Are you looking for a hilarious book to read? Are you not looking for anything that tells you precisely how to parent your children? Are you sick of parenting books that talk down to you?

Then you’re in luck. Here’s a really funny book about questions kids ask. And lest you think this is just a cutesy “aw, kids say the darndest things” kind of book, the author actually gives the answers too!

So if you or your child have ever wondered “Why do ships have round windows?” “How much of your body can you lose and still live?” “Is a rainbow hot or cold?” “Why does the chef wear a big white hat?” or “Does the Mona Lisa wear shoes?” then Wendell Jamieson has written the book for you. Interspersed between stories of his own childhood and children are succinct interviews with experts. Note, the people in the clip below are the reason I suspect he decided against writing a book about what the Man on the Street thinks.

And check out the book’s website for more clips, a chance to get your kid’s question in the paperback version, and more.

Would you like to know how to really, really anger a person who stood in line to buy an iPhone on the day they were released? Make her post about how Apple just DROPPED THE PRICE BY $200… Sigh.

If you want to get in on the iPhone action, now is the time. In my opinion, it is the best combination phone, camera, and datebook out there, plus it is pretty much a tiny computer that fits in your pocket. You can be online from anywhere. It is amazing and I love mine with no reservations. Well, just one I guess. I apparently paid $200 too much for it!

So avoid my mistake, and get yours now. Purchase an 8GB iPhone for just $399 and you’ll get free shipping too.

Finally. One of my pet peeves about shopping online is out-of-control shipping prices. Places like Old Navy have had flat-rate shipping for a while, and now their big sister, The Gap, has decided to do it too.

So now you can shop at The Gap online and not worry that it is going to cost $30 to ship your clothes. Flat-Rate shipping is the next-best thing to Free Shipping, and I’m glad to see The Gap getting on board.

Oh, and I also noticed a blurb on their home page about “New Reduced Prices” so maybe they’re finally marketing to cheapskates like me — check it out and let me know what you think.

Even though I live in California, the other day we had a cold snap. OK, it just meant that I had to remind my boys to put on a sweatshirt over their shorts and t-shirt, but it was cold nonetheless. And this event signaled one of my two least favorite times of the year: time to buy new kid clothes. Ugh.

Lucky for me, Old Navy is having at 25% off sale, but yikes it ends today! I should have found out about this sooner, and in case you’re late to the game like I am, get over there and see if they have anything you need. They also have a coupon code for free shipping on orders over $50, so look at the top of any of their pages to score that deal.

Because my 5 year old put on a sweatshirt from last year and he looked like he borrowed his 2-year-old brother’s clothes. Don’t let that happen to you!

This is a great way to outfit a bedroom in a coordinated style in one easy step, and at 50% off it is such a sweet deal.

Nope, it is not too early to figure out your costumes for this Halloween. In fact, now is the time to start thinking about it while there is still a pretty good selection out there. And you can get FREE UPS Ground Shipping on all orders over $100 from Halloween Costumes 4 U. Just use Coupon Code #FSCJ when you check out.

One of my favorite things to do when I can’t sleep is to browse eBay for little treats that aren’t too expensive, but are really fun to get in the mail.

So let’s take a look at some fun stores I found last time I was noodling around eBay looking for something shiny and pretty. I don’t have a relationship with any of these eBay sellers, and I don’t endorse them or promise you’ll have a good experience, but I can tell you that they have some pretty stuff for not a lot of money!

And I know these are supposed to be for men, but I really want them for myself!

Now you know my dirty little eBay secret. What do you like to browse eBay for?

I have this roaster and it is a holiday life-saver — and it even comes with a better rack than I have. (Hmm, that didn’t come out quite right.)

Calphalon 16×12x3-in. Nonstick Simply Calphalon Nonstick Roasting Pan with Rack — $31.96.

Get ready for Fall cooking with this great deal, or check out the other Calphalon they currently have at 20% off.

ScreamFree: learning to relate with others in a calm, cool, and connected way, taking hold of your own emotional responses no matter how anyone else chooses to behave; learning to focus on yourself and take care of yourself for the world’s benefit.

Hal Edward Runkel takes on a lot in this new parenting book. He not only has a parenting vision, he has a vision for how he wishes the world were, and that’s a big challenge.

He advocates for parents having their own identities and lives as people first, parents second. His biggest piece of advice is to “Just stay calm.”

My First Jumbo Book On The Go

When Chip, my 2 year old, first got this book he refused to put it down or share it with his big brothers. I mean, it’s got cars, trucks, helicopters, buses, fire engines, ambulances - all his favorite things.

But wait there’s more, it even has popup pages, sliding parts, and all those fancy page tricks that I’m amazed can be done in a mass-produced book. The pages are thick, shiny and sturdy and give me hope that this book will last for quite a long time

Chip insists on having this book in his crib with him every night, and frequently when I go check on him before I go to bed, he’ll have fallen asleep under it. I could even describe the shape of the dent this leaves on his sleeping face, but that’s probably not information you’re going to need in order to make your purchasing decision…

So I’ll just say that this is a really fun book and I highly recommend it for any child in your life who has an obsession with all things vehicular.

Good Night, Sleep Tight

There’s a pocket in the book that houses a tiny, soft blanket, and while you read the story, the child gets to tuck in all the animals for bedtime. When I first saw this book I thought it was going to be just a silly gimmick, but all three of my boys love it.

Chip, 2.5, enjoys saying goodnight to the animals and making sure they’re comfy in bed, and Mike, 5, has noticed some interesting details in the illustrations. (I won’t spoil it for you, but as you turn the pages, just pay attention to the stuffed toys that each of the animals sleeps with.)

This is a sweet, calming book that is great at bedtime.

Five Little Ducks

This board book tells the story of five little ducks and is great for learning basic counting as well as just being fun to read.

Five little ducks went swimming one day,

Over the pond and far away.

Mother Duck said,

“Quack, quack, quack…”

But only four little ducks came back.

And as a surprise at the end, opening the final page (spoiler!) shows all the ducks coming back and the book quacks. This never fails to get a laugh out of Chip! There are lots of other books in this series that feature shapes, colors, and other “countables” like stars. If you’re looking for a durable board book to make your child laugh, check this one out.

Scholastic sent me these books, but they’re all available at Scholastic, your local booksellers, as well as at Amazon through the above links for pretty reasonable prices.