Newsletter for April 2024

Featured Books

My Father's Suitcase by Mary Garden

A gripping tale of resilience and survival that offers hope to others who have experienced family violence and suffered at the hands of a sibling.

 

A deeply personal and heartbreaking memoir that explores the

troubled relationship between Mary Garden and her younger sister, Anna. (Anna died in 2023, after a short illness.)

 

Mary unpacks her life of growing up in New Zealand in the 1950s and 60s, before making Australia home. She reveals complex layers of intergenerational trauma, including the baggage of her eccentric, deeply flawed father and the secret her mother kept from all of them, revealed only after her death. Mary deals movingly with her sister’s long battle with mental illness and how she once saved Anna’s life.

 

As she unravels these narratives, Mary touches on the guilt and shame familiar to anyone who has had to deal with secrets, violence and ‘madness’ in their family. She also shines a light on sibling abuse, the most common form of abuse in the context of family violence ‒ occurring up to five times as frequently as spousal or parental child abuse ‒ although it is often dismissed as ‘sibling rivalry’. This form of abuse causes far-reaching, long-lasting harm and trauma.

 

Pebbles and the Biggest Number A STEM Adventure for Kids by Joey Benun (Author), Brooke Vitale (Editor), Laura Watson (Illustrator)

The book follows Pebbles the butterfly as he travels the world in search of the biggest number. The story begins with Pebbles feeling bored with counting the same small number of objects in his garden. Eager for a change, he embarks on a quest to find bigger numbers. Along the way, he visits a variety of different ecosystems and encounters diverse animals, including a camel, an electric eel, and a frog. These creatures introduce him to larger and larger numbers related to their respective habitats, such as the temperature of the sun or the voltage in a lightning bolt. Despite facing several natural disasters such as an earthquake, an avalanche, and a tsunami, Pebbles perseveres with the help of his animal friends. The story concludes with Pebbles discovering that there is no “biggest number,” as numbers are truly infinite. Fun facts about numbers and nature are included throughout the book, along with a glossary and number chart at the end.

 

Bella's Fables by Deb Evans

If your kids love dogs and stories about dogs, they will LOVE Bella and her pups Abby, Emma, and Freddy!

 

Poor Bella is one tired Momma Dog! Her active puppies play all day and all night. She needs to find a way to get them to go to sleep!

 

Step into the enchanting world of Bella's Fables, where a wise and gentle dog named Bella puts her own spin on classic fables to lull her energetic puppies to sleep. This charming children's chapter book takes readers on a magical journey as Bella shares the timeless tales of the Tortoise and the Hare, the Ant and the Grasshopper, and more, all from her unique canine perspective.

 

As Bella's puppies, Abby, Emma, and Freddy, listen intently, they learn valuable lessons about honesty, perseverance, and the perils of being too boastful. Bella's charming personality shines through as she engages in conversations with her pups, putting her own twist on these age-old stories. Along the way, the pups discover the joys of snuggling up with a good story and the comfort of a loving family.

 

Join Bella, Abby, Emma, and Freddy on their unforgettable adventure through the world of fables and uncover the timeless wisdom and wonder that lies within. Perfect for any animal-loving child seeking a heartwarming bedtime story, Bella's Fables is an absolute must-read.

 

Book Giveaways for April

Win a copy of City of Ruins by Don Winslow   All you have to do is click on the book cover below.  It will take you to the main page.   Look for the giveaway on the left.  Follow the instructions listed.

Win a copy of A Calamity of Souls by David Baldacci.   All you have to do is click on the book cover below.  It will take you to the main page.  Look for the giveaway on the right.  Follow the instructions listed.

Book Giveaway Winners for March

 

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