This week my son and I got to read a new children’s book about how it’s always our choice to use words that either help or hurt other people. It’s called “Words” by Elle Grey. The book explains that ultimately, when we use words to hurt others, we then attract negativity back to ourselves.
I truly believe this to be true. It’s part of the process of developing emotional intelligence. I have even mentioned before here on Family Friendly Daddy Blog how much better of a person I became (just a few years ago) when I stopped allowing other people to emotionally control me.
In other words, I took away anyone else’s right to “offend” or “insult” me. I did this by taking control of my own emotions instead of letting anyone else control them for me. But before ever getting to that point in life, a person must first learn to choose how to choose their own words and begin to understand how they positively or negatively effect others.
So yes, this book fundamentally teaches a concept I live by.
Congrats to Matt Wright, who was the first reader to comment, and therefore win a copy of Words!
About Author Elle Grey
Daughter of a US Air Force family stationed overseas, Julie was born in Ely, England about an hour outside of London. Her family moved to the United States when she was 6 years old. Following a successful career in financial services, where she co-authored the book “Live Rich, Stay Wealthy” which sold twenty-five thousand copies in the first 90-days, Elle decided to devote her time to her young daughter. The Elle Grey Stories were created to teach her daughter values, principles and morals, all the things that are important for our children to help guide, shape and protect them as they grow.
Julie is a wife and a mother of two adult sons and a 3-year old daughter. In addition to spending as much time as possible with her family, she enjoys going to the gym, writing, doing pilates, running, painting, ceramics, crocheting, knitting, cooking and reading.
My son Jack was excited to see we received a new book in the mail: Almost a Minyan, by Lori S. Kline. Granted, when I first read him the title, his eyes lit up as he looked for a picture on the cover of a “minion” from the Despicable Me movie series…
But as I read the book to him for bedtime, he was still very intrigued despite realizing that “minyan” is also a Hebrew word. As I read him the story, he learned about a tween girl from a close Jewish family.
After regularly seeing her father and grandfather regularly attend their town’s minyan (a public worship group of ten adults), she and her father experience a character arc after her grandfather passes away.
On the verge of her 14th birthday, she realizes she can be the one to qualify as the 10th adult necessary to keep the minyan going.
For Jewish families, this book will surely reinforce and further illustrate the traditions of the Hebrew faith.
For families outside the Jewish fold, this book will surely still engage the reader, as it introduces a new (yet ancient) culture.
Thanks for reading my book review today. I will close with basic marketing information of Almost a Minyan:
It is definitely one of my life goals to write a children’s book and eventually my own series.
Therefore, I am happy to see my friend of a decade, Ben Wilder, have his first book published. It is called, Big and Small, God Made Them All.
A couple of weeks ago, Ben visited my house and we made this video together to promote it:
Before the book was published, Ben asked me to write a quick synopsis for the back cover. I feel honored.
Here’s what I said:
“How do you begin to legitimately introduce the gospel to a young child? You present them with God’s creation of the universe. Then you explain that this same God loves them too. That is exactly what Ben Wilder has done here.”
In addition to being able to write an inviting children’s story through poetry, something else Ben did a great job of was finding the right illustrator; who happens to be Laura Watson. The pictures are very well matched for the story.
I am so proud of Ben’s new book. And… one lucky reader won their very own copy just from reading this blog post.
In the new book The Biggest Story: How the Snake Crusher Brings Us Back to the Garden! by Kevin DeYoung, and illustrated by Don Clark, the historic story of Christianity is brought to live in an overview “storytelling” format, beginning with Adam and Eve, and ultimately ending with the role of the modern day church.
I can honestly say I’ve never read a children’s Bible storybook anything like this before. The best way I can describe it is that it’s like a children’s minister explains how the stories of the Old Testament characters of the Bible are related to Jesus coming to Earth for the salvation of His people.
But the whole time, there’s this festive, Hebrew-ish artistic backdrop. The illustrations are simply amazing and unique.
Being exposed to this book actually reminded me of just how Jewish the Christian faith is; considering that 2/3’s, not half, of the Holy Bible is the Old Testament; the other half obviously being the New Testament.
This book explains how the Christian faith was ultimately born from the Jewish faith. It helps bridge the Old and New Testaments in a way children can begin to understand.
The Biggest Story: How the Snake Crusher Brings Us Back to the Garden! is intended for children ages 5 to 11.
I recognize that with my son being 4 years, 9 months old, the content of the book is a little above his comprehension level; though he is definitely intrigued by the mystery of it.
However, I definitely look forward to my son growing into this book.
*Congrats to Matt Wright, the winner of my giveaway of Family Friendly Daddy Blog, who will have a hard cover copy of The Biggest Story: How the Snake Crusher Brings Us Back to the Garden! sent to hishouse.
Did I just win The Biggest Story: How the Snake Crusher Brings Us Back to the Garden!?
OFFICIAL HASHTAGS: #BIGGESTSTORY and #FLYBY
“Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”): Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway. Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post.
Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway. If you have won a prize from our sponsor Propeller / FlyBy Promotions in the last 30 days, you are not eligible to win. If you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.”
As my regular readers of Family Friendly Daddy Blog already know, my family is building a house; closing date in January 29th, 2015.
In the process of planning out the rooms, my wife and I have decided that while we will have a TV in the bonus room, we won’t have one downstairs in the living room; or any other room.
That means in order to watch TV, you actually have to walk upstairs and isolate yourself. Therefore, the temptation is greatly reduced to walk in the door and veg out without spending quality time with other family members.
I believe it’s “little” decisions like that which contribute to health family communication and relationships.
A few weeks ago while reviewing a car here for Family Friendly Daddy Blog, I was sent an iPad and an iPhone to use in conjunction with the vehicle’s 4G LTE capabilities.
I should point out that I’m of the American minority; we have no smart phones in our household. My wife and I both have “dumb” phones instead.
The main reason is because we’re not willing to pay for a data plan. We are on a family plan with my parents and pay a monthly total of only $30 per month. Again, that’s total; not per person.
But even if it cost us no extra money per month to own smart phones, I still wouldn’t be excited.
Here’s why:
I fully recognized that my family’s life is hurried enough. My wife and I both work; our son is in school all day. The commute time in Nashville is longer than the average large city.
We don’t need more interruptions or distractions in our lives. I feel that if we owned smart phones, it would only add to the anxiety.
Sure, I get the irony in the fact that I run this blog from a cheap ASUS laptop and a dumb phone. I was the official daddy blogger for Parents Magazine for 3 years and never once touched a smart phone.
Of all people, I should own a smart phone… or at least want one. But I don’t.
I won’t deny the fact that having a smart phone for that week made certain things more convenient. However, I found myself getting frustrated that I couldn’t use manage my blog with the same ease as a laptop.
Plus, I don’t like knowing that I can check my email or Facebook at any time. I’d rather just “shut it off” during the day.
With that being said, you could imagine I would easily like this book…Growing Up Social, by Gary Chapman (The 5 Love Languages) and Arelene Pellicane (31 Days to Becoming a Happy Wife).
The book causes you to ask yourself, “Is technology bringing your family closer together or driving you farther apart?”
Growing Up Social teaches the five skills that every healthy child needs to master: affection, appreciation, anger management, apology, and attention:
The Skill of Affection – How do you show real love to another person?
The Skill of Appreciation – How do you cultivate a grateful heart?
The Skill of Attention – How do you focus and be a good listener?
The Skill of Anger Management – How do you express anger in a productive way?
The Skill of Apology – How do you mend a relationship after you make a mistake?
The focus is raising relational kids in a screen-driving world. So relevant!
And one lucky reader will win a free copy of this book today…
If you’re the first person to do so, I will respond by saying yes… After that, I will follow up by getting your address to give to the publisher so they can send you your won copy!
Update: A winner was found within just a few minutes of this post going live. The giveaway portion is now complete.
Family Friendly Daddy BlogYes sir! Send me a message with your address. It will be in the mail tomorrow.
Thanks for reading today! And remember, I’ll be giving more books away; so stay tuned…
“Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: ‘Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising’):
Many thanks to Propellor Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway. Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post.
Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway. If you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.”
Family Friendly Daddy Blog
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