Category Archives: Books

The Twitter Book – one of my all time favorites!

July 9, 2009Books, Business, New posts, Web/Techbook, networking, social media, twitterAlicia

The Twitter Book by Tim O’Reilly and Sarah Milstein is seriously one of my all time favorite books. You may know from reading previous posts that I am a geek and an ADHD postergirl. So I think at least. I love the idea of Twitter and Facebook just to name a couple of social tools. Because I can’t concentrate long enough (ADHD) to read most books I don’t read many books. However, because of it’s unusual 9×9 size and large font, The Twitter Book immediately appealed to me. This color and graphic rich book makes for an easy, fun, and informative read. Because the font is so big, I was able to read The Twitter Book while on the treadmill.. without falling off, which is about the only time I am alone long enough to read a few pages of a book. I got into The Twitter Book when I couldn’t get into Twilight.. a book I’ve heard most readers are instantly sucked into.

Until I read The Twitter Book, I didn’t know what re-tweets or a hashtags were or that Twitter has an extremely powerful search tool. When I want to learn something, I search the Internet. When it comes to Twitter though, the results are overwhelming and ever changing so The Twitter Book is a must-have for users or potential Twitter users who want to learn the in’s and out’s of Twitter without sifting through oceans online search results.

The Twitter Book will teach you everything you need to know to quickly become a Twitter power user, including strategies and tactics for using Twitter’s 140-character messages as a serious–and effective–way to boost your business and for those stay at home moms reading this.. Twitter will allow you to be connected to other moms all over the world 24/7. Up with the baby at 2a.m.? Don’t be lonely.. jump on Twitter and join tons of other moms awake all hours of the night.

Co-written by Tim O’Reilly and Sarah Milstein, widely followed and highly respected Twitterers, the practical information in The Twitter Book is presented in a fun, full-color format that’s packed with helpful examples and clear explanations.

The Twitter Book – A Sneak Preview

View more documents from oreillymedia.

Buy The Twitter Book at Amazon.com here and learn more about The Twitter Book and the authors on the O’Reilly website here.

Review:
The No-Cry Nap Solution: Guaranteed Gentle Ways to Solve All Your Naptime

June 5, 2009Age 0-1 year, Age 1-3, Books, New postsbook, development, sleepAlicia

I am a firm believer in naps. It was difficult for me when Madelyn started fighting nap time at about 2 years old but I am determined for her to nap until she’s 10 at least 4. Sebastian, now 9, took naps until he was 5 and still would if it was up to me! I need ‘nap time time’. I need that couple of hours to work in peace, take a shower, or exercise and she needs the nap for many reasons.

In ‘The No-Cry Nap Solution‘ Elizabeth covers many reasons why your child may fight nap time including irregular schedules, being overtired and over-wired by nap time, and reliance on a specific sleep aid. I believe that Madelyn started fighting nap time when we re-scheduled her nap time to 1:00 from her regular 11:30 nap time. She was too wired and tired to settle down at 1:00 so it was difficult to get her to sleep. I would not have thought about her being over-tired, but once we got her back to going down around 11:30-12:00, she fell asleep much quicker and with less of a fight.

Daytime naps might last just a few short hours, but they can affect all twenty-four hours of a child’s day. Naps can improve a child’s mood and reduce fussiness, crying, whining, and tantrums. Studies show that children who nap daily get sick less often, grow taller, and are less likely to be obese when they grow up. Naps enhance attention span and brain development. Naps can also help make up for any shortage in nighttime sleep. Even a one hour shortage in overall sleep hours can have a negative effect on a child – compromising alertness and brain function, and increasing fussiness and fatigue.

Author, Elizabeth Pantley, is the author of several other parenting books including the popular No-Cry Sleep Solution and has four children of her own so I trust that she knows what she’s talking about. I highly recommend The No-Cry Nap Solution for any new parent or even parents of toddlers.. it’s never to late to figure out why the heck your child won’t take a nap and learn how to make nap-time happen!

You’ll find information about all 9 of Elizabeth Pantley’s books on her website.

Review: My Name Is Chicken Joe (Book/CD Set)

May 11, 2009Age 3-5, Age 5-7, Age 7-10, Books, New postsbook, childrens book, childrens music cd, my name is chicken joe, trout fishing in americaAlicia

Madelyn turned 3 this weekend and her favorite gifts were books. She loves books. One of her favorite books right now is My Name is Chicken Joe. We read it every night. The story is about a cat named Chicken Joe and other animals whose names don’t quite fit. Featuring whimsical illustrations and an easy to remember ‘chorus’, it’s nearly impossible for me to not to start singing the story.

My Name is Chicken Joe is a book/cd set and is a fun book for beginning readers and equally as fun for toddlers being read to. Both of my kids love the 11-song CD which I consider to be a mashup of folk, rock, and country style music. This CD will be one that we listen to on our road trips this summer. Trout Fishing in
America has been nominated for four Grammy Awards, Parents Choice Gold, American Library Awards, and others. Trout Fishing in America have earned widespread critical praise from USA Today, Billboard and The Los Angeles Times.

You can buy the My Name is Chicken Joe book/cd set on the Trout Fishing in America website here.

Enjoy!

Leslie Patricelli – super cute books

April 16, 2009Age 1-3, Age 3-5, BooksBooks, children author, higher and higher, Leslie PatricelliAlicia

Leslie has such a fun personal story. She may not think so, she probably thinks she has a normal life.. don't we all? The first line of her Bio on her web site is "I live in the mountain town of Ketchum, Idaho". There's something about me saying I live in Marietta, GA that doesn't sound quite as exciting as 'the mountain town of Ketchum, Idaho'. She goes on to tell readers that her favorite food is Spaghetti and that she's had several jobs including being a ski instructor, a nanny, and an animator. You can tell from her Bio that she is fun, silly, and loves to write for kids.

Leslie's books are fun and simple making them a top pick for Madelyn. She wants to read Leslie's books over and over again. What I love about her books is that they leave room for imagination. Like when Madelyn and I read "Higher! Higher!", there aren't many words on each page which makes it fun for Madelyn and I to make up our own mini-stories for each page. For example, in Higher! Higher!, the little girl swings in the clouds. Madelyn and I talk about who is on the airplane in the illustration, what they're doing and other silly stuff. We have a lot of fun with Leslie's books.

You can see Leslie Patricelli's collection of books on her website and there are fun games to play and coloring sheets on her site too. Enjoy!

YouTube: An Insider’s Guide to Climbing the Charts (from a mom’s point of view)

January 21, 2009Booksbaby on youtube, mom youtube, youtube bookAlicia

I usually don't feature technical books or books related to business or the Internet but I think you might enjoy this book if you read it from a mom's point of view and go into it knowing that you are reading the book from a different prespective than most other readers of this book.
I know a lot of moms who upload videos of their kids to YouTube to share with their friends, family, and the world. Moms are very proud of their kids and yes, we want to show the world that our two year old can do five cart wheels in ten seconds, or mow the lawn. (Just kidding)