Tag Archives: school

Why Is This My Name?: Not Just a Children’s Story by Aloysia Burgess (Book Review)

A young girl goes through her first day at a new school and struggles with her unique name as she introduces herself to new teachers and friends. With the encouragement from her family, she will soon discover how special her name really is.

Amazon Purchase Link

 

 

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Reedsy Discovery. I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.

 

Every child who ventures back to public school has their own feeling about stepping into a new school or classroom. Jitters. Excitement. Apprehension. Indifference. Most kids prep for the big day with a new haircut or selecting the perfect outfit. What they can’t prep for is how kids will interact or treat them. The little girl in the story went from excitement to nervousness because of her name. Why? Because people have trouble pronouncing it. This dilemma happens every day, all across the globe. 

When the little girl went to school, her fears came to life. The teacher had difficulty pronouncing it. Some kids snickered at it. BUT, she met kids who were kind. Students invited her to sit with them at the lunch table. 

When the child’s dad picked her up from school, she asked him why they chose that name and not something “normal.” To avoid spoilers, I will not disclose what her name is, why it was chosen, or its meaning. I will share a snippet of her father’s response, though. “Everyone has things that they may want to change about themselves, but what’s most important is loving yourself.” Words to live by! 

The second day of school went spectacularly well, and hooray for her! 

After Why Is This My Name? Not Just a Children’s Story, there’s a box where the child writes down the meaning of their name. I looked up mine and was shocked to find out it meant “crooked nose.” Since I did break my nose when I was a teenager, the meaning fits (now). 

Amazon didn’t list a reading age when I was writing my review. I think any preschool and elementary school child, new to a class or school, can relate to and find enjoyment in this story. Maybe teachers can read this story to their students on the first day of class and discuss the importance of being kind to others and embracing our differences. 

 

Heart Rating System:
1 (lowest) and 5 (highest) 
Score: ❤❤❤

Amazon Purchase Link

 

 

 

Aloysia Burgess, née Colquhoun, is a wife and mother to two boys. She always had a love of literature and, as a child, would write her own stories. Her goal is to encourage acceptance and self-love through her writing.

Reedsy Author Link

 

 

 

Leave a Comment

Filed under Uncategorized

The Seraphim’s Song (The F.I.G. Mysteries, Book 5) by Barbara Casey (Book Spotlight)

The Seraphim's Song (A F.I.G. Mystery) by Barbara Casey

 
Many changes have taken place at Wood Rose Orphanage and Academy for Young Women while Carolina and Larry were on their honeymoon in Frascati, Italy, on the Granchelli farm. The newlyweds have been given a larger bungalow; Ms. Alcott, niece of the founder of Wood Rose, and Mrs. Ball, assistant to the headmaster, have moved into a bungalow together; and Jimmy Bob, caretaker and night watchman at Wood Rose has moved from his family home down the road a bit into a small bungalow on the orphanage property with his hound dog Tick, as well as his new cat and her litter of kittens.

Summer is coming to an end and the F.I.G.s will soon return to the universities to complete their special projects. They are starting to feel anxious, and the coping mechanisms they have used their entire lives are starting to work overtime. Dara’s thoughts turn to an unknown language, possibly from another world; Mackenzie focuses on the relationship of math to music; and Jennifer keeps hearing the note of B flat minor and is drawing dark swirls on her canvas board.

Buy the Book:
Amazon Purchase Link
B&N ~ Books-A-Million
and local bookstores everywhere
Add to Goodreads
 
 
 
 
Meet the Author:

Author Barbara Casey

Barbara Casey is the author of several award-winning novels and book-length works of nonfiction for both adults and young adults, and numerous articles, poems, and short stories. Several of her books have been optioned for major films and television series.

In addition to her own writing, Barbara is an editorial consultant and president of the Barbara Casey Agency. Established in 1995, she represents authors throughout the United States, Great Britain, Canada, and Japan.

In 2018 Barbara received the prestigious Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award and Top Professional Award for her extensive experience and notable accomplishments in the field of publishing and other areas.

Barbara lives on a mountain in Georgia with three cats who adopted her: Homer, a Southern coon cat; Reese, a black cat; and Earl Gray, a gray cat and Reese’s best friend.

Connect with the author:  

 
 
 
 
 
 

2 Comments

Filed under Uncategorized

Hey Charlie, You’re Next!  by Michael B. Judkins (Book Spotlight / Author Interview)

 
Charlie finds himself in the midst of bullying on Basketball day at school and is unsure of how to speak up for himself. With a little bit of advice from his teacher and some hope, there is nothing that can tear him down.
Hey Charlie, You’re Next offers readers a compelling story about overcoming negativity and gaining self confidence. It is the first book in the Hey Charlie series by Michael Judkins. Stay tune for the next books!
 
BUY THE BOOK:
Amazon Purchase Link
add the goodreads
 
 
 
Meet the Author:
Michael B. Judkins, is a local creative residing in the Lehigh Valley area of Pennsylvania. He holds an Associate in Science in Journalism, Bachelor of Science in Human Services, and a Master of Science in Mental Health Counseling with over 20 years in the field of Human Services.

Michael self-published his first poetry collection titled, “Introduction to Sentimental Me”. After the release of this collection, Michael was signed to Aois 21 Media publishing house which published his second poetry collection released title, “Interlude to Sentimental Me.” In addition, to the “I Stand- Podcast” and “Interlude to Sentimental Book Tour (Maryland, Virginia, Washington D.C, Bethlehem Pa, and Allentown, PA) which also included a virtual book tour (blog sites).

During this time, Michael started his independent film career in 2016, as a script supervisor on a short film produced in the Lehigh Valley area of PA. This project opened the door for Michael in the local film industry in the Lehigh Valley. After this, Michael worked on several film projects throughout the next few years as production manager, production assistant, Key Grip, and Producer. Michael also has written, produced, and directed his first stage play titled, “Interlude to Sentimental Me Stage Play.”

 

Do you have another profession besides writing?

I’ve been a mental health therapist for the past 20 years. I worked in various settings ranging from outpatient, residential, community, Inpatient, and Correctional.

 

How long have you been writing?

My writing journey started in High School.  I’d write short stories and poems and would not share the writing. I wrote a poem on the back of a global studies test and my teacher read the poem and graded me an A.

 

Where do you write?

I like to write mostly on my desktop. I craft out ideas, storylines, and characters throughout my walking day, and when it’s time to write I have my outline.

 

What is your next project?

 I have a short film in post-production titled Lonely Girl. I’m working on the second series to Hey Charlie and editing a potential short film to produce.

 

What is your writing schedule?

I don’t have a writing schedule. I like to draft notes daily and build characters and storylines when something is moving me.  So, I guess every day lol.

 

connect with the author: 
website ~ facebook ~ instagram ~ youtube ~ goodreads ~ bookbub
 
 
 
 
 

4 Comments

Filed under Uncategorized

The Essential Social Skills Handbook for Teens: Fundamental strategies for teens and young adults to improve self-confidence, eliminate social anxiety and fulfill their potential in the 2020s by By Richard Meadows (Book Review)

Have you been missing out on getting what you want most in life because you lack confidence or are shy? Do you want to have the confidence to do anything you want and not care about what others think of you? Then keep reading….


When I was a shy overweight kid who lacked confidence:


I was always the last person to be picked for the soccer team.

I was afraid of looking like an idiot for asking a question out loud in front of everyone in class.

I thought I could never become the person I dreamt of becoming: the confident and badass person who doesn’t care about what other people think.

I stood in a corner at the party afraid to talk to the girl that I liked.

If you can relate to what I’m talking about and you would like to transform yourself then this book is a must-read for you….

These are just some of the problems I faced as a teen. I made it my mission to figure out what was making me anxious and what was holding me back from doing all the things I wanted to do. I‘ve now come a long way since and I want to help you.

 

In this handbook, you’ll discover:

  • How to communicate and get the message across even when you feel like no one will understand you.
  • Exercises used even by the U.S. Navy Seals unit uses to remain calm under pressure.
  • The one simple word fix to your sentences that will take your communication to the next level and grasp anyone’s attention.
  • How to work with your parents even if you feel like they don’t get you at all or can’t help.
  • Absolutely everything you need to know to achieve every single goal and ambition you have.
  • Bonus templates for parents and teens to help with goal setting, planning, and mindset transformation.
  •  

Attention Parents! There’s also an addendum with special advice and tips for you to help the teens in your life develop stronger social skills and overcome anxiety.

I am eternally grateful to my parents as they played an instrumental role in my personal and social growth. I want to share with you everything my parents, counselors and mentors did right and a few tweaks and improvements that in retrospect would have helped me gain confidence faster.

 

I guarantee you that this book will work for you because:

  • I’m not going to bore you with facts. I’ll tell you about the challenges and problems I faced, how I overcame them and how you can too.
  • If you’ve tried all other self-help books and have not found them useful, this book will work for you because this is not a self-help book, it is a book to help you take specific action using templates to start today and get closer to your goal today.
  • Even if you don’t like to read books or read in general, this book will work for you because this book is easy to read and relatable.
  • Even if you’ve tried all the mainstream advice, this book will work for you because the advice is relevant for the 2020s.

 

Amazon Purchase Link

 

 

 

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Reedsy Discovery.  I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.

 

The Essential Social Skills Handbook for Teens: Fundamental strategies for teens and young adults to improve self-confidence, eliminate social anxiety and fulfill their potential in the 2020s focuses on real issues facing our teens and young adults in today’s society.

Every generation has its own set of stress inducers. Teens and adults have the same stressors as their parents did when they were younger; however, today’s teens have to handle social networks and all their pitfalls. 

Richard Meadows was correct when he stated, and I’m paraphrasing, That we are all imperfect in the real world. The social platforms constantly thrust images of “perfect bodies” or “perfect lives” into our youth’s faces. They give the impression this is how the real world lives, which couldn’t be farther from the truth. Teens view the pictures, watch the reels, watch every video under the sun, see these “perfect lives,” and then (sometimes) see their life as less-than. Negative thoughts bloom, causing low self-esteem and self-worth. We mustn’t feed into this “perfect image.” I’d suggest taking Richard’s advice – replace a negative thought with a positive one! 

Richard stated more truths in this book. Prime example, communication is more than just speaking words. Tone, body language, and facial expressions contribute a lot to a conversation. When my daughter speaks with a tone, I call her on it every time. When my teen states she did nothing wrong, I say firmly, “It’s not the words you used but how you said them.” “Stop and Think” or think before you speak. 

Other important truths – “Asking for help is NOT a sign of weakness.” It’s a “powerful show of strength.” Also, help doesn’t always mean medication. Yes, some people will need a pill. But, many people only need to be heard. Being seen and being heard are essential in having good mental health. 

No one spoke about teen depression, anxiety, or other mental health issues when I was younger. I’m thrilled today’s world is more vocal. There is no shame in asking for help. Please utilize the websites and helplines in the book if you need them. Remember, you’re not alone! 

Even though The Essential Social Skills Handbook for Teens: Fundamental strategies for teens and young adults to improve self-confidence, eliminate social anxiety and fulfill their potential in the 2020s is directed towards teens, parents should read it. 

Teens and adults, be sure and check out the templates and the journal prompts shared in the final pages. Great resource tools! 

 

Heart Rating System:
1 (lowest) and 5 (highest) 
Score: ❤❤❤

Amazon Purchase Link

 

 

 

Richard Meadows: Maximizing quality of life for teens and parents of teens with anxiety, ADHD, depression & stress.

Twitter Link

 

Leave a Comment

Filed under Uncategorized

My ABC Day at the Beach: An Ocean of Alphabet Fun! by Robin H. Elisabeth (Book Review)

 

New! (Revised for 2021)

A unique and joyful children’s picture book! Your child’s day-to-day vocabulary will be broadened through the introduction of words associated with a beach setting. Young learners can review the alphabet, as they read descriptions and see accompanying real-life images. Each alphabet word is presented to help reinforce reading, while the illustrations enhance a child’s imagination to hear the sounds and see the sights. These real-life images target the alphabetic words presented from A to Z. This picture journey will provide an opportunity to create, learn, and share family moments.

Use your imagination to hear the sounds, see the sights, and journey with us to the ocean’s sandy shores to discover an ABC Day at the beach. No matter the day or season, there is something for everyone to see and do on our adventure of ABC fun. We will practice the alphabet, as we explore a treasure chest of educational words. So, give your child an opportunity for vocabulary building, spelling improvement, and fun imagination time! Let’s go!


I set out to write a series of children’s books about ABC adventures with a fun and educational format using real-life pictures. I had my children in mind because when they were learning to read, they were easily bored and extra wiggly. So, getting their attention as youngsters and keeping them still during story time was a HUGE challenge.

I realized that my children needed time to be creative while learning. So, I am adding companion coloring books, flashcards, and workbooks into the series. Who says learning can’t be imaginative and fun? Begin your adventures together and explore a treasure chest of words. My ABC Day series will keep the attention of your child, even the wiggliest of all!

 

Amazon Purchase Link

 

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Reedsy Discovery.  I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.

 

Parents are always on the hunt for books to teach or reinforce the alphabet for their youngsters. We seek bright images, fun pictures or illustrations, and familiar ABC objects. Parents and teachers also want to broaden our children’s vocabulary, so we like a book to introduce new words too. My ABC Day at the Beach: An Ocean of Alphabet Fun! by Robin H. Elisabeth checked off all the boxes. 

Before we get to the first page, there’s a page dedicated to personalizing it to your child: “This book belongs to” and “This book is from.” I recall as a child loving to mark my book as mine. It made it more special. I suspect your child will love claiming ownership too. 

My ABC Day at the Beach: An Ocean of Alphabet Fun! isn’t your typical ABC book. It’s not structured where A is for Apple, B is for Boat, and so forth. Each letter has a specific word, emphasized in a red oval with white text and surrounded with bold, black text. Example: Look closely at the sand, and you might find a hermit crab. “Crab” is highlighted in the red oval. All the photos surrounding the specific letter allow imagery of (potentially) unfamiliar words: kayak and oars. Of course, there are many pictures that kids will be pretty familiar with: dump truck, nose, ice cream, and many more. 

Robin H. Elisabeth does NOT highlight every word in each section that begins with a particular letter. For example, “artist” is the word the author wants the child to focus on for the letter A, but you could extend the learning activity easily. Ask your child to find all the letter “A” words on their corresponding pages. Do the same for “B,” “C,” and the rest of the alphabet. For those letters that only have ONE word on the page, ask them what letters they see. 

In the end credits, the author informs readers there are flashcards available on Amazon. They use images straight from the book. Great idea!

 

Heart Rating System:
1 (lowest) and 5 (highest) 
Score: ❤❤❤

Amazon Purchase Link

 

 

Robin Elisabeth belongs to a small consortium of authors, editors, actors, and dreamers who bring life to children’s books. They collaborate with non-profits to facilitate grant funding for literacy initiatives. As dedicated artists, they enjoy designing reading activities for children’s education programs and products, including books, workbooks, coloring books, and flashcards.

 

Reedsy

Leave a Comment

Filed under Uncategorized