Your Reading Story & Identity: https://youtu.be/PowmhXAd5go
Your Reading Influences: https://youtu.be/C565Naiuc44
Your Reading Why & Overcoming Obstacles: https://youtu.be/JdH0xDJPEEs
Reading Wins & Wishes and Setting Goals: https://youtu.be/WwFPK2y9TxU
Tracking Reading & Staying Motivated: https://youtu.be/0mj3l3yjpsE
Merry Christmas to all my bookish friends! I’m drinking Abuelita brand hot chocolate to bring back the Mexican Navidad of my childhood.
I’ve had a wonderful Christmas Eve with my family, eating, laughing, talking, and singing carols together, with me playing on the piano and my brother and Dad on their guitars.
I’ve been reading Christmas stories to my little nieces and nephew, especially from this Christmas compilation book. My favorite short story in here is “Christmas Every Day” by William Dean Howells. What is your favorite Christmas story to read at this time of year?
Too Good to be False: How Jesus’ Incomparable Character Reveals His Reality
by Tom Gilson
5 out of 5 stars
If you examine Christ’s life, his personality, his teaching, his leadership style, one thing becomes abundantly clear, Jesus is too good to be false. There has never been a human being who lived the way He did, and it would be impossible to make up a story of a man like Him. There’s no way that Jesus could be anyone other than who He claimed to be: God Incarnate.
I love the way this book follows logical steps of reasoning and evidence from the Bible and from history to build an irrefutable argument for the reality of Jesus. The writing is forceful and vivid, but it leads the reader gently down a path of truth to the convincing conclusion that Jesus is the only perfect human to have ever lived and died and risen again. Each step of the way is coherent and meaningful.
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Your Nose!
by Sandra Boynton
5 out of 5 stars
A fox parent sings a song to their little fox cub all about their cute nose. Apparently this nose is the best nose to ever exist! It must be extraordinary and lovable with a magic all its own, because it makes the fox parent so happy to see that little fox cub nose. I loved this cute book! The illustrations are adorable, and each animal character boops their noses together in the sweetest way.
Perfect Piggies!
by Sandra Boynton
5 out of 5 stars
A passel of pigs sing a song about how amazing pigs are, because of their delightful ears, curly tails, their snouts, and their general pink plumpness. Other animals may be smarter or more stylish, but these pigs are fabulous and chubby and they have mega-watt smiles. Those pigs are just so cute and cuddly! The illustrations are very sweet and silly, and I love the simple cartoon art style. Every page is so bright and colorful that it is sure to attract the attention of young readers.
Guitar: The World’s Most Seductive Instrument
by David Schiller
5 out of 5 stars
This incredible book has gorgeous photos and information about over 200 guitars and the amazing people who play them. It includes bios on famous guitarists like Jimi Hendrix, Willie Nelson, Joni Mitchell, B.B. King, Bonnie Raitt, Eric Clapton, Maybelle Carter, and even Jimmy Page with his double-necked guitar.
There is a page showing the anatomy of a guitar, and details on how hundreds of beautiful guitars are made by artisans all over the world. There are stats about wood materials, sound quality, and pounds of pressure from the strings.
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Paint by Sticker Kids: Unicorns Magic: Create 10 Pictures One Sticker at a Time! Includes Glitter Stickers
by Workman Publishing
5 out of 5 stars
This activity book has 10 beautiful designs of all kinds of fantasy creatures and scenes. The glitter stickers make it really special and cute. It’s easy for kids to do!
Paint by Sticker: Music Icons: Re-create 10 Classic Photographs One Sticker at a Time!
by Workman Publishing
5 out of 5 stars
This sticker activity book has 10 colorful pictures of cool and famous musicians from all styles of music, country, rock, and blues. The designs in this one are a little more complex for teens or adults.
There are hundreds of stickers in little mosaic shapes! It’s so easy to put the stickers into place, and the finished product looks wonderful. It’s very relaxing and helped me to get creative. You really feel a sense of accomplishment when you finish!
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Star Wars Origami: Episode II: The Fold Awakens
by Chris Alexander
5 out of 5 stars
This kit has everything you need to create an origami Star Wars galaxy of your own! There are pre-printed papers and a book with instructions for folding 34 characters, spaceships, helmets, lightsabers, and robots.
I love the colorful designs for BB8, Darth Vader, Finn, Lando Calrissian, podracers, A-wing and U-wing fighters, and a TIE striker. There is even Kylo Ren’s mask! Each design has beautiful details that make it really special.
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Alexandra and the Awful, Awkward, No Fun, Truly Bad Dates: A Picture Book Parody for Adults by Rebekah Manley ( Author), Catarina Oliveira (Illustrations)
5 out of 5 stars
Alexandra decides to try a 30 Dates in 30 Days challenge, and she swipes right for some dates that turn out to be decidedly awful, awkward, and no fun. These truly bad dates are immature, selfish, and downright gross. They leave her with the check, mansplain and lecture her, stay on their phones the whole time, or just don’t show up at all. At the end of her 30 dates, Alexandra decides to invest in herself and live her best life alone… with a few good friends.
I loved this funny picture book for adults! The writing is hilarious with clever hashtags scattered throughout. For anyone who has horror stories of terrible dates, this book will ring true and help you to laugh off those bad times with the same carefree and courageous attitude Alexandra shows.
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Robobaby
by David Wiesner
5 out of 5 stars
Cathode (Cathy for short) is about to become a big sister when her parents order a new baby robot. The baby arrives in the mail, but requires some assembly. Mother tries to put the baby together, and Father tries to read the instructions, but they can’t get the gears to attach to the clockwork innards of the child. They call for help! What can Cathy do to help save the baby?
The cuteness level in this book is through the roof! The story is so clever and original, and I adore all the funny characters. There’s Uncle Manny who tries to help assemble the baby. The neighbor brings her little twins to meet the baby. And of course, Sprocket the dog will help big sister Cathy to save the day!
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