this is a sponsored post Fall is here which means we're trading long walks in the park for raking leaves.  Funny thing we have a backyard full of leaves on the ground and all the trees in our backyard of STILL full of leaves.  My husband likes to wait until the trees get a little bare before raking up all the leaves and then he mulches them with our lawnmower for use in our garden.  Still lots of free opportunities for exercise courtesy of Mother Nature. We are staunch believers in taking care of one's whole self:  mind, body and spirit and always looking for ways to better ourselves.  Recently, Hachette Book Group sent  us a copy of   15 Ways to Live Longer and Healthier  by Joel Osteen. 15 Ways to Live Longer and Healthier  by Joel Osteen is a transformative guide to achieving a healthier and more fulfilling life. Known for his motivational and spiritual works, Osteen brings his uplifting approach to the realm of wellness and longevity...

Fall is a season of reflection and cozy comfort, making it the perfect time to curl up with a good book and a soothing cup of homemade chamomile tea.  Don't get me wrong, we love our sweet tea but there's nothing like a warm cup of your favorite tea on a chilly morn. I recently picked up some chamomile flowers and a copy of " Managing Your Emotions " by Joyce Meyer courtesy to Hachette Book Group.  Chamomile is one of my favorite teas because it helps me to unwind and has several health benefits.  Thought I'd share my favorite chamomile tea recipe and a few thoughts on Meyer's latest release.  Funny thing, this book was a perfect complement to the calming essence of the chamomile tea.  Homemade Chamomile Tea Recipe:  Ingredients:  1 tablespoon of dried chamomile flowers (or 1 chamomile tea bag)  1 cup of hot water  1 teaspoon of honey (optional)  A slice of lemon (optional)  Instructions:  Boil water and let it cool slightly to...

Fall is upon us, and Hachette Book Group has unveiled a remarkable lineup of new releases that promise to make the season even more magical. These titles span various genres, offering something for every reader.  Check out these five upcoming Hachette's captivating Fall releases, links to excerpts from each book  PLUS a special giveaway at the end of this post!  1.  Charlie Brown’s Christmas Miracle  by Michael Keane (Release Date: November 1, 2023) - Just in time for the holiday season, "Charlie Brown’s Christmas Miracle" brings the beloved Peanuts characters back to life. Michael Keane's heartwarming story captures the spirit of Christmas and the enduring friendship of Charlie Brown and his gang. Click here to read an excerpt   2. Managing Your Emotions  by Joyce Meyer (Release Date: October 4, 2023) - In "Managing Your Emotions," Joyce Meyer explores the complexities of human emotions. This invaluable resource provides guidance for understanding...

Have you started planting your garden yet? This year we are planting tomatoes, some lettuce and cabbage. We've had quite a rainy Spring so we decided to wait a couple of weeks before planting.  Gardening is one of our favorite hobbies here in the Three Boys and an Old Lady household because we get to eat the rewards.  There is nothing better than fresh salsa made with tomatoes handpicked from your garden.   We're so excited to share this bundle of Springtime reads with you.  Each book is beautifully illustrated and sure to bring a smile as you share with your new reader.   Young cooks will learn about the edible gifts that each season brings in What's Cooking in Flowerville? Recipes from Garden, Balcony or Window Box by Felicita Sala (US publication info - 4/5/22; ISBN: 978-3791375182; Hardcover $14.95; Ages 5-9; 40 pages),   This warm and inviting collection of recipes from the author of What’s Cooking at 10 Garden Street. Each month featur...

Once upon a time a group of friends were seeking a place to call home. The desert was too hot, the valley was too wet and the mountain was too windy.  Then they found the forest. It was perfect. The leaves gave shelter from the sun and rain, and a gentle breeze wound through the branches.  But the friends soon wanted to build shelters.  The shelters became houses, then the houses got bigger.  All too soon they wanted to control the environment and built a huge wood wall around the community. As they cut down the trees, the forest becomes thinner, until there is just one last tree standing.  It is down to the children to find a solution. Our Thoughts:   This is a story of awareness.  Truth can hurt sometimes but author Emily Haworth-Booth shares the reality of what has happened as mankind continues to build bigger and taller.  Albeit a tad grim, the story shows what happens when the people realize the error of their ways and make changes for ...

Alone!          There once was a boy called Billy McGill who lived by himself at the top of a hill. He spent every day in his house all alone for Billy McGill liked to be on his own... One day Billy hears the squeak of a mouse, which destroys his peaceful existence. So he gets a cat to catch the mouse. But the cat and the mouse make friends. So he gets a dog to chase the cat. But they all play together. So then he gets a bear... then a tiger... and on it goes, until Billy's house is so filled with animals that he has to move out. Will he find that he still craves peace and quiet, or is it better to have company and friends? This a laugh-out-loud story of growing chaos, with a subtle message about how it's good to have friends.  Our Thoughts : My niece dubbed this one her "Pandemic Read" because she spent so much time "alone".  Overall, we loved this book!  Full of deep, brown, Autumn-colored watercolor illustrations and rhythmic text Alone!...

Disclosure:  Many thanks to our partners at MM Publicity for sharing this book for our review. The Greatest Show Penguin      Poppy the Penguin comes from a long line of circus performers. Many skills have been passed down from penguin to penguin. However, Poppy soon decides that performing in the family circus is not for her, as she prefers to feel calm and in control.  But the hardest thing is not juggling, or riding a unicycle--it's telling her mum that she doesn't want to perform any more. Her bravery is worth it when Poppy discovers a better role--organizing and coordinating the whole show. And what a show it turns out to be! This tale of overcoming shyness and lack of confidence is both a funny and sensitive parody of the record-breaking movie The Greatest Showman, and a celebration of girl power! Our Thoughts: The Littlest One LOVED this book!  It's perfect for new readers and full of vivid watercolor graphics and a message too.  Young readers w...

We are always happy to support small businesses and bookstores are one of our favorite small businesses.  Our favorite local bookstore has had to change a few things since the pandemic began, most notably the number of customers allowed in the store at one time.  We kinda like it.  It's like having the bookstore all to ourselves.  A giant world of books to call our very own. 😁 Looking for some great gift ideas?  Check out these book and gift ideas at your local bookstore or order online now to ensure delivery in time for holiday gift giving. Glass, concrete, windows, walls, roofs, and more—create your own metropolitan masterpiece.  Build a Skyscraper (Pavilion Children's Books; September 2020; ISBN: 978-1843654742; Ages 3-5; Set $19.69; 64 pages) by Paul Farrell is the second in a new series of graphic-designed cards that turn the image of a skyscraper into a work of art.  This pack contains 64 cards (4 x 2¾ inches) in a variety of graphic designs an...

  2020 is shaping up to be the craziest year ever.  A lot of us had to jump into homeschooling quick, fast and in a hurry.  Transitioning from long days at the office to setting up a home office.  Learning creative ways to keeps the kids occupied as we took those conference calls.  I was doing just fine and until the day my brother started working from home and I immediately became the family Tech Wizard. I can laugh about it now but trust me helping someone set up a desktop computer and modem over the phone is definitely a test of patience. Trust me. The year has us rethinking some things, changing a few things and tweaking our daily routines but overall we're doing okay despite the fact that our Spring Break vacation was cancelled, our Summer vacation plans tossed and looks like our Fall travel plans are in jeopardy as well.  2020 is definitely teaching me that I am stronger than I ever knew I was.  A positive attitude is one of the things that is he...

October has come and gone but I would be remiss not to share some of the inspirational October releases from Faith Words, a division of Hachette Book Group.  I have been swamped with volunteer activities and a new puppy.  As I mentioned a few months ago, our beloved doggy of 13 years passed away over the summer.  After some careful consideration, Hubby and I decided we wanted to have another doggy.  He's keeping us pretty busy and we love it! October was a rollercoaster of emotions for me.  I attended not one but TWO amazing social media conferences.  Lots of volunteer activities with our church youth. I won a 2nd place ribbon at the State Fair for one of my poems.  Go me!!!  It was my first time participating so not too shabby huh?  I volunteered for the Susan B Komen Race for the Cure and had my annual mammogram.  This was the first time in a long time I didn't walk the race.  It was too emotional for me.  So much so tha...

Happy Halloween! Have we got the perfect Halloween read for kiddos ages 4-8! Frankie's Scared of EVERYTHING by tattoo artist Mathew Franklin (10/7/2019; Building Block Press; ISBN: 978-1944201227; Age 4-8; 32 pages; Hardcover $19.95) You would be scared too if your own brain was out to get you! The world can be a dark place. More and more we find ourselves and our children feeling overwhelmed by the unknown and the pressures of society. This book helps instill early on the fact that our fears can be our greatest strengths. Follow Frankie as their imagination runs wild creating robots, beasts, sea creatures, and even a mole man on this technicolor adventure. Being afraid has never looked so fun. About the author/illustrator : Mathew Franklin is a tattoo artist, painter, graphic designer, and musician. After receiving degrees in painting and photography from Miami University he immediately became a staple in the art scene in Columbus, Ohio where he currently resi...

We are HUGE readers here in the Three Boys and an Old Lady household and always on the lookout for fun books to share. Thanks to our friends at Running Press Kids for sending us copies of Awesome Achievers in Technology (ISBN: 978-0762463367) and Awesome Achievers in Science (ISBN: 978-0762463381) by Alan Katz and illustrated by Chris Judge.  We are no strangers to Alan Katz.  His fun, rhythmic text is a favorite!  Check out one of our faves, I'm Still Here in the Bathtub .  So any opportunity to read and share his books is welcomed. Over the Summer, Alan released two amazing books  Awesome Achievers in Technology and   Awesome Achievers in Science.   Everyone has heard the name Steve Jobs, but what about Nolan Bushnell--Jobs's boss before the invention of Apple, and the founder of the first major video game, Pong? In  Awesome Achievers in Technology  we see m any of the most relevant figures in tech history have remaine...