Children's Book Review: The Daffodils Still Grow By Sherry Elizabeth Tidwell

THE DAFFODILS STILL GROW
A Book for Grieving Daughters

By: Sherri Elizabeth Tidwell

Published: June 2, 2015

Publisher: Mascot Books

Based on a True Story

I'm participating in the PUMP UP YOUR BOOK Blog Tour for Sherri Elizabeth Tidwell's book. For more information and other stops on the tour including author interviews and book reviews, click HERE.

At the age of fourteen, author Sherri Elizabeth Tidwell was left motherless. As an adult looking back on her diary entries, she decided her feelings could be helpful to others in the form of a children's book. After that first year of her mom being gone, she remembered the surprise she felt when the daffodils her mom had planted still bloomed. It was a reminder that Tidwell could carry on, just as the daffodils did.

In this full-color, beautifully illustrated book, Tidwell takes the reader through all the emotions a young girl might face after the death of a mother. She expresses pain at a quiet house, seeing her friends with their moms, and not wanting to get rid of her mom's possessions. The illustrations offer just as much emotion as the words on the page. This isn't an easy topic and certainly not a book you would give to just anyone. But, for girls who are suffering without a mom, the words offer a hug, an understanding, and hope to a grieving child.

As a hospice social worker, I had a difficult time recommending books for young children dealing with grief because, at the time, there just weren't very many out there. It is a hard topic to handle in books and these type of books aren't going to be sitting on the shelves right when you walk in the door of your favorite bookstore. This book handles all those delicate feelings young girls and even teenagers are facing as they try to move through life without a mom.

Sherri Elizabeth Tidwell  

Sherri Elizabeth became motherless at the age of fourteen. Inspired by her own diary entries, the author wrote and illustrated this book for other motherless girls. Sherri Elizabeth now attends Seton Hill University’s MFA program in Writing Popular Fiction. She has a BA in both communications and studio arts from Austin Peay State University. She hopes that every parent will know how irreplaceable and loved they are to their children and that every child who has lost a parent will know they are not alone. Remember, the daffodils still grow! You can find Sherri Elizabeth on Facebook, HERE, and Twitter, HERE.

To purchase a copy of THE DAFFODILS STILL GROW, click the photo below:

I will be linking up this post with other bloggers on Booking Mama's Saturday feature, Kid Konnection. Click HERE, to see other posts related to children's and YA books.


A post from today, 6 years ago - Quote for the Day
A post from today, 4 years ago - Scenes from Our Week - Week 30
A post from today, 4 years ago - Book Review: Lots of Candles, Plenty of Cake By Anna Quindlen 
A post from today, 3 years ago - A Little Monday Inspiration
A post from today, 2 years ago - Book Review: The Other Typist By Suzanne Rindell
A post from today, 1 year ago - Book Review; Some Luck By Jane Smiley


Thanks to the publisher for sending a copy of this book for the purpose of this review. This review is my honest opinion. I was not compensated in any way for this review. If you choose to purchase the book through the above link, I may receive a small commission without you having to pay a cent more for your purchase. Thanks for supporting SincerelyStacie.com. 

Movie Review: Princess and the Popstar and Giveaway

GIVEAWAY HAS ENDED. THANKS FOR ENTERING!



VeggieTales Presents:
PRINCESS
AND THE
POPSTAR:
A Story of Trading Places
A Lesson in Being Yourself

Princess Poppyseed’s life on her family’s farm is far from the glamorous world of her favorite pop singer Vanna Banana.  While Princess milks the cows and dreams of a life on stage, Vanna has her own dreams of a life far from the hectic pace of stardom that leaves her feeling alone and lonely.  On a chance meeting at a playground, Vanna and Princess cross paths and realize they look almost exactly alike, which leads to the crazy notion that maybe they could switch lives!  In a flash, the girls’ secret plan is launched and Princess is whisked to her new life as a pop star while Vanna gets to live her dream of a life away from the pressure of fame!  As Princess tries to live up to the demands of being a diva and Vanna learns how to milk the cows, things don’t go as smoothly as they would like!  As each girl realizes the life they longed for doesn’t fulfill all their dreams, they learn that the life God gave them is the one for which they were uniquely and lovingly designed.



I watched this movie with our daughter and you should watch it with yours too.  The lesson of God's special love for each one of us and that we are all different because God made us that way, was a great reminder for her and I.  It is natural for us to want someone elses life because it looks easier, or they drive better cars, or wear nicer clothes and beautiful homes.  But, that isn't the life God wanted for us.  We need to remember that we all have special gifts and using those gifts to faithfully honor Him is what God intended.

Reagan, age 6, really enjoyed the movie.  When I asked her what she like best, she said she liked the songs in the movie.  She is loves music and said the songs in the movie were fun to listen to.  As the mom, I liked the message of family values and loving ourselves and others just the way they are.  This is definitely another winner in the VeggieTales collection.  You can find this movie at your local Christian retailer or Wal-Mart. 

Now for the best part...I have a VeggieTales Prize Pack to giveaway to one lucky reader.  The VeggieTales Prize Pack includes VeggieTales Silly Bands, A VeggieTales CD, and a Laura Carrot Bouncy Ball. 

To enter this prize, leave a comment below telling me your child's favorite VeggieTales character or movie.  Only 1 entry per person.  All entries must be submitted by 11:59 PM on Sunday, October 2, 2011.  I will use random.org to choose a winner on Monday, October 3, 2011.  I will contact the winner by email and the winner will have 48 hours to respond or I will choose a new winner.

As a VeggieTales Ambassador, I received this movie to review and share with our church community.  This review is my honest opinion and I was not compensated in any other way for this review.  I would not review anything that wouldn't benefit myself or my family. 

Tip of the Day - Organizing Hair Accessories

If you have a daughter, then I would bet that you have hair accessories.  Our bathroom was being overtaken by barrettes, hair "piggies", as we call them, headbands, etc  So, before school started, I decided to get that mess under control.  I had already been using an ice cube tray for the tiny "piggies", but that wasn't big enough for all the barrettes. 

FULL DISCLOSURE:  I AM NOT CRAFTY AT ALL!!!  So if you are reading this to get some awesome craft idea.....you might want to look elsewhere.  I am someone who wants the simplest and quickest way to get something done and this is what worked for me. 

I went to Wal-Mart and bought a pretty wide ribbon, a thin wooden dowel.  Both items totaled less than $3.00!  I cut the ribbon to an 18 inch length and folded it over the dowel.  This is where the crafty part comes in.....I then stapled it.  I did have to ask Pat to drill tiny holes into the end of the dowel so I could slide the fishing line through it for hanging.  Then I placed all the barrettes on the ribbons.  TA DA!

I know there are probably a lot fancier and prettier options out there.  But this works for me.  Reagan can reach it, take barrettes off and put them back on, and see right away which one will match her outfit without digging through a drawer. 

The Birds Are Singing!

My daughter Reagan (age 4) and I are sitting in the living room. The windows are open because it is a beautiful day outside. I just finished painting her fingernails and toenails a pretty pink color. All of a sudden she said, "Mom, the birds are singing! Do you hear them?" The birds had been singing quite a chorus outside our window all morning. She sat there and listened to them for a little bit and then said, "What do you think they are singing about?" I said, I think they are singing about being happy that Spring is here. Reagan said, "Yeah, Mom, I think you are right. I would sing about that too!"

Song of Songs 2:12 "The flowers are springing up, and the time of singing birds has come, even the cooing of turtledoves."

My Baby is 4!

Today our baby turned four years old. It is hard for me to believe four years have gone by. She is my miracle baby as I talked about in a previous post in November. I dreamed of having a girl, and she is all I ever dreamed of and more. Yesterday we had a great day of celebrating with family and today we celebrated by going to church and then just hanging out at home together. We gave her a beautiful long nightgown (reminds me of Laura Ingalls) as you see in the photo above. She was also very excited about her Leapster 2. This way she can play video games just like her big brothers. Then tonight she picked our movie, "Sleeping Beauty" along with popcorn, brownies and ice cream! A well balanced meal wouldn't you say? Even though she loves her mommy, she is definately a daddy's girl and as much as I hate to admit it, will always choose her daddy first. She loves music and can frequently be found singing and dancing along to one of her CD's. I am just so proud of my little girl and am looking forward to watching her grow up into a beautiful young woman...just not anytime soon!

Flowers and Daughters

Yesterday I finally had a chance to go outside and work in my flower beds and plant some of the flowers I had bought the week before. My 3 yr old daughter was so excited as she had been asking me every day since we had bought them together when we could plant them. She picked out some pink ones, of course. We had such a good time outside digging in the dirt and watering the flowers together. While I was out there, I had one of those moments where I realized I had dreamed about this. Not literally, but I always wanted a girl and had imagined doing things like this with her as my mom had done with me. It was just a special moment for me. I know there will be lots of moments like these in our future. I am just so thankful that God gave me this beautiful girl to raise. Saturday we will have the chance to get her brothers involved when we plant our vegetable garden. I just cherish these family times and I hope you can take the time to connect with your children like this too. I know I need to do it more often.

My mom has a beautiful flower garden that she spends hours tending. I found this quote and I keep it taped to the mirror in my bathroom...

All winter long, 

I envision what beautiful blooms I'll have...

I can even smell them, 

their scents as wonderful as in my mother's garden.

So, after the long hard winter, spring is finally here. Go out, plant and smell some flowers.