Beyond the Mommy Years

Every August countless women find themselves faced with the excitement and the challenge of children going off to college and the empty nests they leave behind.

Beyond the Mommy Years, written by Dr. Carin Rubenstein after she struggled to get through this period herself, is meant for every mom between the ages of 40 and 60 facing their newly empty homes. Dr. Rubenstein identifies three stages that a woman must go through to come out thriving on the other end of motherhood – grief, relief, and joy.

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Interred with their Bones

Pay no attention to those dark circles under my eyes, the slurred speech, the stumbling gait. I am dog tired because I’ve just spent the last 48 hours reading Interred With Their Bones, by Jennifer Lee Carrell.

Folks, take my advice and do not start this book unless you can keep reading it, because you will not be able to put it down.

Interred With Their Bones is based on an entirely true mystery: the whereabouts of a missing Shakespeare play. On top of that, a modern thriller: Someone is leaving murder victims in the ghastly poses of tragic figures from Shakespeare’s plays.

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My Life, Unscripted

This new young adult book by Tricia Goyer is both unique and compelling. What makes it so interesting (though not entirely “unscripted”) is the fact that the book is made up of actual scripts, both fiction and nonfiction, written in the style of a scriptwriter.

(There is director lingo and everything.) Together, the different scenes tell the reader about Goyer’s life, which, she admits, can at times play out like “a bad teen movie.” But they also encourage the reader to reflect and attach scripts to their own heretofore “unscripted” experiences - which is especially important for teens.

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Maximum Ride: Saving the World and Other Extreme Sports

If you’ve read James Patterson’s other books, chances are you’re not a kid. Unless, of course, you’ve been reading his Maximum Ride series, the newest of which recently hit shelves.

For those who don’t know, the series follows a group of kids (the “flock”) who live in the not-too-distant future and possess bird-like qualities – such as the ability to fly. The main character is Max who, despite the name, is a girl, and the leader of the group as well as the narrator of the stories. The children, ranging in age from 6 to 14, were all experimented on (hence the bird DNA they now possess) and are now running for their lives.

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Held Hostage

In this true, terrifying, and ultimately heroic story, Michelle Renee, with the help of author Andrea Cagan, recounts the horror of being stalked and kidnapped along with her 7-year old daughter by three men looking to rob the bank she managed.

Demeaned, threatened, and strapped with what she believed was dynamite, she helped them rob the bank, hoping to save the life of her child. Ultimately, and amazingly, both Renee and her daughter Breea emerged alive. Held Hostage takes us through a comprehensive and shocking sequence of events from the actual kidnapping and the bank robbery to the subsequent trial.

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Yo Gabba Gabba!

Get ready for another creative new show from Nick Jr. Yo Gabba Gabba is a live action show for toddlers that is both magical and musical.

Hosted by DJ Lance Rock, the characters are furry, cuddly toy monsters (and one robot) who dance and play along with your children. The lessons they teach are valuable to preschoolers, but they are demonstrated with a unique approach that involves creative animation, dance, and many genres of music (including hip hop, new wave, electronic, and British invasion, amongst others).

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Zibby Payne

In this cute and quirky series for ages 9-12 by Alison Bell, Zibby Payne, a 6th grade tomboy, navigates her way through everything from the first day of school to brother trouble to soccer practice.

Unlike many girls her age, Zibby listens to the Beatles, would rather play tetherball than talk about boys, and doesn’t care what other people think. With entertaining stories kids can relate to and laugh at, along with real-life lessons and a character that starts to feel like a friend, these books are perfect for young readers.

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Rainbow Rhino

This adorable children’s book, written and illustrated by Fox Carlton Hughes, tells the tale of a little Rhino with a problem – a tusk five times the size of normal, which makes him the victim of relentless teasing.

Luckily for Homer, though, when he meets a rainbow with a problem of his own, he recognizes what makes him special. With big, colorful illustrations and an important lesson for kids – not to mention a happy ending that will put a smile on any child’s face - this book is both cute and entertaining enough to make the perfect bedtime story.

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Rome With Kids

Okay, this book has a very specific audience, but I couldn’t resist the adorable title.

The guidebook, written by J.M. Pasquesi, who is a Rome travel expert, can make touring Italy with kids a breeze. As she says, Rome is, in fact, the perfect place to bring kids – from the adventurous stories of gladiators and cool looking ruins to the pizza and gelato, it is a city meant for the littlest world travelers. Unlike normal travel books – which, let’s face it, though very informative, can be dry – this book includes tips, stories, and activities related to various locations and all meant for kids.

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Sleep Solutions

Sleep deprivation is something that all new parents are familiar with. So, in the interest of getting their newborn – or even toddler or preschooler – to sleep, they’ve probably invested in a stack of books on the subject and perhaps tried out several different approaches.

Ann Douglas, the author of Sleep Solutions, knows this. And yet she offers something different. Her book is the first to focus on Mom, and helps moms everywhere to let go of the worry and guilt and figure out what truly is best for her child and her lifestyle – while, at the same time, helping Mom find the energy she needs.

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