Book Review: Perri's Pencil Problem (OT)

 Perri's Pencil Problem, by Marleigh Brown (Butterscotch Tape, 2026, 31pp PB, $8.49, ages 5-9)

What a delightful, astonished girl cover!

Perri, our cover girl, has a problem - too many pencils, and in her hair! How did that happen? By her astonished look, you can bet that it wasn't her. But who and why?

With lovely illustrations of a multicultural elementary school classroom with plenty of activity, Perri's Pencil Problem is a fun learning read on how to relate to people (even if they are adorable kids) who are very different from you. And what to say to anyone who may not realize how they can hurt with words. (A couple of pages in the back of the book give ideas of what to say to someone who has hurt you.)

We also loved the opening pages - of Perri looking in a mirror - and trying to figure out just what that was. This is an example of once you see it, you can't unsee it! Once you get it, you can't not get it.

A second lesson is about listening to your mama because she loves you and knows just what to do. And it may just be that the person whose words hurt you, did so because she is jealous of you.

Book Review: The Wrong War (Afghanistan)

The Wrong War: Grit, Strategy and the Way Out of Afghanistan, by Bing West (Random House, $28, 307 pp HB, 2011) Striking front book cover!

I couldn't put it down. 

But what is the "wrong war"? And, why? Are we truly always fighting the last war?

I know the name, Bing West, from somewhere but can't put my finger on where. He was a colonel in the Marines and perhaps wrote for Army Times (or Marine Corps Times or Air Force Times or Navy Times - they are all related), is an author of several highly acclaimed military books and served as Assistant Sec Dev (for International Security Affairs) after serving in combat in Viet Nam.

All that said, this should be a required text book at West Point and Annapolis (for future Marine leaders). West does an excellent job of telling it like it is for infantry troops in a "hot" northeastern province of Afghanistan (Konar) for half the book, then relating a difficult situation in Helmand province, down south in Pashtun* country. However, by the time you get to the "Helmand half," you may be as tired as I was hearing about patrols and small unit fighting. Even me who knows the place names and history, having spent a tour in southern Afghanistan a year prior to the times West depicts (2007-08 while West's Marines fought in Helmand primarily beginning in 2009 [the book was written in 2011]).

Who are the Players?

West describes the problem with exquisite explaining (the solution, not so well, but he does list the solution components) - all the different sides: farmers and villagers and insurgents and informants and mullahs and elders, corrupt Afghan police, corrupt Afghan soldiers, corrupt Afghan politicians (yes, even President Karzai is described in less than positive terms). the Taliban, US forces. "Demanding money and resources was a habit. The military was the cleanest Afghan institution, yet each rank took from those below them. Uniform standards, particularly in selecting leaders, were lacking . . . . The system lacked a uniform set of rewards and penalties. The Afghan security system paid low wages, . . . . There was no incentive to run risks today in order to be rewarded later. Some incompetent officers were promoted due to tribal connections or payoffs, while others were selected based on proven courage and leadership. In contrast, the Taliban relieved leaders who performed poorly,  . . . ." (p. 163)

And What About the Future? Is There an Entitlement Culture There?

Is counterinsurgency composed of "clear, hold, and build"? Should the US military be in the business of nation-building? Is materialism the unifying principle of a liberal counterinsurgency practice? (p. 242)

Love the Photos!

Primarily taken by the author (not a professional), the photos depict (and are called out in the text) life and combat in Afghanistan. However, three to a page makes them not quite as impressive as I would like.

Writing Style

Author West brings you along for the ride, as he was embedded with troops over three years. He also includes, as appendices,  General Petraeus' COIN** guidance of August 2010 and his own to-do list of counterinsurgency lessons as well as points from his final fact-finding trip. Definitely food for thought as higher-ups compare and contrast VietNam and Afghanistan.

West acknowledges the people who helped him make this book possible and names more than 16 columns of them, mostly Soldiers and Marines. What a tribute!

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Other tidbits:

Korengal is mentioned, as is Restrepo, the film. Greg Mortenson's Three Cups of Tea is explained on page 110. Also COP Keating in Nuristan.

Nation building features these tasks: 1. protect the population, 2. give money and projects to stimulate patriotism, and 3. link the population with competent government officials. (p. 249)

Defeating an insurgency requires three tasks: 1. we cannot defeat the Taliban. They are too elusive and have a vast sanctuary. 2. we don't have the time to build a nation when its top leaders are feckless. 3. training and instilling confidence in the Afghan forces should be the first priority at this juncture. This war turns on whether the Afghan forces show they can beat the Taliban. Only then will the Pashtun khans begin to cooperate. (p. 289, West's observations)

What role did sanctuary play - not only UBL but also Pakistan? Geography? History of the tribes?

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*The Pashtuns are the major tribe in Afghanistan and the "birthplace" of the Taliban is said to be Kandahar, a province next to Helmand in the south. President Karzai is a Pashtun.

** Counterinsurgency

Book Review: Nathan Hacks Santa (dogless)

Nathan Hacks Santa, by Elaine Spanner (Friesen Press, 2025, 44pp HB, up to 12 years of age) 

The title tells it all!

It's almost Christmas and Nathan is sure he is on Santa's Naughty List, so why even try to be good at this late a date? It's also much more fun pulling pranks on people! And one of them that he is working on is how to guess Santa's password* so he can create more havoc up in the North Pole toy shops. Nathan spends days - and pages, trying to guess the right password and finally he is lucky, ready to do some creative and felonious deeds.

The downside is Nathan's dislike of getting only coal for Christmas so his practical jokes have to be really good to make up for the black stuff. And good they are!

Now, there comes a time in every movie that I realize there are only a few minutes left and I have no idea if the characters will be able to pull off a believable ending or not. I thought the same thing when reading Nathan Hacks Santa - how is this book going to end? How will Nathan repent in his ways and have a Merry Christmas? Will he be able to? Will he learn a lesson in kindness and goodness and ethics or will this book end up in the air? Will Nathan be able to help Santa?

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*Nathan asks Santa what he likes doing in his spare time, and still it takes him a long time to figure out the password. Can you beat him?

Book Review: Hop's Tales: The Kind Bunny (and a scruffy dog named Ruff)

Hop's Tales: The Kind Bunny, by Evelina Ruimy (Mascot Books, $19.95, 2026, ages 3-6, 38pp,HB)

What a Lovely Book!

With water color animals like your child's favorite stuffed ones, The Kind Bunny has lots of friends - a bear, a mouse, a duck, a fox, a squirrel, a raccoon, and, of course, Bunny's sister and mummy at home. And lots of little flying friends, too. 

The animals go to school, of course, where they learn numbers, and drawing, and reading. And have fun doing so, with their friends.

School is Cool! Or, is it?

Little Hop thinks school is cool. Until it isn't. That happens when Hop meets a pup named Ruff who thinks school is so not-cool. That feeling is absorbed by Hop who tells his mom and Mom saves the day by teaching Hop a lesson he can share with Ruff, now his new best friend.

Friends can be different. Friends can teach each other and share courage. We can all change and learn and grow together. And have fun doing it! And even though many of these animals are of the four-footed kind, they look natural on two feet and their body language is spot-on in relation to their emotions.

Illustrator Siski Kalla did an exceptional job of the animals - so good that I'd like to frame a few pages. Or, at least read the book every night. My youngster wouldn't mind.

If you or your young one would like to know if school is really cool, just read about Hop and The Kind Bunny! or other titles in the series.

Book Review: AI Simplified (OT)

AI Simplified, by Hilary Lamb, Joel Levy, and Claire Quigley* (Penguin Random House, DK, 160 pp HB, 2nd ed.,  2025, $17.99, also sold as Simply AI: Facts Made Easy (front cover directly below) - content previously published as Simply AI) 

I could have chosen the AI book in the (reviewed here yesterday) series by New Burlington but I thought it more valuable to review two different series of books on similar topics. Both series are similar: too cursory and too advanced, Good review for graduate school, though.

Sample pages appear below:

Each page has a paragraph or two plus cartoon-like drawings, some of which are even helpful. These books are similar to the Complete Idiot's Guides or Dummies Guides which I highly recommend, though they (the latter) are a bit more costly. At least the format here makes the books easy to put down and pick up again later when you have more time.

Chapters are introduced on colored pages, some of which are printed on pages too dark to read easily (e.g., dark royal blue). Each page has references to other pages: I finally figured out they are like a built-in index, within the text, so this book can be read in any order of chapters or pages - great if you know a little bit about the subject and can't wait to get to the more interesting parts (for you). However, the authors have also included an index.

*later version below:

Book Review: Forensic Science (OT)

Forensic Science: Discover the fascinating science of crime science analysis, by Tom Jackson and Paul Knepper (New Burlington, 2025, $18.999HC, 176pp)

Yup, every once in a while, I break down and spend some time at a bookstore like I did last week (as if I don't get enough books to review as it is!). I tell myself I'm just looking. . . . and end up with a bookbag full of new reading. 

I was especially excited about this book, Forensic Science. It is sort of like an idiot's guide or a dummie's guide, full of short chapters (one pagers), cute illustrations in few colors, and, I hoped, elementary, though I had taken a course in forensic anthropology and several criminology courses.

Here is the table of contents to give you an idea of what the book covers:

And a sample page about blood spatter: 

Basically, each page is a paragraph or two plus a simplified graphic or illustration which may or may not help with the text. It is also helpful to have the chapter titles at the bottom of each page. Pages are white or very pastel, giving a clean look.

The Reader Can't Get Lost!

With a basic table of contents plus a sub-table of contents in more detail on each inside chapter page, the readers simply can't get lost, though they can easily skip around from topic to topic, as the average readers know a bit about a lot of them. Now they will know more.

This series also has a title about AI, artificial intelligence (though if you went to an ag college, AI will always be artificial insemination), but I selected an AI book from another series to give you more information. Check back for that one tomorrow.

Book Review: 101 Salivations: For the Love of Dogs (a coffee table book)

101 Salivations: For the Love of Dogs, by Rachel Hale (Bulfinch Press, $19.95 HB, 2003, 176 pp) 

Every coffee table needs a coffee table book - of dogs, of course! And 101 Salivations may be yours.

Full of one-dog-to-a-page* of mostly pure bred dogs, a few crosses (mixed breeds) manage to sneak their way into this celebration of all things dog. I just want to cut out some of these dog photos and frame them!

The first 101 pages have few words but the appendix makes up for that, for it describes each dog-page* with  page number, breed (mix), name and age, along with a couple of sentences about the chance meeting between human and dog and the photographer that is captured here.

*like page 11 nd 12, Akita Hiro and Australian Cattle Dog Amigo: