Jennifer Lambert

A Sacred Balance

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Mice Unit Study

The blog may contain affiliate links: disclosure. Also see my suggested resources.

January 25, 2021 By Jennifer Lambert 7 Comments

My son loves books about mice.

I think I understand the attraction of anthropomorphic mice in adventure stories. I enjoy reading them aloud at bedtime.

When we feel small, powerless, invisible, and lonely, escaping into a magical world of talking mice with happy endings is a great way to cheer up as we experience their fun adventures.

There is catharsis and safety in lovely fairy tales. I’m so glad my children love to hear and read stories.

My son and I look forward to bedtime and another chapter about mice escaping and outwitting enemies, cats, and people, philosophizing about power and control and whether they even matter in the grand scheme of life.

He’s almost 11 this year and I cherish these moments together, reading and snuggling, and giggling over animal antics.

Mice Books We Love

The Mouse with the Question Mark Tail by Richard Peck

Secrets at Sea by Richard Peck

The Adventures of Henry Whiskers by Gigi Priebe

Poppy series by Avi, illustrated by Brian Floca NEW: Ragweed and Poppy!

Ralph Mouse (3 book series) by Beverly Cleary 

The Tale of Despereaux: Being the Story of a Mouse, a Princess, Some Soup and a Spool of Thread by Kate DiCamillo

Stuart Little by E. B White

Mouse and Mole by Joyce Dunbar

The Mouse Mansion series by Karina Schaapman

Chester Cricket and His Friends (7 book series) by George Selden

Rats of Nimh Trilogy by Robert C. O’Brien 

Redwall by Brian Jacques

Library Mouse (5 book series) by Daniel Kirk 

The School Mouse, A Mouse Called Wolf, and Martin’s Mice by Dick King-Smith

Geraldine Woolkins (3 book series) by Karin Kaufman

Mac and Cheese by Sarah Weeks

The Little Mouse, the Red Ripe Strawberry, and the Big Hungry Bear by Audrey Wood

Geronimo Stilton series

Word of Mouse by James Patterson and Chris Grabenstein

Brambly Hedge series by Jill Barklem

Frederick, Geraldine, Alexander, Matthew, Tillie, Nicolas, The Greentail Mouse, and MORE by Leo Lionni

If You Give a Mouse a Cookie books by Laura Numeroff

Mouse Paint by Ellen Stoll Walsh

Mouse’s First Spring by Lauren Thompson

Mousetronaut by Mark Kelly

Chrysanthemum books by Kevin Henkes

The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson

Maisy books by Lucy Cousins

Norman the Doorman by Don Freeman

Town Mouse, Country Mouse by Jan Brett

The Lion & the Mouse by Jerry Pinkney

Mouse Tales and Mouse Soup by Arnold Lobel

Angelina Ballerina books by Katharine Holabird

By Peter W. Barnes and Cheryl Shaw Barnes:

  • Marshall, the Courthouse Mouse: A Tail of the U.S. Supreme Court 
  • House Mouse, Senate Mouse
  • Woodrow for President: A Tail of Voting, Campaigns, and Elections
  • Woodrow, the White House Mouse
  • Cornelius Vandermouse: The Pride of Newport
  • Maestro Mouse: And the Mystery of the Missing Baton

Of course we love the animal tales from Beatrix Potter too!

Want to extend the lesson?

  • Literature Unit Study for Mouse Soup by Arnold Lobel
  • The Mouse and the Motorcycle FREE Lesson
  • If You Give a Mouse a Cookie Lapbook Printables
  • The Little Mouse, the Red Ripe Strawberry, and the Big Hungry Bear Unit Study and Lapbook
  • Ellen Stoll Walsh Unit
  • Mouse Paint Preschool Fun
  • Norman the Doorman FREE unit
  • Stuart Little Unit Study
  • Mouse’s First Spring Kindergarten Literature Unit
  • Red Ted Art
  • Sight and Sound Reading

What is your favorite story book for this season?

Linking up: Anita Ojeda, April Harris, Marilyn’s Treats, Little Cottage, Create with Joy, LouLou Girls, Our Three Peas, Suburbia, Grandma’s Ideas, Grammy’s Grid, OMHG, Anchored Abode, Soaring with Him, InstaEncouragements, Ridge Haven, Girlish Whims, Fluster Buster, Ginger Snap, Ducks in a Row, Penny’s Passion, Crystal Storms, Debbie Kitterman, Slices of Life, Mommynificent, Chic Shoestring, Answer is Choco, Momfessionals, Katherine’s Corner, Simply Sweet Home, Lyli Dunbar, CWJ, Imparting Grace, Being a Wordsmith, Try it Like it, Everyday Farmhouse, Mostly Blogging,

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Ancient Times Book List

The blog may contain affiliate links: disclosure. Also see my suggested resources.

January 18, 2021 By Jennifer Lambert 7 Comments

As my kids get older and are growing out of picture books and sometimes get bored with assigned readings, I look for more appropriate books for the entire family to enjoy.

We still gather in the mornings and most evenings for story time. I still read aloud and show any pictures like the library story lady.

We use Tapestry of Grace for our main curriculum and book lists, and I also peruse Ambleside Online and other lists for a well-rounded history curriculum. I want all sides and perspectives. See How We Do History.

We use this text as a guide, especially for younger kids: The Story of the World: Ancient Times: From the Earliest Nomads to the Last Roman Emperor

For older kids: The History of the Ancient World: From the Earliest Accounts to the Fall of Rome and The Penguin Historical Atlas of Ancient Civilizations and Warfare in the Classical World.

I go to the library about every week and get what I can. Sometimes, I even rent or buy eBooks to save money.

We expand our home library every year and extensively update every new history cycle.

For ancient history this year, my kids are 14, 13, and 10.

My girls are doing the rhetoric level and we still read aloud together many of their selections because I love to learn too. This is their last cycle with ancient history.

My son is in dialectic level and the girls even though they’re working the rhetoric level often love to hear those readings again.

And we still pull out of some of our well-loved picture books with gorgeous images and lovely stories.

I love, love, love historical fiction or living books. I love how it uses an author’s imagination to bring real life to historical events that are often boring in textbooks.

I often read adult historical fiction alongside my kids’ reading and our read alouds. The Red Tent is still a favorite. Some biblical fiction is hard for me to swallow and others are delightful or informative.

I still love T.L. Higley books. I enjoyed The Restoration Chronicles by Lynn Austin.

The book Pontius Pilate: A Novel by Paul L. Maier was recommended to me by a pastor and I might read it aloud to my family this Easter. Flames of Rome and his Skeleton Series look good too.

It’s often difficult to find engaging historical fiction for ancient times since we only have fragments of history and many ancient peoples had no written records or were wiped out by war or natural disaster. I don’t want to rely solely on religious texts as our reading material.

We’re learning more about parallel histories to the people of the Bible, different voices to fill in the real story. We’re learning about ancient Americas and Asia and Africa. I love seeing the full tapestry.

Favorite Ancient Times Historical Fiction

The Golden Goblet by Eloise Jarvis McGraw

Mara, Daughter of the Nile by Eloise Jarvis McGraw

A Cry From Egypt and A Stand at Sinai by Hope Auer

Tirzah by Travis Lucille

Adara by Beatrice Gormley

Twice Freed by Patricia St. John

Shadow Spinner by Susan Fletcher

God King by Joanne Williamson

Hittite Warrior by Joanne Williamson

Victory on the Walls by Frieda Clark Hyman

Beyond the Desert Gate by Mary Ray

Within the Palace Gates by Anna P. Siviter

The Pearl-Maiden by Henry Rider Haggard

Pharaoh’s Daughter by Julius Lester

The Eyes of Pharaoh by Chris Eboch

Cleopatra Confesses by Carolyn Meyer

The Bronze Bow by Elizabeth George Speare

Journey for Tobiyah by Barbara E. Morgan

Vinegar Boy by Alberta Hawse

The Corn Grows Ripe by Dorothy Rhoads

Run With Me, Nike! by Cassandra Case

The Ides of April by Mary Ray

Beyond the Desert Gate by Mary Ray

The Roman Britain Trilogy by Rosemary Sutcliff

I’m sure I will add to this list over the next few months as we finish our ancient times history cycle year.

What’s your favorite ancient studies book?

See my Pinterest board for Year 1 History:

Linking up: Anita Ojeda, April Harris, Marilyn’s Treats, Little Cottage, Mostly Blogging, InstaEncouragements, LouLou Girls, Suburbia, Our Three Peas, Grandma’s Ideas, Anchored Abode, Soaring with Him, Ducks in aRow, Girlish Whims, Fluster Buster, Ginger Snap, Eclectic Red Barn, Penny’s Passion, Mommynificent, Debbie Kitterman, Ridge Haven, Slices of Life, Simply Sweet Home, Try it Like it, Answer is Choco, Wordsmith, Momfessionals, Embracing Unexpected, Lyli Dunbar, CWJ, Everyday Farmhouse, OMHG, Create with Joy,

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Best Books of 2020

The blog may contain affiliate links: disclosure. Also see my suggested resources.

January 11, 2021 By Jennifer Lambert 11 Comments

I love to read and I love passing on this hobby to my children.

We read aloud various books for our homeschool every morning and most evenings.

While libraries were closed most of this year, I utilized online eBook library services, added to my Kindle reading with Kindle Unlimited and even purchased some eBooks and physical books I couldn’t find anywhere that had great reviews and I really wanted.

I didn’t read very much fiction this year! I read a few eBooks when I needed a break from all the seriousness, but they were nothing special.

It certainly has not been an ordinary year. I watched shows a lot more, played more games, wasted more time than in previous years.

I tried to maintain a semblance of normalcy with our homeschool and household, but some days and weeks were really hard.

My Favorite Books We Read in 2020

Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You: A Remix of the National Book Award-winning Stamped from the Beginning by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi

The construct of race has always been used to gain and keep power, to create dynamics that separate and silence. This remarkable reimagining of Dr. Ibram X. Kendi’s National Book Award-winning Stamped from the Beginning reveals the history of racist ideas in America, and inspires hope for an antiracist future. It takes you on a race journey from then to now, shows you why we feel how we feel, and why the poison of racism lingers. It also proves that while racist ideas have always been easy to fabricate and distribute, they can also be discredited.

Through a gripping, fast-paced, and energizing narrative written by beloved award-winner Jason Reynolds, this book shines a light on the many insidious forms of racist ideas–and on ways readers can identify and stamp out racist thoughts in their daily lives.

I read this book aloud in our homeschool and it was very enlightening. I highly recommend it. I love the writing style of Jason Reynolds!

The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma by Bessel van der Kolk, M.D.

Trauma is a fact of life. Veterans and their families deal with the painful aftermath of combat; one in five Americans has been molested; one in four grew up with alcoholics; one in three couples have engaged in physical violence. Dr. Bessel van der Kolk, one of the world’s foremost experts on trauma, has spent over three decades working with survivors. In The Body Keeps the Score, he uses recent scientific advances to show how trauma literally reshapes both body and brain, compromising sufferers’ capacities for pleasure, engagement, self-control, and trust. He explores innovative treatments—from neurofeedback and meditation to sports, drama, and yoga—that offer new paths to recovery by activating the brain’s natural neuroplasticity. Based on Dr. van der Kolk’s own research and that of other leading specialists, The Body Keeps the Score exposes the tremendous power of our relationships both to hurt and to heal—and offers new hope for reclaiming lives.

This book is imperative for anyone who has experienced trauma or to help us understand loved ones.

Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World by David Epstein

Plenty of experts argue that anyone who wants to develop a skill, play an instrument, or lead their field should start early, focus intensely, and rack up as many hours of deliberate practice as possible. If you dabble or delay, you’ll never catch up to the people who got a head start. But a closer look at research on the world’s top performers, from professional athletes to Nobel laureates, shows that early specialization is the exception, not the rule.    
David Epstein examined the world’s most successful athletes, artists, musicians, inventors, forecasters and scientists. He discovered that in most fields—especially those that are complex and unpredictable—generalists, not specialists, are primed to excel. Generalists often find their path late, and they juggle many interests rather than focusing on one. They’re also more creative, more agile, and able to make connections their more specialized peers can’t see.
Provocative, rigorous, and engrossing, Range makes a compelling case for actively cultivating inefficiency. Failing a test is the best way to learn. Frequent quitters end up with the most fulfilling careers. The most impactful inventors cross domains rather than deepening their knowledge in a single area. As experts silo themselves further while computers master more of the skills once reserved for highly focused humans, people who think broadly and embrace diverse experiences and perspectives will increasingly thrive.

I enjoyed this book – part parenting, part coaching. I see parents pushing their kids too early and I want to make sure my kids are balanced.

The Color of Compromise: The Truth about the American Church’s Complicity in Racism by Jemar Tisby

The Color of Compromise is not a call to shame or a platform to blame white evangelical Christians. It is a call from a place of love and desire to fight for a more racially unified church that no longer compromises what the Bible teaches about human dignity and equality. A call that challenges black and white Christians alike to standup now and begin implementing the concrete ways Tisby outlines, all for a more equitable and inclusive environment among God’s people. Starting today.

I read this book almost exactly a year ago. It was fascinating and I learned lots and confirmed things I thought I knew. Really helped my deconstruction.

Jemar Tisby just released another book too: How to Fight Racism: Courageous Christianity and the Journey Toward Racial Justice

Motherwhelmed: Challenging Norms, Untangling Truths, and Restoring Our Worth to the World by Beth Berry

Today’s mothers are struggling; though, it’s not for the reasons most moms tend to think. We’ve been conditioned to believe our inadequacy is the reason we can’t seem to “keep up” or enjoy mothering more, but nothing could be further from the truth.

We aren’t failing as mothers. We’re mothering within a culture that is misleading and inadequately supporting us.

Motherwhelmed is a deep, yet lighthearted exploration of the messy frontier of modern-day motherhood we’re all struggling to navigate. With compassion, realness, and rich storytelling, Beth Berry:

  • Illuminates the mindsets and narratives keeping us feeling overwhelmed, disempowered, anxious, isolated, and riddled with self-doubt
  • Provides the perspectives and tools needed for mothers to rewrite their stories and reclaim a sense of wholeness
  • Shares from her 25 years as an idealistic, passionate, all-in mother of four daughters
  • Reminds us of our worthiness and reframes our importance

This is not a book about parenting. It’s a book about mothers, our greatness, and how important it is that we thrive. It’s about untangling ourselves from the stories keeping us trapped and deconstructing those we’ve outgrown. It’s about daring the lives we’re here to live and, thereby, giving our children permission to do the same.

Until we begin to organize our lives around not only our children’s worthiness but also our own, mothers everywhere will continue to bear the brunt of cultural pain and dysfunction. This matters because we cannot be the changemakers we’re meant to be while so heavily burdened.

I’m actually still reading and rereading this. It’s so, so good and I have to step away every chapter or so to process it all.

In Pursuit of Flavor: The Beloved Classic Cookbook from the Acclaimed Author of The Taste of Country Cooking by Edna Lewis

Decades before cornbread, shrimp and grits, and peach cobbler were mainstays on menus everywhere, Edna Lewis was pioneering the celebration of seasonal food as a distinctly American cuisine.
 
In this James Beard Foundation Cookbook Hall of Fame-inducted cookbook, Miss Lewis (as she was almost universally known) shares the recipes of her childhood, spent in a Virginia farming community founded by her grandfather and his friends after emancipation, as well as those that made her one of the most revered American chefs of all time. Interspersed throughout are personal anecdotes, cooking insights, notes on important Southern ingredients, and personally developed techniques for maximizing flavor.
 
Across six charmingly illustrated chapters—From the Gardens and Orchards; From the Farmyard; From the Lakes, Steams, and Oceans; For the Cupboard; From the Bread Oven and Griddle; and The Taste of Old-fashioned Desserts—encompassing almost 200 recipes, Miss Lewis captures the spirit of the South. From Whipped Cornmeal with Okra; Pan-Braised Spareribs; and Benne Seed Biscuits to Thirteen-Bean Soup; Pumpkin with Sautéed Onions and Herbs; a Salad of Whole Tomatoes Garnished with Green Beans and Scallions; and Raspberry Pie Garnished with Whipped Cream, In Pursuit of Flavor is a modern classic and a timeless compendium of Southern cooking at its very best.

I loved reading Ms. Lewis’ stories and trying out her recipes, some of which are very similar to what I remember my grandma, aunt, and cousins making.

The Best Cook in the World: Tales from My Momma’s Table by Rick Bragg

Margaret Bragg does not own a single cookbook. She measures in “dabs” and “smidgens” and “tads” and “you know, hon, just some.” She cannot be pinned down on how long to bake corn bread (“about 15 to 20 minutes, depending on the mysteries of your oven”). Her notion of farm-to-table is a flatbed truck. But she can tell you the secrets to perfect mashed potatoes, corn pudding, redeye gravy, pinto beans and hambone, stewed cabbage, short ribs, chicken and dressing, biscuits and butter rolls. Many of her recipes, recorded here for the first time, pre-date the Civil War, handed down skillet by skillet, from one generation of Braggs to the next. In The Best Cook in the World, Rick Bragg finally preserves his heritage by telling the stories that framed his mother’s cooking and education, from childhood into old age. Because good food always has a good story, and a recipe, writes Bragg, is a story like anything else.

This book felt like home to me. I remember hearing similar stories about my matriarchal ancestors. I am seeking my lost heritage.

See my favorite books of 2019 and my favorite books of 2018. See my favorite life-changing books.

What was your favorite read of 2020?

I have a big stack of books and more eBooks waiting for me this year!

Linking up: Random Musings, Anita Ojeda, April Harris, Marilyn’s Treats, Little Cottage, Create with Joy, LouLou Girls, InstaEncouragements, Our Three Peas, Anchored Abode, Grandma’s Ideas, Soaring with Him, Ridge Haven, Ducks in a Row, Girlish Whims, Fluster Buster, Ginger Snap, OMHG, Try it Like it, Katherine’s Corner, Penny’s Passion, Crystal Storms, Slices of Life, Mommynificent, CKK, Imparting Grace, Wordsmith, Answer is Choco, Momfessionals, Simply Sweet Home, Grammy’s Grid, Embracing Unexpected, Lyli Dunbar, Create with Joy, Everyday Farmhouse, Mostly Blogging,

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Take Care of Your Kids and Yourself This School Year

The blog may contain affiliate links: disclosure. Also see my suggested resources.

July 21, 2020 By Jennifer Lambert 4 Comments

We all know that this is no ordinary school year. Now, more than ever, mental health and wellness need to take the forefront of our attention. Everyone from kids to college students to parents and teachers could use some inspiration and encouragement.

Flip through pages on how to keep your head up, stay true to yourself, and appreciate your weird side. Learn the history of inspiring women and Black Americans to motivate you this upcoming school year. Encourage kids to laugh, build their confidence, and learn important skills in coping with anxiety, showing empathy, and more!

For Teachers and Parents:

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Parenting the New Teen in The Age of Anxiety: Raising Happy, Healthy Humans Ages 8 to 24 by Dr. John Duffy

Kids are growing up with nearly unlimited access to social media and the world wide web. Starting as early as eight years old, children are exposed to information, thought, and emotion that they are developmentally unprepared to process. Because of the exposure they face, kids are emotionally overwhelmed at a young age, and they are often continuing to search for a sense of self well into their twenties. Dr. John Duffy’s parenting book is a new and necessary guide that addresses this hidden phenomenon of the changing teenage brain. Dr. Duffy, a nationally recognized expert in parenting for nearly twenty-five years, seeks to be a guide for parents raising children who are growing up quickly and, as a result, dealing with unresolved adolescent issues that can lead to anxiety and depression. View this book on Bookshop and Amazon!

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How to Survive Change . . . You Didn’t Ask For: Bounce Back, Find Calm in Chaos, and Reinvent Yourself by M.J. Ryan

These are challenging times. Chances are, at this moment, you’re confronting some change you never asked for—perhaps a life crisis, like a loss of a job or the failure of a dream. Maybe you have to learn to work in new ways or find a new place to live. Bestselling author, thought leader, and change expert M.J. Ryan is here to help. Within the pages of How to Survive Change…You Didn’t Ask For, you’ll find the support and practices you need to adapt successfully and ride the wave of this change, whatever it may be. In this book, the New York Times bestselling author of Attitudes of Gratitude provides strategies to retrain your brain and optimize your response to life change, step-by-step. View this book on Bookshop and Amazon!

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The Gift of Crisis: How I Used Meditation to Go From Financial Failure to a Life of Purpose by Bridgitte Jackson Buckley

During the 2008 Recession, Bridgitte Jackson Buckley was one of the millions affected by job loss and foreclosure. In The Gift of Crisis, Bridgitte shows you how to explore crisis as a tool for courageous change, regaining your self-esteem with self-love and self-compassion. It was through experiences of prolonged financial crisis that Bridgitte realized she subconsciously co-created experiences that felt so bad that the only place she could go was within―exactly where she needed to go. In The Gift of Crisis, you will discover how helpful going within and retaking control can be for you, too. For those who are sincerely interested in spiritual growth, yet find it difficult to make “mental room” to dedicate to such growth due to personal distractions, this inspirational book will demonstrate the practical manner in which meditation and prayer can assist during any type of crisis as a means of reaching for a calmer, clearer, more courageous and purposeful life. View this book on Bookshop and Amazon!

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This Is Not the Life I Ordered: 60 Ways to Keep Your Head Above Water When Life Keeps Dragging You Down by Deborah Collins Stephens, Michealene Cristini Risley, Jan Yanehiro, and Jackie Speier

Overcome adversity, embrace change, and discover your power―together. With this book, you can learn how to turn any unfortunate event into a joy-filled opportunity. In addition to stories and advice, This Is Not the Life I Ordered will teach you how to put together your own gathering of kitchen-table friends. At the end of each section, you will find tools that you can work with as a group to help each other grow, learn, and thrive. Part autobiography, part self-help book, and all useful and actionable content, the authors and friends pulled from their experiences supporting one another to help you do the same. If you are struggling with work, family, love, or just life in general, This Is Not the Life I Ordered is for you. View this book on Bookshop and Amazon!

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The Sudden Loss Survival Guide: Seven Essential Practices for Healing Grief by Chelsea Hanson

When a loved one passes unexpectedly, the person left behind can lose their bearings. After the sudden loss of her mother, Chelsea Hanson, a nationally-recognized grief educator and founder of With Sympathy Gifts and Keepsakes, didn’t know where to turn for help, what to do next, or how to put the pieces of her life back together. Hanson’s The Sudden Loss Survival Guide gathers everything that she learned during her own recovery process and provides an indispensable road map to aid those who’ve experienced a life-changing loss. Through the application of simple, proactive practices, The Sudden Loss Survival Guide will empower you to overcome the darkness and anxiety of grief with heart-lifting prompts and action steps that guide you towards re-engaging in life and discovering deeper meaning. View this book on Bookshop and Amazon!

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Positive Thoughts for Troubling Times: A Renew-Your-Spirit Guide by Allen Klein

Rarely before in history has the United States―and the world at large―been so divided. With each new Tweet, falsehood, or upsetting news headline, the things we once took for granted and believed in have become upended and, in the process, have crushed our spirit. The inspired ideas and power thoughts in Positive Thoughts for Troubling Times will provide you with hope, a renewed spirit, and a new perspective for viewing our worrisome times. Author Allen Klein, the world’s only Jollytologist, knows how the right thought at the right time can change your day for the better. In this incredible book, he offers a lifetime of positive change. View this book on Bookshop and Amazon!

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Little Indulgences: More Than 400 Ways to Be Good to Yourself by Cynthia MacGregor

In Little Indulgences, Cynthia MacGregor has gathered a bouquet of ways to treat yourself every day. Included in this arrangement are “Instant Indulgences,” indulgences that can be done in less than five minutes; “All-Day Indulgences;” and “Rewards Over Time.” Some are simple, free, and spontaneous. Others include decadent suggestions for spoiling yourself rotten. View this book on Bookshop and Amazon!

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Everyday Energy Boosters: 365 Tips and Tricks to Help You Feel Like a Million Bucks by Sondra Kornblatt, Susannah Seton

Need an energy boost to get through that long afternoon meeting? Put down that cup of caffeine and pick up Everyday Energy Boosters with 365 quick and easy tips to feel more energized all day every day! Bestselling health writers Sondra Kornblatt and Susannah Seton offer energy-boosting tips that can be used anytime or anywhere: Deep breathing techniques, how to track your natural energy cycles, tips for getting more sleep, and more. This daily guide helps readers boost their energy and create a calmer, more positive, and energized life. View this book on Bookshop and Amazon!

For Teens:

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Be True to Yourself: A Daily Guide for Teenage Girls By Amanda Ford

In this book of short daily meditations and essays, Amanda Ford, a young adult herself, offers stories, information, and advice on all the important issues facing young women today: boys, dating, drinking, self-respect, self-love, fights with friends, dealing with parents, and more. When Amanda Ford emerged from her tumultuous teenage years, she saw the need for a guide to help girls learn to listen to their inner voices and think for themselves. Your daughter, granddaughter, niece, or young friend will learn to listen to her heart with this coming-of-age guide. Girls will find comfort, encouragement, and insight in these pages, along with suggestions for articulating and confiding their feelings, fears, and frustrations. View this book on Bookshop and Amazon!

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Badass Black Girl: Questions, Quotes, and Affirmations for Teens By M.J. Fievre

MJ Fievre tackles topics such as family and friends, school and careers, body image, and stereotypes in this journal designed for teenage girls. By reflecting on these topics, readers confront the issues that can hold them back from living their lives. Finding the courage to live as you are is not easy, so here’s a journal designed to help readers nurture their creativity, self-motivation, and positive self-awareness. This journal celebrates girl power and honors the strength and spirit of Black girls. This journal provides words of encouragement that seek not just to inspire, but to ignite discussion and debate about the world. Girls, especially, are growing up in a world that tries to tell them how to look and act. MJ Fievre encourages readers to fight the flow and determine for themselves who they want to be. View this book on Bookshop and Amazon!

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The Book of Awesome Women Writers: Medieval Mystics, Pioneering Poets, Fierce Feminists and First Ladies of Literature by Becca Anderson

From the first recorded writer to current bestsellers, Becca Anderson, author of The Book of Awesome Women and Badass Affirmations, takes us through time and highlights women who have left their mark on the literary world. This expansive compilation of women writers is a chance to delve deeper into the lives and works of renowned authors and learn about some lesser-known greats, as well. Some of the many women writers you will love learning about include Maya Angelou, Jane Austen, Judy Blume, Rachel Carson, Nadine Gordimer, Margaret Mead, Joyce Carol Oates, and many, many more. With the help of writers, editors, librarians, booksellers, and more, Anderson has crafted a must-read book for women everywhere. View this book on Bookshop and Amazon!

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The Book of Awesome Black Americans: Scientific Pioneers, Trailblazing Entrepreneurs, Barrier-Breaking Activists and Afro-Futurists by Monique Jones

We are familiar with a handful of African Americans who are mentioned in American history books, but there are also countless others who do not get recognized in mainstream media. The achievements of the Black Americans included in this book range from athletic to artistic, literary to scientific. Their biographies vary greatly, but each one contributes to the course of Black history and its influence on the greater world. Their stories encourage readers, especially teenage boys and girls, to find their own path to change. Monique L. Jones’s The Book of Awesome Black Americans is more than a Black history book. It’s a celebration of Black people. View this book on Bookshop and Amazon!

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The Book of Awesome Women by Becca Anderson

Women hold up half the sky and, most days, do even more of the heavy lifting including childbearing and child-rearing. All after a long day at the office. Women have always been strong, true heroes ─ sheroes, oftentimes unacknowledged. As we shake off the last traces of a major patriarchal hangover, women are coming into their own. From the foremothers who blazed trails and broke barriers, to today’s women warriors from sports, science, cyberspace, city hall, the lecture hall, and the silver screen, The Book of Awesome Women paints 200 portraits of powerful and inspiring role models for women and girls poised to become super women of the future. View this book on Bookshop and Amazon!

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Victory For the Vote: The Fight for Women’s Suffrage and the Century That Followed by Doris Weatherford

In her book Victory for the Vote, Women’s history expert Doris Weatherford offers an engaging and detailed narrative history of women’s seven-decade fight for the vote—and the continuing current-day struggle for human rights and equality. Victory for the Vote puts the fight for suffrage into a contemporary context, discussing key challenges and issues for women in the decades that followed 1920, such as reproductive rights, the Equal Rights Amendment, and political power. It will also help readers to take pride in the struggles and accomplishments of strong women, celebrate feminism, and recognize the challenges that still remain on the road to human rights for all. View this book on Bookshop and Amazon!

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The College Bound Organizer: The Ultimate Guide to Successful College Applications by Anna Costaras and Gail Liss

The College Bound Organizer is your step-by-step comprehensive guide to organize every step of the college application process from college search through college admission. The College Bound Organizer helps students understand what admission officers are looking for in an applicant, build a personal profile, plan an individualized testing schedule, and research colleges to identify a balanced list of schools. After preparing for their application, students learn how to secure letters of recommendation, develop the college application essay, prevent common mistakes students make on their applications, apply for financial aid and scholarships, and ace interviews. View this book on Bookshop and Amazon!

For Kids:

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Squeaky Clean Super Funny Jokes for Kidz by Craig Yoe

Squeaky Clean Super Funny Jokes for Kidz is from Craig Yoe, the former Creative Director, Vice President, and General Manager of Jim Henson’s Muppets─and former Creative Director at Nickelodeon and Disney. Craig, a retired pastor, believes that there is nothing better in life than making kids laugh and feel happy. He has been collecting jokes for years, and now he is releasing his hand-picked jokes for kids in the “Squeaky Clean” series. It’s packed with wholesome, edifying, LOL funny jokes to encourage reading and entertain children for hours. No boogers, ghosts, witches, scary monsters, insults, or put-downs─all giggle-filled good clean fun for young and old alike. View this book on Bookshop and Amazon!

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Dino Dana: Dino Field Guide by J.J. Johnson, Colleen Russo Johnson, and Christin Simms

Did you know that the brachiosaurus was the tallest dinosaur that we know of today? That the kosmoceratops had fifteen horns and hooks on its head? That the spinosaurus is the only known dinosaur to spend most of its time swimming? Discover this and much more in Dino Dana: Dino Field Guide. Fans of the Amazon Prime TV show Dino Dana will be so excited to have a Dino Field Guide of their own, put together by the incredible show’s creator and executive producer, J. J. Johnson. Full of colorful illustrations and fascinating science facts, this dinosaur book is sure to amaze any young dino enthusiast. This book for children is perfect for any kid who likes history and science. View this book on Bookshop and Amazon!

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She’s Building a Robot by Mick Liubinskas

AZ is a young girl who finds herself in a robot building competition. Can she use girl power to overcome crashes, explosions, and hackers to beat school bully and three-time champ? In this funny, action-packed story about STEM for kids, the talented AZ fights gender stereotypes and learns tough lessons on leadership. With the help of her quirky friends, Li and 10, the team builds a feisty robot named Ada. Together, they work hard, solve puzzles, grow in confidence, and learn the importance of friendship and collaboration. Written to raise awareness about the challenges faced by women in science and engineering, She’s Building a Robot celebrates voices from diverse socioeconomic and ethnic backgrounds. More importantly, it gives girls in science the opportunity to relate to strong, brave, smart characters. View this book on Bookshop and Amazon!

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I Do Not Like Living with Brothers: The Ups and Downs of Growing Up with Siblings by Daniel Baxter

Learn about the importance of family with I Do Not Like Living With Brothers, aimed to teach young siblings to see the value and goodness in each other. Exploring the family dynamic of a sister living with two brothers, in this children’s book, our young narrator discovers that while her brothers are dirty, smelly, and sometimes selfish, they are also kind, funny, and helpful. Author and father Daniel Baxter, cohost of the popular YouTube channel How It Should Have Ended, shows kids that perhaps living with your siblings is not all bad. With creative examples and fun illustrations, it will teach young girls and boys how to be more generous, why we should appreciate the people we live with, and that even though living with siblings can be hard work, it’s worth it! View this book on Bookshop and Amazon!

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Chicken Little, Come Out! The Sky is Not Falling!: Helping Children Express and Cope with Their Anxiety by Michele Winchester Vega D.S.W. LCSW-R, Sharen Casazza M.D.,  Katie Helpley LMRT RPT, and Corrine Varnavides LCSW SBL-SDL

There’s a barn full of Chicken Little characters, but they don’t want to come out. It’s scary out there and they fear that the sky is falling! However, with a lot of teamwork and a little help from Chicken Little, together they can calm their fears and phobias. Using beautifully illustrated, relatable farm animals from the classic Chicken Little story, Psychiatric Social Worker Dr. Winchester-Vega offers ways to manage and normalize children’s mental health and foster conversation and understanding. Children will learn how to identify and normalize their worries, fears, and anxieties while increasing their mental health awareness and learning new strategies for improved coping. View this book on Bookshop and Amazon!

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Kids’ Random Acts of Kindness by The Editors of the Conari Press

When the adult version of Random Acts of Kindness was first published, hundreds of teachers across the country gave assignments to their students to write about unsolicited acts that they had experienced or initiated. Teachers sent the results to Conari Press which then put out a call for similar stories in a teacher’s magazine. Stories poured in and the result was Kid’s Random Acts of Kindness. Whimsical and funny to moving and thoughtful, this book helps restore your belief in the potential for goodness in man. In Kid’s Random Acts of Kindness, you will see how children are the truest examples of open-hearted giving. View this book on Bookshop and Amazon!

For College Students:

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Love The Sh*t Out Of Yourself by Zoey Arielle Poulsen

Wise words and positive affirmations have the power to touch our hearts, make us laugh, alleviate our stress–while realizing the vast potential life has to offer. Grouped together, these quips, quotes, and “power thoughts” can help you deal with everything life throws at you. Build your self-esteem with daily affirmations, and you can rule the world. Like a muscle, the more you do it, the stronger your confidence and sense of self will be. More importantly, you can live a life filled with love, joy, fulfillment, and satisfaction thanks to your own positive self-regard. Simply put, you’ll be too blessed to be stressed!  Love the Sh*t Out of Yourself is the ultimate motivating, encouraging, and uplifting book to enjoy and share. View this book on Bookshop and Amazon!

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You Can Do All Things: Drawings, Affirmations and Mindfulness to Help With Anxiety and Depression by Kate Allan

When you have anxiety or depression, you can feel deeply alone. You can feel like you’re the only person on the planet who’s struggling with weird worries (which won’t go away), who can’t go grocery shopping without getting sweaty and panicked, who fears everything. When we feel this way, one of the greatest gifts we can receive is knowing that there’s someone out there walking a similar path, someone who understands the sorrow, the struggles, the symptoms, the hardships.  Someone we can relate to, someone who shares their story, with vulnerability and without filters. With You Can Do All Things, Kate Allan has given us such a gift. In You Can Do All Things, Kate shares her struggles with anxiety and depression, which started when she was just a child. Through her honest words, uplifting illustrations, and actionable suggestions, Kate also encourages us to keep trying and to keep going. View this book on Bookshop and Amazon!

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It’s Your Weirdness that Makes You Wonderful by Kate Allan

Depression and anxiety are topics that can be uncomfortable to talk about, but that doesn’t mean they should be avoided. If anything, it means we need to be more aware and have more conversations about them. With the help of her adorable illustrations, art blogger Kate Allan (known through her remarkably popular Tumblr blog as “The Latest Kate”) urges us to be mindful of our mentality. Allan, who suffers from anxiety and depression herself, understands what it’s like to deal with feelings that are difficult to fight through. In this book, she provides the personal kind of encouragement that she herself needs to hear. These encouraging words, along with writing prompts, can help readers sort through and express their feelings. Kate Allan’s creative journal meets us where we are―in the midst of the feelings that say we’re not enough, we can’t handle this life, we won’t make it. Her whimsical art and simple words lift trampled spirits and combat thoughts that lead us to believe our weirdness makes us weak. Young and old, we are encouraged to love ourselves exactly as we are. View this book on Bookshop and Amazon!

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You’re Strong, Smart, and You Got This: Drawings, Affirmations, and Comfort to Help with Anxiety and Depression by Kate Allan

It’s not easy to discuss mental health, even though it affects everyone. We want to believe we can handle anything that comes at us, but the reality is we all have good days and bad days. Through guided illustrations, author Kate Allan opens the door to discussion about mental health in an approachable and unassuming manner. Whether you deal with social anxiety, depression, or are simply going through a rough patch, Allan is here with her friendly animals to help. The focus of this book is personal growth, both the reader’s and the author’s. With her beautiful illustrations, Allan guides us through how she went from rock bottom to managing her mental health quite well. By zooming in on mindfulness and prioritizing self-care, Allan expresses how we can get through the hardships we face and come out stronger. View this book on Bookshop and Amazon!

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Thera-pets: 64 Emotional Support Animal Cards by Kate Allan

Thera-pets is a deck of 64 cute doodles that comes from the bestselling author of You Can Do All Things. Each card of positive affirmations offers you a daily moment of joy to escape from the problems so many of us face in this hectic, modern world. Inside, you’ll find cute animal drawings to calm your mind, uplifting quotes to help you through bad days, and words of wisdom and ways to find mindfulness. Kate Allan draws from her own experiences with anxiety and depression to create therapeutic and soothing works of art for all. Think of this card deck as a menagerie of emotional support animals to take with you anywhere―an airplane, a trip to the dentist, your first day at a new job, or anytime you need a little boost of cheer and encouragement. View this book on Bookshop and Amazon!

How are you coping with all the hard decisions this school year?

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Filed Under: Health Tagged With: book list, quarantine

Asian Pacific American Resources

The blog may contain affiliate links: disclosure. Also see my suggested resources.

May 1, 2020 By Jennifer Lambert Leave a Comment

May is Asian and Pacific American Heritage Month. 

The Library of Congress, National Archives and Records Administration, National Endowment for the Humanities, National Gallery of Art, National Park Service, Smithsonian Institution, and United States Holocaust Memorial Museum join in paying tribute to the generations of Asian and Pacific Islanders who have enriched America’s history and are instrumental in its future success. Check out this teacher resource page.

It’s a great month to focus our studies, our reading and watching materials on Asians and Pacific Islanders.

Often in our curriculum, the white narrative dominates and I must be diligent to seek out sources and materials to honor all cultures and peoples.

I try really hard to teach my white children about other cultures, about immigrants, and the experiences of people not like us. Sometimes, it’s uncomfortable and that’s where the learning happens.

I update our studies every history cycle, adding more inclusive material to our lists each time. Lots of book lists and more here:

  • China Unit Study
  • Japan Unit Study
  • Korea Unit Study
  • Vietnam Unit Study
  • India Unit Study

We lived in Hawaii for three years. We loved it.

But we realized we were temporary, other, haoles in Paradise, and it wasn’t our land. Looking back, I realize there was so much more I could have learned, done, thought. My girls were very young and I can make amends now as we learn about the history and culture of Hawaii. The kids don’t even remember it.

Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.

Maya Angelou

Our Hawaii Travels

  • Big Island Hawaii with Kids
  • Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
  • Maui with Kids
  • Oahu with Kids
  • Honolulu with Kids
  • North Shore with Kids
  • Kaneohe with Kids
  • Our Kaua’i Weekend
  • Our Ni’ihau Day Trip
  • Makahiki – Thanksgiving in Hawaii
  • Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day

Reading List

  • I love Amy Tan. Joy Luck Club and all her others! I think I’ve read them all.
  • Jhumpa Lahiri is another jewel. I love her books! The Lowland and The Namesake are great!
  • Dear Girls: Intimate Tales, Untold Secrets & Advice for Living Your Best Life by Ali Wong
  • Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng  
  • Patron Saints of Nothing by Randy Ribay
  • Home Remedies: Stories by Xuan Juliana Wang  
  • This Is Paradise: Stories by Kristiana Kahakauwila
  • Frankly in Love by David Yoon
  • Crazy Rich Asians Trilogy by Kevin Kwan 
  • Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford 
  • Pachinko by Min Jin Lee
  • White Chrysanthemum by Mary Lynn Bracht
  • Minor Feelings: An Asian American Reckoning by Cathy Park Hong  
  • On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous: A Novel by Ocean Vuong
  • The Woman Warrior: Memoirs of a Girlhood Among Ghosts by Maxine Hong Kingston
  • A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara  
  • Ask Me No Questions by Marina Tamar Budhos
  • Bamboo People and Monsoon Summer by Mitali Perkins
  • Born Confused series by Tanuja Desai Hidier
  • Tashi and the Tibetan Flower Cure by Naomi C. Rose
  • Candy Shop by Jan Wahl
  • Hannah Is My Name by Belle Yang
  • Hot, Sour, Salty, Sweet by Sherri L. Smith
  • Two Mrs. Gibsons by Toyomi Igus
  • American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang
  • Grandfather Counts by Andrea Cheng
  • The Lotus Seed by Sherry Garland
  • Everything Asian by Sung J. Woo
  • Shining Star: The Anna May Wong Story by Paula Yoo 
  • A Step From Heaven by An Na
  • Apple Pie 4th of July by Janet S. Wong
  • Project Mulberry and A Single Shard by Linda Soo Park
  • Under the Blood-red Sun and Island Boyz: Short Stories by Graham Salisbury
  • Little Cricket by Jackie Brown
  • Fresh Off the Boat by Melissa De la Cruz
  • Beacon Hill Boys by Ken Mochizuki

I believe in exposing young children to other cultures and getting them familiar with differences so they don’t feel uncomfortable. The first time I had Asian food, I was twelve! I don’t think my parents did a good job on some aspects of my education.

Activities:

Dine out at an Asian restaurant and try new foods. Research before you go so it’s not an expensive waste since the flavors and presentation are very different than typical American food. Some foods are very spicy to a white palate used to bland food!

Learn to cook Asian food! Sushi, stir fries, and soups are easy first steps.

  • Lettuce Wraps
  • Slow Cooker Asian Pork Ribs
  • Cashew Chicken
  • Easy Stir Fry
  • Easy Lo Mein
  • Easy Fried Rice

Visit an Asian festival to learn more about the culture and support immigrants.

Go to museum exhibits on Asian art.

How do you celebrate Asian Americans?

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Math Stories

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April 13, 2020 By Jennifer Lambert 5 Comments

Doing math drills is not my idea of fun. I don’t want to inflict that upon my children.

While we complete Singapore math workbooks and VideoText for high school, we really love reading about math in a fun way.

I love books and words and beautiful illustrations.

We love to read living math book or math stories that bring the numbers and equations to life in applied ways.

Life of Fred

We read a chapter of Life of Fred everyday with our morning read alouds.

I enjoy Life of Fred math books immensely and have learned so much more math than I did in Georgia public school. It’s really easy to understand and remember and apply.

We’re on Physics now with my kids – ages 10, 13, and 14.

Elementary Mathematics:

These ten books are designed to be used in alphabetical order as listed and cover grades 1-4.

  1. Apples
  2. Butterflies
  3. Cats
  4. Dogs
  5. Edgewood
  6. Farming
  7. Goldfish
  8. Honey
  9. Ice Cream
  10. Jellybeans

Middle Grades:

Intermediate Series 3-Book Set: Kidneys, Liver, and Mineshaft

Fractions to Pre-Algebra 5-Book Set: Fractions, Decimals and Percents, Pre-Algebra 0 with Physics, Pre-Algebra 1 with Biology, and Pre-Algebra 2 with Economics

High School and Beyond:

High School Set 1: Beginning Algebra and Advanced Algebra

High School Set 2: Geometry and Trigonometry

Financial Choices

Logic

College Set of 5 Books: Calculus, Statistics, Linear Algebra, Five Days, and Real Analysis

Chemistry

Living Math Books (Stories)

  • One Grain Of Rice: A Mathematical Folktale by Demi
  • Math Curse by Jon Scieszka
  • A Remainder of One by Elinor J Pinczes
  • One Hundred Hungry Ants by Elinor J Pinczes
  • Inchworm and A Half by Elinor J Pinczes
  • The Librarian Who Measured the Earth by Kathryn Lasky
  • Mathematicians Are People, Too: Stories from the Lives of Great Mathematicians
  • Mathematicians Are People, Too: Stories from the Lives of Great Mathematicians, Vol. 2
  • The Man Who Counted: A Collection of Mathematical Adventures by Malba Tahan
  • The Number Devil: A Mathematical Adventure by Hans Magnus Enzensberger
  • The Adventures of Penrose the Mathematical Cat by Theoni Pappas
  • The Joy of Mathematics: Discovering Mathematics All Around You by Theoni Pappas
  • Fractals, Googols, and Other Mathematical Tales by Theoni Pappas
  • Ada Byron Lovelace & the Thinking Machine by Laurie Wallmark
  • Grace Hopper: Queen of Computer Code by Laurie Wallmark
  • Numbers in Motion: Sophie Kowalevski, Queen of Mathematics by Laurie Wallmark
  • Billions of Bricks: A Counting Book About Building by Kurt Cyrus
  • Inch by Inch by Leo Lionni
  • The Grapes Of Math by Greg Tang
  • Math-terpieces: The Art of Problem-Solving by Greg Tang
  • The Best Of Times by Greg Tang
  • Math Fables by Greg Tang
  • Math Potatoes by Greg Tang
  • Math for All Seasons by Greg Tang
  • Infinity and Me by Kate Hosford
  • Nothing Stopped Sophie: The Story of Unshakable Mathematician Sophie Germain by Cheryl Bardoe
  • The Boy Who Loved Math: The Improbable Life of Paul Erdos by Deborah Heiligman
  • Blockhead: The Life of Fibonacci by Joseph D’Agnese
  • The Great Divide: A Mathematical Marathon by Dayle Ann Dodds
  • Full House: An Invitation to Fractions by Dayle Ann Dodds
  • How Much Is a Million? by David M Schwartz
  • Millions to Measure by David M Schwartz
  • If You Made a Million by David M Schwartz
  • Zero the Hero by Joan Holub
  • Zero by Kathryn Otoshi
  • One by Kathryn Otoshi
  • Two by Kathryn Otoshi
  • Lemonade in Winter: A Book About Two Kids Counting Money by Emily Jenkins
  • The Girl With a Mind for Math: The Story of Raye Montague by Julia Finley Mosca
  • Each Orange Had 8 Slices by Paul Giganti Jr.
  • 7 Ate 9 by Tara Lazar
  • Of Numbers and Stars by D. Anne Love
  • Mummy Math: An Adventure in Geometry by Cindy Neuschwander
  • The Power of 10 by Judy Newhoff
  • Perimeter, Area, and Volume: A Monster Book of Dimensions by David A. Adler
  • Place Value by David A. Adler
  • Fraction Fun by David A. Adler
  • Max’s Math by Kate Banks
  • Sheep Won’t Sleep: Counting by 2s, 5s, and 10s by Judy Cox

Living Math Series

  • Charlesbridge Math Adventures
  • Sir Cumference by Cindy Neuschwander
  • Mitsumasa Anno
  • Marilyn Burns
  • Math and Magic Adventures by Lilac Mohr 
  • The Math Inspectors by Daniel Kenney

We check out lots of books from the library and add to our home library collection with some of the better quality math stories. These are fun to read during summer or for a math unit. Some are fun mysteries or teach historical math biographies.

We journaled a lot when my middle girls were younger. Math journals are a fun way to record learning and incorporate writing and art.

You might also like:

  • How We Do Math
  • Multiplication Unit
  • Jazzy Journals
  • Preschool Math

Linking up: Create with Joy, Kippi at Home, Mostly Blogging, Little Cottage, April Harris, Marilyn’s Treats, Anita Ojeda, Welcome Heart, Home Stories, Mary Geisen, Purposeful Faith, Suburbia, Our Home, LouLou Girls, Our Three Peas, Grandmas Ideas, Soaring with Him, Worth Beyond Rubies, Ducks in a Row, Girlish Whims, Fluster Buster, Gingersnap Crafts, Katherine’s Corner, Penny’s Passion, Anchored Abode, Crystal Storms, Debbie Kitterman, Slices of Life, CKK, OMHGW, Life Beyond the Kitchen, Answer is Choco, Simply Sweet Home, Momfessionals, Lyli Dunbar, CWJ, Fireman’s Wife, Being a Wordsmith, Random Musings,

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Apocalyptic Media to Binge

The blog may contain affiliate links: disclosure. Also see my suggested resources.

March 21, 2020 By Jennifer Lambert 1 Comment

We’ve been quarantined only a week or so and so many of us are unironically binge watching and reading apocalyptic movies and literature.

It brings a weird comfort. Maybe some how-to manuals. Sometimes a laugh at how unrealistic it is.

Apocalyptic Media to Binge

Movies

My kids couldn’t finish Outbreak, they said it was too real. We’ve watched lots of these end of the world movies. We love aliens, zombies, sci-fi, and fantasy.

  • Outbreak
  • 28 Days Later and 28 Weeks Later
  • Contagion
  • 12 Monkeys
  • Patient Zero
  • 2012
  • The Day After Tomorrow
  • I am Legend
  • Children of Men
  • Cabin Fever
  • Planet of the Apes (original series)
  • Planet of the Apes (new series)
  • The Andromeda Strain
  • The Maze Runner series
  • Divergent series
  • Hunger Games trilogy
  • Love in The Time of Cholera
  • The Horseman on the Roof
  • Logan’s Run
  • Resident Evil collection
  • 9
  • The Book of Eli
  • Knowing
  • World War Z
  • Mad Max and Fury Road
  • Night of the Living Dead
  • Dawn of the Dead (original)
  • Dawn of the Dead (new)
  • Evil Dead, Evil Dead 2, and Army of Darkness

Books

We do read alouds in our homeschool every weekday morning.

We’re reading We Make the Road by Walking by Brian McLaren. We’re finishing up our Year 4 history with the last 25 years and it’s so hard, y’all.

Many of these selections are also on my Dystopian Book List.

  • MaddAddam Trilogy by Margaret Atwood
  • The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood
  • anything by Robin Cook
  • The Eyes of Darkness by Dean Koontz
  • The Stand by Stephen King
  • The Running Man by Richard Bachman
  • Swan Song by Robert R. McCammon
  • The Andromeda Strain by Michael Crichton
  • Earthseed Series by Octavia Butler
  • Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
  • Logan’s Run Trilogy by William F. Nolan & George Clayton Johnson
  • Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
  • 1984 by George Orwell
  • Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
  • I Am Legend by Richard Matheson
  • The Children of Men by PD James
  • I, Robot by Isaac Asimov
  • The Road by Cormac McCarthy
  • Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro
  • Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick
  • We by Yevgeny Zamyatin
  • Lord of the Flies by William Golding
  • Wanderers by Chuck Wendig
  • Divergent Series by Veronica Roth
  • The Hunger Games Series by Suzanne Collins
  • The Maze Runner Series by James Dashner
  • The Giver Quartet by Lois Lowry

What are you reading and watching these days?

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Books about Depression

The blog may contain affiliate links: disclosure. Also see my suggested resources.

February 17, 2020 By Jennifer Lambert 11 Comments

People who have never suffered from depression just don’t understand.

Our society overuses the word depressed to mean temporarily sad.

But depression is an ongoing illness.

Depression doesn’t just go away when life quality, finances, relationships, or circumstances improve.

Medications don’t always help. I’ve tried several and I tired of the side effects and being a guinea pig. I don’t like feeling numb or half here.

So many people think they’re really helping when they recommend trite self-help books that just tell the reader to be happier, listen to more Contemporary Christian pop music, read the Bible, and pray more.

A business person makes money off your problems, they are invested in you having a problem. When Rachel Hollis says you have a problem, it’s because she hopes to profit from your problem.

Devi Abraham

I do appreciate the memoirs about people rescuing themselves by running with their dogs or finding something to live for – clinging to hope in a prayer, pet, memory, or child.

It’s just that every person with depression is different, experiences it differently, copes differently.

Here’s what depression feels like to me.

These books show a reality to depression and living and surviving…or not.

Depression isn’t just feeling down or having the blues or feeling out of sorts.

It’s a nagging, staticy feeling at the very base of the brain all the time, often rising to the surface and taking over everything.

I don’t think there are many books that show the harsh reality of depression.

Even having depression, I often look at others and characters in movies and books and wonder why they have it? I find myself believing the lies of “but they have such a nice life with no problems.”

Depression lies.

If I wanted to not be this way, then I wouldn’t be this way.

Books about Depression

Reasons to Stay Alive by Matt Haig

Like nearly one in five people, Matt Haig suffers from depression. Reasons to Stay Alive is Matt’s inspiring account of how, minute by minute and day by day, he overcame the disease with the help of reading, writing, and the love of his parents and his girlfriend (and now-wife), Andrea. And eventually, he learned to appreciate life all the more for it.

Everyone’s lives are touched by mental illness: if we do not suffer from it ourselves, then we have a friend or loved one who does. Matt’s frankness about his experiences is both inspiring to those who feel daunted by depression and illuminating to those who are mystified by it. Above all, his humor and encouragement never let us lose sight of hope. Speaking as his present self to his former self in the depths of depression, Matt is adamant that the oldest cliché is the truest—there is light at the end of the tunnel. He teaches us to celebrate the small joys and moments of peace that life brings, and reminds us that there are always reasons to stay alive.

All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven

When Finch and Violet meet on the ledge of the bell tower at school—six stories above the ground— it’s unclear who saves whom. Soon it’s only with Violet that Finch can be himself. And it’s only with Finch that Violet can forget to count away the days and start living them. But as Violet’s world grows, Finch’s begins to shrink…

All the Bright Places is coming to Netflix soon! I’m interested to see what they do with it.

By The Time You Read This, I’ll Be Dead  by Julie Anne Peters

After a lifetime of being bullied, Daelyn is broken beyond repair. She has tried to kill herself before, and is determined to get it right this time. Though her parents think they can protect her, she finds a Web site for “completers” that seems made just for her. She blogs on its forums, purging her harrowing history. At her private Catholic school, the only person who interacts with her is a boy named Santana. No matter how poorly she treats him, he just won’t leave her alone. And it’s too late for Daelyn to be letting people into her life . . . isn’t it?

In this harrowing, compelling novel, Julie Anne Peters shines a light on what might make a teenager want to kill herself, as well as how she might start to bring herself back from the edge. A discussion guide and resource list prepared by “bullycide” expert C. J. Bott are included in the back matter.

Suicide Notes by Michael Thomas Ford

Fifteen-year-old Jeff wakes up on New Year’s Day to find himself in the hospital—specifically, in the psychiatric ward. Despite the bandages on his wrists, he’s positive this is all some huge mistake. Jeff is perfectly fine, perfectly normal; not like the other kids in the hospital with him.

But over the course of the next forty-five days, Jeff begins to understand why he ended up here—and realizes he has more in common with the other kids than he thought.

Girl, Interrupted by Susanna Kaysen

In 1967, after a session with a psychiatrist she’d never seen before, eighteen-year-old Susanna Kaysen was put in a taxi and sent to McLean Hospital. She spent most of the next two years in the ward for teenage girls in a psychiatric hospital as renowned for its famous clientele—Sylvia Plath, Robert Lowell, James Taylor, and Ray Charles—as for its progressive methods of treating those who could afford its sanctuary.

Kaysen’s memoir encompasses horror and razor-edged perception while providing vivid portraits of her fellow patients and their keepers. It is a brilliant evocation of a “parallel universe” set within the kaleidoscopically shifting landscape of the late sixties. Girl, Interrupted is a clear-sighted, unflinching document that gives lasting and specific dimension to our definitions of sane and insane, mental illness and recovery.

Prozac Nation: Young and Depressed in America by Elizabeth Wurtzel

Elizabeth Wurtzel writes with her finger on the faint pulse of an overdiagnosed generation whose ruling icons are Kurt Cobain, Xanax, and pierced tongues. Her famous memoir of her bouts with depression and skirmishes with drugs, Prozac Nation is a witty and sharp account of the psychopharmacology of an era

The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath

The Bell Jar chronicles the crack-up of Esther Greenwood: brilliant, beautiful, enormously talented, and successful, but slowly going under — maybe for the last time. Sylvia Plath masterfully draws the reader into Esther’s breakdown with such intensity that Esther’s insanity becomes completely real and even rational, as probable and accessible an experience as going to the movies. Such deep penetration into the dark and harrowing corners of the psyche is an extraordinary accomplishment

I haven’t read these yet, but they’re on my list:

Project Semicolon: Your Story Isn’t Over  by Amy Bleuel

Project Semicolon began in 2013 to spread a message of hope: No one struggling with a mental illness is alone; you, too, can survive and live a life filled with joy and love. In support of the project and its message, thousands of people all over the world have gotten semicolon tattoos and shared photos of them, often alongside stories of hardship, growth, and rebirth.

How I Stayed Alive When My Brain Was Trying to Kill Me: One Person’s Guide to Suicide Prevention by Susan Rose Blauner

An international epidemic, suicide has touched the lives of nearly half of all Americans, yet is rarely talked about openly. In this timely and important book, Susan Blauner breaks the silence to offer guidance and hope for those contemplating ending their lives — and for their loved ones.

A survivor of multiple suicide attempts, Blauner eloquently describes the feelings and fantasies surrounding suicide. In a direct, nonjudgmental, and loving voice, she offers affirmations and suggestions for those experiencing life-ending thoughts, and for their friends and family. Here is an essential resource destined to be the classic guide on the subject.

The Long Night: Readings and Stories to Help You through Depression by Jessica Kantrowitz

You’ve done what you can: you’ve seen your doctor, made an appointment with a therapist, picked up the prescription for the antidepressant and swallowed that first strange pill. But it can take four to eight weeks for the meds to start to work, and it might take two or more tries before you and your doctor find the ones that work best for you. When you’re in the midst of terrible depression, those weeks can feel like an eternity. You just want to feel better now. This book is for those who are in the long night of waiting. It does not promise healing or deliverance; it is not a guide to praying away the depression. It is simply an attempt to sit next to you in the dark while you wait for the light to emerge.

What are your most helpful coping tools for depression?

You might also like:

  • What Depression Feels Like
  • Breaking the Cycle
  • I’m Angry
  • How to Be Happy
  • I am a Suicide Survivor
  • It’s OK that You’re Not OK
  • Step Away from the Edge
  • Military Spouse Mental Health
  • Balancing Act
  • Love Hurts

Linking up: Anything Goes, Create with Joy, Anita Ojeda, Kippi at Home, Mostly Blogging, Home Stories, Confessions, April Harris, Welcome Heart, Mary Geisen, LouLou Girls, InstaEncouragements, Purposeful Faith, MaryAndering Creatively,Our Home, Suburbia, Grandma’s Ideas, Soaring with Him, Ducks in a Row, Girlish Whims, Fluster Buster, Gingersnap Crafts, Katherine’s Corner, Penny’s Passion, Anchored Abode, Debbie Kitterman, Crystal Storms, Slices of Life, Mommynificent, CKK, Imparting Grace, Marilyn’s Treats, Life Beyond the Kitchen, Chic on a Shoestring, Answer is Choco, Simply Sweet Home, Della Devoted, Momfessionals, Lyli Dunbar, Fireman’s Wife, Create with Joy, Being a Wordsmith, OMHGF, Little Cottage,

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Filed Under: Health Tagged With: book list, depression, mental health

Best Books of 2019

The blog may contain affiliate links: disclosure. Also see my suggested resources.

December 30, 2019 By Jennifer Lambert 15 Comments

I can’t remember how many books I read this past year, but I average about 1-2 per week. Which means that sometimes I stay up very late to finish a book.

I love reading, like, a lot.

I get many books from my local libraries. I love that I can borrow eBooks and read them within three weeks!

I was today years old when I realized I could organize my Kindle eBooks into categories within the app. I was up until 2 AM and still have about 400 books to categorize.

I won’t give up on a book even if I hate it.

I’ve read White Teeth twice. My daughter was assigned it in a college course and I thought maybe I would like it more the second time around. Nope.

My Favorite Books I Read in 2019

Weapons of Mass Instruction: A Schoolteachers’ Journey Through the Dark World of Compulsory Schooling by John Taylor Gatto

I’m anti-school. I taught for ten years and we’ve homeschooled for sixteen years. While most of the experiences mentioned in this book was not surprising to me, the history of American public schooling is insidious. I love all Gatto’s books.

Lies My Teacher Told Me: Everything Your American History Textbook Got Wrong by James W. Loewen

Growing up in and teaching in Georgia public schools, I can say that yes, I was taught incorrect and biased history from poorly written textbooks and we rarely even finished each school year.

Reasons to Stay Alive by Matt Haig

A super important book for anyone who has ever suffered from anxiety or depression or considered suicide.

Fear of Flying by Erica Jong

A bit of a break for me, but very enjoyable and funny. I love this feminist manifesto, pseudo autobiography.

You Are Not Special…and Other Encouragements by David McCullough, Jr.

A profound expansion of a popular commencement speech—a call to arms against a prevailing, narrow, conception of success. Perfect for the “everyone gets a trophy” generations.

Parenting Forward: How to Raise Children with Justice, Mercy, and Kindness by Cindy Wang Brandt

A wonderful introduction to respectful, progressive parenting in these challenging times. I found myself nodding and cheering as I agreed with just about everything in this book.

Hold Onto Your Kids: Why Parents Need to Matter More than Peers by Gordon Neufeld

A great book for parents of older kids and teenagers. Family is super important to me and I want my kids to feel safe and happy in my home. I know friends and peers matter a lot to kids because society portrays this as normal. But family matters more and should have more influence than peers.

The Continuum Concept: In Search of Happiness Lost by Jean Liedloff

American writer Jean Liedloff spent two and a half years in the South American jungle, living with indigenous peoples. The experience demolished her Western preconceptions of how we should live and led her to a radically different view of what human nature really is. She offers a new understanding of how we have lost much of our natural well-being and shows us practical ways to regain it for our children and for ourselves.

See my favorite books of 2018. See my favorite life-changing books.

What did you read recently?

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Gift Guides for Everyone

The blog may contain affiliate links: disclosure. Also see my suggested resources.

November 28, 2019 By Jennifer Lambert Leave a Comment

I try to recommend items that we love and currently use or have used when my kids were little.

Gift Guides for Everyone

  • 10 DIY Gifts with Essential Oils
  • 10 Gifts for Natural Living
  • 10 Gifts for a Military Family
  • 10 Gifts for Travelers
  • Best Gifts for Geeks
  • Gifts for a Homeschool Family
  • Top 10 Homeschool Items
  • Kitchen Tools for Kids
  • My Kitchen Essentials
  • Little Passports Gift Guide
  • Kiwi Crates Gift Guide
  • Lodge Cast Iron Cookware

Book Lists

Books for Every Season

  • Spring Books
  • Summer Books
  • Fall Books
  • Winter Books

Holiday Books

  • Easter Books
  • Christmas Books
  • Thanksgiving Books
  • Halloween Books
  • Valentine Books

Books by Topic

  • Pirate Books
  • Pumpkin Books
  • Poetry Books for Kids
  • Hispanic Heritage
  • Indigenous Peoples
  • Chapter Books
  • Middle School Books
  • Books About Siblings
  • Fantasy Books
  • Dystopian Books
  • Top 10 Books for Homeschoolers
  • Favorite Nature Books
  • 5 Life Skills Books for Teens
  • 9/11 Books
  • 10 Classics for a Bleak World
  • Books for Military Families
  • Parenting Books
  • Great Books for Writers
  • Women’s Literature Study
  • My Favorite Life-Changing Books
  • My Favorite Books I Read in 2018

Amazing Amazon

  • Amazon Prime Book Box for Kids
  • How to Get the Most Out of Amazon Prime

What is the best present you ever received?

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Filed Under: Family Tagged With: book list, Christmas, giftguide, holiday

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