Blog Archives
Heartspoken
Elizabeth H. Cottrell wants to bring back the art of note writing. Through her book Heartspoken: How to Write Notes that Connect, Comfort, Encourage, and Inspire, the author takes us down memory lane, discussing note writing back in the day and how it compares to modern-day forms of communication. Elizabeth Cottrell writes with a special grace that gives her words warmth and shows her compassion. Readers will know that she writes from the heart and writes to leave an impact. Reading this book will give readers a feeling of nostalgia.
The author starts the book by describing to the reader the purpose of writing the book and also giving a little history of writing. Elizabeth notes down how writing came into being, how ancient folk communicated, and why communication was critical. I found delight in learning about the papyrus paper and how ground-breaking it was back then. One of Elizabeth Cottrell’s strengths is the ability to virtually take the reader back in time. While reading about ancient forms of communication and how writing was, the reader gets into the moment and experiences the author’s text as she expresses her thoughts.
The discussion gradually moves from the ancient communication use of parchment papers by Greeks to letter writing and note writing. I enjoyed this part the most as the author included bits of her years growing up and how valuable writing and receiving letters were. I like how passionate the author is when writing about this subject. One can feel her ties to note writing and its significance. Elizabeth Cottrell writes about how exciting it was to receive a note written by family and friends and also articulates how the culture is slowly but surely fading away. Reading this book will make me miss the simplicities of life before technology. The author is clear in her message and does not condemn modern forms of communication; rather, she compares and writes enthusiastically about note writing as a superpower even in Today’s world.
Elizabeth Cottrell shares some intimate moments in her life. The author writes about how notes make her feel and perfectly puts in words the authenticity message in notes feel, compared to those sent via electronic media. There is nothing wrong with sending messages via email or text messages. The major lesson drawn from this book is that as we embrace tech trends, we should not toss aside the beauty that comes with note writing. The author shares how you can fervently write notes and how the habit will help you cultivate new relationships and get you to bond and connect more with people close to you.
Heartspoken: How to Write Notes that Connect, Comfort, Encourage, and Inspire is an easy read which brings about lots of memories and also has lifelong lessons. Apart from learning about the weight of note writing, Elizabeth Cottrell also shares how you can use the art of note writing in your professional life. The author shares tips on how to improve your writing skills and how you can find your own voice through words. These guidelines are useful in your personal life and can help you run your business.
Pages: 218 | ASIN : B0B57PQ25Z
New You! Who Knew
New You- Who Knew, by David R Edwards, is a powerful self-help book that will inspire anyone who believes life can be better than the status quo. Often times people are too focused on the mundane life; they are not motivated to leave their comfort zone. Especially today, it is super easy to get entangled in worldly affairs; this book can be the North Star to guide us to a more enriching and fulfilling life.
Edwards’s work is well polished. Even though this is his first book, he has presented everything like a seasoned writer. He has logically planned everything. The chapters are simple with to-do lists, home takeaways, and previews. As a reader, you can read the book, work on the chapters and become thoroughly acquainted with the topic. You cannot go wrong with this book. As you read through the chapters and move forward, Edwards makes sure you understand the material and are able to produce high-quality work with simple language and detailed explanations. Even though I have read so many books in this category, what strikes me the most about this book is Edwards’s approach to writing. The style is straightforward, but it feels like you are sitting in class with your favorite professor. The information is presented in a manner that readers will feel they are actively involved in the learning process rather than just being lectured on how to do things.
New You- Who Knew is full of life learning skills that you can teach yourself with patience and practice. Each chapter has a worksheet – which encourages readers to test their knowledge and put into practice whatever they’ve learned. I find it quite adventurous and helpful. There is a lot of review of concepts to reinforce the ideas and put them into practice. This is because the concepts are interconnected, and the steps build on each other. This book offers concise chapters and is an inspiring read.
New You- Who Knew is an engaging book in the nonfiction and self-help genres. This educational book will inspire readers to improve the quality of their work, thus improving their own self-worth.
Pages: 319 | ASIN : B09Q9CFPKX
Keys to Healthy Communication
To sustain a fulfilling life, one must make a lifetime commitment to a healthy life. But what is the general definition of a “healthy life?” After witnessing the COVID-19 pandemic, the Keys to Healthy Communication was written. Authors Dr. Bobby Patton, Dr. Rusalyn Andrews, and Dr. Jennifer Daily developed this self-help guide to educate readers on improving interpersonal communication.
The first section, ‘Overview,’ outlines the many types of health and the necessity of the complementary relationship between personal and social health in achieving total well-being.
The first essential key to effective communication is ‘Authenticity,’ covered in section two. People are inundated with numerous erroneous beliefs and “alleged” facts, prompting them to question their own beliefs or those of others until they have properly analyzed and compared them to proof. The degree of sincerity exchanged between partners is also advantageous to the health of intimate relationships. Being unreal causes a skewed conscience, which leads to manipulation, dishonesty, and even abuse. Conversely, mutual trust in one another boosts productivity and decides the failure or success of society.
The importance of the second key to effective communication, ‘Empathy,’ is highlighted in the third section. Given people’s natural propensity to develop sympathy, empathy is seen as a key that may be taught through mindfulness or “moment-to-moment, non-judgmental awareness.” In addition, empathy is essential for a dynamic society because it allows people to empathize with people and cultures they do not necessarily identify with or agree with.
Section four is on ‘Empowerment,’ which depicts self-control and the ability to self-regulate, as well as comprehending the extent of one’s own choices and the repercussions of those actions, as well as detecting the power centers at play. Social variables that induce ill health are caused by a lack of self-authority.
The fifth section explains the activities, skills, and attitudes that should be practiced and a strategy for promoting good communication throughout one’s life. Finally, it breaks down all of the measures to improve one’s physical, mental, and relationship health into categories based on age and environment.
Keys to Healthy Communication: Authenticity, Empathy and Empowerment is an extensive self-help book filled with practical and actionable guidance. This well-researched book explains how individuals may adopt and learn certain practices and skills in daily lives to help them develop as a person.
Pages: 204 | ASIN : B09R4L4BRV
Titch the Itch
Titch the Itch, written by B.C.R. Fegan and illustrated by Lenny Wen, is the tale of an animated little itch who wants nothing more than to make friends the only way he knows how–by doing his job. When his wayward, “no-reason-at-all” itching isn’t appreciated in the home of one large family, Titch the Itch seeks to make friends outside the home. Trying his luck with a cat, a neighbor, a police officer, and a park full of children, Titch learns that life is hard for an itch of his sort. His journey leads him to the hospital where he soon learns that he has had a bigger impact than he realized.
B.C.R. Fegan has constructed a touching story centered around the personification of a lowly itch. The author has managed to take a difficult concept and design a precious plot surrounding the poor little itch’s desire to be needed and to have lasting friendships. Titch is a memorable character with whom young readers will empathize. As he moves from one character to the next, he experiences rejection and disappointment. Fegan has included some important lessons in this wonderful picture book. In addition to friendship, the author teaches the benefits of being determined and the results of perseverance.
As with any children’s book, it is essential to include those moments of humor. Fegan does not lack in this area. The unforeseen circumstances surrounding the conclusion of the book are whimsical and encourage children to reread the book to find things they may have missed–a wonderful aspect to include to inspire young readers to delve further into the intricacies of text. As a teacher and parent, I more than appreciate those small amounts of mystery which energize readers. Kudos to the author!
The illustrations for Titch the Itch are fantastic. Lenny Wen’s vision of Titch is a cross between a ghost and a friendly dust bunny–exactly how one might visualize an itch. The facial expressions of Titch absolutely make the story. His woeful looks tug at the reader’s heartstrings. The color schemes chosen to brighten the pages make this a beautiful story to read aloud.
B.C.R. Fegan’s story of the needy little itch just looking for friendship is a sweet tale perfect for teaching young readers about the value of friends and loyalty.
Pages: 33 | ASIN: B076342B9D
As Wild As All the Squirrels
S. Jackson Author Interview
In The Big Cheese Festival, we meet Stubby Mouse who is being bullied by because his tail is short. Why was bullying an issue you wanted to tackle in this kids book?
I see bullying all the time and it just makes no sense to bully another child, or adult for that matter. This is a serious problem that needs to be addressed in childhood. Cyber bullies come into play and one reads about another child taking their own life due to being bullied. If I can help children be a little kinder to one another then this book was worth writing. Kindness breeds kindness. Bullying must stop. Children need to take a stand against bullying and their families must do the same, as do the educators in our system. It is bad when ones parent actually cyber bullies another child and that child ends up taking their own life. Parents need to be held accountable.
Do you think children struggle with confirmation of their self worth? How do you think kids seek that out?
Of course they struggle. Self worth and self esteem are huge issues as a child grows up and I, for one, still have self esteem issues at my age (56). Not all children grown up in a loving or supporting home. As a mother, and as a registered nurse, I have seen the dark side of life and it is ugly. Many things are preventable, and if parents aren’t willing to step in and assist in a positive manner then educators need to step in. Kids seek confirmation in many ways and most are a sacrifice, that is, some seek out sex to feel worthy, or eating disorders to help with body image issues they perceive as having or have at that moment/time span in time. Others over medicate and some over dose, others try their hardest to please their parent/parents/adult care provider, etc. and many don’t measure up or they simply give up. They lose hope, and we all need to have hope. Society in general needs top help foster self worth in troubled kids and teens.
There are lots of wonderful images in this story. What was your favorite image to use and write for?
Stubby Mouse is my favorite. The idea for him came about from one of our backyard squirrels who only has half a tail, and partly crippled due to meeting up with a vehicle and living afterward. We named him Stubby (his tail) and he has a different scamper than the other squirrels but he is determined. Stubby is just as wild as all the squirrels are and he loves to play chase. From one little stubby tailed crippled squirrel a book was born. I purposely presented all of the characters to dress the same, and for the girls to have different hairstyles. Stubby is the only one who is different and I knew that his short tail would be noticed by keeping the other characters similar. This worked quite well. Stubby is favorite for the preschoolers and kindergarten kids as well as first graders. The kids latched onto Stubby and they all defended him. Once the kids settle back down after a reading and discussion, then I will point out various differences in the kids in front of me such as hair color, etc. and I explain our uniqueness to all, and how that makes us special.
What are some themes of future books that you would like to write about?
I have many yet my time is limited due to health. I will say that we put out a book last year that speaks about molestation/sex abuse. It’s titled “Suzy Has A Secret” and it includes an adult/educators part in the back of the story. I used characters that do wear different colored clothes but facial expressions are the same. My mantra here is good touch/bad touch and children are innocent/predators are not.
Author Links: Twitter | Facebook | Website
“In The Big Cheese Festival, we meet Stubby Mouse and his family and friends. We learn that Stubby Mouse has a secret, that he is being bullied by another mouse, simply because his tail is short. Read how Stubby Mouse stood up for himself, and how he ended the bullying, in this delightful story for children. Targeted at ages 4-8, the book is easy to read and perfect for home or classroom. Children learn how bad bullying is, and what they can do to help stop bullies! Stubby Mouse encourages children to take a stand against bullies, and always be kind to each other. This story illustrates how everyone is different and unique, and it is a delightful read with cute illustrations for both children and adults. Take a stand against bullying today!”
The Big Cheese Festival
There are issues that plague all children as they grow up. Each child struggles with identifying who they are as a person, how they relate to other people and how to find out what they believe in. Children can be cruel to each other while they learn how to navigate the messy world of emotions. This can come out in the form of bullying. In The Big Cheese Festival the authors explore the concept of bullying and how it can impact the life of another. What may seem like funny and harmless words to one can truly hurt another. We’ve got a fantastical world of anthropomorphic mice, one of whom only has half a tail. He is named Stubby and due to the unkind bullying from his brother’s friend worries about whether or not he’ll find any worth in himself.
Bullying is a big issue to tackle. Some children’s books try to address this and drop the ball completely. Jackson and Raymond have bundled up the idea of bullying in their book. They take an obvious difference, like having half of a tail, and use it to illustrate how others might react to something so clearly different from the norm. It’s a cute book with the little mice getting ready for a festival. Cutter Mouse, who is friends with Stubby’s brother, is the perpetuator of the bullying. It is often someone close to the bullied who begins the abuse, which Jackson and Raymond have captured here.
While the story is simple and easy to either read or read to a child, there are a few areas in which it lacks. The mice all look exactly the same, in the same outfits. The girl mice have different hairstyles but the boy mice don’t have anything to separate who they are from each other. Different coloured outfits may have helped with this issue. The mice also don’t seem to express emotion. For a story about bullying and overcoming that, showing joy or sorrow would be necessary.
Stubby does stand up to the person who is making him feel poorly which is an important message to children. He doesn’t do it with violence or by calling Cutter names back. He uses his words. S. Jackson and A. Raymond know that children need to learn these skills to survive in this modern world. The Big Cheese Festival helps to make it less frightening and more relatable by creating a fun and entertaining world.
Pages: 37 | ASIN: B01H3S381O
LITERARY TITAN 