books
Get the Family Involved with Family Literacy Day
Most people think of literacy as reading and writing.
But it’s much more than that.
Literacy skills are used in everything we do, from communicating with one another to understanding the world in which we live.
Did you know that just 15 minutes a day can improve a child’s literacy skills dramatically, and can help a parent improve their skills as well?
Taking time every day to read or do a learning activity with children is crucial to a child’s development.
ABC Life Literacy Canada created a national awareness initiative called Family Literacy Day on January 27 to raise awareness of the importance of reading and engaging in other literacy-related activities as a family.
I participated in some family literacy activities and materials with my family over the holidays, thanks to ABC Life Literacy:
- My kids and I followed a recipe together. They learned about measuring and the different food groups.
- We counted coins and they practiced counting money for different amounts.
- We played Scrabble together.
- We went grocery shopping together and they named all the fruits and vegetables we saw.
- We read books together, including “Give me Back my Dad” by Robert Munsch.
You can also participate in literacy activities by downloading the Journey to Learning Passport and complete as many activities as you can leading up to Family Literacy Day.
Get involved with your kids with literacy-related activities by visiting www.FamilyLiteracyDay.ca!
Take a learning journey with us for Family Literacy Day 2012 and enter to win 1 of 2 Family Literacy Day packs!
What Were the Best Books of 2011?
by Danielle Christopher
What were the best books of 2011? So many good reads but I’ve listed the 6 best books of 2011.
Here are my favorite reads from 2011:
The Virgin Cure by Ami McKay
When she was young, Moth’s father walked out the door. When she became a teenager her mother sold her as a servant to a wealthy woman in 1871.
The betrayals led Moth to Bowery, filled with thieves and prostitutes. She meets Miss Everett, the owner of a brothel known as “The Infant School.” Miss Everett caters to gentlemen who pay big bucks for clean companions, especially for young virgins like Moth. Her new friends fall prey to the myth of the ‘Virgin Cure’- that deflowering can heal the incurable and tainted. She knows the law won’t protect her, society ignores her, and still she dreams of independence.
Written by the author of The Birth House, Ami tells another compelling tale from the past.
Girls in White Dresses by Jennifer Close
Isabella, Mary and Lauren feel like everyone they know is getting married but them. Amid the cooing over the toasters, wearing pastel dresses and drinking champagne they have their own lives to contend with.
With a wry wit, Jennifer brings us through the confusing years of early adulthood. During boozy family holidays, disaster ski vacations, and a relationship fading to politics, Girls in White Dresses goes deep into important friendships. I saw one of my own friendships in the characters.
11/22/63 by Stephen King
Jake Epping is an English teacher in Lisbon Falls, Maine. He makes extra money teaching GED classes. When he assigns his students to write about an event that changed their lives, one stuns him about a gory story of when a student’s dad came home and killed his mother and siblings with a sledgehammer. Jake gets a call from his friend, Al, who divulges a secret that his storeroom in the diner is a portal to the past, a specific day in 1958. It is Al’s obsession that convinces Jake to go through the portal to prevent the Kennedy assaination.
Time travel has never been so believable in this tale from the Master of Horror.
Half Blood Blues by Esi Edugvan
In 1940 during the aftermath of the fall of Paris, Hieronymous Falk, a rising cabaret star, is arrested in a café and never heard from again. He is twenty years old, a German Citizen and black. The only witness to that day is going back to Berlin fifty years later. He knows he must face to find out what happened to the star.
Giller Prize winning Half Blood Blues tells the depths of horror and the burden of loyalty, and if you don’t tell your story, someone else might tell it for you. And they just might tell it wrong.
Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson
Based on more than forty interviews with Jobs conducted over two years, and with interviews from more than a hundred family members, friends, adversaries, competitors, and colleagues; Walter Isaacson has written the story of the intense personality of the entrepreneur whose ferocious drive revolutionized six industries. Jobs knew that the best way to create value in the twenty-first century was to connect creativity with technology. Yes, he even talks about Bill Gates openly.
Jobs asked for no control over what was written, or even the right to read it before it was published. His friends, foes, and colleagues provide an unvarnished view of the passions, perfectionism, obsessions and compulsion for control that shaped his approach to business, and the innovative products that resulted.
Falling Backwards by Jann Arden
“I survived the stupidity of my youth.” This quote from Jann’s brutally honest memoir had me captivated. I was already a fan of her soulful melodies, however, reading her rise to fame made me want to buy her a beverage of her choice just to hear more.
From her small town childhood to busking in her early 20s in Vancouver, BC, and to why she does not have children, brought me to the reason why she calls her parents are treasures. Her folks live across the street from her today. Follow her on Twitter for more Jann fun.
Danielle Christopher is a stay-at-home mom of two daughters, ages one and three. She blogs for The Momoir Project and writes book reviews for Women’s Post. Her teen story is in the collection “Parent/Teen Stories: Without Judgement”. She lives with her husband of seventeen years and her girls in Langley, B.C.. Follow her on Twitter.
Cute Books For Kids: Great Gift Ideas
by Danielle Christopher
Whether you are looking for a last-minute gift, stocking stuffer or new books to enjoy with your little ones, here are some great book gift ideas for kids and great gift ideas from Raincoast Books:
My Little Stocking by Sara Gillingham
The fuzzy little elf may have left surprises in this little stocking. This book is perfect in the lead up to Christmas morning or any playtime fun. A cute book for kids!
A Bad Kitty Christmas by Nick Bruel
We were new to the series of Bad Kitty when Raincoast Books sent us this book to review. Within the first few pages we were howling with laughter. My five-year-old said the kitty reminded her of Mittens from the movie Bolt.
When the greedy Kitty doesn’t get all the presents she wants for Christmas, she takes off through town and through three complete alphabets. When she meets a new friend just as an old one catches her, she starts to learn the true meaning of Christmas.
Press Here by Herve Tullet
Press Here is a fun read that involves color connecting with fine motor skills. The power of imagination is at the guidance of the yellow dot.
It’s a Little Book by Lane Smith
The companion to It’s a Book is now in diapers! An inquiring little donkey asks his friend many questions about the thick square.
My favorite question was, “Is it for emailing?”. That had my youngster asking her own questions about the book. This is a great book to encourage children to ask questions to learn.
One Love adapted by Cedella Marley. Illustrated by Vanessa Brantley-Newton
The classic song of hope’s writer, bob Marley, was a Jamaican singer-musician is the basis of this beautiful book. Adapted by his oldest child, the positive message will be passed on to the next generation. It is amazing what can happen when we all get together with one love in our hearts.
I went to bed with the song still in my head.
My Little Sweetheart by Sara Gillingham
This brightly illustrated board book poses the question – who loves baby? From the adorable artwork to the fuzzy finger puppet, this story is one of my pre-schooler’s favorite at bedtime.
It is a challenge to find what book is the one for kids. The fun is trial and error. Some books get read many times a week (or day.) And some books sit on the shelf.
Kids love to be exposed to the wonder in books. Reading to them daily helps. Going to the library, the bookstore and having books at home is a great gift of your time.
Hope you and your family have a wonderful holiday. Please feel free to leave a comment on your recommendation for kids’ books. We would love to hear them.
Danielle Christopher is a stay-at-home mom of two daughters, ages one and three. She blogs for The Momoir Project and writes book reviews for Women’s Post. Her teen story is in the collection “Parent/Teen Stories: Without Judgement”. She lives with her husband of seventeen years and her girls in Langley, B.C.. Follow her on Twitter.
Top Five Books Every Mother Should Read
by Christine LaRocque
I read. A lot. I’m willing to read just about anything, but have a particular love of dramatic fiction and memoir.
I also spend a lot of time reading parenting books. But, as I’ve become more and more comfortable as a mother, and found my personal groove, I’ve moved away from the traditional style of parenting books that I was drawn to in the beginning—the ones that write about what I should do as a parent and how to do it, that are very prescriptive and focused on the needs of my children as opposed to my needs as a mother. There is only so much of that you can take before you realize that parenting is usually about about doing what just feels right.
So now I look for a different kind of “parenting book.” I look for books that empower me, that recognize my struggles and offer honest and practical solutions and inspiration.
The following is a list of five parenting and non-parenting books that I think do this very well, and I think every mother should read them. Each offers an important and unique perspective on how to approach life, including parenting, but at the same time they really address the issue of motherhood and what it means to be deep in the trenches of life, and motherhood day in and day out.
Here are my top five best books every mom should read:
When I started Raising Happiness by Christine Carter early in 2010 I was ripe for a better understanding of the issues and pressures that face children today, and how to raise happy, well-adjusted kids. In this book, Carter offers helpful guidance on how to parent while at the same time offering opportunities to discover powerful self awareness.
The 10 Habits of Happy Mothers: Reclaiming our Passion, Purpose and Sanity by Dr. Meg Meeker ispractical, helpful and meaningful. I especially appreciate how she illustrates each habit with specific examples, and the tips she offers to help make each habit stick. Not only is her advice helpful, but highly intuitive to the real stresses that mothers face today.
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Bring The Passion Back: The Naughty Bucket List
Does your sex life need an overhaul? A little more passion?
The Naughty Bucket List: 369 Sexy Dares to do Before You Die can help bring back the spark that’s lacking in the bedroom!
Dirty word Scrabble, lunch-hour quickies, rainfall rendezvous… Church Confessional? Sounds intriguing.
I had a chance to speak to the author, Kourtney Jason, about the importance of taking sex out of the box (aka the bedroom), putting your sexual needs first and various ways of keeping the passion alive.
Why do couples get stuck in a sexual rut?
Book by Kourtney Jason
The short answer is that couples stop putting in the effort they used to. At the beginning of any relationship, sex is a new and exciting experience and exploration for both partners to learn about each other and themselves. That’s when you discover what your partner likes, doesn’t like, needs, etc. Once the honeymoon phase is over, we hear that you have to work at your relationship, especially if you want to keep that spark alive.
All of your partner’s likes and needs become commonplace. When you’re intimate with each other, you will eventually know what you’re doing and when to do it with the end result of pleasing your partner. However, when you just go through the motions to get to the destination rather than enjoy the journey, that’s when you’ll find yourself in a sex rut.
Why is it important to spice things up in the bedroom?
Well first, I don’t want people to think sex has to be limited to the bedroom. You can take it anywhere in your house (and that’s where a lot of the 369 dares come from), and even some places in public – just know the risk involved prior to getting frisky there.
Back to the question though, a healthy sex life is key to maintaining a healthy relationship. So if sex gets boring and mundane, you’ll likely start to have less of it and then that’s when the relationship could be nearing its end. Spicing things up, whether it is trying new places, positions, props, whatever, will add a new level of excitement and passion.
How can your book help?
My book can help in 369 different ways! But really, this book is an encouraging guide, offering suggestions on sexy dares worth trying with your partner. Each dare has a blurb explaining why it’s in the book, tips on how to do it and/or what makes it fun. Flip to any page and you will likely see something you’d want to try.
Having it in a book makes it so much easier to share with your partner. You can take two different colored highlighters and each pick what dares you want to try. Where the two colors overlap, you’ve got your starting point.
And I really just hope this book can open a dialogue for couples to discuss what they want and need sexually. You need communication in order to have a healthy sex life. If you’re looking to try something more adventurous sexually, you need to be able to talk about it. And really, there’s just no excuse for bad or boring sex anymore.
What do you suggest for those who are on the less wild side to get the spark back?
The book covers everything. Mild to wild. Nice to naughty. Sweet to ultra-steamy. There truly is something for everyone in The Naughty Bucket List. There’s a really great one about stroking your partner with a feather. You’d be surprised by how intense the stroke of a light, soft feather can be when it’s the only thing you’re focusing on in that moment. So that’s a great place to start.
Of course, some of these dares are certainly intimidating and some are more for laughs (because who can really check off “The White House” dare other than the President?!), but mainly I hope my book gets couples talking. For those who are a little more shy and working on communicating his/her needs, flip through the book and highlight the dares you’d want to try and then simply leave the book out on a counter or bed-side table for your partner to discover.
I don’t think you can look at the book and not have an urge to look through it. Start simple, and then as you feel more comfortable with yourself and with your partner, you’ll be more willing to try the more adventurous dares.
Enter to win 1 of 5 copies of the book! US & Canada. Open until March 31, 2012.
My Name Is Not Alexander by Jennifer Fosberry Book Review
“Good Morning Alexander,” the father said. “It’s time for breakfast, and then let’s play ball.”
“My name is not Alexander!” said the little boy.
“Then who is sleeping in my son’s bed?” asked the father.
“I am Theodore, one of the greatest, grandest presidents who ever was!” “Well Theodore, park yourself here and save your energy for today’s game.”
So begins the day for Alexander, an imaginative little boy who explores the innovative men who influenced and shaped our world.
My Name is Not Alexander by Jennifer Fosberry is a wonderful way to introduce children to some influential men in history.
Through his imaginative journey, Alexander discovers how great men become heroes. The picture book also sends a message that our parents are heroes too.
In the book, the little boy “Alexander” decides that he isn’t “Alexander”. Instead throughout the day he is Theodore Roosevelt, Thomas Edison, Chief Joseph, Fred Astaire, Jackie Robinson, and “Daddy”.
Alexander learns how these remarkable men changed the world and encouraged him to find the hero within himself.
A must read for your son, along with My Name is Not Isabella for your daughter!
Available at Chapters and Amazon.
My Name Is Not Alexander by Jennifer Fosberry, Illustrated by Mike Litwin, Sourcebooks
Feeling Honored: Wisdom Has a Voice – Every Daughter’s Memories of Mother
by Danielle Christopher
The email shines in my inbox like a spotlight on a Broadway marquee. The email is from an editor I began discussions with months before about potentially contributing to her book of mothers and daughters.
In beautiful words, she welcomes me to include my essay “Motherless Mothers.” Tears spring to my eyes before I realize they are there. Through a need to get my stories out for my daughters, I began writing when my girls were mere babies.
I do not know much about my mother before she died. I am almost the age where she last celebrated a birthday.
Slowly after I started submitting guest post to parenting websites, publishers accepted. That feeling that my 
writing was worthy kept me going with a passion. It’s when the comments left on those posts and other motherless moms connecting to me made the years of isolation melt away.
I dared myself to submit and felt so honored that she included my very personal story in with the other authors. Being in print is such a rarity for this writer who started from scratch and a raw need to write.
The book that is now out is called “Wisdom Has a Voice: Every Daughter’s Memories of Mother.” It contains 25 personal stories from daughters and mothers from all over North America.
“It has been twenty-six years since my mom died and I still miss her, especially at
The holidays. I remember her sitting in the black vinyl chair, cane at her side, smiling at
us enjoying the Christmas presents. Each day is hard, and easy, all at once. I give myself
permission to embrace my grief that my children did not have their grandma and I feel
lighter. By letting go, I can begin to tell my daughters my stories of when I was a kid.”
That is just a small quote from my essay. The beauty of anthologies is that there is at least one story that a reader can connect to while reading.
A gift for my daughters turned out to be a gift to my mother. Writing about how much I miss her, I feel closer to her.
Danielle Christopher is a stay-at-home mom of two daughters, ages one and three. She blogs for The Momoir Project and writes book reviews for Women’s Post. Her teen story is in the collection “Parent/Teen Stories: Without Judgement”. She lives with her husband of seventeen years and her girls in Langley, B.C.. Follow her on Twitter.
Jillian Michaels “Unlimited” is Inspiring: Book Review
by Danielle Christopher
Confession time, I have never watched The Biggest Loser. In the promos I see Jillian yelling at the contestants like a boot camp sergeant and that gave me zero interest to read another self-help book. Curiosity got the better of me though, so I began reading Unlimited: How to Build an Exceptional Life by Jillian Michaels a few nights ago.
This quote jumped out at me, “When you live in fear of your own desires and ambitions, you lose sight of your true calling and your true self.” That statement should be read to anyone stuck in a life where they are not being their authentic self. I wish I hadn’t wasted so much time in my twenties doing what others thought I should do.
Attitude and actions are the tools to get you your unlimited life. The book assures there will be no hype or false promises. To achieve the end result she will guide you on a self-exploration and discovery through three very specific steps.
It begins to help you identify your passion. There are people who make money doing what they love. There is a difference between thriving and surviving. Founders of You Tube would not let anyone smack them down; they sold their company to Google for 1.65 billion dollars. If you are stuck in a rut, just imagine everything you ever wanted out of life. Dream it and do it. There is a place at the end of each chapter for you to journal your journey to finding your true calling. Honor yourself by feeling worthy of a great life.
Dare to do something out of your comfort zone. There is a famous quote from her show, “To rebuild something from its foundation, you have to break it down first.” There are many quotes from authors whom she admires: Pauel Coelho, Dr. Wayne Dyer and Nietzsche.
Ms. Michaels gives you the steps on how to master your dream by using what she has done. Being realistic, specific, feeling it and getting excited about the process that will get you on your way. To help you focus on the power of visualization start by creating a vision board. There is no denying the power of your mind.
I admit I was squeamish and tempted to skip over the Say A Little Prayer chapter. It just is not my cup of tea. However, the purpose of reading this book was to review it, so in I went. On opening yourself to the power of prayer or mediation she writes, “And what have you got to lose, anyway? If your life were perfect, you would not be reading this book right now.” Ouch! And she is right.
“No one ever died from an open mind.”
Quantum mechanics is covered in depth. Through harnessing power for your benefit it broadcasts a specific message that is in alignment with your great desires. What you are passionate about can drive you to doing well.
What I realized that made this book different from other self-help books was that she shows you how to put in the effort. Jillian believes there is no such thing as luck. Life is about preparation meeting opportunity. In life there are times things don’t happen the way we want. If there are good intentions, actions will be too and will produce a positive result, even if it’s not the one we expected or thought we wanted.
She has helped many contestants and clients who have been hardwired to react to their history rather than their present. Jillian guides them to take charge of their daily life and prevent the triggers. Repetition compulsion is the desire to fix old wounds. There are directions through exercises so you can get ‘real’ with your life.
The toughest section for me to read was on her own experiences with her dad. In Jillian’s own empowered way she was able to stop internalizing the past and forgive him and herself. She explains how to stop allowing those who have hurt you due to their shortcomings. They don’t define who you are. What happened to you wasn’t because of your limitations, but because of the other person’s limitations. You will find true freedom gaining empathy for the person who hurt you. If we hold a grudge we are destined to relive the pains over and over again. It is a tough journey, but it will yield permanent results.
Clearly it was my own misconceptions and quick judgment that made me not want to read this book. I saw that what I defend against so vehemently is the very issue I am struggling with personally. I want to stop the cycle by being aware of my own issues so it doesn’t project on to others. I could become a permanent victim or make a commitment to heal. I loved reading this phrase throughout the book, “taking responsibility for my side of the street.” Being proactive is a major stress buster.
From her hard appearance comes a place of compassion to help others by either facing their waistline or improving their life in other ways. I have a new respect for Jillian Michaels. I may even want to watch the show now.
You can watch Biggest Loser or check her website www.jillianmichaels.com.
Danielle Christopher is a stay-at-home mom of two daughters, ages one and three. She blogs for The Momoir Project and writes book reviews for Women’s Post. Her teen story is in the collection “Parent/Teen Stories: Without Judgement”. She lives with her husband of seventeen years and her girls in Langley, B.C.. Follow her on Twitter.
Cameron Diaz Will Star in What to Expect When You’re Expecting
by Mariana Morales
Cameron Diaz may not be married, but she is on board for the film based on the pregnancy guidebook series by Heidi Murkoff, What to Expect When You’re Expecting. It has been on the New York Times best-seller list numerous times.
It will be a series of connecting stories of five couples who go through the joys and troubles of the childbirth process. It is said that it will be similar to Love Actually and Valentine’s Day. Diaz will play a host of a weight-lost fitness show who most likely gets pregnant and we follow her story as well as the other couples.
It will be a comedy-drama by Lionsgate and Phoenix Pictures. Kirk Jones who did Nanny McPhee will direct based on a script by Shauna Cross, and Heather Hach.
There has not been any more cast members announced yet, but it is expected to release sometime next year. Diaz was last seen in The Green Hornet, and is already creating buzz around her role in Bad Teacher.
Check out Heidi Murkoff’s website here on pregnancy and parenting.
Mariana Morales is a full-time student at Conestoga College studying Print Journalism. She enjoys photography and is a volunteer at the Snap KW newspaper. What makes her different? She loves video games. In her spare time, she writes articles for a gaming website called Hooked Gamers. She hopes one day to work in the video game industry. Follow her on Twitter.
Shania Twain and I Are Twins
by Dianne Preston
I always knew that Shania Twain and I looked alike (insert fits of laughter here) but finding out now how we truly have led parallel lives.
Shania has a book out , “From This Moment On”, and is revealing all the gory details. We’ve always heard how she was brought up dirt poor and her parents died in a car crash when she was little. Thankfully those two facts are not the same – but the violent, scary alcoholic father and the fact that her husband cheated with her best friend… now we’re back on the same track.
You used to be able to set the clocks in our house by when my Dad would pop his first beer – 5:30 am. That would continue throughout the entire day… he was a carpenter and back then lots drank on the job. He would then continue straight to our local Legion (he was wounded in WW2) until the point he could barely walk – then DRIVE home and start a night of terror.
There were lots of laughs and smiles with my siblings and Mom – until we heard the car pull in the driveway. Everyone’s stomachs would sink, we’d all scatter and wait to see just how drunk and belligerent he was. That would tell us whether we could actually stay in the house or have to go hide at a neighbour’s or wander around until he passed out.
This was normal for us – normal to have the police at our house weekly or have to hide somewhere until it was safe to go back in. Despite the alcoholism, I loved my father very much. He passed away 35 years ago.
When I heard Shania and her sister half joking about some of the terrible times with their father… she said you have to laugh about it. I know EXACTLY what she means. Lots of people couldn’t imagine some of the nights we went through or believe it for that matter. I won’t go into the details, there are TOO many, but suffice it to say my poor, saintly Mom took the brunt of it.
When my four siblings and I get together we still talk, and yes awkward laughs, about the stories to this day.
Shania and I have another parallel unfortunately… a husband and a so-called best friend.
This one doesn’t need much explaining. I took MY best friend into my home when her marriage broke down and guess how she repaid me?! It’s taken some years to decide whom I blamed more, but in the end, there was a lot to go around.
We split up in our 25th year of marriage (we were together 30). We were supposed to be rocking in our chairs on the porch together, forever. I didn’t expect my life to have so many NEW chapters, but now looking forward to making more.
The highlight of my life is my wonderful son. He was a rock when I needed him. Typical boy, doesn’t usually have the words, but always there with a Mom hug. We have a great, close relationship and I guess because I gave it to him – has my warped sense of humour, so we always have lots of laughs. He also has a girlfriend that I truly love – honest – and can’t wait for Grandchildren someday.
P.S.: This felt good to write (get off my shoulders) but is now hard for me to put out there. I have always been a fairly private person and don’t like pity or complaining. But like Shania said, I hope it helps someone to know they aren’t the only ones these things happen to.
Dianne Preston aka @smilenwaven is a proud Mom, first and foremost. Her son inherited his musical passion from her but thankfully he has talent! Dianne has worked in the admin world for most of her working years and now has a home-based typing, errand service. She loves music/concerts, antiques, Scrabble, cooking and being with friends, including her Mom. She worked as an associate-editor for two small newspapers and was married 25 years, but has since moved on and loving her ‘new life’ at the moment.
