Saturday, August 13, 2011

Free Range Learning How Homeschooling Changes Everything by Laura Grace Weldon

Do you homeschool or are you considering it? Are you looking for a unique approach to home education? Are you tired of the textbooks or just need to add a little flavor into your homeschooling day?
This book is packed( and I mean packed) with information, resources, researches and studies, and personal experiences from home education families from around the world. The author has definitely done her homework in putting this one together and brings all of her research into one complete book.
No Free Range is not referring to chickens or complete uninvolvement in your child's education. But it does give the reader a new perspective on learning. Discover ways to use teachable moments, utilizing your community and extended families, letting your child study a favorite topic, using technology or nature and so much more. The author gives the reader a vast amount of ways for our children to learn unhindered by societies definition of learning in just one way.
Our children are individuals with unique personalities, differences, likes and dislikes. Each child learns differently; therefore must be educated differently. This book made be look at home education with more understanding. Its not about what grade my child can achieve or how many facts they have memorized; its what they have learned, how they have learned it and how they can continue to learn as individuals.
This book is a wonderful resource for those already homeschooling or considering home education. Even if you don't homeschool this book can guide you in helping your child how to learn through experiences, observations and hands on activities.
Please take the opportunity to purchase a copy of this book and read it. You won't regret it.
*This book was given to me by the author in exchange for my honest review.

Milk Carton Mania by Christine M. Irvin


Do you have a crafty child or one who wants to be? This book will give them 14 different craft projects for using your used milk or juice cartons. Each project gives you step by step instructions with pictures. Directions are simple and easy to read; a child could actually do the project with no or little help from the parent. Most of the needed items are things you probably have around your house or can purchase at low cost at your local store. What a great way to recycle unwanted cartons.
We actually did the Bird Feeder Project. The instructions were very easy to follow. I actually had my 11 year old read the directions as we all worked on it together. We plan to try the Happy House Project next, and maybe even go for a whole town for my boys to play with their action figures. I loved the simplicity of the whole book and the other ideas the author included with each project(ranging from extra decorating to extra activities to complement the project.)
What a wonderful resource for any parent, teacher, homeschooler, or child.
This is not the authors only book. Look for her other Craft Mania books:
* Cardboard Tube Mania
* Craft Stick Mania
* Egg Carton Mania
* Paper Cup Mania
* Paper Plate Mania
* Pie Pan Mania
* Pipe Cleaner Mania
This book can be purchased from Scholastic, Amazon or other book resources for $6.95.
*This book was given to me by the author in exchange for my honest review.

Thursday, July 21, 2011

Cozy's Complete Guide to Girl's Hair by Cozy Friedman

My daughter and I had great fun with this book. All about cute cuts and haristyles for girls that you can do right in your own home. Topics included information about hair and where it comes from, types, tools, accessories, products and hair emergencies.
Hairstyle pages included pictures, step by step instructions, list of supplies needed and type of hair style worked well with. We tried several of the hairstyles on my daughters hair and found the instructions very easy to follow. Some of our favorites were knotted pigtails, wispy loop and fish tail.
Although we haven't tried it yet, we plan to utilize the section on cutting hair as well. We have had so many bad experiences at the salon; that we have decided to do it ourselves. And this book gives me the tips and steps I need to get the job done.
Overall a great resource for those with girls who are looking for simple, sweet, and creative ways to doll up that hair.
This book retails for $15.95

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Current Giveaway

To win an Advance Reading Copy of Plain Wisdom by Cindy Woodsmall and Miriam Flaud, featured in a review on Books Tell Stories, please leave a comment on post.
Only one entry per person. For US residents only, 18 years and older.

Monday, July 18, 2011

Billy Graham in Quotes by Franklin Graham

What a wonderful resource and keepsake from a man of God who has done so much to spread the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. Quotes are divided in over 100 different topics. Each topic section begins with an appropriate Bible verse (various versions). Quotes span from more than 7 decades of Billy Graham's ministry and are compiled from his published and his personal works.
This book is a wonderful and unique record of Billy Graham. Some quotes were very familiar and others where not. I love how the book was arranged by topic and one can easily access Billy Grahams thoughts on a specific topic without having to file through alot of other unrelated quotes. Great for those in a pastoral position, church leadership, evangelism, or for personal study.
*This book was given to me by Booksneeze in exchange for my honest review.

Monday, July 4, 2011



What are you waiting for? Everything! Author Dannah Gresh is very straight forward about sex in her book "What are you waiting for? The one thing no one ever tells you about sex". This is definitely not a book for a delicate, light conversation on the topic. In fact, Gresh speaks very candidly about sex and what the Bible has to say about it. Topics include homosexuality, pornography, intimacy, romance, premarital sex and more.
I feel she definitely did her research; she includes Bible verses, scientific facts, research and studies, and real life experiences on this typically taboo subject. Whether you have had pure or impure relationships you can benefit from the biblically sound advice of this book.
On a negative note, I felt Gresh could have been a little more discreet with some her comments. I think her goal was to add some humor to the context, but I felt it inappropriate and unneeded. I definitely would not recommend this for high school grades; unless the reader has already experienced an unbiblically pure past.


Thursday, June 16, 2011

Money Secrets of the Amish by Lorilee Craker


A very humorous approach to saving money, Money Secrets of the Amish uses financial tips from the plain and thrifty lifestyle of the Amish; Eating from your own garden, regifting, buying resale and more.
This book had many great ideas for everyone to save a little or alot money(depending on how you look at it). The author gives the reader many easy applied techniques to give us a little extra cash in our pockets.
I consider myself a thrifty person (especially with one income and 4 children). There are several ideas in this book that I have already been practicing, but was delighted to find several more I hadn't even considered. I can't wait to to try some of them out.
Definitely a book worth reading; especially with today's economy. Go ahead and read it today and challenge your financial creativity.
*This book was sent to me by Booksneeze in exchange for my honest review.