Ellie McDoodle: Have Pen, Will Travel

Ellie McDoodle: Have Pen, Will Travel by Ruth McNally Barshaw (Bloomsbury USA Children’s Books: 2008)
Reviewed by author, Pam Allyn.

Barshaw perfectly captures the exaggerated, sometimes dramatic voice of a smart, unique, funny nine-year-old girl in this first title in the Ellie McDoodle series. Eleanor McDougal (aka Ellie McDoodle) enjoys chronicling her everyday adventures in sketches and [...]

Reel Culture by Mimi O’Connor

Are you and your daughter “movie buffs?” Then Reel Culture: 50 Classic Movies You Should Know About (So You Can Impress Your Friends) by Mimi O’Connor is a fun, informative book you’ll want to read! Reel Culture is packed full quotes, characters, fun facts, and Hollywood ‘inside scoop’ on the top films of our time [...]

A Crooked Kind of Perfect by Linda Urban

Reviewed by Author: Pam Allyn.

As we embark on a new year, it is important to help the girls in our lives to feel empowered to pursue their dreams in their own unique way. This charming, funny book for upper elementary and middle school girls reminds us all to embrace the person we truly are, [...]

What I Know: uncommon wisdom and universal truths from 10-year-olds and 100-year-olds

If you’ve ever doubted that wisdom comes from the heart, then What I Know: uncommon wisdom and universal truths from 10-year-olds and 100-year-olds by Roger Emerson Fishman, will convince you otherwise. Fishman captures perfectly the moments of 10-year-olds and contrasts it with the wisdom and thoughtfulness of 100-year-olds. Both age groups have a lot to [...]

Book Review: Lucy Doesn’t Wear Pink by Nancy Rue

What????!!! Lucy has opted out of pink altogether??? Say it isn’t so! Actually it’s true and a much needed breath of fresh air as 11-year-old Lucy Rooney, the main character in the FaithGirlz! Tween Series Lucy Doesn’t Wear Pink, swears off all things girly…or at least most of them.
Author Nancy Rue does a delightful job [...]

Book Reivew: Still Going It Alone by Michele Howe

As all parents know, there are many books to choose from when we make a trip to the bookstore our browse Amazon.com. But there are few and far between that are geared toward helping single mothers make the often difficult transition from a house full of children to one that is empty. Still Going It [...]

The Teashop Girls – a book girls can ‘get cozy’ with.

In today’s fast paced world, its tough to find a book for your tween or teen daughter that doesn’t involve overly suggestive language and grown-up content. Parents raising strong, independent-thinking daughters can rest easy though – there are great books out there that teach girls to think independently, successfully overcome difficult obstacles and [...]

Book Review: Dog Heaven

I wanted to recommend something a little more “holiday” oriented, but I found myself drawn to this wonderful book over the past week by necessity. Dog Heaven by Cynthia Rylant, has been a lifesaver for my eldest daughter, Pinkerbell. Last week, her grandparents had to put her “favorite” dog, Tabitha, to sleep. Pinkerbell has been [...]

Favorite Book Friday: The Mountains of Tibet

The book I have chosen for this week, The Mountains of Tibet by Mordicai Gerstein was recommended to me by my gal pal Kalisha over at Mommy Lounge who has unfortunately had to wrestle with how to talk with her daughters about a friends recent death.
Needless to say, talking with your child about death and [...]