This post is sponsored by Expound Publicity. The review and opinions expressed in this post are based on my personal views.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Hope for Moms: It’s Tough Out There, but So Are You

Written by Anna McArthur

Ages: 18+ | 168 Pages

Publisher: Beaver’s Pond Press (2025) | ISBN: 978-1-64343-560-2

Publisher’s Book Summary: Many of us did everything we could to prepare for becoming moms, but there just wasn’t any way to know what might lie ahead. Most of us have, at one point or another, looked around and wondered if we are alone in our parenting challenges. Hope for Moms offers a heartfelt guide for mothers navigating both the joys and heartbreak of being a mom, sharing Anna McArthur’s personal journey through parenting difficulties such as learning disabilities, LGBTQ+ identities, and adoption. Structured around a triage plan that helped the author prioritize her family’s needs, it includes practical insights, quotes, and reflection questions to support moms in their journey of resilience and soul care. With gentleness and humor, McArthur provides reassurance to mothers, reminding them they have the strength to not only survive motherhood, but thrive.

McArthur provides reassurance to mothers, reminding them they have the strength to not only survive motherhood, but thrive. If you’re a mom who feels overwhelmed by the curveballs life has thrown your way, you aren’t alone—yes, it’s tough out there, but so are you!

PURCHASE LINK

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Bookshop.org

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Anna McArthur is a mom to four kids, including two recent college graduates and twin girls who are high schoolers. She is a blogger, newspaper guest columnist, and contributor to parenting magazines and websites, including Her View from Home and the Motherly Collective. Anna’s essays have recently been published by Grown and Flown and Business Insider.

A graduate of Clemson University and Columbia Theological Seminary, Anna lives in Athens, Georgia, with her husband, Bryan, and their teenaged girls, who are much cooler than her. Anna loves to read, garden, hike, and eat dips for dinner.

For more information, visit hopeformomsbook.com.

https://www.instagram.com/hopeformomsbook

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61555908861922

MY REVIEW OF THIS BOOK:

TURNING LIFE’S CURVEBALLS INTO HOME RUNS

Hope for Moms: It’s Tough Out There, but So Are You
Written by: Anna McArthur

A book written from the heart by a mom who has faced social-emotional challenges, physical disabilities, and financial distress while raising her family. Any parent will attest to the fact that parenting is one job that comes without a playbook or set of rules. McArthur shares her difficult journey in the hope that her experiences and difficult lessons will benefit other families.

She reminds moms that it is okay to accept help from others, to stop expecting perfect kids, and to be realistic in your hopes and dreams. Instead, understand that moms cannot protect themselves or their children from heartaches or disappointments. The author reminds the reader that raising a family is hard for all of us.

All parents make mistakes; it is more important to keep trying. Stop comparing your parenting style to others. Find the things that make your family unique. Do not compare your family to others. As children grow older and become more independent, moms must learn to listen more than talk. The best solution is to keep an open mind and keep learning.

I highly recommend this book for new parents as well as those facing challenges.

GIVEAWAY

Enter for a chance to win a paperback copy of Hope For Moms: It’s Tough Out There But So Are You by Anna McArthur.

CLINK ON THE LINK BELOW TO ENTER:

https://gleam.io/2SqLW/hope-for-moms-book-giveaway

TOUR SCHEDULE

Thursday, April 24, 2025The Children’s Book ReviewBook Review of Hope For Moms: It’s Tough Out There But So Are You

Friday, April 25, 2025Confessions of a Book AddictBook Spotlight on Hope For Moms: It’s Tough Out There But So Are You

Monday, April 28, 2025The Starlit PathBook Review of Hope For Moms: It’s Tough Out There But So Are You

Tuesday, April 29, 2025icefairy’s Treasure ChestBook Review of Hope For Moms: It’s Tough Out There But So Are You

Wednesday, April 30, 2025Barbara Ann Mojica’s BlogBook Review of Hope For Moms: It’s Tough Out There But So Are You

Thursday, May 1, 2025Deliciously SavvyBook Review of Hope For Moms: It’s Tough Out There But So Are You

Friday, May 2, 2025Country Mamas With KidsGuest Post about Hope For Moms: It’s Tough Out There But So Are You

Monday, May 5, 2025Q&As with Deborah KalbAuthor Interview with Anna McArthur

Tuesday, May 6, 2025Cover Lover Book ReviewBook Review of Hope For Moms: It’s Tough Out There But So Are You

Thursday, May 8, 2025@pieladybooksBook Review of Hope For Moms: It’s Tough Out There But So Are You

TBD@bookstrofficialAuthor Interview with Anna McArthur

Pip the Bird: For Early Speech & Language Development

Written by Rachel Florence Meyer

Illustrated by Kathy Lee

A wonderful picture book collaboration by a mom and a speech therapist. The protagonist is a little bird named Pip, who assists his fellow animal friends to avoid danger when a gardener comes in the yard with a lawnmower,

The rhymes are crisp and sharp with lots of action words in bold print. Children are encouraged to read aloud. I appreciate the interactive guide for parents and teachers up front before the story begins. Illustrations contain wonderful details and facial expressions.

Highly recommended for parents and teachers of toddlers and preschoolers.

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Guinness the Good Girl Goes to School (G3 BOOK SERIES)

Written by Matthew Gillmann

Illustrated by Penny Weber

When Dottie brings her rambunctios dalmation, Guinness to school, all chaos breaks loose. It seems that Guinness cannot contain her friendliness, curiosity, or eagerness to participate.

Readers learn and follow her adventures in the multicultural classroom and community. Nice illustrations and story. One suggestion, the print size might be a bit larger for younger readers.

Reccommended for ages three through eight.

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The Mosquito Burrito: A Hilarious, Spanish Sprinkled, Rhyming Children’s Book

Written by Didi Dragon

Illustrated by Lenaska Ti

What a fun bilingual read! Dragon cleverly rhymes Spanish and English short phrases that roll off the tongue.

The plot centers around a mosquito who finds himself stuck inside a burrito. After taking a bite, he simply cannot resist eating his way through it. I love the humorous play on words. This book has enthralling illustrations that enhance the plot.

I highly recommend the book as a read aloud for primary grade English and Spanish speakers to promote reading and language skills.

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Where’s Gramma?

Written by Tricia Gardella

Illustrated by Greg David

Four grandsons describe a grandmother who keeps them guessing about her next exploit. This grandmother lives on a farm. She fills her days with adventures like collecting bugs, milking cows, diving in a swimming hole, pouring concrete, or climbing a tree.

Visiting gramma is certainly an experience worth looking forward to. A nice book to share when family gathers together. Good choice for preschoolers and older readers. The illustrations complement the mood perfectly.

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Can CLUTZ THE cAT Keep Trying?: A Growth Mindset Book

Written by Misty Black

Illustrated by Ana Rankavic

This book is part of a motivational mindset series for elementary school readers.

In this volume, Clutz the cat has recently fallen out of a tree and broken his tail. He is a clutz, but has lots of friends to support him. When his teacher announces a bike race, the cat feels badly. Luckily, his friend Punk the Skunk offers to teach Clutz how to ride a bike. Clutz uses the power of affirmations to keep his spirits up.

Will Clutz persevere and be successful? This fun read aloud contains clever rhymes and pleasing illustrations to delight kids and adults. I enjoyed the interactive discussion guide included to reinforce the mindset lesson.

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Disclosure: I received a copy of this book to share my opinion.

ABOUT THE BOOK

The Constitution Kids

Written by Gary Gabel

Ages: 8+ | 200 Pages

Publisher: Amplify Publishing (2025) | ISBN: 979-8891383906

Publisher’s Book Summary: Alex, Kali, and Roman are three fifteen-year-old friends who live in a small town. Alex is a great communicator, Roman is a bit of an inventor, and Kali is an intuitive empath. It’s summertime, and an adventure is triggered when they find themselves in the middle of a protest outside the local library by people who want to ban certain books. During the protest, people are focused on what they believe to be their Constitutional rights, causing the three teenagers to realize how little they know about the Constitution.

In their search for answers, they discover a book with magical properties, which becomes a catalyst in helping them discover what the Constitution is really all about.

Join the teenagers as this mysterious book enables them to travel through time and space—bringing to life historical figures like Ben Franklin, Wyatt Earp, Alice Paul, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and many more. Each of these historical figures will teach them about the original Constitution and its amendments. Through the eyes of these three teenagers, you’ll be able to explore what it was like when the original Constitution was signed. You’ll even travel to other countries, like Russia, where you’ll meet Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn in a field within the Gulag where he was imprisoned.

The Constitution, by itself, can be a difficult document to read, but The Constitution Kids will bring it to life with unusual experiences, humor, and fun, no matter your age.

PURCHASE LINK

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Bookshop.org

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Gary J. Gabel, Ed.D., has spoken to groups throughout the United States on the subjects of personal takeover, accountability, and leadership. He has personally trained thousands of people, primarily in the areas of leadership, management, motivating performance, presentation effectiveness, sales, and customer service. He has worked with over 200 CEOs, helping them build high-performing teams.

Gary has written several books, including Day One, which was jointly authored with Tom Buck and published in 2020. Gary’s other book, Personal Takeover, was published in the United States by Career Press in 2003. It was translated into Korean in 2004, with an Arabic translation in 2005. The second edition of Personal Takeover was released in October 2019.

Gary was the 2001 Entrepreneur of the Year for Service Companies in Michigan. He has bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Economics and a doctorate in Education. He formerly served as Chair of the National Council on Education and Human Development at The George Washington University. His current memberships include the Oakland Schools Education Foundation Board of Trustees and Mensa.

Gary’s presentations at TEDxDetroit and others can be viewed on YouTube. Gary lives with his wife, Lisa, in Michigan, and they have two children and three grandchildren.

MY REVIEW OF THIS BOOK:

THE CONSTITUTION IS ALIVE AND WELL
The Constitution Kids
Written by Gary Gabel

The author correctly points out that the subject of the Constitution rarely comes up in modern schools. Gabel decides to remedy that problem by incorporating its story within the pages of a time travel adventure containing three unlikely friends. Kali, Alex, and Roman who display unique interests and talents. Kali is an empath, Roman a science and tech prodigy, and Alex, an excellent communicator.

On a summer day, the three fifteen-year-old friends encounter a protest demonstration and demonstrators claiming the right to gather under the Constitution. Curious, the friends decide to research the Constitution in the library. When they find and open an old book, they meet Ben Franklin who initiates a time travel journey on which they investigate the Constitution, and the Amendments added to it.

During this journey, the teens meet famous people like Thomas Jefferson, Albert Einstein, and Wyatt Earp. In addition, they journey back and forward in time to colonial times, visit slaves, a gulag, and Nazi Germany, among other places. The threesome experience how the Constitution works and the reasons why for each amendment.

Gabel details the characters as relatable and integrates the past and present seamlessly. Modern readers learn not only what the Constitution contains but why it evolved and how it works.

This book is a wonderful tool to teach civics and responsibility. I recommend it for the bookshelves of middle-grade and high school readers.

GIVEAWAY

Enter for a chance to win one of ten copies of The Constitution Kids. Enter below to bring this magical journey home!

Click here for the entry form: https://gleam.io/2295r/the-constitution-kids-book-giveaway

TOUR SCHEDULE

Monday, March 31, 2025The Children’s Book ReviewTour Kick-Off for The Constitution Kids

Tuesday, April 1, 2025The Fairview ReviewBook Review of The Constitution Kids

Wednesday, April 2, 2025Froggy Read TeachInstagram Post about The Constitution Kids

Friday, April 4, 2025NancyStewartWritesBook Review of The Constitution Kids

Monday, April 7, 2025One More ExclamationBook Review of The Constitution Kids

Tuesday, April 8, 2025Cover Lover Book ReviewBook Review of The Constitution Kids

Wednesday, April 9, 2025Barbara Ann Mojica’s BlogBook Review of The Constitution Kids

Friday, April 11, 2025Crafty Moms ShareBook Review of The Constitution Kids

Monday, April 14, 2025Deliciously SavvyBook Review of The Constitution Kids

Tuesday, April 15, 2025Country Mamas With KidsBook Review of The Constitution Kids

Wednesday, April 16 2025icefairy’s Treasure ChestBook Review of The Constitution Kids

Friday, April 18, 2025The Starlit PathBook Review of The Constitution Kids

Monday, April 21, 2025Q&As with Deborah KalbAuthor Interview with Gary Gabel

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If Shapes Could Eat: A fun rhyming story encouraging a healthy relationship with food and trying new things. 

Written by Rella B.

Illustrated by Wendy S.

The protagonists are colorful shapes who get together for a block party. At the party the shapes enjoy a variety of foods including meats, fruits and vegetables. I like the way the author portrayed shapes who were eager to share new things and explained to readers that it is okay if we do not all have the same taste. Also, there were shapes who had allergies and needed to avoid certain foods. This makes children who have allergies feel more comfortable in being different.

The rhymes are crisp and the illustrations fun and colorful. Highly recommened as a bedtime story or read aloud.

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My Trains Coloring Book For Kids 2+45 Cute Coloring Pages

Written by BipBapBop

If you know a child who loves train and enjoys coloring, this is the book for you. It contains 45 drawings of train scenes. In addition to containing trains, the illustrations include animals, different seasons, and holidays. Some of the scenes are simple drawings and others a bit more complex.

While the book is targeted for ages two and up, I believe it is most appropriate for ages five through eight. A good choice for developing fine motor skills and visual discrimination skills.

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