A Friend Like You – Juila Hubery

A Friend Like You is a wonderful story of friendship between a little monkey and a panda.  Initially Monkey does not fully appreciate Panda, but he comes to realize that although they are very different, Panda is a a true friend who will always be there for him.   This book provides a terrific beginning for a discussion about what true friendship looks like.  Additionally, the pictures are beautiful and enhance this sweet tale.

The Red Boat – Hannah Cumming

While exploring at the library last week, I came across this gem.  The Red Boat introduces the reader to a little girl who has just moved into a big, new home and is feeling uncertain about making friends in her new neighborhood.  With the help of her little dog George she finds joy playing in the garden where they find a little red boat.  The boat becomes a key character in this story that celebrates the endless possibilities available to us when we use our imaginations.

Marley Goes to School – John Grogan

John Grogan has followed up the phenomenal success of his book Marley and Me:  Life and Love with the World’s Worst Dog with a series of children’s books which feature Marley.  In this book, Marley is none to happy that his favorite little girl is heading to school, and he is expected to stay at home.  Marley decides he simply must head to school as well.  His journey to get there and his visit to the school are filled with excitement and mishaps that little ones will find highly entertaining.

The Girl Who Never Made Mistakes – Mark Pett and Gary Rubinstein

If you have a child who struggles with perfectionism, this one is a must read!  Beatrice Bottomwell never made a mistake until one day she finally does, and the mistake is very public.  What Beatrice learns from the experience and how she moves on are worthwhile lessons for little ones as well as grown ups who define their success via their attempts at perfection.

The Dog That Talked to God – Jim Kraus

A sweet, charming story that is written with a highly conversational tone, The Dog That Talked to God explores the extraordinary bond that can exist between people and animals. Additionally, the wonderfully positive influence animals can have on their human friends is explored.

While this complimentary book was provided for review by LitFuse Publicity Group, no other compensation was given.  All remarks are my personal and honest opinions.

The Cat That God Sent – Jim Kraus

This uplifting tale is a light read that cat lovers will appreciate.  Although the plot does not include the degree of depth and complexity that I  traditionally enjoy, this book is entertaining and is a nice way to spend an afternoon.

While this complimentary book was provided for review by LitFuse Publicity Group, no other compensation was given.  All remarks are my personal and honest opinions.


 

My Brave Year of Firsts: Tries, Sighs, and High Fives – Jamie Lee Curtis

My Brave Year of Firsts: Tries, Sighs, and High Fives is a fun look at all the exciting and and at times terrifying firsts that take place for a child in first grade.  From riding a two wheeler without training wheels to jumping in a lake, this tale highlights a myriad of firsts that little ones encounter.  I like the fact that firsts don’t just happen in this book.  The fact that they require one to be brave and have determination is explored.  A great inspirational tale that includes fun, colorful illustrations.

Happy Mother’s Day!

In honor of Mother’s Day our friends at Motivated Moms are running a special today.  Use the code MOTHER and get $3 off the e-book version of their terrific home cleaning/organizational method or enjoy a price break on the app version and pay only $4.99.  This is the best promotion they have ever offered…Now is the time to give it a try!

 

Protecting the Gift: Keeping Children and Teenagers Safe (and Parents Sane) – Gavin de Becker

The other day at dismissal at our daughter’s school, the topic of keeping our children safe was discussed.  Protecting the Gift: Keeping Our Children and Teenagers Safe (and Parents Sane) is the book our family has turned to in order to get direction and support regarding how to effectively speak with our child about the risks that exist in our world.

Gavin de Becker appeared on the Oprah show years ago and discussed the basic principals from his book The Gift of Fear.   He talked at length about staying safe by trusting your gut instincts and how to respond if you are in a crisis situation.  The discussion made an impact, and I read The Gift of Fear.

His follow up book Protecting the Gift: Keeping Children and Teenagers Safe (and Parents Sane) is not an “easy” read, but it is an outstanding book.  I find that I have to read small portions at a time and digest what I have read and then think about how our family can implement what I have learned.  Many stories are shared within de Becker’s book and many of them do not have happy endings, but they are included in order to teach powerful lessons that make an impact.

Protecting the Gift: Keeping Children and Teenagers Safe (and Parents Sane) is on my short list as a must have parenting resource.