Told through a series of email correspondences from Jack Woodson, an engineer turned elementary school math teacher, to Fred Bommerson, a former colleague, an entire school year's worth of trials, tribulations and triumphs are recorded. As the back cover states, this novel is "inspired by real life experiences," which is absolutely believable because so many of the stories that are told in the book simply could not be made up! My own son just finished up third grade this year, and I found myself giggling as Mr. Woodson relayed outrageous statements his students had made, mostly because I could relate.

The tone of the narrative is mostly light and humorous, with clever insights about the wacky experiences that only someone with first-hand experiences with children can truly understand. The account includes a huge emphasis on the testing that is the major event of third grade in our country, but the author does not go the route of much commentary on this fact. Rather, Learn Me Good works as a lighthearted personal perspective on the first year of holding the title of Teacher.

Dawn wishes she had a better memory for all of her funny preschool stories, but she does chronicle her life as a stay-at-home mom of three at my thoughts exactly

Louis and Sarah Uhlberg were both born around the turn of the century and both became deaf as a result of childhood illnesses. At that time in history people assumed that deaf parents would have deaf children and so it was with some degree of (superstition!) and apprehension that the parents and grandparents of young Myron waited to find out whether or not he would be born deaf. Myron talks about how for the first year of his life his whole family would make a point of coming to his parents apartment banging pots and pans to see whether or not they would get a response out of the young baby boy, making sure he could hear the noise. It was believed that you could unlearn or forget out to hear and they wanted to make sure that he would not also go deaf like his parents had before him. (It is kind of interesting reading about how little was understood of the deaf world and how much was misunderstood in the 1930's!)

It was quickly discovered that young Myron could, in fact, hear. Eventually it fell to him to hear what was going on in the world around him and share that with his parents. The Ulbergs had one more son, Myron's younger brother Irwin. Around the age of four, Irwin began having epileptic seizures and because Myron's parents could not hear what was going on, it fell to Myron to help control Irwin during those seizures and make sure that it did not injure himself in the process. Myron definitely shouldered a lot of responsibility in his growing up years and yes, he comments how it left him feeling like he lost his ability to be a child. He had to grow up quickly and help care for his family in a hearing world. But again, even though he does say that he sometimes resented or was embarrassed by his situation, his love for his parents is so strong that it rather overrides any negative vibes that this book might give out. I did not for a second have the impression that if Myron were given the opportunity to do it all over again or live a different life, he would have chosen anything differently. (Maybe he would have, I don't know, but that's not the impression he gives off.) I read his story as if he knew his life was harder or different than most, but that he loved his parents dearly and he clearly knew that his parents loved him.

Hands of My Father is well-told, endearing and an all around interesting read. I highly recommend it as a read that shows great love between a father and his son. It also speaks of responsibility and perseverance which children in today's society seem to know little to nothing about. A great book and a great reminder that sacrificing for the sake of loved ones really isn't that much of a sacrifice after all.

Carrie comes by her book obsession honestly, having descended from a long line of bibliophiles. She blogs about books regularly at Reading to Know.

I saw The Pursuit of Happyness movie when it was released in theaters in 2006. I loved it then. In the beginning of Start Where you Are, Gardner mentions that the movie focuses on one year in his life. To me, even after reading the memoir, that was the most compelling part of the story. It's a great movie and an inspiring story.

I decided to read The Pursuit of Happyness and then I watched the movie again. What a great story.

It's important to note as well, that I think that the movie was being made as Gardner was writing the memoir. So the movie isn't really based on that book — it's based on his story. The story from his memoir to the screen is changed. It's changed a lot. So one could go crazy nitpicking the details, or one could enjoy the general idea of a man fighting to obtain the American dream.

And that theme is still very strong. The movie was both heartwarming and heartbreaking as we watch Will Smith, as Chris Gardner, try to fight his way out of poverty while making a life for his son. And watching this movie a second time convinced me that it's not only a great story, but a great movie.

The movie has flashes of humor, with the way that Smith (as Gardner) provides chapter-like headings in the movie ("This is the time in my life called 'Riding the Bus'"). While I didn't particularly pick that up in the book, after reading some of Start Where you Are, Chris Gardner's newest book, I can see his sense of humor.

So I don't know if it's because of Will Smith or because the move focused on the most incredible part of his story, or because the movie was my first exposure to the story, but I really did like the movie better than the book. Much better. If you want to know Chris Gardner's story, I'd recommend watching the movie. If you want to know more about him and his "can-do" attitude, I'd recommend reading his new book Start Where you Are.

If you've never seen the movie, add it to your list of DVDs to watch this summer.

Managing Editor Jennifer Donovan likes a good story, no matter whether it's told on screen or in the pages. She blogs at Snapshot.

That said, I always think it's kinda funny when people are surprised/amazed and/or alarmed by the fact that I was home schooled growing up. Did I have any friends? Did I get an education at all? Did I LIKE being home schooled? Author Natalie Wickham addresses all of these questions in her book, and couches her answers in the form of stories about her life and the things she has been able to do as a result of being home schooled.

A crazy little secret (or not) about successfully home schooled students is that we typically have more opportunity to seek out opportunities for socialization than our public school counterparts. Our time is just more flexible. Our ability to plan our school work around different activities and opportunities also allows for sweet fellowship with people of all ages. I never thought I was lacking in the social department. (Please do note that I said "successfully" home school students. There are plenty who are not, just as there are successfully uneducated public school students. No education system is perfect in all ways and in everything.)

In Wickham's book she talks a lot about her life experiences, from her early days of piano lessons to beginning and operating her own piano studio. She has worked in politics and implemented character curriculum into her local public school arena. She has done a lot with her time and her experience. This is certainly commendable. If you want an inspirational story about a home schooler who hasn't completely fouled up their life, this is a great book. Natalie Wickham is an excellent writer and shares her heart and her passions very well with her reader.

For my part, in some ways, I felt like I was reading my own life story. (That sounds weird to say.) Our experiences were just so similar that they were hard to ignore as I was reading. Now, I am not of the opinion that everyone is cut out to home school (or BE home schooled). Just like every child is different, so is every parent and we shouldn't place rules on what is best for everyone. (So my counter argument to those who don't think that home schooling is a valid option is that public schools are not for everyone and we should have the freedom and right to home school if we so choose!) For Wickham's family (and my own) - home schooling was the right option. It is clear to Wickham that home schooling was a naturally good fit for her. I feel the same about my own experience growing up. It was easy for me to identify with everything she shared and was saying.

I think books like Pajama School serve an excellent purpose. I know a lot of home school parents (or perhaps the grandparents!) who crave encouragement that their children can and will turn out well. Think about it this way: as a parent we need validation and encouragement that we won't screw our kids up. A home school parent needs the additional encouragement that they won't screw up the kid educationally as well as emotionally! It's a hard road to commit to and books such as this one offer validation and confirmation that home schooled children can (and do!) turn out well.

This isn't a "You MUST home school OR ELSE" type of book. It is a testimony of one (and only one) home school grad who has enjoyed her life and her experiences, her family and her faith, and who is pursuing the best for her life. It is inspirational and interesting - probably particularly if you are thinking of home schooling or know a family who is. This book offers hope and therefore I am glad it exists.

Want to win a copy of Pajama School? Leave a comment below.

Our latest giveaway winner is:

Smart Mama's Green Guide: #5 Stephanie

If you didn't receive an email asking for your address, check your spam folder, but please contact us with your shipping info within the next week.

Feel free to enter our other current giveaways. Subscribe to our feed. Follow us @5M4B on Twitter. (These do not earn you extra entries, but we'd love for you to be able to stay in touch!)

Carrie comes by her book obsession honestly, having descended from a long line of bibliophiles. She blogs about books regularly at Reading to Know.

These children's books by Thomas Nelson are sure to delight any child who is an animal lover. Want to Romp, Stomp, and Waddle Home!? This book comes with six magnet pieces (5 animals, 1 Jack). Each page is magnetized so that children can place the animals within the scene of the pictures. Each page spread gives follow-the-direction instructions as to where to put the animals. This book is playful fun. It's not informative so much as it's just a way for children to familiarize themselves through pictures and magnets what the animal habits look like in comparison to our own. This is a hefty book (i.e., it weighs a lot!). I was kinda surprised by that but it has proved to be quite sturdy and well-made.

Passport Into the Wild gives children a chance to (as the subtitle says) explore the 7 continents in search of the most incredible animals on the planet! The reader receives his or her own personal passport so that they can be cleared for travel. Stickers and foldout pages are also included. The book opens up with an introductory letter from Hanna to his reader, telling them what they can expect on their adventures. Upon arriving on any given continent, the reader is given important stats such as how big the continent is, how it ranks in size to the others, what the population is, and numbers of countries included within - to name a few. All of the pictures shown within the book are displayed "snapshot" style to give the book the look and feel of a travel journal. This book is much more informative. It's cleverly interactive, drawing the young explorer into the pages and giving them things to look at and think about. I really like the way this book has been put together.

Animals are always a popular subject matter in our house. We had fun with these two books and I suspect that any of your youngsters who had a passion for furry and exotic looking friends would also have a good time.

Carrie comes by her book obsession honestly, having descended from a long line of bibliophiles. She blogs about books regularly at Reading to Know.

Gregory Kemp has given voice to the worlds of many a small mammal in this delightful story. I have to admit that I was a bit dense in the beginning, as the author does not outright state the setting, and apparently I was missing all the (now obvious upon looking back) clues throughout the first part of the narrative. Once the light bulb went off, I was able to look at the story with new eyes, as the setting is one that is quite familiar to most of us, especially those of us with children. (But that's all that I'm going to say about that– we have a general no-spoiler standard here!)

I was really taken by the creative ways in which the mannerisms and personalities of the cast of animal characters were portrayed. Simply picture perfect, time and time again with each new animal. The story line is a classic one of many seemingly different groups coming together to work for the common good against the forces of the selfish bad guys. While that sounds somewhat simplistic, this novel is anything but. I think that different aged readers will take away a variety of messages from the story, with older ones being able to draw social and political parallels, while younger readers will most likely be caught up in the action and adventure. I'm thinking that this book will go on my almost-9 year old's reading list quite soon, and other than just a few body part jokes and expletives at the very end, I would deem it appropriate fare.

For an action-filled story complete with an underdog prairie dog hero, villainous rats and a lively cast of small mammal characters, The Legend of Vinny Whiskers is a perfect fit.

When Dawn's not reading, she's often blogging about her own three small mammals at my thoughts exactly.

Speaking of the bookclub, next month we will feature Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier. Read the book on your own, then come back here on August 4, and join us in discussing it (in the comments, or via a post on your blog).

We have also decided to add in a contemporary pick for September 1: The Rooftops of Tehran. It's linked to Jennifer's review. It's sort of last minute, but I hope that you'll join us. It's a paperback, so it's not too expensive if you have to buy it.

So now for this month's questions:

1. Do your reading habits change in the summer? Do you read more, less, different types of books?
2. What's your favorite summer read?

Personally, I tend to read less in the summer. We're busy with softball and tennis most nights, so I don't have as much time to read. I used to gravitate toward lighter reading material during the summer, but that's changed in recent years.

I can't think of a summer read that stands out as my favorite, can you? I'm looking forward to your responses!

This might seem a contraction, but I know that in my experience with my young tween, she doesn't shy away from hard or unusual. In fact, she likes to experiment and try to invent her own dishes. I think that Sam Stern's style goes right along with this tendency, getting young people excited about the process.

The book also features lots of pictures of he and his chums having fun (oops, I slipped into his British speak there for a minute). In fact, the book is organized into eight chapters — each one featuring a favorite ingredient of one of his friends (tomatoes, cheese, pasta, vegetables, meat, potatoes, sweet stuff, and chocolate). Even the written text of the recipes have a very hip, chatty, comfortable feel — as if your mate (oops–there I go again) is teaching you how to make his favorite recipe. But seriously, with entire chapters devoted to the likes of cheese, potatoes, and chocolate — you'd be hard-pressed not to find a recipe that cries out to you.

This book would definitely be a great idea to inspire a teen or young adult cook-in-training (and would make a great gift), but the recipes are accessible to all (perhaps on the more gourmet or adventurous side).

Speaking of kids who like to cook, my friend Lee just launched a new blog: Foodie plus 4 (she's the foodie, the plus 4 are her kids). She actually guest-reviewed a cookbook for us here: Cooking with Trader Joe's. Pop over and say hi!

Managing Editor Jennifer Donovan enjoys cooking (and eating). Reading about cooking is good stuff too. She blogs at Snapshot.

We also love to give them yummy treats on special occasions. Frequently we like making special occasions out of ordinary days. We love creating things that will cause our children's eyes to light up and sparkle. I know that I love to hear my son laugh when he's delighted by something that I've presented him with. Pure, undefiled enjoyment of a young child. You cannot beat that with anything! Enter BabyCakes: Vegan, Gluten-Free, and (Mostly) Sugar-Free Recipes from New York's Most Talked-About Bakery. Excepting the fact that I haven't been talking very much about this bakery, everything else included in the title is true. This is the recipe book to beat all vegan recipe books for children. What is most appealing about it? Cupcakes. Cakes. Scones. Cobblers. Yummy sounding, tasty things that LOOK tasty also. Deliciousness. Furthermore, all of the things I just mentioned can be made with healthy ingredients.

Click on over to 5 Minutes for Mom to read the rest of my review. You can also enter to win a copy for yourself.

Carrie comes by her book obsession honestly, having descended from a long line of bibliophiles. She blogs about books regularly at Reading to Know.

Well, Nina Vida's novel The Texicans reminds me of Lonesome Dove in its honest, sometimes bleak portrayal of life in Texas in the mid 1800’s. No romantic rose colored glasses are employed in the telling of Joseph Kimmel’s journey to Texas to settle his brother’s accounts after his death. Vida writes with honest realism, almost matter of factly relating Joseph’s experiences with Indians and Rangers and the odd mix of fellow sojourners he seems to collect along the way.

1843, San Antonio, the Republic of Texas. Mexican-born Aurelia Ruiz finds that she may have the power to heal—as well as to curse. She definitely has the power to attract men. Willie Barnett, a young Texas Ranger, becomes infatuated with her. Her father sells her to him but insists on a wedding. To the other Rangers such a marriage is anathema. When Barnett is killed by Native Americans, pregnant Aurelia finds shelter in a Comanche camp.

Joseph Kimmel, a teacher in Independence, Missouri and son of a Polish Jew, receives word of the death of his brother in San Antonio and sets off for Texas. On the way his horse is stolen by a runaway slave. Rescued by Henry Castro, who is importing immigrants to populate his planned city, Joseph agrees to marry an Alsatian girl to save her from the Comanches, and they go forth to start their own ranch.

Then Joseph meets and is enthralled by Aurelia. When the Texas Rangers hear of the Kimmel ranch, where runaway slaves and a Mexican woman live as equals with the owner and his wife, they lynch the men and kidnap the women and children. To his wife’s consternation, Joseph cannot forget Aurelia.

In The Texicans, life is hard and times are turbulent. Survival is no guarantee and violence is an ever present threat. Though Vida deals with life just as it was, do not think her writing is merely a recitation of the facts. It’s a bleak tale, no doubt about it, but not so overdone that the reader wants to look for the nearest bridge to jump off. Rather, Vida’s prose is haunting in its simplicity and the desperation and determination of her characters remain with the reader long after the last page is turned. Like Lonesome Dove, it is difficult to express exactly why I liked The Texicans but I did.

Note: this book is unlike ones that I usually read and recommend in that there is violence and sex both. However, neither are salacious nor gratuitous. Vida deals with both in the kind of matter-of-fact tone that reflects the despair and danger of life in Texas’ early years.

Wife and mother, Bible teacher and blogger, Lisa loves Jesus, coffee, dark chocolate and, of course, books. Read more of her reflections at Lisa writes….

A few weeks ago I asked him if he wanted to learn a letter. He gave me a fairly enthusiastic response so I drew an A on a piece of paper and explained that there are "Mommy A's and Baby a's" (which is a concept he can certainly grasp hold of!). We pulled out our copy of the Berenstains' A Book and he proceeded to identify mommy and baby A's all over the place. The next day I offered to show him a B and we learned to identify B's (and, of course, read The Berenstains' B Book. Progress! We're currently on the letter E and he points letters out to me all over town. (The drawback to learning letters, I've discovered, is that it takes F-O-R-E-V-E-R to read through a book because he wants to identify every letter possible! See? There's always something to complain about.)

So we look for the positives. I was looking for some alphabet games to play when I came across Learning Resources Alpha-Bug Step'n'Spell. It is a game pad you step on to learn to a.) identify letters b.) learn the sounds letters make and c.) learn how to spell. Again, I repeat (as a mother to a 2 1/2 year old!) — it's A GAME THAT YOU STEP ON! How cool is that?! I'd let you ask the two year old but he's busy dancing around the mat stepping on "a red vowel" and laughing at the caterpillar who is "wow-ing" him on as he identifies a-e-i-o and u!

So how does it work, really? Well, the game is marketed for ages 4 through 7 but my son is two and we're having a great time with it. It's true he can't play it alone but standing nearby to offer some prompting and help isn't bothering me at all. Level 1 offers the chance to step on a letter and hear the sound that it makes. That's exactly where we're at so that's the game we've spent the most time on. We played a round of the spelling level 1. In that game, it tells you to "Spell the word 'sit.' Find the letter 's.' Find the letter 'i.' And so on and so forth. It prompts you to find the letter and then affirms that you've spelled the word correctly. It is pretty basic but above where my son is at so I'm glad to know that we can use it now and it is also something that we can grow into.

You know, before he was born I said we wouldn't use electronic gadgets and gizmos to learn how to read (or to do anything else for that matter) but there's something gloriously fun about stepping on a giant caterpillar and singing the alphabet song at the top of your lungs - WITH mommy, mind you! - for fun. If a game can make learning fun - and if my son is actually learning then I'm pro-electronic game. In this case, I feel pretty happy in 'plugging' the Alpha-Bug Step-n-Spell because my son is learning to identify letters and the sounds they make as a result of it. (He has since been caught walking around the house repeating, "A says A and ah!" I smile.

Another great learning tool from Learning Resources is their Alphabet Puzzle Cards. We've used them as they were intended - as puzzle matching cards, as well as a "Go Fish!" game. (That was a big hit.)

Sure, we have a long ways to go in the reading department but we all have to start someplace — one letter at a time. It's exciting to see "the wheels turning" in my son's mind as he is connecting dots and identifying letters and sounds. It's a great beginning to what I hope will be a wonderful journey for him! I know the journey is fun for me and if I can pass just a little of my excitement on to him, I'll consider it a great success!

I know you moms out there care about the resources that you provide for your children. You want to make sure it's top quality - and USEFUL! - "stuff." Learning Resources really do provide some excellent learning materials, aside from the two mentioned above (which are pretty cool). I've been familiar with their company for quite some time and I'm glad to finally be moving into a stage where I can really engage with my son with some of their materials. It's just FUN. You can learn more about them by visiting the Learning Resource website. They have a special site for parents with more information about these and other products. Take a minute to check them out!

And HAPPY READING - in whatever stage that may find you in!

Carrie comes by her book obsession honestly, having descended from a long line of bibliophiles. She blogs about books regularly at Reading to Know.

In Spicy Hot Colors, the above author and illustrator pair up again in this book that is a Nappa Gold Winner. Again, children are given the primary word (in this case, colors) in both English and Spanish. This story is told in a kind of poetic rhyme. For example, for the color red/rojo we read:

"Read as chili sauce
Drip-drop
Spicy hot
Red as firecrackers
Snap! Bang!
Bebop Pop!"

The illustrations in this book are not as complex but are more straightforward, typically focusing on one item that displays the color in question.

Cool Cats Counting is lots of fun and is another offering from the Shahan/Barragan team. As you might have surmised from the title, this book deals with counting. There is una chiva (one goat), dos perros (two dogs), tres gansos (three geese), etc., etc. The illustrations in this book are simplified once again, only focusing on the animals and quantities in focus. I think my favorite page spread in this particular book is of the seven rabbits who "jump-and-jive, slappin' high-five. Zippety-do-rah!" They just look so festive. The page looks like a holiday of sorts. Either that or a trip to Disneyland.

These books are very unique and have their own flavor to them which quite sets them apart from your "regular" children's book (if there is such a thing as a "regular" book!). Shahan and Barragan are paired well in verse and image and have created a fun reading cultural experience. For something a little out of your ordinary, you might want to check these out!

Carrie comes by her book obsession honestly, having descended from a long line of bibliophiles. She blogs about books regularly at Reading to Know.

The girl’s got writing skillz, no two ways about it. But it wasn’t just the sheer pleasure of reading her writing her that kept me glued to the pages. Finding an Unseen God is Chole’s memoir, a chronicle of her transformation from atheist to born again believer in the Lord Jesus Christ—“the encounter” as she refers to the experience. Prior to the "encounter," Alicia’s worldview could be summarized as

Truth is dead.
God never lived.
Life is filled with pain.
Death is the end of life.

That is, until…

…one day, without warning and without invitation, my Atheistic worldview was shattered like fine glassware on a concrete floor, leaving me bloodied, stunned, and speechless. It was as though something you were absolutely certain existed only as the stuff and fluff of fairy tales knocked loud and clear and then stood there offending all your senses on the doorstep.

But it’s more than a memoir. It is also a philosophical examination of atheism and Christianity alike, an examination that prompts such evaluations as:

Is my belief system…consistent (at its core)?
Is my belief system…livable (and not just quotable)?
Is my belief system…sustainable (through life-size pain)?
Is my belief system…transferable (to others)?

Lest you think apologetics is a dry exercise fitting only for academic types, Chole’s book is anything but dry or academic. Instead, she creatively and seamlessly combines her transparently personal memoir with an honest and rational look at the implications of atheism in comparison to following the Lord Jesus Christ. And don’t think she now hates on atheists. Quite the contrary. In fact, she writes with great respect for atheism, admitting it still makes sense to her and confessing her delight in meeting a practicing atheist. Yet her respect for atheism could not hold sway to the overwhelming presence of the Lord God who sought her out and saved her even when she didn’t think she wanted or needed Him.

Chole’s prose is beautiful. Her memoir, creative and intelligent. Her apologetics, intellectual yet compassionate. Her “encounter,” a glorious testimony of the God who seeks and saves the lost.

Wife and mother, Bible teacher and blogger, Lisa loves Jesus, coffee, dark chocolate and, of course, books. Read more of her reflections at Lisa writes….

I didn't know anything about it. It is a classic to be sure, and I felt like it was a movie I should see. After watching the movie, I decided to read Truman Capote's novella so that I could compare the two.

In this case, I can say without reservation that I liked the movie better. For one thing — George Peppard — he was totally dreamy! The iconic Holly Golightly was appropriately flaky, and beautiful as played by Audrey Hepburn. I found her to be more likable in the movie than the book. As they say in the movie (and the book), "She's a phony. But she's a real phony." There were actually many lines that made it word for word into the film.

The framework of the story is the same, but I found the characters to be more fleshed-out in the movie, especially Paul Varjak (Peppard), who is the first person narrator of the novella and about whom we learn little in that work. Henry Mancini provides the perfect soundtrack, most notably the Academy Award winning song Moon River.

In my opinion you can skip the novella and get to know these iconic characters and images of the 60's by watching the movie. I'm not particularly a fan of old movies, but this one is worth a look.

Managing Editor Jennifer Donovan likes a good story, no matter whether it's told on screen or in the pages. She blogs at Snapshot.

Are you looking forward to any summer blockbusters? Or perhaps there's a DVD release that you loved (or hated) after reading the book. We love to feature guest contributors to the Books on Screen column.

Submit your ideas to me at 5minutesforbooksATgmail(dot)com.

The story is driven by three plots - a strained marriage, a widower's search for answers, and a tragic accident. Various subplots take us deeper into the lives and relationships between Sullivan, Lucia Coffey and her sister Sonia Cabot - three individuals in desperate need of healing.

Sonia is a best-selling Christian author and singer at the top of her game when her plane crashes. She is burned beyond recognition, and her faith is put to the test. Sonia commands Lucia to come home with her and assist in the recovery process. Lucia, a nurse with no backbone, relents and leaves her husband (and tenuous marriage) behind. Enter Sullivan, Sonia's friend and Christian psychologist. He wants to help the sisters, but must face some questions about his own past before he can concentrate on the present.

There's a lot going on, but Rue and Arterburn do a fantastic job of pulling the reader in and keeping her attention for all 402 pages. I was more drawn in by this story than I have been by any other in quite a while. Healing Waters is a compelling read that will stay with me for a long time to come.

Melissa has been captivated by books for as long as she can remember. She resides in Virginia and blogs at Breath of Life.