Customer Reviews

Little Kids, Big City: Tales from a Real House in New York City (With Lessons on Life and Love for Your Own Concrete Jungle)

5 star:		(76)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(8)

 

 

At first I was a little skeptical about reading this book. After the first few paragraphs I already decided that I liked it. This family seems real and they're not afraid to admit when they made mistakes or chose alternate ways of parenting. This is the kind of book that someone should read when they feel they're not fit for parenting. It gives the reader a view of the everyday life of having kids that most authors either avoid or forget. Not a bad choice!

Like the majority of people who initially will buy this book, I did it out of curiosity. Watching the Real Housewives is a guilty pleasure for me. At the same time, I have fairly discerning tastes in literature and hoped that this wasn't another poorly-written (or transparently ghost-written) celebrity biography.

It was a very pleasant surprise to immediately get sucked into the charm and breeziness of this well-written book. Alex's opening statement on the TV Show is misleading as she says in a somewhat stilted voice, "For some people living in New York, status is everything". There is NONE of that attitude in the book. It is completely down-to-earth, very honest, and great fun. Nothing is glossed over, no excuses are made, and what emerges is a picture of a very real, loving family.

Simon and Alex talk about what works for them, and more importantly, what doesn't. They talk about their mistakes with a refreshing straight-forwardness.

My own children are grown, and we raised our family in the woods, not the big city, but so many of the coping strategies that Alex and Simon have come up with for surviving in the urban jungle apply no matter where you are, whether it is a redwood forest or the great suburban plain. The "message" of the book is to embrace life with gusto, live without fear, express your love, admit your mistakes, and always follow your instincts.

Even though the TV show is all about trendiness, materialism and keeping up with the Jones, what emerges from the book is a portrait of a very down-to-earth family that has the courage to live life on their own terms. They have their own, unique style which is beyond fashion or style magazine formulas, and they don't seem to care how it "plays" as long as it works for them.

In a way, I think it is unfortunate that this book is associated with a TV show, especially one as controversial as the Real Housewives. If you think this book was only written to cash in on their moments of fame, think again. It is a book that stands on its own two feet and in my opinion would have been as positively received if the authors were simply John and Jane Doe.

I enjoyed the book immensely, even read it in the bathtub because I didn't want to put it down. I would highly recommend this book for anyone who ever survived having small children, or anyone who currently has them. And I think prospective parents would also find this book to be very reassuring in that it presents actual situations and concrete solutions.

Mostly, it leaves you feeling that having children is fun. Which in fact, it is.

When I first pre-ordered this book from Amazon I wasn't sure what to expect. I have watched Alex and Simom on TV and love New York, and although I am now a grandmother I remember all to well what it was like bringing up 2 boys and a girl. Well Little Kids Big City turned out to be more then a fun read, it's charming, it's sweet, and it makes you feel like you know this family personally. It's written in a "he says, she says" way with highlights at the end of the chapters. I had a hard time putting it down once I got started reading it. I have to say I loved it. My hope is that they will continue allowing us into their family life with subsequent books taking us through the years as this loving family grows together in the Big Apple.

I loved this book! As a mom, it relieved me to know that the challenges and joys of raising children in a city are not mine alone. At the same time, the book is written to resonate with anyone, no matter where you are. Life's simple yet stressful tasks (kids on an airplane anyone?!) can make you feel like a fish out of water. Alex and Simon show us that we've all been there and sometimes you get to be the parent of the kid who slept the whole flight! This book proves that not only are Alex and Simon normal, relatable parents but that they are doing what all of us are doing: the very best we can.

As rural grandparents, my wife and I were fascinated by the anecdotes shared by the authors. Alex and Simon each provided their own point of view and insight into many common quandaries found within parent/child life experience. Very entertaining content was delivered via a fresh literary style which made us feel as if they were present in our den, conversing directly with us and each other.

We laughed out loud and found our hearts warmed with love from the 'methods behind a universal madness' brought out in parents gifted with children anywhere. Surprisingly, we learned that we no longer have to 'feel sorry' for city raised children and their parents...there are some obvious advantages revealed. This family, these parents, and those boys would get some rural flavored round-out experiences if the Boy Scouts of America is alive in the Big Apple. They would surely make great den leaders for they have adventurous hearts of true explorers, event planning skills of champions, and enough flexibility not to sweat the small stuff.

Simply said, this book is a lovely afternoon read and a sweet addition to our library. We'll be giving one to our suburban daughter, who also has 2 boys of similar ages. She will surely enjoy comparing the experiential management methods of travel, restaurant dining, and home remodeling with energetic youngsters underfoot.

Little Kids, Big City: Tales from a Real House in New York City #With Lessons on Life and Love for Your Own Concrete Jungle#

With all of the Housewives books out I was wary of yet another one, despite being an avid SkinnyGirl fan. All I can say though is that I'm very impressed with Big City Little Kids. It's funny, smart and most importantly real. I kept wanting to turn the page to see what happened next and I'm not even a parent yet! I am a certified "city girl" and getting to the age where many of my friends are married and looking to start a family. I was very curious to read a first hand account. As we make this sometimes terrifying but exhilarating journey from singledom, to wives to eventually mothers it's nice to see a book that shows an honest portrayal of being a working parent in a big city. I highly recommend!

Alex and Simon are real New Yorkers. This shows in their jobs as reality TV stars, graphic designers, hotel consultants, and the most important position of all, parents. The suburbs are not a mandatory destination once a bun has been received in the oven; there are plenty of lifelong NYC people and they are awesome. Francois and Johan are two lucky kids who get to experience the amazing-ness that is NYC! 5 stars!

An absolutely great book! As a teacher and stepparent to a great son, I really liked the true look at parenting children, warts and all. They have a down to earth approach and willingness to share the good, the bad and the hilarious that had me rolling. The boys obviously bring such joy to their lives and you can tell they truly enjoy the adventure that is parenting. That being said they give you the unvarnished truth of what it is to really raise children.

Their setting is the city but their stories will reasonate with anyone who has parented. I love that they have added and incorporated the children into their lives rather than 'burbing out, the children will only benefit from it in the end. I wish I had this book when I was a new stepmom!

I have been a fan of Alex and Simon from the beginning for being completely themselves. I was very happy to hear that they were writing a book and I have not been disappointed in the final result. I love the book! I have been reading it every spare minute, hoping that it won't end! I do live in New York, but don't have children yet. When I do, I plan on rereading the book for support and advice in this crazy world of raising kids in New York (I wouldn't do it anywhere else!).

Read this book even if you don't live in NYC and don't have kids--it's honest, funny, genuine and a love letter to the city they're raising their boys in. Great book!

In the first couple seasons of The Real Housewives of New York City, Alex and Simon definitely stood out for their clothes, their so-called haughtiness, and the occasional, out-of-context perceived misbehavior of their two little boys. When word got out that they got a book deal and were going to write a book on parenting, the cast and the internet blogosphere greeted the news with curiosity, and maybe a little disdain. Fortunately, the finished product is the furthest thing from a how-to guide, and a refreshing collection of anecdotes about how the van Kempen family came to be, and how they have come to make decisions that work for them and them alone. The book starts after Simon and Alex meet, and decide against having children under any circumstances in the future. Times change, priorities shift, and before you know it they have little Francois and Johan and are raising them in the middle of NYC. The rest of the book details them dealing with all of parenthood's quirks and anomalies, interspersed with a subtle defense on their parenting abilities aimed towards those who doubted them while watching the show. All this is written in a mellow, down-to-earth voice (mainly Alex's with occasional input from Simon) that covers a broad array of everyday happenings, including a few random and unexplainable situations that are unavoidable with kids. It isn't a reference source, but it doesn't try to be. It is, however, a very entertaining story and an interesting take on how to raise kids the right way in the middle of the craziness of New York.