Media Matters

 Book by Lisa Wingate This was a lovely book that touches on faith, family, forgiveness, work-life balance, and caring for aging loved ones. I liked that everyone was nuanced and imperfect, but generally doing the best they knew how. Some quotes: “Raising children is an occupation of self-sacrifice, but these days young people don’t want to give anything up.” “It takes time to turn a heart, and it cannot be done with hard words.” “Sometimes we must try to view the actions of those around us with forgiveness. We must realize that they are going on the only road they can see. Sometimes we cannot raise our chins and see eye to eye, so we must bow our heads and have faith in one another.” “My children grew up while I was doing other things, all of which seemed very important at the time.” “Your children are the greatest gift God will give to you, and their souls the heaviest responsibility He will place in your hands. Take time with them, teach them to have faith in God. Be a person in...

 Book by Daniel Nayeri This was a beautifully written memoir of an Iranian boy who becomes a refugee when his mom converts to Christianity. He eventually lands in Oklahoma where he deals with bullying, an abusive stepfather, and a kind middle school English teacher who invites him to tell his story to the class. It is at turns funny, heartbreaking, and inspiring. Note: he does have a lot of stories about poop, but it doesn’t come across as crass; just real.  Highly recommended for ages 12+

 Book by Shannon Messenger A fun fantasy series about a twelve year old girl who was raised by humans but discovers she is an elf with magical powers. I have only read the first book so far, but I have high hopes for the rest of the series.

 Picture book by Ellen Stoll Walsh. This was a favorite of several of my kids. Great way to introduce the idea of mixing primary colors.

 Book by Paul Kalanithi. This was a moving and well written memoir addressing the sacred calling of a doctor and the challenges of facing a terminal disease. This should be required reading for med school students, providing a humanizing counterbalance to the dehumanizing effects of cadaver dissection, long hours, and burdensome caseloads. Nothing makes you empathize with patients more than becoming one yourself, or at least putting yourself in their shoes. As for the philosophizing about life and death, the author is wise beyond his years. Relationships are what really matter and are worth spending time on. Note: there is no objectionable content other than one patient who used the F word several times.

 Book by Lisa Fipps. Wow. This was a captivating, heartbreaking novel in verse about an overweight sixth grader. I was repeatedly shocked at the cruelty she endured at the hands of complete strangers, classmates, and her own family members. How could anyone treat another person this way? And especially how could a mother treat her child this way? It seemed almost unbelievable, but the author was drawing from her own life experiences. Highly recommended for ages 10-adult to read and discuss.

 Book by Sachiko Kashiwaba. This is an intriguing story within a story. I really enjoyed the characters. It is a non-spooky ghost story set in modern day Japan that reminded me a bit of a Studio Ghibli movie. 

 Board book by Tim Mayerling. Simple text teaching colors and flowers paired with real photos of the flowers. Works great as a nonfiction board book.

 Board book by Dr. Seuss. This was a surprisingly sweet book about being thankful. Simple rhyming text makes this a great board book that can be enjoyed any time of year.

 Board book by Ruth Spiro. Most books like this are gimmicky and unappealing to babies. However, this book is an outlier.  The illustrations are colorful and happy. The text is simple and clear in teaching a single simple concept. It works surprisingly well.

 Board book by Gillian Shields. Gentle illustrations and rhymes make this a calming bedtime story. I appreciate the depiction of a family with multiple siblings. If I were to rewrite it, I would change the phrase “All the laughter, All the fun” to “Both the hard things and the fun”.  Recommended Ages 2-6. The illustrations are a bit too detailed for the youngest crowd.

 Board book by Dr. Seuss. Dr. Seuss’s trademark rhythm, rhyme, humor, and illustrations make this fun to read over and over.

 Board book by Rod Campbell. A fantastic blend of story, illustration, predictable text, and interaction. A must have for ages 1-4. Note: the flaps are paper, not cardboard, so it’s not sturdy enough to withstand unsupervised use by the youngest readers.

 Book by James Ponti. This was a fantastic read. All the fun of the spy genre without the adult content. Great for both girls and boys . This is the first in a series, but I haven’t read the rest yet.