Welcome to my Bookcase.  Here is a list of books which have had a great impact on me over the years.  There are so many, it’s difficult to choose, so these are just a few of my favorites.  

Most are books, but I have included some CD sets too.

How to Raise Happy, Healthy, Self-Confident Children

by Brian Tracy

This is one of the best guides to bringing up children that I have come across.  It comes in a set of 6 CDs or MP3 downloads.  I’ve listened to it many times, and always find useful and inspiring information in it.  Brian Tracy reminds us of the importance of continuously demonstrating unconditional love to our children and offers many strategies for improving our relationships with our children.  Simply brilliant.

Buy from briantracy.com

End the Struggle and Dance with Life

by Susan Jeffers

I’m prone to worrying, and that got worse when I had my children.  I recognised what a waste of time worrying was and I just wanted to lighten up and enjoy my life and my kids!  I discovered this book several years ago and loved the way it made me feel more relaxed and in control of my life.  Now I have it on audio too and listen to it again whenever I start to feel agitated or stressed.

Buy from susanjeffers.com

To a Child LOVE is spelled T-I-M-E –

by Mac Anderson & Lance Wubbels

“Life shouts a thousand demands to take you away from your child.  If you permit “the urgent” to rule, you will lose moments you can never recover.  What happens in the ever-changing life of your child today will never be repeated.  All the gold in the world cannot buy back either the little delights or the big pleasures that happen without announcement or plan.”   So true.  A beautiful book and a much needed reminder in this busy world to stop what you are doing right now and go hug your child.

Buy from Nightingale Conant (UK)

Buy from simpletruths.com

50 Self Help Classics

by Tom Butler-Bowdon

Like all of the 50 Classics series, this book contains an astonishing amount of information.  Tom Butler-Bowdon summarises 50 classic self-help books, from The Bible through to some of today’s bestsellers.  Each summary is so succinct, and each idea presented in a way that is so easy to grasp, that I felt like I’d read all 50 books after reading it.   If I had to recommend just one book to anyone interested in self development, this would be it.  Brilliantly written and extraordinary value.

Being Happy

by Andrew Matthews

This is one of the first self development books I came across and is still one of my favourites.  It is almost childlike in its simplicity, but covers everything you need to take control of your life and ramp up the fun factor!   Andrew Matthews is a professional artist and cartoonist as well as an author and his books are full of his own amusing illustrations.  Very funny and deceptively profound.

Buy from amazon.com

The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success for Parents

by Deepak Chopra

The original version of this is the hugely popular Seven Spiritual Laws of Success - a powerful and inspiring guide to prosperity through being in tune with nature and the universe.  A fantastic read, I picked it up at a friend’s house and didn’t put it down until I’d finished.  This version is a practical guide for introducing the seven laws to our children.

What’s in the Barn?

by AH Benjamin and O’Kif

This utterly brilliant tale builds tension like a Hitchcock thriller.  Watch out for the twist at the end.  The illustrations have my kids rolling around the floor howling with laughter!

Children’s Books

There’s something magical about reading a book with your child that you both love – here are some of our favourites, we’ve read each of them hundreds of times!

Click, Clack, Moo, Cows That Type

by Doreen Cronin

Furious Farmer Brown is forced to negotiate with his subversive cows.  A great story and very funny.

How do Dinosaurs Get Well Soon

by Jane Yolen

I think it’s the quirky and unique illustrations by Mark Teague that make this book so hilarious.  Or is it the simple but brilliant rhyming text?  I’m not sure – either way, my kids and I love this book and have almost worn the pages out with multiple readings!

Lost and Found

by Oliver Jeffers

This book is so charming.  The illustrations are beautiful and, together with the storyline, tugs at your heartstrings.

The Tiger Who Came to Tea

by Judith Kerr

An enduring classic that is still a favourite in our house.

A Squash and a Squeeze

by Judith Donaldson

This is one of the first books Julia Donaldson wrote and to me, it’s her best.  Originally written as a song for the BBC, she converted it to a picture book once she was more established as an author.  It has great rhythm, terrific characters and a brilliant message for children in this “gimme more” world.