Today’s guest post is by Robert and Mildred Marshall, author and narrator of the I’ve Got This: A Love Story (Lucid Books, March 2025).
More on that in a min. So kindly keep your shirt on, Cookie. First, let’s hear what the Marshall have to say about why book covers matter:
Alright. Who let the viking in?
Kimber here. Asking if you know a little’un who’s gonna be the next Albert Einstein. Or maybe you know someone who knows someone with a little-un who’s always asking “Why?” (I do that to Her Momness all the time. Drives her nuts. Don’t tell her I said that, okay?)
Anyway, we wanted to introduce you to a brand new series of science-ish books for kiddos. It’s the Little Curiosities Children’s Book Series. Ten books. By Jeffrey C. McGregor. And with summer just around the corner, this series might be the ticket for that kiddo who wants to learn more about science while doing summer reading, too.
Kimber: Mom! Mom! Come quick!
Her Royal Momness: What’s up Kimster? Earthquake? Fire? Flood? The imminent demise of doggie treats?
Kimber: ‘Course not. I just gotta tell ya about my new best bud, Petunia.
Mom: Petunia?
Kimber: Yeah. She’s furry and fluffy and she’s the star of the show in this new book for the little’uns, Blink and Glow.
Mom: Blink and Glow? By Raven Howell?
Kimber: That’s it! Mom, you’re a genius.
Mom: I thought that book was about two kids, Leo and Lilly. They catch fireflies, a salamander, and a Luna moth. For their classroom show and tell. The critters dim in captivity and grandma gently explains that they need to be free to live happily and shine bright.
Silly Mom!
Well. To cut to the chase, so to speak, Lilly and Leo think long and hard about what their grandma said as the lights of their trapped firefly and salamander begin to fade. It was fun to catch and jar them. But should the kids keep them?
This is a short, sweet story about loving and respecting nature and taking care of the environment. Bite-sized sentences are short and easy to digest and won’t strain young attention spans.
Besides a delightful story that’s both entertaining and educational, the text is complemented by vibrant illustrations. With bright, bold colors, the illustrations are top-notch. They’re gorgeous and dynamic, suggesting motion and fluidity.
Beautifully written, skillfully illustrated and briskly paced, Blink and Glow will make a welcome addition to any school or home library. It would also make an excellent read-aloud or bedtime story.
Step-by-step instructions for making your own firefly sun-catchers are included!
Kimber: Leo and Lilly aren’t alone in their adventures in their natural world. An unnamed little white dog is supervising. Just so ya know, okay? I named her Petunia. She’s my new best bud.
Mom: Why Petunia?
Kimber: Cuz Her Royal Magnificence, Queen of the Universe and World’s Most Amazingly Brilliant and Super Gorgeous Canine was already taken. By me.
Silly Mom.
Pages & Paws Rating
***
Note: We received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
We didn’t think our favorite ranger, Ranger Rose the PAWsome, could top her last book, Trip Tales: From Family Camping to Life as a Ranger. Which we like, totally love-ified. (See our brilliant review: Outdoor Memoir Delights in Trip Tales.)
Just shows you what we know.
Cuz Ranger Rose is back! With as much insight, info. and entertainment as ever! In fact, her latest book, Tales From a Rogue Ranger, Totally Rocks. In fact again, Her Momness almost dropped it in the sink. Reading while teeth-brushing. Cuz Mom couldn’t put it down!
Silly Mom. (Like that’s new. Insert Kimber eye roll here.)
Anyway, here’s the scoop on Ranger Roses’s latest magnum opus:
Note: We received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Four middle-aged women go on a “girls reunion” to a rundown “holistic” yoga center thingy in Butte, Montana. Brooke, Krista, Quinn and Tracy first met at a Mommy and Me group when their kids were little. A long time ago. Now the quartet is headed to Big Sky Country and a retreat for body, soul, and mind.
Author Katie Aune
By Katie R. Aune
When I quit my university fundraising job to travel for 13 months back in 2011, it was a pretty unheard-of thing to do for most Americans. While there are more resources today for those wishing to take a career break to travel, the idea of just quitting everything to travel the world can still feel daunting. Here are a few things to think about as you plan your escape:
Finally, plan, but don’t plan too much! Circling back to number one, have an idea of what you would like to accomplish by quitting your job to travel. Research destinations and make a list of “must-do” activities. But give yourself flexibility to change things up as you go along. Often the best experiences come from just going with the flow!
For more on my career break trip, check out my book, Finding Katya: How I Quit Everything to Backpack the Former Soviet States, and for more career break tips, visit my website, katieaune.com.
Katie R. Aune is a recovering tax attorney who has worked in nonprofit and higher ed fundraising for more than a decade while also dabbling in travel blogging and writing. Despite not traveling overseas until she was 25, she has been to nearly 70 countries and all seven continents.
Born and raised in Minnesota, Katie is currently based in Washington, D.C. and has a habit of rooting for teams that find ways to lose in devastating fashion.
The Memory QuiltNote: We received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
When Grace’s neighbor and friend Jason dies unexpectedly, Grace isn’t sure what to do. She wants to let the Davidsons know she’s thinking about them and feeling their loss. Should she make them a card? Pick them a daisy bouquet? She decides she wants to do something more. Something special.
Since one of us is battling tendonitis today and it hurts to write, we’re gonna skip the usual book review prelims and dive right in. As long as the Alleve holds out. So let’s go:
Fiction can be a powerful tool to address or draw attention to real life issues and problems and raise awareness of same. (Hi, Chuck Dickens.) But it can also be tricky. Like, Where does the fiction end and facts/real life begin? What’s true and what’s not? How do you tell?
This is why some readers may find Yvonne M. Morgan’s Gypsy For God problematic.
For the record, we really wanted to like this book. In fact, one of us – I won’t say who – wanted to love it. (Except maybe for the parts about Rex the cat. Go figure.) It’s beautifully written and reads like non-fiction. At least for awhile.
This book is written like it’s the real-life, true story of a middle aged woman, Kathleen, who loses her accounting job. Struggles with involuntary early retirement. Becomes a travel agent. Travels with hubby Sam all over the world, ostensibly “doing research” for her travel clients. (This gets really old, by the way. How many taxi rides, souvenir shops, photo opps and dinner menus do readers have to plow through before arriving at something more meaningful? Yawn.)
In the course of her globe-trotting to Abu Dhabi, India, Kenya, Nepal and elsewhere, “Kathleen” sees childhood poverty and neglect first hand. Her heart is touched. Kathleen later meets with a church friend, Helen, and then her pastor to discern God’s new purpose for her life. After much prayer and consideration, she decides she wants to help these children. And sets up a web site/projects to fight human trafficking and help destitute children.
Wow! Talk about a compelling story! A potent combination of travelogue and an epic journey of self-discovery, all beautifully told in the first person. Like Kathleen was really there. Really traveled to all the places mentioned. Really saw those desperate young faces. One of us was on the edge of her seat!
But it’s fiction. Kathleen isn’t real. She is a character apparently invented by the author to try to convey the main theme. Pity, that. Because this may leave some readers wondering: If Kathleen is fiction, what else in this book falls into the same category?
For example, the events in Chapter 26 per 15 y.o. neighbor and sometimes cat sitter Sophie. This whole chapter and story arc feel contrived. Artificial. Made us wonder what else in this book is contrived and artificial. Like, is ANY of this true? How much? Are “Helen” and “Pastor John” and their conversations with “Kathleen” also imaginary? That’s unfortunate. Cuz this faith-flavored read makes some really good points elsewhere.
See how this works?
Overall, this is a strong story with an important, much-needed message. It just hit us wrong. Like, it would’ve been a lot better if “Kathleen” was a real person. And her story was all true.
***
Note: We received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Via Blog Tour.
As an author and blogger, Yvonne M. Morgan writes stories to help deepen a relationship with God. On a personal level, she was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
Author Yvonne M. Morgan.
She is a wife, mom, and grandmother, but most importantly, Yvonne is a child of God who is passionate about prayer and missions. Her passion is to share stories of trusting the Lord and watching Christ in action. As a faithful prayer warrior, she trusted God when he called her to help orphans after losing her son.
Purchase a copy of Gypsy for God on Amazon. You can also add this to your GoodReads reading list.
Note: We received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
A new baby is exciting. But what if you’re the baby in the family? How will the imminent arrival of a younger brother or sister effect you?
While awaiting the arrival of a new brother or sister, young Benjamin plays a “baby package” game with his mom in this sweet and gentle story by Patricia Eckerman Ambas. Benjamin first pretends he’s a new package that has just arrived for mom. The package arrives in forms shapes and forms – a blanket, a basket, an imaginary box. But each package comes with an unspoken question: What about me when the new baby comes?
Note: We received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
“I know these dogs!” saith Kimber the Magnificent. “They’re my BFFs!”
Her Momness: “Okay, Kimmi. But everyone’s your BFF.”
Kimber: “So?”
So…. You’ve heard of the Pulitzer Prize? The Newbery Medal? The Nobel Prize? Small potatoes, bub. They’re nothing next to the Official Mom-Tested, Kimber-Approved Pawsome Book Award.
“What’s a Pawsome Book Award?” you ask. Good question. It’s like sunshine on a cloudy day. Birthdays. The first day of summer vacation. Christmas morning. BFFs. All rolled into one.
Reserved for the top one percent (that’s 1% for those in the back) of all books read, the Pawsome Award is our highest honor.
I Chose You is the first-ever recipient of this prestigious award. Here’s why:
Pages & Paws 