79. Love, Mom: Poignant, Goofy, Brilliant Messages from Home by Doree Shafrir & Jessica Grose

This book has an interesting premise. It is a collection of actual emails and chats from moms to their grown children. The authors run a website called PostcardsFromYoMomma.com where people can send funny examples of these things to them. I think the book was about 10% hilarious, 10% offensive, and 80% interesting. It is an original idea but wasn't quite as great as I was hoping. It was just OK (with some very funny highlights).

78.The Giraffe and the Pelly and Me by Roald Dahl

I have to say that I have never been crazy about Roald Dahl. But after reading this book which was really very cute, I realize that maybe I'm just not crazy about the movie adaptations of his books. I really did like this book. The illustrations were cute, the story was original, funny and lyrical. I would read this aloud to any kid because it was so great. It only takes about an hour to read and is well worth the time.

77. Pingo by Brandon Mull

This is a little picture book by the author of Fablehaven and The Candy Shop War. The girls and I have heard Brandon Mull speak several times and the last time he was REALLY excited about this book. The book asks the question, "What happens when your imaginary friend becomes your imaginary enemy?" His little speech piqued my curiosity so I grabbed it at the library. It has really cute pictures and a pretty good story. I'm pretty sure little kids will love it--mine thought it was good.

76. Change It Up! (Looking Differently at the Change You Want--and the Change You Don't by Amanda Dickson

This book explores the whole idea of change. I really liked it. It made me think about change in my life and how it affects me. It made me realize how refreshing a little change can be, even if I don't initiate it myself (which I hardly ever do). I also liked the little quotes that were inset on the sides of the pages. They really made me think. It was a good little book and I would recommend it.

75. Keeping It Together in a Pull-Apart World by Mary Ellen Edmunds

This is another little book in the Time Out Classics series from Deseret Book. It's a good, inspiring book about dealing with stress in your every day life. The author gives some really practical ideas about coping and getting yourself under control when you feel out of control. These books are really good for a little lift when you are having a hard time.

74. The Twenty-Four Days Before Christmas by Madeleine L'Engle

This a cute little Christmas story I picked up because I like the author, Madeleine L'Engle. She is the author of the A Wrinkle in Time series which I have always really liked. So a couple of weeks ago when I was at the library with one of the girls and they were wandering around the children's fiction section, I spotted her books and thought I might try some that I hadn't read before. This is actually the first in a series starring the Austin family. The story centers around 7 year old Vicky who is worried about being the angel in the church Christmas program, and also that her mom might not be at home on Christmas because she is due to have a baby. It also chronicles the Austin's traditions of doing something fun for Christmas every day of December. This book would make a fun read-aloud for Christmas and is really short (only about 60 pages). I liked it and maybe I'll read it to the kids this year.

73. Contentment: Inspiring Insights for LDS Mothers by Maria Covey Cole

I had to walk by this book a couple of times at the library before I decided to pick it up and try it. The cheesy picture on the front kind of turned me off (I know, I'm silly). But finally I talked myself into it because I can always use some good insight on mothering. And after having read it, I can say that I really love this book. It has a lot of good takes on things that I haven't really thought of in the same way before. The book explores how we can be happy as mothers and find that calling as fulfilling as anything else in our life. One of the things I like best about this book is that she has collected a lot of really great quotes on motherhood from other sources. I also like that she provides a lot of real stories from mothers to explore her points. I would highly recommend this book to any mothers, but especially stay-at-home moms. It was good enough that I wouldn't mind buying it and keeping it around to read every once in a while for a pick-me-up.

72. Missionary Miracles by Chris Stewart

I really liked this book. It is one of the better LDS books I've read lately and maybe the best missionary book I've ever read. It is a collection of letters from actual missionaries. The letters are grouped together by various topics like "The Effects of the Gospel" and "Far from Home." I just felt like it painted a fairly accurate view of what a mission is like, both the good and the bad and the letters were very inspiring. I would highly recommend it, especially for someone thinking about going on a mission. It is short and quick to read, definitely worth anyone's time.

71. Saying It Like It Is by Sheri Dew

This is another one of those little picture books with inspiring quotes (this time by Sheri Dew). It has some of her own pictures of her family and stuff in it. I love Sheri Dew because she is direct and powerful. It would be a good book to pick up and read a couple of quotes out of when you needed a little motivation. She really is good and inspiring.