Book Review: Finally, A Parade for You by, Molly Burton.

Finally, A Parade for You is a collection of mini-biographies of  United States war veterans who served their country during the Vietnam War. These brave people sacrificed their peaceful lives and joined one of the many life-changing cultural upheavals of the mid-20th century. They were not famous, nor from privileged backgrounds. Today, most of them still battle Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and far too many are ill with such diseases as diabetes, cancer, and other related disorders. They now find peace, and though they struggle with it, grace.

At the end of the biographical section are two chapters on PTSD and Toxic Exposure (ie. Agent Orange). A small history, symptoms, individual experiences, and ways to get help either through the Veterans Administration (VA), or through private medical personnel/complimentary health care will be offered. The author’s own tips for the VA personnel to be more helpful to veterans of all battles and foreign /domestic deployments are included.

The stories contained in this book were an act of faith on the part of the veterans who shared their stories. Difficult to face because of the horrors endured and ongoing, the telling and re-telling of their tale during this writing has actually brought some measure of healing, as repetition of an experience makes it just that: a story of long ago. Please honor them before it’s too late, as they are dying every day. Let their stories be inspiring and healing. This ‘Parade’ is for all of us.

My Thoughts:

My younger brother is a true history buff. He has collected a number of historical books about war and our Nation's Finest, the veterans! Whether it is spreading information to others, meeting local veterans in our community, or expanding his knowledge, I knew this book was ideal for him and his love our our soldiers.

Author Molly Burton captured the life and tales of these beautiful people in each page. As a psychology major in college, I adored the discussions of PTSD within the book. It is important we talk about this topic more because still to this day, our veterans are suffering the affects of it. Spreading psychological knowledge is something I hope all historical based books will begin to do more of as well. The legacies told within this beautiful biographical book will capture the readers heart and give us all a heroic view of strength.

Although this book is perfect for history lovers, I would recommend it to everyone. Keeping the wisdom of our past moving forward with each generation is so important. Honoring these veterans who never got to receive the recognition for their bravery and sacrifices is a beautiful thing. I hope you will pick up a copy today!

Connect with Waldorf Publishing:

Website  Facebook  Twitter Instagram  

Election Day is coming! Get kids excited about the process with Barron’s!

With the Democratic and Republican primaries being hotly contested, the 2016 presidential race is gearing up to be the most pivotal election this country has had in generations. Kids, parents, and teachers will certainly be discussing this important topic through November. Children will also have many questions about the history of our country's elections, from George Washington in 1789 to Barack Obama in 2012. That's where Presidential Elections and Other Cool Facts can help.

No Question Left Unanswered:

*Who can run for president? *Who can vote? *What is the Electoral College? *What is a third-party candidate? *Which Republican president had a Democrat for his vice president? *Who was the only U.S. president to be elected for more than two terms? *Which candidates have won the popular vote but lost the election? *Why was President Truman laughing in 1948 when he read the Chicago Tribune headline that declared: "Dewey Defeats Truman"?

Start a Discussion Children Will Enjoy Having:

Perfect to spark classroom conversations and perk up students, this book brings history and social studies classes to life. Children will thoroughly enjoy learning all of the intrigue, trivia, and little-known facts about the important people, places, and events in the history of presidential elections in the United States.

About the Author:

Syl Sobel is an attorney who has worked on many well-known publications about the U.S. judiciary. He has also consulted on behalf of the U.S. government with judges from around the world, and has spoken about the judiciary at conferences and with visiting delegations. Mr. Sobel is the author of several children's books on U.S. government and history, including titles on the U.S. Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and presidential elections.

My Thoughts:

My little brother loves anything and everything history! He's been studying it and collecting books for the last few years. He has quite a collection! This will be his first election voting, and he has enjoyed researching information as much as he can. I knew this would be the perfect reference for him. 

Presidential Elections and Other Cool Facts is a great fit for kids, teenagers, teachers and even adults looking for more information. If anyone has any questions about the presidents and how elections are run, this is a great guide. It is informative, but written in a way that is straight to the point and easy to understand. The pictures are a nice addition too! What I enjoyed the most is that it goes back throughout history, bringing a full circle understanding of how rules and regulations have been formed throughout the years. There are even fun facts! 

With 48 pages and a personable writing style, this book is an easy, fun and educational read! Click on the photo below and zoom in to get a view of some of the pages! 

Connect with Barron's:

Barron's Website Facebook Twitter Google+ LinkedIn Youtube RSS Feeds

Book Review: My Own Pioneers Volumes I, II & III

Embark on An Extraordinary Journey with My Own Pioneers!

Follow the fascinating true stories of one family through the Mormon pioneer era—stories that follow four generations and several of the author’s family lines as they and their fellow pioneers help shape the early history of the Mormon Church, the American West, and even Mexico.

This memorable journey is the culmination of fifteen years of painstaking research as the author, Kathryn J. Kappler, carefully reconstructs the pioneer struggles from before 1830 to 1918 using information from family journals, memoirs, histories and letters. Through this vivid true account, the author illuminates, in a highly readable way, the experiences of family members as they struggled on, through sacrifice, persecution and desperate circumstances, to open up the hostile Western deserts as they helped to establish a new religion. My Own Pioneers (in three volumes) paints an authentic picture, rich in detail and emotion, of the early Latter-day Saints who sacrificed everything for their new faith.

The first volume of My Own Pioneers tells how family members gave up their homes and fortunes to join a new church; how they journeyed among Indians on the frontier and sailed through nearly catastrophic ocean storms to preach in England; how they were driven from three states by mobs and mob wars, losing everything time after time; how dozens of family members were among the Mormon refugees who died in exile by the hundreds, of illness, starvation and exposure at the Missouri River; and how, despite everything, they joined the U.S. Army’s Mormon Battalion and marched down the Old Santa Fe Trail to the war with Mexico.

My thoughts:

This a great book! You don't even have to be a history buff to like this book.  It is a big book with over three hundred pages loaded with the Williams family's journey.  It is an easy read.  It was interesting to me looking at the black and pictures through out, it was if the were taking me on the journey with them.  This book will remain in my private home library.  Once you start reading this piece of history, it is hard to put it down.   

Volume II (Pioneering the West/Defending Zion, 1847-1880) continues the history by recounting the family’s involvement in the opening and colonization of the Great Basin. It recounts in detail the dangerous crossing of the plains in covered wagons and handcarts, and on foot; starting small settlements in remote regions while eating roots and rawhide to survive; fighting insect hordes and hostile Indians; explorations; facing off the U.S. Army; and even how the Mormons helped build the new railroad across the plains.

My thoughts:

Another great History book.  Having been to Zion several times on vacation, I felt a connection with the Pioneers while reading this.  They endured a lot of struggles including war with the Indians.  I liked the black and white in this Volume two of My Own Pioneers.  Once you have read Volume one, you will want to read this.  

Volume III (The Last Pioneers/Refuge in Mexico, 1876-1918) concludes the family history by explaining how polygamous family pioneers moved from Utah to settle Arizona and New Mexico; how the pioneers faced Indian and mob threats again in their new home; how, because of polygamy, the threat of imprisonment forced the settlers to flee into Mexico, where they battled Indians and the elements, adjusted to Mexican culture and citizenship, and prospered; how they were soon victims of the Mexican Revolution, caught between two marauding armies; and how they were finally forced back across the border as impoverished refugees in the very states they had once pioneered.

My Own Pioneers is an important work illuminating the legacy of the Mormon pioneers. It is a compilation of true chronological accounts through which their lives, their sacrifices, and their considerable accomplishments, despite terrible hardship, may be honored. With its extensive index, this book provides an excellent research tool for academics as well as history enthusiasts; and it uplifts every reader by showcasing the enduring strength and mighty faith of these pioneers.

My Own Pioneers
Volume I: Pioneering the Borders / The New Saints, 1830 - 1847
Volume II: Pioneering the West / Defending Zion, 1847 - 1880
Volume III: The Last Pioneers / Refuge in Mexico, 1876 - 1918

My thoughts:

Another great book!  I am so happy i had the opportunity to have read this volume of My Own Pioneers.  The author did a superb job gathering the information to tell this story of the Mormons and how they had to move to Mexico. I really found it sad to read of all the sadness the Mormans had to endure.  The black and white pictures throughout this book were interesting to see. Even to this day some of society still frown upon Polygamy.  It a Volume four was to come out, I will be first in line.  A really great read this is.