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Littles Book Review: Reading for Creative Inspiration

November 9, 2015 Rachel Nevergall
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Friday we took a trip to the library, a task we make at least every other week, sometimes more. Between story time and book searching and check out, we spent a good two hours there. I can’t think of too many places I would choose to spend two hours with my children and come out grinning and at peace. The library is my happy place. Imagine a place where you don’t have to say “no” to a child or to yourself. Unless we hit our 50 check out limit (It has been done before!), Caroline, and I, are free to say YES to each and every book that catches our eye. It’s like going on to Amazon, putting ALL OF THE THINGS into the shopping cart, and then entering in a gift card wiping that total down $0.00. It is Christmas morning. For me and for her. And because we just spent a morning saying “YES!” everyoneleaves happy.

My favorite books for children? Oh gracious I couldn’t even begin to list them all. Often it is a cleverly written story combined with stunning illustrations. I could narrow down a few recent favorites, but why limit myself? With the holiday gift giving season approaching, I am sure there are many readers who would love a few suggestions to wrap up for your favorite little person, or add to your own personal library. So I will periodically throw in a few favorite based on a theme. Think of this as my only little Reading Rainbow episode on the blog (which by the way is BACK and I have already conned Caroline into watching. And the song is now in my head all day. Butterfly in the sky...)

Lately, I have found the books that I LOVE reading over and over are the ones that I feel were written just for me. The ones that leave me inspired to channel my inner creative spirit. If I didn’t have a little one in the house, I would still want to put these books on my shelf. There are messages here for creatives of all ages.

Rosie Revere, Engineer - Andrea Beaty

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The story of a little girl who is the descendent of her great-great Aunt Rose (Rosie the Reveter), a great engineer of her time and female voice of strength. Little Rosie, much like her Aunt Rose, is inspired to make creative machines from thrown away objects. But when she feels defeated by an invention gone wrong, little Rosie vows to never create again. Her Aunt Rose shares with her a lesson that makes me cry every single time I read the line. “You did it! Hurray! It’s the perfect first try! ...Your brilliant first flop was a raging success! Come on, let’s get busy and on to the next!”

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If there is any lesson I hope to leave to my daughter, and to all of God’s children, it is that innovation is only succeeded by trying, again and again and again. She described her mishap not as a failure but as “perfect” and “brilliant.” Creativity is a process, and greatness is achieved by doing. Love every bit of this, and we remind Caroline so often of Rosie Revere and how she had to keep trying. A superb role model.

What Do You Do With an Idea? - Kobi Yamada, Mae Beso

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Similar to Dr. Seuss’s tale Oh the Places You Will Go,  this is almost a version for the “idea,” as if the alternate title could be Oh the Places Your Idea Will Go. The “idea” is a character in the book and the story shares what becomes of this idea. As the child grows, so does the idea. Amazon and their fantastic ability to say “People also purchased…” triggered me to check out this book after purchasing Rosie Revere. The line that caught my attention was “a story for anyone, at any age, who has ever had an idea that seemed a little too big, too odd, too difficult…welcome that idea, give it space to grow and see what happens next.” I read this line in August, as I was searching for birthday gifts for Caroline. Meanwhile, if you might remember, I was beginning the process of considering taking steps toward increasing my creative habit with blogging more regularly. Amazon, darn it, you have found me once again. I purchased the book for Caroline, but secretly I just wanted an excuse to read it myself. The story is simple, but the message inspiring. And the illustrations tell the story as much as the words do, which I think is so important for a young child. You can’t help but be swept away by the beauty, especially at the end when something truly great happens. Breathtaking. Tears. Again.

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The Most Magnificent Thing by Ashley Spires and Beautiful Oops by Barney Saltzberg. Both share similar inspiring messages of making something great from something small or mistaken. I have them on hold at our local library, a great way to “try out” books. But I have a feeling these may end up on our personal book shelf to read and indulge in over and over and over again.

Although these books are great for inspiring any age, I have another book review coming up Wednesday about the book that inspired me to first really take a look at my creative direction. This time I’ll call it my Grown Up Book Review. Coming soon…

But first, what are your favorite books for inspiring children, or yourself? Also, what other types of books would you like me to share our favorites from our book shelf? I love to hear ideas! They are all great!

← Grown Up Book Review: The Creative HabitA Farewell to Summer and Coming Home. →
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Hi there! I'm Rachel.

I believe each morning is a fresh start and I believe hot coffee is step one. 

It is here that I celebrate each day as an opportunity to seek the creative inside both our children and ourselves so that we can all       raise and shine. 

Learn More
If I showed you the sweet picture of the hairstyle I gave her for crazy hair meets Valentine’s day, would you also believe me that I don’t remember when she last bathed?

If I shared the fun crafty Valentine we made for his class would you also believe me that my house looks like a fraternity house at the end of a raging party?

If I show the darling babe all snuggled up under my chin that makes my heart burst with unspeakable joy, would you also believe me when I say parenting three is the hardest thing I have yet done in my parenting life?

Sometimes in these little squares, I have so much fear that I might post something that makes someone’s heart shrink a little bit with guilt or inadequacy. I worry you will think I am something you are not and that will make you feel smaller than you deserve to be, when in fact I struggle too. So much.

But then, if I keep quiet, not only am I not allowing myself to show you exactly who I am, how I like to love on my people, and what just makes me happy, I am thus not leaving space for you to do so as well.

If these things brings you joy, too, hurray. If something else does, I celebrate you. And if you aren’t in a space of joy, I’m sitting her with you too. And sending you ❤️. Never alone.

This has been my struggle for years. I saw self care as (by my)self care. And it seems it only got harder and harder to care for myself as I fought to be alone.

And so I’m trying something new. I’m learning to find the peace I need in my day right along side them.

So I move WITH them in tow. I read to THEM, as long as it something of MY choosing. I pick up a paint brush too when they paint.

And hopefully all this togetherness is teaching them what matters to me and my day too.

Shared on the blog today how I practice my *What Feels Right* list from yesterday when I can’t be alone.

What’s your go to care strategy when your little ones tag along? I test as a Highly Sensitive Person. 🙋🏻‍♀️Anyone else?

I like to think of myself as a noticer. From the way the snow sounds when it hits the ground to his sweet sigh as he nestles into sleep in my arms. I feel it all. And I mean ALL.

This can be a beautiful way to look at life, but it can also be EXHAUSTING.

But I decided to start using this skill for the better. I started to pay close attention to my day to notice patterns of when I feel off and when I feel right.

My list is not revolutionary. It is nothing you don’t already know to be true. But sometimes we need to really acknowledge the simple ways we can manage our days to feel joy, to feel peace, to just feel right.

Sharing my list of What Feels Right on the blog today to maybe inspire you to pay attention to your own list.✨Now your turn...What Feels Right to you? Yes his sweatshirt is on backwards. Yes this happens on the regular. It’s become his signature look. But the important thing is he got himself dressed and no one had to use their angry voice!

I am quite excited to introduce a new series on the blog today called ☀️Raise your Mom Game☀️ It’s a way to share the great ideas learned from regular, cool, smart moms (and dads) like us. I believe parents are super heroes with powers to battle the everyday parenting struggles. And they are willing and happy to share these with fellow superhero parents so we can all win.

It’s not about the quick fix, because none of us are broken. We just sometimes need a fresh perspective to tackle familiar challenges in parenting, another play in the playbook, tool in the toolbox, option in the portfolio. Am I giving you enough metaphors here?

Today, I go first with my big frustration in getting kids dressed. I feature two great ideas for both of my kids from fellow parents @kelseywilliams and @ladderica. And I filmed one in the stories so go check it out. After you read the post, of course 😉. And remember, this is a village. So please share with me how you are Raising your Mom Game. And what helps you Shine.☀️ “...I make so many beginnings there never will be an end.” Louisa May Alcott

She opened up 6 crisp white books, completely blank, exactly as she asked them to be, for writing down her own stories. Obviously I was thrilled to grant this Christmas wish. It wasn’t 5 minutes later that I turned around to find her set up at the dining room table, pen in hand, words flowing to the book. “Now you realize these are special, right. You can’t throw them away and start over if it isn’t just as you want it to be.” “I know.” Barely glancing up. Back to work.  Her confidence and self assurance just taunting me.

She has no trouble diving in. She doesn’t worry about where the ending is taking her. She doesn’t hesitate and doubt herself along the way.

She just BEGINS.

It is with this same resolve that I choose to take with me throughout this new year. To not hesitate with my step one. And to not be afraid to be new at something.

Last year I explored being enough. And with that I determined, there is also enough time, space, energy to take more step ones.

To BEGIN.

Introducing my 2019 word of the year ✨BEGIN✨ on the blog today.

A month in and I already love where this word is taking me. My skin is still soft from the humidity of Texas, and my heart, and stomach, are full in the way only a winter escape can bring. But it feels right to be home. It feels right to see snow softly falling in February. And to be all piled up together as a family again. ❤️❤️❤️ You know that welcoming feeling you get when you go home to mom and dads?

They make you your favorite meals. You take comfort in the familiar space. You just feel so warm and loved and cared for.

We got that welcomed feeling when we made it back to our old home in Austin town this weekend.

We had all our favorite meals, barbecue, tacos, queso, more tacos. Memories flooded us around every corner, date nights, family adventures, milestones crossed. And most importantly, we got to feel loved by “family,” or rather the friends that became family when you needed it most.

This is how it should be when you make a place a home, no matter how short the time was in your life. It should make itself a little home in your heart and always open its arms wide to you when you come back.

So glad we will always have Austin.

And tacos. 🌮 Confession time... I sometimes daydream about being a mom of just one baby.

Not that I don’t love each and every one of my kids more than my heart can even find words for, because obvi I don’t even need to clarify that for you.

It’s just that this multiple and different needs thing all at once is very very hard on my brain capacity. And also my heart.

I sometimes dream of a world where I get to have each of my babies one day at a time. And then we all come together for one big epic fun filled Sunday as a family of five. Wouldn’t that be fun??!! But then I see the oldest reading a book to the middle. Or the middle tickled with himself at how he can make the baby giggle. Or there’s the epic family snuggle sessions in the king size bed before someone, all of them, demand breakfast. And then I remember we are right where we need to be and who we need to be with.

But also sometimes it’s super fun to just be with one. We snuck away together with our baby to a place that still has a piece of our heart, Texas. And while I miss the other two, it feels like a gift to enjoy that stage where it’s just you and me and a baby makes three. I can hardly remember him that tiny, but I’ll never forget when she started reading to them. 📚 Reading creates strong memories, doesn’t it. “For some it’s a physical place in which I remember reading. The beach, the hammock, the couch under a blanket. For others, it’s a place in time. A difficult pregnancy. A foggy newborn stage. A challenging stage of parenting. And for some, it’s a moment that I realize is one of a momentous milestone. Like seeing her read a book for the first time. Or reading our first chapter book series together.” Eighteen Memorable Book Moments in 2018 on the blog today. The answer to snow-mo and other FOMO related cases (see last post if you are confused 😊) ?? Be a noticer.

As promised, I shared about my process of creating a Reverse Bucket List on the blog today.

You don’t need a fancy planner, a complicated system, or even a lot of time. You just need a photo storage system of your choice, a few questions I list in the post, and a couple of minutes to do some thinking.

It’s my own way of doing goals and reflection. But I would love to see what you learn too. So I’m creating a hashtag!! Tell me how it works for you with #raiseandshineandnotice 🥳
“The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away”
— Pablo Picasso
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