Book Reviews

I thought I would review the books I have finished so far for my 999 challenge.  

The first book was a family read-aloud, The Wheel on the School.  We loved this book!  It was a wonderful story of how a dream can become a reality if we dare to believe in it and are willing to work hard to make it happen.  It illustrates the beauty of human relationships and the fact that we all need each other and everyone has something to give.  It was also just a wonderfully written, fun, and often suspenseful story.  I highly recommend this book.

The next two books were Honey for a Child's Heart, and Honey for a Woman's Heart.  These were both books about books, one of my favorite subjects. =)  The author of these books, Gladys Hunt, shares my heart for reading.  Throughout the books she gives reading recommendations, but she intersperses these suggestions with thoughts about books that capture my feelings for them and the joy they bring to my life perfectly.  Two of my favorite quotes from a Child's Heart were, "Books are no substitute for life, but a keener pleasure comes to life because of books."  So true!  In speaking about the value of good books for children she says, "...by continual exposure to a variety of people and experiences, (in books) the real values of life are taught most profoundly.  What we are doing is helping our children collect "bits of perfection" of ideas and values on which to build their lives."  I couldn't agree more.  Aren't books wonderful!

Just after beginning this post I had a fun experience with books that I just had to share.  G. Diddy was having a rather trying day.  One thing after another was causing him to burst into tears.  I tried sending him to bed for a nap, but that wasn't going to fly, so I had the thought that I should go in and read with him on my bed.  I picked "Where the Wild Things Are", and "Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day".  They seemed to fit his mood for the day.  First I read "Where the Wild Things Are".  He enjoyed it and of course, wanted me to read it again.  Then we read "Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day." He hadn't read this book before and it definitely resonated with him.  We read it twice too and then I asked him if he was having a terrible, horrible, no good very bad day.  He admitted that he was and so I asked him if he was thinking about moving to Australia (if you haven't read the book you need to to understand the question).  He laughed and then squeezed me so tight for about five minutes.  It feels good to think that someone understands us, and that we are not the only one to feel the way we do.  I think this book helped him to feel that way.  Throughout the day, he still struggled with his moods, but whenever he would get upset I would ask him if he was thinking about moving to Australia and he couldn't help but smile.  I love how books help us to communicate and understand each other in new ways.  That little phrase now means so much to us can help conjure up those good feelings of time shared together and a sense of being understood.  The power of books is immeasurable.