Wanda Luthman's Blog, page 18
August 26, 2019
Petrina Pan in Everland as an Audiobook
Hi everyone,
I’m bringing to you today a book called Petrina Pan in Everland that I listened to on Audible, Amazon’s Audiobook service.
I have to admit that I have never listened to a book before on Audible (even though I have several books published in the Audible format). I prefer to read, after all!
But, I discovered a Facebook group called Free Audiobook Codes for Honest Reviews that connects would-be listeners with free Audiobooks. That sounds like a deal, right?!
I downloaded the Audible app on my phone, and through a link provided, I put in the code (copied and pasted actually), and wah-lah, within seconds I was listening to my first book.
I found myself putting my phone down and then I was able to start making dinner–that’s when I discovered the wonders of listening to a book–multi-tasking!
Because there’s nothing to look at, no words, no pictures, you might as well not keep staring at your phone or other device. Now, you could also just lay back and close your eyes and listen to the book being read to you which takes me back to 3rd grade when my teacher read to us. Wasn’t that a pleasant time?!
Or, like me, you multi-task. I know my sister has listened to books for years and she does it while driving–that’s a great way to “read” a lot of books.
Anyway, did you know that an author gets 25 codes they can give away to listeners?
They typically get 25 codes to use in the US AND 25 codes to use in the UK. That’s a lot of codes! But, oddly enough, it’s difficult to find that many listeners.
That’s why this Facebook group is genius!
Now, on to the book, Petrina Pan in Everland by Rich Linville and narrated by Holly Holt.
“What an adorable story! This is my first audible book that I have ever listened to. I definitely enjoyed the experience. Holly Holt’s voice is soothing and smooth. The story line was fun and positive. I won’t give away the ending but I’m glad everything ended happy.”
I gave this book 5 stars!
If you’re interested in this book or any other audible book, hop on over to the Facebook group and find your next favorite book (or contact me because I still have codes to give away for FREE on my books as well)!
August 19, 2019
Dolphin Girl, A YA Mystery with Christian Element
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Hi everyone,
I found this book through a group I belong to and loved it immediately because I absolutely LOVE dolphins and mysteries and plus I live in Florida!!
Here’s the author, Tracey V. Williams, to tell us more about it…
AUTHOR. TEACHER. MOM.
Chloe Martin loves dolphins and her dog, Gabe. She’s a Senior Trainer at Dolphin Connection, a Southern Florida marine mammal facility. But when she discovers the dead body of the facility’s lead researcher in the women’s restroom, her past as an amateur sleuth all at once becomes very much her present. Her deep faith will be tested, as well, as the handsome detective assigned to the case becomes a special part of her fairytale story. Chloe turns to her trusted friend Grace to help carry her through… 
August 12, 2019
Practice at Home to Prepare for School
Hi everyone,
I don’t know about the rest of the world, but here in Florida, School is starting today!
I know, it feels early to me too!
So, to help you get this year off to a good start, here’s our favorite School Psychologist with some tips for parents on how you can support your child at home.
Dr. Valerie Allen
Practice at Home to Prepare for School
There are four basic areas of
development for the young child which can be fostered at home. These skills
lead to success at school and set the pace for a positive educational
experiences. Here are some home activities parents can support and encourage.
Intellectual: Kids who read succeed. Take your youngster to
the public library for his or her own library card. Allow your child to check
out books from the library and spend time together reading them to each other.
Play board games, cards, crossword puzzles, word searches which are challenging
and appropriate for your child’s age. Help your youngster to explore, question,
and discover new things.
Social: Children need to engage in positive relationships
with their peers as well as with adults. Encourage new friendships at school,
in the neighborhood, and youth groups. Hobbies, team activities, and community
organizations can offer new skills and nurture responsibility. Demonstrate a
positive attitude toward rules and authority figures to develop respect and
cooperation.
Emotional: Children need to feel loved and accepted
without demanding perfection. Openly show affection. Listen to your youngster
and help him or her explore alternatives to find solutions to problems. Praise
their efforts even if it doesn’t lead to success the first time.
Physical: A child’s height and weight should be
commensurate with his or her age. A good mantra for healthy children is “Eat
less, move more.” Routines for adequate sleep, eating healthy foods, and
personal hygiene support physical conditioning and offers preventative care.
The best strategy to prevent disease and illness is hand washing!
Children will thrive in all areas
of development when parents are actively involved in these simple day-to-day
actions with and for their youngsters.
# # #
Dr. Valerie Allen is a child psychologist, speaker, and author. She has published two books for children in grades 3 to 6 , ‘Summer School for Smarties‘ and ‘Bad Hair, Good Hat, New Friends.‘ Oh yes, she has also raised six children! DrValerieAllen@cs.com
August 5, 2019
On the Loss of the Love of my Life
I’m writing a blog posts today to share a little about my personal life. Those of you that have been following me for awhile have seen a few posts about what has been happening. Unfortunately, back in October, my husband was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer.
We were understandably devastated but we had no idea what lay ahead for us. We cried together and held each other during our sleepless nights. We had many conversations in the beginning about our love and commitment for each other. As time went by, those conversations got fewer and fewer.
Then, my husband got to work taking care of things–we found a lawyer and drew up paperwork so I would be able to make decisions for him if he became unable to; we contacted family and let them know; and some general things about running the house that he always had taken care of.
We drove into Orlando for his brain surgery. He was worried he might not know who everyone was afterwards, but he did. In fact, he was cracking jokes and making us all laugh.
But, that positivity didn’t last. He had a brain bleed and fell into a deep sleep. Not a coma, but close. I was beyond worried and stressed. He recovered and was released to rehab which he hated but overtime he wound up really liking his physical therapist and his speech therapist. Those people called to that line of work are worth their weight in gold.
He developed an infection at the wound site and had to go in for a second surgery to remove that piece of scalp. He would now have a soft spot. He had to go on 6 weeks of intravenous antibiotics. His radiation treatment, of which he had 6 days of, was put on hold. Then, it took 3 weeks after he was cleared of the infection to get started again on radiation. He finished the full treatment without any sickness or hair loss. We were thrilled! He rang the bell at the office!
Again, that positivity did not last. 8-10 days later, he developed late onset reaction to chemotherapy and radiation. He began declining but I couldn’t see it. I thought he was just tired from chemo/radiation and we were taking him off his steroid that he had started in October which could make one very tired.
He slept A LOT! And then, he began to not be hungry. He complained his stomach hurt and would often rub it. Sometimes he would say his stomach felt sour like he had eaten bad cheese. The doctors confirmed that the antibiotic he was on (he had developed a second infection) could make his stomach sour. So, I thought that’s why he wasn’t hungry.
But, no, it was the beginning of the end. Towards the end, he would have weird delusions. He told me that someone had dropped him out of the attic. There was an attic in the house he grew up in. I had no idea if he was reliving a memory or having a bad dream or if his head hurt and his body was trying to “create” a reason why.
His antibiotic ended and he asked for a cheesesteak (his favorite) and he ate a little bit. I was encouraged! The doctors and nurses shook their heads, though, and said it wasn’t enough to sustain life. But, if you haven’t eaten in 6 weeks, you’re not going to eat a big meal. I still couldn’t see it.
A nurse a month prior mentioned maybe he was giving up. I asked him and he said no vehemently. His primary doctor had told me to call hospice and put them on hold. That’s a weird way to put it, but I think she was trying to be delicate. The rehab doctor said we would have to call hospice if he wouldn’t take a feeding tube. That was the first inkling that something was wrong. Then, his radiation doctor said his will wasn’t giving up, it was his body. It was tired. He had many different things go wrong throughout this time while fighting brain cancer, his body just couldn’t recover. That made more sense than him actually giving up and explained his vehement response to my question previously.
But, it took a kind doctor actually pulling up a chair and sitting down with me and gently explaining that we shouldn’t pursue aggressive treatment. I wholeheartedly agreed that we should not continue with the monthly chemotherapy but didn’t realize she meant any treatment at all. It took several more conversations with her and a couple conversations with the hospice doctor before I started to see what they were really saying.
It took having a conversation with my husband, though, that actually made it real. He told me he was tired of all of this and didn’t want to do it anymore. He said he knew he wasn’t going to be here much longer. He said he wasn’t afraid to die and that he knew where he was going and was ready to meet his God. I have never wept so hard in all my life.
You see, I knew I had to have a conversation with him about his life coming to an end but I didn’t know how. I had prayed that day for the Lord to help me have that conversation. When I arrived at the hospital, he was not in the room. He was away having a procedure. When he came back in, that’s when he told me he was tired of all of it. He opened the door to be able to have the most difficult conversation you could ever have with a loved one in your life. I knew this opening, this opportunity was a gift from God to allow us to have this beautiful, albeit, heart-wrenching conversation.
We spoke again of our love and the wonderful memories we shared and the beautiful family we had. I told him that when he gets up there, if he’s able, to take care of me. He said, of course he would. I told him that when it was my turn, I would come running into his arms. I wept and stroked his arm and hand.
He was completely aware of what we were talking about and it felt like my old Joe, the one before he got sick and his mind quit working as good as it had. But, then, he started saying things that didn’t make sense and in a flash, the moment of pure, blissful love flowing between us had ended. We were back in the dark hospital room struggling with the reality of our relationship coming to an end, at least an end here on earth.
I called for hospice on a Thursday about a week and a half after that conversation. It took a few days for the hospice doctor to sign off and the hospice nurse to come. They moved him to Hospice House on a Monday and he died that Friday peacefully and with family surrounding him. That was May 31st. Only 7 months after his diagnosis.
I have been reeling at losing the love of my life, my soul mate, my best friend–the best thing that has ever happened to me. He brought such healing to my life. So, I have been attracted to books that either talk about grief, or are of a spiritual, uplifting nature, or talk about someone else’s experience.
That’s when I came across Abbie Johnson Taylor’s book called My Ideal Partner, How I Met, Married and Cared for the Man I Loved Despite Debilitating Odds. You see, Abbie and her husband were both blind AND he had a massive stroke that paralyzed his left side.
I started reading it and only put it down once and that was because I had to make dinner.
Here’s my review on Amazon
July 14, 2019Format: Kindle Edition
Verified Purchase
After having just lost my husband 6 weeks ago to brain cancer and being his caregiver, I found myself in this book. Similar thoughts and feelings. I never knew before I was one how difficult it was to be a caregiver. Watching your big strong husband decline and doing everything in your power to try and ease their suffering is beyond difficult. This was a very good book and well-written. What a beautiful love they shared. Anyone who’s gone through a similar situation will relate and those that haven’t will gain some insight into our world.
If you made it this far, I was to thank you for stopping by my blog today. I know it’s different from my usual posts about children and children’s books and those will return again next week, but I thought you might want to hear a little bit about what has been going on in my life and to read a great book that helps give you insight into what it is to be a caregiver and then lose your partner.
In the future, I may have a book of my own to share our story. We’ll see. Right now, I’m grieving.
July 24, 2019
Teacher-Authors: Great Word App for Kids
Teacher-Authors: Great Word App for Kids
https://worddreams.wordpress.com/2019/07/22/wordzoo/
— Read on worddreams.wordpress.com/2019/07/22/wordzoo/
I just read this blog post about an awesome app that encourages children to read in a really fun, unique way!
Check it out and let me know what you think.
July 22, 2019
Peanut Butter in the Middle, A New Release Children’s Book
Hi everyone,
I’ve got a new release for you called Peanut Butter in the Middle about, well, being in the middle, literally. A great children’s book for all children but especially a middle-born child.
Stuck in the Middle
NEW YORK, NY – Children’s author, Stephanie
Lombardi bursts into the literary scene with her charming book, Peanut Butter in the Middle.
The story follows a young
boy who is the middle child with a baby brother and an older sister. The young
boy often feels left out as it seems like his siblings receive more attention
than him.
His mindset completely
changes one day while spending one on one time with his mom when she shows him
the crucial role he holds in his family.
The young boy’s discovery
emphasizes the main message that prompted Lombardi to write the book.
“The strongest message of my book is how each sibling even the middle
sibling has an important role to play in their family,” she reflects.
Filled with gorgeous
illustrations and a heart-warming message, Peanut
Butter in the Middle is a story that will resonate with parents and
children alike.
Peanut Butter in the Middle, published by
Austin Macauley, was released on June 28th 2019.
Price: $12.95 ISBN: 9781641825306. It is available in Amazon,
Barnes & Noble as well as other bookstores around the country. Review
copies are available upon request.
For more information, please visit: www.austinmacauley.com/us.
About Stephanie Lombardi: Stephanie Lombardi-Terranova is a graduate of Rutgers University where she majored in Psychology. She went on to earn her Juris Doctor at Seton Hall University School of Law. She practiced as a family law attorney prior to having her three children: Madison, Peter, and Richard. She currently resides in Colts Neck, New Jersey, with her loving husband, Matthew, their children, and their cat, Rugby. She lives just minutes away from the home where she grew up. She loves spending time with her family at the beach, in Disney World, or really anywhere they are. She sees her mother every day.
Thank you, Stephanie, for sharing your book with us today! I encourage my readers to please purchase a copy of her book for the favorite child in your life and/or share with others so they can discover this wonderful book with an even better message!
July 15, 2019
The Legend of the Lighthouse
Hi everyone,
I’m super excited to bring you this children’s book by J. A. Jones. I read it and absolutely love the inspirational message contained inside. Here’s the Press Release to tell you more about it….
A Lighthouse Magically Comes to Life
NEW YORK, NY – Imagine this: if a lighthouse magically came to life, how would it react? Legend of the Lighthouse by J.A. Jones explores this question in his inspirational story about a magical lighthouse that shows us we are all special in our own way.
The story begins with a swift fight between a Pirate
King and a sea serpent; following the Pirate King’s battle victory, his luck continues,
and he finds glorious treasure. The Pirate King buries the treasure on the
Island of Forever which appears every twenty years.
As time passes, the Pirate King grows old in age and
forgets where he hid his treasure. One afternoon, a soaring seagull discovers the
misplaced treasure and magically transforms the Lighthouse into a living being.
When the lighthouse comes to life he is afraid and confused, but with the
guidance of the seagull he learns that we are all uniquely special in this
world.
The lighthouse’s ability to come to terms with his
new identity aligns with Jones’s beliefs about self-acceptance: “I believe how
we deal with extreme situations can show us who we truly are, and we are only
limited by our imagination,” he reflects.
Full of adventure, pirate kings, sea creature,
treasure and a powerful inspirational message, Legend of the Lighthouse is a timeless read that will allow readers
to teleport to a magical world whenever they wish.
Legend of the Lighthouse, published by Austin
Macauley, was released on May 31st 2019.
Price: $9.95 ISBN:9781641825634. It is available in Amazon,
Barnes & Noble as well as other bookstores around the country. Review
copies are available upon request. For more information, please
visit: www.austinmacauley.com/us.
About J.A. Jones: At an adolescent
age, J. A. Jones began writing short scripts to entertain his family. He
realized he had a gift for storytelling. Soon after the tragic loss of his
mother at an early age, he isolated himself from friends and family for long
periods. He escaped into the worlds of Tolkien and C. S. Lewis, evolving a love
for fantasy which in turn helped him develop his unique imagination. After jobs
such as high-rise window washer, hotel manager, and bodyguard, J. A. Jones
decided to pursue a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and fulfill a dream of
becoming a published author.
July 8, 2019
Summer Success for Teens and Tweens
Hi everyone,
Today, I’m bringing you some good parenting advice from our favorite school psychologist, Dr. Valerie Allen…
Summer Success for Teens and Tweens
by
Dr. Valerie Allen
Summer can be long and lonesome for the teens and tweens in your life.
They are out of their typical learning environment and circle of friends. It
doesn’t mean the summer can’t be useful for acquiring new skills, information
and friends. It’s important to keep the teens and tweens busy and engaged in
new and interesting activities. Here are a few tips that will be helpful.
Screen Time. Limit electronic viewing and contacts to
two hours per day, in 30 minutes blocks. If they do not turn in their device
after 30 minutes, they miss their next half-hour of allowed electronic time.
There should be at least 30 minutes between each block of online time. Set time
limits between 9:00 AM and 9:00 PM. At night all electronic devices should be
turned in to a safe location with parental monitoring. Parents should have
access to passwords and their child’s online social network. The summer is also
a good time to do some electronic pruning of games, apps, and people.Missing Friends: Your child may not have as much access to
his or her best friend or close social network during the summer. Children
travel, have jobs, do volunteer work, visit with relatives, attend camp and so
on. Encourage your youngster to participate in new activities. It’s important
to learn new things, work with different authority figures, develop new
friends, and engage in tasks without getting a “grade” or being judged. It is
also important to have down time just to sit back and learn to do nothing–rest
and relaxation can be a good thing!Summer Jobs. Your youngster may be too young to be an
actual employee, however, he or she can earn money. They can babysit, dog walk,
trim hedges, pull weeds, sweep driveways, patios, wash cars, and sidewalks,
clean the kitty litter box, or make and sell crafts. They can learn about
entrepreneurship, time management, marketing, supply and demand and sales. They
can create a flier to explain their services and set fees. You can also offer
to pay for some extra jobs at home, such as cleaning out the garage, cleaning
the windows, planting a tree, and so on. Volunteer work is also a good choice
to fill those long summer days with something productive.Curfew: The summer brings many discussions about
curfews and bedtime routines. Involve your child in these decisions. Write out
the fixed days, dates, and times of family events. Things to be considered are
parents work schedule, school classes if needed, day care needs for younger
children, pets to be cared for, family gatherings, plans for camp or travel.
Typically kids can sleep in an extra hour or two in the morning and stay up an
hour longer at night. Consideration should be given to how less or more sleep
impacts behavior, attitude, moodiness, level of cooperation and so on.New Experiences: Often children have some anxiety when faced
with change, especially unexpected change in their routines. Being away at
overnight camp or with extended family or joining with a new peer group can be
stressful and result in anxiety. When there needs to be a change in the plan
try to provide advance notice. Explain why the change was needed and how it may
impact other plans. Keep in mind some children thrive on new experiences and
others can become fearful.New Behavior: The summer may bring opportunities for new
and sometimes risky behaviors. Monitor your child for mood changes, high
anxiety, unexpected fears, negative attitude, or dramatic responses to trivial
matters. It could be a sign of normal hormonal changes or coping with social or
moral dilemmas, typical for kids in this age group. However, youngsters may be
negatively influenced by a new peer group, or experimenting with drugs or
alcohol, or being exposed to inappropriate images or games online. If you
notice anything atypical about your child’s behavior, the time to talk is now.
Set aside a private and quiet time to discuss what you’ve observed and ask
their opinion. Explain their behavior is out of the ordinary and you’re
concerned. Allow them to talk without judgment. Take necessary precautions to
avoid hurt feelings or harm to those involved.
Teens and tweens can use the summer months
to gain new skills and explore careers. Use these suggestions to help them
grown, enjoy and learn.
# # #
Dr. Valerie Allen is a child psychologist in private practice. She presents seminars for parents and professionals in the field of child development and has published two children’s books, “Summer School for Smarties” and “Bad Hair, Good Hat, New Friends.” Oh yes, she has also raised six children!
July 1, 2019
Max and the Magic Sailboat, New Release
Hi everyone,
I’m excited to bring you a new children’s author with a cute book inspired by his own childhood, here’s Axel Behn’s press release for Max and the Magic Sailboat…
NEW YORK, NY – Author Axel Behn bursts into the children’s literary world with his beautifully illustrated story, Max and the Magic Sailboat.
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Presented in a rhyming
format, the story introduces Max who moves away to live with his grandparents;
the only items he packs are his clothes and his favorite toy, his sailboat.
Each day Max happily sets
his sailboat out for sail from the cliffs of the sea and watches it float away
only to return every morning with notes and photographs from countries far
away.
The different countries and
cultures Max learns about each time he casts his sailboat to the sea will
create magical adventures for readers and was what inspired Behn to write the
book.
“I have always dreamt of writing books for younger
readers. When I relocated to Mallorca the idea came to me about travel and the different
cultures around the world,” he reflects.
Filled with gorgeous imagery, an engaging storyline
and an educational message, Max and the
Magic Sailboat will become a bedtime read that children and parents will
continue to return to time and time again.
Max and the Magic Sailboat, published by Austin Macauley was released on May 31st 2019. Price: $9.95 ISBN: 9781641823890. It is available in Amazon, Barnes & Noble as well as other bookstores around the country. Review copies are available upon request. For more information, please visit: www.austinmacauley.com/us.
[image error]Axel Behn as a child and the picture that inspired the book cover
About Axel Behn: Axel was born in South Africa,
where he attended school in Transvaal and Natal. After matriculating, he spent
two years in the military. He received a diploma from Ruth Prowse School of
Arts in Cape Town in 1989. Since then, he has held exhibitions in South Africa,
Germany, and USA. In 2017, he relocated to Majorca, where he fulfilled a
lifetime dream of writing a series of children’s books.
June 24, 2019
Penny N’ Pals Children’s Book
Hi everyone,
Have a new puppy? Here’s a great book that will capture your heart as you share it with your child as well as help your child have empathy for what your newest family member may be going through with underlying life lessons for your child as well.
Here to tell us more about her book is the author, Jenny Brunstein…
Penny N’ Pals is the tale of new beginnings as a child and his mother pick out a new puppy, Penny, after their beloved dog passes away. The story goes on to describe the family enduring new puppy tribulations in the form of both humor and fear as a mischievous puppy begins her life in a new home. Penny N’ Pals defines the underlying teaching that you can’t make it in the world of San Francisco without a loving family to guide you through the right life lessons.
Here is a little bit about me:
Jenny Brunstein is born and raised in the Bay Area, California. Prior to writing books, Jenny has spent a number of years in the tech industry of Silicon Valley. Past publications include her poetry at an early age in the Stanford Anthology for Youth. In her spare time, she loves to play basketball with the real-life Penny and her boyfriend and showcase to her loving family her visions of future Penny stories. Jenny was inspired to write the book after babysitting two adorable boys. The siblings are in different age ranges and she wanted to create a book that parents could read to their kids or kids at more advanced reading levels can read on their own.
Recommended for children ages 4 – 9.
Additional links for the book:
To Purchase:
Amazon
