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Pick up a celebrity magazine and you'll see that the art of naming babies has reached new heights of self-expression, with recent choices like Shiloh, Sailor, Apple, and notably, Elijah Bob Patricius Guggi Q. Hewson. Baby namers today want monikers that reflect something personal. Where better to draw inspiration than the books you cherish and the characters you love? A IS FOR ATTICUS mines the classics for the best names and brings them all into one volume. Unlike massive baby name books, which offer endless, dry lists with cursory dictionary definitions, each of the carefully selected names (including Beckett after the Irish playwright Samuel Beckett and Esme from J.D. Salinger's For Esme with Love and Squalor) is fully profiled in a fun, savvy, info-packed listing that includes a name's meaning, uniqueness, modern appeal, and cultural significance. Helpful sidebars guide you to the perfect name for your perfect baby.
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great idea badly executed
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This book is a great idea--as an English teacher, I was very excited when I saw it. I agree with the other reviewer who said that the commentary blurbs are helpful and a nice break from the endless lists of names in other books.
That being said, I wish the author had paid more attention to "great books" and a lot less attention to TV. She mentions Grey's Anatomy regularly, which couldn't be further from a great book. At one point she mentions an exchange student she knew in high school--again, not at all the context I care about at all. Because she's spending time talking about her husband's great-aunt (who cares?) and contemporary TV, she basically just mentions the book that each name comes from. There's no explanation of the character's role or connotation.
She also misses a lot of great names (Ada from Bleak House, for instance).
I don't know if Lorilee Craker needs to read more or what, but I wish someone with a broader, deeper knowledge of literature had taken on this book. There might be more names with a more thorough and interesting discussion of the characters.
Rating: 
(2
out of 5) @ 2008-11-23
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Baby names and more....
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Reviewed by Danelle Drake for Reader Views (9/08)
Not just another baby name book. "A is for Atticus" delves into the books we all love and pulls out the characters we hold dear to our heart. Whether you prefer classic, common, or names seldom heard, you are given the names and the information needed to provide your child a perfect name with meaning.
Many of the names that were popular years ago are coming back into vogue in some form. Yes, naming your daughter Dorothy screams you love "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" but sounds a bit "grandma." Why not try the updated Doro or even Dottie. Everything and anything goes.
With four daughters it was very hard to come up with unique meaningful names that were not overused. I admit I did spend many nights going through books on the shelf looking for just the right one - I knew it was between the pages of a book I had read. A collaboration of all these names would have been a great resource.
In reading "A is for Atticus" by Lorilee Craker I found several books I wish to read, ones I had long forgotten but will find again, and a wonderful addition to the parent-to-be library.
Rating: 
(4
out of 5) @ 2008-10-10
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The ONLY Baby Name Book for Book Lovers
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I'm having my first child in a few weeks, and though I've perused other baby name books, _A is for Atticus_ is the ONLY book I keep coming back to. Craker's whit makes this an enjoyable read - I love her sassy style and opinions on the names, rather than just listing their meaning and moving on. The names suggested range from classic to edgy to silly - and what's a good book without all of those things? If you love books, then you'll love this baby name book - not just for the name suggestions, but it's also a great read! I've already passed it on to other friends who are having babies.
Rating: 
(5
out of 5) @ 2008-09-25
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Classic Names for your baby...
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Lorilee Craker
CenterStreet, 2008
ISBN: 9781599950204
4 stars
Reviewed by Debra Gaynor for ReviewYourBook.com, 08/08
Classic Names for your baby...
Are you looking for just the right name for your new baby? Perhaps you would like something unusual or something classic? A Is For Atticus is chocked full of classic names. I was surprised that neither my name, nor my husband's, nor any of my children's names were listed in this book. I suppose I was not imaginative enough. I loved many of the names listed and, of course, hated several. Before naming your baby, take a look at A Is For Atticus; you just might find the perfect name.
Rating:
(4
out of 5) @ 2008-09-02
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