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My “Once-in-a-Lifetime” Grandmother
“A house needs a grandma in it.”—Louisa May Alcott Nonna Anna stepped into my seven-year-old life with laughter, love, and lore. As the day of her arrival from Italy approached, my heart swelled with...
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My Reading Hat: The Power of Ritual in a Child’s Life
Children thrive on ritual. Just think back to your own childhood. Did you recite the same prayer every night before falling asleep? What about asking your mother to read the same book over and over...
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Do You Haiku?
Children love the rhyme and rhythm of poetry, the quick stories told in vivid language. If you’re unfamiliar with haiku, you’ll find them just a little different. Haiku is a Japanese form of poetry...
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Making Writing Fun Using Mentor Texts
Does your child have a favorite book or a favorite author? Have you considered helping them write about their thoughts, hopes and dreams using their favorite book as a mentor text? When I first heard...
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Looking for the Perfect Gift for Mother’s Day? Introducing God Made Mommy...
If you’re looking for a precious gift for Mother’s Day, I might just have the perfect one in mind…meet God Made Mommy Special, a padded board book containing eight adorable poems that celebrate the...
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The Memory Box: A Book About Grief: Review and Giveaway
My eldest son was only three years old when his great-granddad died. We tried to break the news gently, but that little boy was devastated. He pulled the bed covers high over his head and hid from us....
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12 Days of Christmas Books: Featuring Mouse’s Christmas Gift by Mindy Baker
When Parson is sick and the usual Christmas Eve Service is cancelled, Mouse must find a way to signal the villagers and bring Christmas spirit to his little town. Mouse never gives up hope as he...
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Making Connections to Bible Stories
As I was searching for material for Black History Month and Martin Luther King Jr. Day I came across Let My People Go by Patricia and Fredrick McKissack. I was intrigued by the unique blend of...
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Book Review of God’s Protection Covers Me (Plus a give-away)
Want to help your pre-school child learn to depend on God’s loving protection? I recommend the latest book by author Amy Houts entitled God’s Protection Covers Me. Released on May 21, it is illustrated...
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The Inspiration for “Licky the Lizard”
The dream of having my first children’s book published became a reality in August 2018. I wanted to write a special story for our first grandchild, Rowan. After praying and considering several ideas, I...
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Remember When
I love Historical Fiction. The Institute for Children’s Literature is calling for submissions for a historical MG novel passage of no more than 750 words. I’m hoping that’s a sign that its popularity...
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Baskets of Books
Brightly colored blocks, cuddly stuffed animals to snuggle, toy trains with red cabooses, race cars and construction vehicles can all be found throughout our home. Children of different ages come to...
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Expressions and Voice When Reading Aloud
Reading aloud can bring joy and laughter to everyone. Think about stories you have shared with family, friends or strangers. Maybe you have read to children at the library or at a school. Maybe you...
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Faith Family Scrapbook by Karen Whiting
We snap photos and fill books with them. Sometimes we might even make very fancy scrapbooks. It’s also a great opportunity to capturing faith memories as we fill the pages. Whether it’s a simply photo...
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Do You Need A Nap?
Ever heard of the terrible twos? Of course, you have! A few toddlers breeze through the twos without much drama, but most do not. My granddaughter did not. She was quite the drama queen—especially when...
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God’s Blessings of Fall
By Jean Matthew Hall I’m super excited to tell you about my first published picture book! God’s Blessings of Fall is the first book in my picture book series – Bountiful Blessings published by Little...
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Touch the Magi
We gathered for our family Christmas. The little ones played, opened gifts, and played some more. My son called his children to get ready to go since it was a ways back up the mountain. The least one...
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Where Are You From?
It seems everyone is searching for their roots. There are DNA tests, TV shows in search of ancestors, ancestry records, and family trees. We want to know who we are and where we’re from. Everyone seems...
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Happy 6th (Half) Birthday, and Other Special Occasions
Happy Leap Day! In my family, we’re celebrating a birthday—of sorts. When our daughters were little, my husband started a tradition of celebrating their half-birthdays by taking them out for dinner...
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Reading Events Cancelled…What can we do?
Alerts are arriving by the moment. Phone, email, text messages. Events are cancelled or postponed to another time. From library book readings to author events to book signings and more, the world of...
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