I would imagine that everyone out there has heard of The Hunger Games, in some fashion. At least “I sure hear a lot about this, but I don’t know what it is.” You might know that the Hunger Games movie releases March 23. You might not know that it’s a wildly popular Young Adult series by Suzanne Collins, that has fans from tweens up through adults. You might not know that it’s dystopian literature. If you don’t know any of this, I’d suggest you brush up, because I think that this movie and these books are going to continue down their path of wild success, and you don’t want to be the last one in the know.

It’s a popular book, and it’s a book that begs to be discussed, or at least thought about. The book The Girl Who Was on Fire (Movie Edition): Your Favorite Authors on Suzanne Collins’ Hunger Games Series gives you the chance to do just that.

• Are you Team Gale or Team Peeta (or perhaps even Team Katniss?) — you’ll find agreement here no matter what side you are on.
• Did you like the final installment Mockingjay or hate it? That is explored as well.
• Want to explore the political side of the story? Read on.
• Feel like comparing the trilogy to other dystopian plots? You can do it here.
• Ever wonder the subtext in the amazing costumes created for the Games? Terri Clark can tell you.

 
Dawn reviewed The Girl Who Was on Fire at 5 Minutes for Books last Spring, so check out her review for more thoughts on the book. This The Girl Who Was on Fire (Movie Edition) contains 3 additional essays, and if you buy the ebook version or the booster pack (containing only the 3 new essays, and the soon-to-be-released thoughts on the movie), you will also receive each of the essayist’s thoughts on the movie right after it releases on March 23.

I’m happy that we have a copy to give away to one of you. Just leave a comment if you’d like to win, and we’ll announce the winner in our 5 Minutes for Books column here at 5 Minutes for Mom on February 20.

• The winner of The Perfect Name for You is #34 Staci A.

 
Want more YA? The Dystopian Romance prize pack is still open for another week!

My daughter, Ilsa, who’s 14, loves dystopian fiction, and is not averse to a little romance mixed in. For me, someone who grew up in the 70s and 80s worrying about communist invasions and gulags (I had a very vivid imagination), this mystifies me—at her age, I hated the thought of creepy Societies watching my every move, or a world without enough food or fresh water and with no opportunity for advancement.

Ilsa persuaded me to check out Scholastic’s Dystopian Romance pack** and then, ironically, had so much homework that she hasn’t had a chance to read them yet. This is unusual, as my daughter tends to devour books and has been longing to read Matched. I had to read them for her, and tell her how good they were while strictly informing her she’d better finish her homework and get good grades on her exams! So it’s been a fun week at our house as she waits for her opportunity.

If you, like me, are a little mystified by your daughter’s taste in worlds governed by faceless Big Brother-like societies, I would encourage you to check out these two books. Both feature strong heroines who decide things for themselves, who have to think and imagine worlds unlike what they’ve experienced – and yet are ready to meet a guy who’ll help them along the way. You just might finally get what your own daughter finds so attractive about this genre.

Matched

Cassia lives in a world governed by The Society, which decides where you’ll work, what you’ll wear, what and how much you’ll eat, who you’ll marry and when you’ll die. It does this under the guise of caring about people; they’ve worked out optimal caloric intake, for example, and the clothes are utilitarian which cuts down on people feeling envious of other’s fashion choices. Art and Literature are made easy—only the top 100 poems and paintings of all time have been preserved, and the rest destroyed. No one really creates any more, just manages things. And at 17, people are “matched” by personality, genes, and other criteria to their perfect mate; at 21 they marry, and they are allowed to have children until the age of 32, after which “optimal” child-rearing age is past.

The novel opens with Cassia on her way to her matching banquet on the night of her 17th birthday. She has been allowed to choose a dress to wear and later will receive a snippet of the fabric in a frame to keep as a memento. She is amazed when she is matched to her close friend Xander, whom she’s known since childhood—it’s rare to know to your match ahead of time.

However, when she puts her flashcard in later to read more about her match, another face and name flash on the screen. Oddly, it’s another person she knows in real life—Ky, who came originally from the Outer Provinces and was adopted by a family in the neighbourhood when they were all about 12. Cassia has never thought much about Ky before, but she’s intrigued—which boy is her true match? She begins to spend time with Ky, and to learn about him.

Her grandfather is also dying. That is, he is approaching his 80th birthday, at which point he will die, because The Society has determined that 80 is the optimal age to die—before health really deteriorates, while the mind is still sharp. Before he dies, he gives Cassia a present, not to mention an example, to not just blindly follow all that The Society says is good.

I must admit that I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Cassia is a believable and likable heroine, and I enjoyed the development of her character from mindless obedience to something a bit braver. I am dying to read the next in the series, Crossed (recently reviewed by my colleague Jennifer at 5 Minutes for Books). I especially loved the use of the poem Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night to give Cassia the beginnings of the courage she needed to go against the flow.

Restoring Harmony:

The year is 2041, which means that we could all still be alive. Molly has grown up on a farm on a small island just off Vancouver Island in Canada. The world has changed—there’s no more oil, food is scarce, bridges are collapsing and organized crime has pretty much taken over from a weak government. Molly’s family, worried about her grandfather, send her to pick him up in Portland, Oregon, and persuade him to come home with her.

I live in Portland, so the setting of this novel was fun for me. Molly has to be smuggled across the border, since she’s only 16. She’s faced with one obstacle after another, from losing her shoes and having to hike barefoot, to being cheated out of her money by a con man and having to busk for spare change, but she uses her native wit and ingenuity to figure out solutions. When she reaches Portland, she’s helped by a handsome young man who calls himself “Spill.” He proves to have some interesting connections, ones that Molly doesn’t want to think about. Spill helps Molly, her grandparents, and their young neighbours to figure out how to navigate life in this brave new world. Molly’s running out of time to persuade her grandfather to return home with her. With the mob breathing down her back, and her mother desperately ill back in Canada, will she manage to make it home in time?

**The 5 Minutes for Books team are happy to a part of Scholastic’s Parent Circle. Each month, one of our reviewers will select a book from that month’s Scholastic Book Club flyers. Ilsa and I selected this Dystopian Romance pack from February’s TAB flyer.

We are happy to offer one of you (U.S. shipping only) both of these books, as featured in the Scholastic book club flyer. Leave a comment to enter. We’ll announce the winner in our book column on February 13.

• The winner of How to be a Best Friend Forever is #9 tennille.

Elizabeth read 1984 at an impressionable age which has forever tinged her view of dystopian fiction. That didn’t stop her from enjoying these two, however. Read more at her blog Planet Nomad.

I received a copy of The Perfect Name For You for my 5 year old son, assuming he’d like it, but I wasn’t expecting him to completely fall in love with the book. Like most kids his age he just loves seeing his name on just about anything, and to have it printed on his own picture book is the best thing that’s ever happened to him.

Having read a multitude of alphabet books, many of them using animals for each letter, it’s always refreshing to see a new twist on the genre. To celebrate the child’s birth, each animal brings something for each letter in their name – the moose brings an A for antlers, the lion brings an M for mane, the ant brings a P for picnic. There are multiple animals for each letter, so even though my son’s full name has 5 As in it — first, middle and last are all used — there were no repeats. Adding to the fun is a ladybug that can be found in each picture, and at the end is each letter of the alphabet brought by a different animal. My son loves to go through that list and point out the ones included in his book.

The Perfect Name For You is a wonderful gift for a new baby or preschool-aged child that will be cherished for years.

Birthday Keepsakes is offering a free personalized storybook to 1 winner, US or Canada only. Please leave a comment below and the winner will be announced on in this weekly book giveaway column on Monday February 6.

• The winner of House of Secrets is #26 Christina Gould.

 
Nancy is happy her son loves his name as much as she does. She writes about her 2 boys, books and life in Colorado at Life With My Boys and Books.

Today with so many online connections, including blogging relations, Facebook “friends” from elementary school and beyond, the concept of what a real friend is has evolved to an extent. John Townsend’s How to Be a Best Friend Forever: Making and Keeping Lifetime Relationships examines the role of friendship in our lives and challenges us to make more of these vital relationships — both for our own good and so that we can be better friends.

I underlined and starred and folded so many pages in this book. It’s a pretty slim volume, and it’s completely readable, so for those of you who think “When do I have time to read a book?” don’t worry! This is the kind of book that you can get through by reading a chapter or two here or there, and with each chapter you’ll find at least one nugget to think about and hopefully apply to your life (see a sneak preview at the excerpt Five Best Friendship Rules to Live By over at 5 Minutes for Books).

Whether you know you need to strengthen your friendships or you feel overwhelmed about maintaining the ones you have, you will find advice and encouragement in this book. There’s even a study guide at the back of the book with questions about each chapter to help you pinpoint who your best friends really are and how you can be a better friend to them.

I’m excited that we have a copy to give away, thanks to the publisher (U.S. and Canadian shipping only). Leave a comment here if you’d like to win (and see below for more chances to win). We’ll announce the winner in this weekly book giveaway column on Monday January 30.

I’ve reprinted the Five Best Friendship Rules to Live By over at 5 Minutes for Books. Read them to get a sample of what you’ll find in this book. If you leave a comment over there, it will give you an extra chance to win. I’ve also shared what friendship means to me over at my personal blog Snapshot, and you can also earn an extra entry for commenting over there as well. I’d love to hear what your friends mean to you!

The winner of One Moment, One Morning is #30 Tia.

Original review by 5 Minutes for Books Managing Editor Jennifer Donovan, who loves exploring the themes of friendship at her Snapshot blog.

When Bailee’s father asks the girls to come to their summer home for an announcement, Bailee heads to Washington state to meet her family. Bailee’s dad shares a surprise with the girls, but their response shocks him. As the secrets and pain from the past come out, the tenuous threads holding the family together unravel. In a moment of distress, Bailee calls Mark, who drops everything and heads to Washington to offer support during the confusing and traumatic time. Bailee must deal with the past and work on the present crisis before she can deal with any thoughts of the future. With Mark’s support, and God’s love, Bailee works to find healing and hope.

House of Secrets is a touching and dramatic story. At its core, House of Secrets exposes the difficult challenges that families face when a loved one is suffering from mental illness. Although mental illness ranges in severity, I don’t know many families who have not dealt with the pain and devastating effects related to mental illness in some way. Author Tracie Peterson does an excellent job of portraying the suffering, the anger, the challenges, and even the guilt that family members face. While the details of Bailee’s story are extreme, the story resonates easily with anyone who has been touched by these difficulties.

House of Secrets is a moving, fast-paced novel that is difficult to put down. The emotions are real and raw, and I grieved for the loss and struggles experienced by the three sisters. Tracie Peterson has crafted a well-written story that exposes the realities of mental illness, while offering hope for healing. I recommend it to all of you.

Thanks to Bethany House, we have one copy of House of Secrets to giveaway (U.S. shipping address only). Please leave a comment on this post. We’ll announce the winner in our book review column here on January 23.

• The winner of the Mr. Popper’s Penguins ebook is #11 Sue Borowiak.
• Our giveaway for the women’s fiction novel One Moment, One Morning is still open another week.
• Check out all our current book giveaways at 5 Minutes for Books right now!

Original review by 5 Minutes for Books staff reviewer: Lauren is a wife, mother of two, and an avid reader. She blogs at Baseballs and Bows.

(And don’t worry that I’m giving away the plot. This all happens in the first chapter).

This one event ties these women together. It also causes them to examine their lives in the wake of Simon’s death. Lou is struggling with coming out to her friends and family and realizes that hiding is hurting her. Anna is in her early 40′s and in a destructive relationship. Karen is reeling, but the tragedy makes her keenly aware of everything that she does have in her life.

This piece of light women’s fiction deals with the unthinkable — the sudden death of a spouse — which is a fear that most of us have, but it’s worth reading for the hope and strength that Karen finds as her friends and family help her survive. Rayner’s descriptions of each of these 3 women’s inner life is right on. She manages to help the reader immerse herself into this situation by experiencing a week or so in their lives, in a way that isn’t too cavalier, yet doesn’t end up being depressing either.

The interesting London setting also elevates this novel to something worth losing yourself in for a few days.

Thanks to the publisher, I have a copy to give to one of you (U.S. or Canadian shipping addresses are eligible). Leave a comment if you’d like to win.

Did you get an ereader for Christmas? Stock it up by entering to win a Mr. Popper’s Penguins ebook.

The winner of Hot (Sweaty) Mamas: Five Secrets to Being a Fit Mom is #82 Kim Smith.

LIKE BOOKS? Subscribe to our 5 Minutes for Books feed or video reviews on YouTube. Follow us @5M4B on Twitter or on Facebook. Check out our current giveaways.

Once you get that ereader, you need to stock it up with titles. The beauty of my Kindle is that I will never run out of books to read! What’s more, I make sure that there are titles on there for my kids as well. I keep a good eye out for sales (I bought several titles for me, and each of my 2 kids, for less than $4 a few months ago), and I’m always watching the Kindle Free bestsellers, which include small press and self-published books as you’d expect, but also has backlist titles from authors you love.

Today I’m proud to feature a wonderful ebook title from Open Road Media. I love the versions of books that I’ve read from them, including Pat Conroy‘s The Prince of Tides (they have published most of his backlist), and the Boxcar Children books by Gertrude Chandler.

Mr. Popper’s Penguins is one of their newest releases. This is a great movie (sharing very little with the movie except the heart and the name). My son read it last summer before we saw the movie, and enjoyed it. He’s a young, high-level reader, so it was perfect for him (a challenge, but no inappropriate content). I’d recommend this book for readers on the 4th – 6th grade levels, but I remember reading it aloud to my older daughter when she was much younger (5, I think).

This book also comes with enhanced features (available on a PC or a tablet that supports this format): extended, illustrated biography of the authors, photos, and two videos from Fox Entertainment: the first is the charming story of how Mr. Popper’s Penguins became a book, told partly by the Atwaters’ grandchildren, and the second is a trailer of the feature film.

One of you will win a free download of the enhanced version of the Newbery-Award winning Mr. Popper’s Penguins. Leave a comment, and we’ll announce the winner right here in our weekly book giveaway column on Monday January 9.

• The winner of the Family Storybook Treasury is #14 Liz.

Authors Kara Douglass Thom and Laurie Kocanda understand the challenges related to making time for exercise. Not only have they experienced the challenges themselves, but they have spoken with thousands of women about finding ways to be fit as moms. In Hot (Sweaty) Mamas: Five Secrets to Life as a Fit Mom, Thom and Kocanda encourage all moms (those who love to exercise, those who don’t love to exercise, and those who have never exercised) to make fitness a part of their lives.

Hot (Sweaty) Mamasdiscusses five “secrets”:

• You have to train your brain before you can train your body
• there are no good excuses
• be as good to your body as you are to your children
• people can sabotage your fitness faster than a cookie binge
• and act like others are watching because they are

In each section, the authors describe specific pitfalls, provide tips and encouragement, and discuss solutions. Each chapter also includes “Mom 2 Mom” sections that provide real-life advice from moms across the country. Thom and Kocanda also include inserts throughout the text that detail examples and illustrations from their own lives. In the final pages of the book, the authors include a supply list, a 28-day fitness challenge, and other useful resources.

Whether you are already a fit mom, or you are contemplating changes as we enter 2012, Hot (Sweaty) Mamas has something for everyone. Thom and Kocanda’s love of exercise is evident in this book, but so is their experience as mothers. As much as they enjoy exercising, they realize that it can be a challenge. Through this book, they provide realistic and workable solutions for busy moms who want to be healthy and energized in all aspects of life (and looking better doesn’t hurt either!).

Whether you have run many marathons, or you just need a push off the couch, Hot (Sweaty) Mamas is an encouraging and lighthearted read that will get you moving or keep you going in the right direction. As you make resolutions in the coming weeks, be sure to check out the advice in this book. You’ll be glad to know there are so many other hot, sweaty moms working with you!

We have one copy to give away (U.S. shipping addresses only). Leave a comment if you’d like to win (or if you need to win). We’ll announce the winner on January 2.

• The winner of Can You See What I See, Toyland Express is #8 Elisabeth @ My Local Giveaways.

5 Minutes for Books reviewer Lauren is a wife, mother of two, and an avid reader. She blogs at Baseballs and Bows.

The Family Storybook Treasury is a beautiful treasure to give, receive, and pass down.

Each wonderful picture book in The Family Storybook Treasury is followed by a poem, some a few lines, some in unique sentence structures, and one with a riddle. The poems were perfect for those nights my kids wanted to squeeze in one more story. The audio CD is a delightful bonus with the storybook, each book is accompanied by music and some also have sound effects, such as sirens in Curious George and the Firefighters.

Includes eight complete picture books:

• Curious George and the Firefighters by Margret and H. A. Rey
• Martha Speaks by Susan Meddaugh
• Lyle Walks the Dogs by Bernard Waber, illustrated by Paulis Waber
• Sheep in a Jeep by Nancy Shaw, illustrated by Margo Apple
• Tacky the Penguin by Helen Lester, illustrated by Lynn Munsinger
• Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed by Eileen Christelow
• The Great Doughnut Parade by Rebecca Bond
• Mike Mulligan and his Steam Shovel by Virginia Lee Burton

 
From the publisher:

Family, friends, your favorite characters. . .bring them all together at story time! Share the book that is sure to entertain, delight, and make the whole gang laugh. The Family Storybook Treasury is a collection of your most well-loved picture books and poetry, now available in one beautiful keepsake volume with bonus audio CD!

Thanks to Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, we have a fantastic package for one (1) winner (U.S. addresses only):
 

• Copy of The Family Storybook Treasury
• Kid-safe headphones
• $50 American Express Gift Card to stock up your child’s library

 
Leave a comment to enter to win (U.S. shipping only), and the winner will be announced on December 26 in our weekly book review giveaway column.

Though this giveaway won’t be over by then, this is a great gift idea for a family or young child on your list, so consider buying one now, and if you win, you’ll be able to enjoy it yourself.
 

• The winner of the Richard Scarry’s Busytown Town Hall Deluxe Playset with DVD is #10 Melissa Nathan.

 
5 Minutes for Books reviewer Nancy loves reading these storybooks to her kids. She writes about her 2 boys, books and life in Colorado at Life With My Boys and Books.

Those are the words that I hear whenever my children and I bring home another book from the incredible Can You See What I See? series. I’d be lying if I said that they are the only ones who lean over the pages with excitement, eager to be the first to find the hidden items. The kids and I have been enjoying Walter Wick’s latest “Picture Puzzle to Search and Solve” that shows a train set’s journey from workshop to gift table through a lifetime of play in Can you See What I See?: Toyland Express.

I love that Wick’s series goes beyond the simple search and find concept, for there is a sequential story depicted in every book. In Toyland Express, children will delight in seeing a wooden train set originate in the workshop, on display in a toy store window, get unwrapped on a happy birthday, and get played with in a variety of ways over the years. In our family, there is a consensus for favorite page, for the “mountain pass” spread is adorable in its simplicity, with a white comforter transformed into a miniature winter wonderland, and the train driving over a suspended bridge overhead. And, as always, in addition to the listed items to find on each two-page spread, there is always the little wooden man to find, too. We call him “the little guy,” and he’s often the first thing that we search for!

I’m always in awe over the sheer number of items in each picture, and I’ve often thought that the folks who put together the scenes must have a really, really fun job. From this video with Walter Wick talking about the ideas and inspiration behind Toyland Express, I am confident that they do indeed have a blast. Oh, and I found out that “the little guy” actually has a name! I can’t wait to show my kids the video and let them find out, too, but I bet we’re still going to stick with our pet name for him. Watch and find out for yourself:

With more than 250 items to search for, as well as a lovely story of the life of a toy train, don’t you think your kids would love a copy of Can you See What I See?: Toyland Express?

We’re happy to be hosting an incredible giveaway, and one lucky winner will receive a copy of this delightfully creative and fun book, along with FIVE other titles in the Can You See What I See? series! Please leave a comment to be entered, U.S. mailing addresses only. (I’ll think you’re extra cool if you tell me that you knew “the little guy’s” name before watching the video.)

For even more Can You See What I See fun, check out info about the series and give Walter Wick a like on Facebook.

• The winner of the The Ultimate Cake Mix Cookie Book is #70 Leslie Silva.

As the holiday season rapidly approaches, parents of young children who love the characters and fun of Richard Scarry’s Busytown world should look no further than the Busytown toys, including the Town Hall Deluxe Playset. Sergeant Murphy and Hilda Hippo, along with her yellow pencil car, are included with the Town Hall building that opens up for play on the inside. Twelve connecting roadway pieces can be laid down around the building, giving Hilda a place to drive around, and they are the same style that will attach to most wooden train track systems. In total, there are 19 play pieces in the set, and it can be combined with other Busytown sets to create the entire town!

My kids have always enjoyed using small figures and play sets, and I’m happy to share these characters and pieces with them, since they have a special place in their hearts for Richard Scarry’s world. See, while I have some vague memories of Scarry’s books from my own childhood, my husband has a much clearer vision of enjoying Busytown stories as a child. He has shared this love with our children, and to listen to him bring Lowly the Worm and Huckle the Cat to life when he reads to them always brings a smile to my face. With that foundation firmly in place, my children will undoubtedly love to act out their own stories with this playset. The bonus DVD with two episodes of Busytown Mysteries introduces them to the characters in a new format, too, while still retaining the unique feel that Richard Scarry first created with his books all those years ago.

Want to share the Busytown Town hall Deluxe Playset and DVD with your own child this holiday season? One lucky winner will receive a playset (retail price: $39.99), along with a copy of a Richard Scarry classic book.

To enter, please leave a comment below letting us know what you love about Busytown. Giveaway open to US mailing addresses only. We’ll announce our winner on December 12.

To see more of the Richard Scarry’s Busytown products, like them on Facebook!

Sample & Prizing courtesy of Cookie Jar Entertainment

• The winner of Hurry Less, Worry Less at Christmas is # 38 Stacie

This is a nice big book full of recipes in three sections: drop cookies, bar cookies, formed and filled cookies.

We have marked many recipes to try, and have actually made several, ranging from the simple peanut butter cookie, to the slightly more complex (and delicious) peanut butter fudge bars that came together in a snap. The easy recipe for cake balls is up next (in fact, we’ve made the cake and will be combining it with frosting and dipping them tomorrow).

If you have kids like mine who are always wanting to make something (or to eat something), it’s pretty easy to keep some of these basic ingredients on hand so that you are ready to whip them up.

But if you are looking for something original, you can turn to this cookbook as well. Included in the pages are recipes for

• Lime in the Coconut Cookies
• Orange Dreamsicle Cookies
• Mocha-Cappuccino Cheesecake Bars
• Benne Seed Crinkles

I think that this would make a fantastic gift idea for anyone who likes to bake: a tween or teen girl or boy, or a sister or mother — or for that matter, a sister or mother who does NOT like to bake, because the recipes are original and easy.

I could imagine wrapping up this book on top of a brand-new cookie sheet or bar pan and including two boxes of cake mix. How fun is that? I was going to do this for my sons teachers, but ended up doing something else, however I think I will do it at the end of the year, when they actually might have more time to bake with their families.

Go ahead and buy it now and start your holiday season off right. If you win the copy, I guarantee you’ll find someone else who will love it.

Leave a comment here if you’d like to win. We’ll announce the winner on December 5.

The winners of Razzle Dazzle Ruby are #21 mrsshukra and #24 Tina M. And if you want a chance to win even more books, check out all of our current giveaways at 5 Minutes for Books, as well as last week’s column that is still open for entries: Hurry Less, Worry Less at Christmas.

Hurry Less, Worry Less at Christmas

Judy Christie wants to help you Hurry Less, Worry Less at Christmas so that you can have the holiday season you long for. Are you in?

Perhaps you are shaking your head at the mere mention of Christmas here the week before Thanksgiving! But that’s the point. This book not only gives you guidance about setting goals for the holiday you want (sticking to a budget, saying no to so many activities, focusing more on the religious meaning etc), but Christie also encourages you to use the true spirit of Thanksgiving to usher in the Christmas season. What’s more, the book also takes you all the way into the New Year.

The book contains it all. The “Less is More” chapter not only deals with busyness, but spending and overeating. Does that not sum it up?

Read the rest of this post….

You can win a copy of the book Hurry Less, Worry Less at Christmas on Elizabeth’s post at 5 Minutes for Mom and on Jennifer’s post on 5 Minutes for Books.

Written by 5 Minutes for Mom managing editor, Lolli. You can find me blogging at Better in Bulk and tweeting at @1momof5.

Over time, however, I really came to appreciate our desert Christmases. I’ll admit that our first year back in Oregon we bought a 10-foot Noble, but I do miss those sparse holiday celebrations, at least now that I no longer have to deal with them. Pared down to the minimum, they made that minimum take on added meanings. We weren’t busy and overwhelmed with parties and concerts and school events. I didn’t spend days and days baking. Instead, we went caroling round the expat houses, garnering curious stares from kids playing soccer in the dirt. We invited just a few friends. We made our own memories and they were precious as rare items always are.

Now that I’ve been back in the States for a while, I find myself worrying a bit as we begin to head into the holiday season. I don’t want to get overwhelmed, so the idea of Judy Christie’s Hurry Less, Worry Less at Christmas appealed to me.

Is a Less-Hurried Christmas possible?

I am thrilled in many ways to be back in the land of stores that carry unlimited supplies of “exotic” items such as molasses, evaporated milk and canned pumpkin, and to have the chance to find presents for my kids that won’t break literally within half an hour of their being opened and that they actually want. At the same time, I am appalled to see the rush and bustle, the pressure to spend spend spend, the stores forcing Christmas on us before Halloween is finished as if it is something that must be shouldered immediately. There is a deep cynicism about consumerism that undermines the season as a whole.

This line from page 4 of Hurry Less, Worry Less at Christmas: Having the Holiday Season You Long For jumped out at me:

We enter November with a marathon before us but a sprint mentality. Before the season even gets started, it begins to seem overwhelming. This robs joy from individual occasions.

I underlined that bit about robbing joy. It reminded me of one year when we shared Christmas morning with another family and everyone opened all their presents at the same time. It was horrible! We take turns and everyone watches as one person opens one present. Everyone can see and comment on it. And so even small gifts are recognized and enjoyed.

Hurry Less, Worry Less at Christmas is chock-filled with practical suggestions on how to actually enjoy the holiday season instead of ending it exhausted, broke and resentful of your loved ones. With chapters such as “Whatever Happened to Comfort and Joy? Assessing your holidays” and “Conquering the Clutter of Christmas,” Christie offers simple ways to change how you approach this “marathon” season. I found myself eagerly reading her suggestions.

I don’t want to get sucked in to excessive busyness this year. I recommend Hurry Less, Worry Less at Christmas for those of you looking

• to control your holiday season rather than letting it control you
• for ways to say to your mother-in-law that you don’t want to host Christmas brunch
• for ways to let your kids know that things are going to be slower, smaller and deeper this year.

It’s a great resource.

You can win

I’m very pleased to announce that one of you can win a copy for yourself! Just leave a comment below to be entered to win. We’ll announce the winner here in this column on 11/28.

You also have another chance to win a copy. Read Jennifer’s thoughts on the books at 5 Minutes for Books and enter to win a copy over there.

• The 3 winners of the Amulet graphic novel and the $25 Visa cards are #20 Anash, #21 Barb@1SentenceDiary, and #10 Beth C.

Christmas in Morocco

I am linking some of my holiday posts from my personal blog for those who are interested to see just how different it is:

• Christmas shopping in Mauritania
• Finding a tree in Morocco
• Recognizing the joy of what I had, even during a sparse Christmas.

*This post is a part of a sponsored campaign with Abingdon Press, but I have not been told what to say. My opinion is my own.

5 Minutes for Books staff reviewer Elizabeth spent nearly 10 years living in North Africa. She currently lives in Oregon with her husband and 3 teens. Read more at her blog Planet Nomad.

Now, it’s not every day that a new book gets an endorsement from Eric Carle on the back cover, but Razzle-Dazzle Ruby receives this incredible honor, and it’s one that is well-deserved. When Ruby awakens to a snow-filled outdoors, her imagination immediately jumps into action. With her scruffy puppy pal Rocket by her side, she’s ready for an adventure that sees her as a snow queen and Rocket as her “knight in barking armor.” Soon enough, she meets up with a friend who shares in her skating, snow angel-making, and sledding fun. By the end of the day, Ruby is ready to head home, but she’s already got plans brewing for the next day’s play!

Ruby definitely lives up to her Razzle-Dazzle name, both in spirit and in appearance, with her stripey tights, fluffy winter coat, and brightly colored scarf and hat. Throughout the book, children can share in the Razzle-Dazzle as well, for each page includes a special pull-tab, rotating wheel or pop-up feature that only heightens the magic. Want to see the book in action for yourself? Check it out:

Would you like to win a copy of Razzle-Dazzle Ruby and bring the magic of a snowy day’s adventure to a child in your life? Two lucky winners will receive a copy of the book, along with a $25 Visa Cash Card and a pair of red and white striped tights! Please leave a comment here to be entered– we’d love to hear about your own childhood snowy adventures! (US mailing addresses only, please.) Winners will be announced here on 11/21.

The winners of Running Away to Home are #14 Tami M. and #15 Idaho Jill and #31 ibeeeg (#4 from the extra entry at 5M4B).

5 Minutes for Books staff reviewer Dawn splits her time teaching preschool, parenting three wacky kids and occasionally blogging at my thoughts exactly.