Forgiving the Unforgivable by Craig Stone

Forgiving the Unforgivable- Finding Healing and Hope Through Pain, Loss or Betrayal by Craig Stone is a powerful message that models forgiveness even under the most painful and impossible circumstances.  Written by someone whose family was killed by a drunk driver, and betrayed by a legal system that did not provide justice, who is a better authority on pain, grief and forgiveness than Craig Stone. After reading this book, inspired by Stone's experiences, I feel this is probably the most credible and insightful authorities into the subject or forgiveness.  Forgiveness- a concept that many "Christians" completely disregard, is essential in every believer's life.  There is no excuse for harboring forgiveness.  Rich in scripture, Stone backs up his statements with the source- the bible.

As I followed Stone's journey on the road to forgive the impossible, another fascinating and compelling issue on the topic of foreboding and spiritual burdens was addressed. Early in the book, the author hints at his father's feeling of a heavy burden that he shared with his son.  Nothing more is said about this mysterious spiritual phenomenon other than to tell the reader that the concept would be addressed later in the book.  As a reader, I felt almost sidetracked from the main message of this book  as I felt compelled to learn what Stone had to say about the issue of spiritual foreboding. Int he last chapter more information about "warning signs" from God was explained in the context of the fatal crash.  The author explained his belief that his father had a spiritual foreboding- a subtle warning sign from God, about the impending accident.  Unaware of the significance, Stone feels that he and his death ignored the subtle warnings- which he recognized to be a spiritual warning in hindsight.  He urges the reader to take heed of any feeling of spiritual heaviness, fear or burden as it may actually be a spiritual warning of an impending danger.  While it is possible this is true, based on scripture there are many cases where believers and prophets received prophetic messages and dreams from God, I feel that this inclusion of this material may serve to solidify ideas of paranoia in susceptible individuals. This is more of an advanced message for mature or established Christians, and may not be readily understood or appropriately applied in the life of a new believer.  Considering that Craig Stone is also a pastor, his courageous and powerful book is not simply intended to the new Christian, still feeding on milk, but for those who yearn for deeper insight into biblical faith and the Holy Spirit. Craig Stone is a gifted writer; I believe he is inspired by the Holy Spirit to deliver this message to Christians far and wide.  This is a book I will read and re-read- a resource to turn to. As a blogger I received a copy of this book published by Charisma House for the purpose of writing this review.

A Captain No Beard Story, is Fribbet the Frog and the Tadpoles by Carole P Roman

The newest volume in the beloved pirate series for children, A Captain No Beard Story, is Fribbet the Frog and the Tadpoles by Carole P Roman.  Watercolor styled art perfectly accompanies the nautical pirate and marine themes. The detailed cartoon art is fast paced and the expressive cartoons will capture the attention of young children. This newest story focuses on an expressive, friendly frog,  Fribbet, Captain No Beard and the other familiar heroes introduced in the series, including Mongo the monkey, and Cayla as well as Hallie.   Children will love the pirate ship touches and expressions like swabbing the deck, "shiver me timbers" and dropping the anchor.  By featuring the frog as the focal point, this series allows for greater growth and expansion.



As with the other books,  this book centers around essential  messages about kindness and compassion. The reader will learn about caring, empathy and even therapeutic communication as Fribbet's friends help the burdened little amphibian.  Captain No Beard has wisdom that can apply to all audiences, the young, the old, parents as well as children when he states in the book, "problems can weigh you down like a heavy anchor. When you share your load with others, it's never too heavy to carry."  Ironically, these pirates with their pirate ship have more morals and ethics than the traditional pirate in children's literature. The lesson transcends age, and will leave a lasting impression long after the book is put down. As a parent, this is certainly a story I would share with my children ages 14, 9, 2 and 8 months.   Roman threads wisdom and morals throughout her fictional stories, and has mastered the plot twist adding an element of surprise that even parents will appreciate as they read this story to their children.

        The books of this series belong on the bookshelf of every pirate enthusiast. There is more to this series than meets the eye- beyond the pirate theme are tales of morals and inspiration.  Any parent navigating the endless choices in the children's picture book genre should take a look at this quality series. This has become one of my favorite series for children.  As a blogger I received this book from the author for the purpose of writing this review.  I'd like to see all these stories eventually published into one larger, hardcover  pirate treasury. This book is available on Amazon and B&N as well as a Kindle edition.

If You Were Me and Lived In... Scotland by Carole P. Roman

If You Were Me and Lived In... Scotland is one of the newest editions  to the "A Child's Introduction to Cultures Around The World"  series By Carole P. Roman. The art contained in this volume is the most impressive yet. The mixed media cartoon art combined with beautiful scenic photos bring new life to the subject of geography.  These books take only minutes to read cover to cover but they will give any child a comprehensive view of the geography and culture of a particular country.  These books follows a similar format as the other  books in the series about Mexico, Hungary, Peru, South Korea,  and France as well as many others. Yet in each successive  edition, the art is more impressive as the author makes an even greater use of a variety of textures and mixed media in producing the illustrations.

When learning about Scotland, the photograph of the ancient yet majestic castle jumps out at the reader, as it serves as the backdrop against a clear, pale blue sky with the two traditionally dressed tour guide children.  The  sky  and the emerald colored grass makes for a beautifully realistic and unexpected layout.  The beautiful mountains, stone tiles and other authentic  details and textures add appeal and beauty to the simplistic cartoon scenes. There is even reference to the beloved tale of the Loch Ness!

 The cartoon tour guides will certainly capture the attention of all young readers as well as parents and educators. I believe the "Carlesque" styled mixed media illustrations with the simple line cartoons in her   books are  an unexpected treat.  Mixed media illustrations are very popular and appealing for young readers as evidenced by the popularity of Eric Carle's kids' books.  By combining geography with mixed media- I believe that Roman will generate even greater interest and attention for her educational series. This sets her books apart from cartoon only illustrations.

These stories would also be a good choice for a family that is interested in their ancestry, a family vacation or even appropriate for  children as part of a social studies lesson. The consistency of these geography books makes this series perfect for the school setting. An educator can count on the fact that young children will be introduced to the basics.  The predictability of the book's format will also appeal to younger readers who are familiar with the series.  In each  addition to the series,  the  child will learn about the geography  and will be  introduced to its climate, tourist attractions local foods,  sports and other social norms. Full color, simply drawn cartoon drawings with the unique  texture accents compliment the text.   The pronunciations at the end of the book introduces the child to the native language but it would be better to have the equivalent English words listed as well and definitions to reinforce the material learned in the story.

I would like to see Roman combine all the editions of this series into one larger encyclopedia type of volume in order to create one single comprehensive text. Roman continues to add titles to this series.  It would be great to see this series used as part of a grade school geography or social studies curriculum.  It is clear that each book, though simple in design, presents a wealth of information and research.   This book as well as the series is available on Amazon and B&N. As a blogger I received these books for the purpose of writing this review.

God, Me, and Sweet Iced Tea by Rose Chandler Johnson

God, Me, and Sweet Iced Tea- Experiencing God in the Midst Of Everyday Moments  by Rose

Chandler Johnson, is a simple, yet relevant devotional book.  While each of the daily  devotionals are short, and can be read in under two minutes, the applicable message will last with the reader long after the book is put down.  Deceptively simple, each devotion is like a bible study leading the reader meditate deeper into scripture as well as encouraging the reader to reflect and to journal. I can imagine author,  Rose  Johnson taking on the role of a ministry leader for an adult's bible study group. After each entry is a scripture reading to read from the bible, much like a bible study. As with a bible study, there are reflective questions based on the scripture reading and a specific theme.  She follows through to the end, with journaling ideas that encourage the reader to think about the passage as well as how it relates to her life. Not only that, each devotion finishes off with a prayer, "A Sweet Tea Moment" which sums up the theme, and a prayer topic.  Prayer topics range from broad spiritual topics such as prayer, peace and gratitude to specific prayers for those who suffer from illness, depression, poverty and family discord.  For those who do not know where to begin in terms of prayer, or bible study, the author covers everything in this short but succinct book.  Although intended for individual study, this book is almost like a lesson plan for a leader who may wish to use this book as a resource to lead her own bible study group as well. Johnson's educational background and experience as a teacher is obvious in the methodical  and comprehensive format of this efficiently simple book. At times she threads a few lines of anecdotes from her own personal experience and home life- making it easier for the reader to relate.  Yet another strength of this book is that the anecdotes are brief and do not take the focus away from the scripture theme. Often in other devotional books, the story telling and personal anecdotes draw too much focus making the devotion too worldly and superficial, and in turn it can potentially alienate some readers who cannot relate. Johnson stays focused and her book gives scripture the focus that it should have.  The only thing I'd change is to leave out the journal lines entirely and simply leave a little extra space and a minimalist graphic to break up the suggested readings, journal topics, prayer, "Sweet Tea Moments" and the prayer focus.  Any serious reader will know right away that in order to give these topics the time they deserve, an entirely separate journal should be used.  For example, the journal topic on page 61, asking the reader to consider how her life would be different if "you took everything to God in  prayer", could easily take a few pages- much more than the five lines provided.  Nevertheless, I could see why the author included these lines, in order to make it easier for the everyday reader to quickly jot down a few ideas in response to the reflective questions.  As a blogger for Litfuse publicity I received a copy of this book published by Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas for the purpose of writing this review.    This book would make a good outreach to encourage new believers or even those who are not yet Christians, to incorporate Christ and faith into their lives.  The casual themed threaded throughout will appeal to many readers who need a break from fast paced materialism.

Dead Wake by Erik Larson

 Dead Wake: The Last Crossing of the Lusitania  by Erik Larson is a poignant dramatized story of the sinking of the Lusitania of WW1.  This vivid drama gives not only the historical details of this pivotal event, but the emotional behind the scenes  drama that you will not read in history books.  I was so engrossed in the tory, especially the powerful account of the ship's demise.  Following the stories of multiple  voices gives the reader a unique omnipotent view of the overall picture.  This is especially moving during the account of the ship's sinking.  Going beyond a simple news paper-esque account, the author, Erik Larsen shares the intimate thoughts and emotions of the passengers as they face death.  A young boy with measles is separated from his pregnant mother in the commotion and panic as the ship is sinking.  His last horrific memory of the event is the haunting image of his mother giving birth in the cold see.  The traumatic image haunts him all the remaining days of his life.  Though the words are few, and the image is recounted in a single sentence, the emotional significance is beyond what the modern reader can imagine.  Another young mother traveling alone with her children finds herself torn between saving her infant daughter is the ship's daycare room or her toddler son sleeping alone in the bunk of her cabin. In a panic, she hands her daughter off to a stranger; next time she sees the stranger, he is scrambling onto a lifeboat- alone! The reader can only imagine the mother's grief and pain in those last moments before the ship goes under.  I found myself gripping the book tightly, hanging onto each word, reliving the horrors of those passengers and their last moments.  AT times I was reminded by the cinematic version of the Titanic- the scramble to get to lifeboats and lifejackets, the panic and the separation of families and parents from their children. Larsen is a talented writer that handles the facts as well as drama in this world changing event.  The sinking of the Lusitania- a bit of history that may occupy only a few lines to a few paragraphs in a history book, is retold moment by moment in extraordinary detail, in this 359 page book.  A number of references are included in the end as well as an index for those students and historians that may wish to use this book as a source in a research paper.  This is a must have for any WW1 or history enthusiast. As a blogger I received a copy of this book published by Crown publishers for the purpose of writing this review.

Visits to Heaven and Back: Are They Real? Mark Hitchcock

Mark Hitchcock's new book, Visits to Heaven and Back: Are They Real? is a newly published answer in response to heaven and back accounts.  More specifically, this book was written in the aftermath  of the recent development surrounding the book "The Boy Who Came Back From Heaven", by Alex Malarkey and his father, Kevin Malarkey published by Tyndale, in 2010. It is about time a book addressing this subject was written from the biblical point of view.  True, there are plenty of athiests ready to refute these haven accounts, but there are very little articulate biblical based books written to guide Christian readers who often are very gullible and swallow almost any after death account story as long  it comes from a kid.  This book addresses every possible question or issue raised by these books about heaven accounts. One need not be a theologian to understand Hitchcock's writing and the points he makes.  Using scripture, the author grounds the reader with biblical truth.  He compares many of the main points and so called visions and claims of some of the more popular accounts against the truth of scripture.  This book is an eye opener and should be required reading for every pastor, church leader and Christian in general.

In 2014, Kevin Malarkey admitted “I did not die. I did not go to Heaven” in an open letter to Christian bookstores and publishers:  http://pulpitandpen.org/2015/01/13/the-boy-who-came-back-from-heaven-recants-story-rebukes-christian-retailers/  As a result, this bestselling book was pulled from the shelves of bookstores everywhere as well as online retailers everywhere.  And I am pretty sure there are many Christians, believers and bloggers everywhere who aren't so surprised because they did not believe in the validity of life after death nor heaven and back accounts.  In fact there is an entire genre of heaven and back accounts and I am sure the publicity surrounding Malarkey's story casts some  additional well placed skepticism of these accounts, as there very well  should be. I for one addressed my concern about these trips to heaven in a blog post about "Heaven is for Real" by Todd Burpo- an eerily similar account of a little boy of visits heaven and returns.


In sum, these heaven and back accounts are story easy to read, easy to follow, yet raise spiritually complex issues such as the issue of the legitimacy of private visions apart from revealed scripture.  While it is true that some NDE can be ruled out as the side effects of a dying or injured brain, not all can be scientifically ruled out.  Some perhaps might be supernatural in nature.  Nevertheless that does not mean they should automatically be accepted as biblical in nature or truth.  I must admit I am skeptical when it comes to believing modern day visions and NDE.  For example, there are so many alleged apparitions of Mary in the Catholic church, that I believe most to be hoaxes, and in other cases, demonic in nature. 

Convieniently, these entire miraculous story occured to children and in the Burpo case, a pastor's son.  The reader places his faith by accepting the word of the author of the book- that a child did in fact go to heaven and that it is a true account and not fabricated or embellished.   Once the reader decides to accept the author's word that this story is legit,  it is up to the reader to discern the source or supernatural power behind the NDE. This is where most readers will most likely accept with blind faith that this is a true account and that it is based on biblical truth. This is because most people want to believe this heartwarming and comforting message is true. 

 Any responsible reader familiar with the bible will be aware that he or she is faced with the task of determining if the experience of a heaven and back story is spiritually based on truth, or if it perhaps is an indirect attempt of Satan to mislead believers into accepting false information.  Paul warned in the letters of the new testement, especially in the book of Galations, that even Satan, and evil spirits can appear as angels of light, deceiving many.  So, if this is true, then is it possible that a loving father, author or Pastor might be decieved and misinterpret his son's experience as being from God when it possibly isn't?  That possibility must be acknowledged by anyone who reads this book.   While Paul acknowledged the possibility of personal visions in the ancient church, he himself did not place on any believer the burden of accepting any other private vision other than the message containe din the gospel.  As far as the  details- knowledge or information could be obtained from evil sources for the purpose of adding "authenticity" and misleading believers into believeing the other aspects of the visions shared.  The evil spirits are known for mixing truth with falsehood.  We are in a spiritual battle, and nothing is off limits as far as the evil spirits of this world are concerned.  they will try all sorts oftricky and decieving deceptions. They will  try any underhanded tactic even going so far as using an innocent boy and his  Dad, as tools to mislead others.  It isn't always obvious to everyone to sort truth from untruth unless they are firmly grounded in the Holy Spirit. Even those involved in the occult such as palm readers and fortune tellers, can sometimes fortell the future or the past with amazing accuracy with supernatural information supplied by the evil spirit realm. 

Hitchcock has written a book that I feel very strongly about- its message needs to be heard. So many readers, even those in church leadership positions, are falling for these heaven and back stories.  It is as if so many Christians have thrown their common sense and bible belief out the window.  Hitchcock's book grounds people into reality. His book not only gives the historical background into the NDE accounts, he provides a survey of the main bestsellers involving NDEs as well.  Not only that, he addresses these claims one by one in light of scripture.  He does what every pastor should have been doing but has neglected to do because of political correctness and fear of popular opinion. Finally comes a writer who is courageous enough to speak biblical truth.  As a blogger I received a copy of this book published by Tyndale for the purpose of writing this review.








My original review on Heaven is for Real:

Heaven is for Real  -A Little Boy's Astounding Story of His Trip to Heaven and Back, By Todd Burpo with Lynn Vincent, claims to be an account of a true story.  A pastor, writes the account of his son's trip to heaven, that happened during the emergency surgery of his 4 year old son near death experience.  While alleged near death experiences are somewhat common, based on the media attention in documentaries, articles and even books, what makes this story unique is the fact that it comes from a 4 year old boy, who upon his return to his parents, reveals information that he could possibly not have known everywhere else.

Even though this story is easy to read and easy to follow, it raises spiritually complex issues such as the issue of the legitimacy of private visions apart from revealed scripture.  While it is true that some NDE can be ruled out as the side effects of a dying or injured brain, not all can be scientifically ruled out.  Some perhaps might be supernatural in nature.  Nevertheless that does not mean they should automatically be accepted as biblical in nature or truth.  I must admit I am skeptical when it comes to believing modern day visions and NDE.  For example, there are so many alleged apparitions of Mary in the Catholic church, that I believe most to be hoaxes, and in other cases, demonic in nature. 

Convieniently, this entire miraculous story occured to a pastor's son.  The reader places his faith by accepting the word of the pastor- the author of this book- that his 4 year old son did in fact go to heaven and that it is a true account and not fabricated or embellished. While the pastor does not admit to adding to his son's depictions of heaven, he interprets them in light of scripture.  In of itslef there is nothing wrong with doing that.   Once the reader decides to accept the author's word that this story is legit,  it is up to the reader to discern the source or supernatural power behind the NDE. This is where most readers will most likely accept with blind faith that this is a true account and that it is based on biblical truth. This is because most people want to believe this heartwarming and comforting message is true. 

 Any responsible reader familiar with the bible will be aware that he or she is faced with the task of determining if the experience of Colton is spiritually based on truth, or if it perhaps is an indirect attempt of Satan to mislead believers into accepting false information.  Paul warned in the letters of the new testement, especially in the book of Galations, that even Satan, and evil spirits can appear as angels of light, deceiving many.  So, if this is true, then is it possible that a Pastor might be decieved and misinterpret his son's experience as being from God when it possibly isn't?  That possibility must be acknowledged by anyone who reads this book.   While Paul acknowledged the possibility of personal visions in the ancient church, he himself did not place on any believer the burden of accepting any other private vision other than the message containe din the gospel.  When Colton urgently claimed that all must know Jesus to enter Heaven, that is accurate- and perhaps the most significant piece of information that could possibly validate the experience as being in line with scripture. As far as the other details- knowledge of his grandfather and unborn sister- that information could be obtained from evil sources for the purpose of adding "authenticity" and misleading believers into believeing the other aspects of the visions Colton shared.  The evil spirits are known for mixing truth with falsehood.  We are in a spiritual battle, and nothing is off limits as far as the evil spirits of this world are concerned.  they will try all sorts oftricky and decieving deceptions. They will  try any underhanded tactic even going so far as using an innocent boy and his Pastor Dad, as tools to mislead others.  It isn't always obvious to everyone to sort truth from untruth unless they are firmly grounded in the Holy Spirit. Even those involved in the occult such as palm readers and fortune tellers, can sometimes fortell the future or the past with amazing accuracy with supernatural information supplied by the evil spirit realm.  The details of the throne of God, the angels and other aspects are questionable, as to their spiritual authenticity.

Folding Clipboard for Nurses by WhiteCoat Clipboards: Is a clipboard really worth thirty dollars?

Folding Clipboard for Nurses by WhiteCoat Clipboards: 
Is a clipboard really worth thirty dollars?


Whitecoat Nurses Clipboard- Lilac - Nursing Edition
available on Amazon and other retailers

                                                                

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Price:

$30.00 @ Amazon

When I saw another nursing student with a foldable clip board, I knew I wanted one just like it. A semi circle of students gathered in awe around to see the new nurses gadget.  I was one of them. After clinical, I promptly returned home and googled "nurses folding clip board".  And, it wasn't long before an image popped up on the screen indicating it was available on Amazon. After some strategic "hints" to my husband, weeks later, a clip board was delivered to my door.  I was pretty excited.

Yet, I  cannot understand why in the world so many students are willing to pay $30 for a thin foldable aluminum clipboard. It looks more impressive in the picture, but when you get it out of the package you soon realize it is a thin, overpriced aluminum clip board covered in stickers.  I also feel, it would be better if this cheat sheet was affixed to the interior rather than for the outside of the clipboard for everyone to see.  The stickered outside basically announces to the world that you need a cheat sheet to perform your role as a nurse.  If I was a patient and saw my nurse or my nursing student using this clip board I would be scared, with the belief that she was not competent! In fact, during clinical, a skeptical patient eyed the conspicuous clipboard in my pocket and interrogated me as to what was inside.  I pulled it out and assured him it was only a clipboard and nothing more. On the other hand, another patient, also in the healthcare field was quite impressed and asked where he too could purchase a folding clipboard.  My instructor liked it too.

There is nothing special that justifies the $30 price tag at Amazon. True, this clip board is very useful, as it folds in half and can fit into an oversized scrub pocket. Instead of folding and scrunching my clinical papers in my pocket, pulling out what looks like a pile of trash from my scrubs each time I step in to see a patient, I can simply pull out the clipboard, unfold and my papers are neatly opened.  But, as useful as this item is, the stickers on the outside are too conspicuous.  Additionally, the selected tid-bits of information are arbitrary or not very useful.  The conversions and volume equivalents are not rounded to the nearest whole number.  Therefore this is basically useless when we need to memorize the equivalents for med calc.  The pupil size chart is pretty ridiculous.  It is not as if we will be holding up this clipboard with the other hand while we assess the patient with a penlight in the other hand.  The pain scale of five faces is cute but useless considering we use a standard 1-10 pain scale.  I can't picture pulling out this clipboard to have a patient identify his pain visually.  If the patient could not respond I imagine the hospital has a standard visual chart for such purposes.  The only possible useful graphic is the injection sites.  But it includes the dorsogluteal site which nursing students are discouraged from learning and not tested on.    There are no pockets, grooves or slots  for a pen. Overall I don't feel it is worth $30.  Had I seen this clipboard in a store and actually folded it and unfolded it a few times,  I would never have purchased this item for $30.  I was certainly underwhelmed. In my opinion, I'd rather have one of those traditional nursing clipboard with the built in calculator. 

Overall, I found this clipboard useful during my clinical experience.  I wouldn't be complaining if it weren't so overpriced. I suppose the only thing I can do now is keep it and get my money's worth. I've personalized it by placing blank adhesive labels on the inside and using it for writing notes such as passwords and pass codes so I don't lose them.  I also plan to cover up the useless conversions with white labels - since they only serve to confuse me when trying to memorize conversion factors.

 I can keep a bunch of papers tucked neatly inside as the ultra- tight clamp holds the papers in for dear life. The clamp is so tight I can secure a wrinkled, balled up wad of papers inside as well.  It is certainly much better than keeping a wad of crunched up papers in my pocket. I could clamp off my finger too if I am not careful- a tongue too, and don't ask. If you are the type that doesn't mind spending $5.75 for an overpriced Vente coffee at Starbuck's, then you may find this to be a worthwhile purchase as well.  If you consider this clipboard will "only" set you back about five Starbuck's coffees, I guess it isn't so much money after all.

Advertised "features" include:

• Full size folding nursing clipboard- thin and flimsy
• Lightweight aluminum construction- thin and flimsy, poor paint job that has tiny bubbles
• HIPAA compliant design to hold sensitive patient documents- doesn't really mean much except it folds so you cant see patient data, your pocket  can also be HIPAA compliant if you fold sheets of paper
• Great for nursing students- nursing students are willing to try any gimmick or gadget advertised to make nursing school easier
• nurses or any healthcare professional- no real RN would be caught dead with this clip board covered with cheat sheet styled notes with no real application for real patient care. The fact that these stickers are on the outside will not give patients confidence when they think that their RN cannot function without a cheat sheet.
• Powder coated finish for long lasting durability- spray paint finish covered with fine bubbled texture

This WHITECOAT nurses clipboard is available on Amazon in a variety of colors. I also noticed that the college bookstore carried it too for $25- still overpriced but $5 cheaper than Amazon.

UPDATE-
So it is now my final semester and I am in preceptorship wearing REAL nursing scrubs.  I have discovered this clipboard to be totally useless as it can not even fit into the oversized pockets of my real/ authentic nursing scrubs. I don't think standard scrubs come with bigger sized pockets. Not only that, on several occasions I nearly amputated my finger when I opened up the clipboard enclosing a piece of my finger inside the joint in the center.  I got rid of the student folding clipboard and replaced it with a "professional" and more user friendly three ring binder just like all the real nurses in the hospital use.  With continued use, not only did I find this clip board to no longer be practical but it is a danger as well! 

Words to Dream on by Diane Stortz and illustrated by Diane Le Feyer

Words to Dream on by Diane Stortz and illustrated by Diane Le Feyer , is a new bedtime themed book of short bible stories written especially for young children.  Vibrant, colorful art, featuring well known bible characters and heroes such as King David, Daniel, Noah, Paul and Jesus, reinforce bible themes in a bedtime story setting.  The bright luminescent illustrations of Le Feyer bring this book to life, and the cozy nighttime theme will appeal to young children and are perfectly suited for a bedtime storybook.  This small sized book, with its short, comforting and happy stories are the perfect bedtime story for young boys and girls, preschool aged and younger.

 Unlike a typical bible storybook, the purpose of these stories is not necessarily to convey biblical truth but rather to introduce well known bible characters  in a simplified story.  There are biblical references provided for each story as well as key scripture verses .  This ties in the book to the actual bible- grounding parents and children alike with the true source- the bible.  This book would make a good first introduction to popular bible stories for children unfamiliar with the bible. Within the text of the stories, the author provides explanatory information to educate children concerning bible concepts and themes, such as a scribe and Hebrews.  The particular stories in this book are simplified  This is a good choice for a casual, lighthearted bedtime book.  But for fundamentalist  parents looking for a true book of bible stories, this is not the best choice as I believe parents looking for actual bible stories will be disappointed.  These bible stories are overly simplified and far removed from their actual bible counterparts.  Parents who are avid bible readers are most likely to focus more on what is missing from these stories and how  they differ from the bible account. These simple stories could also be used as a springboard for a discussion of the bible account. I can imagine the lively discussions that could be started with older children contrasting the actual bible accounts with these stories.  As a blogger for Booklook bloggers I received this book published by Tommy Nelson for the purpose of writing this review. 

Children's Bible Directory

C is for Cthulhu by Jason Ciaramella & Greg Murphy

Any trip to the bookstore, one will find no shortage of baby board books. Tired of the typical children's board book featuring the stereotypical long haired princess,  fluffy little animals and other bland subject matter? C is for Cthulhu by Jason Ciaramella & Greg Murphy  is a new children's board book that fans of H.P. Lovecraft as well as others looking for something new, will certainly appreciate. Opening the pages of this book is a delight for those who love gothic literature. Next to Dr. Seuss, this eccentric and original board book is a welcome addition to the endless saturated market of bland, monotonous children's board books. 

 

The original cartoon illustrations are bold and vibrant. Some of the art work and the cartoons have a retro style.  The art depicts characters from Lovecraft's literature classics such as Cthulu and Shoggoth as well as other gothic and nightmarish themes.  Those who are not familiar with Lovecraft's works will also enjoy this book as well.  This board book is best for those who are into gothic literature or horror classics and want to share their appreciation with their children. This also makes a cute little book for Halloween time too.  The reader or parent considering this book should keep in mind that some sensitive parents might not find it offensive  to read their children an alphabet board book  featuring a horned, demonic looking black goat with three blood red eyes. This book is not directed toward the traditional market.  Children, however,  will be drawn to the expressive creatures and poignant themes in this book.  The illustrations are not scary and will not give children nightmares.  Even the  black goat caricature is cartoonish and not horrific. This memorable book will serve to reinforce  the learning experience as well! Who could ever forget the letter "C"  for Cthulhu or "E" for Eldritch.  This book would make a great gift for any parent or parent- to -be who happens to be gothic classic enthusiast. 

 

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C is for Cthulhu by Jason Ciaramella & Greg Murphy is a one of a kind childrens picture book.  Fans of the well known Lovercraft as well as anyone who appreciates gothic  literature and the classics will love reading this colorful book to their children.  The children's book market is saturated with the same genre of overused themes: cute animals, princess characters and other commonly seen characters and stories.  Next to Dr. Seuss, this book is a refreshing change and will encourage even the most apathetic of parents to pick up a book and read to their chi

He Wanted the Moon by Mimi Baird

He Wanted the Moon: The Madness and Medical Genius of Dr. Perry Baird and His Daughter's Quest to Know Him by Mimi Baird is an authentic account of the firsthand impact of mental illness.  Mimi Baird's story is the multi- perspective account of her father's descent into mental illness.  Her father, Dr. Perry Baird suffered from a bi-polar mood disorder where he would cycle through periods of mania and periods of depression.  With incredible one of a kind insight, Dr. Baird, a medical doctor himself, writes first hand, in a journal, the accounts of his descent into mania as it occurs. Long after his death, his adult daughter uncovers his journals which reveals the extent of his research into mental illness, bi polar mood disorder and mania. The doctor's theories that there is a biochemical root to bipolar disorder and mania was years ahead of his time.  The authentic details of mental illness will stand the scrutiny of any medical or nursing student.  The historical details of society in general and the infancy of the psychiatric discipline and mental institutions is like stepping back into a time machine. Historians, medical students and laymen alike will enjoy this story.  I read it cover to cover in one day, wanting to know what would happen in the end.  Passages alternate from the perspective of Dr. Perry Baird. his adult daughter Mimi, as well as the "narratives" from medical records.  The different perspectives give the reader a larger picture into the manic episodes experienced from both the medical point of view as well as a first hand point of view.  Not only that, there is a vivid depiction of the barbaric horrors that the mentally ill endured at large state run institutions.  Dr. Baird's accounts tells of the barbaric treatment, restraints with jackets and cold wet sheets that bordered on the level of torture.  Mimi's book is a unique piece of work, and I recommend it as a good elective reading for any nursing student during a mental health rotation at school. The first person point of view, as well as the doctor's awareness and clarity of thought as he succumbed to mania reminded me of the classic Flowers for Algernon.   As a blogger I received a copy of this book published by crown publishers for the purpose of writing this review.