Marissa Moss: Rose's Journal: The Story of a Girl in the Great Depression
James Riordan: Boxcar Molly: A Story from the Great Depression
Sara Goodman Zimet: Hannah and the Perfect Picture Pony: A Story of the Great Depression
Robert (ed.) Cohen: Dear Mrs. Roosevelt: Letters from Children of the Great Depression
Linda at Some of Our Favorite Things. She wins an autographed copy of Take it to the Queen: A Tale of Hope by Josephine Nobisso. Congratulations, Linda!
(Due to a glitch in Typepad's program, we were having technical problems with the comments section, thus the Book Walk entries were extended to the Solemnity of Mary, our Mother/ January 1st. Thank you to all participants and special thanks to Josephine Nobisso for donating this special book.)
Some of us forget that Mary's role did not begin and end with the Nativity. Her job was only beginning and her role was a major one. She raised the Son of God to Manhood! She instructed Him, counseled Him, fed Him, prayed with Him, loved Him, comforted Him. For Catholics, Mary continues to be a major role player throughout the liturgical year.
Some people say the Blessed Mother is the one thing hardest for them to understand about Catholics and their devotions. It is almost as though they fear uttering her name, fearful it will override the name of her Son. Yet there is nothing fearful in allowing a mother to lead us to her son, most of all Mary leading us to her Son. How many times did Jesus take her hand in his youth and follow her, just as your child places his dimpled hand inside of yours...full of trust and faith and confidence. So should we. Jesus certainly didn't fear her. Neither should we. He loved her, so should we.
We do not "worship" Mary. We "honor" her, surely in the same way Christ honored his mother when he was under her disciplined tutelag, her loving guidance, and her worshipping gaze. Christ showed us how to love the woman He called Mother. That is the reason Catholics love our Blessed Mother. In the example of Christ, we turn to her in loving obedience, in innocent faith like that of a child.
Mary invites us to ponder the same things she "pondered in her heart" and she teaches us so much about loving Christ, following Him, and listening to Him. She always bids us to look towards her Son. She never takes glory herself but pleads with us to turn from our sinful ways and turn to her Son. She is the one who shows us how to overlook the muck and manure in our lives and look into the face of God.
His mother is our mother as well.
So, while we follow the Holy Family to Bethlehem and onto Egypt and back to Nazareth, we closely observe Mary, especially us women, wives, and mothers.
She's a beautiful role model for today's Christian woman. She said "Yes!" to the angel even in the face of uncertainy. She welcomed the Christ into a world that was less than perfect. She told God "let your will be done unto me." She co-created with God in a world that did not cherish children.
Her "Yes!" saved all of mankind. It's all in Scripture.
It is my happy pleasure to present a new Book Walk offer this Christmas week.
You and your loved ones have the chance to win a treasure. Josephine Nobisso, author of Weight of a Mass, has kindly offered an autographed copy of her new book, Take it to the Queen: A Tale of Hope.
Nobisso weaves a list of theological insights into this book through the artwork created by Katalin Szegedi. It's amazing what they have accomplished with this little book. Simply amazing!
And it's all about "Our Mother".
Nobisso told me that they sought to "publish her (ie: the Blessed Mother's) glory!" I have never seen another book so completely and beautifully capture the explanations, symbolism, and vibrant imagery of the holy, sacred vessel of Mary who carried our Lord and Savior to birth and life as this picture book does. I have to tell you, this is an excellent picture book for Catholic high schoolers and college-level students and absolutely anyone who has a love for the Mother of God or wishes to get to know the Mother of God a little better.
To enter the Book Walk, all you need to do is enter you name in the comment's section of this post. Link you name to your email address. The comments will be closed at night on Friday, December 26th and the winner's name will be drawn. The winner will then be notified by email for a mailing address so please make sure we are able to contact you.
Top clipart used from Two Hearts Design
The comments have been closed, the names drawn by my younger two daughters, and the winners have been contacted by email.
I want to thank everyone for playing in the recent Book Walk. If you didn't win, don't worry. The only thing I ever won in my life was a turkey at Bingo one long, long, long ago Thanksgiving season. I'm sure my mother was quite happy with the prize.
I am quite certain there will be at least two more Book Walks held in December, so please stop by for a visit soon and try your luck again.
I also wish to direct you all to my publisher's website where they are hosting a Bake Sale full of good treats. The proceeds from this Bake Sale (lasting up until Christmas) will assist the Quigley family of Lancaster, PA who is in need of some medical expenses to be covered for their two insulin-dependant children.
Why not do a little Christmas shopping while you're there and help a family this giving season.
God Bless you all and have a very Blessed Thanksgiving Holiday!
Two cakes, in fact, or...rather...books.
Christmas Mosaic in time for planning and preparing the holidays.
A Picture Perfect Childhood in time to begin the new year with an assortment of fun, educational, family-friendly booklists and moving essays for mom and dad.
Please spread the word that next Wednesday, November 19th, we will have another Cake Book Walk. The two winners will receive a copy of one of these titles.
What's a Book Walk? you ask. Here's the answer.
How do I play? you ask. Simple. Leave your name and the state you live in in the comments section here. I will need to reach you if your name is pulled from the cake bowl, so please leave an email address where I can reach you.
Today is the final day to enter your name and address in the Lenten Book Walk...a chance to win one of two titles written by author Meredith Gould.
Email me your name and address TODAY and join the dance!
Good luck, everyone!
It's time for another Cake Book Walk and this one will be dedicated to all you wonderful wives/mothers who realized, when they opened their missal today in church, that there is still over a month of Lent yet to get through.
Author Meredith Gould, author of The Catholic Home, has come to the rescue with her "quirky wit and wisdom". Her writings help Catholic families focus on the servitude aspect of the Lenten season (see second book listed) and to plan a Catholic Passover Seder (see first book listed) for your family or church community. To see more of her work go to: Meredith Gould's Books
Deliberate Acts of Kindness: Service as a Spiritual Practice (Doubleday) zooms in on the spiritual nature of serving others, something considered the height of spiritual attainment by all religious traditions. This book includes: discernment exercises for discovering how to serve; practical tips for finding a volunteer placement and participating; quotes from scripture and sacred writings about service. To enter the Book Walk for a chance to win one of these two books, simply email me your name and mailing address. Let your friends know about the walk. The winners will be announced on Friday, February 22.
Come to the Table: A Catholic Passover Seder (Plowshares) is a guide to help Catholic Christians honor the Jewish holiday of Passover. Developed for home and parish use, it includes: lively teaching about the meaning of Passover symbols relative to the sacraments; scripture citations; a traditional seder service adapted for use by Catholic Christians; guidelines for preparing table and meal; extensive commentary about Jewish-Catholic reconciliation. Easy-to-read and use. Readers rave that this book has enriched their appreciation of Judaism's legacy.
We have the flu here...including me. Book orders and prizes will (should) go out by Monday morning.
Thank you all for your patience and interest.
The winners of the recent Book Walk are:
Thank you all for ordering A Picture Perfect Childhood. I truly do hope it blesses your family abundantly.
Just a reminder that today is the last day to get your name into the cake bowl for the Book Walk drawing and to purchase my new book at the introductory price of $13.95. Flashlight Press has donated four outstanding illustrated books for this week's Book Walk. Everyone who has ordered a copy of A Picture Perfect Childhood (or does so today) will be entered in the Book Walk. There will be four winners this week!
Flashlight Press website offers illustrated books with a message. Each and every book shares a message, a moral, a thought, a memory, an emotion, or a feeling with you and your child. Flashlight Press beams a flashlight on some of the very best works that children's book publishing is offering today. Their website also offers you the opportunity to look inside each book and offers study guides to go with some of the books.
These are the four featured books which were donated to the Book Walk:
Grandfather's Wrinkles by Kathryn England---"Grandfather's memories of these happy events -- his wedding day, when his daughter (Lucy's mother) was born, his daughter's wedding day, and more -- are shown in full-spread illustrations, alternating with close-ups of Lucy on Grandfather's lap. Her pudgy fingers softly tracing each crease intriguingly contrast with the lined old skin on his face. Grandfather's newest wrinkles, of course, were acquired when he smiled so hugely on the day that Lucy was born." 
Wishes for One More Day by Melanie Pastor---with the passing of Poppy, Anna and her brother begin to "think about the joyful, exciting things they would do if they did have one more day together with Poppy." This book offers an inventive and proactive way for children to deal with the death of a grandparent.
The Only One Club by Jane Naliboff ---"This book will encourage children to discover and treasure their own uniqueness and to look for unique qualities in others. We hope kids will want to make their own Only One Club badges and start these clubs with their friends."
Getting to Know Ruben Plotnick by Roz Rosenbluth---David is worried about how zany Ruben Plotnick will react when he meets Grandma Rosie, who often says and does unexpected things. Will Ruben make fun of her to their classmates? Will he
imitate her whispery voice? What will he do if Grandma Rosie suddenly wants to dance? This heartwarming story of senility and school-age embarrassment reveals the importance of looking beneath the surface to really get to know someone."
Winner of A Picture Perfect Childhood drawn by Annie --- Lisa Haddican
Winner of Catholic Mosaic drawn by Chelsea --- Kristen Shields
Thank you, everyone, for playing and most especially for all your lovely notes. They do this Southern gal's heart so much good.
When I donated a copy of A Picture Perfect Childhood and Literature Alive! to Love2Learn's Book Giveaway in celebration of their 10 year anniversary and website re-opening, I wasn't sure when the my books would be offered.
Well, you are all SO in luck! A Picture Perfect Childhood is being offered this week...same week that a copy is being offered here! And a copy of Literature Alive! is also being offered.
Your chance to win has doubled. Isn't that GRAND!
All you have to do is go here (Picture Perfect) and here (Literature Alive!) and enter a comment before midnight on Tues., Jan 15th. Check back Wednesday morning at Love2Learn to see if you won.
You also have a chance to win other goodies such as:
The Catholic Homeschool Companion (donated by Maureen Wittmann)
For the Love of Literature (donated by Maureen Wittmann)
The Father Brown Reader (donated by Nancy Brown) - two copies available!
Just go here: Love2Learn 10th Anniversary Book Giveaways
And, as if free books and a new American Girl catalog and a Rhinestone Runway catalog and a 1040 Tax Form weren't enough to excite us, look what else the mail delivered:
Pre-orders will be shipped out this week!
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