Mother's Day Books

My son -loves- elephants so it would be hard for this book to be a miss. The illustrations are beautiful.

My 3-year old daughter loves the story so much that she reads it over and over again until she is able to recite. This is an excellent book that helps mommy and child bond. Highly recommended!

My 2 year old and I read this every night. It is a wonderful book and we look forward to it every night.

We have been reading this story to our 2 year old daughter since she was 2 months old and it's still her favorite book. She now recites the words as I flip through the pages - this book has definitely left an impression. Additionally, the pictures are colorful and fun! It's such a sweet story about the fun a mother and child have together, and the special bond the two share. I'm sure your little one will love this story just as much as mine does!

Toddlers and Preschoolers will identify with the little elephant and how he enjoys the mom's company through the different activities of the day. It's a good book to reflect on the blessing of families. Good bedtime story. Beautiful illustrations.

This book has it all. It's funny, insightful, and provocative. I bought five of them for graduation presents this year, and I plan to do the same in the years to come. Karen Weekes has done an outstanding job featuring the famous quotations and the ones that soon should be. You won't be disappointed! There is no "feminist agenda" in this book; rather, it is a compendium of the wisdom of women, voices that too often have been dismissed or ignored. The book energizes the readers as it challenges them. Very strongly and enthusiastically recommended--by a man!

This book is intriguing, thought-provoking and even humorous! I especially like the information about the women being quoted- it makes me want to learn more about them. I like the categorization which makes it easy to find an appropriate quote on a number of subjects, although I also enjoy just reading it from random points to see what surprises I find.

Women Know Everything: 3,241 Quips, Quotes, & Brilliant Remarks is an anthology of thousands of wise and witty women's words. Contributors include Oprah Winfrey, Cher, Margaret Cho, Madonna, Erma Bombeck, and many more. The quotes are grouped by topic, and the topics are in turn organized alphabetically from Ability, Apathy, and Appearance to Work, Writing, and Youth. A simple author index for easy quick lookup rounds out this eclectic and inspirational giftbook ideal for birthdays, holiday gifts, and just plan sharing between gal pals. "Although there are many trial marriages... there is no such thing as a trial child." -Gail Sheehy, American Social Critic

The concept for this book is fantastic. Weekes has compiled an incredible variety of womens quotes on every topic imaginable. I found the book so appealing that I ordered 6 more copies for Mothers Day presents. All 6 have told me they had the same positive reaction. Women Know Everything!: 3,241 Quips, Quotes, and Brilliant Remarks

Quotes are arranged by topic. Great source of quotes for workshops and speeches. Women DO know everything. You'll find a quote for every purpose in here. Some historical, many very current.

Makes a good gift for any woman -- and probably some men.

The only complaint I have about Dear Little one is... it ends. I could have read a thousand more pages of this author's loving reflections on subjects that range from hope and new life to marriage and the twilight years. But perhaps that is the beauty of this book - it is so pure and distilled, there may nothing further to add, not one word. Dear Little One seems to work on two levels: first, as a parent's thoughts to her children, and all children; but also then to adults, as children of God. Dear Little One captures the joy, vulnerability, dignity and meaning of being human. The reflections are, in turn, poetic, humorous, whimsical, wise and moving. My favorites include "The Moon in a Bottle Cap," "On Fear," "Money," a clever little poem called "Art," "An Uncertain World," and of course "Dear Little One." I am carrying this book with me these days and looking forward to the author's next work.

Dear Little One is a treasure! Filled with thoughtful insights, honest observations and engaging humor, this delightful book is a great source of inspiration for young and old alike.

At first I thought 'Dear Little One' was strictly a parent's thoughts and dreams for her children, but then I saw where the author was going. The reflections on so many topics of life are divided into four life-stages: infancy, childhood, adulthood, and the twilight years. The author began by talking to a baby. By the last page, she was talking to me. Beautifully written. `Dear Little One' is a classic children's book for grown-ups that reminded me of `The Little Prince.'

I was deeply moved by DEAR LITTLE ONE and bought several more copies for couples I know who just had a baby or are having one soon. This is a perfect gift book, but more than that, because the reflections will last a lifetime. Nice black and white photography, too.

Masterful. Quite possibly the most beautiful book I've ever read, for and about human beings on this earth. The reflections, observations and guiding hopes in Dear Little One will accompany my kids now, and throughout their adult lives. I can't think of another book that does that. This book is unique. And poignant. And ultimately the kindest gift.

She has been making me laugh for years. I'm so glad she wrote this book. Anyone who has kids or has to deal with them anyway would be amused!

Funny and well written, these stories will have any Mom you know laughing out loud. In fact, I'm sending copies of A Household Word to my Mother, Mother-in-law, and Sisters-in-law this year. Carol Band takes everyday, recognizable experiences and elevates them to a hilarious plane of higher existence.

I love Carol's stories because they make you laugh out loud at yourself as a parent. I only wish that I could come up with the pithy comebacks and perfect way of handling those sticky parenting situations that she did! Her view on parenting and household life is a breath of fresh air and a truly enjoyable read!

Finally! Someone else who keeps dead rodents in her freezer! Just when you think you are alone out there in the world of mothering, Ms. Band raises a situation that you were sure only you were dealing with. From the absurd to the sweetest of moments her writing had me laughing and feeling reassured...you are not alone!

As a part time stay-at-home Dad I've lived through a lot of the hilarity in these columns. Carol is the Erma Bombeck of the new millennium. Her musings on a trip to Disneyworld, a day in the park and an expedition to the supermarket are all as immensely funny as they are heart warming. Its a book any mother would love.

Mommyhood Diaries: Living the Chaos One Day at a Time by Julie Watson Smith is a wonderful and insightful book. Fanatic and honest stories, connecting each one with the bond of motherhood. I loved it!

Julie Watson Smith has captured something very real in this book: the need for mothers - from all walks of life - to find something that unites us all. We're not alone on this journey, and we ought to delight in the chaos. Even on our worst days, (this book addresses those bad days, too) motherhood is a gift, and this is celebrated on every page. A wonderful book, like a warm cup of tea for the mommies collective soul.

What a wonderful collection of diaries/stories in this Mommyhood Diaries anthology! It is filled with thoughts and stories that will make you laugh and cry and I am honored to be a part of this inspiring and captivating book!

Paula Schmitt
Award-winning author of Living in a Locker Room: A Mom's Tale of Survival in a Houseful of Boys (Wyatt-MacKenzie Publishing, Inc 2005) www.paulaschmitt.com

This is a great collection of stories from around the world! There are some that will make you think, cry, laugh and above all open your mind to Knowing that no Mother is alone in this world.

If you are a Mom, know a Mom or even want to impress a Mom, try reading or giving this book as a gift. I am also very proud to have been a part of this and think that there is something in this collection for everyone.

What an amazing collection of stories, diaires and thoughts from all types of moms! Even with so many circumstances, I found myself connecting with each and every mom. I am proud to part of "The Mommyhood"! Many thanks Julie Watson Smith!

This story tells about the feelings of Amanda, an elementary school-aged girl as she experiences her mother's unpredictable episodes of recurrent depression. The mother also clearly experiences anguish when she sometimes cannot respond to her child's needs. Her mother and father both help Amanda understand that her mother loves her and that the mother's depressive episodes are not Amanda's fault. Amanda conceptualizes her mother's moods as colors. The illustrations sensitively follow this metaphor to catch the moods and experiences of the mother and the household. Amanda and her mother learn that despite recurrent depression, the mother can still find ways to give of herself to Amanda.

Children often feel confused and upset when a parent is depressed. They may blame themselves or the depressed parent. I liked the fact that this book is encouraging without sugar-coating a very difficult situation. I often use this book as a springboard for further discussion.

I have been looking everywhere for books to help me explain to my 8 yr old daughter about my clinical depression (I suffer from Bipolar disorder). This book was awesome, and was able to give my daughter and I points to begin discussion about my depression. I've recently become a single parent and have felt that it is even more important now than ever before to educate my daughter about this illness that is such a large part of my life. Through this book we've been able to discuss how this affects her and how we can work together to get through the difficult times caused by my illness.

I was looking for a way to talk to my little girl about depression. This book was wonderful. It shows a little girl who has to deal with depression in her home. And it answered questions that I had no way of answering. It has helped my daughter understand that she is not the problem when things are not good at home. And that there are good and bad days. She is not to blame. And that was very important, as a parent with depression, to get across to my children. The only part that I didn't care for was about the cereal. I wish that there had been a different way to see what kind of morning it was. My kids have cold cereal most of the time, even on good days. That is the only reason that I rated it 4 instead of 5. It did make all the important points in a way that a child can understand.

I bought this and another children's book about depression to help explain depression to my kids. I thought this book did a much better job than the other one I bought. Amanda Martha's mother suffers from depression, and the daughters asks the usual questions: Is it my fault? Can I make you feel better? And the mother gives the right answers: It's not your fault. It's not your job to make you feel better.

The mother's depression was protrayed very realistically, I thought. Some days she's very down and can't even get out of her bathrobe. Other days, she can get dressed, but she's not happy. Some days, she is happy. There are no quick fixes here. However, there is a sense of hope, that when the family pulls together, the necessary work will get done and love will be shared in abundance. This book should be available for all parents who have been diagnosed with depression and who have young children.

This book is a wonderful resource to share with children. Told simply, from the point of view of a child whose mother is severely depressed, this book is affirming for parents and children. As the child tells us, "some days are sad days, some are glad days and but most are in between days."

Through a simple plot, Amanda shares her feelings about her mother's 'sad days' and 'glad days'. When Amanda first asks for a kitten she is told no, because her mother's sad days might make it difficult to care for the kitten. At the end, Amanda, knowing that most days are in between days, agrees to care for the kitten on her mother's sad days; and her mother can help her on her glad days.'

The book is very uplifting and satisfying with an honest portrayal of living with depression.

I JUST KEEP ADDING MORE AND MORE PEOPLE TO MY GIFT LIST THAT WOULD BE THRILLED TO GET SUCH A "COOL" GIFT. EACH PAGE MAKES ME SMILE. THE AUTHOR'S WORDS ARE SOOOO TRUE TO WHAT THE PHOTOGRAPHER SO PERFECTLY CAPTURED. THIS IS A PERFECT GIFT FOR ANY OCCASION, PARTICULARLY HOLIDAY TIME. IT MAILS EASILY (I'VE ALREADY MAILED 10!) AND WILL LOOK JUST GREAT UNDER ANYONE'S TREE. PERFECT BOOK, PERFECT TIME TO BUY SEVERAL; A REAL FUN BOOK!

THE BOOK HITS HOME WHEN IT COME TO OUR BEHAVIOR TOWARDS EACH OTHER. KIND OF MAKES YOU THINK. GOOD BOOK

DogSense is a delightful book to curl up with.Also makes a wonderful book to give as a gift.

A perfect "coffee-table" book. Cute pictures with great stories to go along. Who can resist dogs? (I'm not just saying this because me and my dog are in it!!)

This is a wonderful devotional that I have often given as a gift to new mothers. It is also presented by members of our church as part of a ministry that visits first-time moms. I am so glad that there is this resource, encouraging and practical, and only wish it had been available when I was first a mother! The entries are not too long nor too deep, but offer comfort and gentle reminders of the eternal perspective.

I'm a new mom, and it was so nice to have these short little devotionals that I could relate to. I didn't have time (or energy) to do a full on quiet time, so this book was perfect for me.

This book spurs good thinking about the blessing a new baby is in one's life and serves as a reminder to be mindful and thankful for this, day by day.

I give this little devotional to EVERY expecting mother that I know. The feedback has been extremely positive. Some have even asked for additional copies to give to their pregnant friends!

THis book of course is great since I like it. I find the insights to be killer, and the perspective of women by a woman to be absolutyely novel. My eyes see the inside of the Mormonism now they are opened to this book.

God could be a woman, and don't hidfe from the controversy. I can take the idea and discusse it. After all, freedom from thought is a natural right.

Thought provoking to say the least, and isn;'t that what it is all about?

It is crucial that Mormon women fight for the inclusion of the femaine diety into their personal worship. Ms. Allred writes with honesty regarding Mother in Heaven and her call for a feminine inclusion in Mormon worship.

I bought Allred's book because I miss writings by women in LDS and also because I have read about Allred and her excommunication (henceforth shortened excomm'tion). I thought that the book was a compilation by several authors (yes, I should have checked it more before buying it!) but it wasn't, and it was not at all disappointing. The book contains essays written by Allred both when in the church and outside. Reading them I could not understand why she was excomm'ed, maybe because I am not LDS, but she wasn't the kind of "apostate" which has denounced the truths of LDS. On the contrary, the whole book cites the teachings of the prophets, modern and ancient, mostly Joseph Smith. The book has lengthy quotes from Book of Mormon and Doctrine and Commandments. It has some quotes from non-LDS theologians, which fit into the context. This is a faith promoting book for anyone, being LDS or non.

What she does with every essay - I am not going thru them, cause 1) they should read ben not rendered 2) I have to read them once more - is to break up conventional understanding of concpets, such as orthodoxy, faith, doubt, god, equality, difference, women-/manhood etc. She does it very well in the first essay, the one about orthodoxy, which I felt so happy about. Her essays are so constructive, they are written in a welcoming way, whatever your religious colour maybe (ie conservative, liberal, atheist) you follow her reasoning and she is so careful not to be misunderstood. This is very good done, but I did get bored, when I read quote after quote, and especially when some essays like those about pride, feels so wordy - as Book of Mormon can be or a review by FARMS! - you get tired and want to come to the point.

However, she has to do it, because she is dealing with very sensitive issues! I am Swedish Lutheran, I have a female priest and bishop in the congregation and don't believe in virgin birth nor resurrection, but I am accepted just as I am, when my priest is just so conservative she can be. The LDS church doesn't want - it seems - to be enrichened by its members, but being like the Zoramites of Book of Mormon, having enchanting melodies and liturgies adn dogmas .... (Book of Mormon, Alma 31:12 -24)

Jane Allred has a positive view of theology, of faith and of creating a relationship to god without having it created. She is encouraging every one of us to go inside ourselves, look for the spirit of the words and not their literal dictionary definition - always following the teachings of the prophet, read for example Joseph Smith's King Folett speech which illumines this side and which Allred also quotes from.

Her effort to open a theology about God the Mother, which put her in an awkward position and finally got her excomm'ed, is brave. She uses a very strong symbolism in her argumentation and I felt reading the minutes of the council of Nicea, 325 AD/CE, when theologians tried to define trinity. The outcome of her essay is that we should distance ourselves from a male-influenced language and view of divinity. Because the LDS believe in a humanlike god-couple, it is easier to find Mother God in it. For me as protestant, who believes in a fuzzy sort of a divinity, gender doesn't matter, but language does. This is a very theological essay about woman-/manhood and divinity, I felt empowered as a man to read it. She has good points.

It is a pity that LDS couldn't embrace Allred among its 15 millions members. LDS history is filled with excomm'tions of very intelligent and god-loving people (besides Fawn Brodie :-) and what it shows is that there are a few among the council of seventy, the twelve apostles who are welcoming people like Allred, but in a consensus driven church it is not always easy. The church has changed, when David O McKay was president, being evolution-friendly or supporting open priesthood wasn't that fashionable, but he himself was a evolution-friend and a supporter of open priesthood. There are I believe men in these councils who have been touched by Mother God and her prophetess, Jane Allred. The question is when will they dare come out?

Thank you Jane, I think that even though you are excomm'ed, the temple blessings, the faith and support of Mother and Father god has never left you and never will!

This text covers many subjects and topics that are very relevant to me both as a Mormon and a woman. I think anyone interested in theological studies would enjoy it although it does rely heavily upon the Book of Mormon so traditionalists may be turned off. It is written at a high-level of language, which is the only reason I did not give it 5 stars. You really have to work and think to read this text, it is not a light or "fun" read by any stretch of the imagination. It is however, worthwhile. Very challenging and made me reassess many of my preconcieved notions of truth about the church but in a completely positive and not "anti" Mormon way. It is clear she has deep faith as well as courage to say what she believes.

This book is great. It provides such a background to the life and experiences that Joseph Smith and his family went through to be able to be called of God and perform the works that he did.

I highly recommend this book. Lucy Smith's perspective provides a singularly unique window through which to view not only the life of the Prophet Joseph Smith but also the lives of her other family members and of the early Latter-day Saints.

Lucy was somewhat advanced in years when she undertook writing this history. Being primarily retrospective in nature, the dates and exact circumstances surrounding some of the early Church events are not always completely accurate. (Perhaps this was part of the basis for Brigham Young's original dislike.) Despite this, the vantage point offered through Lucy's eyes lends invaluable insight and understanding that is not afforded by a purely academic study of the facts. After reading Lucy's report, one is left with a conviction of its veracity and in humbling astonishment of what she, her family members and other early Latter-day Saints ("Mormons") experienced, sacrificed and endured as they strived to fully embrace Jesus Christ and His Gospel as restored to the earth through her son, the Prophet Joseph Smith.

The reader will find this particular edition/version of Lucy's account extremely valuable because it not only includes what was written prior to earlier abridgements but also includes a vast volume of Lucy's personalized thoughts and insights written in her pre-publication rough draft.

As a faithful LDS member, I have long been troubled by Brigham Young's attempts to destroy the original copy of this book that Lucy Mack orated, then reviewed, and finally approved. If he claims it had probs, that's fine, but you don't rewrite history or rewrite a book that someone else wrote as her own autobiography!

I have tried for a long time to get my hands on an original copy to see what B.Y. had felt was so threatening to the church that he would threaten church members and forced destruction of every copy he could find. This book, FINALLY has been released with not only the church-approved print, but the author has also added in the the stuff that was deleted by B.Y. (and the committee he formed to deal with it), but instead put the deletions in brackets [like this] so you know what was deleted and can skip over them if you want the church authorized version, read them if you want the original version approved by Lucy Mack, or simply notice what was taken out because it was somehow considered threatening or incorrect.
Also, the author has gone the extra mile and included all the extra stuff from the rough draft (there were 3 drafts and a final total) in italics. There are so many other things that you can learn from Lucy's original Manuscript. Lots of details were removed in the latter drafts (to conserve space, make it flow better, and make it less conversational, as well as details that the editors decided weren't necessarily significant as well as other reasons I don't know).

The preface of this book has the full detailed history of the book. It explains every edition it's been through (I think like 14 editions), the differences, where the copyrights went to, why they were released and by who (not all of them were by the LDS church). It also explains what B.Y. found so upsetting and why. Apparently there were only like 9 mistakes (a couple dates were wrong, and few names were mixed up, but no real big deal, at least nothing worth throwing a fit over and making threats). The preface is amazing, at least find the book and read the preface and you will understand why this book goes on my top 10 LDS books list.

This is the BEST version ever written if you are going to read Lucy Mack's version of what happened, I would strongly suggest you get this version whether you are LDS or not! Even reprints of the original cost upwards of $200, and this book has both that, and stuff nobody has ever read before from the roughdraft (not to mention everything is seperated out so you can tell what goes with which version - Rough Draft, Original, or B.Y. Edited version)!!!

Regardless of how you feel about Joseph Smith, this book, written from the point of view of his mother, reveals a very human side to his life. The majority of her history consists of the many, many trials and persecutions her family and early Church members endured over the years, resulting in the death of her own older sons.

Lucy has revealed to the world her impressive recollection of the history of her family, with a strong focus on her son Joseph. While there are many gaps not documented by her account, what she does retell, is in good detail and easy to understand.

The book has a preface plus introduction, which explain what the many different versions of Lucy's biography are, and when they were written, by whom and how they differ. The changes in what was published and what was not are highlighted via different font use, [bracketing] and footnotes. I don't believe there is anything found in the other editions of her biography available today, that is not contained in this version.

For me, my expectation was to see controversial topics removed. Having now read the book from cover to cover, I am puzzled as to what Joseph's successor, Brigham Young had problems with. I searched through all the main text and footnotes for controversial commentary, but found...none. For example, I was expecting to read a deleted chapter on Lucy's view of the leadership succession after Joseph's death, as that topic would understandably be a touchy subject that Brigham would not want readers to see. Surprisingly, there is no mention at all of this in any of the different versions. In fact one can only make the assumption he never read the book when he pronounced it was a "tissue of lies", and then a year later commissioned that it be republished "to the world".

While this book does not come close to the historical coverage of the life of Joseph Smith that other biographies achieve, it is still an important, soul touching work. The details that this book covers, form the foundation of almost every other historical effort produced on the life of Joseph Smith, and hence cannot be ignored.

I highly recommend this book.