Book Reviews 

Over the past few years, I've had the opportunity to review some wonderfully written books on parenting, business, and organizing topics. Below are a few of my favorites, which I wholeheartedly recommend for your own library.

Feel free to click on the title links for easy online shopping at Amazon.com. Thanks for supporting these talented authors and industry experts.

- Debbie Williams, Editor

parenting

Grace Based Parenting: Set Your Family Free by Dr Tim Kimmel . What a refreshing book this is! With an underlying theme of "treating your children the way God treats His children", Dr Kimmel reminds us to raise our children with free and fearless child rearing. 

I had the privilege of interviewing Dr Kimmel recently, and based on the principles in his book, I know that he's really onto something. This is a book that every parent, especially Christian parents, should have on their bookshelf and refer to time and time again.  Full of practical and often inspirational advice, Dr Kimmel's book encourages us to use balanced parenting techniques in a grace-based family.  

You'll discover the three driving inner needs of every child, the four characteristics of a grace-based family, and how to instill hope in the lives of your children. 

Creative Correction:  Extraordinary Ideas for Everyday Discipline by Lisa Whelchel.  I've been a fan of positive or assertive discipline for quite some time now, having been first introduced to it during my first year of teaching kindergarten. Once I observed it in action with 33 unruly kindergarteners I was hooked! Being fortunate enough to learn first hand from a God-fearing mother and father, our home was strict but loving, understanding but firm. So armed with a degree in education and raised by wise parents, I assumed everyone else had access to these educational tools, too. Boy was I wrong!

Raised in a generation of permissiveness, the parents of today have either forgotten or were never instructed in the ways of positive parenting. In a typical day filled with primal screams, tantrums, and idle threats, Mom and Dad have failed to teach junior how to follow the rules for successful living the way God intended for him to live-- with love, respect, and obedience.

Several books have been written about parenting creatively, introducing the basic steps of positive parenting, but leaving the parent on her own to find creative ways to carry through with guidance and love rather than stress and anger. With a flair for warm conversational writing, Lisa Whelchel has poured all her creative ideas (and then some) into one wonderful resource for us all--- and not a moment too soon! 

Realizing that many parents are simply too busy to sit down and read a book cover to cover , Ms Whelchel gives us permission to flip to the index to look up hot topics in the Toolbox. And realizing that our households are dynamic, we are encouraged to try something else or change directions if an idea doesn't work-- well said!

As I sat down to write this review, I glanced at the book sitting on my table with a plethora of Post-It flags sticking from every which direction, marking passages and tips that I wanted to share with you. But I honestly can't choose my favorites-- you simply must read this book from start to finish, then read it again when the going gets tough (and it will, believe me!). Keep it by your bedside or in the kitchen or near the time-out chair for quick reference. Quote the Scriptures, implement the creative ideas, and watch your children transform before your very eyes.

Be sure to visit the creative correction website at www.creativecorrection.com to read the latest tips shared by the author and online readers. This is definitely an idea worth passing forward!

Bringing Up Boys: Practical Advice and Encouragement for Those Shaping the Next Generation of Men by James Dobson.    Having been raised an only child by a mother who was not accustomed to the ways of boys, raising a boy of my own has been quite a learning experience indeed. When I learned that parenting guru, Dr. James Dobson, had written a new book about raising boys, I was eager to learn tips from a pro. Much of the information in Dr. Dobson's book is based on common sense, and he has really done his homework, sharing statistics and other tidbits to help arm parents to raise a responsible and strong-charactered boy. As a homeschooling parent, I really enjoyed reading information about boys and school-- not just the way they learn, but how they also socialize.  Whether you are raising your first or one of many bouncing baby boys, having this book on your home's library shelf will clear the mystery and remind you that boys are indeed different from girls, full of hammers & nails & puppy dog tails. And that difference is just fine by me!

personal growth