Random House Audio and Listening Library have put together an amazing website called tryaudiobooks.com that offers suggestions for audiobook material based on the activity you’ll be engaged in. From family road trips to running, crafting to traveling for business, they’ve got you covered with several sample clips to try. They also include recommendations and offer a personal audiobook assistant to find an audiobook that’s the right length for your adventure. From Memorial Day through Labor Day, one audiobook per genre (runner, crafter, family road tripper, business traveler, and tech/sci-fi enthusiast) will be available for download for free!

This website offers advice from Parade about why it’s important for your child to continue to read throughout the summer and keep them at grade level.  But reading doesn’t have to be with a physical book.  Audiobooks are a great way of exposing your kids to language and engaging their imagination.  Not sure where to start?  TryAudiobooks.com offers great suggestions from Random House Audio as well as a list of good picks from USA Today.

Make sure to follow Random House Audiobooks on Facebook and Twitter and leave a comment below sharing your favorite family classic book title for the chance to win a $100 VISA gift card! (See Official Rules)

Many skeptics pointed to their young age as a reason why the pair should slow things down – but then there was also Miley’s dramatic behavior.  Aside from rumors that she had been drinking and getting high, she also drastically changed her appearance, cutting off her signature long brown locks in favor of a short, platinum blond punky look.  She said she was finally just being herself which, of course, is entirely possible.  It’s also possible that she’s going through some sort of post-Disney identity crisis.  Either way, it might be a good idea for her to spend time gaining confidence in who she is rather than rushing into a long-term commitment.

Despite all of her interviews where she gushes over her “hot” fiancé, Miley has been spotted without her engagement ring and there has been talk that their relationship is over.

If any of the new reports are true, Liam’s brothers (including Thor star, Chris Hemsworth) would be thrilled if the young couple called it quits. Apparently, Chris and their other brother, Luke, staged an intervention of sorts last month in an effort to help Liam “end the romance for good.”

It’s tough because Liam and Miley have been together for more than three years now and, although they’ve broken up a few times, they seem to genuinely care for each other but, as is the case with some couples, it may not be the healthiest relationship.

In fact, there was speculation that Liam cheated on his fiancé with Mad Men star, January Jones, at a pre-Oscar party this past February but by early March, Miley tweeted: “I am so sick of La. And sick of the lies that come with it. I didn’t call off my wedding. Taking a break from social media. #draining.”

Since then, the pair have been dogged by rumors that the wedding is off and that the majority of their problems stem from Miley’s “insecurities” and “partying ways.”  Adding fuel to the fire, Miley’s dad, Billy Ray Cyrus, spoke to ABC News last month and said that he wasn’t sure if a wedding was still in the works.

Hopefully, they sort things out so that they can enjoy their lives and careers.  Miley is working on a new album and Liam will next appear in Hunger Games: Catching Fire.

Image Source: The Last Song Walt Disney Studios

Authorities are investigating the death but a female friend at the scene told paramedics that he had taken a mixture of cocaine and heroin. She was with him after bringing him home “to recover from his drug use.” An autopsy is planned for Thursday.

This is one of those times when a celebrity death takes you totally by surprise.  Of course, the pair’s fame had died down since releasing “Jump” (which stayed in the top spot on the Billboard 100 for eight weeks back in 1992) but it’s not like we heard anything negative about them in the tabloids.

Anyone who listened to music in the 90s will remember the spunky young rappers who had a penchant for wearing their clothes backwards, and even served as an opening act during Michael Jackson’s Dangerous World Tour.

Kelly and his bandmate, Chris Smith, were just 13 years old when Jermaine Dupri discovered them at an Atlanta mall in 1991. Along with “Jump” Kris Kross also found success with “Warm It Up” from their Totally Krossed Out album.

The loss is already being felt within the entertainment community.  Here are some notable quotes:

“I’m wearing my clothes to work backwards tomorrow”-  Michael Skolnik, Editor-in-Chief of Global Grind.

“We often heard him playing classical music and the piano.  He was a low-key type of person who was very talented and courteous, friendly and wonderful to our 5-year-old twins. Indeed, gone too soon.” – Leslie Tookes, a CNN project coordinator who also lived next door to Kelly.

“REST IN PEACE TO MY LIL BRO CHRIS KELLY OF KRIS KROSS. Dam wasn’t we JUST at rehearsal and doin a So So Def20 show?” – Da Brat.

His family also released a short statement: “To millions of fans worldwide, he was the trendsetting, backwards pants-wearing one-half of Kris Kross who loved making music. But to us, he was just Chris — the kind, generous and fun-loving life of the party.”

Kris Kross reunited earlier this year in February as part of the 20^th anniversary of Dupri’s So So Def record label.   Aside from their debut effort, Kris Kross also released two follow-up albums, Da Bomb (1993) and Young, Rich and Dangerous (1996).

No funeral arrangements or details have been made public at this time.

photo credit: nomen.nescio via photopin

Unfortunately, for every one of those feel-good stories, there are some cringe-worthy tales.  Here’s a look at some people who are as famous for their snobby behavior as they are for their talents.

Reese Witherspoon

The Oscar-winning actress used to be viewed as America’s Sweetheart among women in Hollywood.  With cute films such as Sweet Home Alabama, Legally Blonde and This Means War - as well as a seemingly successful remarriage (and new baby!) after being cheated on by and divorcing Ryan Phillipe - she really has had quite a career.

Unfortunately, she was in the car last week when her new husband, Jim Toth, was pulled over for driving erratically (he was eventually arrested for a DUI).  While the officer was administering a sobriety test, Reese jumped from the car, got confrontational and when the officer failed to yield to her demands, she said those dreaded words: “Do you know my name?”  This was then followed by a series of threats that implied the officer would be held accountable for daring to pull over a famous person.  She was arrested for disorderly conduct and has since apologized for her behavior.

Gwyneth Paltrow

The daughter of Blythe Danner and the late Bruce Paltrow, Gwyneth has always acted a little regal. In recent years, especially after the launch of her goop newsletter, her elitist thinking has really come into focus. This month, she was recognized not only as People’s Most Beautiful Woman but also as the “Most Hate” celebrity in an online poll. Here are some of her more obnoxious quotes (one of which, ironically, mentions Reese Witherspoon):

• “I am who I am. I can’t pretend to be somebody who makes $25,000 a year.”
• “I’d rather smoke crack than eat cheese from a tin.”
• “I would rather die than let my kid eat Cup-a-Soup.”
• “I love the English way, which is not as capitalistic as it is in America. People don’t talk about work and money; they talk about interesting things at dinner parties.”
• “We’ve got a wood-burning pizza oven in the garden — a luxury, I know, but it’s one of the best investments I’ve ever made.”
• “When you go to Paris and your concierge sends you to some restaurant because they get a kickback, it’s like, ‘No. Where should I really be? Where is the great bar with organic wine? Where do I get a bikini wax in Paris?’”
• “Even actresses that you really admire, like Reese Witherspoon, you think, ‘Another romantic comedy?’ You see her in something like Walk the Line and think, ‘God, you’re so great!’ And then you think, ‘Why is she doing these stupid romantic comedies?’ But of course, it’s for money and status.”

What do you think?  Should celebrities try to at least pretend they can relate to us commoners – or should they be forgiven for being honest about their wealth and status?

photo credit: Erprofe via photopin cc

Buckwild (MTV)

This show centers on the adventures of nine people who find “unique” ways of enjoying themselves in rural West Virginia.  From the first episode, critics complained that the series glorified potentially dangerous activities and it appears they were right. Trouble and tragedy have already stricken several members of the cast.  Salwa Amin was arrested in February for possession of Oxycodone and was charged with intent to deliver.  That same month, Michael “Bluefoot” Burford was arrested for aggravated DUI.  Sadly, last week, 21-year-old Shain Gandee, his uncle, David Gandee, and Donald Robert Myers were found dead in Gandee’s Bronco.  It is believed that they died of carbon monoxide poisoning following a late-night off-roading adventure.

Storage Wars (A&E)

The success of Storage Wars was a surprise to many but it’s done so well there are an additional two spinoffs in different locations.  Unfortunately, it hasn’t all been good news.  In February, businessman, Mark Balelo, was found dead after inhaling carbon monoxide and gas fumes in a warehouse in Simi Valley, CA.  The featured bidder’s death has been ruled a suicide.

Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew (VH1)

Believe it or not, Dr. Drew is a board-certified internist and addiction medicine specialist and, while he may have been successful in his private career, his peers have been extremely critical of his approach on television.  His response is that his medical peers “don’t understand television.”  While he may have a point, the results of his “treatments” might indicate that the well-being of his patients has taken a backseat to entertaining viewers.

So far, five people who have appeared on Celebrity Rehab have died.  Most recently, country singer, Mindy McCready, 37, took her own life from a self-inflicted gun-shot wound.  She’s actually the third person from her season to pass away.  Former Real World: Hollywood cast member, Joey Kevar, 29, died from opiate intoxication. Famed LAPD beating victim, Rodney King, 47, died from accidental drowning (with drugs and alcohol in his system). And Taxi star, Jeff Conaway, 60, died after taking opiates and other drugs.

Alice in Chains bassist, Mike Starr, died of an overdose in 2002 and remaining original members, Jerry Cantrell and Sean Kinney, called the show “disgusting.”  Kinney summed it up best when he said: ”It exploits people at their lowest point, when they’re not in their right mind, and the sad part is, this is like entertainment for people when it’s actually a life and death situation. I don’t think it helps anybody and it makes entertainment out of people’s possible death, and that’s pathetic and it’s stupid.”

Following McCready’s suicide, singer/songwriter, Richard Marx, shared his thoughts of Twitter and compared Dr. Drew to Dr. Kevorkian saying that their therapies yield the “same results.”  Although, he deleted that tweet, he did add that “Dr. D does is exploitation and his TV track record is not good.”

Our Responsibility

These shows would not exist if people weren’t watching.  We have a responsibility to society and to the people being exploited to draw the line when things get out of hand.  These aren’t characters in a movie, these are real people and their actual lives are impacted by what happens on these television “shows.”  We looked at some serious life and death consequences but what about the failed relationships (Nick & Jessica Newlyweds, The Bachelor/Bachelorette, Celebrity Wife Swap) and unhealthy lifestyles (Here Comes Honey Boo Boo) we support by watching this stuff.

Is it worth it?  Weigh in!

John Mayer

When he started dating Katy Perry, we all hoped it was going to work out.  They were both fiercely protective of their “private” relationship and it seemed to be one of his more mature relationships.  Unfortunately it has ended. Mayer has dated many women over the years including Jennifer Aniston, Taylor Swift (who seems like she could be his female counterpart) and Jessica Simpson, whom he ungraciously referred to as “sexual napalm.”

Ryan Seacrest

The American Idol host is not known for dating many women – rather not dating much at all.  He has regularly attended major events and had quiet dinners with one steady date: his mother. Then he started seeing Julianne Hough.  Initially, the relationship wasn’t taken seriously but after a couple of years together, we all started wondering if an engagement was imminent.  The opposite was true – the couple confirmed their split last month.

Simon Cowell

Is there a trend for the men on American Idol?  The former judge has been linked to several women over the years and recently admitted to having an affair with Dannii Minogue while they were both on the panel for The X Factor.  When he got engaged to Mezhgan Hussainy in February 2010, it looked like he was finally off the market but the pair parted ways in 2012.  So far, he’s still single.

Leonardo DiCaprio

Back in 2001, it seemed that Leo had won the jackpot that every man dreams of – he stole the heart of supermodel, Gisele Bundchen.  However, after a tumultuous few years together, they separated in 2005.  Many reports indicated that she was frustrated by his inability to fully commit to her since she wanted a family (something she has now secured with NFL star, Tom Brady).  Shortly after their break-up, he began dating another model, Bar Rafaeli.  The relationship lasted several years until they split in 2011.  Since then, he has been linked to Blake Lively and Erin Heatherton. Currently, he’s back on the market.

Everyone has to find their own definition of happiness and, for some, it may not include a long-term relationship.  Maybe, being a perpetual bachelor is what these men actually want.  It’s worked for Jack Nicholson all this time, hasn’t it?

photo credit: Flickred! via photopin cc

Django Unchained 

Quentin Tarantino rarely fails to generate buzz (and controversy) with his inventive plots.  In Django Unchained, Academy Award-winner, Jamie Foxx, takes on the title role as a slave enlisted as an assassin who makes his way back to the plantation to free his enslaved wife, Broomhilda (Kerry Washington).  Of course, this is easier said than done since the maniacal plantation over, Calvin Candie (Academy Award nominee, Leonardo DiCaprio) isn’t willing to go down without a fight.  Fortunately, Django has German bounty hunter, Dr. King Schultz (Academy Award winner, Christoph Waltz).  Tarantino was criticized for making light of slavery and creating a nearly implausible storyline but moviegoers didn’t seem to mind - April 16, 2013.

The Impossible

A tsunami struck Thailand in 2004, devastating the nation and breaking the hearts of people around the world.  The images and videos shown by news outlets were so shocking that it is hard to imagine anyone being able to survive such a catastrophic event.  The Impossible is based on a true story of a family who were literally swept away by the waters during the storm and who, along with thousands of strangers, found a way to band together during an incredibly difficult and dark time.  Featuring the visual effects and heart-pounding moments of a blockbuster, this film will also leave a lasting impression on your heart - April 23, 2013.

Silver Linings Playbook

Jennifer Lawrence went from being “the girl from The Hunger Games” to an Academy Award winning actress for her role in Silver Linings Playbook.  Bradley Cooper is Pat Solatano, a man with nothing left to lose.  In fact, he no longer has a wife, job or home to call his home and he is forced to move in with his parents (portrayed by Jacki Weaver and Robert DeNiro).  This is, of course, after an eight-month stint in a state institution.  In spite of everything, Pat wants to reunite with his wife and put his life back together but things don’t always go according to plan.  Unexpectedly, Pat develops a bond with Tiffany (Lawrence), a mysterious young woman who offers to help him reconnect with his wife but has an important favor to ask in return.  Will they find a way to find the silver linings in life? - April 30, 2013.

Whether you crawl up on the couch alone or are cuddling up with a special someone, these are three great flicks for your next movie night!

Lil Wayne

In October 2012, the rapper suffered from “seizure-like symptoms” but his reps were quick to dismiss the mid-flight crisis as “a severe migraine and dehydration.”  It was hard to deny the truth, however, when later that week Weezy suffered a second seizure, again on an airplane.  Both times he was sent to the hospital and in the weeks that followed, he revealed that he had been prescribed medication for his condition.

It’s now being reported that, on March 12, 2013, Lil Wayne suffered “multiple seizures” after shooting a music video.  He was rushed to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles but was released just a few short hours later.  So far, his reps haven’t issued a statement.

Kelly Osbourne

This one shocked a lot of people.  Kelly Osbourne, the daughter of Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne, was on the set of her show, Fashion Police, when she collapsed and slid out of her chair while apparently having a seizure.  The 28-year-old TV host was also taken to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center where she spent five days undergoing a series of tests.  She was given a “clean bill of health” and was released earlier this week without doctors determining a definitive reason for the episode.

Rick Ross

Almost exactly a year before Lil Wayne, Rick Ross had two seizures in the same day, both times on a plane.  During the first one, which occurred in the morning, he was actually unconscious and needed CPR.  Amazingly, he recovered enough to post a video reassuring his fans of his safety just a few hours later but then the unimaginable happened – he had a second seizure.  He was taken to the University of Alabama at Birmingham Hospital where he was treated and released.

What Causes Seizures?

Many already associate seizures with epilepsy which would make that an easy explanation but what if the sufferer doesn’t have the disorder?  Can regular, healthy people just suddenly go into convulsions?

The truth is that seizures can be caused by a number of things including brain injury, high fever, kidney or liver failure, abnormal glucose or sodium levels in the blood and, of course, drugs and/or alcohol.  Not much information was given about the nature of Lil Wayne and Kelly Osbourne’s episode but doctors did rule out drugs and alcohol in Rick Ross’ case.

Another possibility, at least for Weezy and Ross could be hypoxia, or oxygen deficiency, which can occur while traveling by plane.  Before someone becomes unconscious, they may experience difficulty thinking, fatigue and euphoria.  Those symptoms can be easily mistaken for jet lag or excitement or could be overlooked entirely.

Regardless, it’s a scary reminder that even celebs can suffer from seizures and, rather than jumping to conclusions about the causes, we should educate ourselves and learn lessons that we can apply to our own lives.

photo credit: Disney ABC Television Group 

When Justin started dating Selena Gomez, the duo seemed to set the bar for teenage romances.  They were playful and youthful on the beach and during holidays with their families but sophisticated and supportive on the red carpet or at award shows.

Things began to change in recent months, however.  The relationship between Bieber and the paparazzi has grown increasingly volatile (he’s been issued several tickets for speeding, engaged in countless confrontations and one photographer died right in front of Bieber’s vehicle), he was spotted smoking marijuana, has taken pictures of his bare bum and shirtless torso for Twitter and things have only degraded further since his split from Gomez.

Bieber’s one saving grace was always that he maintained a healthy relationship with his fans and, at the end of the day, was explanatory and apologetic with them. He emphasized his belief that they were more important than anything else.  Now, it seems, he’s even starting to lose sight of the reason for his success.

At a London concert earlier this week, just days after what he called the “worst” birthday ever, he took the stage two hours later than scheduled, upsetting his young fans and their parents.  In fact, the doors opened for that show at 6:30pm but he didn’t start performing until 10:38pm (he was planned to perform at 8:30pm after his opening acts).  The sad part is that some of the kids had to leave early because it was way past their bedtime (some were reportedly falling asleep) but, more importantly, families had to leave to avoid missing the last train home.  Of course, the young concertgoers started crying when they were forced to leave.

Emotions were understandably running high and the singer was promptly booed by fans when he did finally grace the stage.  To add insult to injury, Bieber slashed his set list to compensate for being so late.  People from the singer’s camp have downplayed the hype saying that he was only an hour later than planned.

When you have young fans, no amount of tardiness is acceptable.  They have regular lives and have to go to school and their parents shell out big bucks to support their favorite entertainer.  With his increasingly unpredictable behavior, message boards have erupted with chatter that this could be the beginning of his demise.  Maybe the fame is going to his head but, hopefully, someone in his inner circle will help him get back on track before his train completely derails.

Photo Credit

Williams has always been protective of her private life and, somehow, that made the time following ex-Heath Ledger’s death even more tragic – she would have to raise their daughter, Matilda, alone.  Williams has kept a relatively low profile over the past couple years, but it warmed everyone’s hearts to think that she might be on the brink of living happily ever after.  Not only did Williams include Segel in outings with her little girl but he was even spotted caring for Matilda on his own.  All signs were pointing in the right direction but the latest reports indicate the pair has chosen to go their separate ways.

Anyone who has tried dating as a single parent knows how difficult it can be, especially when a child develops a bond with the person.  It’s a fine line – do you keep your child sheltered from the relationship or do you include them? Hopefully, this transition will be as smooth as possible for all of them.

We can only know what is going on from the outside but, in the end, they’ve got to do what is right for them.

A great example is Britney Spears.  Of course, we can’t possibly know the whole story – but many people felt like her relationship with Jason Trawick was not based on romance but, rather, was the result of her being so limited in the number of people she was able to interact with.  When her parents were granted a conservatorship, she lost a lot of control over her life.

There are single fathers in Hollywood too that are trying to find their equilibrium after a split. Katie Holmes took ex-husband, Tom Cruise (and the world), by surprise when she abruptly filed for divorce.  Since Cruise lives on the west coast, he hasn’t been able to see their daughter, Suri, very often after Holmes relocated to New York City.  Recently, he had Suri flown to London to spend a few days with him.  Cruise has been busy filming but he did manage to find time to see Suri over the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays.

It just goes to show that the bank accounts might contain more money, and the commutes between parents might be longer but these celebrities are just regular people who are trying to make the best decisions they can while adjusting to being single.