Everyone Communicates Few Connect

By: John Maxwell

Which President have you connected with, regardless of political preferences? Which teacher have you gotten up early on class registration day to make sure you would get into his/her classes before they filled up? How about speakers, tour guides, or even (yikes) salespeople? Which ones have connected with you in such a way that you listened to intently and would want to hear again? This is what this book is all about. Connecting with people and being that person that people want to connect with!!

Does it come naturally? No. Can anyone do it? Yes. Will it take work? Yes. But if you have trouble connecting with people, or would like to know how you can improve this area of your life, this is the book to read. There are many practical helps that anyone can learn from. It was also encouraging to learn what tools helped the author. At the end of each chapter are additional helps.

Maxwell gives many examples from his own experiences in learning how to connect with people and as well as experiences from other people. It is a very encouraging book and I highly recommend it for anyone.

In an attempt to provide full disclosure: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers Review Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Read and Share: The Story of Easter by Gwen Ellis and illustrated by Steve Smallman

This is my first book to review for Thomas Nelson and I have found it to be a great story book to read together with your children or grandchildren. The illustrations are colorful and appealing to ages 5-8 and I especially love the way the Easter story is divided. Each "section" is divided into 2 pages that you can hold up for your class or "audience" to see. At the end of each section is a question or comment about the story you just read. At the end of the book are pictures from each section of the Easter story where you can have your child or class review the story they just heard. This is a great way to see what they have learned and to go back to the story if they have cannot remember.

An added bonus is the DVD that tells parts of the Easter story and adds four additional stories from the New Testament. I think the children might get tired of one voice narrating the story instead of the characters talking. But for a short period of time it does hold their attention.

I would recommend this book for anyone with children ages 5-8. And in compliance with FTC regulations, I have received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. The opinion I have expressed are my own.