Category: book review

The Magical Mindful Day, combines mindfulness and heart-based practices to teach children the importance of a society based on the principles of love, respect, kindness, and compassion.

About The Magical Mindful Day

Arriving in the United States at age 24 from El Salvador, author Deborah Salazar Shapiro learned at a young age to appreciate life. At only five years old, Salazar Shapiro’s family decided to seek refuge in Mexico, after a bomb detonated next to her childhood home in El Salvador.

“The stress of exile life and the long-lasting effects of living in an environment of chaos and war took its toll,” says Salazar Shapiro. Within a few years, she was left with a fractured family, with only her, the youngest of four, and her mother returning to their homeland. At the young age of eight, Salazar Shapiro knew she wanted to dedicate her life to easing the pain and suffering of others, later choosing psychotherapy as her future course of study.

These experiences have culminated in the production of her new book, The Magical Mindful Day, in which Salazar Shapiro combines mindfulness and heart-based practices to teach children the importance of a society based on the principles of love, respect, kindness, and compassion.

A dedicated practitioner of mindful meditation for almost a decade and a teacher for several years, Salazar Shapiro explains, “From the beginning of my career, I have enjoyed working with children. I rejoice in their curious nature and pure hearts. I believe if children are taught mindfulness, loving-friendliness and compassion at a young age, they can be our hope for a society based on the same.”

My Thoughts

This book geared towards young children has two very powerful messages that are important for individuals of all ages to recognize and pay attention to: protecting and playing our role in taking care of our Earth and mindfulness.

In this book we meet Gaby a young girl with a kind heart who is spending the day at the beach when she plastic rings wash up on shore. She then meets Oreo, the talking cat, who strikes up a conversation with her about our Earth, our home and being open and mindful in every one of our actions. Together they go on a journey together to explore how to take care of our home, how to be kind and loving to everyone and how to use specific techniques to help us being mindful. I loved how she showed how we are all connected (animals, humans and nature) and we can show our gratitude and love through small actions. Oreo helps guide her on this journey and I love the ending when Oreo reminds her that she can always find him in her heart.

Mindfulness is a technique that many individuals are taught to help them calm their mind and escape from the racing day-to-day journey we are on. Some use it to help control anxiety, others to unwind after a busy day and others to reconnect with their surroundings and loved ones. It helps us to focus on how we are feeling, what is going on around us and being more in touch with ourselves and others. It is an extremely powerful tool, that I am quite happy to say my children have had it introduced to them at school so that when we read the book together my youngest would say I know how to do that. If you are not familiar with the techniques, she shares some throughout the story but there is also a note at the end to parents and teachers to help guide them as they teach themselves and in turn their children.

This is a beautiful children’s book with a very powerful message that is important for children of all ages, not to mention a great reminder for adults! Life can be so busy that we get out of tune with others and ourselves and forget about the importance of caring for ourselves, others and nature. This was a great read with beautiful illustrations – an excellent addition to your child’s home library!

You can purchase a copy of this book on Amazon.

Rating: 5/5

About the Author

Deborah Salazar Shapiro, MSW, is a psychotherapist, mindfulness teacher, author, and artist who was born and raised in San Salvador, El Salvador. She has been working with children and families for over 15 years. Deborah holds an MSW from the University of Southern California and a master’s-level degree in psychology from the University Dr. Jose Matias Delgado in San Salvador. She lives in San Diego, California with her husband, two daughters, and a wise cat named Thay.

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.

From Newbery Medalist and bestselling author Katherine Applegate, Sometimes You Fly is a sweet book of encouragement, filled with humor and insight into the effort behind any meaningful accomplishment in life.

About Sometimes You Fly

This gorgeous gift book, equally perfect for preschool graduations or college commencements, baby showers or birthdays, is an inspirational tribute to the universal struggles and achievements of childhood. Beginning with a first birthday, the scenes travel through childhood triumphs and milestones, coming full circle to graduation. A magical blend of succinct text and beautiful watercolors renders each moment with tenderness and humor and encourages readers to remember then, with every try, “sometimes you fail . . . sometimes you fly.”

My Thoughts

One of the hardest lessons to learn in life is to get back up after failure. This never gets easier as we get older, we just learn how to do it quicker and with less heartache (most of the time).

As parents, one of the greatest gifts we can give our child is the opportunity to make a mistake and to fail but also to encourage them to try again. That this one moment will not define them – that they will make it through. The unknown is scary, even more so for young adults and children who have never had to deal with anything like it before. We have to show them that it is okay to take a leap of faith, to try something new but also step back and allow them the freedom to make a mistake and not jump in to fix it. Not the easiest task for parents as it feels like since day one our main job has been to protect them!

I fell in love with this touching book that would make an excellent graduation gift, even though it seems like it would be geared towards younger children. It explores from birth to adulthood all the major milestones that at the time seem impossible but looking back they seem so small. We can cherish every accomplishment and know that for every failure, we picked ourselves up and tried again. With every risk we take in our lives, there is always a chance of failing but there is also a chance to soar into something new and exciting. That is what makes every risk and jump of faith worth it.

This beautifully illustrated book came at the right time for my family as a reminder that it is okay to make mistakes and to fail. Failure does not define us as a person but instead it gives us the chance to leap into something new. Sometimes You Fly is a special book for young children and adults alike as they move forward in their life and need that little bit of encouragement and pat on the back to say it will be okay.

You can find more information on this book on Raincoast Books and purchase this book on Amazon.

Rating: 5/5

About the Author

Katherine Applegate ‘s many children’s books include the Newbery Award-winning novel The One and Only Ivan, the bestselling novels Wishtree and Crenshaw, the bestselling Animorphs series, and the picture books Ivan and The Buffalo Storm . She lives in California. Visit her online at katherineapplegate.com and on Twitter at @kaauthor.

When her elementary school classmates said they wanted to be firemen, doctors, and vets, Jennifer Black Reinhardt declared she wanted to draw the picture on greeting cards. Today her diverse body of work includes not only greeting cards but chapter books and picture books, including Yaks Yak by Linda Sue Park and Sometimes You Fly by Katherine Applegate. Jennifer lives with her family in Iowa City, Iowa. Visit her online at jbreinhardt.com, on Twitter @jblackreinhardt, and on Instagram @JenniferBlackReinhardt.

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.

In Captives, they find themselves caught up in forces beyond their control, can the three young deliverers break free to find each other?

About Captives (Mud, Rocks, Trees) Book Three

“Welcome to Tzoladia!”

The city on a hill in the center of the empire dazzles in the sunlight. The rich and powerful citizens live luxurious lives. But for those who arrive as slaves, refugees, or spies, it is a foreboding place. And it is on the verge of war.

“Beware the Gates of Hell!” the wise man warned.

Gates open. Some lead to the depths of the underworld. Some to the bottom of the sea. Some to the heights of power.

Caught up in forces beyond their control, can the three young deliverers break free to find each other? Or will they lose their way?

My Thoughts

Book Three in this exciting series is just as good if not the best in this series thus far.

In this book, everything centres around the city of Tzoladia – a city of weird noises, hatred, misunderstanding, slavery and strange ways. Our three main characters (with one minor twist) begin to intertwine with each other in a unique manner that leaves you craving for more.

Our story begins with Brina is sold into slavery, her peaceful people who do no harm to anyone are forced to watch and stand naked in front of the citizens of Tzoladia while they are sold off one by one. You can just imagine the shock and horror along with the sense of betrayal they are feeling at this point. Families are completely torn apart, children were murdered all for something none of them can understand in this foreign city. Brina is saved by an unlikely hero, one whose life she has saved herself and we can start to see something beginning to form between these two very different individuals, something which I am very excited to see how it unfolds!

Amanki is recovering emotionally from the horrors he saw and was part of in book two. He is sent to hide with a secret society while his teacher goes off to find the other characters to bring them together. He thought his life would be safe there but nothing is always as it seems as there is an evil plot underway for the complete annihilation of the webbie people and he is sent with his people to fight a war for a King who despises them.

Now Moshoi’s story seems to have taken a big turn as he is now assumed dead in the rock slide from Book Two. His younger brother has taken up his cause to deliver the jug to Amanki and save the world. He just never realized how dangerous the cause would be!

I fell in love with the plot development – we learned so much about our characters in this book and their stories began to intertwine in such a unique way that you can feel the height of the story beginning to start. I have become so invested in the characters and want to see them through their journey safe, especially Brina. I love her strength and courage, she has become my favourite character in this series with her vulnerability and strength.

Captives is a great book for young adults and adults alike. You can learn more about Refugees Book One here and Seekers Book Two here. You can purchase a copy of this book on Amazon.

Rating: 5/5

About the Author

R.A. Denny started writing epic fantasy novels when, after watching the first Hobbit movie, she began excitedly spouting off information about C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien’s writer’s group called the Inklings and how their greatest fantasy novels were created. One of her sons commented, “We could do that.” She laughed. Then, he turned it into a challenge.

Her unexpected journey had begun. For several years, she continued her day job as a criminal prosecutor and escaped by night to the world of the Tzoladian Empire. Then, she decided to just do what she loved.

She completed writing her six-book epic fantasy series: Mud, Rocks, and Trees. The series should be read in this order: Refugees, Seekers, Captives, Warriors, Visionaries, and then Deliverers.

R.A. enjoys ancient history, board games, and LEGO. That’s the nerd in her. She rides horses, raised flying squirrels and lives with two cats. That’s the animal lover in her. Oh, and did I mention that she loves a challenge? That’s the adventurer in her.

Disclosure: I received a digital copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.