Are we there yet?  Are we there yet?  Are we there yet?

MY MEMORIES & BOOK REVIEW

Every summer my parents, two brothers, our ‘weenie’ dog, Poppy, and I would pile into our lemon yellow station wagon and made an excursion from our home in California to visit my darling grandparents in Utah.  It was good times and we did have fun.  Part of the time.  Reading could lead to queasiness. Boredom can lead to restlessness and crankiness.   So there were a few family games we would play that made the endless, monotonous hours more bearable.

My dad would say, “Alright everyone, take a guess how many miles to that landmark (or whatever), up there.  That was interesting and worked for a little while here and there.

Mirage Stories

I also remember the mirages during the long hauls in the Nevada desert.  Fascinating.  We would tell fantasy stories to each other surrounding them.

Road Kill

Wow, we must have reeeeeally been bored, but I remember my older brother and I sticking our heads out the back of the station wagon and counting road kill hit by other cars.  (Back in the day when on the road we were let out of our seat belts.)  Yuk!  Critters squashed flat like pancakes.  Poor things.  I can hardly believe it, as I’m so squeamish about any creature that is harmed in any small way.     And my brother, an animal lover,  is very humane in nature.  I asked him the other day if he remembered that.  He laughed with a bit of shock and said he hadn’t!   Later in life I had nightmares about running over things.  On our road trips we definitely needed something better to do with our time!

Opportunity & Memories

Of course, it’s a whole new world today with our gadgets that kids and parents have alike.  But as I reminisce about those family trips with my mom and dad, both now gone, I realize it is those times where we talked, laughed and shared games and stories were so precious.  I remember them with fondness.  I don’t think I’d remember the time I’d spent on my tablet.

ONE BOOK – 50 Games, Organized & ALL IN ONE PLACE

When I read this book, all of my road trip memories came flooding back.  This book has some great games for fun, sharing, and learning that will make the time fly for you and your kids!  There are a few I really wish we had played on our trips.  Some where you really get to know and appreciate each other in ways that slip by us in our busy everyday lives.  Also some that illicit self reflection and insight. Instead of the proverbial, Are we there yet, your kids will be saying, “Are we there already?”  

ROAD TRIP!  50 Family Approved Games For The Car   by Diane Ethington & Aubree Ethington Jolley

50 % OFF through the end of December!  Use this Discount code  XMAS50It’s at checkout.

READY FOR YOUR NEXT FAMILY ROAD TRIP?

This family book has some great games the whole family will enjoy. I think these would be wonderful for Family Nights or even whole family gatherings, where kids and their parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles can all get to know one another better and the lives they’ve lived!  I would record for posterity.  

It is faith and patriotic oriented planner and especially effective if parents use it in preparing somewhat ahead of time for their next fun and eventful road trip.  I received this book for a fair and balanced review.

I hope you enjoyed my memories and this book review.  Please stay in touch & Subscribe! (Right hand column or on Phone, scroll to bottom.)

Much thanks  ~ Deba Do   ♥

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John Cottam told me about this book and I’m so glad he did.  If anyone is feeling down this Season, here is a book that will lift the spirits and offer that special feeling that there can always be HOPE around the corner, sometimes where you would never have thought to look.

Book review by John Cottam

I know that I usually review steampunk books, but this was just right for the season.  It is a story about a single woman, newly released form prison for a crime that she did not commit, trying to start over with a new life in a new town. She meets some good people and some hateful people, and takes a long winding path to re nurture her battered heart.  It was witty, warm and just right for the season.  I give it 4 Gears (stars)

*      *      *

John Cottam, is owner of  The Spectacle and THE MACHINE AGE in Trolley Square in Salt Lake City.  He is a renowned optician and talented artisan, known as, “Optician to the Stars“, having been commissioned and created many marvelous eyewear pieces for celebrities, such as the famous aviators for ELVIS, several ELTON JOHN marvels and many more.  He has also designed and fashioned fascinating props for film, such as Blade Runner!  Check out his pages!

*Christmas at Harrington’s ~Available on amazon Kindle for $3.99.     41/2 Stars by 451 Readers

*I’m an affiliate for amazon and get a small kick-back on anything you purchase when you enter any of my links while you are on the site!  

HAPPY HOLIDAY READING, Everybuddies!  Let me know your favorite Christmas books that get you in the mood!           ~ Deba Do  ♥

PLEASE SUBSCRIBE!    (Left column.  On phone – scroll to bottom.) Thanks so much!

The post “Christmas at Harrington’s” by Melody Carlson ~ Book Review :) appeared first on Deba Do Tell.

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Grades 2 – 5 and everyone!

Fantasy!  Probable and very improbable adventure on an Island!  In her own little-big world , Nim takes on danger on her own when her scientist dad leaves her alone while he studies plankton.  But she’s not really alone.   She has her friends iguana and sea lion which adds a lot of fun and if you love animals as I do, will melt your heart. Then there’s the e-mail with a mysterious twist.  Nim becomes Robinson-Crusoe-resourceful, chopping down bananas with a machete, climbing palm trees, and figuring out how to start a fire.  She is fearless but faces bigger challenges when she loses contact with her father’s cell.  Will her bravery and resourcefulness prevail? You need to read this fun girl (or anyone) empowering book to find out!  

The novel, Nim’s Island is available on amazon on Kindle (which is readable on basically any device), Hardcover, Paperback and Audio.

NIM at SEA

FOUR HEARTS  ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥

Sequel by Wendy Orr, Nim at Sea, is available on amazon on Kindle, Hardback, Paperback and Audio.

Nim’s adventure continues as she stows away on a cruise ship to save her beloved sea lion friend who has been kidnapped. Her iguana and island girl friends join her in Manhattan in this exciting romp as they run from some unsavory characters!  Beautiful warmth regarding the importance of loyalty and human and animal relationships and welfare.

I highly recommend both these books for kids and family reading.  I believe it would be most fun to read the books, then watch the movies, Nim’s Island and Return to Nim’s Island, together.   Grab the popcorn!  

I hope you enjoyed my reviews.  Please Subscribe, Comment and Share!  <3  ~ Deba Do

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At Your Service!:  Blondie McGhee Detective Series: funny Detective Mystery Series for 9-12 Year Old Girls

While reading Blondie McGhee, I felt a yearning for the me as the young girl that would have loved this book. I know it would have incited the detective bug and I would have been finding a daily mysteries to solve while digging up clues right and left. What fun!

The first book in the series is wholesome and a great empowering experience for young girls.

Excited to share with my granddaughters.

Even more wonderful is that the author, Ashley Eneriz donates 20% of book sale profits to help a mama and her family in need. Two great reasons to add this book to your library!

I hope you will SUBSCRIBE to my blog!  I’ll be bringing more kid/family friendly book reviews of books I have read and love!    As well as family-friendly movies on my MOVIES I LOVE page.

The post Blondie McGhee bk 1~ MG Book Review – Empowering appeared first on Deba Do Tell.

ANCIENT MEETS FUTURE IN THIS FUN SPACE ADVENTURE SERIES FOR KIDS!

My ten year old granddaughter loved this book which sparked her imagination. Fun fantasy (with a hint of a historical twist) in an age appropriate (G 3 – 5), easy to read graphic novel.

“A funny, action-packed graphic novel featuring a young Cleopatra — yes, THAT Cleopatra — who’s transported to the future and learns it’s up to her to save the galaxy!” – amazon

She loved it so much, I bought her the second book in the series.    We especially love Cleo’s cat.  Meow.  =:-}

And good thing the third book in the series finally just came out . . . because she loved the second one, as well, and couldn’t wait for this one as Cleopatra (and my granddaughter) continues the adventure!

If your kids love graphic novels or haven’t yet experienced one,  I think they will enjoy this fun series by author Mike Maihack.

Stay Tuned!  Please Subscribe for new books I and my kids Love!

SHARING is CARING!  I hope you might do so.  Thanks so much!  ♥  Deba Do

The post Cleopatra in Space – (3 bk series) ~ Book Review – Fun! appeared first on Deba Do Tell.

I love kids. They are our light and our hope. For fifteen years I developed and taught a course for kids, The Art of Modeling & Working in TV and Film, for the renowned McCarty Agency. But I made it more than that.    Self-esteem and holding onto individual values with an emphasis on kindness and positive thinking was what I most desired to instill. I continue that hope through my writing for children with a lot of laughs along the way!

I’ve been going through some old albums and found my childhood aspirations of writing and artwork.  Amusing –  haha.  Soon I will tell you my stories of what I did to prepare myself for what I love doing so much now.  Writing & Drawing!

The post Writing For Kids appeared first on Deba Do Tell.

“Ha ha ha ha ha!“ That was me reading these books! I loved the first book, The Terrible Two by  Mac Barnett, Jory John and had to read book 2, The Terrible Two Get Worse.   So clever and entertaining with values without shouting them at you with a satisfying ending.  I’m ordering Book 3 and can’t wait to read it! 

The Terrible Two (3 Book Series) is a great read, available on amazon in Kindle, Hardback and Paperback.

“A double helping of fun and mischief!”
—Jeff Kinney, author of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series

From School Library Journal

I hope you will SUBSCRIBE to my blog!  I’ll be bringing more kid/family friendly book reviews of books I have read and love.    As well as family-friendly movies on my MOVIES I LOVE page.

The post The Terrible Two (3 Book Series) ~ Book Review – Hilarious! appeared first on Deba Do Tell.