The Dressmaker by Kate Alcott

Tess, an aspiring seamstress, thinks she’s had an incredibly lucky break when she is hired by famous designer Lady Lucile Duff Gordon to be a personal maid on the Titanic’s doomed voyage. Once on board, Tess catches the eye of two men, one a roughly-hewn but kind sailor and the other an enigmatic Chicago millionaire. But on the fourth night, disaster strikes.

Amidst the chaos and desperate urging of two very different suitors, Tess is one of the last people allowed on a lifeboat. Tess’s sailor also manages to survive unharmed, witness to Lady Duff Gordon’s questionable actions during the

…

Books for Kids Who Love Baseball

Batter up!
Slide into opening day with these fun baseball picture books!

Randy Riley’s Really Big Hit
By Chris Van Dusen

“Randy may be an easy out with a bat, but his heroism merits a spot at the heart of any budding geek’s lineup.” -Booklist

Randy likes space, robots, and baseball, but he can’t ace everything . . . or can he? Chris Van Dusen knocks one out of the park with a comical ode to ingenuity.

February 2012, ISBN: 9780763649463, $15.99 (Hardcover), Ages 4 to 7, 32 Pages

There Goes Ted Williams
The Greatest Hitter Who Ever …

Cheerio’s Spoonfuls of Stories Celebrates 10 Years with ‘Breakfast and Book’ Events

Lack of access to books and educational materials is a major problem in the United States, especially in underprivileged communities. And, forty-two percent of children in the United States — more than 30 million — live in low-income households and don’t have age-appropriate books at home or at school.* Cheerios recognize access to books as one barrier to literacy development, which is why it continues to distribute quality books inside boxes.

Worms, monsters, zebras and hippopotamuses are only a few of the imaginative children’s book characters to appear in specially-marked Cheerios® this year as part of the Cheerios Spoonfuls …

The Dressmaker by Kate Alcott

Tess, an aspiring seamstress, thinks she’s had an incredibly lucky break when she is hired by famous designer Lady Lucile Duff Gordon to be a personal maid on the Titanic’s doomed voyage. Once on board, Tess catches the eye of

…

The Bear Went Over the Mountain by Iza Trapani

About a week ago, the children and I added another book to our library; The Bear Went Over the Mountain.  We are always looking for new books that appropriate for both ages, catch both of the children’s attention and are easy to follow.  The Bear Went Over the Mountain definitely fit all of those categories and more!  Not only was it a fun story line, but it was appealing to the eye as well.  The warm watercolors, lovely illustrations and wording of this book brings the old classic children’s song to life.  What’s more is the educational portion of this …

Adventures of Little Herbert in Mushroomland by Natasha Guruleva

Adventures of Little Herbert in Mushroomland is a story about a little boy that so badly wants to learn how to play baseball. When attempting a suggestion by the new boy at school, Herbert is magically transported into the Land of Mushrooms. Being only the size of a mushroom, Herbert has to survive this adventure and find his way back home. During his adventures, Herbert makes some good friends and learns to use his baseball skills to ward off a giant alien slugs!

While this may not have been a book I would have typically pulled from the shelf at …

Reached Your Breaking Point?

You’re a modern woman…which means you’re barely surviving. You work yourself to the bone for ever-diminishing returns, thanks to the rising cost of everything from gas to food to health insurance. Meanwhile, you serve as cook, maid, shrink, tutor, and handyman at home. When life’s little “emergencies” crop up—a broken water heater, a toothache, a parent-teacher conference to discuss your son’s recent homework boycott—well, those land on your plate, too. No wonder you feel you’re one permission slip away from a complete breakdown!

And here’s the worst part: lately, the bar is so low you find yourself celebrating the mere …

The Truth about Happily Ever After: Nine Ways to Strengthen Your

Marriage on Valentine’s Day and Every Day
The quality of your marriage can make or break the quality of your life. Todd Patkin shares
proven ways to strengthen your relationship with your spouse…and become happier in the process!

Valentine’s Day is looming large on the horizon, and everywhere you look, commercials, magazines, store displays, and more are focused on helping couples plan the “perfect” February 14th celebration. Yes, if you’re in a relationship, it is important and enjoyable to celebrate your love on this special day. However, Todd Patkin has some advice for married couples especially: Romance, roses, chocolates, and …