nightstand/ wanna review some reviews?

While I'm on break, I'm going to try to indulge in as many of my former blogging habits as possible. Today just happens to be the last Tuesday of the month, so over at 5 Minutes for Books we're asking, What's On Your Nightstand? I may not keep my books on the nightstand, but I do have a shelf of current and future reads, both personal choices and books for review. Since my return to full-time work, I've cut down significantly on the number of review books I request and accept, so this list is lower than it's been in the past, but it seems to be just right for me at this point.

Other than the seven Cybils finalists in the picture book category (which I'm not revealing until after they do on January 1!), here's a look at what's on my reading shelf:

* Glory Be by Augusta Scattergood -- While I've already read this middle grade novel (for the youngish set- Amazon lists it as for ages 8 and up), I haven't yet written up my review, so it still sits on the shelf. This is a short book that presents a look at the segregated south through the eyes of an eleven year old girl, Glory, whose view of her community and the country as a whole is beginning to be expanded in light of events in her town. I'll be passing this along to JAM's reading shelf, for even though it is a bit below the level of his usual reading, I still think there's value in the story of a child his age living in the Civil Rights era.

* NurtureShock: New Thinking About Children by Po Bronson and Ashley Merryman -- I checked this out from the library again for I wanted to remind myself of one particular essay, the section on lying in childhood. When I first read this book in its entirety just about a year ago, I remember being surprised by the advice/information given. I plan to skim through a few chapters that have particular application to my parenting and teaching experiences lately, and I plan on throwing it in my amazon cart for the next purchase so I can stop keeping the library copy out of others' hands!

* Lunatics by Dave Barry and Alan Zweibel -- The first thing that I read was the note at the beginning stating that though both Barry and Zweibel have written books for children, this was DEFINITELY not one of them. I'm about 1/3 of the way in to this freaking hilarious novel, and I am in fully agreement with that opening statement. The events in this book are so wholly outrageous, yet I'm picturing them all as realistically happening while I read, shaking my head in laughter and disbelief with every page turn. Damn, these guys are funny, and the two characters created couldn't be more different, which translates into chapters told in alternating voices that clearly cannot stand each other. Much laughter, and a great way to finish off a year that involved less reading overall for me.

*Edited the following morning: Guess which book up here had me laughing until after midnight until I finished it? Dave Barry and Alan Zweibel, you sirs are absurdly, hysterically funny.

The rest of the books on my shelf include a few more ARCs of titles that won't release until February, March, and April. Hopefully, some other books will fill the space between these titles and those!

If you're feeling in the mood to share what you're reading, too, head over to the December link-up post for 5M4B's What's On Your Nightstand?.

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If you're so inclined, you can check out my reviews on 5 Minutes for Books, listed from most recent to older posts. This fall, the vast majority of my posts have been round-ups of Cybils-nominated picture books, a bit more in-depth reviews than my weekly friday's five posts. Since I last participated in the Nightstand link-up in October, I've also posted reviews on a humorous novel, a raucous memoir, a short parenting/education guide, a unique YA novel, and a few picture books and reading-related toys for kids.


Looking forward to a summer break filled with books,