Book Review: Five to Thrive by Dr. Kathy Koch

The Core Needs reviewed. 

Kathy Koch is a brilliant person-- and she is SO gifted in sharing what she knows in a reachable way that all can understand and learn- and she is a natural motivator and cheerleader as she writes- she graciously thanks you for reading-- she engages you with questions as you read, and then stops you as the concepts change with an assignment-- and these are challenging but with her input so achievable.

As I found in her 8 Great Smarts and Start with the Heart books- you can hear in her writing that her faith and her personal relationship with God continues to be active and growing, and the richness of scripture she shares as it applies to what she knows as an educator and psychologist is such a fresh and insightful way to apply research! As well as her consistent perspective that we are His workmanship.

She encourages all of us to see our gifting and to see who we are through God's lens. This book surprised me as my knowledge of the core needs has always been rather dry and limited- knowing that if we don't have security or identity- we can't belong- and that all three lead us to competence and purpose... But the concept that only God can really meet these needs and He desires to make us whole! This is truth- I knew it when we fostered a child and worked first on his security, identity and belonging- and as we did- he calmed and trusted us- but that we were really helping him realize humans are broken and can't always meet his needs we will fail. But God can!!

Read this book- you won't be disappointed. The core needs are something that helps us realize who we are and Dr. Kathy helps us see and plan to IMPROVE and grow- and her suggestions are the clearest and simplest- and set to support the reader in making a real change for the positive.

The physical book is worth owning-- it's the perfect size to throw in a bag and it just feels good!! Also it's written in contrasting colors- with charts and boxes- and plans to accomplish identifying your core needs and ways to grow. I suppose the kindle will look as good- but if you waver at all- get the book!! Moody is thoughtful about making it worth owning!

Blessed- to launch this my fourth book of Dr. Kathy's and to have read and used 5 or more of her books in my personal and professional life. Thank you Moody Books and Netgalley for the opportunity.

Raising the Challenging Child: How to Minimize Meltdowns, Reduce Conflict, and Increase Cooperation

I'm an avid reader of parenting and classroom management books for 20 plus years, and I'm an avid reader so that's a lot of books!!

This resource with the examples and scripts built in is exactly what tired, weary, parents and teachers need.  The tips.  Seal the deal.
See for yourself!




I liked it so much I have two physical copies and the kindle version!

 I want to have access to it and be able to share it with other parents!





This is a parenting book for the non-reader. Achievable. Simple. Clear to understand.  Takes a heart focused on serving and growing kids to achieve the strategies.   And suggests do overs galore.  Grace as it's best modeled for us.


This is the parenting book for the reader. Well formatted. Clear Strategies.  A book to be read over and over to remind you that you are growing and improving as a parent and that it matters!!

 Whether you are parenting a child from a hard place, a neuro-typical child, or a special needs child, this book brings all the best practice strategies of research alive and models them with tips, scripts, and real life examples!


I rarely give a book five stars, but this book is well deserving of this high accolade!  And if you want to know kindle or physical book--it has such great charts and scripts- I'd say physical book is really nice to have in your hands and implement.

This book does not whisper the Word directly to your mind as you read it.  But the worldview and strategies are biblically based on the foundations of love, connection, and grace in your parenting.  Share a verse in the comments that comes to mind as you read the book to demonstrate that while the authors have been therapists, who wanted these strategies to be used by all parents no matter their beliefs, you will recognize clearly that with the Holy Spirit, being this kind of parent is pretty impossible! 

written by: Karen Doyle Buckwalter, Debbie Reed, and Wendy Lyons Sunshine

Bethany Partner Review: Braver, Stronger, Smarter A girls guide to overcoming worry and anxiety by Sissy Goff

If you have a worrier or a girl with anxiety who is young- like elementary age-- this workbook is for her. I've done therapy with a young boy for these concerns, and this book- wow! A chance for a parent or trusted friend to help a girl process and learn how to overcome fear, anxiety, or worry. It offers best practice solutions, in a gentle friendly, real approach that will appeal to girls. The therapist shares using her small dog, Lucy's, perspective she defines it, teaches strategies, asks the reader to draw, write, and reflect on her own perspective and share her thoughts, beliefs, and plan her actions. The author cautions the reader to go slowly through this book, and while I know many parents want to 'fix' concerns-- having done weekly therapy with a young child- it is a marathon and it really does need to be approached slowly over time and internalized to be effective.

I love that this is a biblically driven books and one of the strategies is to chose worry verses to recite and help overcome the worries. This perspective is needed and in me experience one of the best techniques to cope with those feelings that are not facts or logical, but yet they can control your life if you allow them to. There is also a book for adults that partners with this one- and I'd be interested in reading it as well.

I bought the kindle version today. I can't wait to work through the workbook with my daughter.  She' been too tired to be processing much with the holidays, but we will work through these books, as anxiety is a struggle for us. 

Thankful to partner with Bethany House Publishing and read this book. I will be adding it to my resources and using/recommending it others who may be able to use it.

Gifts to give to help Whisper the Word.... to children

Here are some of my recently published favorites!!


Beginner's Gospel Storybook Bible

This book is published by New Growth Press, and is half off for a few more hours today!  And free shipping!! You can also look inside at this website!

Direct Link: Today the price is $15 at this fabulous bookstore: wtsbooks.com

What I love about this book:

• designed for preschool ages, but would also be enjoyed by independent readers below grades 4 or 5, I think.  
• the illustrations, simple, realistic, but child friendly.  
• simple print, of different sizes and colors.  
• Statements of truth- mostly about God- each story has ONE!  like "God shows mercy to His people"  OR "God is the mightiest and the best."  
• Every story ends with a question that applies to the child: Like "Can you think of a time when you needed help?"  
• 52 stories in the square book- big enough to read aloud to a group, but not too bulky to take it with you!
• Every story has a learning concept that is age appropriate to also discuss as you read!  Like Big and Little or colors.  
• Great teaching- theologically appropriate and understandable- but real truth for kids who need it about our Savior and Rescuer- Jesus!!

The Biggest Story ABC: Kevin DeYoung

This book has been my go-to baby gift for the past few years.  It shares the story of the Bible in 26 pages with every letter of the alphabet.  If you are going to read a book over and over- this is the one you should memorize!!  

It's a great ABC book, with the letter underlined in the word in the sentence. It's simple and effective,and there is a book with more details called the Biggest Story for older kids, and even a DVD of the book.  This book will build a faith foundation and biblical literacy some people miss until they are adults!  

Published by Crossway, and sold all over the place online.  A great boardbook for young families.  

Bible Story Picture Books and a Book about Diversity!! 

I own all the published books on this page!  Accurate, engaging, and so much truth told!  

I just ordered the simplified board book version of this book. 

These books are scripture based, they are illustrated well with illustrations that come to life when you look at the page, and are great for Sunday School read aloud and reading at home alike.  

You can even download the pages from the website- and project at church for free!!  What a  neat way to read aloud a story.  

Gifts to help Whisper the Word-- first to yourself

Before you help a child in an emergency (think traveling by plane or boat) you have to equip yourself with the needed tools to be safe and able to be present for the child. 

If you want to improve whispering the Word to yourself- my blog recommends MANY books that help with being in the Word and learning & growing yourself.  If you aren't a reader, but prefer a more traditional sermon, I've benefited greatly from the teaching of my local church Anchor. As of posting, there are 153 messages going back four years- starting with Mark, then Daniel, Walking with God, Philippians,  1 Corinthians, Isaiah, Ephesians, and now Luke. 

If you want a video course, I suggest Emmaus Ministries  youtube page or the distance learning program.  If you are a podcast person, the Emmaus Podcast is a great choice.

As we whisper the Word to our children- those we parent, those we teach, those who call us Aunt or Uncle, or who we are a special family friend... there are so many great resources available to do it well and have support from great books and props. 

I'm a huge believer in every child learns differently and needs to be taught differently.  Some kids learn best by hearing, others by listening, most with movement, some need a visual, some need patterns, others need logic, some need repetition, some need to re-enact and play through a lesson, others need art or music. 

If you want to learn more about how to reach the kids in your life the way God created them to be as an individual who is diverse and stands out as a unique one that God blessed with different natural talents and strengths. 

Here are some items to add to your wish list: 

Books and Resources by Kathy Koch.  She is a former teacher, turned educational psychologist, now speaker to many about Celebrating Kids.  She's a believer and her resources stand above the rest.  I've heard her speak and I've launched a few books of hers, and hope one day to meet this author whom I view as a kindred spirit in philosophies about kids and education.   Every new book and project I seem to appreciate her even more!  So I am not an affiliate or anything just completely blessed by her work!

8 Great Smarts... and in 2020 she is launching a video course to help adults learn how to reach all 8 smarts.  I'm sharing first because it's main focus, is what I was talking about above, and I'm reading it now!





The first book I read of hers- is still a favorite and my husband (who doesn't read non-fiction much) loved this book as I shared from it when we traveled.  No More Perfect Kids by Jill Savage and Dr. Kathy Koch. 




This led me to her book- Screens and Teens- a great resource for finding balance with teens and their electronics-- something they consider a NEED not a want-- and often function like it is an extension of their body! 



Her most recent book (my review)- Start with the Heart pulls together a little bit of knowledge from all her books and is an amazing parent resource, that is right up there with Raising the Challenging Child, yesterday's post.  






What I love about Dr. Kathy is that she uses the Word to share her learning and make her point!  In her new video teaching, she even reminds us when thinking about our kids' strengths or our own- that some strengths can be used in not so good ways and calls them out as sin-- and encourages us to not use our smarts for sin! 

I'd also suggest if you are looking for books for children of all ages... WTSbooks.com has many options and their suggestions have not led me wrong yet, and they do awesome sales and ship quickly, and I normally can get free shipping! 

Up next resources I love for your children or grandchildren.... to whisper the Word!

Book Launch: Raising the Challenging Child

This book is co-written by experienced professionals.  Debbie Reed,  Karen Doyle Buckwalter, Wendy Lyons Sunshine (also author of The Connected Child with Karyn Purvis and David Cross). The Connected Child, resources from TCI, and Empowered to Connect training changed my ability to express my view of parenting all children, but especially of children from a hard place.  

These excellent resources are planted in a christian worldview, even though the books do not center on the Word-- concepts from the Jesus life and walk on earth are ever present, and the foundation of the books.  But this new books stands out above the Connected Child in that the formatting, scripts, and tips throughout the book, as well as the focused on one concept a chapter, make this new book my top recommendation to help parent children well.   

Here are some foundation concepts that I believe:

• Lead with Love
• Connect before you Correct
• Redirect before you Correct
• Nurture and Relationship come first
• Make eye contact, smile, engage your child or the child you are working with. 
• Show the child that he or she has your full presence- not your phone in hand or glances at the door, or distractions.  
• Be the calm that your child needs-- so that they can mirror your response. 
• Pray hard and ask the Holy Spirit to change your gut instincts, your sin nature natural response, or the response born out of your childhood or perceptions of the situation.  
• Practice the pause, take a deep breathe (encourage your child too), pray even without words, and then respond. 
• Respond not react
• Don't try to change the behavior in the moment, wait and have the conversation when you are both ready (not crabby, hungry, tired, exhausted.)  
• Love leads.... laughter stops anger, frustration as you can't laugh and be angry.  
• ....

This new book is available January 7th, 2020.... 

Get more info here:  https://www.raisingthechallengingchild.com/

Pre-Order today- Christian Book Distributors has the best price I found.   $12.99 as of 11/25/2019

I’m an avid reader of parenting and classroom management books for 20 plus years. This resource with the examples and scripts built in is exactly what tired weary parents and teachers need. The tips. Seal the deal.

This is the parenting book for the non-reader. Achievable. Simple. Clear to understand. Takes a heart focused on serving and growing kids to achieve. And do overs galore. Grace as it’s best modeled for us.

This is the parenting book for the reader. Well formatted. Clear strategies. A book to be read over and over to remind you that you are growing and improving as a parent and that it matters.

Whether you are parenting a child from a hard place, a neurotypical child, or a special needs child, this book brings all the best practice strategies of research alive and models them well with tips, scripts, and real life examples.

I rarely give a book five stars, but this book is well deserving of this high accolade! Pre-order it today.

Advent Reading: Ann Voskamp

Tis the time of year where everyone wants to know what to read for advent.  I'm always an optimistic advent reader and purchase books and read parts of them each year, but rarely do I read all of the advent books made for adults cover to cover the year I start it.   But I've long since forgiven myself for failing at this task, and reminded me that any reading I do blesses my heart, head, and soul, so I continue to over-achieve in options, and underachieve in 100% of anything.  But I press on, say I won't order any new ones, and maybe this year I won't!  But I do also go through them when I plan my annual Sunday School lessons from a different angle than last year for our kids program, so they get used!  And they bring me joy!

I will start my reviews of advent materials with Ann Voskamp.  At this page, you can see images, read chapter one of her adult book, print off coloring pages (detailed that my daughter loved at ages 7-8).

Anne has a unique style, it is NOT for everyone.  She is a former day-spring greeting card writer and it shows in her style with great flowing descriptions and lots of imagery.  Pretty sure she writes for the picture smart readers of the world.   What I have found attractive with her writing from 1,000 gifts on, is her honesty, vulnerability, and truth telling pointing us back to the Word of God over and over, in ways that make me pause, be silent, still, and reflect.  Her thinking on the pages of her book, on her website, in her many memes and post it notes for your soul beckon me to seek God with a holy and simple child like faith and reverence because He is always at work in my life, heart, soul, and mind.  No matter how broken, successful, pious or humble I come- He's there and helps me become more like Him because I'm drawn to His character and Word by this kindred spirit author who mentors me from afar.

Another great thing about Ann's books and blog, are the free printables that go along with her books- from coloring pages, coloring ornaments, memes, sticky notes for your soul, etc.  She provides it all free for her subscribers and her images are beautiful, and her words speak to my soul.

Her book for adults for advent is by far my favorite-- it's called the Greatest Gift- and each day there is a reading, scripture, a place to journal, and you can print out sticky notes for the soul- and I've been blessed by these year after year!

A sample Sticky Note: 

She also has a family read aloud that tells the Jesse Tree story day by day.  It's got a lot of print and text for each day, and many children struggle to sit through it all, but it's a gorgeous book, and I enjoy reading through the perspectives again and again.


Because it was a challenging read aloud, I suspect, came this next version- a book that opens up to be a tree- and there is a tiny book with short read aloud, and an ornament to hang on this tree that pops right out of the book each day.  It's gorgeous, simple and elegant.  At my house, flat surfaces to keep it on, are not always the easiest to find, so it's not the best fit for us, but I loan it out to others.

This year?  there is an affordable option of wooden ornaments made by Caleb Voskamp.  I ordered mine and think they have been shipped as a pre-order, or will be shipped Nov. 22. Isn't my husband the best gift giver?  He lets me purchase my own joys and I always tell the kids- Dad buys me the best presents- and give him all the credit- because he loves that I love the choosing as much as the presents- and lets me treat myself- and is happy!

There is also a Greatest Gift DVD series- but I've not seen it myself, but any of her videos are delightful, she speaks truth with a gentle, soothing voice, but she has a powerful message to bring.