It's in this spirit that the folks at Chicken Soup for the Soul bring you their latest offering: All in the Family: 101 Incredible Stories about our Funny, Quirky, Lovable & "Dysfunctional" Families. Just in time for Thanksgiving, it's always reassuring to read about the FUN in other families' dysfunction as you prepare to gather your loved ones around for a yearly dose of some holiday wackiness. Whether you're reading it on your own or sharing stories alo... Read Full Story

We all have those moments. You know — those stressful moments that make us want to shut out the world around us. Here are a few of the everyday annoying stressors in my life: A dog with an ear infection which requires me to give her ointment twice a day, which makes her look like she's sporting a doggie jeri curl (as my husband has observed). I also have to cram 3/4 of a pill down her twice a day. Yes 3/4 of a pill, which is harder to regulate than you might think. This ailme... Read Full Story

Recently our family went to Disneyland for a vacation get-away and everywhere you looked there were princesses. Big girls, little girls, old girls and young, every girl seemed to want to be one. Some got to by nature of the fact that they were hired on as Disney cast members. Their JOB is to BE the princess. (Can you fathom the endless adoration?) If you or your little girl spends any period of time dreaming of what it would be like to live in a magical fairy land, wear a pointed hand, or mak... Read Full Story

As a Christian parent, I know how important it is to help my kids develop a healthy understanding of their bodies, to explain how special marriage is, and to let them know how babies are made. Even though I know how important these topics are, I admit that I don't like discussing them at all. I am sure I am not the only parent that feels this way. Because of my reticence, I truly appreciate well-written books that can aide me in conversations with my kids. Jim Burns's new Pure Fo... Read Full Story

Children of Dust is sort of "A Memoir of Pakistan" as the subtitle suggests, as we follow the author from Pakistan to the U.S. and back. But the most appealing part of this story to me was the coming-of-age angle. I chuckled in recognition as the teen and young adult Ali Eteraz was always convinced that whatever viewpoint he held was THE right viewpoint and the one that everyone should hold. It is also a religious memoir, and for that reason, I would think that a more telling subt... Read Full Story

I am a fan of Roger Priddy books, primarily because they use real photographs to illustrate their books. When you have a young child and you are working on vocabulary development, these books are a bullseye on the target. Fabulous, fabulous books for young readers. I thought it would be fun to check out some of their Christmas offerings. They, too, use photographs and appeal to children (of all ages, really!) who enjoy fun loving puppies and cute, cuddly kittens. 12 Cats for Christmas is a pe... Read Full Story

If you or someone you know is a trivia book, then Firsts: Origins of Everyday Things That Changed the World is going to be right up your alley. This is a browsing book that you can glean information from which to impress your friends OR make them roll their eyes at you. I suppose it's all on how you present the following facts to them: - When the first computer mouse was used (when, where, why and whatfor). - Who created the Purple Heart award. - Who invented the Punch Clock (that every ... Read Full Story

For the Classics Bookclub this past month we read any book by Louisa May Alcott of our choosing. I had found a copy of her short story, An Old Fashioned Thanksgiving (click on the title to read my review) and enjoyed reading this charming tale. Part of my inspiration for reading the short story, was so that I could immediately watch the movie in good conscious, having duly educated myself as to the book that the movie was "based on." Now, when they say "based on" they mea... Read Full Story

A couple of you told me how good The Sacred Cipher was and you did not miss your mark in saying that I would like it. Like it!? I LOVED it! Typically, I'm not a big fan of suspense/action/intrigue type of books. I used to like such things a great deal until I finished up my time working in a District Attorney's office and at that point I had pretty much had my feel of danger, mystery and intrigue! Somehow, having children also made me more wary of stories involving murder. And yes,... Read Full Story

When I am deciding what to read, I gravitate toward fiction. There is one group of nonfiction books, however, that is sure to capture my attention: godly parenting. Ultimately, the Bible is my go-to guide, but I appreciate other thoughtful resources as well. When I saw the idea for Mothering Heights: A Novel Approach for Christian Mothers, I was immediately fascinated. Mothering Heights is a book about motherhood: our preconceived notions, the importance of a mother's role, the challe... Read Full Story