A Blessed Time: A Review of ‘The Moment is Now’

“Pray, hope, and don’t worry.  Worry is useless.  God is merciful and will hear your prayer.”—St Padre Pio

Review and Thoughts

*I am so excited to be able to review this book.  It comes out today!  I was lucky enough to get an advanced copy.  Please share and spread the word for this lovely author!*

I spent the majority of my twenties as a single woman.  There were a few romances along the way, one or two that broke my heart, but most of my time was alone.  Waiting, wondering, praying and hoping for my husband to find me.  I’m pretty sure I prayed every Catholic novena, some with my other single friends and many on my own and I prayed every night for my husband…wherever he was. Continue reading A Blessed Time: A Review of ‘The Moment is Now’

A Friend of the Heart: A Review of ‘Finding Winnie, the True Story of the World’s Most Famous Bear’

“As soon as I saw you, I knew a grand adventure was about to happen.” – Winnie the Pooh

Reading Level:  

K – Grade 3 [approximately]

 Grade Level Equivalent:

3.4 [The text could likely be read independently by a student whose reading  skills are at the level of a typical third grader during the fourth month of  school.]

Review and Comments:

‘Finding Winnie’ is a fascinating and true prequel to Winnie-the-Pooh and his familiar adventures. It is a story within a story that begins when a young boy named Cole asks his mother to tell him a true story about a bear – the authentic story of Winnie-the-Pooh. Continue reading A Friend of the Heart: A Review of ‘Finding Winnie, the True Story of the World’s Most Famous Bear’

Ordinary Things: A Review of ‘The Corporal Works of Mommy and Daddy’

“The family is the first essential cell of all humanity.”–Pope Francis

“In my little way there are only very ordinary things.”–Saint Terese of Lisieux

Review and Comments

The Corporal Works of Mommy and Daddy was a blessing for this young  stay-at-home mother of two (soon to be three).   With such young kids so close together, and with days when I often feel I do the same thing over and over again, it was relieving to read that I, too, can work for the glory of God in this Year of Mercy.

The corporal works of mercy were concepts I was taught in the third grade.  (My mother was my teacher and I remember learning them well.)  As an adult, I often think about how I should be doing more…how these corporal works should be the forefront of my life.  Then, Dr. Greg and Lisa Popcak wrote this wonderful book reminding us all that we can all live these works every day in our own families.  And what better way to teach our children the love and mercy of Christ?   When they see us live this way every day, they are learning as well. Continue reading Ordinary Things: A Review of ‘The Corporal Works of Mommy and Daddy’

A Most Enduring Home: A Review of ‘The Little House’

“Where we love is home – home that our feet may leave, but not our hearts.” – Oliver Wendell Holmes

Reading Level:

3.9 [according to Scholastic – reflects the grade level at which a student reading on grade could read the book independently]

Interest Level:

K – 2

Review and Comments:

Little House was lovingly built for family – generations of family. She was very content watching the family grow and the changing seasons from her small hilltop.  As time passed, Little House also saw further transformations of the landscape.  There was an increase in traffic so bigger roads were built through the beautiful countryside, and more and more people followed those roads right up to her little world. After awhile the ever-expanding and consuming city grew. Little House was in the middle of that crowded city with feelings that she was abandoned by the family who loved her. She was alone, boarded up and shabby, yearning for the life she used to have. Continue reading A Most Enduring Home: A Review of ‘The Little House’

Facing Fears and Gaining Courage: A Review of ‘Elijah of Buxton’

“It really boils down to this: that all life is interrelated.  We are all caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied into a single garment of destiny.  Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.” – Martin Luther King, Jr.

Reading Level:

Grades: 4-5 [according to common core]

Grades: 6     [according to Scholastic – reflects the grade level at which a student reading on grade could read the book independently]

Interest Level:  

Grade:  7

Review and Comments:

Elijah Freeman is the first free born child born in the settlement at Raleigh in Canada West called Buxton.  The honor makes Elijah well known among the citizens of almost all ex-slaves.  Elijah’s life is intertwined with many strong and often damaged people from the town.  His relationship with those people and the events they share begin his journey to see life as it really is. Continue reading Facing Fears and Gaining Courage: A Review of ‘Elijah of Buxton’

Middle School Perception: A Review of ‘Diary of a Wimpy Kid’

“The deeds you do may be the only sermon some people will hear today.” — St. Francis of Assisi

Reading Level:  

Grades 4-5 [according to common core]

Grade   5.2 [according to Scholastic]

Interest Level:  

Grades 3-8

Review and Comments:

Greg Heffley reluctantly begins a journal at the same time he starts middle school. The journal is a very detailed record of his private thought process, observations, desires, and schemes. The reader also learns that the journal is primarily a record of his life so when he becomes famous he will only have to reference this history to recall his life story.  From the beginning, he realizes the transition to a new school is an uncertain one and brings with it many challenges.  His anxiety is on high alert as he tries to tread lightly and yet at the same time survive and fit into the intimidating world called middle school. Continue reading Middle School Perception: A Review of ‘Diary of a Wimpy Kid’