Trina’s Travel

4 Books about Friendship and Adventure for Kids

Kids are the most wonderful people in the world. It is not because they have the chubbiest cheeks or bubbly laughter but because of their purest innocence and amazing genuineness. Thus it is important to help them see and learn about the good and bad things in life so that they can understand how confusing but beautiful living is. The younger you teach them about the important aspects in life, the earlier they can develop their rational thinking and other personal abilities that may come in handy in the near future.

Books are good teacher for the young minds. They help them see the value of the abstract but essential things in life, such as love, peace, and friendship. Thus, children’s books that feature awesome adventures and heartwarming friendships are perfect for kids. With that being said, listed below are some of the most touching books about friendship and adventure all in one:

On Sudden Hill

Simon & Schuster Children’s Books published On Sudden Hill by Linda Sarah on 2001. It was republished by the same publisher in August 28, 2014 but in a hardcover edition. It follows the story of two little boys named Birt and Etho who consider each other as best friends. Their adventure is not among those daredevil ones for it is always the time when they play on Sudden Hill. The hill is their safe haven and the place where they create amazing devices and gadgets out of boxes of cardboard.

But their friendship was tested when Shu, the new boy, arrived and had the desire to be part of Birt and Etho’s world. The arrival of the new boy sparked different emotions from the best friends for Etho is glad to welcome Shu while Birt is still uncertain until it grew into jealousy. Would their friendship be saved and their adventures continue?

Winnie the Pooh

A.A. Milne or Alan Alexander Milne is the author of the popular adventure book called Winnie the Pooh while E.H. Shepard or Ernest Howard Shephard is its illustrator. The books contain anthologies of short stories about the adventures of a teddy bear that is full of life named Winnie-the-Pooh and his animal toy friends. Winnie the Pooh was published by Methuen & Co. Ltd. last October 1926. It was followed by the book called The House at Pooh Corner in 1928 and a lot more.

The protagonist, Pooh, is not just the ordinary teddy bear for he loves to eat honey and go on wonderful journeys. Along with him are his friends, which are Piglet the tiny toy pig, Eeyore the gloomy toy donkey, Owl the big live owl, and Rabbit the cute real rabbit. Because of the beauty of this book — particularly its characters, it was adapted into cartoons by Disney.

The Adventures of Ivy and Kimber

Kimber Snyder authored the beautiful book about friendship and adventure called The Adventures of Ivy and Kimber. It was published by Iuniverse Inc. last June 20, 2019. It falls under the children’s literature category. The book focuses on the wonderful bond between a little girl named Kimber and a pony named Ivy. The horse was all Ivy dreamt of having even though it has some physical disability, like its bandy front legs and its blind eye. Kimber didn’t see her pony as something with less value because of its physical deficiency; instead she loved her like a best friend.

Before Ivy came to Kimber’s life, she always wishes to own a horse like how her older sibling does. When she got her heart’s desire, she was more than grateful. Kimber loves Ivy more than just an owner but like a best friend. They love going on adventures and going for rides. Kimber makes sure to provide the best care she can for Ivy. Thus, this book is not only about friendship or adventure but also about teaching kids to treat people and animals with disabilities equally and the same as those who have perfect bodies and shapes.

The Fox and The Hound

E.P. Dutton is the publisher of the award-winning book The Fox and The Hound. It was published on September 11, 1967 and was written by Daniel P. Mannix. The book contains not just a heartwarming story but also beautiful illustrations by John Schoenherr. On its debut year — and even before it was published, it won the Dutton Animal Book Award and Athenaeum Literary Award. It was also adapted into film after Walt Disney Pictures bought the book’s film rights.

It revolves around the tale of a red fox named Tod and a half-bloodhound dog named Copper. They met when Tod killed the hound which is Master’s, a hunter, apple of his eyes. The hunt for the culprit started where Tod was being chased by the half-bloodhound and his angry owner. It doesn’t just focuses on the hunt but also features things about looking for a mate, searching for food, and being territorial. Moreover, the wild Tod and the tamed Copper didn’t formed a friendship but they took and will take the readers into a thrilling adventure.

4 Binge-worthy Animated Movies that Features the Ocean

Animated films are among the most watched movie genre. It is not only being patronized because of the entertainment that it brings but also because its characters are not people but drawings that are being brought to life. The creation of animated films is neither a one-man job nor a walk in the park. It requires a lot of talents from the art and film industry, from the animators to the voice actors, and it also demands time, attention, and money. Also, animation is not similar to traditional drawing for it is more into the 2-dimentional and 3-dimentional art where the works are being controlled so that they would look like in motion.

A lot of animated films have become one of the instruments that bonds families together. Like how literature bring people together by reading bedtime stories to their kids written by amazing authors, such as Janet Councilman, Gabriela Eva Nagy, and more. Moreover, even the biggest misconception about animated films, which is that they are only for kids, didn’t stop this genre to go on top and produce several heartwarming and touching movies. Thus, both kids and adults are enjoying and are free to continue seeing the beauty of this genre. Since it is summer and the beach is always a good destination but staycation is also a great idea, let’s bring the ocean to your homes by watching these amazing animated movies that features that sea:

Finding Nemo (2003)

Director Andrew Stanton, voice actors Albert Brooks, Ellen DeGeneres, Alexander Gould, and Willem Dafoe, and producer Graham Walters are among the amazing people behind Finding Nemo. It is a an animated film under the production companies Walt Disney Pictures and Pixar Animation Studios released on 2003. It centers on the story of a clownfish named Marlin who embarks on a journey to find and rescue his son Nemo.

Along the way, he met a regal blue tang fish who suffers on short term memory loss named Dory. They travelled the different parts of the vast ocean and encountered a lot of marine species, such as sharks, jellyfishes, sardines, and sea turtles. What makes Finding Nemo a box office hit is not just its wonderful animation but also how it tells the story of a father who loves his son dearly that he is ready to face the unknown in order to save his missing son.

The Little Mermaid (1989)

Ariel, also known as the little mermaid, was the youngest of the 15 mermaid princesses. She always fancies human stuff and human beings as well but her father is against this obsession. One day, she witnessed a ship wreck and saw a prince fell into the ocean. Her instinct was to save the human but when she gazed into his face, she immediately fell in love. Her love for the prince grew stronger making her make a deal with the evil sea witch. The witch gave her feet in exchange for her beautiful voice.

This fairytale movie was based on the touching story of Hans Christian Andersen with the same title as the film. But instead of following the painful ending, Disney put a twist and pursued for a happy ending. This animated film was directed by Ron Clements and John Musker. It was released to the big screen on November 1989 and grossed more than $200 million.

Finding Dory (2016)

Remember Dory from Finding Nemo? Well, she isn’t the protagonist’s best friend anymore for she is now the main character of her own story! Finding Dory follows the story of the fish that is amnesiac but suddenly wondered where her parents are. Because of this, she started to see fragments of her childhood memories and those of her parents. She decided to venture the ocean and search for her loving parents.

Dory’s journey was one hell of a ride. She met different marine species that both helped and delayed her task of searching for her parents. Also, Dory befriended two amazing whales because of her ability to “speak whale.” Of course, Marlin and Nemo are at her back cheering and helping her. This movie has made it to the box office hit list garnering more than 1 billion dollars because of its touching story about family and friendship.

Shark Tale (2004)

The DreamWorks Animation produced one of the most awesome animated movies in 2004, which is called Shark Tale. Its voice actors are Wil Smith, Robert De Niro, Renee Zellweger, Jack Black, Angelina Jolie, and Martin Scorsese — top-notch performers, aren’t they? This animated comedy film was directed by Vicy Jenson, Bibo Bergeron, and Rob Letterman. From its $75 million budget, it has grossed more than 300 million dollars making it a box office hit film.

The story revolves around Oscar, a fish who boasted a fake tale that he killed the male offspring of a shark gangster boss. His purpose of telling this fake story is to lift up the ranking of his own group in the community and in order to partner with Lenny, the brother of “dead” Frankie, to keep up with them and other gangs.

4 Awesome American Civil War Fiction Books to Add to Your Shelf

The American Civil War is among the most popular civil war that happened in the history of the world. It lasted for four long years, starting from 1861 until 1865. The civil war ignited because of the unending issue about the black people enslavement, which soon ended but the racial discrimination is still a hot controversy until this very day. The attack in Fort Sumter, South Carolina last April 1861 by the secessionists was the event that sparked the civil war. That’s also soon after the late president Abraham Lincoln was inaugurated.

Because of the awful and heartbreaking scenes that took place during the war, even on its aftermath, plenty of stories have been brought to life. These war stories may took place before, during, or after the battles and were written not just to document the events but also either to honor the lives that were lost or to show the struggles and hardships of civilians during that trying times. Literature has been one of the most effective means to express the heartaches and hopes of people that have experienced the horrors of the civil war.

With that being said, listed below are the wonderful stories about the civil war that you might want to add to your to-be-read list and shelf.

Gone with the Wind

Margaret Michell is the author of the amazing historical fiction book called Gone with the Wind. It was published by Macmillan Publishers in June of 1936. Clayton County and Atlanta during the civil war in the US and the era of reconstruction are the settings of the tale. It follows the story of a teenage spoiled brat of a well-off plantation owner named Scarlett O’Hara. This isn’t only about the civil war but also about coming-of-age.

The plot of the book doesn’t only tackles the transitioning of a teenage girl into adulthood but also about the significant societal issues that needs to be properly addressed, such as slavery and social status. Gone with the Wind’s success go beyond the realms of literature for it was adapted into films, musicals, stage plays, and other forms of entertainment and expression.

Cold Mountain

The Atlantic Monthly Press published the award-winning novel Cold Mountain by Charles Frazier in 1997. It follows the story of a wounded runaway member of the Confederate army named W.P. Inman. The deserter has been walking for months in order to go back into the arms of his one true love named Ada Monroe. Moreover, the story is set in the time when the American Civil War is almost over.

The narration of the story constantly alternated between the main character and Ada Monroe — who is a daughter of minister that just transferred to a farm in a countryside mountain close to the Cold Mountain, North Carolina from Charleston. Many have stated that the book has many similar aspects with the Odyssey by Homer. Moreover, Cold Mountain was definitely a wonderful book for it was awarded with the U.S National Book Award for Fiction.

Little Women

Louisa May Alcott is among the greatest writers in literature. One of her famous works is the Little Women, which was published by Roberts Brothers. The first volume of the book was published in 1868 while the second volume was in 1869. The story centers on the lives of four girls who are Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy — also called as the March sisters. This book is about the country side living and the journey from childhood to adolescence.

Little Women is not totally a work of fiction for it was based on the lives of Alcott and her three siblings that were added with some touches of her imagination. Thus, the novel is not solely classified as a coming-of-age but also as semi-autobiographical. Also, it has been adapted into multiple films, musicals, and plays over the years. Jo’s Boys that was published in 1886 and Little Men that was published in 1871 are the sequels of the Little Women, which showcases the popular March sisters.

Scourged Souls

Dorrance Publishing Co. Inc. was the original publisher of the Scourge Souls by Keith Niles Corman. The book was first published on January 30, 2017, which was written by the former public servant. The tale is set during the civil war in the United States of America; but, the book is not solely about the war. It brings the readers into the lives of the characters where their paths briefly crossed when the war took place.

The clashing lives of the characters were either because of their connections to each other or not. The book discusses innocence and the way of living during the horrifying and trying times. Scourged Souls also cross the threshold of the characters’ beliefs, thoughts, and ideas. Thus, this work of fiction doesn’t thoroughly revolve on the American Civil War itself but also on those that were affected by it.

6 of the Best Educational Safety-Conscious Kid’s Books

It’s the sacred obligation of every adult to be concerned about the safety of their children. Despite this, it is important for children to be able to socially interact at an early age and to have a certain degree of freedom to develop and achieve independence. It revolves around achieving a proper equilibrium, which at times could be understandably and undoubtedly difficult. While ideal, maintaining constant, unending supervision towards your children will not always be feasible.

If you educate your kid on protection guidelines, it would improve if you offer specific explanations for the regulation. When they ask why, “’Cause I said so” may influence a certain degree of conformity, but it won’t persuade your child to make it his own principle, either. Focus on helping your child grasp the fact that these standards are not meant to ruin his entertainment, but to keep him safe. The fairer and more logical your restrictions seem to your child, the more likely it is to abide by them and incorporate them as their own.

If we teach our kids the necessary do’s and don’ts of safety in all applications and environments, we may successfully prepare them for a safer future despite the inevitable encounters with dangerous situations that all humans face from time to time.

By immersing our children with safety-centric literature and introducing them to educationally appealing and entertaining books, we solidify a strong understanding in the young child’s mind- an innate penchant for staying safe, on that’s necessary to survive in a real world with real dangers.

In this blog we’ve gathered six of the best safety-education books for kids, whether it be indoors, outside, or on the road- these books are without a doubt a highly necessary addition to any parent’s library and a deeply beneficial push in the right direction for kids who are learning about the big world around them .

“Road Safety” by Sue Barraclough

The Road Safety book is an exceptionally effective book for teaching kids about traffic rules and regulations. This book includes a number of illustrations and glossaries. The book intends to give children the idea that roads are constantly busy, and they always have to pay close attention near crowded roads.

For example, never run into a street, always halt at a sidewalk, never cross a road without looking, always look both directions, hold hands as they cross, never cross parked vehicles, and always find a safe place to play. By learning through this book, kids are sure to have the capacity to remind their friends and family members not to use earphones when crossing a street in order to hear any incoming vehicles.

Teachers could use this book to aid kids in complying with public safety regulations. It’s a really engaging and entertaining novel. This book teaches them how to cross the road to make them know that there are certain moments that they should cross the road, and teaches the kids that they’re going to stay safe if they obey the safety precautions.

“Be Careful and Stay Safe” by Cheri J. Meiners

This kid’s book is an amazing introduction to the safety book genre as a whole. It discusses concepts regarding finding adults that they trust to aid them with dangerous situations. It covers many diverse situations regarding safety in general.

It works like a wonderful introduction to a lesson, but if you really must focus on one specific area of safety, such as road safety or fire safety, this is probably not the most ideal choice. However, it offers valuable information to the Pre K-1 demographic and is still a valuable learning tool for young kids getting to know about the importance and significance of their own safety.

“Once Upon a Dragon: Stranger Safety for Kids (and Dragons)” by Jean E. Pendziwol

This is the perfect book for teaching young children about stranger danger. With this book, students are able to draw the correlation between all the fantasy tales and how the heroes were in trouble as they encountered outsiders.

There’s a high abundance of situations in this book that significantly influence important conversations. The plot describes the adventures of a child and a dragon through fairy tales and demonstrates the choices that the main characters must make to keep themselves away from harm.

Amazon user “Clark’s R’ Us” left a comment on the book’s Amazon page saying: “My kid is overly friendly with strangers and in this day and age it scares me as a parent. I purchased this book, hoping it would help with the stranger danger concept without totally scaring her. It is a super cute story about a dragon and a boy who get lost in the dragon’s book and each page brings new dangers that they face and what you should do. My child loves this book. We’ve probably read it about 25 times since we received it.”

“I Can Be Safe: A First Look at Safety” by Pat Thomas

This light-hearted book identifies children’s fears and provides them tips to feel safe and secure. It educates kids on essential lessons, such as looking both ways before you cross the road, emergency contacts, and memorizing the names and phone numbers of your parents.

This book is an easy-to -comprehend book series for smaller kids. Every title addresses relational problems and examines the concerns posed by these challenges inevitably in pre-school children to early elementary school. Published by a psychotherapist and a child psychologist, each book encourages healthy engagement with kids, parents and teachers. The stories are written in a clear, straightforward language that makes sense to younger children. Each one also contains parental guideline about how to use the book, a glossary, recommended further research, and a selection of resources. Attractive full-color drawings are available on each page.

“NO Trespassing – This Is MY Body!” by Pattie Fitzgerald

This is a great book for pre-school children. This book is more like a story told by children about what private parts are, who and when someone else may look at them or touch them, and that it is always okay to say no, even to the cuddles or tickles of someone you trust.

The book is set with an optimistic and interactive approach using kid-friendly vocabulary and delightful drawings. The “Parent’s Guide to Prevention Tips” is also included to assist parents in realizing their role in keeping children safe from sexual abuse. By teaching kids how to determine red flags and how to identify possible grooming situations, parents can dramatically reduce danger and keep their children safe from harm.

“Katie and Kenny Tour the Railroad” by Keith Niles Corman

Watching and riding a train is such an exhilarating thing to behold, even more so if it’s the first time children have experienced it. But what about before the train and the train cars are going to be linked together? Could that be entertaining, as well? Okay, according to Keith Corman, it can indeed. As long as people follow the rules and utilize the proper gear. We do have to remember: “RAILROADS ARE NOT PLAYGROUNDS!”, in the words of the author.

In the story “Katie and Kenny Tour the Rail r oad,” kids are led on a trip that only a handful will catch a peek of. The adorable kittens named Katie and Kenny go on an unexpected ride to the Catville railroad yard with their dad and their sweet neighbor Engineer Timothy Tabby. They giggle in excitement, but before Engineer Tabby could take them on the tour, he reassured the kittens that they had to wear hard hats, safety goggles and had to keep watchful of their surrounding environment at all times, as well as obtaining appropriate close monitoring by adults.

The role of railroads in today’s world has never ever been more important, and safety measures for kids on this matter are of the utmost importance. Keith N. Corman feels it’s a necessity to tell people why they’re there, what they’re doing, and, most importantly, how to be aware of safety around them, especially for kids.

7 Positive Benefits that Caregivers Enjoy

We often hear about the compromises that caregivers make, however we don’t hear very much about the advantages of being a caregiver. Caregivers have a lot to gain from their duties. In actuality, many carers believe that caring influenced their personal growth and helped make them who they are. Such advantages make carers stronger, so they make us happier. If we hold them in mind, we consider a broader vision and concentrate on what’s most essential in reality.

Outside the clinic, carers are just as relevant. For starters, they may help patients explore and assess the next measures. They can act as informal study assistants, treatment-searchers, and clinical trials if patients become physically or emotionally exhausted. Eleanor Gacetta’s “One Caregiver’s Journey” tells the story of the author’s decade of experience caring for her own mother.

Caregivers frequently enable interaction with family members and friends keen for notifications, and make preparations as well as deliver much-loved meals. In all of this, they respond to worries, comfort concerns, and ease feelings – while possibly feeling common emotions themselves.

By being a caregiver, these are the positive benefits that one enjoys:

It instills within them an innate desire to provide help

Caregiving is a very helpful career path. The provision of care to the elderly at home brings tremendous benefits to the caregiver and to the family member as well. Events such as sickness, accidents or natural aging can lead to a need for help at home. Helping someone means understanding the needs of a person and meeting or surpassing those needs for the integrity and admiration that results from this is fulfilling and motivating for both the caregiver and the family member.

Often times, the presence of a caregiver may enable somebody to stay at home, avoiding assisted living or nursing home care. Promoting independence and improving a patient’s life quality is an eternal and essential goal of care.

It influences a determination to develop new skillsets

Depending on the work a caregiver is authorized to participate in in his or her own state, learning a new skill is really just part of the process. Carers do everything from doing errands to checking blood pressure, to aiding clients to regain or improve their function.

Education programs allow caregivers to develop their skills. They know how to cope with depression, everyday life tasks, transitions, and emotional support. These are lifetime abilities that are applied to other facets of a caregiver’s life.

It promotes flexibility

Some individuals may not want to work a regular nine to five office job. caregiving is an active profession- Also it means working with different shifts and with different clients and families. Many care workers love creating their own hours and designating a routine that fits well for them.

Some personal care staff chooses part-time, others full-time. Others favor mornings, nights, and weekends. Most organizations will work with caregivers to meet their preferences even while satisfying the requirements of patients.

It builds new friendships and relationships

Great bonds are at the core of caring jobs. As a domestic caregiver, you ‘re not just actively working with your clients on a daily basis. You also will encounter and develop relationships with their family members, as well as your fellow home caregivers.

Genuine people skills are not unnecessary for a caregiver — they’re a job requirement. While keeping your clients company, addressing the interests of your clients with their family members, and coping with difficult things such as health conditions as they occur, you would need to be empathetic and a competent communicator to excel as a care provider.

It keeps you from just staying in one place

A lot of people can’t bear working in the same atmosphere day after day after day. Punching the clock at the same department or infirmary every day can quickly become uninteresting.

Home caregiving takes you out of a typical work atmosphere and into the real world. As a caregiver, you’re going to visit your clients at their residences, which can feel a lot free and more comfortable than a more standard work structure. surely, you ‘re still at work, but obtaining a completely different experience every day can do wonderful things regarding your productivity and help stop you from losing determination.

It keeps you busy and occupied

You’re not only going to stop becoming uninterested as a caregiver, you ‘re going to have the satisfaction of seeing that your work actually helps folks. When you’re a caregiver, there’s nothing superficial to do. By preparing nutritious food for your patients to helping them take a shower, what you’re doing is really making someone’s life better — and this is a very satisfying experience.

It could keep you healthy

There is a common generalization that working as a home caregiver is strenuous and damaging to a person’s health. This is undoubtedly true occasionally, especially when an individual is overburdened with having to care for a member of the family, working a full-time job, or raising their own family. Remarkably, not all carers feel run-down or overstressed. In reality, many caregivers are healthier than those who aren’t.

Working as a caregiver at home could be a pleasurable and entertaining career for the appropriate people. As a caregiver, you will have the privilege of working in various environments, keeping your emotional and psychological capacities high, and seeing your work directly impact the lives of others in your community.

4 Best Books for Kids and Kids at Heart to Read this Summer

School’s out and summer’s in! Isn’t it great? Now, make most of your summer by not just enjoying the heat of the sun and waves of the beach but also staying at home to be safe and reading books to be entertained. Because of the global health crisis that is happening in the world, you going outside of the vicinity of your home can be a little too dangerous especially for kids. Vacation can be canceled and “staycation” can be pursued. There’s not much difference only there will be no travelling that will happen but it doesn’t mean that you cannot enjoy being in your house with all your family members eating your favorite food, swimming in your inflatable pool, getting tanned on your backyard, and laughing your hearts out.

Reading is also a good activity to do this summer. You can pretend to have a book club and gather all your members — in this case, your family, to read and share ideas. You can also teach your kids or siblings to read and discover the wonders that come along with it. There are a lot of children’s books in literature that can be found online in the form of e-books and audiobooks while there are also the printed copies that you might find in your shelf or in your local bookstore.

So, if you want to keep the children in your homes entertained and learning at the same time, then these amazing books are perfect for them and even for you!

Diary of a Wimpy Kid

The Diary of a Wimpy Kid is a series written by Jeff Kinney which was published by Amulet Books. It contains entertaining illustrations done by Kinney himself while the cover of the book was illustrated by the author and Chad W. Beckerman. Diary of the Wimpy Kid is the first book of the series that was published in April 1, 2007. It centers on the story of a middle school boy named Greg Heffley. What Greg’s greatest desire is to become one of the popular kids in his grade, even all throughout middle school, and so the misfortunes and dilemma begin.

Because of the humor and wit of the story, it was patronized by many readers all around the world. It also became a New York Times bestseller and was adapted into film with the same title that was out on the big screen on March 2010. Diary of a Wimpy Kid was awarded with the 2012 Blue Peter Book award last March 01, 2012. It was followed by Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules and a lot more.

The Adventures of Ivy and Kimber

Kimber Marie Snyder authored the amazing book The Adventures of Ivy and Kimber, which was published by iUniverse.com on June 20, 2019. This book is an inspiring read and is intended for children. It follows a girl named Kimber who is eight years old. She really desires to own a horse just like how Mike, her older sibling, does. Because of her heart’s strong yearning, one day she was granted the opportunity to have the horse of her dreams.

But the horse is not as perfect as she thought it was for its one eye is blind and its front legs are a little bowed. Despite of Ivy’s imperfections, Kimber loves her so much. She personally nurtures her every day and she always enjoys riding her daily; thus, making them the best of friends. As they face each day together, they were unexpectedly bestowed a very special blessing.

The School for Good and Evil

The School for Good and Evil is the first book of its series followed by The School for Good and Evil: A World Without Princes (2014), The School for Good and Evil: The Last Ever Afte(2015)r, The School for Good and Evil: The Ever Never Handbook (2016), The School for Good and Evil: Quests for Glory(2017), The School for Good and Evil: A Crystal of Time(2019), and The School for Good and Evil: One True King (2020). It is written by Soman Chainani and was published on May 2013 by HarperCollins.

It revolves around the story of Agatha and Sophie, best friends who are completely different not just in clothing but also in characteristics. Sophie expected to be on the groups of children that are being trained to become princes and princesses and everyone thought that Agatha will be on the School of Evil where the future villains are molded. But it turns out oppositely.

Dork Diaries

Rachel Renee Russell is the woman behind the amazing Dork Diaries series. She crafted her experiences in middle school into something that can be a keepsake and legacy, along with the help of her two daughters. The first book is of the same title of the series, which was published by Aladdin Paperbacks on June 2009. It doesn’t just contain humorous and amazing story but also wonderful and cute illustrations.

The book follows the story of a middle school girl named Nikki Maxwell. She is fourteen years old and was granted a scholarship to study into a prestigious private school called Westchester Country Day. She wasn’t happy when she received the news for she knew that she will not fit into a wealthy school. What made her middle-school life worse is when she discovers that her locker is beside the locker of the most popular girl in school, MacKenzie Hollister, who called her “Dork.”

3 Things You Need to Know About Consecration to God

Consecration is the major theme of Philip Wittig’s book on God’s judgment, Apostasy Can Lead a Nation to Self-Destruct: Will America Mends Its Ways and Return to God?. The author, who is a lifelong Lutheran and retired Navy man, sums up the theme in the first paragraph of his book:

The consecration and dedication of a nation and its people to God creates a sacred trust relationship with God. For His part of that relationship, He surrounds that nation with His hedge of protection to prevent harm or danger to that nation and its people. In response, the nation and its people are to honor and obey His laws and commandments and not worship any other god but Him.

What is a consecration?

Consecration is a well-known term – and practice – in the history of religion and spirituality. It has biblical roots, and became the quest of many prophets and righteous men and women.

Consecration means “to make holy”, so in the biblical sense, to consecrate is to purify, to sanctify, to make acceptable a person, place or object to God by prayers, rites, and ceremonies.

Throughout the Bible, we read about persons being consecrated to divine service and things dedicated to the worship and thanksgiving of God. In the Book of Exodus, the acts of consecration were applied to the Israelites, whom Moses designated as the People of God, and Aaron and his sons (ordination or priestly consecration). In the Book of Numbers, the Levites and the Nazarites consecrated themselves to God (personal consecration). The acts of consecration of certain objects – temples, altars, first fruits, etc. – were described in the Old Testament.

Anything that has been consecrated to God might not be profaned. Therefore, when we make an act of consecration to God, it is made ultimately to God with the understanding that our consecration is a serious commitment on our part to respond faithfully to God’s grace at work in our lives.

So, when reflecting on the various acts and rites of consecration, we get to understand the deeper meaning and purpose of consecration:

It is God who consecrates

There is room for only one type of consecration: the one made by God himself.

Only God can set aside a person (such as Moses, Jeremiah, Samson, Samuel, and John the Baptist) and make him or her sacred. God communicates His holiness to us and gives us participation in His holiness. We participate in His holiness by consecrating ourselves to Him.

He who created us in His image and likeness wants us to be in His image. This is what entails an act of consecration.

Consecration is to present ourselves to God

Consecration is an act. It is the embracing of God’s likeness – and presenting ourselves to Him. Not only He wants us to be in His image but also to belong to Him in a new way. To belong to God, we first need to offer ourselves to Him as a living sacrifice (making a personal consecration).

When you consecrate yourself to God, He will do things in you, with you, for you, and through you that will amaze you. God wants to do amazing things for us, through us and in us. However, He will not work with anyone who has not first offered himself or herself to Him. For God to do the work that He desires in us, we first need to offer ourselves to Him.

Is it necessary to offer ourselves to Him? It is so He can freely work in us all that is in His heart. He cannot freely work in us if we do not consecrate ourselves to Him. How can He do amazing things for us and in us if we have not given Him the right to do so?

Consecration is conformity to God’s will

Consecration is more than just going to church, tithing, quoting Scripture, sharing your faith, or joining a ministry. While all those things are good, it is not consecration. Consecration is surrendering all of you to all of Him.

By surrendering to God’s will, you recognize that all your time, energy, and money belong to Him alone. It also means that your hands, feet, mouth and all other parts of your body belong to God. You dare not use them yourself.

As someone consecrated to God, you are set apart for the exclusive use of God. Consecration, after all, is a childlike trust in your Heavenly Father. You have to put yourself in God’s hand before He can work through you, for you, and in you.

Once you consecrate yourself to God, you can never return to your former life. Consecration is a lifelong commitment to God. To be consecrated to God is to live only for the sake of praising and worshipping Him.

4 Awesome Detective Fiction Books to Read this Summer

Detective fiction is the offspring of mystery fiction and crime fiction. The usual plot of detective fiction stories revolve around a person — who’s either a professional detective, aspiring detective, or retired investigator, who delves deeper into a crime and starts to investigates all corners of it. Murder is the common crime that is being solved in this genre. Among the renowned detectives in this genre that always save the day are Sherlock Holmes, Nancy Drew, Hercule Poirot, The Hardy Boys, and more.

Additionally, it has a lot of subcategories that can spark some interests from the readers. Some amazing examples are hardboiled detective fiction, inverted detective, historical mystery, cozy mystery, legal thriller, serial killer mystery, etc. Many people patronize detective fiction because of the nerve racking and spine chilling discoveries that each story brings. So if you are into this type of fiction, here are some enthralling detective fiction books to add to your shelf this summer:

A Study in Scarlet

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the famous detective fiction writer, has written A Study in Scarlet and has it published by Ward Lock & Co in 1887. This is the novel where the iconic duo of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson was firs exposed. The title of the book was based on Holmes’ speech that was intended for Watson, which he stated that the investigation of the tale’s murder is his “study in scarlet.” The novel revolves around the themes inadequacy of public defense, inferential reasoning, religion, vengeance, and friendship.

A Study in Scarlet was set in London, specifically in a room that is locked with the word RACHE written on its wall. It was narrated by Dr. Watson and the people that were killed in this story were Enoch Drebber and Joseph Stangerson. Moreover, the word RANCHE is a German terminology that means revenge. After all the investigations done by Holmes and Watson, the former started to figure out who the ruthless killer is. It was discovered that Jefferson Hope, a taxi driver, was the murderer and was immediately put into arrest by the detective.

The Murder of Roger Ackroyd

William Collins, Sons published The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie in June 1962 in the United Kingdon while Dodd, Mead and Company published the US edition of the book in the same year. It was the book preceded by The Secret of Chimneys, which is another detective fiction novel. Furthermore, it is the third book that showcases the amazing detective Hercule Poirot. It follows the story of the lead detective as he unravels the secrets, collects the clues, and solves the case of Roger Ackroyd’s murder. But before that, Poirot decided to retire on his job and stay on a village close to where his good friend Roger Ackyord lives in order to continue a project to refine the vegetable marrow.

The death of his friend was the primary reason why he was urged to come out of retirement and serve as a detective once again. Because of the Christie’s amazing skill, the book ranked 50^th on The Top 100 Crime Novels of All Time in the year 1990, voted as the CWA Best Ever Novel in 2013, and a lot more awards.

Death in Sequence

Another pride of detective fiction is the novel Death in Sequence by JB Clemmens.It was published in February 18, 2018 by the CeateSpace Independent Publishing Platform. It is among the 5 books of Jeannie Clemmens, also known in her pseudonym JB Clemmens. Death in Sequence revolves around the mysterious random murders in a fictional D.C area. The killings are being investigated and studied by a detective named Mitch Jenkins, who is currently injured.

While detective Jenkins was very deep into fighting back the random attacks, his focus was instantly shaken up when his girlfriend Ginny Munsen, a mathematics instructor, was suddenly abducted from GWU. The scene didn’t get better for prior to detective Jenkins’ act of finding and saving his fiancé, a bomb was discovered in the room of the Supreme Court with a planted indication of how many are the victims and also indicating the growing boldness of the suspect.

The Moonstone

Wilkie Collins authored the first ever classic detective fiction novels, which is The Moonstone. It was first published in 1868 by the Tinsley Brothers. It is also considered as an epistolary book. Since the book was considered as the pioneer of the detective fiction, it has believed to establish a lot of rules when it comes to modern detective stories. The Moonstone has definitely become a success and was patronized by readers; as a result, it was adapted into film, and other forms of entertainment.

Furthermore, it centers on two things, which are murder and Moonstone. The stone was brought by Colonel Herncastle from India and gave it to his niece, Rachel, as a birthday gift as per his will. When his niece wore the stone on her birthday celebration, she suddenly was nowhere to be found. The biggest mystery was where’s Rachel and who took her?

5 Reasons Why You Should Read Young Adult Fiction Books

Books are vessels that can take you anywhere in the world and even in out of this world places. They are great advisers and teachers. With the words on their pages, they can give implant valuable lessons in your mind that you can take with you forever or until you breathe your last breath. You see, books are not just made up of paper and ink. They are, in fact, made up of wisdom and knowledge that can reach a lot minds and touch several hearts from all parts of the world. Young adult fiction books are among these stories that promote both learning and entertainment.

YA fiction is an exceptional genre that showcases themes about growing up and all things in between. Its books are among the most popular ones nowadays, selling millions of copies worldwide. Some of these novels come individually while others are in series. They also explore other genres such as romance, suspense, science fiction, and more. So, if you are eager to know the reasons why young adult fiction books are must-reads, here’s why:

They are entertaining like most books

Entertainment is among the perks that books bring. YA novels are not exempted with this characteristic. But the type of entertainment that they provide is different from the normal. They do not just take you to the outer space or to each of their fictional towns but also on road trips, skinny-dipping, cliff diving, zip lining, and other dare devil and exciting adventures. What also make young adult books more entertaining are the humorous dialogues that the authors convey in the stories. Lastly, YA books showcase a lot of action scenes, such as Eloise encounters a gang of outlaws in Eloise of Westhaven, Katniss volunteering as a tribute to save her sister in The Hunger Games, and Harry fighting a dragon in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. Thus, you can read them on your leisure time, on moments that you are feeling down, and on periods that you want to laugh and ease some pain away.

They have unpredictable plots

Plots are important in every story. Every plot must be consist of an introduction, rising action, climax, falling action, and denouement. What makes plots exciting are the conflict embedded in them that makes the characters uncover what they truly are. Each young adult book contains well-polished plots. Some even start with flashbacks or in medias res. These books also mix other literary devices in their content making the readers crave for more. Examples of the devices that add to the perfectness of the story are foreshadowing, red herring, Checkhov’s gun, and more. You will get more hooked to the story and will want to turn every page until you reach the end.

They showcase issues in society that need to be given attention

The world is always in chaos. But as of this year, the biggest chaos is currently taking place. People from all 50 states of America have united in order to end racism and it has transcended from all over the world. In literature, however, racial discrimination has been one of the hottest themes even from the classical times. A lot of authors have been fighting for black lives and wanting everyone to know that all lives matter regardless of your race and ethnicity. Aside from racism, young adult novels also talks about abuse, violence, mental health, oppression, manipulation, and other serious stuff that needs to be given proper attention — all the more reason to read young adult fiction. They are not just about teenage love but also about bravery and bravery to eradicate these societal issues.

They have amazing characters

Characters are important in every story. Again, they move the story forward by their own magic. Most young adult fiction books have created great impact on the lives of the readers. One of the factors that left a mark on the readers is the characters. There are not just heroes and heroines in the young adult world, but there are also normal teenagers that save the day by their mundane characteristics. Examples of the wonderful characters of YA are Clarissa Fray of The Mortal Instruments series, Percy Jackson of the Percy Jackson series, Eleanor Douglas of Eleanor and Park, Charlie Kelmeckis of The Perks of Being a Wallflower, and more. These characters can inspire you and others to be more than what you are right now. They will show you endless possibilities and will teach you to dream big.

They are not only for young adults but also for young adults at heart

Young adult fiction books go beyond their established age range. Those that are about to enter the world of teenagers and those that have already gone through the teenage realm can still read YA novels. The stories and lessons can still move its reader regardless of their age. The books will not stop on becoming teachers and advisers; they will still continue even if adults and children are those that own them. You can still experience how amazing and scary it is to become a teenager and conquer the world ahead of you.

5 Tips on How to Quench Your Spiritual Thirst

Spiritual thirst is the kind of longing that cannot be satisfied by the mere act of drinking any types of liquid. This craving is something that is internal and can be infinite if you cannot find the correct method of quenching this thirst. There are many reasons why people thirst for God. It can be because they desire to live a better life with God guiding their path or because they want to lift up their spirit with the blessing and help of the Almighty Father.

Water, in Christianity, symbolizes life. Although it has many meanings and correlations — such as baptism, refreshment, and purity, it generally represents the stream of life. People are currently experiencing different levels of spiritual thirst because of the many temptations in this world that make people unsatisfied and thirst for more. But this discontentment is currently disappearing for many are striving to find spiritual satisfaction as of the moment no matter how long and hard it takes. That said, here are some tips on how you can quench your spiritual thirst one step at a time:

Seek for Him always

Seeking God must always come first. No matter how hard the situation that you are into, how fast everything is falling apart, and how hard your fall is, He will always be there to loosen the tough, prevent the fall, and catch you at the bottom. He is constantly there; all you have to do is to look for Him not only during bad times but also during the best times of your life. There are different ways on how to seek God, such as praying frequently, reading the Holy Scripture, attending masses, participating in prayer meetings, partaking in Bible studies, and even listening to worship songs.

Remember His words

The Holy Bible is a great instrument to get closer to God and be reminded of His greatness. The Holy Scripture documented the things that the Lord has done for His people; thus, it contains His words and glory. Remembering and spreading His words can be some of the most crucial things that will bring you spiritual satisfaction. You can also learn His words and gain wisdom by reading books that are based on Him or His words. There are a lot of Christian books where you can gain knowledge pertaining to Christianity, spirituality, and His plans — take for example David Murdoch on understanding God’s overall plan where he injected his insights regarding the matter on his book The Bible is Not Written in English. The bottom line is, hear His words and implant them on your heart and mind.

Evaluate yourself

Aside from God, you also have to give proper and enough attention to yourself. It is because you are the sole captain of your ship and God is only the map that guides your voyage. Thus, when you start to go astray or get lost, you are partly to be blamed along with the other voices that whispers in your ear — which are temptations. For that reason, it is necessary for you to evaluate yourself and get some time off to reflect on your past actions that led you to where you are now. You can discover where you went wrong and what you undesirable things that you did. With self-evaluation, you can slowly learn on what you can do better and how can you navigate the ship with God on your side.

Know the dos and don’ts

Being a follower of God comes with a price. However, the price is not something that can harm you but something that can improve your way of life and yourself too — which is giving up your vices, bad habits, and other things that bring no good to your life. You need to remind yourself that there are dos and don’ts in life, especially in Christianity. Do not wait for the evil to take over your life and ruin what you have built. Turn your back from the temptations by seeking God even in the smallest way. Constantly set a reminder that there are things that you should and should not do. Do not be deceived by what appears to be beautiful. Continue to follow His ways and, with that, you will never go astray.

Ask for forgiveness

There is nothing more important than admitting that you have done wrong and asking for forgiveness. The more you deny your faults that more that you will not achieve the spiritual satisfaction that you have been wanting for so long. It can be a tough job but once you start to get down on your knees and confess that you have done wrong, everything will feel lighter. You can start unload your burdens and eventually quench the thirst that you’ve been dealing for a long time.