Life Skills

Posted on October 28, 2022January 30, 2023 by keepinthesunlightblog@gmail.com

Life Skills (2021)
by Keilly Swift

This gem of a book teaches life skills like critical thinking, problem solving, communication, dealing with feelings, and so much more. Each page is a beautiful map of engaging pictures and text, as well as many interactive ideas.

Full disclosure: I have not read this entire book. It is chock-full of amazing material on each page that can be enjoyed and absorbed over and over. This book is directed towards children, but my desire to own this book is not only for my kids, but for ME. Reading these life skills laid out so openly and approachable is such a gift to the readers of this book. This seems like a great book for kids in their pre-teen years, but it could easily be an interactive read with youngers, or as I mentioned, an enjoyable read for teens and adults as well. The world needs more books like this! I cannot praise it enough.

The Year of Living Danishly

Posted on March 12, 2021May 3, 2023 by keepinthesunlightblog@gmail.com

The Year of Living Danishly (2015)
by Helen Russell

This book tells the story of the author and her husband (both British) and their year living and working in Denmark. Helen Russell had read that Denmark had repeatedly been listed as one of the “happiest” countries in the world. So during her year there, she sets out to figure out why. Each month (chapter) covers a different piece of society from education to health to hobbies. Helen’s writing is engaging and quite hilarious at times. But, I gotta say, the more I read about Denmark (at least how it was presented in this book), the more I felt like I was reading a dystopian novel. I wondered if the Danes she talked about were really, actually happy or just happy because their lives were mapped out for them. There were a few very disturbing bits in the animal segment. And I didn’t appreciate the condescension she received at various times throughout the book. I wasn’t sold on Denmark at the end, or really at all, but the author was. I wondered if her attraction to Denmark was really just because they had chosen a slower pace of life than their city home and bustling careers. hmmm. Anyway, I’m glad I read it, and I look forward to reading other books by Ms. Russell. I just don’t see us moving to Denmark anytime soon.

There’s No Such Thing as Bad Weather

Posted on March 11, 2021May 3, 2023 by keepinthesunlightblog@gmail.com

2017
by Linda Akeson McGurk

I have to say, I am a total wuss about weather. I’ve spent most of my life living in mild, warm climates. I easily get “too hot” or “too cold,” and being a homebody anyway, it’s a safe bet that turning back to go into the house comes quicker to me than most.

All that being said, I KNOW in my heart the importance of being outside. I can feel it. When I was a kid and we were outside for recess or break, regardless of “weather” ( I will say heavily in quotes), I loved the feeling of wind on my face or a chill in the air or the warm sun shining down and heating my head. As a grown-up, I have the ability to go in when it’s the slightest bit uncomfortable. But, oddly, I miss the “uncomfortableness” of being outside in different weather.

Every time I read The Secret Garden, I vow to spend our entire days outside. I want our kids to run and be out in nature. Not only for their health and mental well-being, but as a way to connect with the natural world. To love it and care for it. Our world needs us as much as we need it. Having people trapped inside and staring at devices all day isn’t doing our world any good for gaining supporters who will step up for our precious Mother Nature. A huge disconnect has happened, and people don’t make the important connections about where their “stuff” is coming from and what will happen to it when they’re done with it.

I’m digressing though. There’s No Such Thing as Bad Weather is the author’s story and exploration of children’s time with Nature. Although her girls were born in the U.S., Linda was born in Sweden, where kids are encouraged to be outside playing, no matter the weather. So, when her family has a 6-month stay in Sweden after news of a sick family member there, the author takes the opportunity to reflect on the different approach taken in her native country.

In Sweden, outdoor time, especially for children, is highly valued. School tests and academics at ridiculously young ages are something this mom faced in her American hometown, but when her girls enroll in Swedish schools, the emphasis on play and Nature far outweighs stressful academic benchmarks. Linda goes on to reflect on other parental issues, germs and technology and when to give kids more freedom.

This book has truly been an inspiration, and I hope to re-read it again soon. Even as a parent who highly limits screen time, I find that, especially with Covid, our outdoor time has been lacking this past year. Getting out of the house with the kids is TOUGH, and I appreciate that the author acknowledges she faces these same struggles too. Sometimes, even just to step onto our front step feels like a major accomplishment. But this book has helped me realize what I’ve known all along. It’s always worth it. I need to be okay with the getting-out-the-door battles or the risk that the outing will be a big, fat fail, because the times that do work are wonderful. I think the more it can be habit and routine, the more likely it will happen. And, yes, I agree, that when the kids have other kids to play with, instead of their old mama, they’ll be inspired to play outdoors more frequently and for longer. It’s been a strange year for that piece of the puzzle. But as far as Nature goes, it’s always there waiting, regardless of the weather.

You may also enjoy:
The Secret Garden
The Year of Living Danishly

All Thirteen

Posted on November 16, 2020January 3, 2022 by keepinthesunlightblog@gmail.com

All Thirteen (2020) by Christina Soontornvat

I must start by saying this: I didn’t want to read this book.

Ok, that’s not exactly true. I heard an interview with the author on KidsAskAuthors podcast, and I really, really wanted to read this. I’m usually pretty out of the news loop as it is, but in summer 2018, I was in complete parenting survival mode. So, I wasn’t experiencing this on the news or on social media the way that apparently the whole entire world was. No, the interview on Grace Lin’s show was honestly the first I’d heard anything about it. And I wanted to hear more. And I could tell Christina Soontornvat had done an amazing job, because, well, I could just tell she was awesome by her interview.

But….I am TERRIFIED, I mean terrified, of small, enclosed spaces. I’m a claustrophobic, panic attacker to the Nth degree. So, reading a story about 13 people trapped in a cave for 18 days?! Well, sounds kind of wussy after reading this incredible story, but I just didn’t think I could do it. So, I did the next best thing. I ordered the book from the library to assign to my husband to read and tell me about it. (Shameless, I know.) But then, I picked it up one night. Just to read the opening, y’know. And that was it. I was hooked. I had to go tend to a child soon after and didn’t get too far, but the next morning I read the entire rest of the book. There was zero way to put it down. Zero.

So, in case you, like me, were in some sort of metaphorical cave of your own when this all happened, the basic story is this: 12 boys and their soccer coach decided to go explore a cave after practice one day. Only, when they go to leave, they discover they are trapped by rising water. They find a small place to shelter deep within this cave and there they wait. Meanwhile, unbeknownst to them, their rescue becomes an international mission. Groups and individuals are brought in from all over the world to help rescue these soccer players. People are glued to their screens (except, apparently, me) wondering what will happen. How will this end?

I think what I loved so much about this story and what drew me to overcome my claustrophobic fears about reading it, was seeing how many people worked so hard and risked so much to save people they had never met. It was 10 days before anybody even knew if these boys were alive. To have that much faith and that much determination in order to save these precious lives just makes my heart overflow with hope for humanity. And I love that the author doesn’t ignore that this was the work of so many more people than just the incredibly brave heroes who were in the cave. With any big event, there is food that is needed and clothes to be washed. Sometimes I’m a bit cynical about news reporters, but I loved hearing how news stories brought the supplies that were very much needed. I can also be a bit hesitant about new technologies. But to hear how they are used in a situation like this is sobering. And just think of the translators needed…

I’m just in awe of everyone involved in this event. The soccer players who were able to wait in a small, dark, trapped space without food or any reassurance that they’d be rescued. It’s a huge inspiration for finally starting meditation, because, Wow. And then the people who came to the site, whether from town or from halfway across the world. Who worked together and worked through cultural differences to come up with a solid plan to save these precious human lives.

This story is one of hope and good. Of faith and trust. Of the strength of the human spirit and of the truly miraculous things we can do when we work together.

I read much of this through blurry tears. And whether you were involved in the story as it was happening or not, I cannot recommend this book highly enough.

The Woman’s Hour: Our Fight For the Right to Vote

Posted on August 20, 2020January 3, 2022 by keepinthesunlightblog@gmail.com

The Woman’s Hour (2020) by Elaine Weiss

The Woman’s Hour covers the history of women’s suffrage and the lead-up to that final vote in the final state that led to the Nineteenth Amendment passing. I was never interested in history growing up and would have laughed at the idea of devouring a history book. But, as I grow older and cover history with our kids in homeschool, I’m realizing just how fascinating it is. The story of the Nineteenth Amendment has courage, drama, suspense, entertainment, and heart all on its own. But writer, Elaine Weiss and adapter, Erica Moroz, sure add to it. You’ll definitely want to check this one out!

This book is a young reader version, based on the adult book, The Woman’s Hour: The Great Fight to Win the Vote. While I have yet to read the original version, the young reader one is definitely worth your while.