Book review: ‘Have It All’ by Gregory Nicholas Malouf

In ‘Have It All,’ is a road-tested guide to doing high performance business. Photo: Amazon

Because they offer insights, strategies, and practical advice for individuals looking to enhance their professional lives, business self-help books are a thriving genre. These books aim to empower readers with tools to navigate the complex world of business, improve leadership skills, foster innovation, and achieve success. Authors often draw from their own successes and failures, as well as from case studies and research, to provide readers with valuable lessons and strategies.

Such is the case with Gregory Malouf. In the early 1990s, he built one of Australia’s most successful independent residential estate agencies in Sydney’s prestigious Double Bay. As a successful entrepreneur, Greg could have had anything he wanted, and still his life fell apart. Despite his many successes, he would come to realize that his fortune was built on his drive to escape a traumatic past. Greg took time away from his businesses, accessed the courage to embrace change and find the answers to questions he’d long been asking, and transformed his life. In 2010, he established the Epsilon Healing Academy to share the many lessons he has learned, with the aim of helping others find their own life’s purpose and, in doing so, live their dreams. His book “Have It All! Turn Your Thinking Around and Find Success in 6 Simple Steps” provides time-tested and practical tools that can change your life. (Amazon, 2024)

“Have It All” can help you increase your wealth by improving your productivity, replace old beliefs that can hold you back and replace them with new and productive ones, access strategies to handle life’s challenges, gain work/life balance and improve your relationships at home and work, overcome criticism and doubt and take control of your life, and stay passionate and motivated for consistent results.

It is divided into seven chapters:

Chapter 1: My Story
Chapter 2: Moving From Outside-In To Inside-Out
Chapter 3: Out with the Old Thinking and In with the New
Chapter 4: Does Your Job Fit?
Chapter 5: Internal Stuff vs Internal Dialogue
Chapter 6: Changing Your Internal Dialogue
Chapter 7: The Remedy

The author begins in the Introduction by giving his purpose for writing this book: “…to offer you a proven road-tested guide to doing high performance business.” He uses anecdotes, motivational stories, and exercises to encourage readers to adopt a growth mindset and take proactive steps towards their professional development. By providing practical advice, insights, and inspiration, he empowers readers to realize their full potential and thrive in the competitive world of business. Highlights include Chapter 3 where he gives readers six steps to breaking productivity barriers, such as Take Your Primary Focus off Outcomes! and Value Relationships Much More, and Chapter 4 where he advises readers how to determine if your job is the right fit for them. He uses down to earth language, so the material is easy to understand, follow, and reference at any time. It may be a small book, but the information is invaluable for anyone looking to up their business game. The skills he shares are not based in theory, but in practice because they have worked for him. “Have It All” is recommended for readers who appreciate self-help books that provide advice from an expert in the field of business.

“This book will be a roadmap for changing internalized beliefs, making the path easier for you to observe and provide strategies for doing so based on certain keys and steps you will take away and apply to your own life.”

*The author received a copy of this book for an honest review. The views and opinions expressed here belong solely to her.

Opening soon: Photographic Justice: The Corky Lee Story

From Photographic Justice: The Corky Lee Story, Corky Lee on 42nd St. Photo: Jennifer Takaki, used with permission.

Documentaries are windows into real-life narratives, offering insights into diverse subjects. They captivate audiences by illuminating untold stories, exploring historical events, or shedding light on societal issues. They not only provoke thought, challenge perspectives, and foster empathy, they also serve as educational tools, imparting knowledge on topics ranging from science and history to culture and politics. Documentaries play an important role in shaping public discourse and fostering understanding of the world around us. One example is Photographic Justice: The Corky Lee Story.

All Is Well Pictures, in association with Ford Foundation and Scandobean productions, presents Photographic Justice: The Corky Lee Story. It will be released theatrically in New York (DCTV’s Firehouse Cinema) on April 19 and in Los Angeles (Laemmle Glendale) on April 26 with a regional expansion to follow. (EG-PR, 2024)

Official Selection: DOC NYC, CAAMFest, Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival (LAAPFF), Asian American International Film Festival (AAIFF), and many more.

Photographic Justice: The Corky Lee Story – For 50 years, Chinese American photographer Corky Lee documented the celebrations, struggles, and daily lives of Asian American Pacific Islanders with epic focus. Determined to push mainstream media to include AAPI culture in the visual record of American history, Lee produced an astonishing archive of nearly a million compelling photographs. His work takes on new urgency with the alarming rise in anti-Asian attacks during the Covid pandemic. Jennifer Takaki’s intimate portrait reveals the triumphs and tragedies of the man behind the lens.

Running Time: 87 minutes
Language: English
Not Rated
Documentary Feature (USA)

Corky Lee was born in 1947 in New York to Chinese immigrants who owned a laundry in Queens. He majored in history at Queens College and became a community organizer in Manhattan’s Chinatown in the 1970s. Over the next five decades he photographed countless protests and cultural events in the Asian American Pacific Islander community. Lee’s photographs documented the birth and growth of the Asian American movement for social justice and he became known as “The Undisputed, Unofficial, Asian American Photographer Laureate.” When he died in 2021 at the age of 73 due to Covid, the press mourned his death worldwide.

Filmmaker Jennifer Takaki is a fourth generation Japanese American from Colorado. She began her career in journalism at a Denver TV station and later moved to Hong Kong to work with Encore International. In Hong Kong, she produced English-based news programming broadcast in China, India, and the Middle East via Rupert Murdoch’s STAR-TV. In New York, she produced and directed “Photographic Justice: The Corky Lee Story” which premiered at DOC NYC and was supported by the Ford Foundation and The Center for Asian American Media (CAAM). She was awarded the prestigious Better Angels Lavine Fellowship in 2023.

Gift idea: Bark & Barware Premium Cocktail Smoker Kit

Elevate your cocktail experience with the Bark & Barware cocktail smoker kit. Photo: Amazon

Cocktail smoker kits provide a unique twist to mixology, elevating the art of cocktail crafting with enticing smoky flavors. These kits enable enthusiasts to infuse their favorite drinks with a touch of sophistication. By adding depth and complexity to cocktails, these kits offer a sensory experience that delights the palate and captivates the senses. Perfect for home bartenders and professional mixologists alike, cocktail smoker kits redefine the boundaries of cocktail creativity and indulgence.

If you enjoy a good quality drink, or know someone who does, allow me to introduce the Bark & Barware cocktail smoker kit. It combines elegance and taste and is perfectly tailored for a birthday gift, or with Father’s Day coming up soon, a Father’s Day gift.

Bark & Barware is dedicated to transforming ordinary moments into extraordinary memories. Their meticulously crafted Cocktail Smoker Kit ensures an exceptional drink experience, whether you are hosting a special event or enjoying a quiet evening at home. Bark & Barware adds a touch of sophistication to your libations. (Bark & Barware, 2024)

The Bark & Barware kit includes:

Six different wood chip flavors: pear, oak, cherry, apple, hickory, and maple for a diverse smoking experience with every drink
A torch – provides users with a seamless and controlled smoke infusion for their favorite drink. Due to shipping regulations, the kit does not include butane
Four whiskey stones
Tongs
Smoker infuser
Metal filters
Ice sphere maker

I recently received my very own Bark & Barware cocktail smoker kit and was pleased with the kit as a whole. It comes in a sturdy wooden box that is perfect for gift giving. The product insert contains instructions on how to use your smoker kit but I found it very user friendly. You need to buy your own butane, but aside from that, it comes with everything you need to make an amazing cocktail for yourself or a friend/family member. If you need more information, their website contains video tutorials and cocktail recipes.

*This post features a gifted item

MoonKill shares single from forthcoming debut album

‘Ranger Danger, Pt. 2’ is the first single from the Austin punk-metal band’s debut album. Courtesy photo, used with permission.

Austin band MoonKill recently shared the lead single from their forthcoming debut album via New Noise Magazine. (MoonKill, 2024)

MoonKill plays untethered Texas Punk, inserting ambient spacey sounds and new-wave tension into a punk world that is difficult to pin down. Vocalist Dan Aronov croons and howls with the powerful pipes of young Glenn Danzig, while the rest of the band blasts out tight and infectious melodic, metallic punk rock. Together throughout the album, the band harnesses simplicity to powerful effect.

MoonKill materialized in a T-shirt factory, which doubled as an after-hours practice space, in Austin, TX. The quartet all connected for a random jam session in May 2022. The drummer was the lynchpin in a network of friends, which included a guitarist who lived in a trailer in his driveway at the time. The first session produced their initial song “Long Line to Hell” and they have been growing their queue of Texas Punk songs ever since.

The band self-produced a 3 song EP, The Kong Sessions, in the loft of their friend’s screen-printing shop. After presenting it to producer/engineer Roky Moon (of American Sharks), he offered to produce their debut album, which was completed in February 2024. They played their first live show in September 2023, to a packed house, and began a relentless live show schedule.

Since then, others have taken notice, including their growing fan base in and around Austin. Their EP gained notice from music critics, including Greg Kot, (Chicago Tribune) who featured “Dead Holiday” on his syndicated show, Sound Opinions.

MoonKill will be available to stream and download on May 3, 2024. Pre-order/pre-save HERE.

Artist: MoonKill
Album: MoonKill
Label: self-released
Release Date: May 3, 2024

Courtesy photo, used with permission

Dead Holiday
Ranger Danger, Pt. 1
Ranger Danger, Pt. 2
Chainsaw Bathroom Sex
Murderhouse
Full Stop
Ghost Town
Long Line to Hell
Rabbit’s Foot
Friend or Foe

1714736349

days

hours minutes seconds

until

Debut album release date

Children’s Ballet of San Antonio performs Mean Girls JR

The special version of the beloved film and Broadway show will debut in San Antonio for the first time. Photo: Children’s Ballet of San Antonio, used with permission.

Go back to school with the Children’s Ballet of San Antonio and their first-ever musical production, the smart and ferociously funny Mean Girls JR. Premiering Friday, April 5 at the Dance Center of San Antonio’s brand-new Black Box Theatre, the production adapts Tina Fey’s iconic movie and subsequent Broadway smash hit for audiences of all ages, presented by a cast of the region’s finest young performers. (Children’s Ballet of San Antonio, 2024)

Mean Girls JR. tells the story of student Cady Heron who must learn to navigate the treacherous social hierarchy of high school when her family moves to suburban Illinois from Kenya. Cady may have grown up on an African savanna, but nothing prepared her for the wild and vicious ways of her new school. How will this naive newbie rise to the top of the popularity pecking order? By taking on “The Plastics,” a trio of lionized frenemies led by the charming but ruthless Regina George. But when Cady devises a plan to end Regina’s reign, she learns the hard way that you can’t cross a queen bee without getting stung.

Showtimes: Friday, April 5 at 7:30p.m., Saturday, April 6 at 7:30p.m., Sunday, April 7 at 2p.m. and 6p.m.
Tickets: $20, available for purchase online

Mean Girls JR. is a version of the hit musical Mean Girls that has been adapted for performance by students. The musical, featuring a book by Tina Fey (30 Rock), lyrics by Nell Benjamin (Legally Blonde), and music by composer Jeff Richmond (Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt), was adapted from Fey’s 2004 film. Mean Girls opened on Broadway in 2018 and was nominated for 12 Tony Awards.

The Children’s Ballet of San Antonio and its sponsor school, the Dance Center of San Antonio, are the leading providers of youth dance instruction and performance opportunities in the region. In less than 10 years, CBSA performers and Dance Center students have won numerous international awards and world-renowned scholarships, and founder Vanessa Bessler is a nine-time consecutive winner of Youth America Grand Prix’s Outstanding Teacher of the Year. The Dance Center was recently recognized as among the top 2.5 percent of dance institutions in the nation. Local audiences delight in CBSA’s biannual professional-grade performances held in San Antonio’s top theatres. Now CBSA is pleased to bring another performing arts opportunity to San Antonio with this Broadway-style musical, the first show to be held in the Dance Center of San Antonio’s new venue, the Black Box Theatre.

Among the stunningly talented CBSA cast are Valeria Velasco as Regina and Madison Aikens as Cady, both committed students of the Dance Center of San Antonio’s Musical Theater day program. Aikens recently won Best Performer in a Musical at the 2023 Broadway World Austin awards. Velasco, is a member of the Texas Cultural Trust’s Young Masters Program, a prestigious scholarship program recognizing excellence in the performing arts. These stars and their CBSA cast members are supported by an experienced production team including specialists in vocal performance, choreography, and theater direction.

The interactive, multimedia production is the perfect show to debut in the new Black Box Theatre at the Dance Center of San Antonio, an intimate performance venue in North Central San Antonio. “The close proximity of the audience allows for intimate and interactive shows,” says Bessler. “Because the black box theatre allows for multiple configurations and settings, it gives young performers the opportunity to play with and explore the space to make creative artistic choices.”

Mean Girls JR. is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International, one of the world’s leading theatrical licensing agencies. MTI works directly with the composers, lyricists and book writers of these musicals to provide official scripts, musical materials and dynamic theatrical resources to over 70,000 professional, community and school theatres.

Mean Girls JR. is yet another example of the Children’s Ballet of San Antonio’s ambitious vision for youth performing arts. Don’t miss your chance to see San Antonio’s young stars in action as they dance and sing their hearts out in the city’s coziest new theatre.

The Black Box Theatre at Dance Center of San Antonio
126 West Rector Drive, Suite 120
San Antonio, Texas 78216

126 W Rector Dr, San Antonio, TX, United States

Upcoming new book release: ‘Ghost Station’ by S.A. Barnes

‘Ghost Station,’ the new horror novel by S.A. Barnes will be released April 9, 2024. Photo: Amazon

S.A. Barnes works in a high school library by day, recommending reads, talking with students, and removing the occasional forgotten cheese-stick-as-bookmark. The author has published numerous novels across different genres, but “Dead Silence” is the first published as S. A. Barnes. She writes YA and romance under Stacey Kade. Barnes lives in Illinois with more dogs and books than is advisable and a very patient spouse. In her upcoming new horror novel, “Ghost Station,” a crew must try to survive on an ancient, abandoned planet. It will be released on April 9, 2024 and is available for pre-order on Amazon. (Amazon, 2024)

“Ghost Station” – An abandoned plant. A hidden past. A deadly danger.

Psychologist Dr. Ophelia Bray has dedicated her life to the study and prevention of ERS—the most famous case of which resulted in the brutal murders of twenty-nine people. It’s personal to her, and when she’s assigned to a small exploration crew who recently suffered the tragic death of a colleague, she wants to help. But as they begin to establish residency on an abandoned planet, it becomes clear that crew is hiding something.

And Ophelia’s crewmates are far more interested in investigating the eerie, ancient planet and unraveling the mystery behind the previous colonizers’ hasty departure than opening up to her.

That is, until their pilot is discovered gruesomely murdered. Is this Ophelia’s worst nightmare starting—a wave of violence and mental deterioration from ERS? Or is it something even more sinister?

Terrified that history will repeat itself, Ophelia and the crew must work together to figure out what’s happening. But trust is hard to come by…and the crew isn’t the only one keeping secrets.

How dogs contribute to our modern society

Some dogs can be trained to serve as medical service dogs. Photo: Google/Aquila Corporation

Dogs have become an important part of our lives and most of us have them indoors as part of the family. That’s why it’s often easy to forget that there are some dogs that have unique and high levels skills. Some of them have extremely important roles as working dogs in industries such as search and rescue, pest control, medical assistance, and truffle hunting. Today’s dog topic is about a recent article from The Puppy Gazette regarding how dogs evolved along with humans in the sense that as humans began to create settlements and farms, dogs were bred to develop specific traits to help them along the way.

Earlier this month I introduced you to Allen Kimble’s website The Puppy Gazette. His goal is to be your new source for dog related information. If you’d like to read more about some of the industries where dogs play an essential role, along with which breeds and the specific skill set they have in modern times, this is the place. In the recent article, “Versatile Roles of Working Dogs in Modern Society,” he explains each industry, how dogs are trained, and real world application of their skills.

It’s interesting to read about how dogs have evolved to work alongside humans to make a difference. Even though all dogs have a strong sense of smell, they can be trained to sharpen their attention and focus on the task at hand. This is especially important in pest control because it is an eco-friendly method if there is no need for chemical intervention. I will summarize the important points below but check out the article for more details.

• The Role of Working Dogs in Search and Rescue
Breeds:
German Shepherds
Labrador Retrievers
Border Collies
• The Crucial Role of Dogs in Pest Control – The Nose knows
Benefits:
Being eco-friendly (no chemical intervention)
Requiring less human scrutiny (visual inspections)
Detecting infestations in their early stages
• Medical Assistance Dogs for the Ill
Breeds:
Labrador Retrievers
Golden Retrievers
German Shepherds
Standard Poodles
• The Dog’s Role in Truffle Hunting
Breeds:
Lagotto Romagnolo
Pointer
Springer Spaniel
Belgian Malinois

It’s a well known fact that dogs are highly intelligent and need some activity in their lives to help them lead fulfilling lives. By increasing their mental stimulation, they not only bond with you, but it keeps them from getting bored, which can often lead to destructive behavior. In this article, Allen Kimble does an excellent job of providing detailed information about how dogs are trained to perform specific tasks, the highlight being how they are trained to alert their owners of abnormally high or low sugar by persistent nudging/licking, and physically blocking/herding, among other ways. More information about other specialized jobs they do is coming up in future articles on The Puppy Gazette.

Sponsored Post

Photo: The Puppy Gazette, used with permission

Upcoming new animated sci-fi thriller: Max Beyond

Max Beyond will be available for digital download starting April 23, 2024. Courtesy photo, used with permission.

In today’s movie news, I have some exciting news about a new action thriller that will be available as a digital download in the US next month. It’s an animated sci-fi movie called Max Beyond. Gamers should take notice of this movie because there will be a spin off video game coming next year and this movie serves as an introduction to the backstory and characters to the game that is currently in production. (HaZimation, 2024)

The Max Beyond game immerses the players into the same world, action and obstacles as seen in the movie, but taking a fresh approach of this being a co-op based game, where both characters have to help each other to restore reality and escape the facility known as Axion, with the engaging game mechanics and alternative timelines.

HaZimation is excited to share that their animated action-thriller Max Beyond will be available on US Digital Platforms from April 23, 2024.

Max Beyond tells the story of Max, a young boy held captive in a research facility. Using his ability to create rifts in the fabric of spacetime across parallel universes, he searches for the reality in which his brother Leon, a former-marine, manages to rescue him. With attempt after attempt ending in Leon’s death, the strain starts to take its toll on both brothers. When Max discovers his captors are using his power against him, he realizes he must stop focusing on how the story ends and rewrite the story from the beginning.

The cast includes BAFTA-award winning actor Jane Perry, Dave Fennoy, and Cade Tropeano. Motion capture performances from Ace Ruele and Alex Kong.

Max Beyond is directed, co-written and co-produced by Hasraf ‘HaZ’ Dulull, co-written by Stavros Pamballis, and co-produced by Paula Crickard.

“What if you had the ability to reset dimensions to find the right moment that will save your brother, but the more you do it, the weaker you get? Strap in for Max Beyond, a tour de force rollercoaster ride of big & intense action, with edge of the seat thrills and emotionally charged characters as the story pulls the audiences into the mind-bending multi-universe.” – Writer/director Hasraf ‘HaZ’ Dulull

The film’s executive producers are Yariv Lerner, Amy Gardner, and Jason Potter. The music score is by Miroshot, a band known for their experiential music featured in SXSW 2022.

Run Time: 92 Minutes

Max Beyond utilizes the latest ground-breaking Realtime animation technology called Unreal Engine, the same engine tech used to power video games like Fortnite. Using this approach has also enabled HaZimation to take a Transmedia view to expand the story and universe of Max Beyond into a video game (Consoles + PC).

Easter dining specials and cocktail recipes

Easter is coming up on Sunday, March 31, 2024. Photo: Google/Czech Universities

Easter is coming up already on Sunday, so if you are looking for ideas on dining out, consider Thompson San Antonio – Riverwalk. Planning on celebrating at home with family? How about some cocktail recipes? Here are some festive cocktail recipes from Gray Whale Gin, Cantera Negra Tequila and Bib & Tucker Small Batch Bourbon, which, coincidentally, can also get you ready for National Brunch Month coming up in April.

At Thompson San Antonio – Riverwalk, nestled along a picturesque residential stretch of the iconic Riverwalk, Landrace’s expert chefs are preparing a delightful Easter menu with a Southern twist. On March 31 at 11a.m. guests and locals alike can indulge in a variety of savory and sweet Easter specials. (Thompson San Antonio – Riverwalk, 2024)

Here’s a glimpse of what Landrace has to offer:

Specialty Stations:

Pasta Station – featuring red sauce, truffle alfredo, chicken, shrimp, spinach, mushrooms, bell peppers, and tomatoes
Omelet Station – offerings honey ham, bacon, spinach, cheese, mushrooms, tomatoes, and jalapeños

Platters & Chaffers featuring the following choices:

Breakfast pastries
Assorted fresh fruits and artisanal cheeses
Crispy pork belly
Homemade chorizo sausage
Tri-colored potato hash
Thick-sliced brioche French toast
Brisket benny topped with BBQ béarnaise sauce
Velvety & creamy mashed potatoes with cheese
Freshly baked rolls
Prosciutto quiche with truffle and lemon
Chopped romaine & radicchio salad with apples and Parmesan

Specials

Honey-glazed ham
Fire-roasted lamb
crème brûlée cascaron
Hummingbird cake with cream cheese icing
Chocolate orange torte

***************

Cocktail recipes: (courtesy photos, used with permission)

Cantera Negra Blood Orange Mimosa

Ingredients:
- 1oz Cantera Negra Reposado Tequila
- 1oz Aperol
- 2oz freshly squeezed blood orange juice
- Champagne or sparkling wine
Instructions:
- Shake all ingredients (minus champagne) and strain into highball glass over ice.
- Slowly add champagne to fill.
- Garnish with a blood orange wheel.

Blackberry Negroni

A springtime twist on the classic negroni featuring in-season blackberries along with Campari and Cocchi Dopo Teatro. If Cocchi Dopo Teatro isn’t available, another sweet vermouth will do.

Ingredients:
- 1.5 parts Gray Whale Gin
- 1 part Campari
- 0.75 part Cocchi Dopo Teatro
- 6 Fresh Blackberries
Instructions:
- In a cocktail glass, muddle four blackberries. In a mixing glass, combine Gray Whale Gin, Campari and Cocchi Dopo Teatro. Add ice and stir until chilled. Strain the mixture from the mixing glass into the glass with the muddled blackberries. Garnish with the remaining two blackberries.

Whiskey Crusta

Ingredients:
- 1.5oz Bib & Tucker 6-Year-Old Small Batch Bourbon.5oz 1883 Maison Routin Apple Syrup.25oz Luxardo Maraschino.25 lemon
- 2 dashes Fee Brothers Old Fashioned Bitters
Instructions:
- Shake ingredients with ice & strain into glass with sugar crusted rim.
- Garnish with long lemon peel.

New educational children’s books series launch

“The Martha Stone” Series: Important Life Lessons through Engaging Stories is one of two books in a new books series for children. Photo: Amazon

Do you have a young child in your life that’s having a birthday or special occasion and need a gift idea? Books make excellent gifts because they can be entertaining as well as educational. The following are two books in an outstanding new educational series for children.

In an exciting development for young readers and their families, Boutique Digital Press is thrilled to announce the release of two groundbreaking children’s book series aimed at combining fun storytelling with educational lessons and multilingual learning. This series launch features the delightful titles “Hello, My Name is Luke: What’s Your Name?” and “The Adventures of Martha Stone: I Ate Too Much Candy,” each serving as the spearhead for their respective series. (Rita A. Saikali, 2024)

Both series stand out not only for their engaging stories and characters but also for their commitment to educational development. “The Luke Series” breaks new ground by incorporating multilingual learning into its narrative, offering a unique opportunity for linguistic development from an early age. Meanwhile, “The Martha Stone Series” tackles universal themes of self-discipline, moderation, and the value of making right choices, themes crucial for the development of young children.

In addition to their entertaining narratives, both books come with interactive elements and questions that encourage children to think critically about the stories and apply the lessons learned in their own lives. These series represent a valuable resource for parents, guardians, and educators seeking to nurture well-rounded, multilingual, and thoughtful children.

“Hello, My Name is Luke: What’s Your Name?” and “The Adventures of Martha Stone: I Ate Too Much Candy” are now available for purchase. These books are perfect gifts for the young reader in your life, providing not just entertainment but also valuable lessons and language skills that will benefit them for years to come.

“My Name is Luke” Series: A Multilingual Journey for Toddlers
“Hello, My Name is Luke: What’s Your Name?” written by Rita A. Saikali, is the first book in “The Luke Series,” specifically designed for children ages 0-3. This innovative series introduces young minds to the fundamentals of Arabic, English, and Spanish through the charming story of Luke Luis Portillo, a young boy with Lebanese and Venezuelan heritage born in America. Through Luke’s engaging adventures, children are taught numbers, colors, and basic words across the three languages, fostering early multilingual awareness and appreciation in a fun, interactive manner.

“The Martha Stone” Series: Important Life Lessons through Engaging Stories
Simultaneously, “The Adventures of Martha Stone: I Ate Too Much Candy” also penned by Rita A. Saikali, marks the beginning of “The Martha Stone Series.” This series is crafted to teach children essential life lessons in a gentle and accessible way. Through the narrative of Martha Stone, a bright and curious girl with a sweet tooth, readers learn about the importance of moderation and the consequences of indulgence. The story is filled with vibrant illustrations, engaging dialogue, and thought-provoking questions designed to spark discussions between children and their caregivers about making wise choices.

SA Examiner

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Author: Sandra Cruz