Category Archives: Books

October 12, 2018 · 9:12 pm

Moms, You Are Too Blessed To Be Stressed & Flash Giveaway

My husband and I were just talking about our weekend plans. I cannot believe the weather took a nosedive today and I was freezing riding my bike this afternoon. It is just another reminder of how fast time is flying by. We did get to do some apple picking earlier this month but we wanted to go once more and go to a pumpkin farm near us that has so many activities for the kids.

As we sat contemplating how we can fit this all in, I just felt inadequate. All over social media, I can see other families packing so much in and it sometimes makes me feel…so stressed. If you feel that way too, you might really like, Too Blessed to be Stressed by Debora M. Coty. Debra is the best-selling author of the Too Blessed to be Stressed series and she decided to write an edition specifically for moms. I can tell you how happy I am she did!

In Too Blessed to be Stressed for Moms , Deb offers empathy, laughs, real-life stories, practical parenting survival tips, and fresh biblical insights to help frazzled moms of all ages hear God’s still, small voice through life’s chaos.

Do you feel like you’re drowning in the everyday stress-pool? . . .

Wish you could make busy-ness a business so you’d be a millionaire? . . .

Welcome to the maternal order of slightly sagging sisters of the ‘hood. The motherhood.

With her own offbeat brand of wit and near-wisdom, popular inspirational humorist Debora Coty addresses heart needs of moms drowning in the churning stress-pool of busyness. In her beloved mom-to-mom, grin-provoking style, Coty offers empathy, laughs, real-life stories, practical parenting survival tips, and fresh biblical insights to help you hear Papa God’s still, small voice through life’s chaos.

Whether you’re struggling with stress related to attitude, time-management, guilt trips, patience, or something in between. . .this humor-filled volume will deliver a much-needed smile and equip you with simple-to-implement tips for attaining the peace we all crave—the peace that passes all understanding.

Check out the book trailer video below.

Debora M. Coty is a popular humorist, speaker, and award-winning author of numerous inspirational books, including the bestselling Too Blessed to be Stressed line. Deb considers herself a tennis junkie and choco-athlete (meaning she exercises just so she can eat more chocolate). A retired piano teacher and orthopedic occupational therapist, Debora currently lives, loves, and laughs in central Florida with her husband, Chuck, and three grandbuddies and one grandprincess. Stay in the loop with Debra Coty on her website, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

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Tagged as Blog Tour, Book Tour, Debora M. Coty, Too Blessed To Be Stressed

October 8, 2018 · 2:03 am

How To Talk To Your Kids About Space Without Spacing Out – Book Giveaway

My kids love to talk about the universe, identify planets, use the telescope and identify the constellations. Luckily for them, my husband shares this passion with them. They can talk for hours about it all and love watching eclipses and meteor showers together. If you are less than savvy about all things in the universe but have kids with loads of questions, I want to share something that can help you.

Max Goes to Jupiter is an educational picture book written by an expert astrophysicist and educator whose books happen to be on board the International Space Station and are being read aloud by astronauts!

Dr. Jeffrey Bennett opens a window into space in the half-fiction, half-science story Max Goes to Jupiter (Big Kid Science, June 2018, updated second edition with a special section for teachers and parents about how to use the book and “Story Time From Space”) which is also now available in Spanish: Max Viaja a Jupiter. Read about Story Time from Space in this Huffington Post article.

I really like that this book is filled with so much information about Jupiter. My kids just loved learning about all the interestings facts like the ones below:

How to find Jupiter in the night sky
The importance of Galileo’s discovery of moons around Jupiter
Why spaceships can’t land on Jupiter
The missions to Jupiter
The possibility of a future “space elevator”
What the ocean is like on Europa, one of Jupiter’s moons and could there be life?

Giveaway:

PR By The Book is sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings! One lucky blog reader will win their own copy of Max Goes to Jupiter! Thanks again to PR By The Book for the review copy and for sponsoring an out of this world giveaway on Mommy Ramblings! Open to US Readers.

Max Goes to Jupiter Hardcover Book Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules:

Enter for your chance to win using the Rafflecopter widget below. Good Luck!!!

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Tagged as Books, giveaway, Max Goes To Jupiter, Planets, Science, Space

October 3, 2018 · 11:49 am

“Giraffe Problems” Blog Book Tour & Giveaway

Turns out penguins aren’t the only animals with problems. . . From the creators of Penguin Problems comes GIRAFFE PROBLEMS, a second hilarious collaboration from picture-book superstars Jory John and Lane Smith.

Can you guess what’s making this giraffe self-conscious? Could it be . . . HIS ENORMOUS NECK? Yes, it’s exactly that—how on earth did you figure it out?

Cyrus the giraffe can’t understand why his neck is as long and bendy and, well, ridiculous as it is. No other animal has a neck this absurd. He’s tried disguising it, dressing it up, strategically hiding it behind bushes—honestly, anything you can think of, he’s tried.

Just when he has exhausted his neck-hiding options and is about to throw in the towel, a turtle swoops in (well, ambles in, very slowly) and helps him understand that his neck has a purpose, and looks excellent in a bow tie.

This is such an adorable book that conveys a very important message to kids. Check out my video review of Giraffe Problems below:

Giveaway

Random House is sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings. One lucky reader will win their own hardcover copy of Giraffe Problems! Thank you to Random House for the review book and for sponsoring this awesome giveaway on Mommy Ramblings. Open to US residents.

Giraffe Problems Book Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules:

Enter for your chance to win using the Rafflecopter widget below. Good Luck!!!

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Tagged as Books, Giraffe Problems, giveaway, kids, Picture Books, Random House

October 1, 2018 · 10:05 pm

“Chomp Goes The Alligator” Large Interactive Board Book Giveaway

Talk about a fun book, Chomp Goes The Alligator, is that and more! This large, interactive board book has loads of things for little ones to touch and feel as well as a pull tab so you can make the Alligator’s mouth chomp throughout the story.

Check out my video to see more about this great book.

The book is written by acclaimed novelty book creator Matt Van Fleet. His innovative books have been introducing children to basic concepts for more than twenty years. His other books include Dance Cat, Heads, Alphabet and Moo as well as, the #1 New York Times bestsellers Tails and Dog. His books have sold more than eight million copies and have been translated around the world. Hi lives with his family in New York.

Giveaway:

Simon and Schuster are sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings. One lucky blog reader will win their own copy of Chomp Goes The Alligator! Thank you to Simon and Schuster for the review book and for sponsoring this amazing giveaway on Mommy Ramblings. Open to US Residents.

Chomp Goes The Alligator Interactive Board Book Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules:

Enter for your chance to win using the Rafflecopter widget below. Good Luck!!!

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Tagged as Board Books, Books, Chomp Goes The Alligator, giveaway

September 20, 2018 · 9:19 pm

#SpiritofGodBible Kid’s Illustrated Bible #FlyBy

God’s Spirit is living among God’s people.
He always was, always is, and always will be.
These are the stories that tell about him and what he does.

The Spirit of God Illustrated Bible, written by Doris Rikkers and illustrated by Fernando Juarez, contains over 40 Bible stories from the old and new testaments that show how God’s Spirit has been with his people from the beginning of time. I am so excited to share this new release from ZonderKidz with you!

From the glory of creation through the powerful letters of Paul, God’s Spirit is living in his people. Old and New Testament stories such as Adam and Eve, Abraham, Joseph, the Baptism of Jesus, and Pentecost come alive with dramatic illustrations by Fernando Juarez and moving text by Doris Rikkers. With a cover that sparkles and shines with foil, this is a special storybook Bible that will appeal to both children and parents alike.

Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
If I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
If I settle on the far side of the sea,
Even there your hand will guide me,
Your right hand will hold me fast.
~ Psalm 139: 7–10

My Thoughts:

This Bible is perfect for my kids, they can read the age-old stories of the Bible from the Old and New Testament in a format that is not overwhelming. The easy to read text and beautiful illustrations captive them and peak their interest. It is also a great Bible for myself or my husband to read aloud to them. Giveaway:

Propeller Consulting, LLC is sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings. One lucky blog reader will win their own Spirit of God Illustrated Bible! Thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for the review Bible and this inspirational giveaway. Open to US Residents.

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Filed under Books, Giveaway, Spiritual

Tagged as #FlyBy, #SpiritofGodBible, Bible, Books, giveaway, Kid's Books

September 18, 2018 · 3:00 am

“The Spirit of God Illustrated Bible” Review & Giveaway

God’s Spirit is living among God’s people.
He always was, always is, and always will be.
These are the stories that tell about him and what he does.

The Spirit of God Illustrated Bible, written by Doris Rikkers and illustrated by Fernando Juarez, presents over 40 Bible stories from the old and new testaments that show how God’s Spirit has been with his people from the beginning of time. I am so excited to share this new release from ZonderKidz with you!

My Thoughts:

This Bible is perfect for my kids, they can read the age old stories of the Bible from the Old and New Testament in a format that is not overwhelming. The easy to read text and beautiful illustrations captive them and peak their interest. It is also a great Bible for myself or my husband to read aloud to them.

You can hear and see more of my thoughts in the video below:

I was provided with a copy of this Bible to facilitate my post. As always, my words and views are 100% my own.

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Filed under Books, Giveaway, Spiritual

Tagged as Books, Illustrated Bible, Spirit of God

September 12, 2018 · 2:37 pm

“The Last Kids On Earth” Blog Book Tour & Giveaway

School is back in session throughout the country, and reading is so important. Finding interesting books that your child wants to read, will really help, if you have to battle with them to read for 20 or 30 minutes a day.

My boys love books that draw them in and capture their interest with an exciting and engaging story. The Last Kids on Earth series does just that! Described as Diary of a Wimpy Kid meets The Walking Dead these very funny post-apocalyptic graphic novels are perfect for middle-grade readers.

This is a four book series to date and it all starts with Book 1; The Last Kids on Earth.

Kids will be chomping at the bit to continue with Book 2; The Last Kids on Earth and the Zombie Parade .

The zombies are disappearing. This might seem like a good thing, since zombies eat your brains, but normal human kid Jack Sullivan is suspicious. He keeps hearing an eerie shrieking noise that seems to be almost summoning the zombies—but to where, and for what (probably) foul purpose?

Jack, his three best friends (maybe the only people left on Earth), and their pet monster Rover need to get to the bottom of this. Along the way they encounter a lot more than they bargained for, including a giant Wormungulous, a pizza parlor monster hangout, an ancient evil who destroys worlds, and a stereo system that is totally the bomb. Can Jack figure out why the zombies are vanishing . . . before he and his friends are next?

Kids will be excited to get their hands on Book 3; The Last Kids on Earth and the Nightmare King.

Life after the zombie apocalypse is pretty good for 13-year-old Jack Sullivan: he lives in a mind-clobberingly cool tree fort with his best friends, speeds through town playing Real-Life Mario Kart, has a crew of monster buddies, battles zombies on the regular, and generally treats life-like it’s a video game!

But then Jack’s friends make a startling discovery: they may not be the last kids on earth, after all. This is great news for everyone… except Jack. Once they’ve found other humans, his friends won’t stick around for long! Jack’s only hope for keeping things the way they are is to prove that everything here is perfect, life is crazy fun, and nothing else could be any better.

One problem: it’s hard convincing his friends that everything is great when they’re being hunted by a monstrous Nightmare King and an ancient evil who won’t rest until Earth has been devoured. Crud! Maybe life after the monster apocalypse is more complicated than Jack thought…

The last book in the series (so far), is Book 4; The Last Kids on Earth and the Cosmic Beyond

The newest installment in this New York Times bestselling series introduces new monsters, new bad guys, and tons of new laughs!

It’s the first winter after the Monster Apocalypse. For Jack and his buddies, that means sled catapults, epic snowball battles, and one monstrous Christmas celebration. But their winter wonderland turns dark when a villainess begins hunting them. And this villainess is different—she’s a human.

When the villainess steals Jack’s prized monster-slaying tool, the Louisville Slicer, he vows to get it back. But it won’t be easy. Jack and his friends soon discover that the Louisville Slicer is the key to a dark plan that threatens the entire world—and beyond…

You can watch a video trailer for the series below:

About The Author:

Max Brallier (maxbrallier.com) is the New York Times bestselling author of more than thirty books and games, including the previous books in The Last Kids on Earth series. He is the creator and writer of Galactic Hot Dogs, an ongoing middle-grade web serial and book series with Aladdin. He writes for licensed properties including Adventure Time, Regular Show, and Uncle Grandpa. Under the pen name Jack Chabert, he is the creator and author of the Eerie Elementary series for Scholastic Books. In the olden days, he worked in the marketing department at St. Martin’s Press. Max lives just outside of New York City with his wife and daughter.

ILLUSTRATOR BIO:

Douglas Holgate has been a freelance comic book artist and illustrator based in Melbourne, Australia, for more than ten years. He’s illustrated books for publishers including HarperCollins, Penguin Random House, Hachette, and Simon & Schuster, and comics for Image, Dynamite, Abrams, and Penguin Random House.

Giveaway

Penguin Random House is sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings! One lucky blog reader will win Book 1 and Book 4 of The Last Kids on Earth Series! Thank you to Penguin Random House for the review books and for sponsoring this great giveaway on Mommy Ramblings! Open to US residents.

The Last Kids On Earth Book 1 and Book 4 Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules:

Please enter for your chance to win using the Rafflecopter widget below. Good Luck!!!

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Tagged as Books, giveaway, Middle School Books, Penguin Random House

September 10, 2018 · 12:14 am

“Picturing America” A Beautiful Look At Thomas Cole’s Life & The Hudson Valley

I am so blessed to live in the gorgeous Catskill Mountains of Upstate New York. The Hudson Valley Region has so much to offer in breathtaking beauty and diverse culture. We love living only 90 minutes from NYC, so we can attend shows and events, and still live surrounded by trees, meadows, lakes and rivers.

As a hobby photographer, I rarely take a walk where I don’t have my camera around my neck. With the advances in technology, smartphones provide us with a camera we have with us everywhere. I am forever snapping photos and recording video of my amazing surroundings. I love sharing my photos and videos, so others can experience the pristine beauty.

Picturing America: Thomas Cole And The Birth of American Art by Hudson Talbott, is a stunning biographical picture book and an excellent tool to introduce children to Thomas Cole. This book is so beautiful and filled with fascinating information about the life of Thomas Cole.

Picturing America gives us a bird’s-eye look into Thomas Cole’s life. From his humble beginnings and immigration from England to America, to his development of a new painting style that became America’s first formal art movement: the Hudson River School of painting. The pages of Picturing America are peppered with some of Cole’s most beloved paintings, beautifully framed by Hudson Talbott’s watercolor illustrations.

You can see more in my video review and reading of Picturing America below:

As a resident of the beautiful Hudson Valley, I am thrilled to announce that Penguin Young Readers is sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings! One lucky blog reader will win their own hardcover copy of Picturing America! Thank you to Penguin Random House for the review book and for sponsoring this amazing giveaway on Mommy Ramblings! Open to US Residents.

Picturing American Hardcover Book Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules:

Please enter for your chance to win using the Rafflecopter widget below. Good Luck!!!

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Tagged as Art, Books, Catskill Mountains, giveaway, Hudson Valley, Penguin Random, Thomas Cole

September 5, 2018 · 1:17 am

“How To Be A T. Rex” Hardcover Book Giveaway

As most of the schools are now back in session, you might be searching for engaging books for bedtime reading. I would like to share a bright, bold and quirky new book about finding and taming the beast within. How To Be A T.Rex is about Sal, a girl who thinks being herself is kind of a drag. Sal does not want to grow up to be a doctor or teacher, she wants to be an awesome T.Rex!

You might be surprised to learn that becoming a T. Rex is not hard at all. However, it is hard to make friends when you are a super-giant, super-loud, super-stompy dinosaur. If only Sal could be as 100% awesome as a T. Rex all of the time! The book is written by Ryan North and illustrated by Mike Lowery.

Check out my video about the book below:

About the Author: RYAN NORTH is a New York Times bestselling author and cartoonist known for his online strip Dinosaur Comics, his critically acclaimed work on Marvel’s Unbeatable Squirrel Girl, as well as his Eisner Award-winning writing for the Adventure Time comic. He lives in Toronto with his wife, Jenn, and their dog, Noam Chompsky. HOW TO BE A T.REX is his debut picture book.

About the illustrator: MIKE LOWERY is an author, artist, and an avid collector of weird bits of knowledge. He’s illustrated dozens of books for kids, including the Gingerbread Man is Loose in the School series. Mike lives with his wife and two kids in Atlanta, Georgia.

Giveaway:

Penguin Random House is sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings. One lucky blog reader will win a hardcover copy of How To Be A T. Rex and a book poster! Thank you Penguin Random House for the review book and posters and for sponsoring this awesome giveaway on Mommy Ramblings. Open to US Residents.

How To Be A T. Rex Hardcover Book Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules:

Please enter for your chance to win using the Rafflecopter widget below. Good Luck!!!

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Tagged as Books, giveaway, How To Be A T. Rex, Penguin Random House, Picture Books

August 22, 2018 · 10:42 am

“Homespun” Blog Book Tour- Amish & Mennonite Women in Their Own Words

I love learning about different cultures and religions. The most profound thing I have learned, is that when we really take the time to learn about others, we usually discover we are more alike than different. I think our world could benefit greatly if we all took the time to learn about others.

Given my feelings, I was thrilled to have the opportunity to review a new book edited by Lorilee Craker. The book, Homespun: Amish and Mennonite Women in Their Own Words,

Is there a better way to connect and get to know someone than over a cup of coffee or tea? That is exactly how it feels reading the stories of the Amish and Plain Mennonite women in this book. Editor Lorilee Craker, bestselling author of Money Secrets of the Amish, collects these personal writings about hospitality, home, grief, joy, and walks with God.

Hear from one woman who struggles with feeling inferior to her sister, from another about her longing for a baby, and from a third who accidentally bought stretchy material to sew her husband’s pants. tEach woman’s story is a testament to the grace of God and the blessings of community.

This book is such a great read, one to savor while laying back and enjoying the end of summer. Homespun is such a comfortable read, it is so hard to put down. As I read the stories of the women on the pages, I found there was much more I had in common with them than not. The stories draw you in and make you laugh, cry and connect. You will love this book.

Learn more in my video below:

Behind Amish romance novels and tourist spots and television shows stand real people, with longings and loves just like the rest of us. Every Amish and Mennonite woman has a story. In Homespun, you get to hear some of them.

About the editor:

Lorilee Craker is the author of thirteen books, including Money Secrets of the Amish; Anne of Green Gables, My Daughter, and Me; My Journey to Heaven with Marv Besteman; and the New York Times bestseller Through the Story with Lynne Spears. Connect with Lorilee on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.