Top 5 nonfiction reads

List by Tosca

"Reading - the best state yet to keep absolute loneliness at bay."
- William Styron

Greetings & saluations! You might have noticed that I've been a little bit absent (it's like being a little bit pregnant, I'd imagine - you either are or you aren't) from the blog lately *thoughtful look* I've been taking a bit of time out to ponder the future of this blog. Not along the lines of, 'Should I get rid of it?' More like, 'Is this layout what I want?' and, 'Am I giving readers the best that I can?' and even, 'What more can I do to make this relevant?' And then, before I knew it, a couple of weeks had gone by and I was no closer to getting a post out. Which reminded me that, d'oh, I actually had to write/publish to it because, hey, life goes on. (I'm slow, but I get there in the end). Compared to last month there aren't any big surprises on this list although, strangely, some of you *still* want to know just *what* Paul Henry was thinking. One title in particular that never fails to make me raise my eyebrows is 'That woman,' used to describe Wallis Simpson. I'm 36 and I have quite clear memories of being a child while gran (who was a diehard fan of royalty which, looking back, I find wholly unusual) would tell me again and again the story of a man who gave up a throne for love of a woman in such hushed and scandalised tones. I'm not sure talk of Simpson will ever die down. And so! Books. For you. All for you. Nonfiction titles, to be specific. Enjoy!

More top nonfiction reads:

So brilliantly clever : Parker, Hulme and the murder that shocked the world / Peter Graham

A train in winter : a story of resistance, friendship and survival / Caroline Moorehead

Seriously - I'm kidding / Ellen DeGeneres

The official New Zealand road code

Love at the end of the road : finding my heart in the country / Rae Roadley

Journey / Pippa Blake a collaboration with Trish Clark

Our top 5 bedtime stories for February

List by Danielle

Enchantress: Can I be in your video?
Thor: Nay, witch. Thou dost headbang like a girl. Now be gone, less thou detract from my mighty rocking. More cowbell! Thus spoke Thor.

No doubt about it, February was Super Hero month in our household. Our first dip into the mighty, marvellous pool of superheroes (if you don't count last month's fabulous Traction Man) was my 5 year old daughter's discovery of superhero phonics books, early readers about heroes such as X-ray Rex and Jumping Jade.

The find of the month, though, has been Marvel's mind-blowing Super Hero Squad, which comes in several formats - DVD, chapter book, and junior graphic novel. I say mind-blowing, because for those raised on Marvel comics (not me) and even for those who came to the characters late through films like Iron Man, the X Men and Fantastic 4 flicks, the various Hulks... this is a whole new world. Imagine brooding, angsty heroes like Wolverine turned into wisecracking kiddy characters. Hulk as comic relief. Captain America as the wise old mentor/butt of jokes. The characters now have no back story - the Hulk has no human form, Wolverine (or 'Wolvie') appears in flashbacks as a baby, complete with adamantium claws. Thor, as in the quote above, went to Valhalla High School.

It about blows your mind, huh?

Couple that with the most catchy theme song ever to grace a kids' cartoon... It's time to hero up, squaddies!