Grief and Joy Are Not Mutually Exclusive Emotions
The Price of Admission, Embracing a Life of Grief and Joy, by Liz Petrone is a poignant memoir, It’s a book about being a mother and being a daughter, about…
Read moreA New Perspective in Parenting: a Supportive Scaffold
There are lots of parenting styles which have prompted comparisons of parents to non-human objects. In essence, parents have been called tigers, helicopters, snowplows, and lighthouses. To that list we…
Read moreReading as a Writer
Some may have noticed a large number of biographies on my 2020 reading list. There’s a reason for that. [conspiratorial whisper] Here’s a little behind the scenes information: Writers need…
Read moreThe Surprising Relevance of Lady Bird Johnson
Lady Bird Johnson: Hiding in Plain Sight by Julia Sweig is more than the story of one of America’s most influential First Ladies; it also provides a behind-the-scenes view of…
Read moreThese 28 Celebs Are Perfectly Imperfect
Perfectly Imperfect Stories by Leo Potion reinforces the idea that “it’s ok to not be ok.” This book looks at the lives of 28 famous people — actors, scientists, artists,…
Read moreA Year of Books – 2020 in Review
I don’t remember a time when I didn’t love books. Practically from the time I was born, my uncle ensured I had a ready supply and my mom read to…
Read moreA Year Worth Remembering? Goodbye 2020!
As many of us often do, I’m ending the year reflecting. This year in particular has been a challenging one to look at in review. As has been the case…
Read moreThe new picture book Belinda Baloney Changes Her Mind by Becca Carnahan delightfully explores the dilemma so many children face when asked “What do you want to be when you…
Read moreThe Hardest Part of Growing Up Is Dealing With Loss
My uncle, Donald George Hopkins, was born in Scranton on August 9, 1941 and died in Mexico on September 24, 2020. In between, he lived a full and interesting life.…
Read moreSkedaddle! – A Bedtime Story
Skedaddle! by Jacqueline Leigh is an entertaining bedtime tale full of unexpected nighttime happenings when (so it is thought anyway) everyone is supposed to be asleep. Noises coming from the…
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