Book Reviews and a Request for Recommendation

Books on my nightstand of late:
Mitten Strings for God, by Katrina Kenison
This is a great book which fleshes out ways to live more relationally, more in tune with the needs of your family, less busily, and less in reaction to the pangs of culture. It led to some helpful discussions with Doug on issues such as when to start "little league" with our boys, the role tv has in our family, encouraging imagination in our kids, looking for hidden treasures in our daily life, making the most of our time together, and more. I loved this book, but don't go to it to deepen your theology. It's a bit vague and Oprah-ish in that department- which didn't bother me since I wasn't going to it for that purpose, but thought it necessary to clarify that point so its title didn't mislead you. There are lots of jewels to be gained nonetheless. Doug nicknamed this book "Soft and Gentle." ;) Thanks for the recommendation, Missy!

Harvest of Hope, Stories of Life-Changing Gifts by Kay Marshall Strom
I totally dig those "gift catalogs" where you can buy a goat for a family to help them have nourishing milk, give them offspring they can sell, etc. I've always wanted to know where the money actually goes. Does my money actually go to a goat or just generally to the organization? Do our small gifts actually make an impact on anyone? This latest IV Press book successfully answers these questions and more. While the author mentions several organizations, she specifically targeted Partners International for her search. She went all over the world and wrote everything from the logistics to how the gift-giving logistically happens to how a specific person's or family's life was changed. She reports the positive impacts and the challenges. I've loved learning how the gift multiplies itself for other deserving families as the family receiving the gift has to pay back the loan, how they start to make enough money to actually be able to send their children to school, how that family gets has a positive connection with the local Christian church through the operation, how the operation is led indigenously in each local town. I can't wait to get my new catalog in the mail and consider how it will guide our Christmas gift-giving.

Mothers Together by Ruth Bell Graham and (Ruth's oldest daughter) Gigi Graham Tchividjian
What a gift it is to read the everyday thoughts of these two famous mothers. I enjoyed the aesthetic look of this book and its short "devotional" style writing. There are real journal entries, poems, essays, and letters. Some are humorous, some touched my heart after a long day with the kids, all are encouraging. This is a fun book to read when you need it most... it's light and easy book, meant to be read in snippets. My only complaint was when Gigi mentioned how hard it was to get her house tidied up so that her housekeeper could clean. I don't mind that she has a housekeeper, but I don't want to hear how hard it is to prepare for her!

I'll soon be in need of a new book. Any recommendations for me??


Favorite children's' books from our last trip to the library:
Everyone Poops by Taro Gomi
I've known of this book for many years and was so excited to read it with my son. We ALL loved this short explanation of how pooping is native to every living thing on the earth. (I think Doug and I laughed the hardest.) How could I not like a picture of a circle of animals, all facing outward, with their unpolitically correct but accurate bowel movements underneath them?

Snow Family by Daniel Kirk
Daniel Kirk has such fun books. This is a cute tale about a little boy who finds little snow boys and girls who need snow parents. Kirk delivers his cutsie, sing-songy poetry amidst his delightful illustrations without disappointment.

A Family of Poems by Caroline Kennedy
I am illiterate in the poetry department so I appreciated this recommendation from Nina. This is a great starter book for kids and parents alike. The collection is divided into chapters such as "Silly," "About Me," and "Animals," along with Kennedy's sharing of how they used them in their family. Watch out for a few poems obviously geared for older children... such as "Elephants, Anonymous" which quotes "He tears a man like an old rag and hangs him in the tree." Yikes! As a whole, it's a fabulous collection I hope to own someday.

A Truck Goes Rattley-Bumpa by Jonathan London
There is nothing glitzy about this book, but I love it anyway. It's a fun book about trucks with happy and simple illustrations. And Justin loves it, which is the main point, right? He's always asking for "Twuck Goes Wattley-Bumpa!!" so of course I should mention it here.

The Moon Might Be Milk by Lisa Shulman
Does anyone else out there have a hard time suspending reality? If so, reading this book might be an appropriate next step for you. On the order of Henny Penny (but with a much more positive ending!), little Rosie goes on a quest to find out what the moon is made out of. She starts among all her animal friends and they all end up at Grandma's house. I won't tell you the ending, but I will say that the last page is a recipe for "Gran's Sugar Cookie Moons." My little moon-lover Justin and I tried out the recipe today and it does in fact work! We had so much fun applying the end of the book. The cooking process took him out of his whining mode.

And lastly, I need your recommendations! Nathan's first birthday is fast approaching... October 30th. As I mentioned earlier, we have a tradition in our family of presenting a book to each child on his birthday. The book reflects some personality trait we noticed that year, some way we want to encourage them, a way we saw them grow or develop, or the like. Just inside the book, we will write them a love letter telling them why we chose the book and ways we love and appreciate them. Will you help us come up with the prized book for Nathan this year?

Some information that might be helpful about Nathan:
He'll be turning one so I'd like it to be at least somewhat age appropriate-- board book would be nice but go ahead and shoot me recommendations of picture books that apply. He has an older brother. (A book about brothers or being the younger brother perhaps?) He took a long time to warm up to food and now he's all about food. (A unique board book about food?) He's a really fast crawler and loves to move. (Something about movement of babies?) He smiles shyly and giggles at other baby's faces both in picture and in real life. (Maybe a simple little book with baby faces?) My husband adds, "He has acid reflux, is there a really good book about spitting up?" Maybe we could sit it next to the poop book. He loves to swing, loves to look at cars from the porch swing, and loves to laugh at his big brother.

Any ideas for Nathan's book?