What Can Hayes Be? By Kayce Smith

Thursday, March 17, 2022

 


Hello Readers! My son and I had the pleasure of reviewing a fantastic Children's Book written by Kayce Smith called, "What Can Hayes Be?". 



Kayce Smith is a mother like me, who loves her son and wants all of the wonderful things for him in this life. Her heart created a book out of love and the book is so instrumental in teaching children to believe in themselves, it was an honor to read it to my own son. Each page is full of beautiful illustrations displaying Hayes, the main character in different careers of life. He is sporting a prosthetic leg that does not stop him from doing any of the activities he loves. The story explains that the prosthetic leg can come in multiple colors like red and blue. The images on each page kept my six-year-old son engaged and entertained. He loved watching Hayes attempt new adventures without reservation. I especially liked the touch of the Shriner's bear in each photo. Hayes is seen doing karate, surfing, and even floating in outer space. What an amazing thing to have little eyes see! 




We rated this book a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐5/5! 

As a mother it is very important to me what a child reads and watches. I feel like positive messages for children at such a young age can help them develop positive thinking. My son was able to see that a child was able to be anything he wanted to be even with an extra special prosthetic leg. He was happy for Hayes and wanted to know more of what all he could do. Not only was I encouraging my son to aspire to be whatever he wanted to be but I was also educating my son to learn all he could about all kinds of people. This story hit home because my Grandfather was paralyzed in a car accident when he was newly married. He had two choices after his accident and that was to allow the disability of not being able to ever walk again place limits on his life. Or he could take his disability and work hard to make sure that did not define who he was. Over time he became a leader for young men and those who were injured in the military looking for guidance. He went on to compete in wheelchair races and other competitions. He won many medals and inspired so many people due to his strong work and determination. He used his disability to raise awareness and use it as a teaching tool not as a limit to his life. Kayce Smith wrote this book for her love of her son and wanting to teach him that he too could be all that he wanted to be in this life. Not to mention how amazing it is to use this book and their journey to inspire other children with prosthetics that they can overcome anything life throws at them. We will cherish this book in our library. I also would like to donate one of these books to our local Library and Children's Hospital. 



Thank you, Kayce Smith, for such a remarkable read! Thank you for the encouragement and the wisdom. If you would like to know more about Haye's journey please follow her Instagram page @whatcanhayesbe. And if you would like to support the Shriner's Childrens Hospital who helped them during their journey, that would be something that the Author would appreciate. 

Her is her website: What Can Hayes Be?


                                                 https://youtu.be/o2OEbPA9oBA

 Feel free to check out our reading of "What Hayes Can be?"  On YouTube! There will also be a live reading of this story on Friday 4 PM Est. Please follow my Author Page on Facebook @AmandatheBookwitch. 


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The BookWanderers by Anna James Review

Wednesday, March 16, 2022

  

    There are not many books written these days that take me back to how it feels to be a child again. Some books try to write the words but many fall short of achieving their goal. Recently, I ordered a book simply because the description and cover looked intriguing. I had no idea how much I would love the book or how much the book would inspire me. I finished this book faster than I expected too. I fell in love with the writing of a fellow Author and story. 


                             What is the book about?



The BookWanderers by Anna James is written for ages 8 to 12 years old. The book takes place in London in a special bookshop called Pages & Co. Tilly who is the main character has a special connection to this bookshop as it is owned by her grandparents. Tilly does not have many friends in her life and so she finds a comfort in the books and stories inside the bookshop. But one day while she is reading one of her favorite books, her favorite characters start showing up inside the shop! Yes. You read that correctly. Characters like Alice from Wonderland and Anne of Green Gables came exactly into the bookshop and sat right in Tilly's favorite chair! Tilly then begins to realize reading is becoming more real as the adventures she is embarking on are happening before her in real life. Soon enough she realizes that not only can she meet characters in the bookshop while reading but she can actually wander INSIDE of the stories themselves. Tilly's new friend Oscar comes a long for the journey as Tilly learns how to book wander into stories and exciting adventures. But with every adventure comes a hint of danger as Tilly soon discovers can be found at a turn of the page. Once Tilly begins to learn more about her ability, she realizes that there are more secrets than she expected about the whereabouts of her mother. Soon Tilly is on a mission to solve the mystery of what exactly happened to her mother many years ago. This book specializes in the magic of books and the power of the imagination. 


⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5/5 Stars!

I am giving this book a five stars or more rating simply because it is truly one of a kind. The Author is extremely talented. I would so much to say that she should be at the level of J.K. Rowling herself. I say this because the way the magic is written in this story is very similar. The world building was done so well that it did not take much for me to be hooked. Tilly is such a smart and curious girl who isn't scared to find answers. The ability to travel inside of a story while you are reading it and meet the characters is such an amazing idea! In fact, I am a bit jealous I did not come up with the idea for this story first. The story goes into the rules of BookWandering and how much of a responsibility it is for Book Wanderers to respect the gift. Tilly gets to take her new best friend Oscar a long for the ride and he is such a loveable character. He reminded me of a younger Ron Weasley. In my head, to be honest that is who I pictured for Oscar. I hate to keep comparing this book with Harry Potter but I cannot help it. The same excitment that I got when I first read Harry is the same excitement that I felt when I began this story by Anna James. The story mentions how important reading is and how special it is to hold a book in your hand. As a writer like myself, for children especially it is very important to write books that matter. I feel that Anna James wrote this to remind children that reading is a wonderful superpower. The characters inside her book are relatable and enjoyable. I absolutely had to get the Audible version of this story as well and I do not regret it at all. When I followed the story with Audible there were moments I would get lost inside the story myself. Hearing the narrator, Aysha Kala, bring Anne of Green Gables to life was remarkable. I could literally see her red hair and freckles in my mind! I have not read Anne of Green Gables in many moons but this story brought back that familiar feeling. The feeling of joy and pure love for a story. As a child reading comes naturally and without judgement. You simply embark on a stories adventure and you do it because it is enjoyable. I needed to be reminded of that feeling. I have noticed while on Instagram or Tiktok there are many challenges for reading many books. I think sometimes the fun of reading is zapped out of us because of the pressure the social world places on the act of reading itself. When I met Tilly for the first time inside Pages & Co., it was as if I was coming back home to an old version of myself. I saw myself in Tilly. The book has so many quotes that I had to highlight to remind myself why I write and read in the first place. The way Anna James wrote about reading in this book was truly magical. I felt like I was experiencing the love of reading for the first time as an adult. I know this book was written for children, but I truly think this book should be read by those who love to read no matter the age. Everyone from time to time, needs to remember what it feels like to be inside a good story. To be so involved with the adventure and the characters that you forget where you are and how much time has passed. That is when you know you have read a fantastic book. I ordered the rest of the books in the series because I must know what happens next for Tilly. Also, simply because I don't want the adventure to end. I don't want this feeling to ever end. 



Thank you, Author Anna James, for reminding me why I write for children and why I read at all. You truly gave me the inspiration I so desperately needed. I think I am a bookwanderer too. 

To find out more about the adventures of Book Wandering and the Author Anna James check out this Video Below!
https://youtu.be/q6qQ2WJANCE






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Self-Sabotage. Yes, it is a Thing.

Tuesday, March 1, 2022

 




The last few weeks have been an emotional hell for me to be honest. I want to always stay true and honest with my readers. The parents who trust my reviews and the writers who come to me for inspiration. You need to know that I am a person behind a screen who struggles with mental health. I suffer from undiagnosed depression and anxiety. I have consulted therapy many times and I have had wonderful revelations in doing that method of treatment. However, that is not a cure all for the symptoms. I often have times in which I am full of energy and passion for the hobbies that interest me. And then there are times in which I have no energy at all. This can be a HUGE issue as a homeschool Mom of two and aspiring author. It puts a huge holt on my progress and my consistency. This also leads to my depression which then leads to my anxiety. It is a cycle that I hate to be on at times. Last week for instance was a huge black hole for my mental health. I was suffering from extreme self-sabotage. Self-Sabotage refers to the behaviors or thought patterns that hold you back and prevent you from doing what you want to do. 

Some Self-Sabotage Behaviors include:
  • Procrastination
  • You focus on your mistakes
  • You are fearful 
  • You have poor boundaries
  • You put what is comfortable before what is healthier
  • You are always ready to argue even on topics that do not matter
  • You don't ask for help when you need it even when you have had enough, or burned out
Basically, my mind was telling me all of the negative self-talk it could because I was feeling weak physically and mentally. I was feeding into it by continuously believing the negative thoughts in my head. I had no energy to pursue my book, my blog, my social media or teach. I had no want to do anything at all but sleep. I felt like I was failing everything. Not only was I self-sabotaging but I was also allowing dark thoughts to enter my mind as well. 
"Why bother writing your book? You will be old when it is done."
"What is the purpose of this stupid dream? Who are you trying to be?"
"You are not capable of pursuing the dream into completion, why do you bother?"
"You are not deserving of achieving this so stop while you are ahead."
"No one cares about you. You have no friends."
"If you were gone, only your husband and children would miss you. The rest of the world does not care who you are."
"You are a fool. Just stop trying to be so much."

Lovely right? I was WONDERFUL company. My own mind was betraying me and I was getting sick with the flu at that time as well. Not to mention around that time I felt really de attached to those in my life. As if I was pushing them away because I thought they were pushing me away. I did not do many chores during this time, nor did I bother to make sure I was taking care of myself. Depression made her way in right away and I just could not bring myself to get out of the bed. I remember laying there for a long time wondering if I was doing the right thing by homeschooling my children. I told myself that they deserved better than I could give them. I felt ashamed that I was feeling so heavy in my head and not as present as I wanted to be for their education. I lost a friend during this week as well which took me for another loop. The abandonment that I already felt seemed to intensify in my heart and I fell apart in my husband's arms. I told him all I wanted was for someone to tell me that I was loved and that it would all be okay. You guys my husband had no idea what he was getting into when he married me, but I tell you he is a keeper. He held me. He held me and let me cry. Usually, he is a fixer. He wants to solve my problems and help me work them out. But this time all he did was what I needed him to do, and it was such a relief to finally admit all of the thoughts that were lurking in my mind. I was embarrassed to say the least, and worried that he would commit me. I was scared that he would be scared of my thoughts and worry about me too much. We both agreed that therapy is something that I need to stick with as there is so much that I need to work on. Moments like last week remind me that mental health does not have a cure, it is merely something that is treated. I noticed that while my mind was entirely too weak to do much that I needed to take some items off my plate so that I could rest. I took a social media break for a week or two. I kept my phone away as much as I could and devoured books instead. My children took a small break from school and continued their daily work when I was able to bring myself out of the fog to focus on helping them. And guess what? They came back into their schoolwork recharged and focused! Both have done an outstanding job this week.  During my social media break I had time to focus on my mental health and healing. The flu crept up on me, but I really think it was the product of stress and the drop in my mental health. Sometimes the body feels what the mind does because as soon as I started to see the sun again, the sickness started to leave. 
Speaking of seeing the sun, I remember the exact moment I started to wake up out of my own self-sabotage prison. My morning cup of coffee was sitting beside me, and my eyes were dripping wet from tears. I remember praying to God and asking him to help me. "Duale" (Pain in Spanish.) I just kept repeating it over and over. I did not have the strength at the time to tell him what was on my heart just that my mind was attacking me, and I needed help. That was when I opened my bible to a scripture that I had highlighted once before. 
Jeremiah 32:17

God was speaking to me. I knew it in my heart that he was trying to tell me to STOP. Stop trying to handle it all alone. Even the intrusive thoughts. I can come to him with those too. I can come to him when my mental health gets too heavy for me to bare. The tears came streaming down my face and on to my page. And in that moment, I felt the love of God wash over me like a warm embrace. I released the pain that I had kept locked inside and gave it all to him to hold. He wants me to trust him with my darkest thoughts. He wants me to trust that he can pull me out of my own mind and into the present. Into the present and into Joy. All I had to do was release my pride and admit that I needed his help. Admit that I needed my husband's help too. Homeschooling can be a huge gift, but it is also such a heavy thing to carry alone. There are days I am so tired that cooking and cleaning seems to be a far-off notion. Forget writing my book, that seems impossible. For what energy will I have for writing when I have so many other important responsibilities? (See how quick those negative thoughts can creep in?)  There are times in my life in which asking for help is going to have to be something I do often. I cannot manage it all on my own. God was very clear that morning that Nothing is Too hard for Him. That he can carry those thoughts, he can carry my pain, he can carry my fears, and he can hold me. 

I am not a religious person, but I do believe in God and his power to provide comfort in time of restlessness. And strength in times of weakness. He has done this for me so many times in my life that even on my darkest days I still have him to talk too. Losing a friend during a very dark time in my life truly does hurt the heart. However, I was able to take that pain and give it over to the Lord to heal. He has been working on my heart to forgive and the hardest part...to let go. 

Self-Sabotage is a very real thing. It can leave you feeling worthless and alone. The work you really want to do seems to be neglected and time feels like it is running away from you. I totally get that my friend. I feel this way often. Try to give yourself some grace in these moments, allow the thoughts to come visually in your mind. And then visually open a door and let them back out. We will get to those things we want to do, a day at a time. You are more than capable of accomplishing the goals you set, despite what your negative thoughts tell you. 
Find something to fight for. Find someone to push yourself out of bed for, though I hope that it is you.
Practice plenty of self-care when these thoughts start to creep in. Find things small to do for yourself like an aroma bath with lavender to calm your anxiety. Treat yourself to a nice cup of warm lemon tea and ginseng for energy and a clear mind.  Take a walk under the bright sun and allow the warm sun to touch your face. Close your eyes as the wind passes you and allow it to comfort your heart as it tries to heal. Grab a book that provides you company during a time in which talking is too much. Find beauty in the stillness of this time and know that this sadness will not last forever. 

For my witchy friends: During my time of sadness, I did an intention prayer/spell when I cooked soup. I created the soup with mushrooms, beef broth, minced garlic, salt, pepper, celery, and carrots. As I stirred, I repeated the mantra, "With this soup I pray for all toxins to leave my body, and all toxic people to show themselves." I also found comfort in the smells of lavender in a hot bath, it seemed to calm my anxiety. I drank a lot of lemon tea and I felt like it lifted my mood. I also tried making my own rose water and writing down the steps in my book. I found peace in creating meals and working with herbs. Sometimes it is good to focus on something small. It made me feel a little better each time my attention was on something mundane. I was sick for a total of almost two weeks and three days. As soon as the dark cloud in my mind lifted, my body followed suit. The body feels what the mind feels. Be easy on yourself. Rest as much as you need.

 

 We will push through the darkest days, to appreciate the light. Please know you are not alone; I am here beside you learning my way through mental health. If you want to try therapy, I truly have been lucky to find comfort in Betterhelp.com. Sometimes talking to someone who does not know you makes all the difference in the world. You can always reach me by email: Amandatheblogwitch@gmail.com.


        We are worthy. We are worthy. And we are ENOUGH. 


                                                    -A. Bookwitch

      




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