V is for von Trapp

This afternoon my door bell rang and I was delivered a package which came from Sleeping Bear Press. I stood on the porch and opened it up to discover this beautiful gem of a book and I just had to tell you about it right away!

V is for Von Trapp: A Musical Family Alphabet is the latest and greatest in Sleeping Bear Press's line up and it is amazing in every single way. I immediately walked back inside the house and devoured the book (in a healthy way, of course.)

I think this book is a bit more unique than some of the other titles that come out of Sleeping Bear Press because it tells the story of one particular family. From A to Z we pick up facts about the famous Von Trapp Family Singers. I was also very impressed that, despite the fact that the book works through the alphabet, author William Anderson does a marvelous job telling their story chronologically, beginning with A is for Austria. We learn about the Von Trapp family's home country and the Captain with his first wife. As we move through the alphabet we learn about the scarlet fever that took the life of the children's mama and how Maria came into the family home. I really appreciated the way that Anderson gives us snippets of facts strung together in a story-telling manner.

The illustrations by Linda Graves are a nice compliment to the story. I looked up some pictures of the original Von Trapp family online and I recognized the faces of Maria and even one of her granddaughters from the pictures that Graves presents us with. I love that she brought the characters to life as they really looked, instead of Julie Andrews-ing the story. (Although I have no objections to Julie Andrews at all and whatsoever! The only other person who can be Maria besides, of course, Maria, is Julie Andrews!)

S, as you might suspect, is for The Sound of Music and in V is for Von Trapp: A Musical Family Alphabet they talk about the movie and the family's reaction to the depiction of their family.

Truly, this is a marvelous book and I highly, highly, highly recommend it to any fans (or friends of fans) of the movie The Sound of Music. (Can you say "Christmas List" anyone?) This book put such a huge smile on my face this afternoon and I'm exited to see it!

THANKS, Sleeping Bear Press, for giving us such a lovely book to enjoy a piece of musical history with. I so look forward to sharing this title with my kids in the years to come.

Snippets: Read Aloud Thursday edition

Here are two of the books that I've recently read with Bookworm1 (age 3 3/4) over the course of the past month. I figured I'd just share both and a quick opinion and link it up to Read Aloud Thursday over at Hope is in the Word.

LIKED

We read Penny and Peter , by Carolyn Haywood and both enjoyed it. (It certainly didn't help that there is a picture of two little boys catching crabs on the front cover!) I had mentioned that I rediscovered a favorite childhood author, Carolyn Haywood, recently. I picked up a copy of Primrose Day (linked to my review) and Penny and Peter at the same time. I decided to see how Penny and Peter (both boys) would go over with Bookworm1.

I'm happy to say it went over well. It tells the story of two little boys who were adopted by their Mommy and Daddy. (Ok. Already we can find something to identify with!) The story is set in the late 1940's and recounts the adventures of brothers Peter and Penny as they spend their summer vacation at the beach, interact with their neighbor and friend's dog, and spend weekends in a log cabin. (Again, we can find things to identify with!)

The story is laid out in an almost simplistic manner, with simple sentences, making it sound like a picture book. I think that helped draw Bookworm1 into the story because it was told in a manner that he could easily identify with and connect with. There are ten chapters in this 141 page book and I think we spent about a week with these boys. I asked Bookworm1 if he liked it in the end and he replied in the positive.

I like it because it honors family and fun times. I highly recommend Haywood for a good story!

DIDN'T LIKE

We first attempted reading The Mouse and the Motorcycle (linked to my earlier remarks) back in JUNE! We gave up about half way through as we both just found it hard to identify with. I know, I know, it's Beverly Clearly and I think that means we're supposed to love it but we just didn't. The book just had an attitude that parents were stupid and inconvenient and I just didn't really care what happened with Ralph.

Bookworm1 is having some second thoughts about reading chapter books of late though so I offered a bribe to read through one with me and offered up The Mouse and the Motorcycle as one of his reading options. He selected it based solely on the merit that we were already almost halfway through with it.

In the end, we were both glad to be done with it but for different reasons. I hate starting books and not finishing them so I was glad to make it to the end. Bookworm1 was glad to obtain his promised treat for having completely read through yet another chapter book.

I don't think I'll push another chapter book on him until the new Tumtum & Nutmeg comes out (in just a couple of weeks!) and that won't feel so forced because we BOTH love those particular little mice.

***

To see what others are reading aloud with their kids, visit Hope is in the Word - and/or play along yourself!

Paul: A Man of Grace and Grit, by Charles Swindoll

This past month I jumped back on the bandwagon to continue reading through Charles Swindoll's Great Lives series this year. Paul is the sixth book in the series of nine books. I should be able to finish up right on time! I've had these books sitting on my shelf for a long time and just haven't managed to get to them yet, but I figured I could give myself the year and make it through.

Here are the others in the series that I have read so far, and what I've learned (primarily) from each:

1. I am created for a purpose (David);
2. God will work that purpose in His time frame (Esther);
3. God will work in ways that may be painful, but He will teach me to live in the pain, through the pain and beyond it and can work in me a tender heart as a result of it (Joseph);
4. God honors faithful obedience (Moses);
5. God moves us into periods of quiet solitude where we can be alone with Him, in order to mature us (Elijah); and
6. It is not for me to compare my journey to the journey of others. (Paul)

Many of these same lesson from the "Great Lives series" overlap in Swindoll's book on the life of Paul. But then that is kind of the way that scripture is. It is filled with staid and steady truths which God repeats for our benefit. He shows us His consistency in the lives of Biblical characters. Paul learned many of the same things David learned - although Paul experienced a different life and lived through different circumstances. Paul suffered pain and disgrace, just like Joseph, but Paul was not a slave. Yet God worked in each individual to produce holiness and faithfulness by use of the same tools: trials and tribulations. (Oh joy!)

I think the same is true for us today. God hasn't changed, nor have the truths which are presented in His word. He is the same yesterday, today and forever. Our individual life experiences may differ, but each set of circumstances are used ultimately for the glory of God. Our particular circumstances are designed to cause us to come to Him and know more of Him and who He is. So instead of coming together to play comparison games, it would be of greater benefit to come together and declare the goodness of God and truths in His word in order to encourage one another and build each other up. (1 Thessalonians 5:11)

I rather sincerely doubt that Paul is up in Heaven telling the other saints that he had it worse here on earth than any of them. (Peter: "Well, I was crucified upside down!" Paul: "Oh yeah. Well, they chopped off my head!" Although imagining the things they suffered can frequently put our own life in perspective, can it not?) My guess is that they boast only in the glory of God. (1 Corinthians 1:29-30; Romans 15:17-21)

Certainly we find it easier to identify with certain individuals over others. You might, for instance, sympathize more with Job than Paul. Or perhaps you are drawn to the heart of Esther over Mary. Maybe you think Noah was more inspiring than Timothy, etc. Who you connect with does not determine who God ultimately is though. I think we make the mistake of saying things in response to challenges and situations such as, "Well, my god wouldn't do something like that" as if He were different to one person over another. If we're going to be factual and accurate, the God of the Bible would show consistency of character and truth no matter what set of circumstances or who the person is that is being dealt with (Malachi 3:6; Hebrews 13:8). He is truth always and at all times. He is unchanging and eternal. He cannot change but we do, in response to who He is.

Per usual, as I read through Paul I marked particular remarks that Swindoll was making about the life of Paul that were particularly meaningful to me or were insightful in a way that allowed me to more easily apply some Biblical truths to my own life. But the bottom line of what I realized was that God is about His glory. All the time.

These three verses stand out, as applying to all of the "Great Lives" I have read, as well as to my own life and each of your own personal stories that you've been kind enough to share with me through e-mails, comments, on your own blogs, and, when I'm lucky - in real life!:

He replied, "You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?" In all this, Job did not sin in what he said. Job 2:10

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28

I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. Philippians 4:12

No matter what pain it is that we might suffer in life, God is gracious and merciful, full of compassion, slow to anger and rich in love. (Ps. 145:8) This verse is not saying that He is easy going and allows His people to do their own thing and follow after their own way. Rather the reverse is true. His refining fire works in us to produce holiness, for our own good, and for His glory. Again, this does not mean life will be easy. But in the end - and hopefully even in the middle of it - we will learn to say with Paul that we have learned to be content in every circumstance. Even in our darkest, most miserable hours we can experienced joy and know that God is very, very good. What a wonderful thing that would be.

In summary - I think the sooner we get over ourselves, the better.

Turn up the volume (way up) for this one:

What's On My Nightstand

Nightstand time over at 5 Minutes for Books! Again, this is probably my favorite of all the carnivals at 5M4B and the one I've always been the most excited about.

Of course, I just posted by Fall Into Reading challenge that I am working on. If you wish to see which review copy books are on my nightstand, you can check out my challenge post. My goal over the course of the next few months is to finish reading all my review copies so that I can start out 2011 free and clear and read more of whatever it is that I want in any given moment. I'm looking forward to that.

For purposes of this Nightstand post though, I'll share a couple of other books that I'm looking forward to reading this month that I've purchased myself and/or have been gifted and haven't managed to get to yet!

#1 - I'm looking forward to diving back into my own personal challenge to read Swindoll's Great Lives series this year. I kinda took the summer off, but jumped back in this month reading Paul: A Man of Grace and Grit. (Thoughts on that title forthcoming.) In October I am planning to read the next book in the series - Job: A Man of Heroic Endurance.



#2 - For Christmas last year (I know it. It's that bad!), my friend Sky gave me a copy of An Experiment in Criticism. I think I would like to read it before Christmas rolls around again! (I would VERY much like to read it before Christmas!)



#3 - Lastly, I purchased a copy of In Search of the Castaways: The Children of Captain Grant, by Jules Verne that I want to read. This is the book that the Disney movie is based on. (I hadn't even heard of the book prior to my digging around trying to figure out which Disney films were based on books.) I'm eager to read this book and compare it to the movie. BTW, if you missed the list - here is my compiled List of Books That Disney Films Are Based On (in case you didn't catch that earlier link - ;) ha!) As an FYI - I created a new "Disney books" label so if you want to see which books I have read that are related to Disney films, you can just scroll down to the right hand side of the screen here and click on the Disney Book label.)



(No, my copy doesn't look like the one above. I bought the "forgotten books" edition off of Amazon. But I like the vintage look so that's the one I'm picturing!)

So, for what it's worth, you now have a better feel for my nightstand, between this post and the Fall Challenge post. Looking forward to getting to ALL of these books.

And NOW I'm looking forward to checking out what's on YOUR nightstand!

1,000th Post

Yup, folks. This is my 1,000th post!

And I can't think of a better way to use this space.




Ladies and gentleman, you have an opportunity . . .

Sharks, and Puffers, and Whales! Oh My!

I've talked about the Smithsonian Institution animal books, published by Soundprints, before (over at 5 Minutes for Books.) After the Book Expo in NYC earlier this May, I was given an opportunity to peruse a few more of their titles and you can bet I jumped on them! Non-fiction books on sea life have been Our Thing this past year (we're slowly moving on into dinosaurs, if you can believe it!) and the Smithsonian Institution collection of books is like none other!
We started with Great White Shark: Ruler of the Sea and it was an instant hit. In this book we meet a two day old great white shark who smells some blood and takes her to a feeding frenzy. (Ok, here's where I admit I wasn't sure how Bookworm1 was going to take to the blood and guts but it didn't seem to phase him.) Through this book we kind of follow along her explorations in an almost documentary type of way. We discover the animals most likely to cause the great white shark injury and we see how she grows and wises up in order to feast upon her favorite prey. I like how at the back of the book they include facts about the animal you are reading about and the facts tie into the fictional story that they are sharing to inform young readers about the animal world around them.

We have long been a fan of whales and one of our favorites is the sperm whale. Why, you ask? In a word: Monstro. Therefore we enjoyed reading Giant of the Sea: The Story of a Sperm Whale where we meet a pod of whales swimming together off the coast of Hawaii. (See? Already this conjures up beautiful and peaceful pictures, does it not?) We find a mama whale caring for her baby, teaching it how to breathe and watching her dive and hunt for food. We learn about how she makes sounds which produce echoes which help her to navigate in the waters and yes, there is a picture of the whale eating a giant squid. There are THREE WHOLE PAGES of the whale, uh, "interacting" with the squid. (Whale 1, Squid 0) We love this book. Again, at the very back there are a couple of paragraphs which include additional facts and information about the sperm whale.

Lastly, we read Puffers Surprise. When Jonathan and I were in Washington D.C. we found this little toy puffer fish (the size of a dime) which Bookworm1 carries with him e.v.e.r.y.w.h.e.r.e. and so, as you might suspect, this is our favorite book of the moment. It is to be read with our little friend "Puff Puff!" For most of this story, puffer isn't puffed. He is calmly hunting for food and going about his business. But then a sea bass comes a'callin' and PUFF! (We love saying this. "PUFF! PUFF! PUFF!" I need to get it out of my system, ok?) I really don't think I can recommend this book, or any of the others in the Smithsonian Institute series on animals, more highly if your child or classroom is studying any particular creature. What better way to teach a child scientific facts than through a story (and all of their books are beautifully illustrated.) I love the inclusion of facts at the end, which we always faithfully read to increase in our knowledge of oceanic life. The books are also incredibly and very reasonably priced ($4.95-$6.95 on Amazon from what I see in searches.)

Of course, not all of the Smithsonian Institute books focus on sea life, but since that's what we focus on - that's what we read. We read a lot of sea life-related books.

For example, for the adults on this sea creature adventure, you might be interested to note that the Fifteenth Sherman's Lagoon Collection has recently been released and is entitled Discover Your Inner Hermit Crab. Sometimes I think Sherman is far more entertaining a read than the factual books that Bookworm1 is so very fond of. My favorite character is, by far and away, Fillmore, the literary sea turtle. He makes me chuckle the most. I had read some Sherman before but I hadn't read a complete collection. (This is in keeping with my rediscovery of the love of comic strips. I'm enjoying the short amusements they provide.)

Bookworm1 sat beside me, begging me to read this to him. I kept brushing him off, saying he was perfectly welcome to look at the pictures but that it had jokes that only mommy or daddy could understand. He begged and cajoled until I finally found a kid-worthy one and read it to him. He didn't get it.

So, if your kid is sea life crazy, I recommend you find a way to read Sherman on your own time. It's a much more pleasurable experience that way!

Thanks, Andrews McMeel Publishing, for allowing us the opportunity to giggle with hermit crabs and sea turtles and to Soundprints for allowing us to get our facts straight!

8 Questions

I was tagged twice this week to answer 2 sets of 8 questions. I figured I'd just answer all 16 at the same time, because sometimes it's really fun to do things like this!

I'll start with the 8 questions that An Almost Unschooling Mom asked me:

1. What is your favorite children's book of all time? The Five Chinese Brothers.

2. What is it that you like most about where you live? It reminds me very much of Prince Edward Island in that is green, almost always cool weather, there are trees everywhere and a plethora of Queen Anne's Lace!

3. What is it that you like least about where you live? Well, I'm a bit more conservative than the general population.

4. Do you have any special fall traditions? We always go to a pumpkin patch and celebrate Reformation Day! I'm looking forward to both!

5. What is your favorite holiday, and why? CHRISTMAS! I like it best for many reasons. When I think of all the reasons why, one answer keeps popping to the top of my head (this morning, at any rate!) and that is that it's a widely acknowledged holiday. You wouldn't know how opposed people are to celebrating anything until you try to get them to do it. But even the Scrooges among us can't wipe out Christmas. The celebration shines through the foulest mood and there is just a general spirit of excitement in the air. It's a time when no one can really begrudge you CELEBRATING that which you love.

6. Do you still eat sugary kid's breakfast cereals? Do you have a favorite? Nope.

7. If you could pick any age to stay at (teens, 20's, 30's, 100's), which age would it be? I wouldn't, actually. Josh Harris once said that he was asked this question and his reply sticks with me. "I would wish to be each age for a little while." I think that's just about perfect.

8. What do you enjoy most, and least about blogging? I enjoy solidifying my own thoughts about what I'm reading or watching. I enjoy the interaction with others, of course, but I started in order to train my own thoughts a bit more and I enjoy that. The least about blogging? That you have to work really hard to make sure you are being accurately and properly understood. But then that kind of falls into the benefit category as well because we should have to think about what it is that we're saying or doing, regardless of who is watching.

And now onto the 8 questions that Barbara H. asked me . . .

1. What do you is the greatest benefit you receive from blogging? I think my answer above works for this one as well.

2. What was your childhood nickname? How did you get it? Are you still called that now? (Oops — I guess that’s three in one!) My mom gave me all nicknames that I ever had and she's the only one who ever uses them. When I was young she called me "Punky" (before Punky Brewster came into existence.) Then she called me "Care Bear" (before Care Bears made it to the big time.) Now she's shortened it to "Care" and she still calls me that with some regularity. I don't really think you can do very much else with my name. At any rate, please don't try!

3. Miracle Whip or mayonnaise? Neither. We use Vegenaise which may sound odd, but it's a taste you can adapt to quite easily!

4. What is your favorite season and why? The fall/Christmas season! (I suppose Christmas does fall into winter but you build up to it in the fall.) So we're in my current favorite season - yes!

5. When you are sick, do you like a lot of attention and pampering, or do you like to be left alone? =) I like a lot of attention. And Jonathan doesn't like any. Guess what we had to figure out when we got married? ;)

6. Share one pleasant childhood memory. We lived in Texas when I was growing up, right next to the beaches. When I was 7-8 or so, we lived in a little town that was build right on the water. There was a city park that consisted of hard sand dunes that you could run around on and there were all kinds of hallowed out "caves" that we could hide in. Mom would take my brother and I to the dunes and we loved running aorund the sand mountains. We also lived 2 blocks away from the water and I enjoyed going to play on the beach when the tide would go out. That town holds some of my favorite childhood memories. It was a safe, small little place where kids could ride their bike all over creation without fear of coming to any harm. Neighborhood friends, parents who looked out for us, fun by the water . . . yup! Good memories!

7. Share a time a hymn ministered to you in a special way. Well, my favorite is not technically a hymn - yet. But it's a favorite and I've mentioned it here a time or two. It particularly ministered to me when I was attempting to deliver Bookworm1 and ended up having an emergency c-section. This song was the one I had playing in the room and the words spoke comfort and assurance of God's promises to me (in the midst of chaos.) It still makes me cry every time I stop to really listen to the words. (I like it best with the Passion of Christ video because it reminds me of Christ's sacrifice for us.)



8. Describe your favorite coffee mug (or show us a photo of it). Why do you like it?Not a coffee drinker but I do have a favorite mug I found once (and seldom use) with a quote from Shakespeare quote on it about lawyers. It's kind of degrading to lawyers but I went to law school and worked for attorneys for some period of time so I think it's kinda funny.

Next I'm supposed to tag 8 people to play along and come up with my own 8 questions but I'm kinda bad at that so feel free to answer 8 of the above questions if you like and come back and let me know it! I'll go see what YOUR answers are/were!

Have a wonderful weekend, folks!

Carrie

Snippets

Sometimes I just don't feel like writing up a big long review of certain books, but I would like to remember the fact that I perused or read them. Here's a list of some that I haven't mentioned in more detail:

LIKED:

Loved By Choice: True Stories That Celebrate Adoption is a much needed book. As a society, we've been inundated with negative stories about adoption and that can grow very wearisome.

The authors/editors of Loved by Choice, Susan Horner and Kelly Fordyce Martindale know the struggles adoptive parents face, as well as birth mothers, families and the media. They compiled a list of personal stories of adoption that focused on the positive instead of the negative. I picked up this book because I needed to hear someone say something good about adoption for once. And I should preface that remark by saying that we have several dear family friends who have walked the road of adoption before us. They have encouraged us, prayed for us, and stood by us when the going got tough. They remind me that certain struggles are par for the course, and that God makes families. That is true. He does. And He does so quite beautifully, if you ask me! I had concluded a conversation with one friend about the beauty that is our own adoption story and then I stumbled upon this book and allowed myself a week to just focus on this one book.

This is obviously a subject I feel that I could talk a great deal about. It is also a subject I've become quite opinionated about. It's also a subject that I cry more tears over now, than I did when we first signed up to adopt Bookworm2 about three years ago. Then again, I'm far more emotional about being pregnant with Bookworm3 than I was about being pregnant with Bookworm1. Why is that? Time. Pain. Perspective. Blessing. I see the benefits and joys of parenting Bookworm1. I see what he is becoming and what having children actually means and I am grateful. I know that bringing a child into our family is something that comes as a result of God's blessing. Being physically sick or suffering some heartache to be able to pick up a child, look into their eyes and say, "Oh, goodness. Can you possibly IMAGINE how much God loves you? Because I can't even wrap my mind around how much *I* love you!!!!" is worth everything and then some.

That, my friends, is the statement of adoption for each one of us who are Christians and who have become a child of God. We cannot even begin to imagine the depths to which He loves us because we cannot comprehend the cross. The impact on my life as a result of being a child of God is indescribable and overwhelming. I am His and He is mine. That is what this book is about. Children becoming family. Family becoming.

Highly recommended.

DID NOT LIKE:

The Eyre Affair: A Thursday Next Novel. I confess, I didn't even finish it. For one thing, it was kind of science fiction-y and, as I've mentioned before, I'm not a truly big fan of that genre. It just stretches my imagination beyond capacity. (Unless, of course, we're talking about Star Trek and then Live Long and Prosper and all that! I'll watch it but I'm not interested in reading it.)

Secondly, I was greeted with a lot of curse words within the first chapter and then main family unit seems to be broken in some strangely mysterious way that just made me, well, not very impressed. I had a hard time getting into it and so I just decided not to spend anymore time on it.

This is one of those times I'm glad I didn't actually pay money for the book. I still think the premise is intriguing but the time travel issues involved in this book was questionable at best and I didn't like how time travel was used to manipulate people. Or, at least, that seemed to be the way the book was going and it made me uncomfortable.

I definitely felt like I should mention that I ended up not liking this book, as I mentioned it and hosted a giveaway with the title. That makes for two books I've mentioned without reading around here in conjunction with a giveaway that I ended up not liking! Lesson learned. Back to my original statements to publishers that I won't post information about a book that I haven't read for myself first! If you see it on this site, it means I've read it and, at the very least, I didn't hate it. (And then again, sometimes I mention them even if I did despise them.) Anyway, we won't be having any of that anymore!

First Day of Autumn!

HURRAY! It's the first day of Autumn! I LOVE this season as it marks the beginning of one of the most fun times of the year. Pumpkins, the smell of cooking spices, candles, turning the fire on, baking pies (something I am looking forward to!!) and - of course! - pulling out the fall related books!

I pulled our fall books on the shelf a few days ago and it's so fun revisiting some of our favorite titles. That said, I really only have a handful of good ones for fall! (Shocking perhaps? I know.) I'm definitely looking for suggestions to add some good stories to our collection - specifically relating to pumpkin patches. Got anything for me?

One title we added to our collection this year, courtesy of Kids Can Press, is Kitten's Autumn.

Both boys like this book and I confess I do as well. The story itself is very simplistic and is told in rhyme, through the eyes of a little kitten.

"Leaves tumble

Kitten mews.

Porcupine snacks,

Chipmunk chews."

Each page spread shows a different fall scene, with different animals collecting food for the winter months or just wandering around.

What makes this book so incredible in my mind is the way that the illustrator (and author) of the book, Eugenie Fernandes, presents her scenes. Her illustrations are actually, what she calls, made up of a multimedia collage. (This would explain why I found it hard to tell at times if I was looking at a scene made out of clay or paper or a painting.) It's a mixed bag which is intriguing to the eye. Her scenes look three-dimensional and we love looking at the whole page spread before turning the page to move on with the story. It's just so very unique.

Apparently Fernandes's father, Creig Flessel was one of the original comic book illustrators back in the 1930's and 40's. He positioned her art desk right next to his and so she grew up exploring her creative gifts. She also married an illustrator so one can only imagine what the creative genius that might be possessed by their two children! To learn a little bit more about her, you can visit this particular author/illustrator page.

We love this book and I'm excited to know that Kids Can Press also released a Kitten's Spring book earlier this year. We'll have to check that one out when that season rolls back around. But spring can wait, as far as I'm concerned! I want to revel in the fall months a bit and soak up THIS season.

So what about you? Do you have any particular ways you are planning to enjoy the fall? I'm currently delighted to be near the end of "morning" sickness with the onset of the season. I'm so looking forward to enjoying food again. This is kind of a nasty season to have to miss out on all the goodies so-- bring on the food, the stable system and the pumpkin patches! I'm so ready!

The Miracle of Mercy Land, by River Jordan

On the front cover of The Miracle of Mercy Land there is a quote by Patti Callahan Henry (whom I have never heard of) who says of this book, that it is "A Triumph of Beauty." I'm inclined not to argue with that statement.

This is technically a piece of Christian fiction and, according to the author's notes in the back, it is a book about the choices we make in life and how they effect countless people and generations. It is both of those things. But I don't really associate it with either (and referring to the fact that it is labeled Christian fiction - I mean that as a sincere compliment! Certainly "religious themes" were present, but they were subtle and did not dominate the story. A rare treat - for subtly often tells a better story!)

Instead, I think it's just an amazing, mysterious, beautiful and intriguing story. Because it is mysterious, and it is a story that unfolds slowly, I want to take care not to give too much away. I'll tell you this much:

The story takes places in the 1930's, before the onset of World War II. Most of the story is told through the eyes of Mercy Land, a girl who grew up in a small town (not on the map, really) called Bittersweet. She makes a move to Bay City, Alabama and ends up working a job at a newspaper. She works for a man named Doc who has run the local paper for longer than most people can remember. Then, in one moment, on a fateful day, a mysterious book shows up on Doc's desk and he calls Mercy in to share and keep the secret of the book.

This mysterious book that begins to possess the lives of Doc and Mercy is magical, mysterious, and quite deadly. It has great power and raises lots of question marks.

And that's all I'm going to say, making this an incredibly short review and letting you be on your way about finding a copy to read yourself. (Heh.)

I'll recommend it to you. Without hesitation! I thoroughly enjoyed reading this fabulous story, full of plot twists and turns, which clearly differentiates between the powers of darkness and truth. I completely lost myself within the pages and enjoyed the brief getaway!

If you stumble across a copy of The Miracle of Mercy Land, I'd enthusiastically encourage you to pick it up! It is a kindred spirit to The Silent Gift, by Michael Landon, Jr. (linked to my review.) Spell binding.

My thanks goes to KBK Public Relations who asked me if I wanted to read this book, and sent a copy despite my hemming and hawing about it. I wasn't sure I would be able to get to this book in a good time frame but they persisted! Sometimes I'm glad for other people's follow through! I am glad not to have missed this tale and I'll read anything by River Jordan that I an get my hands on now.

Fun Math (giveaway)

(Does anyone else think that the title of this post is as oxymoronic as I do!?) The truth is - I hate math. Numbers and I are not friends. I cannot remember them and I have a hard time caring what they do. Start spouting off numbers to me, and my brain shuts down. I can't even go there with you. Let's use words when we communicate to one another, ok? That makes much more sense!

My husband, on the other hand, can handle the numbers. Aptly. Any math/number related questions go to daddy. Just leave mommy out of it!

In fact, I dislike match so much that I think it's rather ironic that I'm posting this review and giveaway but a.) I really thought one of these books was ultra, super cute and b.) Jonathan liked them. That explained, I have three math-related books to introduce you two, the first two being from Sleeping Bear Press and the last being from DK Publishing. (Could you find a better pairing than that? I ask you . . .)

My favorite of these three books is Zero, Zilch, Nada : Counting to None and it is a recent Sleeping Bear Press release.



In Zero, Zilch, Nada we learn to count from 1 to 100 (and back down to none) by counting balloons. Now, for a toddler, this book is absolutely perfect. We are given a story to count through and in it we meet Harry the bunny who gets a job at the 4 Color Balloon Factory. His boss is named Mr. Huffy and Mr. Huffy assigns Harry the job of blowing up 100 balloons for Mrs. Doopido's birthday party. (Yes, the name is silly but this works when you are three going on four, trust me!) Written by Wendy Ulmer and illustrated by Laura Knorr, I think this book is cute. We enjoyed counting up and down with Harry and his 100 balloons and I feel that I can heartily recommend this one if you are dealing with the concept of counting by 10's (which we are.)

Next up we have Whole-y Cow: Fractions Are Fun also by Sleeping Bear Press.



It opens as follows:

"One whole cow was calmly eating hay, and decided to act differently on this particular day."

Her friends end up painting her half blue. "What fraction of the cow is blue? What fraction of the cow is white?" One whole cow then wears a red white and blue swimsuit and takes a dive in the local pond. "What fraction of the swimsuit is red?" And so on and so forth.

There are numerous scenarios set up in the form of a story wherein the young reader is prompted to figure out the percentages for each page spread. This one is a really cute idea but then, aren't cute ideas what Sleeping Bear Press does best? (What percentage of Sleeping Bear Books does Carrie truly not like? I mean, seriously.)

The last book is from DK Publishing (another well-known publisher!) and is called Help Your Kids with Math: A visual problem solver for kids and parents and was just released this past summer.



Open the book and you are greeted by pi. (But not the kind I like.) Ok, like I said, this book was one that Jonathan rather liked as it helps to explain mathematical concepts with visual images. I open the book and I just see numbers and, well, I've already told you how I feel about that.

Help Your Kids with Math does cover a rather wide variety of concepts through, from your basic addition to statistics and trigonometry.

Take the subject of Trigonometry for instance and the book contains this information:

1. What is Trigonometry
2. Working with trigonometry
3. Finding missing sides
4. Finding missing angles

The Algebra section contains information on sequences, Quadratic expressions, formulas, linear graphs and the list goes on and on. And there are nice visual explanations for each concept explained.

Given the fact that this book spans the gamut of math subjects, I should think it would be helpful at any age, but perhaps most particularly - at MINE!

If you are having trouble figuring out a way to explain math concepts to your little ones, or need a refresher course yourself (ah hem) then this book might be just the ticket for you!

I'm happy to say that there is a chance for you to win a copy of all of the above three books as both Sleeping Bear Press and DK Publishing have offered up a copy of each to one Reading to Know winner. To win? Leave a comment below. This contest is open to U.S. Residents only and will be open through Thursday, September 30th.

THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED
congrats to the winner, selected by Random.org - #4 -Marks of Faith!

Also, I'm linking this up to the Fall Festival of Children's Books (and giveaways!) over at 5 Minutes for Books! Be sure to check that out this week!

Betsy Was a Junior/Betsy & Joe, by Maud Hart Lovelace

Can I just swoon about these two books? Will that suffice for a review? Can we call it good? Because I liked them that much, yes.

As you may recall, a few weeks ago I mentioned that having finished Heavens to Betsy and Betsy in Spite of Herself and didn't find Betsy to be particularly endearing. I found her to be teen aged in all of her boy crazy "glory" and I was put off. With some fear and trepidation, I launched into Betsy Was a Junior and lo and behold - Betsy is growing up!

Sure, she's still busy with boys but she's a Junior now and is trying to better herself. I can respect that. (I still respect Tacy MORE because she doesn't feel the need to do everything "The Crowd" does - even when it comes to wearing her hair in a less than fashionable way. Tacy is a brick and I very much like her!) But Betsy's life is changing and she is learning new life lessons. She wins a boyfriend she discovers wasn't worth the trouble and decides to buckle down and be more serious about friends and school and life in general. Furthermore, it looks like Joe Willard might be making her life a little more interesting during her upcoming senior year of high school.

In Betsy and Joe, Betsy's life takes a few more surprising twists and turns as she has to juggle two beaus - one of whom she loves dearly as a brother and the other, Joe Willard, she likes "in another way." Betsy seems to have mastered the art of holding her tongue a bit more and not shouting her feelings about boys from the rooftops. A fact I appreciated, I can assure you! She seems more toned down and she makes some relational mistakes with the friendly beau that cost her some pride (another good thing.) In short, she's learning what it means to be discrete and she is maturing at a rapid pace. I not only found Betsy remarkably tolerable in Betsy and Joe, but I found myself rooting for their relationship and scrambling to get to the end to verify what I already knew to be fact -they would be together. All is right with the world and I sigh in blissful happiness.

Now that Betsy is actually old enough to get married (according to 1910 standards) and is officially out of high school, I'm much more interested in her relationship with Joe. It feels more appropriate and less silly and flippant. (Not that Joe ever went for flippancy - being a rock solid gentleman from the get-go!) Their relationship, in my opinion, is realistic. They aren't over-the-moon and yet they are. They have moral standards and they follow them. They are friends first and have bumps in the relationship road. It's all so very tolerable.

So I'm writing up this review as fast as I can and moving on to Betsy and the Great World/Betsy's Wedding because it's just........SO FUN!

As a final aside - I like the clothes they wear in 1910. I think, if I actually had a choice, I now can't decide whether or not I'd prefer to live in the 1910's or the 1940's - for clothing sake. Either which way, they were so much more classy than we are these days! Anyway - off to the races to cheer on Betsy and Joe! (I cannot believe I am this wrapped up in a teenage romance! But then again, remember, it was 1910 and at 18 they frequently got married!)

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Once again, thanks to Sarah at Library Hospital for hosting the Maud Hart Lovelace Challenge and to Harper Perennial Classics for providing the books to read!