Mothers Day Books

Jennifer's honest and accurate account of the range of emotions and body changes associated with pregnancy is something many women will relate to. Whether you're pregnant with your first child or are done with childbearing, you'll enjoy reading her story, a story you won't read in any of the popular birth books today. She examines the doubts, shares her triumphs and describes the day-to-day ennui of pregnancy. This is truly a book I didn't want to finish reading.

This is worth reading if you are pregnant simply because it is very unique among typical pregnancy books - however, the author is a very negative person and a lot of the book is her complaining about anything and everything (granted, it is her journal, but enough already)! It got a little old. But, it's a quick read and offered interesting similarities to my own pregnancy (example - her baby always quieted down when her husband has his hand on her stomach - we thought it was just our kiddo). I was disappointed that there weren't more pictures, since the ones included were very great.

I didn't want to put down "Navel gazing". Although Jennifer shared her own personal experience I kept finding myself in the thoughts, fears, joys and the suspended question mark that characterizes pregnancy. I especially enjoyed Jennifer's genuineness and forthrightness in discussing the myths, social expectations, use of language and strange behavior surrounding pregnant women. The photographs were thought provoking and beautiful. Their very existence in a world where, as Jennifer points out, we don't see many visuals of pregnant women, was refreshing and engaging. As a mom of a two year old considering having another child, it was an important book in making me feel not so alone with some feelings about pregnancy that don't often get verbalized. It is about time women started having conversations about the tough stuff (and the joyful stuff) that constitutes the journey to motherhood. We, and our life circumstances, are not all "Polly Perfect" as is implied by some other books on pregnancy. I thank Jennifer for engaging us in this much-needed dialogue. While this is an insightful work for those of us in the child-bearing process, I did end up losing the book for a period of time to my mother who is going through menopause. It probably is not a book that she would have thought had anything to offer her, but she read it almost cover to cover and said afterward that she found the issues that Jennifer brought up to be very relevant for her as well. My husband is on deck to read it next! I highly recommend this book to other readers and commend Jennifer for her willingness to share the extremely personal vulnerabilities and strengths that can be discovered along the journey of motherhood.

"Having a work life takes confidence." I think this quote that Jen wrote about her mom, sums up her adventure into motherhood. Having a life with a baby takes lots of confidence, and Navel Gazing truly depicts how one woman grows into honoring herself throughout the pregnancy process. It shares the raw ups and downs of being pregnant. I am very excited that she had the courage and perservance to tell us her story.

Jennifer Matesa bravely bares herself -- body and soul -- in this honest account of her pregnancy. This is a book for every woman (or man) who hesitates, even slightly, on the threshold of parenthood. It is also a book for those of us who are already parents because it reminds us to look, really look, at our children and our own evolution. I've read the book twice, the first time in a big gulp, the second time in bits and pieces. I keep it in my car so I can pick it up every time I have a spare moment. A lovely book that feels like a wonderful companion.

How inspiring to read this beautiful saint's beautiful words! Reading this book truly transports you to another world! It is so easy to see why she is a saint! She has meant so much to my entire family, beginning with my grandmother, who was born just three weeks after St. Therese died. She has answered many of my prayers and I am so happy that my confirmation name was chosen for her.

"Jesus set before me the book of nature. I understood how all the flowers God has created are beautiful, how the splendor of the rose and the whiteness of the lily do not take away the perfume of the violet or the delightful simplicity of the daisy. I understood that if all flowers wanted to be roses, nature would lose her springtime beauty, and the fields would no longer be decked out with little wild flowers. And so it is in the world of souls, Jesus' garden. He has created smaller ones and those must be content to be daisies or violets destined to give joy to God's glances when He looks down at His feet. Perfection consists in doing His will, in being what He wills us to be."
- The Little Flower

A must-read! St. Therese reminds us that we are all to answer the call of holiness.

This is the Diary of Saint Therese of the Child Jesus
It is very inspiring. Number One on my list.

While much has been made regarding the translation of this book, I cannot stress enough what a classic this book is. Certainly for all Catholics this book is a must have. However, the simple and practical wisdom of this book reaches well beyond Catholic walls. If you have a section in your collection of books where you keep classics that you always go back too, pick up this book and it will find its way there for sure.

St. Therese of Lisieux's memoir, "Story of a Soul," has set the world on fire. For more than fifty years after Therese's death, the only edition available had been heavily edited by Therese's sister Pauline, Mother Agnes of Jesus, who made about five thousand changes in the manuscript. Michael Day's translation is made from this edited manuscript.

Happily, about 1956 the "Manuscrits authentiques," Therese's original manuscripts, were released to the world, and in 1976 Fr. John Clarke, O.C.D. translated them in the book "Story of a Soul: the autobiography of St. Therese of Lisieux," published by the Institute of Carmelite Studies. This is universally acknowledged as the only authentic and authoritative English translation. Mother Agnes's version remains of interest to scholars who wish to compare the two manuscripts, or to study the version which gave rise to the original cult of St. Therese.

A collaboration between Eve Bunting and Jan Brett, two of my favorite authors, this is a sweet story that introduces the concept of Mother's Day at a level young children can understand. Three mice brothers wake up early on Mother's Day morning and embark on a quest, braving several predators, to obtain gifts for their mother. The eldest finds a dandelion fluffball for her to wish on; the middle finds one of the first strawberries of Spring. The youngest wants to bring her honeysuckle but is prevented by Cat, who guards Honeysuckle Cottage. In lieu of this gift, he presents an alternative one which surprises everyone.

Many virtues are presented in this brief adventure: the mouse brothers are loyal to one another, brave in the face of danger, generous in their impulses, and honoring to their mother. The two eldest take responsibility for the well-being of the youngest, and the story ends with a warm family scene as Mother receives her gifts with gratitude. The illustrations are rich in detail (though not as lavish as Brett's other books) and the text (while not as brilliant as Bunting's usual work) lays out a pretty satisfying (if thinly developed) story.

One unintended consequence of reading this book the week before Mother's Day was that when the big day did roll around, my three-year-old son was not to be dissuaded from a quest outdoors to bring home a gift for me. The book really did define the day for him. It might not make it into the regular reading basket, but as a special holiday book it is an excellent choice.

The story is ok, good even - three little mice wake up early to find their mother presents for Mother's Day. But the real joy of this one is the pictures - very detailed and fun to look at.

Though I like the idea of this book, as well as the talent behind the illustrations, after reading this to my children and seeing their anxiety about the huge, menacing black cat that scares the mice, my husband and I have decided not to read this anymore to them. The mouse family is sweet, and the intent of the story is admirable, with the littlest mouse giving his mother a thoughtful gift for Mother's Day. I understand that most plots have some type of conflict that is resolved, but we discovered that the cat in this book was too scary for young children. There is a full-page illustration of this cat's scary face and head which is unnecessary, I believe, to make this story a success. We absolutely love reading stories to our children, and in fact, don't watch T.V. as we want books to be a bigger part of their lives. I understand that some people value exposing their children to scariness in books as a way to explain these things in the safety of their home, but sometimes images can remain in a child's mind for a long time, and if it comes from a contrived situation, such as in a fictional story, the child may find it harder to reconcile within the context of real life. We found that our children had a hard time appreciating the point of the story, because they were too thrown by the big, black cat. These happen to be children who live on a farm and have a pet cat themselves! They've dealt with real-life "scariness" such as the death of animals, nearby sightings of bears, foxes and other wild animals...etc., but all of these fit within the context of their lives. I books, they seem to appreciate images and text that work well together-in this case, the cat is bigger than life.

Favorite characters: Biggest Little Mouse, Middle Mouse, Little Mouse, and Mother

This book is about three mice who want to each get their mother a gift for Mother's Day. Each mouse wants to get the best gift, but it ends up being the littlest mouse who gets her the most unusual gift of all.
A nice book illustrated with colorful pictures that show these three little mice along their journey for presents. A nice story that shows how to share your love for your mother on Mother's Day.

I thought that this story is an excellent story for young children and their mothers to read together. This story about three, cute little mice is precious. They want to find the perfect present for their mother. The Little Mouse is the sweetest character I have read about in a while. They pass some dangerous situations as they search the meadow for the gifts. The surprise at the end of the story will make you so happy, that'll you'd do that for your mother! The story is a very cute story to read, especially around Mother's Day. The illustrations in it are very, very well done and the mice are the cutest mice ever!

Great book and so hard to find. Great buy and the book is in great shape.

Apparently "Robert E" is not what I would consider "an established reader". This book is excellent, and a mere taste of things to come for some even more amazing sequels. Eric Morse has a significant gift for tapping into the emotions of his characters and creating a story that really comes to life. I recommend this book to anyone who wants to be pleasently surprised and further inspired.

This book was really good. It actually seems like a Friday the 13th movie. The ending is slightly corny, but good anyway. This is the best of the Morse series, in my opinion, though all of them are very good.

I wish there were an even lower rating for this book than One star, however, since there isn't, I suppose it'll have to do...

I found myself enthralled when I heard such good things about this book, so I just had to have it- I spent twenty dollars for it. And the money was absolutely wasted on it. I couldn't sit through the first three chapters, before I started to cry. Not because the story was so "enthralling," but for the fact I wasted my money.

I mean, come on now "A sexy, guys voice." When I read that line, I almost rolled my eyes. He pays little attention to detail, and then, ending. God, the ending was the worst part- I had hoped he would redeem himself with a great ending, and what seemed to be a promising book, turns into an utter crap fest.

So, I put this book on my buyer's Beware list, and I implore you, even if it's an Official piece of Merchandise, just knowing I have it in my collection makes me want to vomit.

I wanted to buy the others, cause as they say, sometimes the first is the worst... and maybe that's true.

If I see any of the others for under two bucks, I'll probably pick them up, otherwise, it'd be too much of a waste of money.

Anyway, if you like awful stories and somewhat crappy writing, pick this book up. Otherwise, steer clear completely.

Eric Morse's Friday the 13th's Mother's Day is the first book in his four book Friday the 13th series, in which Morse discusses what happens after Jason goes to Hell. In this book, the question of what ever happened to Jason's mother is answered! This alone makes the book worth the money. Morse, with his writing, is actually able to catch the essense of the movies in these books, allowing them to transend being "just for kids" to the rank of must have for any Jason or slasher fan! Morse will make you feel that you are actually in the book, that is how well he writes. Don't question yourself about the purchase, I guarantee that if you really liked the movies, you will love the books. They are a great lead into the upcoming release of Jason X!!!

Unfortunately this book did not meet my expectations. If you're looking for something on the lighter side, with tidbits of faith and scripture to spend a few minutes with each day, this is right up your alley. But if you're searching for an in depth bible study or devotional that will ask you to truly search your faith for the strength to parent, you'll want to keep looking. The book is well represented as "prayer and inspiration," so I take full responsibility for my misinterpretation of the content, but take heed. You won't find much spiritual growth or challenge inside the cover.

I love this book, I don't keep up with it everyday, but I choose to read a few at a time. My only suggestion to make it better would be to also label the devotions by week, not just day. Every time I flip it open I am multiplying the number of weeks I am pregnant by 7 days in my head to make sure I don't read ahead! The writing is very comforting, especially to first time mothers-to-be such as myself. The entries make you think and reflect. It would make a great gift to any mom-to-be.

This devotional is fantastic. The entries really speak to you at each stage in the pregnancy and help you remember the miracle that is happening. I only wish that that I had found this book in my first trimester when things were rocky! I would recommend this book to any of my pregnant friends.

Not trying to be funny, but I keep this on the back of our toilet. It's one place I know I'll get around to reading it each day. It offers a short write-up about your stage in pregnancy and prayer/inspiration. YOu can also browse by title to see if your situation-of-the-day can be found somewhere in the book.

I love this book even more than other pregnancy devotionals because it has a concise 1-page reflection, devotion, and verse for every day of your pregnancy. The verses and reflections are timely -- just what mom is going thru at that time. The verses are very well laid out. I often find that what the author writes on that day is just what I was thinking myself...It is also a soothing journal for those who may have lost a baby before. I'll give this to all my pregnant Christian friends.

As I began to read the front flap of the book it immediately aroused my curiosity. "Who is the Room Mother?" I think that students in the primary grades will relate to the character and will want to continue to read the rest of the series. Gooney Bird appears to be witty and funny. The book appears to be an enjoyable read.

For those of you with daughters looking for books with strong, memorable female characters, Gooney Bird Greene is a must read series. We borrowed this book from the library initially, and enjoyed it so much we bought a copy for my daughter's 3rd grade class, along with 8 dictionaries for the third graders to use. Not only is it an enjoyable story for the first- to third-grade age range, it also motivates them to learn how to use a dictionary. I agree with one of the other reviewers that the story is not quite as strong as the first book, but it is still an enjoyable read.

Additionally, it has a surprise ending that got me choked up, and when I checked to see how my daughter's teacher liked it, she had also been surprised and choked up by the ending.

Lastly, it wasn't until we picked up some other books by Lois Lowry that we discovered she has won a couple Newbery awards for other books she has written.

I loved Gooney Bird Greene and so did my class of second graders. This one was less exciting. I had high hopes for it because we study Sqaunto. We will read it next year and I am sure we will learn to use our dictionaries like GB's class.

Advanced elementary to early middle school readers will relish Lois Lowry's Gooney Bird And The Room Mother telling of Gooney Bird Greene, who likes to be the center of attention most of the time. Her roles are changing as she enter second grade, leaving her in doubt about her future roles - and a mysterious Room Mother. Black and white drawings by Middy Thomas embellish the second Gooney Bird story, which needs no introduction to prove intriguing.

Gooney Bird Green is in search of the perfect room mother for her second grade class. The teacher has set up a contest. The person who finds the class a room mother will get to be Squanto in the Thanksgiving play. Join Gooney Bird in her search. You will be surprised to find out who she finds to fill the role!
The book was very funny.
I would recommend this book. It's a must read for all Lois Lowry Fans.

"Story of a Soul" is an incomparable book composed of three autobiographical manuscripts written by Saint Therese of Lisieux, but the 2007 edition published by Bibliobazaar is not a translation of those manuscripts. It is an early translation into dated and stilted English of a version of Therese's manuscripts to which her sister Pauline, Mother Agnes of Jesus, made about seven thousand changes. In fact, the manuscript of which this Bibliobazaar edition is a translation was intended by the Carmelites to be a biography of Therese, containing the heavily edited version of her memoir with certain excerpts from her letters and poems (also not from the authentic manuscripts) and from the memories of Carmelites about her. In 1956 Therese's authentic manuscript was at last released, and in 1973 a team of French scholars produced a critical and complete edition of it. Fr. John Clarke, O.C.D.'s 1976 translation of it for ICS Publications, Story of a Soul: The Autobiography of St. Therese of Lisieux, Third Edition, is universally acknowledged as the authoritative English translation. Critical editions of the original manuscripts of St. Therese's other writings are also available: The Letters of St. Therese of Lisieux, Vol. I: 1877-1890, Letters of St. Therese of Lisieux, Vol. II, 1890-1897, The Prayers of Saint Therese of Lisieux, which includes the first critical edition of Therese's "Offering of myself to Merciful Love," and The Poetry of Saint Therese of Lisieux (Critical Edition of the Complete Works of Saint Therese of Lisieux) (Centenary Edition 1873-1973). I recommend them.

only problem is that picture shown online for cover is not the cover on the actual book. But the book came in great condition.

This is a wonderful book! It's St. Theresa's own story of her childhood, written at the request of her sister who was the Mother Superior of her Carmelite Monastery at the time. She tells about her mischievous activities as a charming little girl in the midst of her extraordinarily loving family. A most engaging story.

I read this autobiography with some misgivings, I thought it may be the usual Catholic orientated stuff.I must admit that after the full reading, I was moved to tears at the pain this lovely young novice experienced in her short life and the extreme love that she had,(at all stages in her life) for our Lord. Yes, I'm a practising Catholic, but I think that the reading of this book (I'm now slowly reading it for the 3rd time) has changed my whole life and I'd like to think her story has made me a better Catholic.

In terms of her ability to maneuver words in the written form, Saint Therese of Lisieux was not as established as other writers such as St. Augustine or Thomas Merton. For this trait, she often apologizes in her writing. However, her insight in developing a relationship with Jesus and her devotion to that relationship make a profound statement. Even in the littlest of sacrifices, she shows herself growing closer to Jesus. The message outweighs the writing style in terms of importance.

The product of three separate journals St. Therese kept during her short life, the book can be divided into these sections: The story of her life, the letter written to Sister Marie of the Sacred Heart, and the notebook written for Rev. Mother Marie de Gonzague. While each of these writing tasks were given as an assigned task, they had a greater purpose and may have been the most important work of St. Therese's life. Even at a very young age, St. Therese showed strong devotion to the Lord. The story of her life makes up the greatest percentage of the book. Despite the death of her mother at a young age, St. Therese seemed happy and her devotion led her to pursue a devotional life at an unusually young age.

In her short life, St. Therese saw the unbelievable and was touched by the hand of God. She showed her devotion even in the smallest of sacrifices. Still I believe that nothing is more touching than the initial pages of the book. It is perhaps one of the best explanations of God's love.

I grew up in Camdenton and was 12 (same age as Greg) when this happened. Billie Dyer was an evil kid I could never stand to be near him and I hope he is still in prison!

I am shocked that she is making a profit off the crimes of her children. It isn't necessary to gather extra pity almost thirty years after the deaths of her five children.

I read this book some twenty years ago, and it still amazes me how God can turn such a heartwrenching loss, into a beautiful testimony of strength and coping. This story was written with the inspiration of The Holy Spirit, especially when you consider this was Joy Swift's first attempt at writing. Why would she write of such a tragic experience? Because we are strengthened by the testimony of others.

This book was the best book i have ever read....Its so scary that it could happen.. and so scary cause it happened just a few miles away from where i live.. great book

This book is the best. I have read it a few years ago and it gave me the courage to write my book.
THANK YOU JOY

Leo's mother was always saying no. No, no, no, NO! She said that when he rolled tomatoes across the floor. Splat, one hit the wall! She said that when he put string beans in the fish bowl. Plop! She said that when he danced on the table and again when he squeezed toothpaste all over the toilet seat and down into the bowl. "Mommy, no more no's! I HATE no! His mommy explained to him that there were some things he was going to do that would make her say no, but there were some things he "should not do." Well, Leo got very angry and went to his room.

He got out his crayons and started to draw a mean old picture of his mean old mommy on the wall. He even "made her mouth turn down" and "made her hair stick way up in the air." He was still drawing when all of a sudden his mean old mommy came into the room and began saying that awful word NO again. He started yelling at his mommy saying things like she couldn't say that word in his room and he demanded that she leave. She didn't. All of a sudden Leo said something that shocked them . . . "I HATE YOU!" Oh, my! Leo had done something just awful to his mommy! What on Earth could he do now?

This is a story that will resonate with every parent or caretaker. This behavior is not at all uncommon and although unacceptable, a child needs to know that he or she is loved in spite of the unfortunate incident. Each individual handles this "crisis" in his or her own way, but a book like this is comforting. The art work is colorful and brings the emotional impact of this type of incident to life. This is the perfect book for any parent or caretaker . . . especially if you have heard "those other three words!"

I work with families with a focus on children 0-5 years of age. I found this book at the library and tested it out on the kiddos and instantly knew it was a "must have."

The kids LOVE it. Children that often have a difficult time sitting still appear mesmorized by the illustrations and the story.The reading is fun, quick, identifyable, and enjoyable.

It also opens the door to exploring feelings of anger,frustration and many others, while identifying difficult responsibilitites of parents, and how they love their children unconditionally.

My new copy is already showing signs of loving wear.

Highly recommend.

This story will resonate with older preschoolers and mothers alike. Children get frustrated with rules and disappointments and as they learn to manage their feelings and their words, sometimes they let those not-so-nice three little words fly, "I hate you!"

Molly Bang's own bright and scribbled illustrations underscore the emotions conveyed by the story, and Leo's own drawings are used as an element of the story as well. I think it's a great way to open a conversation (or simply let the story teach without further pressing the issue).

Leo is so tired of Mommy's NOs that he retreats to his room just to be in a no NO zone. He quickly finds that there's no such thing when Mommy walks in and tosses yet another NO Leo's way. This is when Leo decides to throw his own verbal weapon at Mommy.

This is a book all kids can relate to, as it puts anger, temper, fear, and doubt on display. Facing off with overwhelming emotion can be a challenge, and it's comforting for kids to know that others find the struggle just as difficult.

The illustrations, which blend paper cutouts and photographs, are just as kid-friendly as the text. They include lots of movement and color to liven things up. Simple line meets rich texture on each page and words are uniquely highlighted throughout the book.

This is a book that will stay on my shelf for a lot of re-reading and enjoyment.

Reviewed by: Julie M. Prince

Was an okay book. Seemed rather short-lived and semi~noncohesive in thought. Almost like it started with one thought, but went different directionally.

I bought the Anthony Trollip books for my husband who is a
big fan. Whatever he writes my husband loves and sits for
hours just reading

I love Trollope, but this one is in a different, much lower, league from the Barsetshire or Palliser novels. It has a skeleton of a plot, with no subplots or secondary characters of interest.

I disagree with one of the other reviewers that this book is a "light read." It is assuredly not in the comic vein of most of Trollope's novels and it is, if anything, "heavy" indeed! It is cast in the mold of a classical tragedy with the hero conflicted between his duty to his family and his duty to the woman he loves. Trollope dearly loves to place his characters in such a bind, but this time it doesn't have a happy ending as is so often the case. It is thus atypical of Trollope's novels,though it does reveal the author's romantic preference for love over duty. In many ways this may be his most powerful statement for that preference as love does not win out in the end. I strongly recommend it, but as with one of the other reviewers, not as a first taste of Trollope. The book is quite different from most of his many other novels.

Eye for an Eye has an immature young man making rather a mess of his first entree into adult opportunities. The book is a jaunty, interesting run to a conclusion--a reminder that immature behavior by a young adult can have unforeseen consequences. Many of the devices of Trollope's comic novels are here, but they subserve a plot which resolves in a decidedly non-comic fashion. A light read, an interesting commentary, and a social frankness that does not seem at all old fashioned. Trollope was not always an ardent critic of his own social order, but he understood the problems, as this book shows in a non-preachy way.

Normally, I would recommend that a new Trollope reader would start with one of the longer novels like BARCHESTER TOWERS or THE WAY WE LIVE NOW. Although it is atypical for a Trollope novel, AN EYE FOR AN EYE is short, rather elegantly written, and a good book to read if you have no intentions of tackling the entire 47-novel Trollope canon.

The aging Earl of Scroope finds it necessary to adopt a young relative by the name of Fred Neville as his heir. Because the bane of his family has been heirs marrying beneath them, he makes the young lieutenant swear to wed someone worthy of carrying on the Scroope line "sans reproche" (without reproach), which is the family motto.

On a visit back to his barracks in Ireland, Neville decides to hire a boat and go shooting seals and seagulls. On the shore, atop the stunning Cliffs of Moher, he meets an attractive Irish widow and her beautiful daughter Kate. Naturally, he falls in love with the daughter despite rumors of an inappropriate father who was supposed to be dead.

The action swings like a pendulum between Scroope Manor and the Cliffs of Moher. At one location, the Earl and his wife make him promised to find a suitable mate; at the other, Kate and her mother -- with the help of the old local priest Father Marty -- work on joining Fred and Katie in Holy Matrimony.

Fred never can entirely make up his find. The final solution is some sort of bogus affair, in which Kate does not become Lady Scroope, involving perhaps a hushed-up marriage abroad. Naturally, this pleases no one.

Without divulging the ending, we find Fred paying the price for his wishy-washiness. A classical tragedy in the mold of his earlier LINDA TRESSEL, AN EYE FOR AN EYE is well worth reading under any circumstances. It tends to stand sui generis, so don't expect it to resemble his most famous works.