“Show me the books she loves and I shall know the woman…“

Miracle in Sumatra

Jeanne McNaney

In Miracle in Sumatra, Gus discovers his parents have been trapped by hunters who have come to Sumatra to hunt the orangutan. With the help of his friends, Maya, a little girl, and Gabriella, the guardian of the jungle, Gus sets out to save his parents and teach the trappers about the importance of their natural habitat in Sumatra.

My girls were enthralled with this book. The illustrations were vivid and very detailed. You could clearly see the pained expressions on the wonderful animals as they were entrapped by the terrible hunter, aptly named Hunter.

Miracle in Sumatra takes you on a journey with a brave little girl named Maya. She discovers an adorable orangutan named Gus and befriends him with a yummy banana. But it is during this discovery that she also learns that her father is part of a terrible plan to capture the amazing orangutans with Hunter.

Trying to save his family Gus looks toward Maya for help. With the aide of a the beautiful angel Gabriella they work together to save the orangutans and to show Hunter that there is always a better way.

It was a very well written and gentle way to introduce my daughters to the troubles and plight of so many of the earth’s amazing creatures. They could not believe that people would actually capture and destroy animals and their homes for the sake of money.  I appreciate the fact that while Ms. McNaney was clear to her point of what was happening to the animals..it was not overwhelming or graphic in the details for young readers.

Definitely a wonderful read for parents and teachers alike.

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Dancing with My Father

Sally Clarkson

Let Your Soul Dance with Delight in God

Do you sometimes feel victimized by circumstances? Are you overwhelmed by weariness, fear, or discouragement? Do you wonder, Where can I go to claim the promise of Jesus that my joy could be made full?

When trusted author and mentor Sally Clarkson noticed a lack of joy in her own life, she realized how easy it can be, especially for women with overloaded to-do lists, to feel weighed down by drudgery and disappointment. But rather than slogging through her days, Sally wanted to know the delight of God’s presence. She began prayerfully exploring how to cultivate deep-rooted joy even in the midst of difficult seasons.

In this warm and wise book, she invites you to experience for yourself what happens when you trust God to lead you into a life of anticipation, passion, and purpose.

Weaving biblical insights with real-life stories that reflect every Christian woman’s deepest longings, Dancing with My Father reveals how any woman, in any circumstance, can daily live in beauty and grace, joy and peace.

Let me just say that I loved this book so much that it is now the book that my bible study group will be going over for the next couple of weeks.

When I first received the invitation to review this book I was drawn to the title. You see as a little girl I loved to dance with my earthly father. He was very musical and had a band when I was little. My mom and I often went with him when he performed at parties or weddings. It was always magical to dance with my dad.

While I have been a believer and follower of Jesus for 25 years…I always equated “following” as God walking ahead of me. Like a little child following her parent. But never once did I think that my Lord and Savior would like to “dance” with me. That He would like for me to allow Him to take the lead and twirl me around the dance floor.

Ms. Clarkson’s descriptions and heartfelt writing presented me with such a visual of dancing with my God that my heart leaped and tears came to my eyes. Yes, that is a relationship that I crave. I know He is merciful, caring, ever patient and always loving but His willingness to be my dance partner was an amazing revelation.

As a bible study leader…I thoroughly enjoyed the simple yet thought provoking questions that are at the end of each chapter. They are “deep” enough where you have to give thought to what is being asked but not overwhelming where you may close the book because  you just “don’t want to emotionally go there”.

I look forward to sharing the wonderful discovery of Dancing with My Father with my bible study group…I can only imagine the amazing journey we will be on as we allow our Heavenly Father to lead us through this dance of life.

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Mother – Daughter Duet

Cheri Fuller

A harmonious relationship is possible

When your daughter was born, you had a thousand hopes and dreams for her. . .including that one day you’d be best friends.

But as life unfolds, even the best intentions go awry. There are so many challenges on the journey to adult friendship that the reality is fraught with friction and frustration. Thankfully, a harmonious relationship with your daughter is possible.

Written by a mother and daughter who have successfully navigated the minefield from distance and tension to acceptance and friendship, Mother-Daughter Duet helps moms open wide the door of communication so that daughters want to walk through it. Filled with personal anecdotes and based on proven principles, each chapter offers timeless wisdom as well as a daughter’s perspective. Often these principles apply to daughters-in-law as well.

The relationship between mothers and daughters is intense, personal, complex, and unique. But you can have the loving, authentic bond you always dreamed of—when you learn the mother-daughter duet.

Whether you are a mother or a daughter you are going to gain valuable insight, understanding and wisdom from this book.

I read this book from a daughter’s standpoint with a mother’s heart. What I mean is that as an “adult” daughter…I sadly could see myself in many of the interactions and reactions discussed within this book.  As a mother…I read it with open eyes and spirit searching for wisdom for the time my 6 year olds would be grown women.

I was instantly drawn into the book from Chapter one. Mother-Daughter Duet is not written as “self-help” book but as encouragement for other women.

As a daughter…I sometimes struggle with my mom’s desire to still parent me at age 40. Yet, I see that I may be following those footsteps with my own girls. As a mother…I long for the friendship that can be possible when my daughters are grown women with families of their own.

Reading Mother-Daughter Duet gave me such a heart for my mom and for my daughters. Will relationships ever be easy? I doubt it. Women are women…regardless of age…we are intricate, complex and sometimes (especially in my family) stubborn…but it is clear with God’s help and guidance we can achieve a success in our friendship and love for and from our mothers and daughters.

I will be keeping this book in my library for reference and encouragement. I know that the tween years are closer then I think…and they will be followed fiercely by the teens and adult hood. I want to make sure that I am fostering a relationship with my twins that will be one that will blossom and in the meantime…tending the relationship with my mom.

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True Love

Chicken Soup for the Soul Series

Chicken Soup for the Soul: True Love is a fun, new read about dating, romance, love and marriage, guaranteed to inspire a renewed search for that special someone, or open your heart a little more to the one you already love.

Read fascinating stories about how couples met, when “they knew,” incredible good and bad dates, imaginative proposals, wedding day adventures, second chances, the ones that got away, and all the other ups and downs that come hand-in-hand with true love, including great examples of how to keep relationships strong.

Reviewed by Janette

This is another winner presented by the Chicken Soup publishers. Whether you are in love, want to be in love, need some new ideas for keeping your love alive, or just a soft touch when it comes to love stories, then you will enjoy this book.

There are 101 short stories in this book that are written about true love. Stories that confirm destiny, show strength of character, and sometimes turn crazy decisions into a lifetime of love.

It’s a lot of fun to read about long-distance romances, chance encounters, and couples reuniting after a long interval, sometimes being married to someone else and having children, then finding themselves single again.  I am married to my soul mate, and I loved reading the stories to know how others keep their love true and alive. I liked the story “Secret Wedding” because it was similar to our marriage story.

The stories are broken up into sections, including: “How We Met,” “Adventures in Dating,” “The Proposal” (some very romantic, some not so exciting), “Keeping the Love Alive,” and “Lessons in True Love.”  In “Lessons in True Love,” there is a cute story about a child watching her parents come together every night after she was in bed to dance together.  These parents gave their child a wonderful gift; modeling a strong, loving marriage.

Even though the stories are about true love, not all the stories have happy endings. Some of the endings are about coping with loss, about unexpected events that we can never imagine when we begin our journey of love.  This is Chicken Soup for the Soul, and the joys and the comfort are real stories told by real people.  It is worth the read, to learn how other people manage, how other people keep love alive, how other people make it through in the most difficult of circumstances, and how God is in the midst of the strongest marriages. These is a good book to take along when you have a few minutes here and there, and know you will be waiting for kids or appointments, because the stories are short and quick reads.

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Feeding Penny Pig

Jeannine Fox

Join Mimi as she searches for the perfect gift for her granddaughter, Laney. On her journey Mimi meets Penny Pig, a very special piggy bank, who is hungry for coins.

Mimi falls in love with this special Pig and gives her to Laney for a special birthday gift. Through taking care of Penny Pig, Laney learns about the value of responsibility and earning coins to feed her friend, Penny Pig.

This book is ideal for children ages 4-8 who are ready to learn about money, earning allowance by performing chores, and responsibility!

What a fun little book to share with your children.  Written from the prospective of a Grandmother…there is a special charm to the storyline.   Penny is an adorable little piggy bank that loves to eat.  Which means she loves to be fed money.

My twins giggled at the name because one their grandmothers is named Penny. They giggled at the idea that a piggy bank could talk and had feelings…in fact they giggled through the entire book.Now, if  you know 6 year old girls…then you will know that is a very good sign.

Feeding Penny Pig was a delightful way to illustrate the virtue of saving money…turning the boring act of putting money away (which is absolutely no fun compared to buying a toy, book or candy) into the concept of taking care and feeding our sweet little friends (our piggy banks) allows children the opportunity to take the focus off of what they are NOT doing (spending) toward what they ARE doing (taking care of a friend a.k.a Saving).

This will definitely be a book that we will read again and again…I plan on referring to the plight of Penny the pig…when our own little piggy banks get low. A great book for the entire family.

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I’m Up in a Tree

Mark Alden Johnson

Climbing a tree sounded like a great idea, but it turns out that getting down is much harder than climbing up! Perched on a branch high up in a tree, a young boy must decide whether to find a way to the ground by himself or wait for his dad. All kinds of animals, from bees to birds to cats, offer him advice on how to get down (Jump! Fly! Climb!), but it’s up to him to figure out if their advice is worth taking.

Told in a lyrical rhyming style and charmingly illustrated by the author, I’m Up in a Tree is a book for kids and their parents to enjoy together.

I’m Up in a Tree is a fun, lyrical journey to take with your children and young readers. It is a clear illustration of a little boy who uses his noggin rather then going by “guts” to get out of a bad situation.

As a mom and home school teacher I enjoyed the fact that Mark Alden Johnson created a  young character that was a tad mischievous and curious (how else would he have gotten up in the tree?) but who was also wise enough to not accept bad advise no matter how well meaning. Finding himself in a very odd and somewhat dangerous predicament the young man chooses not to listen to a bee, a cat or a bird. Wise move. The book provided characters that lent themselves to dramatic vocal interpretations. Which made reading the book with my twins more exciting.

My daughters instantly related to the little boy’s situation. In fact at one point they wondered aloud “Why in the world did he bother going up a tree in the first place”?  As the cat, bird and bee gave advice on how to get down my girls were eager to offer their own opinion on the advice offered.

If you are a parent or teacher I would suggest picking up a copy of I’m Up in a Tree…it offers a great lesson in trusting what you have been taught by your parents and using the common sense that is all too often not common. A great lesson taught in a simple yet meaningful story line.

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How to Never Look Fat Again

Charla Krupp

The new groundbreaking style-guide from bestseller author Charla Krupp on how to look 10 pounds lighter, 10 years younger and 10 times sexier every day, all year–in summer, winter, at the gym, even in a swimsuit!

You’ll never get dressed the same way again once you discover:

*smart, easy ways to hide arm flap, a big bust, a muffin top, back fat, Buddha belly, a big booty, wide hips, thunder thighs, and heavy calves-and that’s only half the book.

*which fabrics, colors, and styles make women look fat

*absolutely the best shades, shapes, and brilliant buys to make the pounds invisible

*clever solutions for special fashion situations–workout gear, evening wear, and even swimsuits!

*which products, fashions, and services you shouldn’t waste your money on

*the top ten tips that will make you look thinner by tonight!

So, if you’ve ever put on a piece of clothing and asked “Does this make me look fat?” Finally, here is the book that will answer your question.

If you have ever looked in the mirror and thought you looked fat…then you need to pick up this book. It doesn’t matter if you 4′11″ or 6 ft tall…sometimes you just “feel” fat and other times  you really could lose a few pounds.

While I am definitely in the latter group and could shed a few pounds (ok, ok, maybe more then a few)…I know this is a book that will help women of all ages and sizes.

I was very curious on what tips and advise Charla would offer to her readers. I feel that I am rather fashionable and fairly aware of what looks good on my body so I was delighted to read her fantastic, fresh and innovative tips and ideas.  I was more delighted to sense her wonderful humor and gentle sarcasm. The book reads as if a dear friend was telling me little tidbits about my style. I don’t know about you but I have only a handful of friends that I will trust to tell me the absolute truth on how I look. Now, I can add Charla to the mix.

Charla covers everything in this book. Nothing is left out.  Whether you struggle with a Big Bust (chapter 5) or a Buddha Belly (chapter 7) like I do or have your own issues with Heavy Calves (chapter 10) or Wide Hips + Thighs (chapter 8)…you are going to find wisdom within these pages that will help you think twice about what you buy and what you wear.

Each chapter starts with a chapter title (i.e. Big Bust) then she proceeds with the “You know you have it when” section which describes what “the problem” is and how you know you have it.  For example Chapter 5 – Big Bust states you know you have this “issue” if “You wear an empire top and everyoneassumes you’re pregnant “ or “You look down and can’t see your feet” or “You can keep a cell phone in your cleavage”. Chapter 5 is my favorite chapter as I am an E bra size…sorry didn’t mean for you to choke on your drink…and I can totally relate to every one of those statements plus the statements on a few other chapters as well!

The book is balanced by different sections within each chapter. For example: High-Fat vs. No-Fat, Swap-Outs,  10 things that will make you look fat, Brilliant Buys, Vows, etc. Each section helps to pinpoint your exact problem and provides solutions, tips and tricks to alleviate the situation.

This is definitely a book that you will refer to over and over, time and time again. While it was great to read it all in one sitting…it is definitely a reference book as we are ever constantly changing.  I am not sure when the last time I laughed out loud at a book…but there was so much “uh-huh” going on with each chapter that I had to giggle…I felt as if Charla has been following me around the last 20 years. Watching me as my body matured from a young married 105lb women to a stay at home, mom of twins and NOT 105lbs (hey, I still have 2 of those 3 numbers in my weight…they’ve just added a friend and I’m not telling you which one!)

Grab a coffee, get this book and then go shopping for clothes that will not make you look fat again! On second though…skip the coffee (too many calories)…just get the book and go shopping!

Book Releases March 10, 2010

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