Reviewed by Carol Thompson for Readers' Favorite

Dr. Annise Mabry’s Educational Disobedience: A Mom Who Became a Movement is an inspiring and thought-provoking read that redefines how we view education. With professional expertise and personal experience, Mabry offers a heartfelt and actionable guide for parents and educators seeking to transform how children learn. The book shows how homeschooling can be a lifeline for families navigating inequitable and rigid educational systems. Mabry frames “educational disobedience” as empowerment rather than defiance, encouraging parents to take control of their children’s academic futures. Her insights into crafting flexible, student-centered learning plans are practical and uplifting, making this a valuable resource for any parent.

Dr. Annise Mabry’s writing is down-to-earth, and she makes you feel as if you’re sitting in her living room talking about education as two friends over a cup of coffee. Without question, she is knowledgeable about the educational system and its strengths and weaknesses. Through Mabry’s Tiers Free Homeschool Cooperative lens, she illustrates the power of community-driven educational models that prioritize literacy, personal growth, and emotional well-being. This book challenges conventional norms and provides a hopeful vision of what education can look like when rooted in justice and care. The homeschool pro tips are extremely helpful for navigating the ins and outs of what’s needed for success. A plain language checklist is a guide to homeschool decision-making. Mabry includes items easily overlooked by newcomers to the homeschool system. Educational Disobedience is a rallying cry for change, offering encouragement and tools for those ready to embrace a more inclusive and adaptable approach to education. I highly recommend it to anyone considering homeschooling or interested in alternative learning.

Reviewed by Carol Thompson for Readers' Favorite

Renes Lophanor’s I Still Love Teaching Despite Having All The Reasons In The World To Quit is a heartfelt and thought-provoking exploration of the joys and challenges faced by educators today. Lophanor, an experienced teacher with a deep passion for education, takes readers on an honest journey through his career, sharing the uplifting moments and the frustrations that nearly pushed him to leave the profession. His narrative is a powerful testament to the resilience and dedication of those who choose to teach despite seemingly insurmountable obstacles.

Renes Lophanor explores the underappreciated aspects of teaching, such as building meaningful relationships with students and creating a classroom environment that fosters creativity and discipline. Lophanor doesn’t simply highlight the problems; he offers tangible solutions and strategies for educators wanting to reignite their passion for teaching. What truly makes this book a standout is his unwavering love for teaching, which shines through every page. The challenges of teaching aren’t sugar-coated but instead balanced in a way that acknowledges the struggles and the deep fulfillment that comes from making a difference in students’ lives. I Still Love Teaching Despite Having All The Reasons In The World To Quit is an inspiring and candid read for anyone invested in education. Lophanor’s reflections on teaching are filled with wisdom, empathy, and a call to action for a more compassionate and effective education system. His book serves as a reminder that, despite the many challenges facing education today, the heart of teaching is built on hope, dedication, and an enduring belief in the potential of every student. An excellent book.

Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite

What's Your Name? by Albert Jung is an engaging and comprehensive guide to the art of transcribing names using Hangul, Korea's systematic writing system. This unique book serves as both a practical manual and a cultural journey, offering readers a deep dive into the history, methodology, and modern applications of Korean script. Jung's expertise shines through as he presents complex linguistic concepts in an accessible format, while his evident passion for the subject makes what could be dry technical material come alive with relevance and meaning. The inclusion of historical context, practical exercises, and cultural insights also creates a rich learning experience that goes far beyond simple transcription rules.

Author Albert Jung brings remarkable clarity to complex linguistic concepts, making them accessible to readers from all backgrounds. His approach combines scholarly rigor with practical application, creating a resource that serves both casual learners and serious language enthusiasts. I loved the integration of historical context with modern usage. This aspect of the work particularly resonated with me as it helped me understand not just how you would use Hangul, but why certain conventions have developed and some of the culture and social significance behind that. Jung's interactive exercises provide hands-on experience while maintaining engagement, and the illustrations effectively complement the text to add clarity. The emphasis on language as a bridge between cultures is a beautiful message, creating connections that extend beyond mere transliteration and show how important language is. The structure builds knowledge systematically while maintaining reader interest through relevant examples and cultural insights. The focus on inclusivity and global communication is a nice touch too, and it gives the material contemporary relevance while honoring traditional practices. Overall, What's Your Name? is an invaluable resource for anyone interested in the Korean language and culture, offering both practical knowledge and a deeper understanding of cross-cultural communication, and I would certainly recommend it.

Reviewed by Luwi Nyakansaila for Readers' Favorite

Gifted and Distractible by Julie F. Skolnick is a heartfelt book designed to help parents and educators understand and support their twice-exceptional (2e) children. The book is divided into three parts: Understanding, Strategies, and Advocacy. To effectively help your child, you first need to comprehend their unique condition. The author explains the differences between ADHD, dyslexia, and sensory sensitivity, while also addressing issues such as anxiety and debunking common myths about 2e children. Skolnick shares practical strategies for parents, which are organized into six categories known by the acronym PRAISE: Personal Connection, Reframe, Anticipate, Incentives and Choices, Sense of Humor, and Exercise. Finally, the author encourages parents to advocate for their 2e children by creating collaborative relationships with teachers and helping their children become their own advocates. The book also offers an eye-opening narrative about a typical day in the life of a 2e child, fostering empathy and a practical understanding of their daily struggles.

Gifted and Distractible is one of the most thoughtful and comprehensive guides I have ever read. It addresses details that many parents and teachers often overlook regarding 2e children. The author effectively categorizes the different groups these children may belong to and provides practical tips to aid in their development, making them feel comfortable and understood. The biggest lesson I learned from this book is that gifted children do not always find tasks easy; they can become easily fixated and distracted, leading to misunderstandings. The practical strategies provided are straightforward and actionable. They include building rapport with your child’s educators without being demanding or sending lengthy emails, learning about your child's interests, and asking them questions to better understand their needs and values. Julie F. Skolnick includes stories about 2e children that highlight both their challenges and successes. I appreciate that the book addresses the emotional toll that parents and families experience when raising 2e children. It thoughtfully encourages patience, gradual trust-building, and self-awareness. This is a valuable read, filled with insights that will benefit anyone invested in understanding and nurturing 2e children.

Reviewed by Courtnee Turner Hoyle for Readers' Favorite

Melissa Peneycad’s Essentials of AI for Beginners is a guide for anyone seeking to navigate the rapidly evolving world of artificial intelligence. With AI influencing countless aspects of daily life, Peneycad provides an accessible entry point for readers to understand and harness its potential. Each chapter includes practical and detailed text and concludes with QR codes, which link to tests that reinforce key topics. The author provides four learning tracks that cover utilization, career advancement, creative capabilities, and conceptual basis, allowing readers to tailor their journey and focus on the most relevant aspects. Topics range from AI terminology and implementation steps to ethical considerations, future societal impacts, and career opportunities. Peneycad also breaks down common myths, explains how AI learns, and highlights trends that will shape its future.

Even when tackling technical concepts, Melissa Peneycad simplifies the information, making the material detailed and digestible. She offers practical knowledge, tools for learning programming, and strategies for addressing fears like job displacement. Demonstrating her determination and passion for the subject, Peneycad has placed her extensive learning into a resource that educates and engages you. The book offers additional tools like tutorials, quizzes, and a glossary to clarify unfamiliar terms, ensuring readers have a well-rounded learning experience. Embracing the collaborative potential between humans and AI, the book motivates readers to adapt and thrive in an AI-integrated environment. The book almost feels like a college-level course, complete with quizzes and an instructor who is as knowledgeable as she is approachable. If you’re ready to explore AI and enhance your adaptability, Essentials of AI for Beginners is a great selection.

Reviewed by Courtnee Turner Hoyle for Readers' Favorite

As accomplished educators, Artyom Zinchenko and Wallace Panlilio wrote Wisest Learners: Unlock the Secrets to Your Students’ Academic Resilience to give other members in their field a trusted and academically relevant approach to teaching. Noticing both a lack of professional development and the need for more participation when it was available, Zinchenko and Panlilio deliver up-to-date educational practices and developed a "schoolhouse model" with students' needs and goals in mind. The authors explain each part of their schoolhouse model in detail, with stories and statistics that enhance the topic's necessity and the way it contributes to overall learning. The book focuses on foundations, engagement, structure, support, and qualities that promote lifelong learning.

Artyom Zinchenko and Wallace Panlilio have created a comprehensive text that is valuable for seasoned educators or new teachers. Zinchenko and Panlilio's stories provide clarification and encouragement and are thought-provoking, citing both nature and a student's upbringing as factors that contribute to future academic success. At one time, I was a teacher, and if I reentered the field, I'd reread this book from cover to cover. Even though I only instruct my children at home now, I found the authors' ideas helpful and the results of the studies they mentioned interesting, and I'm looking forward to applying the information. I was impressed by the ease of reading in this text and their suggestions apply to all educational sectors. With the knowledge gleaned from Wisest Learners, educators will be more equipped to approach instruction in a variety of learning styles and demographics, producing more capable and self-sustaining learners.

Reviewed by Pikasho Deka for Readers' Favorite

Adaptability, enthusiasm, and a desire to constantly improve one's methods are the hallmarks of an effective teacher. With years of experience teaching law and ethics in business school, Perry Binder brings a comprehensive teaching guide to assist those in the teaching profession in finding creative ways to nurture and refine young minds and help them reach their fullest potential. In Innovative College Teaching, Binder shows readers how to make the first day of a class memorable, engage with students and make a lasting impression, improve one's teaching techniques and skills, prepare students for multiple choice and essay exams, and much more. Binder also emphasizes the importance of adopting new-age technology in classes, such as using AI to create interactive modules and write prompts, and integrating social media and other internet platforms into the curriculum to make the learning process dynamic.

It doesn't matter whether you're taking the first steps in your teaching career or are already an experienced veteran. Innovative College Teaching is a must-read for anyone who loves to teach regardless of their chosen subject/department. While the first part of the book focuses on Perry Binder's own teaching process that he has developed over the years in this profession, the second part contains interviews with different professors from the fields of law, science, arts, business, and technology, as they answer and offer their expert advice on five specific topics related to teaching and education. They talk about their inspiration to teach, their teaching methods, and how they continue to improve on their teaching techniques. This is an educational book for teachers to hone their skills further. I found it very informative, relevant, and motivational, and I highly recommend it.

Reviewed by Jennie More for Readers' Favorite

Doing Good & Doing Well by Michael L. Kaufman, MSW, PhD, is a guide for helping professionals like teachers, therapists, social workers, doctors, and nurses to assume leadership roles in their organizations. As these professionals and others like them focus on the well-being of people, often working in under-resourced communities, they may be too humble to see themselves in business roles. This book guides anyone hoping to enter a management or leadership role where they will be responsible for people. Kaufman advises on what to expect in the boardroom, a day in the life of a CEO, hiring, mentoring, and losing people, and how to begin wrapping their minds around transforming from the role of a carer to the leader of an organization of carers.

Doing Good & Doing Well by Michael L. Kaufman, MSW, PhD, is a resourceful and insightful book and certainly a must-read for all professionals who want to or are about to become a manager or leader. I enjoyed the multiple examples of people-management scenarios where Kaufman explains personnel issues and how leaders dealt with each effectively, putting his advice into perspective. Few leadership or business books provide such practical guidance and real-life examples. It can be difficult for a professional to transition to management, but Kaufman details the new skills, experiences, pitfalls, and opportunities that professionals can expect. Kaufman has a wealth of knowledge about business and leadership, making this book one of a kind that will help professionals successfully transition from specialist to business leader roles.

Reviewed by Demetria Head for Readers' Favorite

From the Spotlight to Real Life by Lisa David Olson offers a comedic yet insightful journey into mastering communication and team dynamics. With a blend of humor and practical wisdom, Lisa emphasizes the vital importance of connection within teams. She eloquently delves into the ripple effect of joy and commitment within a group, showcasing how a connected team breeds productivity. Through engaging quizzes like "Am I Funny?" and discussions on topics such as storytelling versus story sharing and the transformative power of improv, Lisa equips readers with invaluable tools for becoming dynamic communicators. By emphasizing the essence of listening and openness in leadership, she drives home the message that effective communication begins with fostering genuine connections within teams.

Readers will find themselves drawn to From the Spotlight to Real Life for its refreshing blend of humor and raw honesty. Lisa David Olson's practical advice, coupled with entertaining anecdotes and quizzes, ensures an engaging and enlightening read. Beyond simply offering communication tips, this book serves as a comprehensive guide to navigating various social and professional interactions with confidence and authenticity. Whether readers are seeking to enhance their public speaking skills, improve teamwork, or simply become better communicators in everyday life, this book provides actionable insights and inspiration. With its accessible approach and relatable content, this guide promises to empower readers to command any room with ease, making it an essential addition to the library of anyone striving for personal and professional growth.

Reviewed by Joe Wisinski for Readers' Favorite

Classroom LIGHTBULBS for College Professors was written to give practical teaching tips to professors. It’s for both those who are new to teaching at the university level and those who have taught for years but want to re-invigorate their teaching by implementing fresh ideas. The book is divided into two parts. The first part is about the ideas the author, Perry Binder, has gleaned from his 20-plus years as a college professor. Binder also shares how the pandemic changed his teaching. The second part is about the LIGHTBULBS acronym. There are also a large number of appendices in which Binder writes about topics ranging from interviews with master teachers to books that inspired him, and much more. The author also provides space for professors to write down their experiences as they integrate with the LIGHTBULBS acronym.

I’ve been an adjunct university professor for 18 years, which is one reason why I wanted to read this book. Although I’m experienced, there is always something new to learn. Classroom LIGHTBULBS for College Professors did not disappoint me. The book is eminently hands-on, packed with ideas that any professor can, and should, use to improve his or her classroom teaching and demeanor. I especially liked the numerous anecdotes and examples that Perry Binder shared. Any professor will be able to identify with them. I highly recommend this excellent book to both new and experienced professors, and high school teachers too. Congratulations to the author for writing an exceptional, practical, and fun-to-read book.