Harry Potter Books Reviews - B

A Law of Attraction Book for Children

2010-04-03T22:37:31+00:00

Chapter Excerpt from

A LAW of ATTRACTION BOOK FOR CHILDREN THE STAR POWERED TWINS DISCOVER THE SECRET OF WORDS

by Dorothy Lecours

FOCUS
Dot and Bill Star were always finding places that their INNER BEING would enjoy seeing. They would always relax outside as they carefully thought about what sights they would allow to go INSIDE their twins. The setting of WATER and NATURE always inspired creative ideas and an inner connection. They knew that all power lives within. They always told, their children to FOCUS on what they LOVED to do. So, they could ATTRACT all those wonderful things into their life. They wanted their children to learn how to really FEEL what made their heart overflow with gratitude and this would always lead them to their true purpose. To always BE in the “NOW” moment of time was the greatest secret of all they could ever teach Jace and Grace.

NATURE

Grampie Wilfred always made sure their EYES and EARS focused on the beauty of nature. He taught them how to DEEP BREATH and just be still with the flowers, trees, sky, and the exquisite lake that surrounded their home. On a sunny day, the little waves of water on the lake looked like dancing stars. They would always silently say THANK YOU when they saw something beautiful or felt joy! The music of Mother Earth was their greatest love of all. Their EARS always heard an abundance of the lovely sounds of birds, wind chimes, splashing water, and twirling leaves. Grampie taught those birds how to sing to us! The unique sound of each bird was pure magic to our ears! We always listened to their vibrant musical messages and tried to put words to each of their delightful songs.

CREATE
Nanny Alice is creating an AROMA THERAPY LESSON for the twins. She knows that the five senses are the incredible doorways to a deeper understanding of oneself. Expansion of the five senses keeps us OPEN and AWARE of finding our inner sense. Nanny Alice loves to get creative with her star-shaped cutter to make heavenly sugar-free treats. The twins smelled and tasted only foods that were tantalizing, blessed, and extremely healthy. She loved to create star burgers, *marshmallows, *fruit, *cakes, *jello, *lollipops,*candy, *cookies, and *cupcakes. Each *treat has a very unique aroma. Nanny Alice used many secret ingredients for her multi-sensory lesson.
Can you find the word that matches with the picture of each sugar-free star treat?

Bitter Tastes

2008-05-21T21:29:06+00:00

By Victoria Rosendahl

Reviewed by Ritabella, age 8

I liked the book Bitter Tastes by Victoria Rosendahl. It’s about two girls, Kathy and Martha, who try to find out who killed Kathy’s friend Janine. Janine owned a restaurant in their town and taught a cooking class that Kathy was in.

It was an exciting and cool book. I like books about solving mysteries. Kathy and Martha seemed like girls I would like to know, and Kathy’s disability made me feel sympathy for how she felt - like not wanting the other kids to know. I can’t wait for the next book about Kathy and Martha and their adventures!

Journal Buddies

2007-11-03T20:02:36+00:00

Journal Buddies author tells all.....

Lauren Smith: Tell us about your books?

Jill Schoenberg: Journal Buddies is a fresh take on journal keeping! It's interactive, guided and creative!

Let me explain.

First, these journals are shared and completed WITH the help of others, hence the title Journal Buddies! Friends, mothers, aunts, grandmothers, fathers, teachers, and mentors are all excellent candidates to be a child's journal buddy.

Second, the focus of the journals is on the positive qualities, traits and talents of both the journal-keeper and his or her journaling buddies.

Thirdly, these journals are centered on the idea of creative journaling, which is a concept that encourages kids to express themselves not only with words, but also with their unique creative ideas and expressions. This is the aspect of Journal Buddies that really hooks a kid's attention and energizes his or her interest in journaling.

John Hart gala and book signing at Literary Bookpost (Salisbury Post)

2007-09-17T12:07:08+00:00

The official national release date for John Hart's new novel, "Down River," is set for Tuesday, Oct. 2. Literary Bookpost, Hart's "home" bookshop, will host a gala wine and cheese reception and kick-off marathon book signing with Hart beginning at 5 p.m. and continuing until 9 p.m.

Book Review: Above the Starry Frame by Helen Townsend (Blogcritics.org)

2007-09-16T06:42:09+00:00

The real story is in Townsend's imagining. The reading public seems to have a kind of penchant for what really happened. Just look at the controversy surrounding faked true stories such as JT Leroys Sarah or James Freys A Million Little Pieces. Does it really matter whether a story actually took place or does it matter more that it touches something true in...

Legend of the White Wolf

2007-09-15T00:38:18+00:00

Lauren Smith: Tell us about your books.
Max Elliot Anderson: I write action-adventures and mysteries especially for boys 8-13. Seven of those have been published. NEWSPAPER CAPER, TERROR AT WOLF LAKE, NORTH WOODS POACHERS, MOUNTAIN CABIN MYSTERY, BIG RIG RUSTLERS, SECRET OF ABBOTT'S CAVE & LEGEND OF THE WHITE WOLF, are compared by readers and reviewers to Tom Sawyer, The Hardy Boys, Huck Finn, Nancy Drew, Tom Swift, Scooby-Doo, Lemony Snicket, and adventure author Jack London. In addition, another 28 manuscripts are completed for this same age group and my agent, Terry Burns at Hartline, is searching for additional publishing opportunities.

Lauren Smith: What's the latest book you published? Tell us what it's about.

Max Elliot Anderson: The most recent release is called LEGEND OF THE WHITE WOLF. It's a story about a boy and the wolf pup he saved from a steel trap a few years earlier. Now, he's searching for that adult wolf. Friends and family didn't call him a liar; they just couldn't believe his story. Brian Fisher was determined to prove it was true even though it involved the risk to his own safety. His rescue of that wolf pup results in a mysterious relationship with surprising results. The story is set in the lower elevations near Yellowstone. His friend, Windwalker, an old, Native American Indian, tries to point Brian in the right direction, but it's up to Brian to find the truth.

Lauren Smith: How did you end up writing in this genre?

Max Elliot Anderson: As a child, I grew up hating to read. Many people are stunned to learn this, since I've now completed so many manuscripts. Once I understood a few keys as to why I had grown up this way, I decided to try to write the kinds of books I would have enjoyed as a boy. During my research, I also noticed that there weren't as many books for boys to read as I found for girls. I decided to write for just one young boy, in the hopes that I could turn him from a reluctant reader, to one who would enjoy books. I already know that this has now happened many, many times. And I discovered that I was actually writing to myself.

Lauren Smith: You have a lot of books published, is writing your full time profession? (if it's not can you tell our readers how you find time to do all of this writing)

Max Elliot Anderson: No, my primary profession is as a producer of video programs and television commercials. I produced over 500 national television spots for True Value Hardware and have a number of long-term video production clients. But just after 9/11, much of this activity came to an abrupt halt. It was in the years that followed, while my clients were reevaluating their marketing needs, that I devoted three years to nothing but writing. In the past couple of years, some of my video production clients have returned. I've written fewer books during those years. I will only begin a story if I know I can finish it. I don't really have to discipline myself to write because I love the process so much. For me it's a pleasure. I tend to write in the evening, on weekends, and over holidays.
Before I start, I already know the beginning, middle, and likely ending of the book. Then the story literally unfolds in front of me. Typically, during each night session, I'll complete up to three chapters. An interesting story about LEGEND OF THE WHITE WOLF is that I wrote nearly non-stop, and completed the first draft in only three days. The reason is because I got so excited about the story; I couldn't wait to see how it would all turn out. I wrote straight through the first night and then just kept going until it was finished. I'd spent a lot of time initially on research so the only thing left to do was write.

Lauren Smith: What's next for you?

Max Elliot Anderson: My biggest challenge right now is to find a new publisher. But I'm confident that I'll continue writing more adventures for boys. I have already researched material and have the titles for at least a dozen more that I could begin writing any time. And I'd love to be writing them now. I've chosen to spend a two-year period to continue developing my platform, marketing, and locating publishers who will be the best fit for my work.

Lauren Smith: What has surprised you the most about the publishing process?

Max Elliot Anderson: Fortunately, I've spent a lifetime of activity in promotion, advertising, and marketing. Yet I was surprised at how much marketing an author has to do in order to help his books to become successful for the publisher. My father was the author of over 70 books during his lifetime. We discussed the subject of marketing and he said this was something he never had to do. His most successful book is WHERE TO FIND IT IN THE BIBLE – Thomas Nelson Publishers. It has sold over 4 million copies. My dad had a great platform as a speaker and author. I think this helped to carry most of his work in the market place. And needing a platform was the second biggest surprise. It's something I've been working on very hard. Today, I have a blog, Books for Boys, that ranks in the top 5 on Yahoo and the top 20 on Google. The blog is located at http://booksandboys.blogspot.com. During the school year, I speak in dozens of schools. I continue to write articles, participate in interviews like this one, and do extensive email promotion to lists that I've built over the past five or six years. I like to tell new writers that writing their book will be the easiest part. Finding an agent or publisher will be a little more difficult. But building a platform and conducting all of the activities that fall under marketing will be the hardest part of being a published author. And it's one of the most rewarding.

Dregs

2007-09-15T00:30:56+00:00

Lauren Smith: What is your book about?

Barri L. Bumgarner: Dregs is about cliques and how much pressure there is for junior high kids to fit in. And Benson and Ryan, two seventh graders who are at the bottom of the social structure, realize that popularity is fragile and the ladder weakest at the top. They develop a plan to show everyone that being popular isn't all it's cracked up to be. What happens as a result shatters everyone's preconceptions.

Lauren Smith: What inspired you to write this story?

Barri L. Bumgarner: I started teaching at Oakland Junior High only a few months after the epidemic of school violence hit Paducah, KY; Jonesboro, AR; and Springfield, OR. So when my first year students were consumed with worry about why this had to happen, I began writing Dregs. I finished it in March 1999, about 25 days before the horrible tragedy at Columbine. I realized this story needed to be told, but in a strange way, I felt guilty for having written it (and then for Columbine to happen), so I put the book in a box and didn't open it until 2004. After having successfully published 2 adult novels, I felt compelled to be part of the solution. I had no idea it would come out 4 days after the worst single day shooting in the U.S. (Virginia Tech).

Book Review: The Missing Locket by Mary Cunningham (Blogcritics.org)

2007-08-27T05:07:15+00:00

The Missing Locket is a paranormal mystery featuring two lovable young sleuths that girls nine and up will absolutely love. It is the perfect, darkly atmospheric story for young fans of intrigue and adventure to cuddle up with on those gray, rainy afternoons or read in bed. It is the summer of 1964 and Gus and Cynthia, two best friends who are very different from each other yet very close, ...

"Love, Mommy: Writing Love Letters to Your Baby" Book Review

2007-08-17T03:35:14+00:00

By Susie Cortright

"What was I like as a baby?"

All moms know how their kids' eyes light up when they hear stories about themselves as babies and young children.

All moms also know that when a mother takes the time to record these precious stories in written form, she preserves a mystery and a magic that is impossible to recapture any other way.

Still, even the most well-intentioned of us (myself included) have a hard time following through when we have something we wish to write down, particularly those everyday details that make up our lives. Sometimes we are swept away by the daily tasks of motherhood and sometimes we are simply too deep in the enjoyment of the experience itself to take the time out to write about it just then. Sometimes it all seems too much to do, but more often it is a gentle ebbing away of the time.

In Love, Mommy: Writing Love Letters to Your Baby, Judy Siblin-Librach leads us on a journey that helps us capture the major milestones (the birth story, the first day at school) as well as those that may not immediately come to mind (the first time your child caught a baseball, the way her hugs felt, the first time she went through a car wash).

Siblin-Librach's writing style is elegant, perfectly capturing the depth of emotion that all mothers feel at one point or another. We are in good hands with a natural-born poet and mother who will lead us into creating and recording the lyrics of our own lives.

Part of the beauty of this book is the way Siblin-Librach makes it simple to write these life stories, whether or not you have ever enjoyed the process of writing in the past. The book is equally helpful in bringing back memories you may have thought were gone, just in case your baby has grown.

Siblin-Librach opens each chapter with incisive questions to prompt your writing, followed by sample letters from her own family. These examples can really help you to get an idea of all the different ways you can take a particular letter. The author includes notes to parents about how to write the letter, as well as tips and ideas to keep you inspired in this grand task. This book helps us to record the specific stories and memories, as well as the deeper story: the wisdom, the life lessons and the wishes you have for your child.

Judy Siblin-Librach has written a beautiful and heartfelt book that simplifies the process and that reminds us that it need not be a big deal to record these memories and to give ourselves and our children the greatest gift. In doing so, she has given a gift to all mothers and all those who will be mothers.

Susie Cortright is the founder of several popular websites, including Susies-Coupons.com, BestSelfHelp.com and Momscape.com, where you can register to win gift cards from top online merchants.

The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupry

2007-05-29T06:49:06+00:00

The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupry
The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupry May 25th, 2007 This is a must read for anyone and of any age. It is categorized generally as a...