It's that time of year!

Christmas is here--one of my favorite times of the year. I love the family times, the memories, the baking, the traditions, and the decorating. I also love the books. Every year, I buy a new Christmas book for my children. My oldest daughter is eight years old, so we have quite a few books by now! Every Christmas, I pull them out of storage and put them in a basket in the living room. The kids love reading through all of books like they are brand-new. :-)

This year, I received a book in the mail from Anthony DeStefano. He is an aspiring author, who has written several books, and has now tried his hand at a children's Christmas book. He asked me to take a look at it and give a short review here at Toddler World. He even sent an extra copy, so that I can offer it to one of my lucky readers. ;-)


The book is focused on the story of Christ's birth, although written in a fictional way about another aspect of the story. Mr. DeStefano personifies the star that shines over Bethlehem, in a way that children can connect with. It is a light-hearted story about an insignificant character who finds a way to show his gratitude.

And you may be able to read this book to YOUR kids......just leave me a comment, telling me what your favorite Christmas book is. (I will draw a winner's name on Thurs. night, Dec. 16th)

The randomness that is my world.....

My husband's sister and her husband are here for a few days, so I am much too busy showing them around the area to blog. ;-) But since I know you are all dying to hear my words of wisdom, I will share a few thoughts to tide you over until my next real post. K?


First of all, my BABY....my little boy.....turned THREE YEARS OLD on Monday! I can't even think about it too much, because it makes me want to cry. Is this how all mothers feel with their youngest? He will probably be the last too, so that makes it even harder. (Even though I dislike babies....but that is another post for another day......now that you are all mad at me for not liking cuddly wuddly babies. It takes all kinds, alright?!)

Anyway, he had a wonderful b-day, first with his grandparents who were visiting, then with his (forementioned) aunt and uncle, and then will also celebrate with a few of his pals on Saturday, over a giant race car cake. He got everything a little boy could desire........guns, tanks, race cars, a golf set, a coonskin cap, rubber snakes, a motorcycle nightlight, more cars and trucks, etc, etc.

The second thing is that I have started on my next book for the year. I posted earlier about my reading goal for 2010, and it is going better than most of my goals do. (lol) I changed a few of the titles I hope to read, but other than that, I am staying on schedule. Right now I am reading a book that I bought a year ago and never got the chance to start--When Good Kids Make Bad Choices by Elise Fitzpatrick and Jim Newheiser. I am excited to read it and gain some wisdom that I can use to help others and also store up in my "parenting bank of wisdom".....which is not very full right now. :-)

I will be back in a few days....try not to miss me too much!

Curling up with a good book

Last year, I mentioned why I do not set New Year's resolutions for myself......they never work out too well for me. :-) But I do try to have some goals in mind for the year--goals that I can attain, if I develop the habit early on.

One of my goals for 2010 is to.....READ MORE. I obviously desire to spend more time in the Word, and I have already become more diligent in this area ! But I also want to read more books this year. I always see a book and think, " I really need to read that!" but then I never get around to it. So this is the year of "getting around to it." ;-) I am writing down a list, and attempting to knock off a new book every month.

Do ya think I can do it? Let me hear those cheers......nope, not hearing em. Well, you could at least pray for me, every once in awhile, that I could maybe make it to the library or something. That would really help.....

Without further adeu, I bring you:

Sarah's 2010 Reading List
(catchy title, isn't it? ;-)

1. Finish Everyday Talk-John Younts and Close to His Majesty-David Needham

2. Grace-based Parenting-Dr. Tim Kimmel

3. Worldliness: Resisting the Seduction of a Fallen World-C.J. Mahaney and others

4. The 10 Natural Laws of Successful Time and Life Management-Hyrum W. Smith

5. When Sinners Say "I Do"-Dave Harvey

6. Common Sense-Glenn Beck

7. If-Amy Carmichael (a re-read for me)

8. Instruments in the Redeemer's Hands-Paul David Tripp

9.The $5 Dinner Mom Cookbook-Erin Chase

10. Mere Christianity-C.S. Lewis (no, I have never read it!)

11. Voices of the Faithful-Beth Moore

I am excited to get started on these. And I am starting tonight with my newly-developing habit.....reading in bed for 15 minutes before I go to sleep. I just may get through this book list after all. (No thanks to you and your lack of cheering for me.) ;-)

It's beginning to look alot like.....

I can't believe it is December already!! Every year I promise myself that I will get my decorations up by December 1st....

.....and every year I fail. :-)

As I prepare for Christmas, I am putting together a list of favorite children's Christmas books. I buy a new Christmas book for my kids each year, so I am always look for one with a slightly different take on the season. And ones free of Santa....lol. We are not huge fans in this house.

So, as you keep the "Santa-free" guideline in mind, I want your input on Christmas books. Which ones are family favorites around your house? I will share my list next week, but I wanted to add some "reader favorites" to the list.

Enjoy getting ready for the Christmas season--it's my favorite time of year!

(Be sure to check out my other blog--Woman Shall Not Live by Coffee Alone--for this week's Bargain Meal of the Week.)

Working on my bibliography......

Here at Toddler World, we are trying to rustle us up some good books to read.

Well, THEY aren't.

But I am.....

I have been trying to comprise a bibliography of good parenting books, to have as part of my own personal library and to recommend as resources to other moms.

My friend just lent me two that I can hardly wait to dig into--
Grace-Based Parenting by Dr. Tim Kimmel and Everyday Talk by John A. Younts.

So what books have touched your heart and mind as a parent?
Please share your favorites, and why they are important for parents to read.


(Meanwhile, we will be on the lookout for some also.....)

A kid at heart is GOOD, right?

So I was just wondering......

It is bad that I am just as excited about Olivia being on t.v. as my kids are and that I watched the whole show today, after DVRing it?

It means I am a thoughtful, caring mother, in tune with the lives and interests of my children, right? Right???!!!!
(Or does it mean I have been stuck in the house with children under the age of 7 way too long ?)


Also, do I appear childish to others if I mention how I can hardly wait to get these new books in my next Usborne shipment?




I just needed some reassurance.

From some adults.......

(.....not from my 4 year old who thinks that I would "look cute in piggytails". )

Shop til you drop! (in your pajamas.....ahhh.)

Starting tomorrow, Toddler World will be hosting a Holiday Shop-o-Thon.

If you need last-minute Christmas gifts for your family or friends,
look no further!

I am running a sale over at my Usborne site, Sarah's Bookshelf.....when you order, click on "Sarah's show" so it credits to the holiday sale. If you order $40 or more, leave a comment on here with your email and I will send you a free Christmas story book!

And......my friend, Chastity, will also be holding a sale over on her blog. She just started a business~~Sweet Bella~~and makes adorable flower hairbows for little girls. If you need a little extra something for the sweet girls on your list, these would be perfect! Stop by and check them out! Just leave her a message if you would like to order some.....she will do them in custom colors for you! :-)

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Because it is Friday, I am going to list my five favorite Usborne books. This was a hard task, since I love most of them!--but these are the 5 that I always buy for gifts or for my own kids.

Top Five Usborne Favorites at ToddlerWorld:

1) That's Not My.....series (I love em all! They are so fun and my kids love to read them and touch them.)

2) Big Book of Fairy Things to Make and Do

3) The Complete Book of Farmyard Tales (It has the most charming pictures.....)

4) See Inside Castles (I love flap books.....probably as much as my kids do! :-)

5) A Squirrel's Tale ("There's A Mouse About the House" is actually my favorite, but due to its immense popularity, it is out of stock right now. :-( This one is 2nd best though....)

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If you need gift ideas for specific people, leave me a comment here or email me. There are topics for every reading level and every interest. Even cool craft books for teacher gifts!

And what an easy way to shop......in your pajamas. :-)

Honey is good for kids

In college, I took a course entitled "Children's Literature". Simple sounding title, but I think it was one of my most enlightening classes. I have always been a lover of books--but this class opened my eyes to the profound effect literature can have in children's lives. As I worked through the projects and reading assignments given me, I grew to love the different genres and authors that I was exposed to. I also became aware of the ways that good literature can affect children.

Now that I am a mother, my "recreational reading" has gone by the wayside and my book choices are mainly informational. I covet my reading times, and therefore choose books that will help me grow and develop as a Christian, wife, and mother. And the same should be true of my book choices for my children! Although I want them to have fun while reading, and I desire that they will choose books for themselves that they like, I want the books they read to cultivate them as people.

As I was packing, I ran across a book left from my Children's Literature class. It is entitled "Honey for a Child's Heart" by Gladys Hunt, and is a precious resource for mothers who desire to go beyond bedtime stories and really expose their children to good books. I am planning to re-read this book over the next few months, as I seek to fill my children's hearts with the sweet HONEY of good literature.

One of the most thought-provoking paragraphs in the book is on page 21. Gladys states:

"The instruction to 'train up a child in the way he should go' encompasses so much more than teaching him the facts of the gospel. It is to train the child's character, to give him high ideals, and to encourage integrity. It is to provide largeness of thought, creative thinking, imaginative wondering--an adequate view of God and His world."

Today's the day!!!

Today starts the Bloggy Giveways carnival, which I am thrilled to be a part of for the FIRST time! I can hardly wait to look at all of the other fun blogs, giving away cool things. After you check out my website and leave a comment to win one of my fabulous books, don't forget to go back and check out all of the other fun giveaways~!

Here is how mine will work:

~Go to my website, Sarah's Bookshelf, and pick a $10 book (or books adding up to $10).
~Then leave a comment on my blog, telling me the title of the book(s) that you would pick if you win.

~Make sure you leave your blog name (with a place where I can find your email address). If you don't have a blog, just leave an email address where I can reach you.

~The contest will end on Feb. 1, 2008 (Friday) at 12:00midnight. I will pick a winner and post the results on Saturday sometime.

~This contest is open to U.S. and Canada residents. I will ship your book to you next week!

(While browsing my bookshelf, make sure you enter the drawing on my site for $50 in free books! And if you want to host an e-show, let me know. It is so easy and so fun!!)

HAPPY CONTEST-ING! I can hardly wait to see who wins!!

Curling up with a good book....

I have been working at a daycare for the past year, and it has been both a blessing and a curse. A blessing because I could take the kids with me and have them close all morning, a curse because I was trying to raise other people's children for 4 hrs and not paying attention to my own. The girls have come to dread going with me every day, and I can see it playing out in their behavior. So, long story short--after much prayer and deliberation, I have decided to quit. And to help make up that money, I am trying to start up my book business again.
I do not intend to use this blog to propagate business for myself, but in order to get started up again, I am hitting all of my avenues. If you need books for homeschool or want to get started on Christmas shopping, I have set up an "e-show" on my website:
1) Go to www.sarahsbookshelf.com
2) Click on the e-show under my name (it's on the right side)
3) Order through that site--it will come straight to your house!
(And whoever orders the most will receive a free book of their choice (max. $15 value)--I will mail it to you after the show is closed!)
No pressure, but if anyone wants good, educational books for your kids--I would recommend these--ha! Email me if you want to know about any of the products. (oregongirl77@ charter dot net). Happy shopping!!!

Where is human nature so weak as in the bookstore? ~Henry Ward Beecher~

Children are made readers on the laps of their parents. ~Emilie Buchwald~