Page 10 - Palm City Spotlight - December '24

Page 10, Palm City Spotlight

kids bOOk review

’Twas The Bite Before “I don’t like eggnog, and
COrNer Christmas I don’t think anybody does.
It’s too thick and too sweet
for my taste … like drinking
By Nils A. Shapiro melted chewing gum. I just
My Child Is Slow To Get When I was trying to tried some again anyway
and found that sucking some
decide on an appropriate
Going book to review for this of this batch through a straw
December column, several requires either a serious
By Jim Forgan, Ph.D. features on the cover of this pair of lungs or a hydraulic
Licensed School month’s selection attracted pump; it’s not nearly good
Psychologist me: the obvious connection enough to justify that amount
Eve’s nickname is to the Christmas holiday, of work.
“Eeyore” one parent the cute twist of the “Bite” “But the reason I doubt
told me. She was for “Night” in the title and that anyone really likes it
feeling frustration the adorable Dalmatian is that it’s only popular at Christmas. Good food or drink
when dealing with her with the Gingerbread Man cookie in his mouth—an should not require a holiday to justify consumption … I
child completing tasks irresistible draw for the doggie lover I am. feel the same way about fruitcakes and candied yams; if
slower than everyone What I did not realize until I arrived home, opened the you like them, eat them all year. Otherwise, I don’t want
else. Whether it was book, noted the author’s credentials and began reading to hear about them.”
doing homew ork, this novel is that I had struck literary gold in my selection! Or this passage about his son, Ricky.
completing simple household chores, or getting out Within the first few pages I understood why David “Ricky is watching a soccer game.
the door in the morning, Eve was slow or the last Rosenfelt has developed a massive fan base of readers for “He likes soccer.
one to go. It required constant reminders and mom his more than 40 already published novels, over half of “I’ve known this for a while, but it’s still jarring. I’m a
felt like she was always nagging. She hypothesized them about Andy Carpenter, the same attorney who stars good parent, so as much as I hate soccer and hate even more
her daughter was perhaps lazy, unmotivated, or did in ’Twas The Bite Before Christmas. that he likes it, I’m not about to say anything or be critical.
not understand what to do. But what really perplexed In this novel, Carpenter is serving as defense attorney He has to live his own life and make his own choices, even
this mom was that Eve was slow regardless of if the for a friend and excellent neighbor who, shockingly, has a ridiculous one like this.
activity was something fun or routine. It could be been arrested and charged with the murder of a high- “What are you watching, Rick?”
getting ready for a fun day at the waterpark and she ranking mobster. It turns out that his friend, to the surprise “It’s a Premier League game. Liverpool is playing
was still slow. of Carpenter and everyone else in town, has been living Chelsea.”
There are many reasons why a child is completing among them as part of the government’s witness protection “They’re five hours ahead there. Are they playing at
tasks at a much slower pace than their peers. One program after having earlier been a part of the mob but midnight?”
reason is your child could have slower processing who “turned” and gave evidence at great personal risk. “I taped it.”
speed so even simple tasks will take them longer With his friend and client declaring himself to be “You taped an English soccer game? Voluntarily?”
to complete. This can leave your child feeling completely innocent of the new charges, Carpenter must “Yup.” …
overwhelmed, mentally fatigued, and discouraged. get to the truth about the “evidence” and find the real “Does it bother you that they score about once every
Second, your child could have a weak working killer. (He also takes on the responsibility of caring for couple of months?
memory and struggle to keep track of the tasks they his friend/client’s two dogs while he is in prison.) This “Nope.”
are assigned and often forget what to do next. This won’t be an easy case: The victim was found dead in the … “I watch along with him for a minute or so, pretending
can especially be noticed if you give your child trunk of his client’s car, and his bloodstains on the client’s to be interested, then I leave. I could watch until someone
multiple tasks at once. Third, your child may have clothing. It’s a well-told tale with a surprising, satisfying scores, but by then Bobby’s trial might have started. …
weaker inhibition which means that they have a and credible ending. “I can’t sugarcoat this or enter a state of denial … the
hard time resisting distractors. Your child could What makes this book special is Rosenfelt’s writing simple fact is that I have a son who prefers soccer to good
be cleaning their room and find something they style. But there are so many reasons to love this author old American college football.
misplaced and become distracted playing with this it is difficult to know where to begin. Most importantly, “I am raising a Communist.”
and not cleaning up. Fourth, your child might have his tongue-in-cheek humor will keep a grin on your face As if David Rosenfelt’s delightful writing style weren’t
ADHD, Predominantly Inattentive Presentation or from first page to last. I kept thinking that he would make enough to have me join his vast base of admiring readers, how
what we used to call ADD. a great writer for the Saturday Night Live TV show. about the following: He and his wife live in Maine with 25
Seek answers and understanding so you can do Here, for example, are just a couple of examples early of the 4,000 dogs they have rescued. Do I need to say more?
something different instead of becoming frustrated on when Andy Carpenter is describing how he feels about
with your child and straining your relationship. A certain aspects of his family life. (I have omitted large *****
school neuropsychological evaluation will help you sections of the text for lack of space here and substituted
get to the root cause of why your child is completing ellipses. …) Book Review on page 11
tasks so slowly. Our evaluations assess all of these
potential causes and provide specific and helpful
recommendations to improve your child’s functioning
in the home and school settings.
Call us at (561) 625-4125 to discuss your child or
learn more at www.JimForgan.com.

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