In Normalize It, Zucker expands her lens to address a multitude of challenges women face—including girlhood, body image, motherhood, reproductive choice, sexual trauma, menopause, and more—that so often incite shame and overwhelming cultural pressure to stay silent. Based on patient stories, coupled with cutting-edge psychological research, Zucker fearlessly shares her insights into the shame and stigma that shroud so many women’s experiences and explores the liberation that can follow when we get vulnerable and talk about the hard stuff.

Normalize It is a nuanced look at what it means to be a woman that will make readers feel seen, heard, and empowered to tell their stories. By normalizing talking about difficult things, Zucker opens the door to creating cultural change that acknowledges and supports women’s truths.

Evaluation comments:

“This book, as the title states, helps readers to normalize a diverse set of topics and open discussions. Her patient’s stories along with her view and the research all come together to support women and help them realize they are not alone in their feelings.”

“This book brings to light many topics that affect us, but many women stay silent about these topics. The author explores, through the stories of her patients and psychological research, many issues women deal with over their lifetime. Issues such as body image, reproductive choice, miscarriage, motherhood, menopause and sexual trauma. ”

“As the reader, this book made me feel heard, like I am normal, like there are many other women out there dealing with these various issues.”

“The book is easy to read and interesting. One chapter that spoke to me is “On the pressure of perfection.” Women are trying to overcome anxiety, traumas and keep their lives and the lives of their families together. Women experience things like perinatal and postpartum depression and anxiety and are expected to take care of a newborn. We, as women are expected to just keep on going.”

“This book is needed for women at all ages.”

“I think my copy will go around my friend group. I am reading it cover to cover!”

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Plan your family camping adventure—and get kids outdoors with The Down and Dirty Guide to Camping with Kids: How to Plan Memorable Family Adventures and Connect Kids to Nature. Here you’ll find all the tips, tools, and checklists you didn’t know you needed to plan the perfect outdoors adventure with your family. Authoritative yet lighthearted, The Down and Dirty Guide to Camping with Kids—now in a fully updated second edition—is packed with new gear recommendations, practical advice, recipes, activities, and art projects to keep your kids engaged and connected to nature.

Evaluation comments:

“The timing of this package is great, because recently my almost 4-year-old son has been asking about sleeping in a tent and expressing an interest in camping. They were talking about it at school and with summer coming up, he’s really interested. So I was excited to open this book and dig-in to the contents.”

“Nice quality, it has a really adorably designed cover and a decent amount of illustrations throughout the book, which is nice. It is also the right length – has a lot of great info but isn’t overwhelming.”

“This is a useful book, especially if you don’t have a ton of knowledge about camping to begin with and are looking for someone to help explain the basics and provide tips to make the most of your camping adventures.”

“I love the way this book is organized. Throughout each chapter they have smart tips and checklists, which help make the content easy to organize/digest. I also love that it has recipes and is chock full of really helpful advice. You can skim it for the necessities or dive deeper in each section.”

“This would make a great gift for a family that enjoys travels/adventures. It is the type of book that is a good gift for someone who is new to camping, but can also be appreciated but someone who has camped a lot but is looking for tips on the best way to do so with children.”

“While this is designed for camping, there is also some good general content in the book for enjoying the great outdoors, such as building a campfire or making s’mores. Both of these activities can be enjoy whether or not you are camping – tons of great content to check out!”

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Sixteen weeks into her second pregnancy, psychologist Jessica Zucker miscarried at home, alone. Suddenly, her career, spent specializing in reproductive and maternal mental health, was rendered corporeal, no longer just theoretical. She now had a changed perspective on her life’s work, her patients’ pain, and the crucial need for a zeitgeist shift. Navigating this nascent transition amid her own grief became a catalyst for Jessica to bring voice to this ubiquitous experience. She embarked on a mission to upend the strident trifecta of silence, shame, and stigma that surrounds reproductive loss—and the result is her striking memoir meets manifesto.

Drawing from her psychological expertise and her work as the creator of the #IHadaMiscarriage campaign, I Had a Miscarriage is a heart-wrenching, thought-provoking, and validating book about navigating these liminal spaces and the vitality of truth telling—an urgent reminder of the power of speaking openly and unapologetically about the complexities of our lives.

Jessica Zucker weaves her own experience and other women’s stories into a compassionate and compelling exploration of grief as a necessary, nuanced personal and communal process. She inspires her readers to speak their truth and, in turn, to ignite transformative change within themselves and in our culture.

Evaluation comments:

“Miscarriage is something that is traditionally not talked about, but through this book and Jessica Zucker’s “I had a miscarriage” campaign (#IHadaMiscarriage), she is making this a topic that is open for women to discuss. She shares her journey of grief in the aftermath and shares the stories of other women.”

“I like that the women featured have a variety of stories and backgrounds. They are relatable to woman of any religion, ethnicity and background.”

“Jessica does a good job of expressing that miscarriage is common, just not talked about. Through her story and the stories of other women, she explores grief and helps take away the stigma and the shame women experience.”

“My own mom had a miscarriage, but never really talked about it. I like that this book normalizes a miscarriage and the grief that follows.”

“I like that the author takes the reader through her personal journey after the miscarriage, including her first time going out and returning to work and the challenges of all of that.”

“I like that stories she shares are varied.”

“The stories are real, raw and makes miscarriage a topic that can and should be discussed.”

The post I Had a Miscarriage: A Memoir, a Movement appeared first on NAPPA Awards.

Dr. Wallace Panlilio and Dr. Artyom Zinchenko, educators with PhDs in Educational Psychology and Cognitive Neuroscience, have crafted a modern and practical guidebook for both new and seasoned parents, providing invaluable insights and strategies to nurture inquisitive, motivated, and triumphant lifelong learners. Inside this book, Wisest Learners: Unlock the Secrets to Your Child’s Academic Success, you’ll discover a wealth of helpful guides encompassing parental strategies, learning foundations, and learning strategy management. These proven techniques have been meticulously developed through the authors’ years of practical application, drawing inspiration from the lives of prominent figures like Thomas Edison, Abraham Lincoln, Stephen Curry, and more.

Evaluation comments:

“This book opens with interesting stories- about Thomas Edison, Oprah Winfrey, and Abraham Lincoln and how they learned and were educated.”

“I like that it includes cognitive theories and practical strategies for encouraging learning.”

“The advice is clear and there is an action plan at the end of each chapter.”

“The book discusses helping students with time management, anxiety management and how to succeed throughout their school career in college. It also emphasizes the importance of the parent’s attitude toward school and learning and how that will affect their children’s academic progress. Modeling a good attitude and hunger for learning will go a long way to support their children’s learning habits.”

“I often tell parents that their children know when they are stressed and when they are not comfortable or confident and they will react to situations based on that. This book is interesting and educational for parents (and teachers as well). It emphasizes that attitude and nurturing your child’s enjoyment and love for learning will go a long way.”

“It also makes sure to let parents know they cannot do it all, if their child is having mental issues such as anxiety, they should seek professional help.”

“One of the chapters talks about using the SMART tool to set goals: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant and Time. These are clear and concise.”

“A wonderful and practical book for parents.”

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MASK The Magazine is a quarterly parenting manual offering solutions to the modern-day challenges families face. Each issue of the MASK The Magazine tackles a specific topic in-depth and examines how it can affect kids from pre-kindergarten to college. Readers will learn age-appropriate conversation starters, which can help open the lines of communication between parents and children.

Evaluation comments:

“This parenting magazine is different than any other I have seen. The two issues I received had overall themes (summer- “the mindfulness issue” and winter- “the gaming issue”). The theme was consistent throughout the magazine and had interesting articles and advice for parents related to the topic. Each issue has a section to engage (“Families in ongoing conversations and strengthen connections”), to educate (“Families on relevant topics that are affecting today’s youth”) and to empower (“Families with tools and tactics to make safe, healthy choices”).”

“The two issues we received had timely and engaging articles on such topics as self-worth, clean eating, social media and much more. The articles provide practical tips that parents can use in their everyday interactions with their kids.”

“The articles are professionally written, interesting and positive.”

“It is a well-written magazine with relevant information and ideas for raising children in today’s world. The contributing writers are from various professional backgrounds such as the psychology, medical and military fields.”

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Sex Ed for the Stroller Set: How to Have Honest Conversations With Young Children is a book written for parents or other primary caregivers who are raising a child under the age of six. Shows how to provide essential information about sexuality, bodies, and behavior in age-appropriate but thorough and accurate language. It helps parents prepare for conversations that might make them uncomfortable by supplying not only the necessary information but also specific phrases and words they can use when speaking to their young children, while also helping parents process their own anxieties around sex.

Evaluation comments:

“I was so excited to start this book. Growing up I had parents who never discussed sexuality with me or made me feel like I had a safe space to ask questions. As a parent, I want to make sure my daughters feel like they can ask or tell me anything without shame or judgement. Because I didn’t have a good example of that growing up, I struggle with what to say and how to say it. Now that my oldest is 5 years old, questions have started to come up that I want to answer with confidence however I just don’t have that yet. I’m hopeful this book can give me the tools and knowledge to feel empowered when discussing the topics of sex and sexuality so that my daughters can feel knowledgeable and empowered about their own bodies and choices.”

“I think this is a very well written book. I really liked that they mixed research-based information with relatable anecdotes, exercises, and extra resources to continue topic exploration. It’s a very engaging and interesting read that’s packed with so much information and advice.”

“This is a very helpful book for parents with young kids.”

“I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and felt like I got so much out of it: confidence, knowledge, self-reflection.

From the second chapter exercises, I got a gut check on how uncomfortable I truly am about talking about sex and other sexuality related topics. I also felt hopeful that my daughters have the opportunity to feel differently than I did by writing down my hopes and wishes for their future. I really enjoyed that exercise because it focused on positive outcomes. It also made me think about topics and potential questions they might have in advance so that I’m not as surprised and can react neutrally.

Chapter 3 was a heavy dose of anatomy. It was a good refresher course on male and female external and internal genitalia. My husband and I both believe that we should use the correct terms for body parts which this section of the book addresses. The authors give information about each part of the body and also share tips on how to describe them to your children in easy-to-understand language.

Chapter 4 was all about sexual identification. I found it be interesting and also difficult to understand based on how and when I grew up. The world is changing so fast and there are so many different ways to view and express sexuality beyond male/female/straight/gay.

Chapter 5 is a tough one on sexual abuse. It’s the reason why I want my daughters to feel empowered and confident. It discusses what childhood sexual abuse is, who is at risk, who does it, what the signs are, what to do and how to help if it happens, plus a lot more information. It’s a dense chapter that helps parents understand and identify warning signs. It also shares a lot of resources and books you can read with your child.

The next few chapters are age specific information on how you introduce and talk about topics with your children. They share age-appropriate books and toy suggestions as well. I’m so glad they split it up between infants, toddlers, and kindergarteners because they all encounter sexuality differently.

The last chapter is a great resource for parents (like me) who have no idea what to say to the common questions kids ask. The authors give different answers to help guide you and share tips on how to react to certain situations.”

“Overall, I found this to be a very helpful and informative book. I think it is well written and gives a lot of great advice on sensitive topics. I’m really glad I read this and I would recommend it to other parents.”

“I liked the scripts they recommend when answering questions or talking about certain topics. I found those to be very helpful. I also like that this is a proactive approach instead of a reactive and it empowers parents to talk about sexuality openly, often and without fear.”

“Looking forward to putting these methods to work!”

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Lying is a healthy and inevitable part of child development. But when do lies become a problem? The Truth About Lying is a book where psychologist Victoria Talwar, director of the Talwar Child Development Lab at McGill University, presents practical, science-based strategies to address lying and foster truthfulness in children, from early childhood to the teenage years. Parents and caregivers will learn how to use stories and examples to have proactive conversations with children about honesty, and how to model honest behavior for children.

Evaluation comments:

“This book came at the perfect time. At 5 years old, my daughter is starting to tell more sophisticated lies. It has been hard for me to find the right words to say to her in those moments. I want to avoid shaming her because I know it’s developmental however I don’t want to let it slide so much that it becomes a frequent habit. I’m looking forward to learning developmentally appropriate strategies.”

“This is a well done book. The information is fact based and very useful. The approach is relatable and developmentally appropriate.”

“This is a very helpful book for parents of young kids. The author created approachable strategies and verbiage that make it easier for parents to react and respond to lies and promote honesty. It also dives into why children lie and helps parents understand its role in healthy development. The author shares proactive strategies to help talk to kids about honesty and how to be honest in different social situations. It’s research based and written in an approachable way.”

“I like how easy it is to read and understand. The authors strategies make sense and it gives me confidence to react in a positive, shame or guilt-free way.”

“Looking forward to putting these methods to work”

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While many people think of yoga as poses on a mat, The Yoga of Parenting book supports people in bringing the spiritual principles of yoga into their lives—particularly their families. Ezrin encourages parents to slow down, become present with our children and ourselves, and act with more compassion. Each chapter highlights a yogic posture and theme and explores how it relates to parenting, including presence, boundaries, balance, and nonattachment—and includes prompts such as intention setting, breathwork, and journaling. These tools help us to become kinder to ourselves, more aware of our thoughts and actions, and more present in our lives—and in our parenting.

Evaluation comments:

“Each chapter begins with the introduction of a different yoga pose and weaves that into a theme for the chapter. The author uses the theme to explore different parenting topics such as presence, boundaries, parenting styles, etc. She then offers a real-world example using stories from other parents to illustrate these topics.”

“Each chapter includes how to take these ideas back to the mat or for a “breath break” and ends with a Cliff-note style bullet point list of 10 takeaways from that chapter. It’s an easy-to-read and organized way to weave together yoga and parenting.”

“The most common theme of this book is identifying self-awareness so we can step back, take a breath, and remind ourselves not to be so tough on ourselves. We cannot run on an empty tank, so it’s important to take care of ourselves so we can better take care of our kids and families and be present with them.”

“I like that the examples the author offers through sharing other parents’ stories are diverse. There are single parents, divorced parents, stepparents, etc. used to demonstrate the different themes. It’s a nice book.”

“This book is a useful reminder to give yourself grace and kindness as a parent. Mothering and mom guilt are hard and real, so it’s nice to have this reminder.”

“I like the author’s easy-to-read style and relatable experiences.”

The post The Yoga of Parenting: Ten Yoga-Based Practices to Help You Stay Grounded, Connect with Your Kids, and Be Kind to Yourself appeared first on NAPPA Awards.

The book This May Be Difficult to Read brings 50 years of cognitive and developmental research to life for parents to help them to understand and educate their child – more specifically, to teach their child to read and comprehend. It will teach them how to transform their interactions and their home so that learning becomes a byproduct of fun! It shows parents how to think as a child thinks and learn as a child learns.

Evaluation comments:

“This book is educational for both parents and teachers.”

“I like how it discusses the problems with reading comprehension skills in children. Children preschool through college are having difficulty with reading skills. Working with university students myself (as interns in our preschool) I am definitely seeing their writing skills go downhill and this book explains why.”

“The book talks about how a child’s brain develops and how we are pushing children to read when they are not ready. It is okay and imperative that we let them learn at their own pace.”

“This book is straightforward, to the point and easy to read. The author is knowledgeable and she provides parents a path to successful reading comprehension for their children.  Many educators, like myself, are concerned about the push for accelerated reading and writing too early, before children are developmentally ready. This book provides the research to better understand why it’s important to wait for your child to be developmentally ready.”

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Working parenthood can be overwhelming, frustrating, and riddled with guilt. It can also be a source of joy, inspiration, and creativity. The key to working parenthood is to learn how your multiple roles, together, can help you thrive! Balancing rich scientific research with friendly, supportive tips and anecdotes. Work, Parent, Thrive: 12 Science-Backed Strategies to Ditch Guilt, Manage Overwhelm, and Grow Connection (When Everything Feels Like Too Much) is the toolkit to help even the most stressed of working parents grow the good while better managing inevitable challenges.

Evaluation comments:

“Really important messages in this book for working parents, who are always feeling pulled and overwhelmed with guilt and responsibilities.”

“This book is educational for parents who are feeling overwhelmed with working and parenting.”

“The author, Yael Schonbrun, PhD gives practical, doable strategies, she does not sugarcoat this challenging time for parents.”

“The author helps parents shift how they think about their experiences and find meaning and value in their work and parenting roles. Part of the strategies deal with mindfulness in work and parenting, really being aware of what you are doing, how you are doing it.”

“This book is down to earth, which is why I like it.”

“The author never states you can do it all, be the perfect parent or perfect employee. She really talks about managing the stress, the strategies are no nonsense, a lot of mindfulness- really understanding the situation.”

“A lot of practical information, like letting the kids watch a show while you are on a zoom call- give them a big hug prior to it; going into the bathroom to take a few deep breaths and pulling yourself together; knowing when you are too tired to answer more emails and going to bed.”

“This is a great book for working parents. Easy to read, great practical strategies that just make sense.”

The post Work, Parent, Thrive: 12 Science-Backed Strategies to Ditch Guilt, Manage Overwhelm, and Grow Connection (When Everything Feels Like Too Much) appeared first on NAPPA Awards.