KnowOrphans: Mobilizing the Church for Global Orphanology, by Rich Morton

I accepted KnowOrphans: Mobilizing the Church for Global Orphanology for review out of curiosity. Our family has adopted and so it is a topic that I am interested in. I wouldn't say that we're one of those families who becomes passionate about adopting to the point where it takes over our entire identity. Most of the time we forget that one of our children is adopted. Your children become a part of you, regardless of how they arrived into your home. Adoption, like home schooling, is not something that I think everyone is called to do. In fact, there are some people I don't think should ever consider the idea of adopting just like there are some people who absolutely should not attempt home schooling. Just because one person is called to it, doesn't mean another one is.

There was a part of me that was afraid author Rick Morton would try to convince everyone to adopt. When I cracked open the pages of KnowOrphans I was rather suspicious that this would be the case, but my fears were instantly assuaged. Morton is not trying to convince people - specifically Christians in the church - to adopt. In fact, he argues that our first concern should be to support families so that they can remain intact. He believes that it really is in everyone's best interest for families to stay together and learn to function within the original family unit. However, the fact is that some parents around the globe are unable to keep their children with them for any variety of reasons. When this is the case, then it should be our priority to help keep kids in the culture that they were born into. When this is also not a possibility, then adopting internationally should be supported. In all of this, I agree with him for many reasons which I have no intention whatsoever of debating with anyone.

Morton's mission with this book is provide ideas for churches to become actively involved in supporting orphans around the globe. My husband and I have been talking about this exact subject quite a bit these past few weeks. Again, I wouldn't say that we've necessarily had a passion for the subject outside of our own family but a few things lately have been awakening some new ideas within us. Morton raised an argument which had grabbed my attention a few days before I began reading this book and that argument is one that pro-choice people tend to lay at the feet of pro-lifers. The pro-choice argument goes that it's all fine and good to say that we believe mothers should "choose life." However, they argue that unless we are willing to provide the practical help necessary to enable the mother to have and then raise the child, we ought to just shut up. I think this is a fair charge to lay at our feet. We can say, "Choose Life!" all we like but if we aren't willing to provide the time, money and love necessarily to keep a mother and her child functioning and thriving then what good are our words? They end up sounding hollow and mean nothing. I think it's time to answer their argument by putting some action to our words. I think if we did that, we might be surprised by how the abortion number begins decreasing around the country.

Reading KnowOrphans broadened my understanding of what can be done to support the orphan. Money is obviously a high priority because, well, it helps make the world go 'round. He notes several organizations that work to provide meals and education for children in single-parent or economically challenged homes so that families can remain intact. He also notes that while not everyone is called to adopt, everyone is called to help care for orphans and widows citing the oft referenced James 1:27. You might not give of your home but there are money issues as well as the opportunity to serve orphans with your time. Perhaps a family in your church feels called to adopt? You could support their efforts with a check and/or meals and/or childcare to offer the parents some relief and assistance. Donate old maternity clothes to your local crisis pregnancy center. Take time out to counsel young women who have recently discovered that they are pregnant. Drop a bag of groceries off at the home of the single mom that you know or bring her a meal. The opportunities really are endless once you get to thinking about it. I also like that Morton calls men out specifically to rise to the challenge of caring for orphans - not just leaving the burden of childcare to women. Many children without fathers need a father figure in their life. Men should be leading the charge to protect and defend the fatherless. It's what they are designed to do.

KnowOrphans really opens up doors for good conversation between Christians. There are a lot of ideas for how to engage in ministering to children in need of family. The church should be that family - it's what we're called to. As Morton noted, there is a resurgence within the church to tend to meet the needs of these children and that is beautiful to behold. But there is still work to do.

Morton may have fanned the flames on Jonathan's and my fires a bit. I was blessed to read this book and would recommend it to get the mind engaged on the plight of the orphan - and what you can do to provide relief. Again, it doesn't mean you have to adopt but there is no doubt a role that you can play. Will you find it? It's an interesting question to think about.

Many thanks to Litfuse Publicity who sent a copy of this book my direction in order to facilitate this review. To see what others thought of this book, visit the Litfuse Publicity page for KnowOrphans.

I received no additional compensation for this review and all opinions are my own.

Churchill's Tale of Tails, by Anca Sandu

I have to confess that the reason I accepted a copy of Churchill's Tale of Tails for review was because of the main character's name. (*cough*) I was already sold. Had to give him a try.

The book arrived and I was charmed as I opened the covers. Churchill is a pig who valued many things in life including smelling beautiful flowers and reading good books. He loves to have tea with his friends. But there is one thing that he prizes above all else: his tail. It might not be a big tail, or even a fancy one, but it is his and he loves it very much.

One morning he wakes up to discover that his tail is missing! He searches everywhere but cannot find it. His friends decide to come to his rescue and they begin rounding up spare animal tails for Churchill to try on. Churchill tries on zebra tails and peacock tails and while he finds something to appreciate about each one, he has to discover that his tail is best for him. When he finally finds his tail he realizes that trying on other tails wasn't the right thing to do and the other tails had only managed to turn him into a silly pig. His tail is perfect for him and all's well that end's well.

Personally I think this is a rather cute story. But then again, I am biased by the name. I was curious to see if the author was trying to make certain connections. So I did a teeny bit of research and discovered that Anca Sandu was born in Romania but studied children's illustration in Cambridge, England. Now she lives in Portland, Oregon (which is very near my own hometown!). What a fun life! This is her first children's book and I would say it's destined to be a success. I highly recommend it to you. (You can also see more of her work by checking out her Facebook page.)

I accepted this book for review from Peachtree Publishers in order to participate in a blog tour highlighting this book. I have received no additional compensation for this post and all opinions are my own. If you'd care to see what another reviewer thinks of this title, check out A Word's Worth who is also participating in the tour.

"I am fond of pigs. Dogs look up to us. Cats look down on us. Pigs treat us as equals."  ~ Winston Churchill

Becoming a Superb Writer

The path towards becoming a superb writer is a worthy pursuit. The Superb Writers' Blogathon, hosted by Grammarly grammar checker lets bloggers share their favorite tips for effective composition.

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I was asked if I wanted to participate in a Blogathon hosted by Grammarly. For full-disclosure purposes, you should know that in exchange for participation I was awarded an Amazon gift card.

One of the questions posed to participants in this Blogathon is to answer the question, "What makes a superb writer?" There is a reasonable expectation that I will be able to answer this question.

First, I have to confess that I am slightly amused with myself to be participating in this Blogathon, as I do not consider myself a superb writer. In fact, I tend to think of myself as a very poor writer who happens to have very strong opinions. My opinions and beliefs might make me interesting to read or listen to, but my writing skills frequently opens the floor for me to be embarrassed by things as little as a misplaced comma to an issue as large as a miscommunication. Words, and how we choose to use them, do have an effect on the reader or listener. I believe this to be true and so I do like to know when I'm making mistakes in the way I write.

I think it very important that anyone who decides to publish any of their own words online (be it on a blog, Twitter or Facebook) should take great care in crafting what they say to represent their best thoughts in the most accurate manner possible. As I've said, and will re-affirm, words do have a great effect. Written words carry great power as they can influence and effect change on even the most unsuspecting person. When writing things online for the world to see, I think one should pay great attention to detail. (If you know me at all, you know that I'm not big on details. I'm more of what you might call a big idea type of gal.) This is exactly why I'm rather intrigued with the idea of Grammarly. For those of us who might not be as detailed oriented, this is a handy little tool which can help to write more effectively and beautifully. Grammarly offers you the ability to check your text for errors before you hit that "publish" button. Not only will you be notified of errors which you can have the opportunity to correct, but there is the added benefit and side-effect of being left alone by The Grammar Police. (The Grammar Police are those friendly people who seldom comment on your blog except when they want to correct your grammar, all while completely ignoring the idea which you were striving to communicate.)

Anything which helps me learn to be a better writer is appreciated by myself as I'm harsher with myself than anyone else. (If we're all being honest here, I'm sure a few of you would appreciate my improving in this area as well!)

When asked to provide a tip or two of what makes a superb writer, I only came up with one piece of advice.

1. Care. Care about what it is you are saying and the manner in which you say it. Think about how other people will read your words and be effected by them.

Yes, I know that blogs are supposed to be people's online diaries. We "aren't supposed to judge" people based on the way they "express themselves." But people do judge and should judge a person based on how they express themselves. I will be judged for that last statement, no matter how accepting the reader is. Why? Because I had an opinion and I expressed it. I act on it and I believe in my opinion. I wrote it down, making it instantly available for critique and dissection. You will walk away with an opinion and view of me based on that published sentence. So it stands to reason that I should care about that sentence and think about how I am crafting it. I want it to communicate everything that I think. I hope that it will. Realistically though, we fail in our words and so I will fail to communicate thoroughly and accurately. I only have the written word to communicate with. So I should treat my ability to write and publish what I write online with the utmost respect and consideration for the finer details.

I may misplaces my commas. I may struggle with semicolons. Occasionally I play around with parenthesis. But in all of that, I do care and am working to become a more superb writer. With a little patience and time to devote to improving, I too might one day be classified as a superb writer. Or, perhaps, just a little less un-superb.

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Now let's try a little experiment. I took the text that I wrote above and stuck it into Grammarly. I scored a 52 out of a 100 and was told that my writing was weak and could stand some revision.

Original result:

1 spelling error
24 issues with grammar
6 issues with punctuation
20 issues with style and word choice
= 52 Critical Writing issues spotted.

I then went back and revised everything I had originally written and stuck my revised text into the Grammarly system.

Revised result:

= 47 Critical Writing issues spotted.

Somewhat pathetically I scored a 53. Only slight improvement. It doesn't like the way I express myself and it thinks I'm misspelling Grammarly which is entirely not my fault. Heh.

This little experiment definitely gives me more to work on and think about! In the meantime, I'll keep plugging away at improving my writing.

Blackberry Crumble, by Josi S. Kilpack

When I was asked if I could like to participate in a blog tour for Josi S. Kilpack's latest book, Blackberry Crumble, I replied with a hasty YES! Blackberry Crumble is the fifth book in this culinary mystery series, the first being Lemon Tart. I had heard of Lemon Tart when it first came out and was very curious about it but never got around to reading it. I was excited and happy to be able to dive in to this series, and I hoped that it wouldn't be a problem to hop into the later part of a series instead of on the first title.

Blackberry Crumble arrived on my doorstep and I hastily dove into it. Admittedly, when I got started on it I wasn't sure it was such a great idea to have started on the fifth book. There was a lot of history and background that I was clearly missing out on, but that Kilpack provided some background for -- for about eight chapters! I was beginning to think I had made a big mistake and was going to have to set aside the book but decided to press on because I still like the idea of it.

This culinary mystery revolves around fifty-something year old Sadie Hoffmiller, who seems to have a knack for being drawn into suspicious situations that need answers. Her character kind of reminds me of a mixture of Mrs. Emily Polifax and Jessica Fletcher of Murder She Wrote. Sadie Hoffmiller is a retired school teacher who lives in the town of Garrison, Colorado. She enjoys cooking and takes great delight in trying new recipes and sharing the joys of food with others. She is a widow with two grown children and seems to be in good standing with her community - until this story begins.

Apparently in a previous book Sadie was involved in a murder mystery that is still working its way through the court system and therefore she is under a gag order and is not allowed to discuss the details of the case. A local reporter decides to raise speculation as to Sadie's involvement in this past murder and prints a humiliating article in the local paper raising suspicions as to Sadie's good character. In the middle of this embarrassment, Sadie is approached by a younger lady named May who would like Sadie's help in investigating the possible murder of May's father. Finding this a good excuse to leave town, Sadie flies to Portland, Oregon to assist May in this endeavor.

After the first eight-ish chapters, I found myself very much engaged with the story and the characters. At times I did find Sadie's love of food to be a distraction to the story. (Recipes are interspersed into the chapters.) At the other times I found this fascinating and amusing, given the fact that she was experiencing Oregonian cuisine this time 'round. That, of course, exposed her to things like yummy fresh Oregon berry recipes as well as veggie burgers. Clearly, Kilpack was mildly amused by Oregon fare (and I do admit, living in Oregon myself now, that it does take some getting used to!) However, like I said, the character of Sadie reminded me of Jessica Fletcher and Miss Polifax so I quickly grew to accept her quirks.

The story itself had a good many twists and turns and I was kept guessing as to the outcome of it all the way to the very end! Suddenly it all made sense to me -- in just the last few chapters! I love it when a book can entertain and surprise you so thoroughly. I would be very happy to read more books by Kilpack.

After completing this read I looked up information about the author online and found Kilpack's website. I discovered that she is an LDS authoress and specifically writes to that audience. As a Christian, clearly I have fundamental theological disagreements with her. That said, it also explains why Sadie's morals and character are so upstanding and why there is not a hint of foul language or suggestive material in this entire book! I expect Kilpack's other mystery stories are equally clean. I love a good clean mystery and this book definitely fit the bill! Kilpack's characters do all attend the same church, but she does not spell out which church it is. If you are at all familiar with LDS churches or theology, you can catch hints about what Kilpack's beliefs and practices are during the read. I do feel the need to point this out but I also would say again that I feel I can trust Kilpack's mysteries to be fun without being remotely profane and I definitely appreciate that! I believe it is safe to recommend this series.

Kilpack's next title in this series comes out in the fall of 2011 and is entitled Pumpkin Roll. I'd rather like to read it, but first I may have to catch up a bit and start with the first book - Lemon Tart.

I received an invitation to participate in this book tour through Pump Up Your Book publicity tours and I thank them for asking me to be involved! I very much enjoyed the read!

Bound by Guilt, by C.J. Darlington

I stayed up until 2 in the morning to finish reading Bound by Guilt! (Actually, that had more to do with the end stages of pregnancy rather than the book.) However, I can honestly say that at 2 a.m. this book was good company and if I had to be awake I am delighted to have been so thoroughly engaged in a story instead of just laying there watching the clock tick, tick, tick.

You know I don't really care for much Christian fiction, but after reading Darlington's first book, Thicker Than Blood (linked to my review), I knew I'd be interested in reading anything that came forth from the pen of Darlington. When I read Thicker Than Blood I mentioned that Darlington was a former home school student and explained why I thought that was both a good and bad thing to mention. I thought Darlington showed great skill as a writer and it is clear from her second book that she has worked on honing her craft. Bound by Guilt was even more enjoyable and believable than her first book and I was (very) pleased to accept TitleTrakk's offer to participate in a blog tour for this new title.

Bound by Guilt tailgates Thicker Than Blood but they can also be read independently of one another. (If I were you though, I'd probably want to start out with the first as it makes the second that much more impacting and engaging.) Once again, Darlington builds a story surrounding the theme of books and coffee. (Hello. What book lover isn't going to enjoy that?) In this particular story we meet Roxi Gold, a victim of the foster care system who ends up being placed with some criminally minded relatives. Their crimes involve first editions of classic book titles that you will most certainly recognize. (Darlington is well-informed as to particulars of first editions and includes a lot of facts in her books which make these fascinating to read, and not just entertaining.) Roxi finds herself deep in trouble as a result of her circumstances and some bad choices. Like the character of Christy from Thicker of Blood (who plays a role in this story also), Roxi attempts to hide from her past only to have all lies exposed. Again, it is something of a redemption story.

Normally I don't care who endorses a particular book (I can formulate my own opinions, thanks!) but in this case I think it's interesting to point out three other Christian fiction writers who enjoyed this story:

"We at the Christian Writers Guild couldn't be prouder of our First Novel Contest Winner. This one engages your senses and reaches your heart." ~ Jerry B. Jenkins

"Great job! You kept me turning the pages!" ~ Francine Rivers

"C.J. is a wonderful, talented writer . . . extraordinary . . ." ~ Bodie Thoene

I determined after reading Thicker Than Blood that if you are a fan of the Christian fiction genre that I could think of no reason why you wouldn't have enjoyed Darlington's first book. I feel like it's equally (if not more so!) safe to say that you would enjoy Bound by Guilt.

Just to get at least one of you going, Darlington has offered to giveaway a copy of both Thicker Than Blood and Bound by Guilt to one of my readers here at Reading to Know. Would you care to win? (The answer to that question is most indubitably, "YES!") Simply leave a comment below. This contest is open to U.S. Residents only and will be open through Tuesday, March 29th.

THiS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED. THE WINNER (as selected by random.org) IS #13 - BLUEROSE. (Congratulations!)




Thank you, TitleTrakk for asking me to be a part of this blog tour and for offering the giveaway to my readers. Thank you, Tyndale House Publishers, for sending a copy of this book for me to read and for entertaining and delighting me so thoroughly.

Thicker Than Blood, by C.J. Darlington

I received an e-mail asking if I'd like to participate in a blog tour for a new novel recently released by Tyndale. I read just a little bit about what Thicker than Blood was about and thought it sounded interesting, so I agreed to review the book. I really don't make a habit out of participating in blog tours just for the sake of participating in them. If I'm going to spend time with a book, I want to know that there's a good chance that I'll enjoy it. In this case, I'm glad I said yes because I did enjoy it as a fun, engaging and entertaining story.

Thicker than Blood is primarily the story of Christy Williams who is trying to run away from her messed up life. Essentially, she is trying to find a place where she can belong but where nothing will be required or expected of her. Her past mistakes include running away from her fifteen year old sister immediately after their parents were killed in a car accident, falling in and out of bad relationships and becoming an alcoholic as a result of it all. Christy longs to reconnect with her sister, May, but guilt over her past actions are holding her back.

Boiled down to the basics, this book is a redemption story. Normally a book like this wouldn't necessarily capture my attention but this one did for a variety of reasons. The character of Christy is an antiquarian book buyer. Her sister, May, is part owner of a ranch and is fiercely independent and something of a go-getter. The book includes some pet topics of mine, including issues surrounding abortions. It is a believable story and interesting.

Now, another habit of mine, when I receive a book with a press release attached to it, is to ditch the press release and read the book first. I never pay attention to who the author is or what the publisher thinks of the book. I just want to focus on reading the book for myself so that I can provide an honest assessment based on my own personal opinion.

It was with some surprise that I later picked up the press release for Thicker than Blood and realized that the book's author, C.J. Darlington, is a former home schooled student. She began writing this book at the age of fifteen. Having been home schooled myself, this particular piece of information caught my attention. For me, the fact that she's home schooled is not the selling point of this book. But it does make advertising it more interesting if you point out this fact. How so? Home schoolers frequently are subjected to rounds of questioning as to whether or not they can be successful in society today or whether or not their education can be as effective as a "traditional education" (i.e., an education received in the classroom). I've said before that I don't believe home schooling is for everyone. At the same time, I see it as a very viable and attractive option for schooling. It is nice to be able to point out to people that home schoolers can actually succeed in life. Having a book picked up and published by Tyndale is no small matter and it is something that C.J. Darlington should take delight in.

Even more so though, the greater delight should be taken in writing well and for the glory of God. Delight should be taken in using the creativity one is gifted with and creating something uniquely different for people to enjoy. A writer should also strive to expresses the grandeur of the Giver of such a gift and Darlington does that in this book.

I would say that C.J. Darlington has promise. She has written a compelling tale, made somewhat more interesting to me because of her background, coupled with the subject matter she dealt with. My upbringing was not so very different from hers and if the best advice is to "write about what you know" then Darlington excelled in writing this book. Why? Because she wrote a lot about a lifestyle she didn't personally know but dealt with it in a mature manner that is believable in its expression. I've seen a few unbelievable stories written by conservative home schoolers because it's hard to write believably when you are sidestepping life issues that are tense and unpleasant in nature. I applaud Darlington for not avoiding sin or downplaying it but for writing about it in an honest and straight forward manner. She's still very discrete - don't get me wrong! But she mentions various behaviors that others in her position would have would have been tempted to leave out all together, for convenience sake.

Truly, I think this book is a great accomplishment, speaking as a home schooler who spent most of her life moving in very conservative circles. This book is believably good. So much so that, pardon if you don't understand this, I'd almost not mention C.J. was home schooled. For some, that will send the wrong message. For others, it will send the right one. For my part, I give it a thumbs up and would thank Darlington for giving it her all. It's obvious she did so and therefore I find myself with no qualms at the conclusion of Thicker than Blood. It was a pleasure to read and a pleasure to recommend.

If you are a regular fan of the Christian fiction genre, this is one you are going to like! I can think of no reason why you would not.

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If you have a moment, I would encourage you to visit Christian Book.com to read a very interesting interview with C.J. Darlington. I was going to interview her myself but found this particular interview to be so thorough, I didn't think I could add very much to it! Enjoy!

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THIS POST ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED AS A GIVEAWAY. THE CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED.

World War II Heroes

Today would have been my dad's birthday. And as a World War II history buff, I would have wanted to give him this book. He would have loved it. I was glad when this date was offered to me to participate in a book tour for World War II Heroes of Southern Delaware because, for me, it's a good way for me to remember not just the sacrifices of men and women who fought for our country, but also to remember my dad.

This book does focus on heroes from a specific area of the country, but they might as well have been from all over the place for the stories that they have to share and to tell. Originally published as a series of newspaper articles, James Diehl compiled all of the stories together in book form for easy reading and distribution. What you'll find within these pages are testimonies of courage and bravery of 50 people, 48 men and 2 women. These people served in a variety of ways during the second World War. Some saw action, some did not. Some simply "did their job" in payroll and served there as well. Each played an important part in keeping American troops operational and helped fight to end injustice and defeat the enemy. Each person in this book seemed to think very little of their individual roles, but saw themselves as a collective unit - a united force, working together. The people in this book didn't even know each other but they were part of a team and share a common bond as a result of fighting in a remarkable and defining point in history.

World War II Heroes of Southern Delaware is a quick and easy read, because it was originally published as a series of newspaper articles. Each "chapter" represents one individual and one story. The stories are proceeded by a picture of the World War II veteran as they look now, as well as pictures of them from their days in the service. We read about chaplains, men in charge of finding entertainment for the troops, and men like Bill Martasin who served in Patton's Third Army. Martasin also found himself on Midway Island, using "gooney bird" nests as foxholes. Fascinating stories from around the world, and yet conclude somewhere in Southern Delaware. African Americans, white men and women, serving in a myriad of ways: Army, Navy, and the Coast Guard.

Yesterday I introduced the book Franklin & Winston to you, which talks about two men who made decisions as to where to send their armies to fight against Hitler. World War II Heroes of Southern Delaware talks about the men who were sent. Personal life stories are shared within these pages and they are beautiful to hear. If you have a World War II buff on your Christmas list, I highly recommend this book of true stories, told by the men and women who served, as an educational and inspiring read.

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Dad, you really would have liked this one. I'm sorry not to be able to share it with you but I know nothing compares to the beauty and the joy you are experiencing today in Heaven. Happy Birthday!

Green Books Campaign: Stormy Weather

1 Day, 100 bloggers, 100 green books, 100 reviews

What's this particular post all about? I was contacted asking if I wanted to participate in a blogging campaign to raise awareness of the importance of using recyclable and sustainable materials when publishing books. This campaign is being organized by Eco-Libris, a green company working to green up the book industry. A full list of participating blogs and links to their reviews is available on Eco-Libris website.

I've talked before about how I really think that each family is responsibility to decide how they can best take care of that which they have dominion over. I don't think that everyone, everywhere should be forced to think like I think, and do what I do. And I really don't find it very practical to "plant a tree for every book I read." I don't have enough yard space for that!

That said, I DO think it's a good idea to use recyclable materials in the publishing industry if it is at all possible. I know there are various factors to consider, but one option worth considering could be using such materials, could it not?

With those thoughts in mind, I agreed to participate. So at this exact moment, 100 bloggers from around the world are posting their book reviews of green books (those that are meeting the "green" criteria (recycled or FSC-certified paper). We got to select titles of our choice and so I thought I'd check out a children's book title.




Stormy Weather by Debi Glori (published by Bloomsbury) focuses on bedtime rituals and assuring little ones that even though it may be a bit stormy outside, they are safe inside with their parents. It's a cute book to read with kids who perhaps aren't all that keen on thunderstorms (maybe like mine!). It is told in rhyme and the words swirl around the illustrations which gives it a whimsical feel.

Then should the oceans roar and rise
and dark clouds race across the skies
I'd hold you tight and close and warm
and keep you safe all through the storm.

It's definitely a cute book and we enjoyed it. Definite thumbs up on the complimentary illustrations.

But the real point of the post is just being conscious of what materials publishers are using within the industry. Again, I think it's a good idea to be conservative with the materials that we have available to us and to 'take dominion' of the earth by caring for it as best as we can with the resources that God has given us. I'm not interested in cracking the whip and making demands by any stretch of the imagination. I'm not for more government regulations in this area. Rather, I'd rather we, as fully capable human beings, figure out the best way to care for that which is under our control.

I'm not on a bandwagon. But I am for thought and consideration. So here ya go! Something to think about. Have you ever thought about how the publishing industry could change to become more green? Quite frankly, I'm more for them finding environmentally friendly printing materials over offering books in a .pdf format. I will die on whatever hill I have to, arguing for having a good old fashioned book in hand to read and enjoy. I can be for green and still be for an actual book....let me just make myself clear here. (ha) Book. In my hand. That I can feel. And smell. Just sayin'.

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If you'd care to learn more about this topic, it might be helpful to begin at the beginning (in this country anyway). I have a children's picture book to review and giveaway on John Muir: America's Naturalist (Fulcrum Publishing). Hop on over to THIS POST to read my review of John Muir and to enter to win a copy.

The HICCUPotamus

I definitely don't want to forget what today is. At the same time, we are afforded the privilege of moving forward. With that in mind, when I was contacted to participate in a blog tour for the re-release of Aaron Zenz's book The Hiccupotamus, I LEAPT at the chance. Not participate in promoting a book by one of my favorite children's blog facilitators? Why, there wasn't any question!

For those of you who are still unaware of the blog Bookie Woogie, please go familiarize yourself with it. Author and illustrator Aaron Zenz talks and blogs about books with his three kids and it's a great deal of fun to read about. Furthermore, after they read and discuss each book, each of the kids (Lily, Gracie and Isaac) each produce their own illustration/version of the story for the delight and amusement of us blog readers. They have one of the most unique blogs I've ever seen and I encourage you to check them out!

What I did not realize when I started reading their blog, was that the dad was an illustrator himself. (This explains the kid's talent.) Enter: The Hiccupotamus.

This book arrived in our mailbox on the very afternoon following the very morning in which Bookworm1 had had the hiccups no less than four times. This book was very relevant, as you can see.

"There was a hippopotamus
Who hiccupped quite-a-lotamus . . ."

In fact, this hippopotamus cannot stop hiccuping and gets himself into lots of trouble with the other animals when his involuntary reaction to the hiccups cause a variety of accidents. Finally, relief is obtained on the part of the hiccopotomus but the other animals are not quite so lucky having succumbed to the terrors of hiccups themselves. Very cute book. It was very much enjoyed around our parts.

Furthermore, the illustrations are very bright, cartoonish and feature our favorite animals (i.e., the rhinoceros and the elephant). This is a very silly book that is perfect for youngsters who like to twist their words to create silly sounds. Love Zenz's style and love this book (and neither of those loves have anything to do with love of the Bookie Woogie blog but I can't exactly say it wasn't prefaced with that! I was predisposed to like the book and glad that I actually did).

If things couldn't get any cooler around here, Aaron is also offering two giveaway copies to one reader here at Reading to Know (one for you and one for a friend!) To win? Leave a comment below. U.S. Residents only, please.

In the meantime, if you are looking for a silly good time, look for The Hiccupotamus. Fun stuff!

But wait! That's not all! Want to learn more about the man holding the crayons? Check out his website which is one of the way-to-MUCH-more-interesting author/illustrator websites that I've seen. Aaron included stories that he wrote and illustrated in his younger days. I loved being able to see what he wrote and drew when he was a teenager. You can definitely see that the passion for creating stories was there early on.

My favorite story? The Knight Before Christmas.

Remember that journal that you kept in high school (and, if you were smart, probably destroyed)? He posted his journal online. Take a peek here.

Have fun (and don't forget to leave a comment to win a copy of this book)!

Also, if you just can't get enough of this, check out Aaron & Co.'s blog post in which Z-kids discuss their dad's book.

THE CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED! The winner is #3 - Heidi Noel! I'll be popping you an e-mail shortly, Heidi.

What He Must Be . . . If He Wants to Marry My Daughter (Tour & Giveaway)

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CONTEST CLOSED! Thanks for participating. The winners are #5 and #19 - Sherry & elrj, respectively. Your books will be on their way shortly, ladies! Congrats!
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This is the first book tour I have ever participated in and I only agreed to do it because I know I'm going to love this book. Why do I say that I know I'm going to love it? Because I haven't actually read it yet. I've read an excerpt and I agree with the mentality behind it.

That is?:


Dating and Marriage isn't some fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants deal where you just hope you land a good one. From the Crossway blog, and in the words of author Voddie Baucham:

I believe God has spoken rather decisively in his Word about what our daughters should look for. Moreover, I believe there are some non-negotiables that our daughters must be looking for. There are some things a man simply must be before he is qualified to assume the role of a Christian husband. For instance, he must be a Christian (2 Corinthians 6:14); he must be committed to biblical headship (Ephesians 5:23ff.); he must welcome children (Psalm 127:3–5); he must be a suitable priest (Joshua 24:15), prophet (Ephesians 6:4), protector (Nehemiah 4:13–14), and provider (1 Timothy 5:8; Titus 2:5). A man who does not possess—or at least show strong signs of—these and other basic characteristics does not meet the basic job description laid down for husbands in the Bible.

What He Must Be: ...If He Wants to Marry My Daughter promises to be a bit mind-boggling for its modern audience, although Baucham isn't really sharing any new ideas. He's just sharing how he wishes to apply old ideas and scriptural truths to the modern process. You can find a lot of books out there on dating but few really solid ones on the Biblical approach to finding a mate. The books that DO exist out there that are a bit more out of the oridinary (like I believe this one will be) draw many raves and critics and I believe this book will be both entertaining and enlighting. I'm excited for it. Hence my participation in the blog tour. (The last book I read like this was Getting Serious About Getting Married: Rethinking the Gift of Singleness and my review of it received quite the attention! That tells me that people care about this topic!)

Now, a fun thing about being part of the blog tour is that Crossway Books has offered to give two of you readers a copy of this book. That's right folks - two of you can have the opportunity to read the book along with me and share your thoughts as we go along. Interested in the subject of dating/courtship/love & marriage and want to hear what Baucham has to say about it? Leave a comment and I'll enter you in this contest. You must be a U.S. Resident to enter. The contest will close and winners will be announced on Friday, March 13th.

To learn more about What He Must Be. . . visit publisher Crossway Books.

Then don't forget to come back and see what I have to say about it - in full - in the next few weeks!

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If you'd like to win some additional books this week, check out Bookroom Reviws giveaway carnival which is running this week. COOL idea!
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ALSO - PLEASE LEAVE A VALID E-MAIL ADDY SO THAT I CAN CONTACT YOU IF YOU ARE THE WINNER!