American Girl Books: The Feelings Book and The Care & Keeping of You

 Posted by  Book Reviews, Sheila's Reviews
Feb 192010
 


Since I have been figuring grades, doing report cards and Parent Teacher Conferences, my reading has been at a minimum. I am in the middle of reading six different books that are Whitney nominated books. So, I really did not have a finished book to review. Instead, I wanted to share with you a series of books that help Tween Girls between the ages of 9-12. The books are from the American Girl company. I love their motto:


” American Girl celebrates a girl’s inner star-that little whisper inside that encourages her to stand tall, reach high, and dream big. We take pride and care in helping girls become their very best today, so they’ll grow up to be the women who make a difference tomorrow.”

The other day me and my daughter had a disagreement and I lost my cool and yelled at her. About 2o minutes later, she came downstairs with her “The Feelings Book: The Care & Keeping of Your Emotions” in her hands. She had turned to the chapter about anger and a section called, “Keeping Your Cool” and said, “Mom I think that you need to read this.” Here is what the book said, “It might help me stay calm if you would___________ (not point your finger, stop and listen to what I’m saying, ask how I am feeling) I have to say I was very impressed! She had found a way to explain how she was feeling and what she would like me to do. This is why I love this book!

Some of the great chapters included in this book are
-The Brain, the Body & Butterflies: In this chapter it discusses Brain Power, Why You Cry, Feeling out of Control and Holding it All In.

-How Do You Really Feel? : This chapter talks about What’s Your Reaction, Sorting it Out and Talking it Out.

-The Voice Inside: This chapter includes Thinking Smart, Learning Who You Can Trust and Clearing away the Clouds.

-Help!: This chapter is the best. It includes, I’m Scared, I Feel Anxious, I’m So Jealous, I’m Angry, I’m Lonely, I’m Really Sad, I’ve Been Disrespected, I’m Grieving and I Don’t Feel Safe.

-Feeling Positive: This includes The Good Stuff, Look Around and Keep it Up.

This book has colorful illustrations, small chapters and sub-chapters and is an easy to read format. You can pick the book up and open to any section and find what you are looking for without having to read it straight through. This book is so valuable in that it helps girls understand their emotions and handle them in a positive way. I learned also it is a good tool for parents to learn from our kids and how to help them.
The other book I bought my daughter was ,”The Care and Keeping of You: The Body Book for Girls.” This “head-to-toe” guide answers all a girl’s questions about her changing body, from hair care to healthy eating, bad breath to bras, periods to pimples, and everything in between. ” It makes talking about the facts of life an easy job for parents.



My daughter has been reading this book a lot the past two years. She has been up to date on all of the changes her body has been making. She comes to me often to discuss things and ask questions. We have had some wonderful talks together.

This series also includes the “Care and Keeping of YOU Journal” This journal is a sensitive, interactive companion to The Care & Keeping of You. It includes a period tracker and mood recorder, plus tips, quizzes, and checklists to help girls keep in touch with their changing bodies.
There is also , “The Feelings Journal” that girls can write in.

If you go to their website you will see many other books that could help your daughters/granddaughters. Todays world is a much harder place to grow up in than what we had to deal with. I feel any good resource, such as these books, are beneficial in assisting parents as they raise their children. There are also many books out there that help your boys learn about their changing bodies. Head to Amazon.com to see what books are available.
Good luck with any “tweens” in your life.








Of One Heart: Being Single in the LDS World by Valerie J. Steimle

 Posted by  Book Reviews, Sheila's Reviews
Jan 292010
 


I have been reading one of the most fantastic books! It is on being single and gets to the heart of what it is like. The author of this book is Valerie J. Steimle. She has lived the hard life of being a single Mom, after her husband died in his sleep, and left her to raise their nine children by herself. After reading that in the first chapter, it made my burden feel so light, in that I am only single parenting two children instead of nine.


Here is a good synopsis for the book found on the back of the book.

“In the LDS world (or the world of The Church Of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints) most adults are married with children. It has only been in the last ten years that bein
g single in the church has become much more common. Unfortunately, marriages are failing everywhere and there are now one third of the adults at church who are single.

Whether by divorce, death of a spouse or never married at all, there are challenges to being single in a predominately married wo

rld. Challenges I had never realized until I became single myself when my husband of 25 years suddenly passed away leaving me with nine children at my charge. A daunting task to say the least.

This book was written to help all those who are single, all those who have single friends and all those priesthood leaders with single members under their jurisdiction. I have written this book to help others understand what it is like to be single and included writings from other singles on how they feel about being single. “


From the beginning of this book I felt like…Valerie “gets it”. Another thing I want to say, is that this book was not published by the big companies that normally publish LDS books. This is a good thing, because I feel that Valerie was able to be more open and honest than if this book had been published by one of them. For example, she writes one whole chapter on “A Note to the Priesthood”. Basically, she outlines for Priesthood leaders things they should know and how they should learn to understand their role in helping the singles in their ward. This is done respectively, but bluntly. The number one things that most people don’t understand is this point she brings out, “Understand that many worthy single adults feel uncomfortable at Sunday meetings because of their situation.” I still feel this way at times. I was once a part of a couple and now I am alone sitting there with my children. The weekends they are with their Dad, I feel even more uncomfortable sitting there. I have appreciated those who have put forth the effort to make me feel wanted and sat by me or asked me to come sit with them and their family.

Another aspect that I needed to read and sink into my heart was this advice. It is about how to cope with being single.

-Make sure to pray and have scripture /reading study. We must keep the spirit with us always regardless of our circumstances.

-Attend your church meetings every Sunday. Valerie says,”Even if you just sit and feel the Spirit, that time helps you for the rest of the week and it will refill your emotional cup.”

-Church Service: Ask your priesthood leader if you want a calling and do not have one yet. It does feel good to serve others and this takes your mind off or your own problems.

-Support the singles program: this is something that I should do more of. Truthfuly, I just haven’t had much time to do many things besides parenting, teaching full-time and reading. ;)

-Keep a Song in Your Heart. I just love what Valerie said here,”When experiencing great tribulations and having to take one day at a time, it is so very difficult to have joy; in fact many times it is painful. Whenever you can: remember that Heavenly Father loves you. There are many looking down on you that love you and want you to keep a song in your heart.”

I feel that every member of the church, male and female should read this book. This book was written for those church members, who are single and over thirty years old. It was also written for those wanting to know how to help their friends and family members who are single. She has included as much information as possible, to help others understand, life from the single perspective. I also liked how Valerie pointed out one more reason all members should read this book.

“As my stake president so wisely counseled: ‘Everyone will eventually be single sometime in their life.’ Whether you are taken and leave a spouse behind or your spouse is taken and you are left behind; whether you have never had the chance to marry, or find yourself divorced:Everyone will be single.”

I wish that I could share more from this book because it has given me such strength to carry on in my single life. Valerie list many resources, helpful websites, articles and books about coping with single life and single parenting. This book was needed in my life. It speaks to the world in ways, we singles would like to but sometimes can’t express, but gives us a voice to share our lives and struggles with others.

I am grateful for Valerie listening to promptings of the Spirit that she should write this book. This book needed to be out there. I appreciate her sending me a copy to review; but I am more grateful for her sending the book to lift me up and increase my faith and not lose hope.
This book is available at Amazon.com. I recommend that every Priesthood & Relief Society leader in the church read this book. If you know someone in your family who is single, buy this book for them. (Read it first though, so you understand how you can help them through this trial.) If you are single, especially raising children on your own, you must have this book in your life. I promise you, that it will bring amazing light and knowledge in your life and you will not feel so alone in your journey.

I also highly recommend you visit Valerie’s website here. It is called, “Strengthen Your Home” and you can read about another wonderful book she has written called, “Home is Where The Heart Is”. This book gives you 60 articles about the strength of the family. There are many aspects of life that affect the family and Valerie J. Steimle touches on the strengths and distractions of what is so great about your family.

Have you ever asked yourself what is missing in your life? There is much commotion in the world and people are looking for fulfillment. Families are so important. They are what stabilizes us. We become so distracted with finances, work, entertainment and government that we don’t pay attention to what is really important: our families.






The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan

 Posted by  Book Reviews, Sheila's Reviews
Jan 222010
 
I have just discovered, along with my almost 12 year old daughter a new series. It is called “Percy Jackson & The Olympians” The first book is called, “The Lightning Thief” and it has been made into a movie which will be out this February 12th. I went to the website of the film company that made the move to watch the long trailer. The movie looks phenomenal!! (go here to watch the long trailer.)

Here is a synopsis of the first book…

Twelve-year-old Percy Jackson is about to be kicked out of boarding school . . . again. No matter how hard he tries, he can’t seem to stay out of trouble. But can he really be expected to stand by and watch while a bully picks on his scrawny best friend? Or not defend himself against his pre-algebra teacher when she turns into a monster and tries to kill him? Of course, no one believes Percy about the monster incident; he’s not even sure he believes himself.

Until the Minotaur chases him to summer camp.

Suddenly, mythical creatures seem to be walking straight out of the pages of Percy’s Greek mythology textbook and into his life. The gods of Mount Olympus, he’s coming to realize, are very much alive in the twenty-first century. And worse, he’s angered a few of them: Zeus’s master lightning bolt has been stolen, and Percy is the prime suspect.

Now Percy has just ten days to find and return Zeus’s stolen property, and bring peace to a warring Mount Olympus. On a daring road trip from their summer camp in New York to the gates of the Underworld in Los Angeles, Percy and his friends–one a satyr and the other the demigod daughter of Athena–will face a host of enemies determined to stop them. To succeed on his quest, Percy will have to do more than catch the true thief: he must come to terms with the father who abandoned him; solve the riddle of the Oracle, which warns him of failure and betrayal by a friend; and unravel a treachery more powerful than the gods themselves.

The first book in the series first came out in 2005. The good thing is that book 5 was released last Spring so if you pick up the series now, you won’t have to wait for more of the books to come out to finish the series.

The appeal of these books is Greek Mythology. My daughter has been fascinated with Greek Mythology for quite some time now. For Christmas, a friend gave her a great book that she
Cover Image loves called, ” Mythology” a part of the “ology” books for example, “Dragonology, Monsterology, Pirateology etc. We love these books at our house.

Getting back to the main subject,( I hate when I interrupt myself) my daughter was looking for new books to read and she found The Lightning Thief. She read this book so fast! This series will appeal to readers ages 9-16…or adults like me that love a good YA fantasy.

Many people have compared this series to Harry Potter; they both are about “half-blood” kids that go to a special school and find out that they have special powers. From there, it is different to me and you have a very fast-paced, action filled adventure starting with chapter one. If you have a reluctant reader, especially a boy, you must get these books for him. Like I said, these books do not only appeal to boys, because my daughter and her friends also love them.

If you plan on reading the book before you see the movie, get moving and reading. Move over Harry Potter, there is a new kid in town…Percy Jackson!

Haunts Haven by Joan Sowards

 Posted by  Book Reviews, Sheila's Reviews
Jan 142010
 



“Haunts Haven” includes on it’s front cover, “An LDS Ghost Story”. You wonder how the LDS and Ghost story can mix? Well, Joan Sowards does it in a very clever and surprising way. I missed the twist that came in the middle, though I should have seen it coming. I am getting ahead of myself here.

Let me give you a brief overview of the story of “Haunts Haven”…

“When Callie Wilford inherits a century-old inn in southern Arizona, locals tell her of a ghost who “guards” the inn. But Callie doesn’t believe in ghosts, and she plans to turn the inn into a bed and breakfast. Then things start to happen – strange, spooky things – and she begins to wonder if there is some truth to the ghost stories. If that weren’t bad enough, Callie discovers a mysterious grave in the cellar. As she confronts the inn’s tragic secrets, she also faces her lonely past and learns to embrace her heritage. But it takes a handsome cowboy and a charming rancher to prove that Callie’s long-guarded heart can love again.”

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This is the first published novel for Joan Sowards and I was very impressed by her wonderful storytelling. I loved the very bright and somewhat colorful characters found in this book. The book seemed to have a nice flow to it, so it is an easy read. I really liked the main character, Callie, who was written so “real” you could relate to her.

I also really liked how Joan was able to weave several smaller stories, into the big story, without it being confusing. I also mentioned earlier about a twist. It is a great twist that simply surprised me and delighted me at the same time. I will not say more because I do not want to give anything away.

I know, if you want to read a different kind of love story filled with mystery and suspense, you will enjoy “Haunts Haven”. I look forward to reading more of what Joan writes.

You can purchase this book at Amazon.com and now at Deseret Book.

I want to thank Amy Orton at Walnut Springs Press for the complimentary copy of this book. This one is a keeper and will be read again and again.

The Biggest Loser: Simple Swaps

 Posted by  Book Reviews, Sheila's Reviews
Jan 082010
 

biggest loser simple swaps book
Simple Swaps, the latest book from The Biggest Loser.

It is that time of year again when we all think about losing a little weight. Some of us think about losing more than a little weight. The reasons for losing weight have changed for me through the years. Yes, I still want to look nice and fit into cute clothes. The main reason though, is that I want to be healthy.This is the message I always get from reading the Biggest Loser books.
The newest book from the series of The Biggest Loser books is called, “Simple Swaps: 100 Easy Changes to Start Living a Healthier Lifestyle”. I love what it says on Amazon.com to promote this book….
“The road to a healthier lifestyle starts with small decisions and better choices. Now, with The Biggest Loser Simple Swaps, you can get healthy by simply swapping your old food, habit, and lifestyle choices for healthier versions every day. With 100 simple swaps that cut calories, save money, and provide better nutrition as well as more than 30 mouthwatering recipes that put these swaps into action, getting fit and healthy has never been easier”


Some of the chapter titles are basic things that we should all know, but we don’t.


They are:
–Calories: You Can Count on Them
-Planning Regular Meals and Snacks
-Eat Your Vegetables
-The Power of Protein
-Don’t Go Against The Grain
-Fat Can Help You Get Thin
-No More White Stuff
-Eat, Don’t Drink, Your Calories
-Moving Right Along
-Creating A Game Plan For Life




The thing that I like the most about these books are the simplicity of the layouts. They are easy to read. If you only have five minutes to read something while you are eating your breakfast, this is your book. This book is like having many short little articles revolving around one main subject. I also really like how every Biggest Loser book gleans from the knowledge of former contestants: the Winners and The Losers; who frankly are all winners.


Simple Swaps not only gives the reader the ideas about what should be done, but it also lays out the plan on how to accomplish and meet your goals. I also really appreciate the fact that these are real people, like me, that are and have struggled with their weight for a long time. It is so motivating to see people actually “Doing It”…losing the weight and keeping it off.


I highly recommend this book to anyone seeking to live a healthier and more fulfilling life.



Women of Virtue by Jodi Marie Robinson – Contest

 Posted by  Book Reviews, Sheila's Reviews
Nov 102009
 

On the front cover of this book it says, “True beauty is felt more than it is seen.” This is a message that too few women/girls hear or believe in.

Jodi quotes President Gordon B. Hinckley:

“Of all the creatures of the almighty there is none more beautiful, none more inspiring than a lovely daughter of God who walks in virtue with an understanding of why she should do so.”

Jodi has written a book that we should share with our children; especially our daughters. Today, more than any time in history, we need to spread the word why virtue should be something that we strive for in our lives. I love that this book outlines the many facets of virtue; much more than just sexual purity. For example, here are some of the chapter titles:

    In the World But Not of the World
    The Virtue of God’s Word
    The Beauty of Purity, Not Perfectionism
    The Greatest Virtue is Charity
    A Modest Women is Beautiful
    The Body is Sacred and Divine
    Walking Away From Vanity
    The Beauty of Working Together as Sisters in Christ

I wish that I could share with you the many things I felt were written for me to specifically read. Every time I turned the page, something jumped out that made me stop and ponder, “Be happy living your not-so-fairy-tale life.” Sad, but I do need that reminder some days to try to be happy while I am “enduring” my trials. I also learned a fabulous new idea, to put together a “Scripture Basket,” to help my family try to do a better job with scripture reading.

Believe me when I say, that whatever you are looking for concerning any of the principles related to virtue, it can be found here. I wish that this book could be a companion piece to the Young Women’s manual, now that “Virtue” has been added to the Young Women Theme. This can be found on LDS.org…

A Return to Virtue
“Now is the time for a return to virtue!”

The attribute and value of Virtue has been added to the Young Women theme. “Virtue is a pattern of thought and behavior based on high moral standards. It encompasses chastity and moral purity.”

The time has come for the young women of the Church to lead the world in a return to virtue. This is the time to be pure and to qualify for the guidance of the Holy Ghost. In the coming year, it is our desire that all young women and their leaders focus on the meaning of virtue, what young women can do to accept and act upon this value, and how this attribute can strengthen young women as they prepare to be worthy to make and keep sacred covenants and receive temple ordinances.

This all means more to me now that my daughter will be turning 12 soon. I want so much for her to have a happy life and I know that the road to the future is not an easy one. I want her to learn to believe in herself. I want her to learn to love herself. I want her to learn the value of living a good life. I know that I will be using this book for many future discussions that we will be having as Mother and daughter.

I hope that you will read Women of Virtue. This book is written so you can pick it up and read any chapter that you want, in any order. Jodi’s style of writing is easy and free flowing. I also loved how many personal stories she shared throughout the book.

As you read this book, you will feel as I did, that Jodi was inspired from above in writing every page of this book.

Feel free to go visit Jodi’s blog at http://www.jodimarierobinson.blogspot.com

Her book can be purchased at http://www.cedarfort.com and at http://www.amazon.com.

This book would make a great Christmas present for any women that you know. If you would like a copy of this book before Christmas, enter the drawing to win a copy at Why Not Because I Said So or at LDS Womens Book Review. There is only one copy available and the name will be drawn from the entries placed at both blogs. All that you need to do is comment on this post and you will be entered into the drawing. Good luck! You will have a week to enter the drawing and a winner will be chosen next Tuesday, November 17, 2009.

I want to thank Cedar Fort publishing for sending the free copies of Women of Virtue for me and the one lucky winner.

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