Fans of the legendary film Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory will simply adore I Want It Now! A memoir written by Julie Dawn Cole (who played spoiled Veruca Salt), the book is scrumdiddlyumptiously filled with trivia regarding the cast, crew and filming of the 1971 movie starring Gene Wilder. Cole also includes letters home to her family and tons of behind-the-scenes memories, photos and facts.
One of the more memorable "mean kids," it might surprise most people that Cole's childhood was more Charlie Bucket than Veruca Salt. Handwritten notes to home illustrate Cole's sadness at being separated from her beloved mom, but also the excitement of filming Willy Wonka. She also details her crush on Peter Ostrum, who played Charlie, and her sometime rivalry with Denise Nickerson (who played Violet Beauregarde), who also vied for Peter's teenage affections.
For being only thirteen when the movie was filmed, Cole's ability to paint a complete portrait of the makings of the film are astounding, and make you feel that you were right there with the five lucky winners of The Golden Ticket.
Told through the eyes of a deserving, sweet young girl, I Want It Now! is almost as magical as the film itself ($21.95, amazon.com).
Celebrity Parents recently featured Julie Dawn Cole on our cover. Click here to see it!
Whether they want to admit it or not, every parent knows that as your kids get older, your cool factor diminishes. Yes, it’s a proven fact. And no where is this more evident than in the book Crazy Things Parents Text. Written by two barely out of their teen years authors, Wayne Miltz and Stephen Miltz, the book is a riot of goofs and gaffs that parents make when trying to be cool (i.e. text their kids). Coming from a house where my mom could barely operate the Call Waiting, I LMAO at this book, and imagine all the ways that I will embarrass my own kids in the future with technology that I won’t be able to understand, either. I can’t wait ($10.99, amazon.com).
It starts out innocent enough. Your pink-loving daughter loves dressing up in pretty gowns, plays with her dolls where the girl doll is swooning over the feats of the boy doll, and watches movies in which the princess in peril is always rescued by the handsome prince.
Have you been rescued by a prince lately?
Yeah, me neither.
And so is the battle cry of Princess Recovery: A How-To Guide to Raising Strong, Empowered Girls Who Can Create Their Own Happily Ever Afters ($21.95, amazon.com). Written by Jennifer L. Hartstein, PsyD, the book shows the dangers of letting little girls buy into the princess syndrome, where they value looks over smarts, and instead learn to build their own self-esteem based on good actions and intelligence. Each chapter highlights a Princess Symptom and a Heroine Value; instead of Entitlement, the Heroine values Hard Work...her own, that is.
Princess Recovery illustrates the point that girls can love all things girly, watch the fairy tales, but recognize them for just that--a fairy tale. So that one day, instead of a prince on a white stead showing up, it will be the princess herself showing up to become the self-confident Heroine she was always destined to be.
Dr. Jennifer Ashton, ob-gyn and TV personality, wants women in their 30s, 40s and beyond to feel, look and be better than when they were younger and start thinking about Your Body Beautiful: Clockstopping Secrets to Staying Healthy, Strong and Sexy in Your 30s, 40s and Beyond.
Dr. Ashton sets out a 5-part plan for women to live happier and healthier lives—but it takes commitment. The book provides a candid, confidential glimpse into the lives of women in their 30s and 40s. It offers these women specific strategies based on the latest medical research to help them make wise choices about their bodies. Driven by colorful anecdotes from Dr. Ashton’s practice, the book reminds us all that by looking at midlife with a fresh, new mindset, we can look, feel and be healthier—and better than ever.
Perez Hilton has crossed into the world of children's books with his fab first book, The Boy With Pink Hair. It's the story of a boy born with a shock of uber fab pink hair, and how he grows to accept and love himself for who he truly is. Celebrating individuality and self-acceptance, the book was inspired by Hilton's desire to promote equality in readers of ALL ages.
Says Hilton: "While I can identify in many ways with The Boy With Pink Hair, he represents so much more. This story is about every kid who's ever had a dream, felt excluded, wanted to belong, and hoped that one day he could do what he loved and make a difference. With this book, that's exactly what I feel I have the opportunity to do."
We love the fact that Hilton chose a children's book as his first foray into books. The message is sweet, and will encourage all kids to respect each other--and themselves. Now that's the point of children's literature ($17.99, amazon.com).
Tutoring today is a $4 billion industry (yes—billion) with companies like Sylvan Learning Center and Kaplan Tutoring cashing in. What are parents of today’s overextended students to do? If only there were a resource closer to home that was easy, free, and able to provide the same quality of service. But there is: you.
Top professional tutor Marina Koestler Ruben empowers you to take a do-it-yourself approach to your child’s after-school enrichment. As a parent-tutor, you will learn how provide holistic academic support for your children and create an intellectual environment in the home—strengthening your relationship and improving parent-child communication in the process.
Ruben’s accessible guide shows you how to balance big-picture curiosity with the academic nitty-gritties of homework assignments, organization, and electronic resources. Building on her proven “Six-Step Session” format, Ruben shares the secrets to tutoring children in any subject from kindergarten through high school—all with a warm, entertaining tone that will inspire you to inspire them ($13.99, amazon.com).
"I hate you!" "You just don't understand me!" "Are you trying to ruin my life???"
Sadly, for many 'rents, these are typical morning "greetings" from their teenaged sons and daughters. The transformation from your sweet little child to the moody ogre who now lives in your kid's bedroom leaves most parents stupefied. In I'd Listen to My Parents if They'd Just Shut Up, author and clinical psychologist Anthony E. Wolf, Ph.D., highlights the patterns teens follow in response to specific verbal exchanges with their parents and offers new scripts on how to effectively communicate with your kids.
The book has tons of typical scenarios and real-life responses to help you understand what your kid is really telling you which is this: he's still the same little kid you love, and he loves you, but he's totally confused about being a teen, too. You'll be better equipped to navigate the murky waters of teendom--and save your sanity-- with this book ($14.99, amazon.com).
Where Does Mommy Go? is told from the perspective of a little kid who wonders where his mom goes every day. It's a great book for moms who are re-entering the workforce and are looking to explain to their little ones what it's like to have a daily 9-5. But instead of reinforcing working mommy guilt, the book is a colorful exploration of a child's imagination, as he wonders if his mom is a magician performing cool tricks, or if she's a doctor helping kids who are sick. The ending is sweet, and helps assuage parental fears about being away from their children ($11.00, amazon.com).
Once in a while, a book comes along that shifts your perspective on things, opens your eyes to a reality that you sorta already knew was there, but hadn’t yet accepted. You put the book down after a few pages and know that you’ve not only connected with millions of moms on a universal level, but that you have connected with something much deeper: yourself.
Such is the case with the new book, The Mothers of Reinvention. Since launching their show “Jen and Barb, Mom Life” more than four years ago, authors Jennifer Pate and Barbara Machen were continually asked: “How did you guys do that?” The subtext was not about producing and hosting an award-winning web series, but how the moms reinvented themselves, especially given their roles as mothers, wives, and career women.
Through their own journey of reinvention, they discovered the Mom Secret: The more satisfied you are with yourself, the better you can deal with the chaos that surrounds you, the better role model you will be, and the better off your entire family will be! This is not a luxury—it is a necessity.
This is the key: You must reinvent yourself. Your life BC (Before Children) is over. You must learn to adapt to your new life, your new responsibilities (your new body!), or you will never, ever feel fulfilled. Learning to enjoy this new life will make you happier, as opposed to clinging to a past that is not yours anymore.
Mindblowing, isn't it?
In The Mothers of Reinvention, Jen and Barb share their steps to help you realize your full potential as a woman while maintaining your joy as a mom and/or wife. Whether you’re a new mother, a mother of school-aged children, or an empty nester, Jen’s and Barb’s personal stories, along with accounts from other women and experts who have also reinvented, will engage, inspire, and motivate.
Every mother deserves passion outside her family, and The Mothers of Reinvention will help you discover what that means for you. It is a book that you will want to read again and again, as its message resonates with what it truly means to be a mom today. You will find yourself (yes, a newer, reinvented you) on every page ($15.99, amazon.com).
Stop for a minute and count how many technological devices in your home. Chances are, there are more than 10. Don’t worry; you’re not alone. As families scramble to get their kids out the door in the morning, most teens (and tweens) are texting, someone is glued to the television, and you’re answering work-related emails.
In The Winter of Our Disconnect, journalist Susan Maushart did the unthinkable—she unplugged her entire family. Even more shockingly, she lived to tell the tale! Before undergoing what she and her kids came to call “The Experiment”, Maushart had become increasingly appalled by the way her children gorged themselves on media. After a few uncomfortable weeks, the single mom was amazed to discover that she and her kids were having meaningful discussions—around the dinnertable no less.
After The Experiment was over, her daughter was able to sleep properly again, her son rediscovered his passion for the sax, and Maushart reconnected with all three of her children.
The Winter of Our Disconnect is a witty, relatable story for today’s families. It shows that families can survive—and frankly, thrive—in a tech-less environment. So the next time you see your kids on the computer, using their iPods and glazed in front of the TV, turn everything off and enjoy some quality family time together. Having fewer tools to communicate with might actually help your family to communicate more ($16.95, amazon.com).
