Gayle H. Swift's Blog, page 6

Marisol Rhymes with Parasol

Marisol rhymes with parasol which conjures images of brilliant sunshine. Marisol McDonald, the charming heroine of this series delivers a similar warm and sunny lift. She delights in her quixotic and colorful approach to life. She exudes confidence which provides her an umbrella...

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Goodwill to All Lights the Season with Hope and Joy

Christians around the world celebrate the Christmas holiday and its beautiful message of compassion, inclusion, hope, and light a season with good will to all. The Trees of the Dancing Goats by author/illustrator Patricia Polacco delivers an inspiring story of neighbor helping neighbor, Jew respecting Christian and, how one family "rescued" the Chritmas holiday for their ailing community.

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Holiday Blessings: Beyond Tinsel and Trinkets

Airwaves thrum with familiar holiday tunes and shoppers crowd stores, it is easy to lose the true meaning of Christmas in the quest for the perfect gift. We must appreciate our holiday blessings and see beyond the attention-grabbing sparkle of tinsel and...

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A Child Is Born and the World Rejoices

A Child Is Born and the World Rejoices In the Christmas spirit of rejoicing for the birth of baby Jesus, this post reviews four books that celebrate a baby's birth day. Two books are adoption-specific while the other two relate to any child. Lavish illustrations, poetic text and sentimental text combine to create memorable books which little ones will enjoy reading and rereading.

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The Hope of the Season: Goodwill to All, Peace on Earth

The holiday season reminds us to have peace in our hearts, to think of others, affirm our relationships and share gifts that express our love. At the heart of the Christmas narrative is Mary and Joseph’s unsuccessful search for a place to...

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The Grace of Gratitude and the Blessing of Diversity

Thanksgiving focuses us on the grace of gratitude and the blessing of diversity. It exists both as a chance to express gratitude as well as a reminder to pause and notice the many overlooked blessings that enrich our lives. This collection of books helps kids to adopt a fundamental "attitude of gratitude." It also reminds all of us that our thanksgiving festivities are enriched with a plethora of friends, family and foods.

Diversity equally blesses our families, communities, country & planet. We're intertwined & mutually dependent on shared success and survival.

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Family is a Way of Being, Loving and Caring

Recently diversity has been under siege in our country. More than ever, we must learn about other people, other cultures, other family constellations. Understanding yields acceptance and respect. #DiverseKidLit shines a much needed light on difference. The books reviewed today all focus on what it means to be part of a family, whether in our intimate nuclear families or as part of the family of man. Family is a way of being, of loving, caring, and not just genetics.

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Embracing Differences in Ourselves and Others

a fabulous tool for parents and teachers to share with kids. (And it offers a good reminder to the adults, that they too, have blind spots, biases and feelings of being an outsider.) It also emphasizes the benefit of valuing differences in ourselves and others because differences are precisely what make each person unique.

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We Need Family for a Lifetime: November Is National Adoption Month

In November we observe National Adoption Month to focus particular attention on foster children who wait and hope for families. As we give thanks for our own families, please consider how you can support finding a loving family for every...

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Excitement or Fear: Braving the Dark and Unknown

Two children & their trusty dog aiming a flashlight into the abyss. Will they respond with excitement or fear when braving the darkness? Will they choose to enter the cave? Yes! An adventure of sight, sound and emotion begins as they explore. They cautiously, bravely continue and encounter a variety of surprises--bats, lizards, sparkling crystals. Until ...

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