Wonder by R.J. Palacio

 

Genre: children, realistic fiction

Source: I own a copy

I’ve had this book on my shelf for years. Every time I start it a kid asks to read it. Summer is the best time to read a book. If you want to teach students how to show kindness and be empathetic, then this is the book for you. August Pullman has some issues with his face.  We all know how hard it is going to a new school. It is even more difficult when your face is deformed. He tries to head it off when he notices the kids are looking at him, letting them know that it is okay to look at him because he does look different.  He is bullied by the older kids.  He eventually learns to make true friends who stand beside him.  There are so many great lessons to be learned throughout this book.  This is a definite read whether you are a kid or an adult.

Made With Love by Tricia Goyer, Sherry Gore

 

Genre:Amish Fiction

Source: I own a copy

 I live four blocks from Pinecraft, and  I know Sherry Gore, one of the authors of this book.  She was not born into the Amish lifestyle like most. She chose to become Amish. A major difference when you visit the setting in this book, compared to most Amish fiction, is the location. Pinecraft has a small community of full-time residents. Once a year, the buses come in with Amish from up north. They have houses, apartments, and motorhomes for them to rent. Instead of horse and buggies, most of the Amish travel by two or three-wheeled bikes, or they walk. When Lovina’s family moves to Pinecraft, she finds an area that uses modern conveniences. Most, but not all, use electricity. Some of them have their own phones. They are very welcoming to outsiders.

I love a good Amish novel. What I liked about this one was how normal everyday life was. I’ve read some Amish novels where the romance is so strong, and that is what they wanted to focus on. This one focuses on the business of opening a pie shop, with the romance coming in naturally.

Lovina wants nothing more than to open a pie shop, where she can make and sell pies.  Her mother has heard rumors about the contractor’s previous behavior, and so she is not thrilled with her daughter’s relationship with him. You know how it is with mothers and their daughters. They scrutinize everything about their new boyfriend. One issue I can relate to is that someone made a comment about Lovina, and for years, she believed it. I work with teens and see the effect that one negative comment, especially from a relative, can have on that child’s life. Why do we believe things we are told that hurt us?

Some aspects of this book that resonated with me include learning to forgive yourself and letting the past go. It also focuses on reaching for and pursuing your dream, even when others are not fully behind you.  There are pie recipes at the back of the book. Overall, it is a great read. On a side note, if you decide to visit the real Pinecraft, in Sarasota, Florida and you want pie you must visit Yoder's Restaurant for the best Amish Pies.

Finding God in Anime: A Devotional for Otakus by Laura A. Grace

 

Genre: Inspirational, Christian, Devotions

Source: I purchased a copy

I am not an expert on Anime.  I have read and watched some due to my students telling me I need to check it out. I love the fact that these authors could take something they and so many others are interested in and find a way of using it to show God’s promises and messages.  This devotional is especially well written for young teens. So many of the middle schoolers I teach are into anime.  Each author sought to show through the message of anime and scripture that the two can co-exist.

One of my favorites was “Pikachu, I Choose You” by Laura Grace. One reason is that I am very familiar with Pikachu. My children, my students, and even my grandchildren love Pikachu. The message of putting on the armor of God and standing strong rang so true for me.  I actually had a student quote that to me this last year. He was wearing a shirt proudly proclaiming “Jesus was his Saviour”. He told me the reason he wears those kinds of shirts is because he is “putting on the armor of God.”  If I can see God in Anime, I wonder how many others can. Themes of sacrificing self the way Christ sacrificed himself for us, or being grateful for what we have in the face of mounting obstacles can be found throughout this book.  It is uplifting as well as informative. I had to check out some of the anime I was not familiar with.  I will be talking this book up to my students next year. I know many of them will be surprised by how positive I am about anime.  This is a book I recommend, whether you are a big fan of anime or not.

Goat Milk Soap Making by Daniel A. Hart

 

Source:  I purchased a copy

Genre: Informational

When my husband announced a year ago  he was going to start making soap I was excited.  I had no idea how difficult it was. He wanted to start easy so he bought a melt and pour "kit". After weeks of of sitting on a rack in our house it never did get hard. We learned the humidity was too high in our house. Since my husband wants me to join him in this endeavor when I finally retire from teaching. I learned from watching videos and reading other books that this was going to take a while to learn. So why am I so interested in soap making? It isn't just soap making. As a beekeeper my husband has was and honey and other byproducts from his beekeeping. I have psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. We are constantly trying different soaps. Some make my psoriasis worse. The above mentioned book takes you from learning about the benefits of goat milk to the different types of oils you can use in soap making.  The book also tells you about the benefits and properties of each type. One thing it talked about was how to measure ingredients to make it work out.  I have chemical allergies so for several years I have been using certain essential oils.  Knowing what goes into my soap because it is something we have created is the best of both worlds.. It protects my body and I have the pleasure of knowing exactly what is in it. I prefer to use all natural things when possible. 

For me this process takes me back to my childhood, growing up on a farm. We produced most of our own food. We also processed it, canned it and shared with our neighbors.  In a world where people want things right now, even if it isn't good for them I prefer to create something that is natural for my body, even if it takes a bit more time. This book is just one step toward a lifestyle that is more natural.

At the end of the book there are many more resources I plan to check out. I can use all of the information I can get. After all I have two years before I retire. I can plan for my role in my husbands business and learn along side him.  I highly recommend this book if you are interested in learning to make soap.

Keep on Glowing by Robin Emtage

 

Genre: Inspirational

Source: I received an ARC to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

             This book is to be released at the end of June.

When the author told me this was a book for women 40+, I told her I definitely fit that category.

She also told me this wasn't an anti-aging manual I was intrigued.  She talks about finding our inner glow. The thing that stood out the most was making sure we give ourselves permission.  This may seem strange to some.  This was the second time this week I was told that we often don't do what we should, could or want because we as women don't give ourselves permission.  I had never thought of that. 

I have always had a positive outlook on life. My mom used to say when someone would tell her she couldn't, to stand back and watch her. She passed away at the age of 86. Most people didn't realize she was that old because she didn't look it, and she never mentally acted it.  She had a lot of physical obstacles, but that never stopped her. She had what this author calls her "glow".

  The first chapter of this book is about your mindset. I guess I have had that down for quite some time without knowing it was a “thing”. As a middle school teacher the question I get asked at the beginning of each year is how old I am. I always have that one student who announces you are never supposed to ask a woman how old they are.  My reply, “Why? I'm as old as God made me and as of today I am…”  They look shocked and usually reply with something along the lines of, “You’re older than my parents.” I tell them that age is just a number.  I don’t feel 67 and they say I don’t act it.  Since I was 17 or 18 my parents set me on the path of believing in myself, keeping a positive attitude about everything.  I try so hard to distance myself from those who would bring me down. Since God made me unique I don’t compare myself to others.  I have been a writer since I was young.  My dad gave me a notebook when I was very young and told me to write down what frustrated me. He then told me to rip it out and flush it down the toilet. I still keep a journal and I do what I call mental flushes.  When I am frustrated, angered or experience any other negative emotions I write about it. I re-read it and then do a mental flush.

This is pretty much the essence of  her first chapter.  The book gets better. It addresses mental and physical areas as well as relationships.  Areas I need to definitely work on are overcommitting myself. I am a people pleaser.  I want to be so helpful that often I overcommit myself then find my energy lagging because I have not fully learned to set boundaries.  I have learned to take more time for my creative side. This helps me find the balance I need to be the best me. This is exactly what this author talks about. 

This book came to me at the right time.  I started out with a strong glow in my 20s. Somewhere around my early 30s my mindset went the other way. This was so against the way I was raised.  Although I practice so many things already mentioned in this book there was one thing that was pointed out that I was not doing.  I am reaching retirement. I have stayed in my position partly because I love it, but was putting my dream on hold. Why?  Fear. What if I’m not good enough? What If I don’t deserve it. I DO DESERVE my dream. I don’t know EXACTLY how I will get there but I have started working toward it. I have a husband who has told me for the 32 years we have been married that I deserve the best of everything. He is part of the mindset that got me back on the path to glowing. He is the reason I have started reaching for my dreams.  I have started back on the path to better health.  I walked into class last year with my cane. This shocked my students. I told them it was a temporary thing until my body decided to cooperate. I no longer look down on myself when I have to use an aid such as my cane. Three major diagnoses this last year started me on the “Oh, I’m getting old” path. I allowed myself to have a pity party for about a week.  When I announced to myself and my best friend that I wasn’t old I was just taking a new path to getting better, I found my mindset changed and my body and mind felt better. That doesn’t mean I don’t have physical issues anymore.  I have three different auto-immune issues playing around in my body. My goal each day is to let my body know that I am in charge.  It may look different each day, but it's my body, my mind.  I have gotten off the path of glowing at different points throughout my life. This book came along when I needed to remind myself of ways to glow once again.  This is an awesome book and one that I will read time and again as a reminder. It comes out sometime the end of June. I highly recommend it to women where ever they are in their life.

Day 2 - Review of Books by Emily Hartmann

 Here is my second day of picture books.  All of today's books will be picture books created by Emily Hartmann.  I hope you enjoy them.

How to Make Choices – Emily Hartmann

Come along with Max and learn how your little one can learn to control their anger.  This is one of the hardest things for the youngest child to learn. They want immediate gratification and things their way. This book is a tool parents can use to help them learn to control those outbursts. This book teaches just one simple technique and it is easy enough for the youngest child to do.

I’m Mad – Emily Hartmann

This is another book about dealing with your emotions. It shows how you make the other person feel. It also shows you how to deal with those feelings. One other thing it does is shows your child how to make someone else feel better when they have been hurt by another person. Great and simple.

 

I’m Mindful – Emily Hartmann

Teaching children how to deal with their emotions is important. Explaining to them that feeling sad, anxious and angry is normal is one thing. As parents we need to show them techniques for dealing with them.  That is what this book is all about.

 

Me and My Anger – Emily Hartmann

This books shows another technique for getting rid of, or managing those feelings of anger. In this book there is more of a visualization technique.  Even though many of these books have the same theme, I believe it is important to read them all because no two children are alike. What works with and for one child may not work with a different kid.

 

Me and My Choices – Emily Hartmann

Max is excited to go to school. He can’t wait to enjoy all of the new experiences and make new friends. However, Max bows to the pressure of his new friends and finds his first day is not all that special. That night he thinks about what he likes. He decides not to follow the crowd because “they” say so. He will be himself and have fun.

 

Me and My Frustration -Emily Hartmann

Max, like a lot of kids gets frustrated when he can’t do what other kids do. He wants to be the best, win the race. This is perfect for teaching kids that it is okay to be frustrated when you don’t reach your goals. The idea is to keep trying.

 

Me and My Worry – Emily Hartmann

Max wakes up to a sunshiny day. As he prepares for his day he begins to worry. Instead of telling anyone about his worries he holds onto those feelings and they grow throughout the day and into the night. The next morning Max shares those feelings with his parents. They help him understand that it is normal and how to deal with them.

 

Me and the Word NO – Emily Hartmann

Josh is getting frustrated in the grocery store and his mom recognizes it. She tells him when she has to wait she pretends she is a big dinosaur and roars.  Josh uses this in different circumstances throughout the day. When it is time to go home he is not happy.  His sister plays another game that helps him cope with his feelings.

 

My Chatty Dinosaur – Emily Hartmann

If you have ever worked with children you know one thing for sure, they love to talk. Finn wakes his friend Rawr up and the minute he does, Rawr begins talking. Finn can’t say anything.  The next morning when Rawr wakes up  he can’t speak.  Instead Rawr listens to everything Finn has to say. A wonderful book to teach children the importance of listening instead of talking all the time.

 

My Grumpy Dinosaur – Emily Hartmann

When Rawr the dinosaur wakes up with the grumpies he doesn’t know what to do. His best friend Finn teaches him some things he can do to get rid of the grumpies. Cut book about how to reset your mind and day when the grumpies come and visit you.

 

Stop, Think, Go! – Emily Hartmann

 When Rawr the dinosaur wakes up with the grumpies he doesn’t know what to do. His best friend Finn teaches him some things he can do to get rid of the grumpies. Cut book about how to reset your mind and day when the grumpies come and visit you.

Just Wait! – Emily Hartmann

Rawr is an impatient dinosaur. He wants everything to happen now. He doesn’t want to wait. He bakes cookies and turns the oven up too high and burns the cookies. He doesn’t want to wait for his paint to dry and ends up making a mess.  Great way to teach children about waiting.

Day 1 - Review of Books by Emily Hartmann

For the next several days I am going to post reviews of children's picture books I have purchased but have not yet read.  As many of you know, in March we lost a teacher I worked with.  I was asked to help with his classes until the end of the year. Unfortunately that meant I read very little except history assignments and my students' English assignments.  I am trying to make up for that. I am taking a couple of days to read a middle grade, young adult or adult book. Once finished I will post a review of said book.  In the meantime I am trying to read down the children's books I have in my Kindle. They tend to grow daily. So sit back and enjoy reviews from some of my favorite picture book authors.

Here are  reviews of books written by Emily Hartmann

Ask First
Emily’s books are full of wonderful illustrations.  In this book children learn boundaries. They learn before they ever do something they may need to stop and ask first.  The story is interactive so it is best for those preschoolers just learning life lessons.

Think First 

This is another book with Bobo. In this book Bobo needs to learn to stop and think first before he does
something. Once again it is interactive. After Bobo has a couple of problems, children are asked to help  Bobo remember to stop and think first before he does things.

Stay Calm – Emily Hartmann  

This cute book shows Bobo going ballistic with his emotions. He blows up at everything.  The book gives children two or three ways to calm themselves down before they throw that tantrum due to getting so emotional.

My Daddy is the Best – Emily Hartmann

A great bedtime story with dad. A father spends quality time with his daughter having all kinds of
adventures. He checks under her bed for monsters, tucks her in tight. She knows that she is loved and she loves him back for being such a great father.  We need more books like this about fathers.

The Invisible Bubble – Emily Hartmann

This is probably one of my favorite books.  We need to teach kids from the youngest age about boundaries. I teach middle school and will have kids get within a couple of inches of me. I ask them to take two steps back then jokingly say, “This is my space,” as I draw a box in front of me. I tell them I have space issues. Some of them apologize because they get it. Some look at me like I have two heads. Maybe if their parents had read this book to them as a child they would understand. This a a children’s book, but I believe everyone can benefit from it.

Goodnight Little Sleepyheads – Emily Hartmann (Animal Bedtime)Once again the author has used animals performing one last nighttime ritual before going to sleep. The author asks after each page to do something the animal is doing. All of this is to prepare your little one for sleep.

 

The Sleepy Animal Game – Emily Hartmann

Great to read to your young one as you put them to bed. The story is comprised of small animals and what they do as they prepare to go to sleep.

 

Curl Up Tight - Emily Hartmann

This book is similar to Breathe Like an Owl. This book uses farm animals to help your little one relax. Once again she give little tidbits of information about the farm animals. This is a two for one book. You get relaxation techniques and information for your child in a simple calm manner.

 

Sleepy Snuggles – Emily Hartmann

Another bedtime story to prepare your child for sleep. Read to them what little animals do to prepare to sleep. Each page asks the child to perform an act the animal would, such as moo like a cow or tuck their head in like a duck. Simple pre-school bedtime book.

 

Breathe Like an Owl -Emily Hartmann

Teach your little ones relaxation techniques with this book.  The author not only uses animals to help little ones stretch, breathe and relax, but she also gives a tidbit of information about that animal at the bottom of each page. For example, “Lynxes have extra furry paws to help them walk on snow. “  I never knew that. The relaxation techniques could become a nightly ritual for you and your little one. The illustrations in this book are in shades of blue to create that calming effect.

 

Forest Night, Sleep Tight

A book of bedtime routines using forest animals and gentle rhyming lines. Just the thing to read with your child before bedtime. Beautiful illustrations.

 

You Are One of a Kind

Teach your children that they are unique by reading them this bedtime story of mothers and babies. The story told in rhyme shows a mother pointing out what makes their child one of a kind, before they tuck them in for the night.

A Chance For Charity by S.L. Baum

 

Genre: Young Adult, Adult, Supernatural Mystery

Source: I received a copy from BookBub. The opinions expressed here are my own.

     A former student of mine would call this book a romantasy.  I am usually not big on romance novels in any form. There has to be something mysterious or different going on in the story.  That is probably why I was never a fan of the Harlequin romance stories. I didn’t get into the mushy, gushy side of it. I never really felt like they had a strong plot thread. This book is different.

     Emily, previously known as Charity and her “family” have moved to Telluride, Colorado. They have to move every few years to keep up appearances.  They are immortals with special abilities.  You can imagine the issue this could cause for a relationship. In addition to all of that Charity and her family is going through, they are being hunted by two brothers whose sole job is to hunt down immortals. 

     Charity usually stays to herself. She isolates herself because it is so much easier. She begins school makes friends fairly easy. Then she meets Link, another new student. There seems to be a connection between Link and Charity. I told you Charity was an immortal, but Link is not.  This adds another complicated layer to the story. The author has created a story that shows well developed world building as well as well developed characters.  It truly has everything you could want. It has the romance, if you are into that. It has the mystery/supernatural side.  This is what kept me reading even though it is a romance.   As I read this book, I kept thinking about how difficult it is being a teen. The tension is raised because Charity not only has to live the life of a teen, but she has had to do this numerous times. I teach teens and every day with them is a reminder of what my teen years were like. I would not want to relive that life over and over again.  So, if you are into supernatural romances, then you will definitely want to check out this book. As a supernatural romance, it has a bit of something for everyone.

Flume by Bigfoot

 

Genre:  Middle Grade, Mystery

Source:  I purchased a copy

This is a book with a very interesting premise.  We meet Shanks a young boy who lives with "the Captain".  It is his birthday and Captain has purchased him a ticket for the worlds tallest Flume.  There is one problem. Shanks hates water and can't swim.  When he reaches the top and starts his trip down he reaches his two friends  Flo and Yam. Each of these characters is very unique.  Flo is the tech guru. Yam keeps going into trances and proclaims someone will die.  The flume was designed and built by a former explorer who just happened to die when he took the first trip down. His body was never found.  For Shank, not only is he terrified of water, he's terrified of heights. Now that the fear level is at its highest, let's throw in a sudden thunderstorm that is the worst in a long time. As Shank zooms down the thirty-three minute ride he has hallucinations. The visions involve his parents who are long dead.  As we take this ride we find Yam telling the story of the explorer and the different places he travelled and the worlds he wrote about. What is the connection between his vision, the explorer and this flume?  I definitely need to check out this author's other books.  I enjoyed this even with the twist at the end. It is the only thing I didn't find satisfying.

Giant Island by Jane Yolen

Genre:  Children's Picture Book

Source: I purchased a copy.

A delightful book in many ways. A grandfather takes his grandchildren to Giant Island. While he fishes the children explore the island with their dog. They explore inside and out, above and below the water. By the end of the book they learn what their grandfather has known all along.  Beautiful storyline and the illustrations are fantastic.  I felt like a kid again as I read this book. It made me long for the days when my imagination ran wild.  Then again, with a book this wonderful, maybe the author has never let her imagination grow up.  Definitely a book to purchase for my great grandson.