Richard Scrimger is a harried dad. Between trying to dodge the Baba police (black-kerchiefed grannies who haunt his part of town looking for underdressed kids), agitating on the lost Barbie footwear phenomenon (in a million years core samples from all over North America are going to show a Barbie shoe layer just above the limestone and shale) and congratulating himself on a good day (no one died), Richard Scrimger's definition of sanity is sharply skewed by his four young children.In a collection of incredibly funny, family life musings written at a stream-of-consciousness-my-mind-is-racing-oh-my-god-the-baby's-eating-the-remote pace that any parent will instantly recognize, Richard Scrimger shares his life of stay-at-home dad-dom His children are typical: Ed, two, has trouble distinguishing between pine cones and other unmentionable objects; Imogen, four, wants to be a boy when she grows up; and the twins, Sam and Thea, display that mystical twin bonding connection by sticking their tongues to the frozen food shelf in the grocery store -- both at the same time.
Richard Scrimger is a gifted new talent. Warmly, sometimes crankily funny, and always infused with an infectious joy, deep tenderness and respect for his tiny subjects, Richard Scrimger's writing is terrific. Still Life With Children is the perfect Father's Day gift -- guaranteeing laughs and hugs all around.
