I hear you.
Parenting can be stressful…really stressful.
But it’s not all despair and frustration. There are moments that make you want to leap into the air with a great big smile pasted on your face.
So, yeah, parenting is filled with tons of wondrous times as well. Here to drive that point home is a book called The Christopher Chronicles (2nd edition).
Now, before you think this is another Harry Potter or Lord of the Rings type, it’s not. And you know it’s not because if it were, I wouldn’t have written about it on this blog.
Are you still with me? Good. Here at Green Eggs & Moms, we love all things that keep moms sane. What’s that? You want to know whether this book does just that?
The Book
Don’t let the title fool you. The Christopher Chronicles, as mentioned earlier, isn’t a non-fiction about a hero or heroine’s battle against evil. Instead, it’s a short collection of unintentionally comical comments and questions from the then 5-year old Christopher, the author’s son. This makes the book a very light read.
The Review
Every parent knows that children have their moments. Moments wherein their amusing, hilarious–and oft clever–remarks are evidence of their innocence. An innocence that tries to make sense of the world.
Having said that, this collection from Kenya Johnson is one of the most entertaining reads I’ve had in a while. How can it not be when you know very well that kids say the darndest things! And let me tell you, Christopher is definitely no exception as he is a fairly bright young man.
The cartoonish graphics, which I assume are caricatures of Christopher, contribute and complement the playful wit of the book, the way a tart apple and salty cheese pairing delight the taste buds. More importantly, reading this humbled me as a parent because it reminded me of how a children confidently view the world: with fascination and simplicity.
So, now, we come to the conclusion of this review in which this query shall be answered: Should you buy the book?
Oh, most definitely. What better way to relax from parenting’s challenges but by getting a dose of laughter from reading a passage (or two) from this book. And yes, this will keep you sane!
My only frustration is that the (physical) book isn’t available to be shipped here in the Philippines, nor is it offered in electronic format. I guess those of us outside the U.S. will just have to wait.
If you’re curious about how I read it, the wonderful author, Kenya Johnson, allowed me to temporarily peruse an online version.
You may get a copy of the physical book on Amazon here. If you want to reach the author for whatever reason, here is her website.
About Anne Mercado
Anne thank you so much for your review. It’s another great perspective on what audience would enjoy reading this genre. Every mom needs a great laugh to stay sane! Hearing from you today inspired the post that I wrote today, which in part explains why there isn’t a Kindle edition yet. Until then, I need to figure out how to get the paperback available to other parts of the world. Thank you for providing the Amazon link for everyone else.
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Hi, Kenya! You are most welcome.
I do hope that an electronic version becomes available sometime. It’s such a wonderful book to have. Aren’t kids the most natural comics?
This book for sure is a good read! This little boy definitely will win you over with his charm and wit.
I gave a copy of this book to my sister-in-law for Christmas and she’s still raving about it. My copy has been temporarily ‘borrowed’ and I feel like something’s missing w/o it in the house. It’s been one of my new favorites since I first read it.
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super review–very cute book =)
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My oldest son is a Christopher, so I love the title!
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I just love books that make me laugh. I need light reading because I barely have time to read at all. Deep, heavy books get put in my read someday pile, which is steadily growing and now I’m not sure I’ll ever get to them until the kids have both gone off to college!
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Great review Anne. I love to read Kenya’s blog posts, so I’m sure her humor translated well to her book, and I bet her son is even more funny in person. You can self-publish on Kindle, so I’ll drop Kenya a note on that.
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It feels like ages since my last visit on your blog, Anne! I missed you!
And congrats on the feature, Kenya!
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Sounds like a fun read! I’m looking forward to checking it out.
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Hi there Anne, I just wanted to let you know that The Christopher Chronicles is now available on Kindle (graphics and all)
Some things change…
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