I'm a full-time mummy

(**Article first published as Book Review: I'm Not Happy by Sue Graves on Blogcritics.)

Title: I’m Not Happy (Our Emotions and Behavior)
Author: Sue Graves
Illustrated by: Desideria Guicciardini
Publisher:  Free Spirit Publishing
ISBN-13/-10: 978-1575423739 / 1575423731
Board book, full-color: 32 pages
Dimension: 7¾" x 9½" 

Description from the product page:
"Big feelings are part of daily life for small kids, and happiness just isn’t always within reach. Unwelcome events, from a broken toy to a missing pet, bring on sad feelings that can darken kids’ days. In this charming feelings book, follow along as Ben helps cheer up his friends and shows how kids can turn sadness into smiles.

Part of Free Spirit’s new series of Our Emotions and Behavior books, I’m Not Happy uses simple, easy-to-read text to present positive coping skills for children to use when they feel sad. The book’s gentle humor and colorful illustrations will appeal to kids, and happiness might not seem so far away after all by the end of the story.

The book also includes a series of pictures following the story, inviting children to use their own words to tell a story about helping others who feel unhappy. In addition, a special section offers adults questions to get kids talking feelings, and suggests positive coping skills for children dealing with sadness. Ideal for home and K–3 classroom settings."

I love the cute illustrations and I'm so glad to be able to review this book!

The first few pages of this book is about a little boy name Ben who helped his unhappy friend Amir to fix his broken toy truck.

From this story, I get to teach my boy to not be upset when his toys broke down and to try to fix it if possible. The point is more to getting him to understand that broken toys does not mean the end of the world.

After that, Ben went on to play soccer with his friends Tim and Lucy and there, another boy name Mike took Tim's ball causing him to be upset. Upon seeing Tim being unhappy, Mike felt bad and returned the ball to Tim and they went on to play together.

From this story, I get to teach my boy to share and play together and not to act selfishly like Mike.

In the next few pages, we see Ben helping Molly to find her lost dog but the storyline stopped there suddenly as he was interrupted by his mom who came over and told Ben he need to wear the sweater that his grandma made for him. Ben was not happy as he doesn't like the sweater but when he saw how happy grandma is when she sees him wearing her handmade sweater, Ben felt happy too.

From this story, I get to teach my boy to try his best effort to make people around him happy.

The following pages lead us back to how Ben continued to help Molly in searching for her lost dog. When the dog had been found, Ben was so happy!

I appreciate the additional 2 pages of picture story about a girl who accidentally bumped into a little boy along the path causing him to lose his balloon and luckily she is able to get hold of the balloon as I get to use the example to further teach Ben about taking things easy, not to be unhappy when something bad happens.

In my opinion, "Our Emotions and Behavior" series are a good choice for parents to use with their children because of the positive message they bring!

You can get this book from Free Spirit Publishing, Amazon and many more.

I received no monetary compensation for this review, I was provided with a softcopy of the book by Free Spirit Publishing in order to facilitate my review. All opinions expressed in this post are my own. Please do your own research when purchasing products, as your opinions may differ from mine. And if you'd like to read my previous book reviews, you can do so by reading this post of mine called "My Book Reviews"

(** Article first published as Book Review: But Why Can't I? by Sue Graves on Blogcritics)

Title: But Why Can't I? (Our Emotions and Behavior)
Author: Sue Graves
Illustrated by: Desideria Guicciardini
Publisher:  Free Spirit Publishing
ISBN-13/-10: 978-1575423760 / 1575423766
Board book, full-color: 32 pages
Dimension: 7¾" x 9½" 

Description from the product page:
" Kids and rules don’t always make a perfect match right away. Following rules that adults make can be hard for children, yet it is an important skill in character education and development. They want to know, “But why can’t I?”

Part of Free Spirit’s new series of "Our Emotions and Behavior" books, But Why Can’t I? explores these feelings using simple text, cheerful illustrations, and a light touch of humor. When Jenny comes over to babysit, Noah doesn’t want to do what she says. Rules for games, rules for bedtime—rules, rules, rules! But Jenny helps him understand that adults have to follow rules as well as kids, and rules help keep everybody safe, healthy, and happy.

Following the story, a series of pictures invites children to tell a story in their own words about following rules. A section for adults suggests ideas for talking with kids about why rules are important, and gently presents positive coping skills for children when it comes to dealing with their emotions. Ideal for home and K–3 classroom settings."

I love the cute illustrations and I'm so glad to be able to review this book!

This book is about 2 children (Noah and Rosie) being left under the care of a babysitter named Jenny for the day. I like that the author included the example following the rules such as what to do when you cross the road and when you are playing games.

However, I find it hard to relate to the example given by the babysitter to Noah (when he refuses to go to bed)  which is the consequences she has to go through if she is not following rules while at work as I feel that children at Ben's age (he's 29 months now) will not be able to understand that (he does understand the concept of working)

I do however appreciate the additional 2 pages of picture story about a girl dropping her can of drink on the path as I get to use the example to further teach Ben about the rules - not to litter and to be considerate and apologise for your mistake.

In my opinion, "Our Emotions and Behavior" series are a good choice for parents to use with their children because of the positive message they bring!

You can get this book from Free Spirit Publishing, Amazon and many more.

I received no monetary compensation for this review, I was provided with a softcopy of the book by Free Spirit Publishing in order to facilitate my review. All opinions expressed in this post are my own. Please do your own research when purchasing products, as your opinions may differ from mine. And if you'd like to read my previous book reviews, you can do so by reading this post of mine called "My Book Reviews"

(** Article first published as Book Review: 52 Things Kids Need from a Mom by Angela Thomas on Blogcritics.)

I've mentioned before that I'm always scouting for good books on parenting, Christianity, children and so on and when I saw this book's availability on NetGalley, I immediately asked to review it. And yes, one more book I came to love! Here is my review of this book from Angela Thomas entitled: "52 Things Kids Need from a Mom".

Author: Angela Thomas
Publisher:  Harvest House Publishers (September 1, 2011)
ISBN-13: 978-0736943918
Hardcover: 224 pages
Product Dimensions: 5 1/2 x 8 1/2 inches

Description from the Amazon product page:

"Bestselling author and mother of four children Angela Thomas brings her trademark storytelling and biblical teaching to this book of encouragement for moms who, in the daily whir of busyness, long to connect with their kids in new ways.

With compassion and creativity, Angela presents 52 inspirations to help moms experience intentional mothering, intentional living, and intentional joy as they:
* talk to their child as though he is fascinating
* learn to play one video game
* plan activities that set a child up for success
* be the groovy mom once in a while
* make memories and savor them

Moms at all phases of parenting can adopt one idea a week or try several at once. This is a fun, guilt-free resource to help every mom lead with God’s love and delight in the small moments that make up an abundant life."

I like that each tips are broken down into 2-3 pages, easier to read and continue on.

Below are some of the pages I've bookmarked on my iPad while I was reading this book:

* Page 10-Being a mom means you might never be alone again 

* Page 16-Never stop touching them. The gift of your enduring affection will become one of the greatest gifts ever give to their souls.

* Page 34-Jesus said it clearly, "All you need to say is simply 'Yes' or 'No' (Matthew 5:37)" What Jesus meant was, be clear about your intention and don't say anything that you don't mean. Let your word be your promise. And don't embellish your words to try to manipulate your own way.

* Page 35-Kids need their mom to keep her word because we are training them to be like Jesus and we are building their sense of security, teaching them  how to trust in someone who is trustworthy.

* Page 40-Our kids need us to teach them what to do when we have been misunderstood and misrepresented. They need to see us respond to difficult people and difficult circumstances. 

* Page 76-When we talk to our children at every age like they are fascinating, we are transferring to them a deep security. It's a gift of love that can never be taken away from them. To know that you are adored by your mom is a treasure that gives you strength for a lifetime.

* Page 147-Our job is to look for their strengths and champion the very best of who they can become.

* Page 186-You know, you think you teach them right, and you pray that you have given them a respect for others, but what a blessing when you know it's taken hold in their souls.

* Page 192-Ask God what to do and how to respond before you say a word.

* Page 200-Don't waste your time on a fool. "Do not speak in the hearing of a fool, for he will despise the wisdom of your words (Provers 23:9)"

In summary, this book emphasize highly on encouraging mums like us to connect with our child no matter how busy our daily life may be. I am inspired with most of the tips given in this book which not only helps greatly in our children development, it also helps me as a mum to do my very best in being involved in every possible way during my child's growing years. I am so glad to review this book and it will definitely stay in my iPad for repeated readings!  

You can also purchase the book from Amazon.

I received no monetary compensation for this review, I was provided with a galley proof of the book via my association with netGalley as a reviewer in order to facilitate my review. All opinions expressed in this post are my own. Please do your own research when purchasing products, as your opinions may differ from mine. And if you'd like to read my previous book reviews, you can do so by reading this post of mine called "My Book Reviews"