Many readers who were orignally seduced by the prestige of belonging to a book group can't stand the countless literary battles with alpha moms and type-A personalities.

A group of children I ran into at a New Jersey birthday party last month described some "perfect" mothers, real and imagined. Emily, 7, wasn't sure what her mother, Deborah Miraglia, did for a living: "I think it's computers. I have to go ask her." (In fact, Miraglia is a corporate bill collector in Manhattan.) But Emily did remember the day last year when her mother made time to volunteer at the school fair: "It was great. She gave me, like, 20 tickets for games."

A pretty 8-year-old wearing overalls and a deadpan expression vaunted the alpha mom who holds the most-sought-after playdate in her third-grade class: Backyard. Dog. Full fridge. Mother who plays.

Of course, Jane Ann's capabilities and talents do not end with the school day. She is an Alpha Mom, Band Booster member, shares responsibilities in a family owned business and is a dedicated member of her church community.