Publishers Books

Finally this Australian children's classic is becoming available to Americans. I first read it 60 years ago and it has never lost its unusual charm. I read it to my children, enjoying together its wonderful illustrations by author-artist Norman Lindsey and its whimsical poem-songs: "It's worse than weevils, worse than warts/ Worse than corns to bear/ It's worse than having several quarts of treacle in your hair." My grandchildren are now enjoying the books (I had to order copies from Australia, and consider it wonderful that children today can more easily obtain the book). I consider it a classic of the first order--one of the greatest children's stories of all time.

Big tough talking penguins and talking never ending desserts, what more could you want? Ok, that, but this is a kids book, and one you should get if you have some (kids, that is, not talking penguins and puddings). There are the good guys, and there are the bad guys. Both are hungry, but the bad guys want to put out tasty pudding friend to nefarious ends, while the good guys just want enough dessert. Needless to say, the pudding is cantankerous.

The Magic Pudding is a fun-and-nonsense tale that has become my nine-year-old son's favorite book. It deserves to be published in the US so that American children can enjoy what has become a classic in Australian children's literature. If you enjoy Roald Dahl's books, "The Phantom Tollbooth," and "Alice in Wonderland" you'll enjoy this.

Honestly, I'm no read-aloud wimp! And my kids are usually up for anything. They giggled like mad at the pompous puns of Mr. H.M. Wogglebug T.E. in the Oz books, and urged on my faux-Yorkshire accent in the Secret Garden. The century-old Australian slang and endless sea shanties of the Magic Pudding, though, just about did us in. It really is a magnificent flight of fancy, but there were just too many incomprehensible sentences to paraphrase and longggg songs to make up tunes for. Save this for when you're at your most daring and energetic, read-aloud parents!

This book is part of the wonderful new series of republished children's books from the New York Review of Books. Over 80 years old, "The Magic Pudding" describes the adventures of a koala bear, named Bunyip Bluegum - the kind of koala who wears a high collar and spats - who falls in with a crazy cowboy sort of fellow named Bill Barnacle and a penguin named Sam Sawnoff.

Bill and Sam are possessed of a magic pudding (named Albert, if you can believe this), who regenerates every time you take a bite of him and changes into whatever flavor you like. Albert the pudding is much coveted by two evil villains who are constantly tricking our Heroes into giving up the Pudding, whereupon they must go and re-re-re-rescue it.

The characters and style are very reminiscent of "Alice in Wonderland," with Bunyip seeming a little White-rabbitish to me, and Bill and Sam sort of Mad Hatter and Dormouse-y. The effect is somewhere in between "Alice" and an old Loony Tunes in which Bugs Bunny constantly bewilders Elmer Fudd.

The whole narrative is punctuated with many whimsical song lyrics, like the poetry in Carroll's book. The lyrics make it a great read-aloud for the younger set, although older kids might be a bit puzzled by its style. However, everyone will be charmed by the Pudding himself and want one of their very own.

My neighbor is from the Virginia area and is one of the dearest people I know. She loaned this book to me at just the right time and when I had nothing else to read. I was so wrapped up in it that I sobbed at the end; not only at the loss of such an amazing man Bob Childress nor at the awe inspiring effect he had on the scots-irish fighters of Buffalo mountain, but simply because the book was over! I knew for certain that my recovering alcoholic husband, who happened to be born in West Virginia, and who turned his own life around in an amazing way, would be even more profoundly moved by this book than I was....and I was right.

My wife and I couldn't put this book down until we finished it.It is well written and an inspiration.It is proof of the difference one man can make if he puts all his heart into his goals,and all of his faith in God.Whether the reader has a faith in God or not, it will entertain and inspire you.

I stumbled across this collection of stories at a garage sale and picked it up for a dime. I enjoyed it so much I sought out the rest of Richard Davids' writing. Bob Childress, the preacher this book is about, could teach our world much today. Richard Davids put a lot of work and research into these stories and it shows. It was an absolute pleasure to read and reread.

If you liked this book you should also check out "Understanding Apples" by J.S. Moore.
Understanding Apples

This book is so amazing. It is a window to a world,thankfully that does
not exist anymore. The author describes how God used a man to bring a whole group of people out of sin and ignorance.
I bought the book because it has my ancestors in it. My father was a pretty wild man. My mother divorced him when I was small because of his violence and drinking. My father's father is mentioned in the book and now I understand my father's problems much more clearly. There is such a thing as generational sin! The book is great for someone with ancestors that came from the mountains of Virginia or North Carolina. I am sure the lifestyle was pretty much the same in any early mountain community.

My husband found this book at a garage sale. He couldn't put it down and related many of the anecdotes to me. I have read this book, since, over and over. There is a sweetness and goodness to it that transforms it from a biography of a great man, to an inspiring book that relates to the possibility for each of us to make our life worthwhile. It is down to earth, funny and wise, a story of a person that lived an amazing life told in a very compelling manner. An encapsulation of the "best" of America's essence.
Anyone who likes history or,especially, anyone who likes Janice Holt Giles books or Forrest Carter will love this book. It is one I return to when I am disenchanted and depressed for a lift.

This might be considered a diet if you've been eating unhealthy and unaware of the basic tenets of good nutrition, however to us, it was a re-configuaration of much of what we already knew and were doing, but in a way that has helped us to drop excess weight and feel like our old bright and bouncy selves!

There are companion books you can get from the Mayo Library of Books. I suggest getting a few if you love cooking and want kitchen excitement. However, this book is much more than excitement. It is a simple and common sense approach for PEOPLE.

People like us. We love NFL games! We support our local high school's and our local university's various sporting and arts events. We like big bright holiday celebrations, we love to grill and entertain. We are not athletic, but enjoy fun exercising. We might not walk our neighborhood, but we will walk in botanic gardens or bigger city parks with lots of things to interest us.

This is a motivational book as much as anything. It really is geared to just plain ol' people! It isn't written for the froo froo people of the world, or the natural wanderers of the mountains and national parks, or the bean sprout organic types, it is for ALL of us. From the most picky irritating people who are so fussy you wonder if they can smile unless it is alternative organic and natural, to the most coach potato cheese curl eating beer guzzling take a bath once a week types, to EVERYONE else in-between! (Psst.. I lived in WV for about 8 years, I have seen the later description as common place, and I lived in Boulder, CO for 22 years, and have seen the former description all the time too! Give me a balance please! LOL)

Enjoy making your life being just that.. enjoyable. You will find a new self confidence and cheerfulness deep within your own spirit. It comes with my highest praise and recommendation!

I first came across this book under its previous title "Mayo Clinic on Healthy Weight" several years ago. It's marvelous food pyramid is based on energy or calorie density. This idea was the main ingredient on my path to losing 80 pounds and restoring my blood sugar level to normal following my diagnosis of Type 2 Diabetes. An additional good idea is to apply the energy density principle to your plate by filling it with 50% non-starchy vegetables, 25% dense carbs and 25% protein. Another thing that I do is to use 50% Kellogg's All Bran or General Mill's Fiber One for my breakfast cereal. Energy density is particularly important to your selection of dessert. A half cup of pudding made with nonfat milk and sugar free mix is less than 100 calories. It is equally filling to a large chocolate chip muffin which comes in at 600 calories. Other useful books on energy density are the "Volumetic" series by Barbara Rolls, the "Fit or Fat Target Diet" books by Covert Bailey and Ronda Gates, and "The GI Diet" by Rick Gallop.

I have found this book helpful for reworking my eating plans and just improving health. It is fairly comprehensive and I think it is probably the kind of material you would get if you went to a nutritionist. If you want to lose weight sensibly I would recommend it.

I can't say enough good things about this book. I had tried everything. I was fairly successful on the Body for Life program, but it took too much time. All I did on that program was eat and workout. I have a life. I need time for my family, work, continuing education and other activities. When I saw my life suffering at the expense of my body, I had to compromise the Body for Life program. I then ballooned back up to being obese. My doctor tried to talk me into a gastric bypass because my weight was getting so bad. This book from the Mayo Clinic gave me a diet that was very easy and had a lot of great food. I haven't even been tempted to wander from this program at all. The variety of food has filled my food addiction while also taking the weight off of me. I have been continually losing weight and my doctor is not worried about me at all now. She even just filled out a physical report stating that I am in very good health.

If you want good food, good health and time for a real life, this is the only book for you.

Whether or not you need to lose weight, this book is an excellent guide to healthy eating for life. The recipes are so easy that we're able to incorporate them into our everyday menus easily. We're all getting out 5-a-day, and then some! For weight maintenance, all you need to do is add a few more portions of some food groups. Even without reading the book, you can open up to the menu pages and start right away. You can also follow this plan on a tight budget since there aren't any hard to find or expensive ingredients. Between the eating plan and very helpful exercise goals, this has got to be the easiest way to get or stay healthy I've ever seen.

I heard Virelle on Midday connection on Moody radio and knew when I heard her that I HAD to get this book. I am a caregiver for a disabled husband, my father, and my learning challenged son (as well as working full time) and I was losing the ability to function. Virelle's book took me back to the well to drink the living water that refreshed me tremendously. Since she was in a similar caregiving role, she spoke to me as if she was in my life and knew what I was thinking and how I felt.

When an exhausted girlfriend took Virelle Kidder's book to bed for a day of refreshment, coming away with raving reviews, I decided to do the same. I would be "Queen for a Day." Ha! It became abundantly clear that this book wasn't the typical, fluffy devotional, that are a dime a dozen in the bookstores. No, this was authentic, powerful, and life-changing. Deep, yet I found myself laughing out loud at times, along with the transparent sharing of Kidder. By the way, Kidder isn't just any author. She's earned her stripes as an effective communicator--former host of her own radio show in NY, a convention speaker to thousands of women, an author. My plan for staying in bed to read the whole book got interrupted by the realities of life, but I was hooked, like an addict. I must confess I have carried this little book with me, sneaking in ten minutes here, ten minutes there, to read a chapter. You'll get hooked too...I promise. It would also be a great gift for anyone who is hurting, anyone who is great at taking care of everyone in the world except themselves, and workaholics like me, who can't spend a whole day in bed.

This book came to me at just the right time. I felt like I was about to smother and I was wearing so many hats in tending to my family. I felt hopeless and everything was so out of control with one in the nursing home, one dying, one recently died, trying to enjoy grandchildren and help with them some, be a decent mother (even if my daughter is grown), somewhat of a so-so wife, and deal with a chronic illness myself!

I heard the author on the radio one day talking about her book and it was like she wrote it just for me! After listening to her for a bit, I realized she wrote it from her own hectic situation. It was good for me to know that there are so many of us out there trying to do the same thing.

Anyway, I love this book. I have given it as a gift to others in hopes they will gain a blessing as I did.

This book was recommended to me by a friend who knew that I did not particularly enjoy reading devotional material - I am glad that I listened to her. The reader is touched emotionally as Mrs. Kidder uses Scripture to discribe challenging days in her own life - she is transparent and thoughtful. Easy and enjoyable to read. Not "preachy." For anyone who is facing struggles in life - and needing a soothing lesson from Scripture.

This review was written by my wife, Shirley Murphey:

Virelle Kidder's book Meet Me at the Well is a must read for women. She is honest about every part of her life, admitting to bouts of depression, doubts, and extreme stress; yet as we identify ourselves with her problems, she lovingly leads us to Christ, the living water of life.

The illustrations are written from a woman's point of view, but spiritually thirsty men will also enjoy a drink at the well.

Virelle admits to "down" times in her daily walk with the Lord, but as she has been lifted to higher places she carries readers with her to "up" times when the walk changes to a happy skip. She offers Scripture passages for spiritual uplifting in a daily section titled "Living Water."

After quenching our thirst, we're encouraged to do something tangible: write in a journal; share the experience with a group of friends; search our hearts for needed changes; make an encouraging phone call; write out a prayer of commitment; or even just spend a few minutes resting and relaxing.

Although the book is written as a devotional guide to be read and acted on each day in a month, I found that some chapters kept me enthralled for two or three days, not because of lack of time to read, but the need to reread meaningful passages and let the deep waters drench my special thirst.

I loved how Suzanne incorporated her mother's comments on each chapter. It really shows how far their relationship has come over the years and makes the book so real. I am sure writing about their life was very humbling for both of them. I identified with this book and could hardly put it down as my mom had many issues that I wanted so badly not to transfer down to my own daughter. I reviewed this book as research for a book I was writing on prodigal daughters and found that Suzanne gives a wealth of information that is helpful both for parents who are trying to overcome their own past as well as those who find their children repeating some of the generational sins of the parents. A must read for every parent.
Janet Thompson author of "Woman to Woman Mentoring," "Dear God, They Say It's Cancer" and "Praying for Your Prodigal Daughter" (release 2/08)

I grew up in a loving Christian home and yet, I was spellbound by this book. Eller's commitment to the Lord is contagious, her spirit refreshing, and her down to earth candor very helpful. I plan to use this book for my next Bible study.

Suzie Eller's heart is all over this book, and she doesn't hold anything back. Her mother's contribution to the book helped me look at my own mother in a different light and to realize every person has a some kind of baggage that spills over into their own parenting.

I found myself drawn into the stories of her life that it was hard for me to stop and work through the questions after each chapter. That's why I'm going to read it again, and this time take a closer look at my upbringing, and present parenting habits. Suzie's story gave me hope and helped me see that I could be the mom I really want to be. And it's not too late, no matter how old my children are.

The Mom I Want to Be is different from the other "mothering" books I've read. Eller tells her story of a dysfunctional family life and how she has overcome it to be a successful, loving mother. If you had a less-than-wonderful childhood or even if you simply struggle with minor pain from your past, you'll want to read this book. It's a vivid portrayal of the effects of our words and actions as parents can have on our children. It's also a touching story of how these hurts can be overcome.

Don't let the title fool you. This wonderful book is for women everywhere. It shows women how to deal with major issues, whether they have children or not. It talks about forgiving, breaking down walls, and much more.

Ms. Eller is a breath of fresh air because she's real. Her mother, Mrs. Morrison, deserves five stars for her courage in this project. Both of them made me laugh, and cry.

The following lines, written by Suzanne's mother in chapter ten, brought the tears: "If I could talk with someone whose life is like mine once was, I would say that God is the great Healer. He can make you whole again no matter how broken you once were. He can give you a new spirit on the inside of you. He can give you what you need to forgive the wrongs done to you, and he can give you what you need to forgive yourself for what you have done to others."

These lines, written by Suzanne after she mentions having surgery in chapter nine, made me belly laugh: "Faith was holding my hand. Her bright cheerful voice was just as powerful as the drugs in my system. She was also the person who hit the drug-dispensing button too many times (because I was moaning in my sleep) and helped me discover I was allergic to morphine. I woke up swollen like a sausage."

I grew to love these women by the end of the book.

I believe you will as well.

I highly recommend this book.

I read this book for the first time about 25 years ago. I have read it about 6 or 7 times since. It along with the sequel, Light in My Window, is my all time favorite series. I highly recommend reading this book.

I think this book was published in 1946, but don't let the age fool you. The author presents the story in a much more real way than many of the modern Christian writers do today. In many of the contemporary Christian novels, the characters are either so perfect that they don't seem real or so have very filthy minds. A good Christian novel is one that is somewhere in between.

Francena H. Arnold, in Not My Will, keeps it real and presents characters with real problems that only God can solve. Contemporary Christian authors should follow her example in the novels they write. Parts of it are sad, but it is well worth reading.

You may also consider reading Searching for Mom, which isn't nearly as bleak, but it is a more recent book that explores the will of God in the family relationship.

Best book I've ever read!!! Loved to read it when I was a teenager, and still love it now in my 30s! A classic!

The plot of this book is great, and the ending is so unpredictable!

This book was really great and very hard to put down. I loved it! It is also a very inspiring book. The woman in this book is not very religous or spiritual but during a very difficult time she turns to someone who shows her such unconditional love that at first she finds it hard to believe someone could be so kind. Until she learns about the love of God and His love for her. She then realizes what her heart really needs to begin to heal and what is most important in life...her Heavenly Father. She learns to put her faith in God and to live according to His will.
An excellent book. It will surely touch your heart.
It is a love story like no other. You will not be able to stop reading once you start.

Provides great background information and explanation for using the notebook and lesson ideas. Yet, it's still easy to go straight to the lesson ideas without reading the rest of that other stuff. I bought this along with A Writer's Notebook by Ralph Fletcher, and I liked this book more for helping me teach.

I have been using writer's notebooks with my students for years and always struggled with integrating them into the entire language arts curriculum. This book has several hands on strategies which illustrate ways to use the students' own writing to teach a variety of writing skills. There is also a very helpful chapter on assessing the notebook. One of the most helpful books on the subject I have seen!

This book was a quick and easy read that easliy lent itself to great lesson plans for the whole school year. I highly recommend this book if you are a first time writing teacher, or a novice writing teacher.

This is not one of those books that will collect dust on a shelf. It will be read and reread many times! It is a great resource for any teacher of writing! Thank you Aimee Buckler! This book contains a wealth of organized and practical strategies that will add to any writing program. Buckler gives teachers easy to model tools to pass on to their students. She gives many examples from literature that can be used as springboards for specific areas. I will never look at notebooks the same! What an inspirational addition to my teaching library!

I am torn by this book- the first half was full of ideas and lessons that I felt would help me improve writing instruction. The second half was not, at least for me. The writing is brillant and down-to-earth. Buckner has good ideas and great real world lessons.

The downside for me was the amount of time it would take for me to do everything- the ideas work best for self-contained teachers.

Do I recommend this book? Absolutely.

I'm happy to see that this book is still being sold. It was my bible when I had my kids over 20 years ago and it's the one book I would give to any woman who is considering breastfeeding. Straightforward, realistic, full of practical tips and loaded with information. Beats any other book on breastfeeding that I've ever read. It's the reason I was able to nurse each of my three kids until they were over a year old.

I am purchasing a copy of this for my daughter-in-law,who is expecting a baby any day and is going to nurse the baby. I used this book 30 years ago for my support and information when nursing my first child and I know it will be just as relevant today. I find it fascinating that there are other women who wrote reviews praising this book from using it 30+ years ago. Not many things are as worthwhile today as in they were in the 60's and 70's. That must make this book a CLASSIC!!!!!!!Laurel Ryan, Grafton, Ohio

An excellent resource that I turned to many times over the course of almost five years, for solutions to problems as well as just the pleasure of reading such an informative, thorough book. It combines the practical with the scientific. I found it when my second baby was six weeks old. To our surprise and dismay she had lost weight at her first newborn checkup and had continued to gain weight poorly. At each feeding I would nurse her, then pump, then give her a bottle, and by then it would be time to start all over again; she still gained poorly. I had an 19 month old as well, whom I had nursed successfully while working full time. All the time and emotional energy focused on my newborn's feeding could not continue. I was incredibly sad at the thought of having to stop nursing, but it seemed the only choice. I was in the bookstore just before my final decision to stop nursing, and I found this book. It changed everything. I found answers to my questions, solutions to my problems, and the motivation to keep going. I nursed as often as possible, sometimes every hour, stopped pumping, and gave just one bottle per day, around dinnertime, instead of at every feeding. My baby started gaining the way she should. I continued to nurse her for sixteen months. I have Karen Pryor to thank for turning things around. We had a third child two years later, successfully breasfed for almost 2 years. I have given this book to all first time moms along with the baby gift.

... It was read prior to my daughter's birth and constantly referred to while I nursed her.I was no longer unsure of myself due to lack of information and I recommended it to girls who were first time Moms in the hospital when I had my fourth child. My daughter had a baby three years ago with some medical problems and I met Moms and their Moms that were terribly grateful for a reference book so their baby could continue to be nursed and not believe the short interruption would ruin their desire for the baby to be a nursed baby. My daughter needed to relactate and the hospital gave them the machines to make it possible, knowing ,especially babies who have had a rough start need to be nursed even more for their health if the parent is willing to follow the instructions and there is a lot of support for mothers to nurse, knowing what we do today about breastfeeding. For "To Be" Mothers this is a wonderful gift for them to understand and decide if they are going to breastfeed, and to stand up to the bullies who usually have weird reasons why they oppose breast feeding. Instead of being intimidated, you will wonder which category they come from, and you will be a much stronger , confident mother. Mrs Symmington

I had a copy of the womanly art of breastfeeding and found it to be long on preaching the joys of breastfeeding and short on addressing real concerns and problems. This is the book I dogeared and referred to again and again. It is practical, friendly, and full of useful information I didn't find anywhere else. There is a long bibliography of sources at the back, but you also get the sense that you are being talked to by experienced realistic moms who are sure you can do this - much more helpful when you feel desperate at 2 AM in the first week than another lecture on how wonderful and easy this is supposed to be!

I nursed my first baby until he was 18 months old, after a very rocky start - took me three days to get him to nurse at all, and then it took 45 minutes to latch him on properly for a while after that! So I really appreciated any guide that admitted how hard it can be to start breastfeeding and gave a wide variety of practical advice on the real problems. I tossed a lot of popular books that carried on about how breastfeeding is easy and natural and wonderful - it was all that once we got over the hard part, but getting over the hard part was when I needed good advice and real facts!

Some of the unusual information included here - baby behavior, innate parent behavior, nursing frequency and patterns, how nursing changes as the baby develops, how to take good care of yourself physically and emotionally. There is a great chapter for working/pumping mothers, and even some advice on how to keep the house tidy enough so it doesn't depress you, with a minimum of effort. Also - getting your milk back when you had to stop nursing for a little while, nursing toddlers, tandem nursing, weaning, pretty much any breastfeeding topic you can think of seems to be covered.

The index is not great (you can't find 'thrush' or 'pain' in it, even though there is a section on yeast infections), but I read the whole book and didn't have much trouble finding what I needed in it after that. Several chapters deal with age specific information ('birth to six weeks' etc) which made it easy to look up problems I was having in that particular time period.

this book is amazing..... it helped me unblock issues i had blocked. the short chapters are great idea. i definately reccommend doing this with a counselor or trusted friend. be nice if there was a workbook with the book. but the book alone is ok.

This is an excellant book. This book walks you thru the journey of giving youself a voice about the abuse. This book has many stories to relate too and are in a heartfelt way. The title of "On The Threshold of Hope" really says it all. A must read for any sexual abuse survivor. I would recommend this book to anyone.

This is a painfully realistic portrayal of the pain of sexual abuse. She compassionately addresses all of the deep hurts of the women and men assaulted especially in child-hood by their abusers. She is frank, especially about addressing the fact that much time may be involved in the recovery of a sexual abuse victim. Excellent book!

I cant say that i have read every book out the on sexual abuse but have been through several. This book definitely will transform your life cos it did mine. I am really lost for the right words to use to describe this book. But in my healing journey i have been searching for a book that will help me through my short-comings or 'issues' as some might say, but most books i found were just a bunch of stories without much depth. just stuff to make you feel better about yourself or tell you it's not your fault or just some butter and cream recipe to give you an appearance of hapiness. Dr. Langberg books is quite different. Thank you for sharing your insight.

I'm a survivor of 18 years of childhood sexual abuse. I've read several books about abuse trying to understand and make sense of it and to help find a way to live a normal life despite the past.

"On The Threshold of Hope" was the first book I've read that made me feel like there was hope of healing from the painful aftereffects of childhood abuse. I started feeling that maybe God didn't desert me during those years but that He cried with me and He hated what was happening to me just as much or more than I did.

I felt like the author had reached inside my soul and written all the words that I couldn't articulate. Even down to the experiences of others that were so close to mine. I've experienced flashbacks and nightmares for the past two years. Before that, I thought I had pretty much gotten over the past and life was going relatively well. Then at 48 years old, the flashbacks and nightmares started out of know where. The intensity and realness of these flashbacks and nightmares was terrifying.

This book explains all that I've experienced. It outlines and guides you down a path to help you get through the pain and start real healing. As the book states, healing is a process and can take time. I'm in the process of that healing now with a good therapist that understands the issues of childhood sexual abuse and supportive friends who are standing by me to grab my hand when I can't hold on.

Thank you for sharing this amazing book...it has truly helped give me hope for a life that can be full of wonderful memories and experiences.

I've purchased copies to put in our church library and shipped copies off to friends that have family that have gone through similar situations.

This is by far the best mother's devotional I have ever read! I just can't get enough of this book. Once I'm done reading it I find myself reading it all over again a few months later. I love how I can relate to Mary in her readings. This book was just what I needed this last month! Her book is such an encouragement to me and I am so thankful that I bought this book. Thank-you Mary! I am planning on buying more books from this author.

Before you buy this book, know it is a DEVOTIONAL. I thought it was a parenting book. It's not. It's still a fantastic book, just not what I expected.The author is funny and down-to-earth. She highlights the divine in the mundane, drawing readers into a more personal awareness of God in the midst of everyday chaos of parenting. It's a drink of cool water to a parched soul.

The chapters are short, most just three pages. Each begins with a personal story then evolves into an applicable reflection of what God wants for us. It's the perfect format for busy moms.

Final Thoughts: Intellectual, witty and relevant. Definitely recommended.

This book has made a huge difference in my outlook. It gives me encouraging words to think about the entire day as I embark on the challenge to be the best mom, wife and person I can be. I highly recommend it!

When I first read this book as a young Christian, I found it convicting and encouraging in a way that truly challenged me to call upon the Lord to transform me into the mom He had called me to be. I was very touched by the honesty with which Mary DeMuth writes with. She sincerely shares her struggles as a mom and how she finds strength in the Lord to fulfill this blessed calling. I was really able to relate to her and found myself nodding my head again and again as I recalled very similar situations with my own children.
I found this book to be such an encouragement and such a challenge to be a better mom (through Christ who strengthens me) that I wanted to share it with other moms. Now, my friend and I have begun a Mom's Helping Mom's ministry, in which we get together with other young moms and we all use Mary DeMuth's book as a devotional at our meetings to discuss the issues relating to being a mom and to encourage each other as we fulfill this high calling and find strength in the Lord to raise these precious gifts that He has blessed us with in a way that glorifies His name.

I highly recommend Ordinary Mom, Extraordinary God...and I recommend that once you read it - you don't hold on to it - but pass it on to another mom that you know will be touched by it!

There's nothing ordinary about this book! I truly LOVED reading it! I just bought it a couple of weeks ago and have already ordered two more copies to give as gifts. It's just too good not to share. Mary speaks from the heart with humor and passion as she shares her real-life experiences in raising her family under the guidance and grace of God. As a mother of two young children, I will undoubtedly turn to Mary's encouraging and inspirational words again and again in the years to come.