Mr. Tiger Goes Wild by Peter Brown

Cool artwork illustrates a familiar story (to many of us) of a tiger who feels like himself being wild in the wilderness but at home with his friends in the city. Fortunately in the story and real life, the city develops a balance between people expressing their true selves and conforming to social norms.

My year in TV

As a child-centered single mom, I get lots of time at home while my kid is sleeping and I'm too tired to do anything else. I don’t mind because I LOVE television. People often ask me how to vote on local issues and what TV shows they should watch. My all-time favorite shows include Friends, Battle Star Galactica and Breaking Bad. Also note that I don’t have a TV – everything I watch is streaming. Final note: I also tried a dozen or so more shows that didn't stick, as I do every year. Mention on this list means I watched and intend to keep watching the show (if possible). Here's the list of shows I enjoyed in the previous 12 months:

Jane the Virgin (A) is the best show on TV right now. It’s fun and exciting but not too upsetting (the baby only gets kidnapped for like 5 minutes), and everyone is gorgeous.

The Mindy Project (A) Mindy Kaling is the most important feminist of our time. I love her, and everything she represents, everything she has to say.

Garfunkel and Oates (A) -- 1 season of awesome song and story. I can’t believe this creative genius was cancelled.

Happy Endings (A) – This was one of the best light binges of my life. If you need some Friends therapy, and haven’t watched Happy Endings yet, you need to start. I heard they might bring it back, and I am on the edge of my seat.

Moone Boy (A) is an authentic show about small town Irish life, and it’s funny.

You’re the Worst (A) I went into this one kicking and screaming. But between the beautiful people and the authentic love story, I’m on-board.

Mad Men (A) I don’t think I need to say anything here…. I will say that I am so glad I was not born yet in this era. What a beautiful, deep show.

Big Bang Theory (A) totally deserves its success. I laugh out loud every episode (alone in my living room, it’s sad), maybe every scene. I can’t get enough of it. What’s strange about this phenomenon I that the men are not good looking, and I don’t identify with any of the women. Weird.

Gotham (A) This is a really good show, but sometimes it’s a bit too upsetting and/or gruesome. They lost my love briefly last season with the new bad guy.

Orange is the New Black (A) has not lost its luster.

Girls (A-) I love that a woman who doesn’t look like a fashion model can be a big TV star, and that she can get naked and enjoy sex on TV. I’m sure people are talking smack about her all the time, but I haven’t heard it.

Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt (B+) lost some points for making light of a very dark premise, but is otherwise entertaining. I hope season two takes the show’s premise a bit more seriously.

Master of None (B+) I love Aziz Ansari. This show is sort of a light, entertaining version of his book (which I read at the same time). I like it a lot, but I wish it had gone deeper.

UnReal (B+) sickness. Deep sickness. It’s dark, and I can’t get enough. Reference my long standing love for the Bachelor franchise and deep interest in contemporary feminism.

Casual (B+) I’m really on the fence about this one. It’s great that this brother and sister love each other so much, but I feel bad for the teenage girl whose childhood ended earlier than necessary. Show quality is good; content is mixed.

New Girl (B+) is another one which frequently has me laughing out loud.  

 

Modern Family (B) Many people close to me love this show; I think it’s OK. I watch it, consistently, when I want something short and entertaining.

Castle (B) I usually watch this show last, but I always enjoy it. All the characters are likable. I really like Nathan Fillion, partly because of Firefly, but also because he’s a little younger than I am but looks older.

Girlfriend’s Guide to Divorce (B) very entertaining

Call the Midwife (B) I feel like this show should be better because it’s a British period piece. But it isn’t. I was consistently appalled by the inaccurate depiction of the birthing experience (having just one natural childbirth under my belt). I hope everyone knows natural childbirth isn’t like what they show. I still really loved the characters, their relationships, and issues the show addressed.

Downton Abby (B) a shadow of its former self. There was a time when I thought this show could go on forever. Now, I hope they make another good one someday.

Baby Daddy (B) don’t judge me. I love babies and good-looking adults who are silly.

Glee (B) ended slightly less than a year ago. It could have gone on forever, but I think everyone was so upset when Cory Monteith died that they just wanted to move on. It was good to close it out cleanly, and the last few episodes were fine. I’m sure they’ll give us something similar soon (if they haven’t already, and I missed it).

Crazy Ex-Girlfriend (B-) Sometimes this show is just too much to take, and maybe too close to home, but love honesty most. So, let’s be honest about our emotional damage. I also love the completely ridiculous singing and dancing.

Bones (B-) Great concept, and I love love love David Boreanaz. I love him. I want to marry him and have his babies. I like the other characters too, especially the relationship between Angela and Hodgins. I won’t be too sorry when it ends. I feel like the concept has played out. The crime solutions seems to have big problems with some frequency.

The Last Man on Earth (B-) This show is often deeply offensive. I do not love Will Forte and his sensibilities. BUT I am enthralled with the concept, and I can’t wait to see how it plays out each episode. I guess I just wish they (the writers and the characters too) would be a little more realistic.

Grey’s Anatomy (C+) used to be Great. Now it’s OK. I love watching good looking people save lives. I love medical TV because they’re dealing with issues that actually matter in addition to their silly love lives. Yeah, I’m a very loyal person.

The Bachelor franchise (C+) I love these shows and not ironically. It’s like social research. I love trying to predict how people will behave and who they will choose. The concept is better than its execution sometimes.

Love (C) should have been a good show. But the Gus character is so unappealing that the entire premise becomes unbelievable. He’s not even ugly-hot or charming. Love is just so completely from some man’s fantasy perspective. The character Bertie is a breath of fresh air amid it all.

Foxy and Egg by Alex T. Smith

This hilarious Noir-style story is cute and surprising. I really loved the artwork, especially the repetition of chicken images. The end is a surprise, and I don't want to give it away. But I really think you'll like it. The main message is don't trust appearances or your assumptions about people and situations -- a pretty good message really.

The Christmas Giant by Steve Light

A giant and an elf make wrapping paper. Then Santa gives them a new assignment: the christmas tree for christmas town. I particularly love the artwork in this book. It's also about bringing your own special skills to the tasks you are assigned. I hope that doesn't give away the ending.

Part-Time Princess by Deborah Underwood

She's a regular girl by day but a princess by night. Did you know that princesses often serve as fire fighters to save their kingdom? Then, instead of locking up the dragon who caused the fire, she finds he's just grumpy because his little brother melted his crayons. They become friends. This book is perfect in almost every way -- I just didn't like the introduction of the handsome prince she might marry some day. Can we just skip that part? Maybe I'm being too picky.

Every-Day Dress-Up by Selina Alko

Instead of always dressing up as a princess, a little girl dresses up as great women from history: Amelia Earhart, Ella Fitzgerald, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Marie Curie, Julia Child, Maria Tallchief and Frida Kahlo. My daughter recently discovered princesses and pink; so, books like this are just what we need. Of course, my daughter is particularly interested in Ella and Maria because they look prettiest in the pictures, but you can only do so much.

Claire and the Unicorn by B.G. Hennessy

A little girl named Claire and her unicorn stuffy conduct social research in her dreams on what makes people live "happily ever after". They ask a fairy, a princess and a prince, Fairy Godmother, and the Wishing Well. They find out that it depends. But I can't help but think that they were asking the question wrong. While they wanted to find out what makes people live "happily ever after" the answers they were getting were regarding what would make people happy now. In any case, it's a cute story, and I like the idea of kids conducting social research on fairy tale characters.