Choosing You: Deciding to Have a Baby on My Own

So many parenting books lack the heartfelt sentiment and unguarded honesty that Alexandra Soiseth put into her book, Choosing You: Deciding to Have a Baby on My Own. Alexandra’s story, which chronicles her struggles with weight, with men, and with her ultimate decision to use a sperm donor in order to get the child she always longed for, is surprisingly candid and incredibly moving. Alexandra takes her reader through a story that goes from bitter to sweet, as she details everything from her dreams of having the perfect husband and family and her solution to the question of how to have a child to dealing with unsupportive family and friends and finally getting pregnant with her daughter. The lessons she learned along the way speak to us all, no matter our own situation, and you won’t want to put the book down until you’ve finished this extraordinary story of loss, longing, and hope. This book is not only touching, it’s inspirational, and it will remind you of the power of love and the blessing of having a child. 

Dirty Little Secrets from Otherwise Perfect Moms

For those moms who sometimes don’t shower for days in a row, who lock themselves in the bathroom for the peace and quiet required to read a magazine, or who lie to friends and family members about what their kids eat, how much TV they watch, or how much time they spend with a babysitter, this book is for you. Trisha Ashworth and Amy Nobile, two moms who have plenty of their own little secrets, discovered while working on their first book, I Was a Really Good Mom Before I Had Kids, that moms everywhere are walking around with secrets they’re too ashamed to admit to their husbands and friends. They decided to start collecting these anonymous confessions, the result of which is this uniquely honest little book.

Come On, Mom! and Come On, Dad!

Thanks to two new books, Come on Mom! and Come on Dad!, written by Cynthia MacGregor and Ed Avis, respectively, you and your child will never again be bored on a Saturday, a rainy day, or any day in between. Each book contains 75 fun and creative suggestions for parents to do with their children, all of which are easy to plan and execute. From radio reporting and mock stained glass pictures (for daughters) to table hockey and building a mini-golf course (for sons) these activities will appeal to kids of different ages and with a variety of different interests.

Raising Unselfish Children in a Self-Absorbed World

The tile of Jill Rigby’s new book says it all. Amidst a society-wide preoccupation with consumerism, studies showing that today’s kids are more spoiled and less responsible than ever, and too many parents never taking the time to teach their children the word “no,” it has become difficult to raise kids who are caring, productive, and kind. Through her own experiences as a mom as well as her work with parents and children, Rigby created this guide that will help parents everywhere teach their kids what’s important while protecting them from becoming selfish.

Going Green In Style

Sure, we’ve all heard that our favorite celebrities are going green. We see photos of them buying organic, driving hybrid cars, and installing solar panels on their expansive homes. But a recent article in People described a new book that gives us an even closer look at not only what we can do, but what else our favorite stars and their families are doing to keep the green movement going strong.

The book, Healthy Child Healthy World: Creating a Cleaner, Greener, Safer Home by Christopher Gavigan, helps parents understand how chemicals and toxins in their families’ cleaning products, cosmetics, foods, home furnishings, and toys can be affecting their health.Gavigan not only provides simple and budget-friendly ways to make your home healthier and more environmentally friendly, but includes advice and personal anecdotes from a number of celebrities, including Gwyneth Paltrow, Tom Hanks, Keri Russell, Brooke Shields, and Michelle Obama.

Zibby Payne

The Zibby Payne series by Alison Bell continues with two new books that are as cute and original as the previous ones. Zibby is a sixth-grade tomboy, navigating her way through the difficulties of school, homework, friendship, and brothers. In the previous stories, Zibby tackled starting a club and getting out of kissing a boy in the school play. Now, in Zibby Payne & The Trio Trouble, Zibby must face the problems and jealousy that come with having two best friends. In Zibby Payne & The Party Problem, Zibby finds herself dealing with a clique that accepts her but leaves out a number of her friends.

Sleep Deprived No More

Whether you have already welcomed a new baby into your home or are waiting for that wonderful day to arrive, chances are you’re not sleeping like you used to. Which is why Dr. Jodi A. Mindell’s new book, Sleep Deprived No More, is perfect for any new or expectant mother. This book is full of extremely useful information, and it will help you determine exactly how to improve your sleep throughout your pregnancy and the first six months with your new baby.

Please Don't Label My Child

In the past, a number of experts have said that our society is one of over-diagnoses; that too many of our children are prescribed medication and given labels that they can never escape.  When one of these experts is a medical doctor specializing in child psychiatry, we should take notice. Dr. Scott M. Shannon, along with Emily Heckman, brings us this new book, Please Don’t Label My Child, to help parents understand how they should be dealing with a child who just doesn’t fit in.

Naptime Is the New Happy Hour

Following up her well-received first book, Sippy Cups Are Not for Chardonnay, Stefanie Wilder-Taylor helps moms navigate the tricky toddler years in her new book, Naptime is the New Happy Hour. With a combination of personal anecdotes, useful advice, and irreverent humor, reading this book is like having a conversation with your best friend. Stefanie is not afraid to tell it like it is, and approaches motherhood with a healthy blend of awe and wit. 

By the Book: How to Take Care of My Kids

Most of us know enough to never leave home without giving the sitter our cell phone number, but there is plenty of other information that we don’t even think about mentioning. “By The Book: How to Take Care of My Kids” gives you a place to organize all of your family information, including all of those stray but useful facts, such as your child’s favorite stuffed animal and bedtime song.