Alex Writes

Must-Read Nonfiction Books for Your 2021 Spring Reading List

Spring is right around the corner, which means you need to update your reading list! Although there are already many great titles that you have read and wanting to read, you might need to look for others that can help you widen your knowledge, satisfy your book cravings, and improve your reading habits. Nonfiction is the best genre to explore if you want to hit those three mentioned areas of development.

With the wide array of lessons that nonfiction offer, you can definitely improve yourself and broaden your taste in literature. Hence, below are the best books that you should read to make your spring break worthwhile.

A Law from Eden: Solving the Mystery of Original Sin by Marilyn Taplin

This promising Christian book shows that the sexual act committed by Adam and Eve for the purpose of pleasure is sin. Hence, A Law from Eden: Solving the Mystery of Original Sin by Marilyn Taplin exhibits the real and original sin: which is the activity of deed of sexual perversion. It also points out that there was a misapprehension of human sexuality that resulted to the formation of a morally evil society. Moreover, biblical study highlights the way that these sexual activities has rooted from ancient pagan communities and now observed in contemporary LGBTQ communities have twisted the way that even those vowing to be Christian perceived their own sexuality.

Just Us: An American Conversation by Claudia Rankine

Published in 2020, Just Us: An American Conversation by Claudia Rankine has been an instant nonfiction hit book. It is currently the Editor’s Pick for Best Biographies and Memoirs on Amazon. Just Us: An American Conversation is also an Andrew Carnegie Medal 2021 finalist for excellence in nonfiction. The book contains the questions from the remarkable mind of the author, which obstructs the incorrect solace of the cultures sensory threshold and secret corners where fairness and courtesy exist on the outside of contradicting dedication, belief, and preconception as everybody’s public and private lives cross.

Having and Being Had by Eula Biss

Having and Being Had is written by Eula Biss and was published in 2020. This is book is already a New York Times editor’s choice and was recognized by NPR, Time, INSTYLE, and Good Housekeeping as a best book of the year. After buying her first house, the author take off on an aggravating investigation of the systematic value she has bought into. Going on sequence of enticing exchanges, the author looks into everyone’s assumptions pertaining to the class and property and the methods of people’s internalizing capitalism’s demands. Eula Biss provided an unconventionally enveloping and profoundly uncovering new picture of work and luxury, of gaining and utilizing, of time’s value and the way that you spend it.

Maximize the Season by Roslynn Bryant

Roslynn Bryant’s Maximize the Season was published in July 10, 2020 by Readersmagnet. The book lays down great insights from Ecclesiastes 3 where King Solomon stated, “To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under Heaven.” Furthermore, the book showcases the different seasons in life. These seasons include the following: moments of separation and mending; downfall and standing up; win and loss; forgetting and recalling; obtaining and losing; and a whole lot more. Maximize the Season also serves as a guide on the methods of creating the practical and intimate application to create these amazing seasons in everybody’s lives. Bryant also shares her personal experiences in these different moments in life that will reflect the experiences that a lot of people are facing in the present.

Minor Feelings: An Asian American Reckoning by Cathy Park Hong

Minor Feelings: An Asian American Reckoning by Cathy Park Hong is currently the number 1 bestselling book on Amazon’s Asian and American studies category. It was published a year ago by One World. It is also a National Book Critics Circle Award finalist for autobiography. The book contains a great memoir, cultural critique, and history that uncovers the brand-new truths on America’s “racialized consciousness.” This will surely shift the way you think and see the world because of its rooted search of essential questions around family and friends, and among others.

The Colombian Human Trafficking Crisis

In poverty-stricken countries all over the world, wicked opportunists and corrupt sadists abuse, exploit, and make immoral monetary gain off of the most vulnerable individuals in society – the children, the women, the gullible, the desperate – corruption knows no bounds and affects all of these poor souls indiscriminately.

Even the innocent babies, toddlers, and the unborn fall victim to the horrors that mankind is capable of perpetrating in these backwards, corrupt, and unforgivingly dysfunctional third world countries. Some of these barbaric practices stem from the chaos of a society that has been ravaged by war and endless conflict, while some are just so deep down the never-ending rabbit hole of greed and corruption that they are inherently doomed to an eternally poor, endlessly misfortunate tragedy of a life lived and ended in the slums and gutters of the lowest of the low.

In Southeast Asian societies such as the Philippines, Indonesia, India, Thailand, and the countries of Central and Latin America, human trafficking rates have exponentially boomed along with the staple of crimes that we associate with these kinds of societies, such as prostitution, drug trade, murder, theft, and organized crime syndicates.

In 2013, a consensus of the country estimated that roughly seventy-thousand individual members of Columbian society fall victim to the human trafficking crisis every year, and there is no doubt that this figure has sharply risen in previous years, considering the alarming rate at which impoverished countries continue to get poorer while the uncaring and money-hungry members of the select-few elite, upper-class aristocrats and corporation CEOs continue to make their pockets fatter as the world around them deteriorates into chaos and anarchy. Arsdale’s The Columbia Connection book is a highly recommended read that takes place in the slums and favelas of the human trafficker’s haven.

This crisis is detailed in Greg Van Arsdale’s “The Columbian Connection” of the Chuck Taylor and Lisa Fontaine Series, which opens with a CIA operative who, just after completing his last mission and considering retiring, overhears a conversation between two human traffickers negotiating the price of trafficked, underage teens while in an airport bar. Chuck, the main character, tracks these human traffickers to Bogotá, Colombia where a twist of events takes a turn for the worst.

An analysis of past findings collected by consultative organizations in Colombia conducting active surveys and field work as well as thorough research and analysis of the two main western regions of Colombia – Valle de Cauca and the coffee region, has been accomplished to decipher the maximum estimate of victims of commercial sexual exploitation. The researchers have identified the three main communities from which survivors come from throughout Valle de Cauca, in Risaralda, in the Antioquia, and in the areas that are the most frequently affected by domestic slavery.

The total figure of human trafficking victims was reached by studying previous reports, consulting groups in Colombia working in the field, and through field work in two key regions in the west of the country: Valle de Cauca and the coffee region. The study identified Valle de Cauca, Risaralda (part of the coffee region) and Antioquia as three key states from which victims originate, as well as the regions to which internal trafficking victims most commonly end. The report highlights the most common types of violations, including sexual exploitation, forced employment and slavery (often referred to as “modern-day slavery”), as well as exploring why people from certain regions are more likely to become victims, concluding that populations are vulnerable when exposed to economic hardship, armed conflict and displacement.

As organized crime syndicate operations continue to expand, progress, and elude law enforcement interference within Colombia, the endeavors of drug pushers, whore mongers, pimps, slave traders, and human traffickers run rampant throughout the slums and streets of the poorest cracks and crevices of the Latin American country, where the death rates maintain a steadily high rate on even the most seemingly-peaceful times of the year.

Bodies show up in the gutters and in the alleyways every single day of the year and perhaps at an even faster rate, women and children are persuaded, lured, or coaxed into a degrading and dehumanizing ordeal in which their captors maximize their profitability for their own gain. When these victims cannot be enticed into the deal, they get kidnapped –taken by force, and sold into slavery against their own will. Modern-day slavery still exists in many places in the world, and the continuing existence of this medieval and barbaric phenomenon truly sheds light on the state of corruption in the poorest corners of the globe.

What Makes Joab Stieglitz’s Utgarda Series and Thule Trilogy Tick?

Read a good book or series lately? Got a new author on your radar? One author that you should add to your reading list and keep eye on for future works is Joab Stieglitz.

Stieglitz is an application consultant for a software company and he has worked as a software trainer, network engineer, project manager, and technical writer. He plays RPGs (role-playing games) and is a game master of horror, espionage, fantasy, and science fiction genres. His skills and interests translate to publishing. He has published a number of books, including the Utgarda Series of books (The Old Man’s Request, The Missing Medium, and The Other Realm), the ongoing Thule Trilogy (The Hunter in the Shadows and The Worlds I Know), and How to Be An Awesome Game Master.

The supernatural thriller Utgarda Series deserves attention for its compelling storytelling and plot, engaging dialogue, and fascinating characters, chief of this is the Russian anthropologist Anna Rykov, who is aided by Doctor Harry Lamb and Father Sean O’Malley. In The Old Man’s Request, the trio comes together to fulfill the last favor their dying friend asked of them before his death: to perform a strange ritual to destroy an evil entity or send it back to where it came from. In The Missing Medium, the trio had to deal with a missing medium, demons, cultists, and gangsters. Their adventure continues in The Other Realm, where Anna must travel to a different realm to save someone with a connection to the alternate world.

Joab Stieglitz continues Anna’s adventure into the supernatural with the ongoing Thule Trilogy. The Russian anthropologist contends with a shape-shifting alien to save her alter-dimensional sister in The Hunter in the Shadows,while in The Worlds I Know, Anna battles a German secret society to prevent a union of two worlds, Earth and Siashutara, but unfortunately, she becomes a prisoner of an evil theocracy.

Both the Utgarda Series and the Thule Trilogy deserve either a movie or a Netflix adaptation as both series prove to be a highly entertaining and engrossing read, truly satisfying one’s appetite for the otherworldly and supernatural. The novels channel Lovecraftian narrative with X-Files undertones, offers a great mix of character, suspense, excitement, and anticipation, and dazzles with wholesome characters.

What makes Joab Stieglitz’s Utgarda Series and Thule Trilogy tick? Let us consider the following:

Passion

It is clear that the author’s passion lies in playing RPGs, with focus on horror, espionage, fantasy, and science fiction – elements that the author has incorporated in his novels. It is obvious that Stieglitz did not shy away from investing time, money, and effort in his writing, which has become both his investment and passion-driven pursuit. The investment paid off in the form of published works.

The author’s passion for playing RPGs also manifests in the guidebook How to Be An Awesome Game Master. From entertaining, Stieglitz has proceeded to help others enjoy playing RPGs.

Creativity

Not every author thinks up stories surrounding the supernatural or paranormal, the multiverse, demons and monsters, magic, the occult, etc. It entails skills to find, develop and write stories pertaining to such elements. Stieglitz needs not look far and wonder; he just combines what comes to him naturally through his RPGs.

Obsession

With six books to date, it seems that Stieglitz has spent an extraordinary amount of time and effort to get things right. Right he did as both the Utgarda Series and the Thule Trilogy have proven to be fun and exhilarating at the turn of every page. It is a good thing for authors to get obsessive at every stage of their story writing and book writing processes. Every part of the story or stage of a book’s life deserves the utmost care if the narrative is to serve its purpose.

Perseverance

It is no mean feat to write two-book series. It is no mean feat to keep the readers entertained and anticipating more. It should be no secret that Stieglitz has plans to expand the Utgarda Series and the Thule Trilogy, and to keep these plans going, he has to maintain a routine, one that will help him church out a great story.

The Best Ways to Reward Your Children after Doing a Good Job

Isn’t so heartwarming and fulfilling when you get to see your kid do a good job and showing his best behavior? It is like all the parenting ups and downs have paid off. Although all you have provided are guidance, love, and care, the feeling of seeing your child being and growing into a great individual and doing good decisions and actions on their own is truly moving.

Parenting is hard. But, parenting is also beautiful. Having the chance to witness how your baby grows into a great kid is a proud moment that you should savor. With that, you should try giving them positive reinforcement so that they will be motivated and inspired to do more good deeds. So, listed below are some of the best ways on how to reward your children when they do a great job.

Giving them words of appreciation

Appreciative words cost nothing, which makes them the most convenient but most special reward of all. Getting your attention and praise is a big deal to your kids because they will feel that they are more loved, valued, and appreciated. So, the moment that your children have done something positive in school or at home — try giving them some words of appreciation sincerely. They will surely feel your genuineness and love, which will encourage them to continue doing their thing and even strive to be better. The kids will definitely live by your words and instill them in their minds, which they will be bringing as they grow up.

Buying them new educational toys

Children love toys of any kind. In that case, you may want to gift them with things that promote both learning and entertainment. Isn’t it wonderful to watch when your kids are having the most fun playing and learning at the same time? There are many things that you can gift them, such as ABC blocks, Lego sets, blocks of shapes, chess sets, abacus, and more. You can also present them with a bunch of children’s books. Although books are not really toys, they also promote the same factors as educational toys. The books by Gabriella Eva Nagy, for example, contain a wonderful story and beautiful illustrations that will surely entertain and teach your children.

Cooking them their favorite food

Food is one of the best rewards of all-time. Children are amazing, innocent, and appreciative beings. That said, food can always cheer them up. With the time that you have spent with them since they were born, you probably have known by now the dishes that they are allergic to, they dislike, and love. Utilize that knowledge and start cooking or ordering the food that you think will boost their energies and increase their motivations. You can also make them help you in the cooking process, so they can discover the fun and wonder of cooking.

Allowing them some extra screen time

The world is already progressing and most people are really into gadgets and the internet. Your kids may already be exposed to the wide world of social media and the online community. The fact that the online world can help pacify and entertain your children is amazing. But, you should put limits on it because there is also some undesirable stuff circulating on the internet that might corrupt the minds of the kids. That said, you can give them at least 30 minutes of screen time to watch their favorite videos on Youtube or their favorite cartoon show on Netflix. Just make sure that you are monitoring what they are doing with the gadgets.

Chance to stay up later than bed time

Children have fickle minds and genuine hearts. Putting them to sleep might be a daily struggle since there are times that they really want to stay up late because the fairy of sleepiness hasn’t visited them yet. Although rules are still rules, you might want to give them a little exemption this time that they’ve made a great deed. Allowing them to stay up an hour later than their bedtime will definitely make them excited and happy. Who doesn’t want to have extra time before going to sleep? Kids absolutely love to have more time to play and do their own thing.

Animal Consciousness: The Way Our Furry Friends Perceive Us

There’s no way that human domestication of wild felines and canines hasn’t profoundly ingrained an influential impact on the cognitive behavioral patterns and social nature of these sentient, intelligent animals, as it is highly evident in the degree of cerebral and physical functionality and depth that these beings are observed to possess – especially in social and habitual aspects as well as their interactions with each other and other members of different species.

In the same way that human beings synchronize their behavior and actions with other humans during shared activities and interactions in situations as simple as walking alongside each other (which is an example of something known as interspecific synchronization), dogs and cats are known to be extremely sensitive to human behavioral traits such as cues, body language, and emotions, as they share and already have shared deeply close-knit bonds with their human companions over the course of centuries upon centuries of interspecies relationships fostered through the unbreakable bond that mankind has solidified with these furry modern-day cuties, who are the descendants of wild, feral animals who came into contact with and developed a mutually-beneficial relationship with our early ancestors.

This cosmic occurrence of an unexpected friendship between man and animal in a biological twist of coincidentally phenomenal fate has distinctly and formatively influenced the overall course of evolution for both species in a diverse array of aspects, one of which being the way humans hunt, the way domesticated animals look and behave, and the way that the two species interacted with each other and lived in harmony together on planet Earth in a profound and fulfilling relationship spanning thousands of years of co-existence and love for one another.

The sentimental bond between man and animal is just so picture perfect and too good to be true that it makes us wish that they really do go to heaven when they leave this planet, or that there was some way to know that they do. We all love our pets very much, and sometimes these furry buddies are all that people have in their lives to keep them from the brink of depression or disability. The love that we and our pets share for each other is simply too genuine to be coincidence, and it is this belief that inspires us to believe that, just like for us humans, maybe there’s something out there after this existence – one that includes them. This particular hope is the inspiration for a heartwarmingly well-crafted Lynda Hamblen book with an indomitable kitten and his loving family of humans and fellow cats starring as the lead characters – a beautiful book that paints the picture of a loving relationship that transcends life and death, with peace and harmony for beloved pets in the afterlife.

It’s apparent that there’s an absolute truth to the old saying that reveres dogs as man’s best friend. From an evolutionary standpoint, it is highly agreeable that dogs and cats are truly the loving companions of mankind, and the bond that we share with our beloved furry companions transcends that of any other friendship among any two species observed throughout the entire animal kingdom, and it differs from any other interspecies relationship ever observed in the overall history of man – let alone the entire biological history of life’s existence as a whole.

It’s known and noteworthy to mention that the degree of sentience and self-consciousness that human beings and domesticated species possess is and was existent before the evolutionary course of our ancestors became intertwined and interrelated with the course of theirs. However, there is no absolute certainty towards the degree of consciousness that forest-dwelling animals possess despite advancing breakthroughs in cognitive sciences. It’s understood that these beings experience sound, touch, scent, vision and even taste, but there’s no evidence to prove that they are capable of processing the stimuli in any meaningful or profound way. A deeper, more comprehensive analysis of the degree of certain animals’ intelligence is required to give clarity and context to this subject. Intelligence is the most definitive and distinct aspect of observable consciousness, and we know that impoverished, untrained, or malnutritious animals do not particularly exhibit sentient attributes, as do animals of less-complex brain structure and physical intricacy.

However, it is generally plausible to assume the probability of the fact that certain animals may possess an indefinite, unquantifiable degree of sentient awareness that may not be “conscious” in the same sense that humans are. A common trait of human beings is the embodied, pre-conceived notion that we know everything, including that which is unprovable by modern means. But the reality is that we may never truly be able to measure or even fathom the complete degree of sentience or consciousness of other animals until the technology or methodology of a new invention or discovery in cognitive science permits it. Until then, we can only assume, postulate, hypothesize and theoreticize – all synonyms of observation, but no solid conclusion to the time-old mystery.

Parenting 101: Ideal Things to Gift to Your Kids to Keep Them Away from Gadgets

Being a parent is not easy. There are really a lot of indefinite bumps and unexpected turns along the way. However, it is the most rewarding feeling, especially when you see your little one happy and growing. Since our kids are now included in Generation Z, this means that they are really surrounded by technology. There are many toddlers whose eyes are already glued to the phones or tablets watching their favorite nursery rhymes on Youtube.

We have to admit that gadgets and the internet somehow helped tame and hook the attention of our babies. But, we shouldn’t really let these gadgets get a big role on their lives. Kids should be imaginative, curios, playful, and cheerful; hence, they shouldn’t be glued to these gadgets all day watching baby stuff but rather experience what really it is like to live.

Thus, let us step up our parenting game and help our kids have real fun this time around. Here are some of the best gift ideas if you ever plan to surprise your kids.

Children’s books

You can never go wrong with books. They are the most underrated yet impactful things to give to your kids. The children will surely love them because most books for kids have bright and fun covers that just catch their attentions easily. There are many books out there that you can give to your kids. If you want to go with the classics, Dr. Seuss’ books are always available both in physical and kindle copies. But, if you want contemporary books, then Patricia Gummeson’s books perfect for Christmas presents and are perfect for any occasion.

Educational toys

Your children may already have hundreds of toys in their playroom. Perhaps most of these toys are already wrecked while others are still in good conditions. To be different, try giving them something that they can have the most fun yet they can also acquire great learning. So, educational toys to the rescue! Among the best educational toys to give to your kids are Legos, musical instrument, laboratory equipment set for kids, educational robots, Play-Doh set, ABC blocks, and etc.

DIY kits

What could be the best thing that promotes learning, entertainment, and productivity? DIY kits! These do-it-yourself sets can definitely help harness your kids’ creativity and critical thinking skills. What made these materials one of the best is that they are low cost yet they give more than they are worth. You and your children will surely create a stronger bond upon creating some cute scrapbooks, sewing old dresses, decorating your rooms, creating lanterns, a whole lot more.

Art materials

Being good in art is a natural talent, but nobody said that it cannot be developed. So, enhance your toddlers’ creativity and passion for the arts by starting them young and giving them a bunch of art materials. You can also guide them during the drawing and painting process. There are many art materials that you can get in your local stores, such as sketch pads, canvas, coloring books, pens, watercolor, paint brushes, acrylics, and watercolor pads.

Roller skates

Don’t you think that it is time for your children to learn roller skating? Although this is a bit of a daring activity, roller skating is a great exercise for your babies to develop their motor skills and positive mindsets. When you gift them with these skates, just be sure that you are there to assist them and teach them on how to use the thing. Never forget to gift them some safety gears along with it. You can also give them substantial life lessons about falling down and standing up, you’ll never know how much of a difference this can make to their lives!

Board games

Because of the convenience brought by the internet, where you can install a game with just one-click, board games may have become a little less of a trend. But, that doesn’t mean that they are boring and unentertaining. Think about the fun you had when you were little playing some monopoly and chess with your childhood best friends. Now, let your babies know the fun of these games by gifting them perhaps one of the many board games available in the market. They will surely develop their problem-solving and critical-thinking skills without them even realizing it.

Tips in Restoring Your Spiritual Health

Spiritual health is important. The saddest part is that it is the most underrated aspect of one’s well-being. A lot of people are more concerned about their physical health that they forget to focus on their spirituality. Hence, there are many who are starting to feel down without even knowing why. There are also a lot who begin to question their purpose in life and the things that they believe in — both in personal and religious aspects. If you are one of these individuals, then you should really focus on restoring your spiritual health, because most of these issues impact your spirituality.

What could be the best things to do that costs nothing but only time, attention, and effort? Here are some essential tips on how to restore the spiritual well-being that you might want to check out and try.

Take time to reflect and meditate

Allocating a day or two for you is not a selfish act. You are not obligated to always devote your time to your work and other things that you think are essential. The freedom to take care of yourself and your health is always an option. Hence, during your days off, you may want to spend the whole day making yourself happy, boosting your health, and rebuilding your faith. You have the choice to whether stay indoors or outdoors. What is important is that you can reflect on your past decisions and reevaluate your thoughts about something to help shape a better future. This is also a great opportunity for you to meditate, for a peaceful and tranquil mind is always a need. You’ll never really know how great your spiritual health will become after giving yourself a break.

Connect with people

Due to the current state of the world where it is being struck by a pandemic, socializing becomes less priority. What made it worse is that there people who developed social anxiety because of being isolated and restricted to do a get-together for a long period of time. Enjoying solitude is not a bad thing, but too much alone time can somehow make you question a lot of things — including your faith, the God that you believe in, and your purpose. Hence, connecting with people is really essential. However, this doesn’t necessarily mean that you should physically organize a gathering. You can connect with your friends and other people that you know using the internet and you can also talk to your family members about random things that you both like or dislike.

Read great books

You can never go wrong with reading. Books just know the exact words and stories that you never thought you needed. There are many Christian and self-development books that can greatly improve your spirituality. Among the best books that you should read are Healing and Transformation: Moving from the Ordinary to the Extraordinary by Eric Alsterberg, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey, A Law From Eden: Solving the Mystery of Original Sin by Marilyn Taplin, The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren, Forgiving What You Can’t Forget by Lysa TerKeurst, Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis, and more. There are still a lot of remarkable books in the literary realm that can truly make a difference in your life. Hence, start reading now!

Develop a more positive mindset

Your mindset is powerful. How your mind views things can impact your actions and even your life. But maybe because of the pandemic and the things that are going on in your life, they may have created a few negative effects on your mindset. Hence, these tiny bunches of negativities running in your mind can greatly impact your decision and perceptions in life. What you need to do is to shift your mindset into a more positive one. Perhaps giving yourself more time to do what you want, reflect, and understand everything that surrounds you will surely help you develop growth and an optimistic mindset. After you worked this out, you can notice that you are more confident and less stressed than you were. You will also become more laid back and comfortable upon knowing that God is walking with you on this journey through life.

How the Ocean has Fascinated Kids’ Imaginations

The humble yet powerful force of the world’s oceans have eternally shaped, molded, and determined the course of our entire planet’s growth and evolution ever since the very time that water first appeared on planet Earth – in everything from its geography, its climate, and the course of evolution that biological life-forms have taken as they began to flourish, thrive, and diversify throughout every corner of the globe so many eons prior to the present day. It was this mysteriously vast body of water that provided the building blocks for life to form, eventually giving rise to the single-celled organisms from which all existing life on the planet originates from, including us human beings.

It is through this profound, deeply-ingrained connection with ocean that we humans have derived a primal fixation and attraction to this awe-inspiringly majestic yet powerfully destructive force that permitted life forms on Earth to progress into sentient, self-conscious living beings. We owe our entire existence to the ocean, and this has instilled a natural sense of unity with it that our species has evolved to embody after millennia upon millennia of human evolution in habitats surrounded by the seas of the world.

Even for the youngest of developing minds, the ocean stands as a curiously intriguing and peculiar source of interest, which is evident in books, film, literature, poetry, and simple observation of the natural inclination that children have for innocent curiosity and an insatiable appetite to learn about the unknown. For most kids and adults (even in today’s day and age), it’s hard not to recall being fascinated by books and movies about the ocean growing up, or just being excited about the ocean in general – especially among people who grew up in coastal areas or went to the beach with their families on vacation quite often.

Although subjective in nature, it’s safe to assume that many of us have fond memories of the ocean in our childhoods – from actual experience and or from books, movies, art, and so on and so forth. A great example of an immersively captivating, ocean-themed kid’s book is “Oscar, the Mighty Crab” by renowned children’s book author Penny Higgins, who has written multiple critically-acclaimed children’s books throughout her career and has been writing poetry since the age of seven years old.

Perhaps it could also be due to the fact that the underwater landscape of the ocean’s mysterious habitat just looks so different in contrast to what the above-water world that we live in looks like. The colorful rainbow of alien-looking plant and animal life that varies by depth is like that of another world parallel to our own – compelling, mesmerizing, peculiar, and awe-inspiringly diverse in every aspect. It’s easy to tell why kids of all ages and even full-grown adults can get lost in the endlessly fascinating realm of the vastly-unexplored underwater world that lies beneath the surface of our own reality – a seemingly-divine force of creation and destruction capable of determining the entire planet’s fate along with every living organism that lives on it.

This is why some kids might wonder why scientists are so concerned about exploring outer space when humanity has only explored and charted roughly seven percent of the entire world’s oceans. Modern science has successfully taken photographic evidence of what a black hole looks like, engineered mind-bogglingly complex machines capable of deep-space exploration, and reached as far into the cosmos as physically possible – while a body of water here on our very own planet could be home to undiscovered wonders and exhilarating life forms just waiting to be discovered, and we haven’t even scratched the surface of what lies beyond the uncharted void of our own ocean’s depths.

In conclusion, we can make the connection that human children are naturally-inclined to have a deeply-ingrained attraction and fascination with the immersively intriguing yet mysteriously unknown wonders that the depths of the ocean are home to – and it’s obviously something that won’t be going away anytime soon. If you’re a kid, there’s almost no doubt that the wide open ocean (and the bafflingly perplexing question of what could be out there) allows for an immense degree of imagination to manifest in the curiosity of a young child, which may very well foster into an appreciation and respect for marine biology later on in life.

Essential Books to Survive Middle School Mathematics

Mathematics is an academic subject that brings both heaven and hell to students. Although you have to admit that there are really lessons from math that can be applied to real life. Perhaps the reason why many often find this subject difficult is because the equations tend to become complex as students climb from one grade to another. There are also many terms that appear as learners explore the depths of this subject.

When it comes to middle school math, it will start to tackle algebra, geometry, and probability and statistics. It will probably become a challenging area to learn from, especially that many schools opt for distance and online learning to keep their students safe from Covid-19. Thus, here are some of the best books that every middle school and even junior high school student can learn from.

Fundamentals of Math Book 1 Pre-Algebra by Jerry Ortner

In 2007, AuthorHouse published the Fundamentals Of Math Book 1 Pre-Algebra. It is a nonfiction book by Jerry Ortner that centers on mathematics and aims to help middle school and junior high school students understand Algebra. The book contains substantial materials for students to review so that they can develop and harness the abilities needed for Algebra I. There are more than 70 lessons that focus on the basic mathematical operations such as addition, subtraction, division, and multiplication for fractions, percentages, and whole numbers. If you are having a hard time dealing with problems that include exponents, GCFs, LCMs, and ratio and proportions, this book is really perfect for you! Apart from the mentioned lessons, it also tackles about other integral parts of Algebra I that you can use in the future.

Everything You Need to Ace Math in One Big Fat Notebook by Workman Publishing

This study guide was published by Workman Publishing Company in 2016 is a part of the Big Fat Notebook series. Everything You Need to Ace Math… is one of the 5 guidebooks for middle school learners that contain illustrations about the subject. It is an Amazon bestseller for the Children’s Fraction Books category. It discusses all the aspects that can help the students to conquer every bump on their journey towards learning mathematics. Performing basic operations on decimals, fractions, and percentages, solving ratios and proportions, dealing with equations and expressions, and understanding functions and the coordinate plane are some of the best topics that this book highlights.

Math Doesn’t Suck: How to Survive Middle School Math without Losing Your Mind or Breaking a Nail by Danica McKellar

Written by actress-math genius Danica McKellar, Math Doesn’t Suck: How to Survive Middle School Math without Losing Your Mind or Breaking a Nail is a great workbook that can definitely help students bring out their A game in learning mathematics. The author provides the learners and their parents the appropriate tools that are essential in getting a better grasp on different mathematical ideas that commonly confuse them. What makes this book a hit is its amazing examples that can be applied in real life, along with the bit-by-bit instructions and captivating childhood math struggles of the author. There are also some fun pages to read and answer, such as the Math Personality Quizzes, Horoscope part, and among others.

Math Practice Workbook Grades 6-8: 1000+ Questions You Need to Kill in Middle School by Bain Hunter Prep

This wonderful workbook was published in 2020 by Brain Hunter Prep. This is intended for kids that are in grades 6 to 8 who are having troubles in answering math problems or wanting to harness their mathematical skills. Math Practice Workbook Grades 6-8: 1000+ Questions You Need to Kill in Middle School is being by learners, educators, and parents from different parts of the country, because it can covers a wide array of topic or practice question essential for excelling in mathematics. There are 4 main categories that the book features, which are algebra, arithmetic, geometry, and probability and statistics.

Mathematical Reasoning: Middle School Supplement by Darin Beigie

Written by Darin Beigie, this book has been one of the most read books when it comes to enhancing one’s skills in dealing with middle school mathematics. The book asks learners to utilize their math skills and concepts to unplanned problems. Using one’s knowledge and understanding regarding the subject is the best way to evaluate if one has already mastered the concepts and reasoning for mathematics. It contains 50 problems that were thoroughly collected and compiled for the benefit of the users.

Easy Ways of Promoting Learning to Children

Learning is essential, especially for kids. Since these adorable humans still have pure and innocent minds, they should be protected and be taught correctly about what is right and wrong. Being able to learn things that can be applied to the real world as they continue to grow is a significant aspect that parents and guardians should put in mind. These vital lessons can also be utilized in developing their skills and abilities.

Because kids are still young with no awareness of the dark corners of life, they need learning to nourish their mind and be ready for the future ahead of them. This might be a tough task because everyone knows how energetic they can be and how fickle their minds are; hence, capturing their attention might become a difficulty. Hence, here are some simple ways of promoting learning to children that you should know.

Insert morals during your casual conversations with them

Morals refer to the lessons that centers on the right and wrong. These are commonly found in stories and experiences of an individual. Children could have little to no knowledge about the good and bad in the world that is why you should be there to teach and remind them. In order to not overwhelm them with your teachings, casually inject the significant values that they should possess during your daily and random conversation.

Kids are playful and talkative in nature, so it wouldn’t be that hard to slowly talk to them about what morals to follow and what traits to stop doing. You’ll never know how big of a difference you can make to their lives as they grow up just by merely sharing to them the moral values.

Let them know that they did wrong

Father talking to his son with pointed finger

A hard fact is that kids genuinely don’t know if they have committed a bad thing. Because they do not still have a concrete understanding of the ups and downs of life, they cannot fully recognize the consequences of their actions. That is why you should step in and always remind them that what they are doing is not morally good. You cannot continue feeding them with tolerance and compliments because they wouldn’t grow up on their best versions of themselves with growth mindsets.

The more you tolerate their actions and behaviors, the more they will think that what they are doing is okay. Thus, never fail to inform them about their wrongs and correct them in a calm manner. In that way, they will learn to stop their bad habits and start acknowledging the value of apology.

Cultivate a reading habit for your child

Reading is the best activity that promotes learning, because books don’t only contain lesson that can be used in the academe but also on real life. There are many books that are intended for kids, and can be read by adults too. These novels are under the genre children’s literature and have become the silent teacher for kids of all ages.

So, start developing a reading habit for your child because reading is truly beneficial as they grow older. Bed time stories might not be enough due to the fact that they will eventually sleep after the story is read. Therefore, set a time for your kid to read some great books. Among the best books that your kids can dig into are Matilda by Roald Dahl, The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss, Katie and Kenny Tour the Railroad by Keith Niles Corman, Enchanted Rainbows by Gabriella Eva Nagy, and more. You will truly track the progress of their reading as time passes by.

Recognize their victories

Father holding his son while they are smiling

Acknowledging their wrongs is as important as recognizing their rights. The most significant thing in helping a child to learn and grow is to recognize their victories and triumphs. No matter how big or small their achievements can be, you should show them that you are happy and proud of them. Hence, they will feel loved and worthy. The kids would also be motivated to continue what they are doing, be inspired to achieve greater triumphs, and constantly strive for learning. That small act or word of recognition will make a big impact on the kids, which they will bring on their pursuit for learning and success.