Jump-Starting Boys: Help Your Reluctant Learner Find Success in School and Life

I just finished a great handbook for parents and teachers with many hands-on ways to help underachieving boys do better in school - and life. Read the full review of Jump-Starting Boys at Teacher Tips and Lesson Plans.

Everyone knows boys are falling behind girls in education. And that has lots of people, especially educators and politicians, busy pointing fingers and engaging in loud discussions. But what about the average guilt-ridden, frustrated mother or father of an underachieving boy? 

Someone who wants to know in plain language what’s behind this trend and what they can do about it? What about readers who crave positive support, not political shrillness? Most existing books on “the boy problem” make parent readers feel even more helpless than the school system and their job demands have made them feel already. Jump-starting Boys is the first book on the market that empowers parent readers, give them a sense of being able to reclaim the duty and rewards of raising their children and assuring them they really can mitigate and/or work with the influences of school, media and more. 

Instead of footnotes, graphs and case studies, Jump-starting Boys has heart-warming true stories and take-action checklists. Filled with reassurance and support, the authors turn fear and guilt into can-do confidence. Through easy tips and action list sidebars, this is the most practical, readable book on the topic, and positivity is the watchword. Fascinating findings from original surveys commissioned amongst education and psychology professionals, show successful parents and boys who beat the odds. 

Finally, a book that truly targets ordinary parents and helps them work with their sons to ensure they will be all they can be. [Viva Editions, used with permission]

Withers, Pam and Gill, Cynthia. Jump-Starting Boys: Help Your Reluctant Reader Find Success in School and Life. Viva Editions. 2013.

Copyright 2013 Irene Taylor. Permission to republish in print or online must be granted by the author of this blog in writing.

Papa's Pearls: A Father's Gift of Love and Wisdom to His Children and Grandchildren

by Diane Flynn Keith

                                                                


Title: Papa's Pearls
Author: Diane Flynn Keith
Genre: Memoir, Parenting Advice
Publisher: Homefires, CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
Publication Date: 2012
eBook: Available in Kindle Format and in paperback
Pages: 124

*Congratulations to Papa's Pearls - winner of the Dan Poynter Global eBook Gold Award for Parenting and Family Non-Fiction, and the Silver Award for Men's Issues Non-Fiction! Great job!!

 Synopsis 

Papa's Pearls is a parenting must read, and a perfect Father's Day gift! This lovely story honors the author's father and his life well lived. Ms. Keith shares poignant, funny and insightful reminiscences of growing up - and all of the wonderful lessons she learned from her father.

Blending true stories and historical perspectives, Ms Keith shares her many wonderful memories of her father and teaches us some of his great wisdom along the way. She candidly describes many vignettes of growing up in the '60s - and shares the lessons her father, Joseph Carol Flynn, taught her about life, parenting and most of all, the unconditional love of a parent for a child.

Comments 

I enjoyed reading Papa's Pearls and am happily sharing it with readers. It is funny, insightful, and well written, and imparts great wisdom in an easily approachable way - with real life examples to illustrate each pearl. This book is also a great tribute to a wonderful father - and a wonderful way to honor his memory. 

Dedicated to her father's memory, the introduction begins by telling us of the passing of Carol Joseph Flynn. But this book is far from a sad memoir. It is a joyful, positive, and uplifting look at one man's life and the love he shared with his family - and the wisdom his words continue to share with all who read them.

Papa's Pearls is a perfect Father's Day gift - but it is also a wonderful book to share with anyone who wants to be uplifted and to "learn" some of life's great lessons. My favorite - "be grateful everyday" - wonderful words to guide one's life - and they kind of remind me of my Mother! Anyone reading Papa's Pearls will find sayings, stories or characters that remind them of their own life - and everyone will find lessons they can apply to their own life, as well.

What others are saying 

“Written in a truly delightful style, Diane Flynn Keith uses the power of story and connection to capture the deep wisdom that supports and keeps families thriving! The pearls she shares can be held by all of us as we move through every phase of our lives.” ~ Michelle Barone M.A., M.F.T, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, and author of Finding Your Way.

“For centuries storytelling carried wisdom, that illusive blend of experience and intelligence, from one generation to the next. That is, until television changed the family and with it the art of storytelling forever. Reminiscent of Steinbeck, Papa’s Pearls, by Diane Flynn Keith, shares stories of her father’s life and his hard earned street smart insights: You Don’t Kick Someone When They’re Down, Ya Gotta Do What Ya Gotta Do, Tell Yourself You Like It, and many others. She writes of experiences and a history we all share, personal, enduring and wise.” ~ Michael Mendizza, Founder, Touch the Future, and Co-Author with Joseph Chilton Pearce of Magical Parent – Magical Child: The Art of Joyful Parenting.

About the Author 

Diane Flynn Keith is the Editor of Homefires ~ The Journal of Homeschooling, a website devoted to helping homeschool families kindle a love of learning. Diane has coached and mentored homeschool families through her websites, writing, and public speaking for over 20 years. Diane publishes the free ClickSchooling e-newsletter that provides a daily, web-based learning activity to over 17,300 educators and parents. She is the author of Carschooling: Over 350 Entertaining Games and Activities to Turn Travel Time into Learning Time.

I received my review copy of Papa's Pearls from the Dan Poynter Global eBook awards, where I was a judge in the Parenting category.

Copyright 2013 Irene Taylor. Permission to republish in print or online must be granted by the author of this blog in writing. 

Dream Team by Lisa Ard

by Lisa Ard

Title: Dream Team (Book Two in the Dream Seeker series)
Author: Lisa Ard
Genre: Middle Grade Fiction, Boys' Fiction, Sports, Fantasy
Publisher: Write Frame Communications; Lisa Ard
Publication Date: August, 2012
eBook: available in Kindle format
Paperback: Createspace version - 82 pages

Synopsis 

Dream Team is the second book in the Dream Seeker series by author Lisa Ard. In this story, young Patrick Connelly faces the challenges of puberty, with the help of his sister Grace and a few baseball greats! Patrick and his family share a special gift - the ability to make their dreams real. This often causes Patrick some distress - like when he dreams that he has eaten too much ice cream - but in this case, he and his sister share a magical dream that helps Patrick overcome his fear of speaking in public.

The story begins when Patrick dreams that his has lost his voice just as he is about to present a talk to his class on the baseball great, Jackie Robinson. When he awakes, he finds that his voice is changing - he has entered puberty just as he needs a steady voice the most. Fearful of the scorn of his classmates, Patrick avoids speaking that day - and when Grace finds out, she helps Patrick through an amazing dream. She guides him to dream of playing baseball - in a stadium on a cruise ship (it is a dream, you know) - with the likes of Jackie Robinson, Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig among others.

What happens as Patrick plays the game of his lifetime is for readers to find out. This story is engaging, entertaining, well written and will appeal especially to boys - and all of those who love baseball as well!

Comments 

Dream Team is recommended for middle grade readers and would make a great chapter book for independent reading, or as a read-aloud for parents and teachers alike.

As a related activity, this story would also be a great basis for the start of a study on the famed Jackie Robinson - the first black baseball player. As I read Dream Team, I was reminded of another classic - Thank You Jackie Robinson, by Barbara Cohen. After sparking students' interest with Dream Team, other books about Jackie Robinson would be great follow-ups.

What others are saying 

 "An imaginative take on dreaming and dreamers, the family of this story can actually live their dreams, something twelve year old Patrick has yet to learn to control...When puberty comes calling without an appointment, Patrick chickens out on delivering his school book report on baseball legend Jackie Robinson. Later, with a little help from his sister, he learns what his mother means by 'you can't control every situation in life, but you can control how you react to it.' Recommended for young readers, especially boys, this one is a short but entertaining story of family, friendship and growing up." Amanda Richards, an Amazon Vine Voice Reviewer 

"I am enjoying the unfolding of the sibling relationships in this fantastic new series about a family of "dream seekers" who experience their dreams as reality. In Dream Team, Patrick's teenage sister, Grace, coaches him and helps him improve his confidence and dream-seeking skills. I like how Ard creates realistic sibling conversation and conflict. Yes, teenage big sisters can be self-absorbed, but they can have their little brother's best interests at heart once in a while too. Way to go, Lisa Ard!" Robin at Goodreads

About the Author 

From Dream Team: "Lisa Ard leads a dream life in Portland, Oregon, with her husband and two children. Her first book, Fright Flight, Dream Seekers Book One received the FlamingNet Top Choice award. Her latest book Saving Halloween won a Kay Snow Writing Award for Young Readers. In addition to writing, Lisa loves visiting schools and hearing from readers."

You can read more about Lisa Ard in a 2011 interview, as well as on her blog, Adventures in Writing and Publishing. Lisa is also available for author visits to schools in the Portland area.

Look for Book Three in the Dream Seeker series - previewed in Dream Team. Hopefully it will be out soon!

Book source

I received my review copy of Dream Team from Lisa Ard.

Copyright 2013 Irene Taylor. Permission to republish in print or online must be granted by the author of this blog in writing. 

Skye Rising: The Spirit Agreement

Skye Rising, cover art by Matthew Walker

Title: Skye Rising: The Spirit Agreement
Author: JJ Combes
Genre: Teen Fiction, YA Fiction, Sci-Fi
Publisher: JJ Combes
Publication Date: 2011
eBook: Kindle version available at Amazon; various versions at Smashwords

 Synopsis 

 Skye Rising is the first book by author JJ Combes. In this sci-fi, coming of age story, flawed protagonist and unlikely hero, Felix Skye, confronts not only the ins and outs of his teenage years, but also discovers that he is one of two unwitting warriors, long foretold in the mysterious Spirit Agreement, and his mission is to fight evil and save the world.

To quote JJ Combes in the Amazon book description,

"The world is changing….a mysterious relic is unearthed, bringing the rise of the two most powerful humans ever existed. One, the soldier of 'Death', evil personified and the dark leader of an organisation reeking terror across the world. The other, an unassuming boy, who wants nothing more than normality.

Felix Skye, your average teenage boy, has a destiny far greater than any human before him. Can he overcome the trials and tribulations of his teenage years to help save all he knows and loves.

Time is running out..."

The story is engaging and keeps readers curious as Felix moves through the many challenges that await him. Felix comes to terms with his unwanted powers and their consequences, makes some lifelong friends, and learns to become the Warrior that the world needs him to be to fight the soldier of Death. Through it all, he retains his unassuming demeanor and his sense of humor by keeping these "fantasical" events in perspective.

So - does Felix save the world? Does he learn to master his many powers? Does he save his loved ones and the Earth as well? All is revealed in Skye Rising: The Spirit Agreement. This is a very enjoyable read - and this reviewer looks forward to a sequel!

Comments 

While Skye Rising is an entertaining and enjoyable story that will appeal to teen readers - boys especially, it does have some minor editing distractions that savvy teachers and parents can use to bring about discussion of some basic grammatical tenets. These should in no way diminish the enjoyment of the story, but they can be used to spark short, on the fly lessons about proper word choice, punctuation and other light grammatical issues. As they read, challenge your students to become editors themselves, and find and discuss corrections for some very common grammatical issues.

Besides being an enjoyable chapter book for individual readers, Skye Rising would make a great read-aloud for the middle grades (yes, middle grade students love to be read to, too!) - and it would be a great book to dramatize in a Readers' Theater setting as well.

While a bit rough around the edges, Skye Rising is a soundly written story - so don't be distracted by the editing details. Instead, enjoy the story and use those as a vehicle for further lessons and learning for your reader!

About the Author

JJ Combes is a new writer on the eBook scene. He is "Cornish by birth, and a teacher at heart," according to his book dedication.

Book Source

I received a review copy of Skye Rising from JJ Combes for a fair and unbiased review. My copy was downloaded from Smashwords.

Copyright 2013 +Irene Taylor. Permission to republish in print or online must be granted by the author of this blog in writing. 

The Day I Met Dr. Seuss

by Anne Emerick

Title: The Day I Met Dr. Seuss
Author: Anne Emerick
Cover Illustrator: Nikolai Popov
Genre: Historical Fiction, Children's eBooks
Publisher: Aboon Books
Publication Date: 2012
eBook: available in Kindle Format

 Synopsis 

The Day I Met Dr. Seuss is a short, rhyming story about an imaginary child's journey to meet the real Dr. Seuss. Based on author Anne Emerick's wish to meet Dr. Seuss, this historical fiction poem continues the rhyming tradition done so exquisitely by Dr. Seuss.

Little Annie McGee wants, more than anything else, to meet Dr. Seuss and find out what makes him special as both a writer and a man. She wants to learn about how he comes up with his ideas, and how he makes them unique.

Annie journeys far to where Dr. Seuss lives, meets several of his friends and neighbors, along with his secretary, Claudia Prescott. Finally, after despairing of ever meeting the great man - Annie's wish is finally granted when she meets Ted Geisel - who is, of course, the real Dr. Seuss!

Readers will enjoy spotting the many subtle references to Dr Seuss's books, and the special homage to that wily Bartholomew and his fantastic hats!

Comments 

This ebook  is a fun, quick read, that captures the rhyming cadences of Dr. Seuss. It would make a great read-aloud for any age or grade level. This story would be especially timely for teachers who are celebrating Read Across America Day on March 2 - a day that celebrates both reading and the birthday of Dr. Seuss.

This book would also make a great introduction to an author study on Dr. Seuss. Emerick begins with an explanation of why she wrote this story - how she really tried to contact Dr. Seuss, and her trepidation about writing a fictional story based on a real person. She details her correspondence with Dr. Seuss's secretary, and the green lights she got as she planned the book.

Emerick also includes a great deal of factual information about Dr. Seuss at the end of the story.  This is a valuable addition to the book, and will be very useful for teachers and parents who want to use this story to introduce one of our great writers to their children.

 About the Author 

Anne Emerick is a New York based author. In addition to The Day I Met Dr. Seuss, she has written the following:

• Smelly Ellie: Second Place Sister
• Mattie Monster is NOT Tired
• Poster Girl
• The No Work Spanish Audio Series  

You can read more about how Anne became a best selling author on her blog, Self Publishing, Children's Books and Me.

Anne Emerick never did get to meet Dr. Seuss - but her wish to do so inspired this book.

Book source

This is an unsolicited review of The Day I Met Dr. Seuss. I obtained my copy from Amazon.com.

Copyright 2013 +Irene Taylor. Permission to republish in print or online must be granted by the author of this blog in writing.