Green Mama by Manda Aufochs Gillespieama: How You Can Give Your Child A Healthy And Green Future

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Recently I was contacted by this lovely lady from FingerPrint publishing, Megha, who asked me if I would like to read a copy of a very interesting book titled Green Mama By Manda Aufochs Gillespie, which focuses on various easy to incorporate and simple lifestyle choices that we can make as individuals, that will not only teach our kids how to live a more balanced natural life, but also create a greener world. The book aims at mixing the various teachings of science in our everyday lives while also combining it with the age old wisdom and teachings of grandma.

Quite an interesting concept, especially because I as an individual, and as a parent, believe in the power of natural and green living. With so many changes happening around us in the environment, the effects of global warming are already here. But all it takes is a little change, a little switch from what we may have been doing till now, and create healthier and safer alternatives.

Of course I said yes and was eagerly waiting for the book. So when it arrived, I went through it, randomly at first because I was flipping in and out of work, but finally got down to reading it at leisure and give it the time and the attention that I feel the book truly deserves.

Before I tell you what all you can find in the book, here is a look at what the blurb on the cover jacket says:

What are the most pressing problems facing new parents today? As the world has become increasingly more complicated, so has parenting. We are concerned about pervasive toxins in the environment and anxious to raise our children in ways that will protect them as well as safeguard our already fragile world.

Manda Aufochs Gillespie, The Green Mama, shares what today's science and Grandma's traditional wisdom tell us about prenatal care for mothers-to-be, breastfeeding, detoxifying the nursery, diapering, caring for baby's skin, feeding a family, and healthy play - redefining the 'basics' of parenting for today's world. With an upbeat tone, stories of parents who have 'been there,' real-world advice for when money matters more, and practical steps geared toward immediate success, Green Mama engages and guides even the busiest, most sleep-deprived parent.

 The Green Mama helps parents become what they were always meant to be: experts on the care of their own children. 

The first thing that I noticed and really loved about the book was the dedication:
This book is dedicated to all the world's children, especially my own beloved Zella Rose and Zada 'Maela.' May we create a world worthy of them all.

Isn't that really the need of the hour? May we create a world worthy of them all. For as parents and as adults, we know that the world we live in is not a gift we got from our ancestors, but a treasure we have taken on loan from our children, and one that needs to be taken care of, nurtured, truly treasured and handed back safely.

Each time we start talking about living green, the first thought that comes to mind is that it will mean a huge transition from your current lifestyle, that trying to adopt a greener lifestyle will mean too many uncomfortable changes. Well, not really.

Once you know that you are on the path to becoming a parent, you attitude towards the world changes, and everything that was till now about you tends to become more about your baby, about how it will affect your baby. And hence the little everyday things that you do.

The book tells us about small things you can do at home and the very small but very huge and very important changes that you can make in little things and ways around the house that will help to make it greener and more natural. Also, the book is not a preachy handwork of someone who knows it all and wants you to simply follow. It gives you all the info you need, in a very easy to understand and even interesting way, full of colorful and heart-warming images of real children and families.

To make it really simple to understand and implement, the author has broken down the 'green' concepts into the following areas:

• how to have a green home and nursery
• a more natural and greener way to diapering
• breastfeeding the natural and green way
• how to ensure your baby's foods are natural and belong to the green concept
• easy ways to take care of your baby's skin the natural way
• how to incorporate safer, natural and greener aspects in your baby's play time

I feel that the above topics pretty much cover almost everything a new mommy would want to know about her baby's first year needs. And once you start off to a green start, the road ahead is only bound to be easier and more and more comfortable. In addition to all the above, the book also provides a lot of insight into what all is really going on there behind labels and other things that you may not be aware of, and how you can be a more alert and informed parent.

I absolutely loved the book, and I am really happy I got a chance to learn more. It is definitely a must-read for any parent, whether you are about to be a parent, already have one child or many, or even if you are not a parent.

And yes, I am definitely going to suggest it to all my friends and people I know of. So make sure you have a look too.

Where To Buy:

India:
If you are based in India, you can buy the book here.

Outside India:
You can buy the book here

About The Author:
Manda Aufochs Gillespie is a consultant, writer, environmentalist and mother. She has worked in the 'green' field for more than fifteen years, advising businesses and homeowners and engaging directly with hundreds of parents through green living classes and her website, thegreenmama.com 

- Debolina Raja 

**********************************************
And like I always believe in and say:
'Heal the world we live in
Save it for our children' - MJ

Happy Parenting!!!!

Debolina Raja

The SuperMom CookBook By Madhuri Iyer: Get Your Free Copy Now! Giveaway

I know I know I know....as a mommy, making your little one eat is one of the biggest and I literally mean BIGGEST challenges ever, especially because it is not like those new baby or toddler year challenges that you know shall pass off in a year or two..

Making your child eat healthy, ensuring she will eat healthy and coming up with new, healthy, delicious, interesting, easy, visually appealing, sneaked in un-favoured ingredients and ensuring the ingredients are actually available in your local area can be a daunting experience, one that can go on and on for years!!!

My older one is going to be 8 next month, but ask me about my struggles of making her eat...she DOES NOT !!!! And its something I know that almost all moms face.

So when the PR team of The SuperMom COOKBOOK by Madhuri Iyer approached me to know if I would be interested in checking out the book, the answer was a strong and excited YES! What mom would not want a cookbook that can actually be made use of at home with ingredients you can easily get in an Indian kitchen?

The team was sweet enough to send me FOUR extra copies for giveaway, so that means I will be sharing the yummy goodness with four other lovely mommies out there :)

About The Book

What I loved about the cookbook is that it introduces traditional recipes for kids from all over India. So, it has something from Maharashtra, as well as something from Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Goa, Bengal, Rajasthan, the Parsi community and more...it is truly a unique mix of cuisines meant for kids that I have not found in other cookbooks for kids yet.

The book is divided into the following categories:

My Little Body Book By Shruti Singhal And Q&A With Author

Few weeks back I was contacted by the PR team of a book titled My Little Body Book By Shruti Singhal. They asked me if I would like to read the book and talk about it with my readers.

I have always tried to find out ways in which we can share information with children about how they can keep themselves safe, in terms of physical abuse. So this mail came as a good way to connect more on the topic. The PR team sent me a copy of the book and I immediately sat with my 7 year old daughter to help her go through the content.

Details About The Book

• The book is in hardcover.
• It is really small in terms of the number of pages.
• The font is big and very easy to read for younger kids, even as young as 4. 
• Every page is filled with colourful and cute illustrations that will immediately attract kids.
• The book is written in an easy to understand format that slightly older kids, aged 6 and above, can understand on their own.
• Priced at INR 225 and published by Zubaan Books and supported by Pearl Academy

My Take On The Book

The book is realllyyy cute. In fact, I think this is exactly the way you should make a book if your target audience is kids and the message is something as important as keeping your body safe from others.

When I opened the book with my daughter, she immediately loved the illustrations and the many colourful sketches that were inside. She could understand almost all that was in the book, but there were a few new words she didn't know and which were very crucial for this understanding. You will see later in the author Q&A where I pose this question.

In these times, keeping our kids safe is a very difficult and scary thought, especially with so many child offenders present in society. Statistics have revealed time and again that in most cases, it is not a stranger but a known person to the child who is the offender. I know for a fact that this is true, that these things do happen, and it is something we as parents and as adults should watch out for.

Want To Read Wednesdays !!!!

 
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On my main book blog (The Book Worm) I've been sharing a lot about the various books I read and like. It's high time I shared about some amazing kiddie books too..... My older daughter, who is now 7, has a huge personal library at home that include some really amazing books. We've been fortunate enough to be able to get these books for her, and I'm really happy she has cultivated a love of reading the way she has. My younger one, who is all of 1, is already turning out into a reader too....and loves books a lot (guess she wouldn't know any other way, given her mommy and sister's love of reading) ;)

Starting this Wednesday, I will be sharing one book from my daughter's collection.....Wednesdays will be given to share the info about the book so that in case you are looking for a book for your little one, you can read the same and decide....

For today, let's start with a very cute and uncommonly named book called Mr. Stink by David Walliams and Illustrated by Quentin Blake.

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Chloe is just about the loneliest girl in the world. But then she meets Mr. Stink, the local tramp. Yes,

Wisha Wozzariter by Payal Kapadia: Review

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(*I received a complimentary reading copy of the book courtesy the PR team for the Crossword Book Awards. I have not been paid for the review and all opinions are my own)

Okay, so that part sorted (that the views shared here are my own and not paid for) I shall tell you all about this book that won the Crossword Award for the Best Book in Children's Books category.

A few weeks back, my daughter took the book with her to the Kahaani Karnival held in Mumbai and got it signed by the author. One happy kid! :-)

What really got me interested in Wisha Wozzariter by Payal Kapadia was the premise. It was a very 'realistic' setting, especially as my daughter is a voracious reader herself and reads day in and day out, including most part of the night when she is awake. Also the fact that she wants to be a writer when she grows up and is already writing her own little stories.

If you don't know what the book is about, here is a look:

10 year old Wisha loves to read day in and day out. She feels that reading is the best thing that could ever

Eureka! The Bookstore For The Young: Online Shopping for Kids' Books

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While browsing online, I came across this interesting online bookstore that's specially for kids! Now that's something....

My 6-year old daughter has finished most books that are in the age group till 10, and it's a constant struggle to find her more interesting books.