considerable experience in the world of graphic design and that shows through in the illustrations. For Faithful Friends is actually the first in a series of children’s books by this author. I am looking forward to reading the others. I know that a new book Elmer, The Christmas Elf is rolling off the presses right now. Hopefully I can get hold of a copy soon, as Christmas is just around the corner. Based on my experience with For Faithful Friends suspect that Elmer, The Christmas Elf will be a must have for under the Christmas Tree.

You can order your copy of For Faithful Friends by clicking on the cover art on this page above. Marilyn also has a web site in support of her books.

Simon Barrett

I have to admit that I dropped everything when this book arrived. As a music reviewer and music lover, I do enjoy a good discussion about almost any aspect of the subject. In fact two days ago I ran a radio program on the subject of the state of rock today. I do wish that I had known about Better Than Lennon last week because I most certainly would have invited John Cherry to my panel.

I have some very strong opinions on the subject of the Beatles, most of them run contrary to the mainstream. In a nutshell, as a band I would not entertain them in a woodshed. Sure they had the odd flash of brilliance but as the band merrily headed to the inevitable self destruction their music became increasingly erratic and self serving.

John Cherry is clearly a very big fan of the Beatles, and also the careers that the four musicians carved out for themselves after they went their separate ways. He poses the question of who was the better musician, John Lennon or Paul McCartney? It is clear that when you look at the Beatles the creative talents lay in Lennon and McCartney rather than Ringo Star and George Harrison.

Lennon and McCartney had very different styles, and it likely was this difference that in part led to the band splitting up. John Cherry also adds to the fuel by talking about Lennon’s increasing dependence on recreational pharmaceuticals that effectively blurred his vision of the future. His joining forces with Yoko Ono was also a seemingly detrimental move in forwarding his career. Ono’s inclusion on his solo albums did nothing to endear Lennon to fans or critics alike.

I enjoyed Better Than Lennon a great deal. Whereas I would have just gone out and subjectively approached the subject, John Cherry has done extensive research. Although the book is a scant 130 pages long, it contains a library of information. It is broken up into chapters that discuss specific time periods, and compares the relative output both in terms of volume and quality. Certainly both had sparks of brilliance and periods in the doldrums.

Both musicians clearly had writing talent, but I have to admit that I am very much in agreement with John Cherry, Paul McCartney wins hands down in this match. In my opinion he also kept better company! His collaboration with his wife Linda produced some of the very finest music of the time. Linda’s untimely death was a huge blow to the music world.

I also learned a great deal by reading this book, as I said at the beginning of the review I was not a huge fan of the band but really did not understand the intricacies of the relationship that these two people had. It was almost a war on the airwaves. Thinly veiled references of a less that supportive nature aimed at each other through the lyrics of songs.

Another aspect that I was not aware of were some of the other musicians that Paul McCartney has at one time or another collaborated with. One name in particular caught my eye, Elvis Costello. Man that guy gets around. He is one multi talented performer, for example did you know that he was great friends with Johnny Cash and his wife June Carter Cash? In fact on the tribute album that was released following June’s death he he sings Ring Of Fire.

Better Than Lennon is a must read book for any music lover, it is non judgmental and well reasoned. Oh, and the other reason I give it very high marks indeed is that Blogger News gets a mention

You can order your copy of Better Than Lennon from Amazon, just click on the cover art above.

Simon Barrett

What do you do if you have an advanced degree in Psychology? Well, if your name is Jay Rankin you move to Las Vegas and become a doorman for the MGM Grand. Jay was one of the graveyard shift ‘Guest Ambassadors’, he was there from the day it first opened and stayed 6 very long and often trying years.

I have to admit that this book appealed to me from the moment I read the press release, and excitment built following a phone conversation with Jay. When the book arrived in the mail, I could not resist diving straight in, and I can honestly say I was not disappointed.

I have been to Vegas several times, during most of the 90’s I made a yearly pilgrimage to attend the large Comdex Computer convention. I worked for the owner of a family run business in San Diego, and each year I would tell him that I would be gone for the entire week, and every year I would be back in the office first thing on Thursday. I would leave San Diego Sunday morning and make the trek in my company truck, and by Tuesday afternoon I was pig sick of Vegas. Wednesday morning I’d check out of my hotel, and drive home.

Las Vegas is the strangest city I have ever visited, and I am well traveled. On the surface is glitz and glamor, but there is a nasty undercurrent that runs through the city if you start to look around. I have often wondered how anyone could actually call Las Vegas home and survive?

Under The Neon Sky is such an apt name for this book. Las Vegas does indeed live under a neon sky, regardless of the time of day, a flashlight is about the last thing in the world you could ever need on The Strip, or Downtown.

Jay Rankin rips away the veneer and takes us behind the scenes. It is not a pretty sight. In fact it is a horrible sight. As Guest Ambassador he watched the wide eyed tourists arrive on Friday, full of confidence, and attitude. He also watched them depart on Sunday, deflated, defeated, sleep deprived, broke, and sometimes still wearing the same clothes they arrived in.

It is not just just the tourists that Jay Rankin focuses on, rather, much of his book concerns the toll that Las Vegas takes on those that call it home. The casino, hotel, and entertainment aspects of the city are a 24 hour a day operation that continues every day of the year. While most of us look forward to relaxing with friends and family at Christmas, Thanksgiving, or the Fourth of July, these are not just ‘another day in paradise’ for the employees, but incredibly busy days for these workers. Husbands and wifes often find themselves on schedules where they literally have no time together. The strain on relationships is enourmous.

Jay Rankin had high hopes when he and his wife moved to the city. Their plan was to build a million dollar house, and sell it. Money in the city seemed plentiful. Both he and his wife Cassy were positive that this was the key to some financial independence. Jay was not unknown in Las Vegas as he had a TV show on one of the local channels, but thought that he could make some extra money by applying for a job with the about to open MGM Grand. Of the 1500 applicants for the position, he was one of a handful that made it to employment.

I think it is fair to say that it was both the best and worst day of his life.

Six years later he piled the small remnants of his life into a car, and bid Las Vegas adiue.

Under The Neon Sky is a shockingly stark look at the city that never sleeps. Maybe the most moving page of the book actually can be found at the back. Most authors put a dedication at the beginning, Jay Rankin leaves it until the end. We have already got to know the characters, and then you are faced with:

In Memory of T-Bone and Sam

I think the saddest part of this whole story is that Jay did not lose his wife or life through his overindulgence, rather he stands in witness of what can happen when the rules of regular life change. Las Vegas may well be a garden of eden, but there are so many forbidden fruit, that temptation lays around every corner.

Under The Neon Sky is skillfully penned, 2010 is still in its early moments, but I suspect that Jay might just have a best seller on his hands. I know that he talked to several publishers prior to deciding to take his own route. Publishers were interested, but also cautious, who would buy this book?

Actually this book has some very wide appeal. If you are planning to visit Las Vegas you should read it. If you live there, you should read it. If you are just a seeker of information, you should read it.

Even the cover art of this book has a story. The picture was taken by Jay on his exodus from the city.

You can order your copy by clicking on the Amazon link above.

Simon Barrett