Book Reviews
Stylish Kids Parties
Reviewed by Jonathan Young
Kids’ parties can be very elaborate these days, and if you’re into that, then this book has some good ideas.
If you follow the prescriptions in this book, then these parties are very full-on. They follow themes from the invitations, all the way through to take home goody bags. Themes in the book include some traditional ideas such as a fairy party, but some more ingenious ideas like a ‘celebrity party’ and ‘young chef’. The latter could be a very fun (and messy) party, that’s something different from the norm.
At $29.99, this book has lots of pretty pictures, and the odd good idea, but if you’re going to follow the parties exactly you should have several weeks preparation time, and several bags of money available. You should also be good with a needle and thread, a cake mixer, and have qualifications in stage make-up and set design.
Gentle Approach to Difficult Subject
Reviewed by Brendon Smith
Fancy, bold titles, celebrity endorsements, small letters after the authors’ names running over the page, you too can recognise the latest blockbuster book, expounding unique theories on depression.
I know, I’ve read a few and learnt a bit about the many different forms of depression or it’s dirty, rotten cousin, abuse. It was hard research, but along with a few days on the internet, I felt informed.
As a country, depression awareness is currently high, with national icons helping open doors in areas where similar subjects have, until fairly recently, been hidden. Now, we the people need a more organised, easy to read resource, hopefully with real, practical ideas as well.
Ellen Munro, once a primary school teacher but now a freelance journalist, lost a son in a micro-light accident and had previously suffered from ongoing PND. As a project to help recover from the loss of their son, Ellen and her husband set positive tasks for themselves and Ellen’s was to collate all the notes she had kept from her PND recovery, and produce a useful booklet.
With a peaceful bush scene on the cover, No One Gives You Chocolates is not like the high end text books. With her warm and inviting writing style, Ellen Munro approaches important and complex issues in easily readable terms. All titles and affirmations are also in te reo, which makes them not only inclusive, but when you read them out loud, I think the maori versions actually sound better.
Early chapters step gently through Facing Your Feelings, Acceptance or practical points like Writing It Down and Keeping Busy. Other chapters draw on Ellen’s real life examples, very believable characters in regular scenarios, bringing some clarity and hopefully lessons. With nearly thirty chapters, as many up as down, instructive and examples, this collection of wisdom is supportive right through or easy to scan for topics of interest.
Dealing with a variety of aspects on depression and life, and with a good list of support contacts, this very accessible book would make a fine gift. Like a box of chocolates, only it may keep giving for years!
