Penny Candy is a collection of fifteen hilarious short stories about raising kids, managing your husband, and living life in general. Published in the 60s, it's a bit dated but still funny. ( )

As is true with all Jean's works - as far as I know - this is a collection of very funny essays on the vicissitudes of life and family. Jean Kerr was writing these little gems in the years I was growing up, and I discovered her books in high school. She has a way with words; dry, witty, understated at times, wildly exaggerated at others. Her humor resonates with me.

My favorite piece in this book called "The Poet and the Peasants." Jean outlines the woes of trying to inoculate her boys with a love of poetry. There are lots stumbles along the way - bad limericks, worse performances - but the boys eventually come around, and so does the reader. It even seems possible. ( )