Surprisingly, I read more in the blips of the month before and after my trip than I did in all of February!
*Emotionally Healthy Spirituality by Pete Scazzero - This was a book I was going through with my small group, and boy was it good. It's a book that, upon finishing the first time, you shake your head a bit, wonder at what you just read, and realize you need to immediately start over to absorb more. Highly recommend for just about everyone.
*Traveling with Pomegranates by Sue Monk Kidd - This was a mother-daughter travel memoir intermixed with changing life seasons and gorgeous scenery...pretty much right up my alley. A bit melancholy at times, but the writing, oy. Monk Kidd talks about the beginnings of her bestseller--The Secret Life of Bees, while simultaneously coming to grips with mothering her daughter in a new way. Loved it! It was an unexpected book club pick and I was here for it.
*Prairie Suite by Twyla Hansen - This is a short book of poetry about the Spring Creek Prairie Audobon Center, which is a place I took my kids many times before moving away from Nebraska. The illustrations are beautiful and the nostalgia was fun (if not a bit predictable), but it wasn't my favorite poetry book of hers. I bought it at the Lewis & Clark Visitor center in Nebraska City (which is excellent, btw) to reflect on 'home' when going back to the prairies. It fit the bill, but a bit 'meh'.
*Fed Up by Gemma Hartley - Well. Hmm. Sigh. I'm still digesting this book, that started off with a pesky little viral article that wouldn't go away. This is nonfiction that reads like a murder mystery (guffaw) and it's very relatable. I'm going to go out on a limb and say that about 75% of women will highly relate to this topic. Again, still digesting, but just about every page has some clear and concise lines about the thing I've been trying to put my finger on and couldn't seem to articulate well enough to bring up.
*Canadian Geographic, Jan-Feb 2019 - I read these front to back every other month and I love them. Did you know there is such a thing as a Glacier bear? I learn something (usually more than 5 somethings) new every time I read this magazine and the pictures are stunning.
Read-Alouds with Kids
*Trapped in Ice by Eric Waters - This was a historical novel based on the sinking of the Karluk in the Artctic over 100 years ago. Helen was a real girl that was on the ship when the crew had to abandon and journey on the ice for over 100 miles before reaching Wrangel Island near Siberia. The story was always gripping and even though my son said he didn't like it (it's technically for their Socials), he was always right next to me reading ahead a bit to find out what was going to happen--lots of action and good character development. I don't know Waters' other works, but I'd seek them out for future books to read aloud. Not only was it an enjoyable read, but we all learned a great deal about Canadian history in a non-boring way. Win!
*Ask! "Kids Invent" by Cricket Media - This near-monthly kids magazine is one we've been reading for years, and this one--all about kids inventing things--was right up Lukka's alley. Highly recommend any of their (Cricket Media)'s magazines. Good quality and no advertising!
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