Many times in my adult life, I have had what I would call an "awake out-of-body experience." During these times, I was peeking in at my life in a dream state; thinking this cannot be my life. I found myself asking the questions of what happened to the child who outsmarted the world and what happened to the teen who had all the answers and confidence to boot, and the young adult who never settled for can't. Well, somewhere along the way, the only thing left of who I was once was, were just shreds of an almost non-existent life. Now, don't get me wrong, there were some good times along the way, but it certainly was not always smooth sailing. But what came later in life was no comparison to the early years. Not that long ago, my life was filled with disappointment, brokenness, worry, anxiety, and fear. I survived breakups and breakdowns, sadness and pain, grief and loss beyond description, all of which led to a one-way ticket to Depression Central. Getting off the road to depression was very difficult for me, but there is no job too hard for God. If you can relate to the paralyzing despair that I went through, then please know that I fellowship with you and understand the grip depression and anxiety can have on your life. However, I want you to know that your destination does not have to be a one-way ticket to the land of despair, instead, your journey can bring you to a place of joy and peace if you simply trust and believe in God.

Your Personal Penguin is an irrepressible, read-aloud, listen-along favorite for young children and the grown-ups who read to them. Fun to hold, the book tells the story of a slightly bewildered hippo and the loyal penguin who wants nothing more than to be his pal: Now, lots of other penguins seem to be fine in a universe of nothing but ice. But if I could be yours, and you could be mine, Our cozy little world would be twice as nice. I want to be Your Personal Penguin. The original song "Your Personal Penguin," sung by Davy Jones of The Monkees, is available for download.

Perfect for expecting parents who want to provide a soothing home for the newest member of their family, The Happiest Baby on the Block, the national bestseller by respected pediatrician and child development expert Dr. Harvey Karp, is a revolutionary method for calming a crying infant and promoting healthy sleep from day one. In perhaps the most important parenting book of the decade, Dr. Harvey Karp reveals an extraordinary treasure sought by parents for centuries --an automatic “off-switch” for their baby’s crying. No wonder pediatricians across the country are praising him and thousands of Los Angeles parents, from working moms to superstars like Madonna and Pierce Brosnan, have turned to him to learn the secrets for making babies happy. Never again will parents have to stand by helpless and frazzled while their poor baby cries and cries. Dr. Karp has found there IS a remedy for colic. “I share with parents techniques known only to the most gifted baby soothers throughout history …and I explain exactly how they work.” In a innovative and thought-provoking reevaluation of early infancy, Dr. Karp blends modern science and ancient wisdom to prove that newborns are not fully ready for the world when they are born. Through his research and experience, he has developed four basic principles that are crucial for understanding babies as well as improving their sleep and soothing their senses: ·The Missing Fourth Trimester: as odd as it may sound, one of the main reasons babies cry is because they are born three months too soon. ·The Calming Reflex: the automatic reset switch to stop crying of any baby in the first few months of life. ·The 5 “S’s”: the simple steps (swaddling, side/stomach position, shushing, swinging and sucking) that trigger the calming reflex. For centuries, parents have tried these methods only to fail because, as with a knee reflex, the calming reflex only works when it is triggered in precisely the right way. Unlike other books that merely list these techniques Dr. Karp teaches parents exactly how to do them, to guide cranky infants to calm and easy babies to serenity in minutes…and help them sleep longer too. ·The Cuddle Cure: the perfect mix the 5 “S’s” that can soothe even the most colicky of infants. In the book, Dr. Karp also explains: What is colic? Why do most babies get much more upset in the evening? How can a parent calm a baby--in mere minutes? Can babies be spoiled? When should a parent of a crying baby call the doctor? How can a parent get their baby to sleep a few hours longer? Even the most loving moms and dads sometimes feel pushed to the breaking point by their infant’s persistent cries. Coming to the rescue, however, Dr. Karp places in the hands of parents, grandparents, and all childcare givers the tools they need to be able to calm their babies almost as easily as…turning off a light. From the Hardcover edition.

Important American periodical dating back to 1850.

This hilarious and poignant tween debut about dealing with bullies, making friends, and the power of good books is a great next read for fans of Merci Suárez Changes Gears and John David Anderson. Ahmed Aziz is having an epic year—epically bad. After his dad gets sick, the family moves from Hawaii to Minnesota for his dad’s treatment. Even though his dad grew up there, Ahmed can’t imagine a worse place to live. He’s one of the only brown kids in his school. And as a proud slacker, Ahmed doesn’t want to deal with expectations from his new teachers. Ahmed surprises himself by actually reading the assigned books for his English class: Holes, Bridge to Terabithia, and From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler. Shockingly, he doesn’t hate them. Ahmed also starts learning about his uncle, who died before Ahmed was born. Getting bits and pieces of his family’s history might be the one upside of the move, as his dad’s health hangs in the balance and the school bully refuses to leave him alone. Will Ahmed ever warm to Minnesota? * A Chicago Public Library Kids Best Book of the Year * A BookPage Best Book of the Year * Finalist for the Minnesota Book Award *