Reading, Writing & Pondering

  Do you want to get out of your head and create more? Don't Call it Art by Austin Kleon will inspire you to "create like a kid again."  Don't Call it Art is full of inspiration to be creative in your own way--and to get out of your own way in the process. I enjoyed this book in reading the author's encouraging words to be more creative. I also liked his fun illustrations--and his fun stories he shared in the book. I flew through this book in a day because I just enjoyed his writing. It was just the inspiration I needed as I move forward into creating an art space in my office and to just plain have fun creating no matter where I am or what sort of art I am doing.  Austin Kleon is a new author for me. I was excited to learn that he has several books out so I have a whole list of backlist books that I can now read since I enjoyed this one so much! I highly recommend Don't Call it Art to any other creatives out there who need a boost of encouragement to just...

  Do you know a child who has lost a loved one and is hurting? Moonlight Memories by Amanda Davis is a beautiful story of grief, loss and healing from a child's perspective.  Piper is grieving and hurting as her mother passed away. Her father gives her a telescope since she has trouble sleeping. She uses the telescope--and she uses her heart and imagination each night as she looks at the stars. Along with the stars, she sees the memories she made with her mother. Grief takes time and doesn't looks the same for everyone, something that the author points out in the page before and after the story. I thought this was a beautiful story of comfort and hope for a young child. I also liked the beautiful illustrations on each page from Michelle Jing Chan. Moonlight Memories would make a great gift for a hurting child who lost a loved one. While they may not want to grieve the same way, I think they would find comfort in knowing that other children grieve too. Also, this book is not ...