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By bethany (dreadlockgirl), 4,January,2010 22:08

How to Raise a Modern-Day Joseph: A Practical Guide for Growing Great Kids

If you are a parent, you know that a parent does what a parents gotta do-that is just the way it is. We drive the kids around, we make sure they brush their teeth, we take them to school (or even Homeschool them) we aim to do everything short of coddling them in order to have them turn out into able bodied adults and well rounded individuals. However from so much scheduling and activity the most important aspect of a whole person, which is the spirit and soul is many times neglected, or passed off as “the Sunday school teacher’s job”. We aren’t doing our job as parents who love Jesus if we aren’t intentional in instilling faith into our children.

How to Raise a Modern-Day Joseph is a book, or even more a type of help manual which goes through each age and stage of the child from preschool through high school and equips parents with the tools necessary to pour a passion for what is right into their children. It is called How to Raise a Modern-Day Joseph because no matter what the situation, Joseph (yes as in the Joseph with the coat of many colours) was able to make the right decision even when life really was not seeming to move in his favor. God gave him a dream as a boy and he must have thought many times that it was just a hoax and that God was no where close- however the faith that he kept when it came time to make the right choices is to be admired. He was surrounded by a people who didn’t know God, who worshiped all different sorts of gods and he didn’t even have a local home Bible study to go to, or a youth group and still he stood strong.

That is what every christian parent should aim to nurture in their child, not that everything is up to the parent, but it is nice to know when your kids grow up that you did what you could with the gift that God blessed you with. It isn’t up to a youth leader to train your children spiritually, just as much as it isn’t up to the pastor make you grow. The biggest problem with kids and adults alike is that they think they go to church to be challenged and to grow- and the result is that church has never been so full of saggy and faithless Sunday-only Christians. It is up to the individual to trust God, to place their feet on steadfast ground, no program for adults or kids will ever fashion that on its own. With or without programs and church events, we as parents are called to guide our children into a real relationship with Christ.

How to Raise a Modern-Day Joseph is not a step by step guide on how to raise all children, it is a guide for creating a personalized and practical plan to best help your children bloom into teenagers who know, love and serve their Lord. I will use this book with my kids. We have started working with it and I love the scripture verses that it has for each different age group. Modern-Day Joseph is an excellent book for parents to keep on hand.

Title: How to Raise a Modern-Day Joseph
ISBN: 9781434765314
Subtitle: A Practical Guide for Growing Great Kids (An Awana Resource)
Author: Linda Weddle
Publisher: David C. Cook
Subject: Christian Life – Family
Publication Date: June 2009
Pages: 220

I am an affiliate of TOMS SHOES and Powell’s Books and I do receive a percentage of the sales of any item you buy using my links. Thank you!

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By bethany (dreadlockgirl), 1,November,2009 22:30

My husband and I had just started talking about when we would tell the boys about the amazing miracle of babies. Yes, that is right, of sex, fertilization, conception and the process of how babies are made. I know they are young (only 3 and 5 to be exact) but they have questions, they watched Milo and Otis and saw the little puppies “popping out of the doggies behind” and then came even more questions. So when do we as parents tighten all up and avoid and when do we just answer straight on what really should be discussed just like anything else? Well, now or never right? For us, for our family, the time is now.

We decided that having “the talk” is weird, it is hard for parents and hard for kids so Brad and I had mentioned several times how we wanted to just tell the boys what we thought was age appropriate at each step and then, really they wouldn’t even remember having “the (horrid) talk”. We were jazzed about this new idea of ours!

It seemed like days later that I was jumping for joy when I was offered by Bethany House Publishers two books that were hot off the press. They are from the Pure Foundations series by Jim Burns the first one is God Made Your Body for ages 3-5 and the second book in the series is How God Makes Babies for ages 6-9. When the books came and I saw them I was even more excited to sit down with the boys and read them together.

A couple of days ago we read God Made Your Body in which Jim Burns explains through very appropriate pictures, and simple non-detailed language that God made us all unique and special, different and beautiful. Gracefully Burns moves on to name the differences between boys and girls, and how that will make them moms or dads in the future. The part I was most worried about was the initial intro into the actual sex part, but the boys got it completely the first time. Since it is easy to worry about that I wanted to include that portion of the book for you, so you can decide for yourself, but I think he does a spectacular job.

“To make a baby, a mommy and a daddy come together in a special way called making love. Making love is something God made just for a husband and a wife to enjoy together.

When a mommy and a daddy make a baby, they each give one special part of themselves. the daddy gives a part called a sperm. The mommy gives a part called an egg. the sperm and the egg join together inside the mommy and form an embryo. All babies begin as an embryo…” (Jim Burns, God Made Your Body p. 19)

While reading that to the boys the first time, I wondered if they would get it. Both my 3 year old and 5 year old understood it completely. They wanted to repeat the process to me twice and then said, “that is cool that God does that”. And were ready to finish up the rest of the book that talks a little about the development of the baby in the womb, about birth, and adoption and ends explaining that no matter how your family has come together that God made you a family and how special that is.

I am a full fledged believer in these books now. It really helped me figure out a better way to describe the whole process in a simple, straight forward way with just as much detail as they need at this age. Now if you ask my littlest how babies are made, he says ” they are made from one part of the daddy, the sperm, and one part of the mommy, the egg. They join together to make the baby”. Okay, it is as simple as that, our first sex talk was a cake walk. I certainly don’t have things all figured out, but this proved to be a lot less difficult than I had ever anticipated. I am so thankful that there are books out there that match up so perfectly to what our views are on how and when to talk to children about sex. Laying the foundations for healthy sexuality (especially today) is very important.

The Next book in the series, How God Makes Babies is for ages 6-9 and we will wait to read it until the boys are in that age group. But, since I already know how it all works I read it and I can tell you the deets. It is the basic concept of the first with a lot more detail, really all the detail that they need about the process up until pre-marital counseling! Ha. Well, maybe not, but it is enough to definitely have them understand the whole process easily. It is more information than I ever understood from any sex ed in school that is for sure, but it is done in a Godly way and that really is the key in both of these books. I stand by them %100 and know that parents wouldn’t need to cringe the way they do if they would just help themselves out and explain things when kids ask, a little younger maybe than they think, but why wait?

Do you have horror stories about having “the talk”? Oh, do share! Do you wonder when to share with your own kids? Or do you have strong feelings about this topic? Spill it.

Buy these books from Powell’s Books:
God Made Your Body by Jim Burns (Pure Foundations)Ages 3-5
How God Makes Babies by Jim Burns (Pure Foundations)Ages 6-9

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By bethany (dreadlockgirl), 30,May,2009 23:58

Anne’s House of Dreams
by Lucy Maud Montgomery
227 Pages
Published in 1917

In this book number five of the Anne of Green Gables classics the reader follows Anne Blythe and Gilbert on to there new home. For years Anne has dreamed of a house, and now she has one, which she calls the House of Dreams. They make many new friends who are just as endearing as the all of Lucy Montgomery’s other human concoctions, and they entranced me the whole way through. Anne and Gilbert have their share of troubles, but rather than allowing it to pull them apart it brings the two lovebirds into a stronger and closer bond than before.

The reader thus far has seen Anne and Gilbert in their childishness, yet in this book the youth of the first four books slips into the past and our dear hero and heroine have grown up. Anne no longer gets into constant trouble, and she has also tamed her temper and her tongue. She is just as sweet and precocious, but now all that is balanced with a good dose of maturity as well.

I loved Anne’s House of Dreams just as much as the books before it, and could relate even more to it because of my age and season in life. I enjoyed Anne when she was a child, but this book felt like the reward for the wait with her relationship with Gilbert. Finally they get to be together. But, just as in all the things we wait for, even dreams aren’t perfect and while they work through their troubles, the characters become even more human and real.

This was another royal performance by Anne, Gilbert, and especially by Lucy Maud Montgomery who dreamed up this beloved character and made her real to me. Loved it! However, I think I am going to stop here for now with Anne. I watched the movies and love them all, but the sequel books aren’t calling my name yet. I want to read them at some point, but not yet.

Where did you stop the Anne-mania? Have you read them all? Which was your favourite Anne of Green Gables book?

Dreadlock Girl Reviews Anne of Green Gables series:
Anne of Green Gables
Anne of Avonlea
Anne of the Island

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By bethany (dreadlockgirl), 20,May,2009 21:49

Anne of the Island
by Lucy Maud Montgomery
326 pages
First Published in 1915

Anne of the Island is book three in an extraordinary series of stories of the charming and precocious Anne Shirley. In this tome, Anne leaves the house of green gables and Marilla behind and heads off to Richmond College.  She lives with her friends in Patty’s Place and they enjoy, as it is impossible they wouldn’t many adventures and scrapes of all sorts and sizes. All around her her friends are getting married, engaged and having children, which leaves her to wonder what life has in store for her.  Anne is growing up, and maturing, but her impulsiveness still shines right through the tips of her reddish hair. Or is it auburn now? She is still playing at love with others, while Gilbert Blythe is hopelessly trying to forget his little friend Anne from Green Gables.

There is so much to tell about this little spunky heroine, but I wish to not unveil any more. I like to read my novels clueless and I guess I assume you do too. I loved this Anne of the Island just as much as its two predecessors, it is never dull or dry– you can thank Anne for that, as she seems to be the cure to any dry moments in anyone’s life. She keeps winning me over page by page, however I will say that I get pretty annoyed with her for not falling hard after Gilbert, but flitting and flirting while breaking his heart.  Anne is many things, but she is not quick to forgive him, she is an expert at  holding on to her little grudges and grievances.

I was also entranced by the dream world she lives in, the things she wants to do, wants to accomplish and because of them many times she is willing to forsake herself in order to reach her dreams. It is a good eye opener, that no matter how lofty your dreams, or how close they are to completion– staying true to yourself is a much bigger aspiration.

Have you fallen in love with Anne Shirley yet?? Goodness, what are you waiting for!?

Dreadlock Girl Reviews Anne of Green Gables series:
Anne of Green Gables
Anne of Avonlea
Anne of the Island

Spoilers from here on down:

The ending of this book is one of the most romantic scenes ever. This paired with Anne of Green Gables on film, which does not fail to match the romantic appeal of Anne and Gilbert coming together at long last. I felt like my teeth were going to fall out, and gray hair would pop out before these two sweeties would ever figure out they were meant to be. It is a dream. Oh, and you have to watch Anne of Green Gables, and then The Continuing Story to see the beauty of this classic book moment made into a classic film moment. It is perfection.

Yeah, let this clip refresh your memory, romance….here we come!!!

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By bethany, 8,March,2009 23:24

I am so excited to have my first books reviewed for my new feature “On the Lowest Shelf Children’s Book Reviews” I am going to start out with some of our favourites today. I hope you enjoy this new weekly feature on B&b ex libris!!

The Milly-Molly-Mandy Storybook and More Milly-Molly-Mandy
by Joyce Lankster Brisley
first published in 1928 and 1929
Children’s Classic chapter books

The Milly-Molly-Mandy Storybook and More Milly-Molly-Mandy are the first two books in a series of chapter books written by Joyce Lankester Brisley. She wrote her first one in 1928 and then continued on to complete a total of 4 Milly-Molly-Mandy books.

The main character Milly-Molly-Mandy is a girl who is practical, clever and sweet as well as exuding the qualities that are admirable in children. She lives in a nice white cottage with a thatched roof along with Father, Mother, Grandpa, Grandma, Uncle and Aunty. She has several friends, but Billy Blunt and Little Friend Susan are her every day companions. Sure they get into things, as all kids do, but they are ultimately honest, caring, kind and gentle to all those around them.

At our house, with our little boys (3 and 5 years old) we sit in the middle of the day and read a chapter from one of these two Milly-Molly-Mandy classics. The boys love the smart ink drawings and learning about Milly-Molly-Mandy. She has enough adventures to make even two little boys very interested. The book was written during a time when children played outside, made things with rocks, sticks and enjoyed themselves creating adventures and living in their imaginations. I love reading these books to my two boys because I want that to be inside them as well. That they would dream, imagine and just be kids.

Milly-Molly-Mandy is that they are extremely well written, as Joyce Lankester Brisley does not dumb down and do child speech, she says words such as “presently” and responds to adults as “Yes, sir” and “Yes, mam”. The pages are filled with delightful illustrations. Not hasty low-quality art, but black and white drawings that hold vast amounts of vintage style charm. I have not one complaint about either of these books in any of the stories that we have read and my children don’t either.

What do the kids say from On the Lowest Shelf?
An Interview with my 5 year old son, Jackson about Milly-Molly-Mandy

b: Do you like reading the Milly-Molly-Mandy books?
j: Yes!
b: Why? Can you tell me what you like about them?
j: Everything. They do fun things.
b: What is your favourite thing that they did?
j: When they made a tree house. Oh and the stamps story! (story in which M-M-M becomes pen pals with a relative her age in America and collects the stamps)
b:Should we get the next book now that we have finished the two we have?
j: Well, um I don’t know. You have so many books already. Maybe for my birthday or something.
b: hahaha! Yes, maybe.

What are your kids’ favourite classic chapter books? Do you read these oldies, or would you rather go a-la-modern? No right or wrong answers, I just like to chat books

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By bethany, 3,March,2009 23:31

Title: Anne of Green Gables
Author: L.M. Montgomery
Pages: 304
Published: 1908
Genre: Classic Children’s Literature

Anne of Green Gables is the tale of Anne and orphan girl child who comes by mistake to live at Green Gables. Which is the mistake? Well, that she should have been a boy, they requested a boy! She is the chattiest creature to have ever entered the life of the older brother and sister, Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert, maybe the chattiest creature I have read ever. Still, she is genuine, sweet and no matter how obnoxious- she is lovable. I must say that somewhere in the middle of the book she was no longer bothersome at all and I completely fell in love.

For the first several chapters I didn’t really know if I’d make it through the book, and then I felt a duty to get at least a little ways into this classic before renouncing it forever. I would have made a horrid judgment call if I had! I don’t know where it happened, but it did I fell in love with Anne. It may have been right around where she died her hair green, or where she should have forgiven her best enemy Gilbert, but I am not sure because all of the sudden I just couldn’t get enough of her. When the book was done I immediately tried to get my hands on the next book, which is Anne of Avonlea. This is a classic that deserves it’s title and honoured position, there is no doubt about it! Yep, it is a Stellar Five Chicken Book winner for sure.

Have you read Anne of Green Gables too? Did you read it as a child or an adult? What book do you love that is considered a childhood classic that you just can’t get enough of even being an adult?

Dreadlock Girl Reviews Anne of Green Gables series:
Anne of Green Gables
Anne of Avonlea
Anne of the Island

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By bethany (dreadlockgirl), 13,February,2009 21:28

Title: Ben’s Trumpet
Author: Rachel Isadora
Awards: Caldecott Honor Book
Genre: Urban, Children
Published: 1979

I decided to pick up some books at the library this month in honour of Black History Month. I have read some others, but I fell in love with this one, Ben’s Trumpet. It is the story of a boy who dreams in music form, the pictures are stunning and all done in black and white. My two little guys (3 and 5 years old) were entranced by the details of the art and loved the story as well.

Ben visits the Zig Zag Jazz Club every day. He goes there to watch the musicians work their magic, as music streams effortlessly through their drums, trombones, and saxophones however the one he most admires is the trumpeter. He has his own trumpet that he plays from the fire escape of his house, he is made aware by some other kids that it is just imaginary, not real, pretend stuff.

This is a story of sticking with something, following your own beat and having musical heroes. It is a book where kids are kids, a classic with its thick paper and high quality take-your-time feel. What can I say, my boys and I- well, we loved everything about this Caldecott Honor Book. It has earned its keep as it has a library card holder and is all ragged and loved. It was around 30 years ago, before all the library books were scanned. It is perfect. I know that when we bring it back I’ll be itching to head to Powell’s and get our own.

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By bethany (dreadlockgirl), 7,December,2008 20:54

Title: A Child’s Christmas in Wales
Author: Dylan Thomas
Illustrator: Chris Raschka
Pages: 48
Genre: Children’s Christmas
Yearly Count b: 91

This is the first time I have been exposed to the book by Dylan Thomas. Since I was young we would watch the TV version of this and loved it. Since the book was selected for the online book club, Travel the World (from a comfy chair) this month, and it is really short I read right through it. I read it to my little boys. They were mostly curious as to why kids would think it was fun to throw snowballs at cats. My two little ones have three cats and they knew that was a naughty thing to do for sure! I couldn’t help but see them smile during the description of the fire where the slipper is being waved around. It is neat being able to share this with my kids.

I like reading it allowed, the words flow so strongly from the lips and even though my boys are too young to understand their beauty, sharing beauty even at their age is priceless to me. It is all about exposure to the arts at this point and to give them wings. Even if the beauty goes over their heads, the pictures are so amazing that they stare at them the entire time. Chris Raschka is the artist and the book received A New York Times Book Review Best Illustrated Children’s Book for his illustrations. I don’t think I need to say much more than that, other than that they are somehow earthy in tones and colours, rustic in their perfection and perfectly, intensely real as well. The lines are jagged, and imperfect and yet the detail of the paintings brilliantly glows through to form a whole image that is nothing less than spectacular.

So, there you go, the words are amazing…many of you have heard this short story of Wales, and the pictures I believe equally match the performance of the words, a marriage meant to be (at least in my book . I am going to institute the tradition of reading this book allowed to my kids, even when they can read on their own, or when they can read on their own they can read it to us! I think every household should own a copy of this book!

Here is the inside of Dylan Thomas’ writing shack, yes he had a writing shack in Wales. I would guess most writers have a special place they like to write….this one looks pretty neat to me!

It is interesting that many times when a gift is so strong, other areas are very weak, almost as a compensation. Check out Dylan Thomas, as he is listed under the neurotic poets! If you love to read about all the strange things these amazing writers can do, head there they have tons of info on weirdies for sure (I mean that in the sweetest possible way, as I am a weirdie as well).