Wonderful family reads for everyone to enjoy

Looking for some great family reading options with your children? Then look no further than these two books curated by the Vujar review team.

The City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau

Can two kids named Lina and Doon really find a way out of the city of Ember where food is lacking and crime is on the rise? And if they do, can they convince everyone else who lives there that there may be more to the world than their underground town?

Fascinating for both adults and children, this adventure book touches on topics of science, politics and friendship. Bonus, if you enjoy reading this, be prepared for the series.

Last in a Long Line of Rebels by Lisa Lewis Tyre

This is the story of twelve-year-old Lou and her adventure to save her Civil War-era house. As she searches for gold and tries to establish her home as a historical landmark, she learns about the prejudices of the past and of the present. This story will certainly inspire you to explore your family’s past.

For more great family content, check out Vujar today.

Share these books with the kids today

If you are looking for a great collection of books for your kids, why not choose a few from this list below curated by the Vujar review team?

Bunny My Honey by Anita Jeram

A tender story of a lost little bunny being sought (and found) by his mother. Look for the delightful details in the illustrations, such as the mother's ears sticking up in the grass or the bunny's face peeking out from among the ferns. This is a great book to read to a child in need of a little reassurance.

Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes by Eric Litwin

Pete the Cat goes walking down the street wearing his brand new white shoes. Along the way, his shoes change from white to red to blue to brown to WET as he steps in piles of strawberries, blueberries, and other big messes! But no matter what color his shoes are, Pete keeps movin' and groovin' and singing his song...because it's all good. Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes asks the reader questions about the colors of different foods and objects.

Lola at the Library by Anna McQuinn

What is Lola's favorite day? It's the day each week when Lola and her mother visit the library. There are story hours and books galore to choose and take home to read. Share this cozy story about the joys of sharing books with the preschooler in your life.

For plenty more great kid-friendly books and content, check out Vujar today.

Best Family Books to Read Together

Reading together as a family not only improves children’s literacy skills but it also inspires family bonding, and here are some of the best family books to read together, curated by the Vujar review team.

Rump: The True Story of Rumpelstiltskin by Leisl Shurtliff

Rump (as he’s known in his village), is a twelve-year-old boy trying to live up to his name in a place where names mean everything. He feels empty until he discovers that he has a gift of turning straw into gold! But wait…it’s not a gift – it’s a curse! Journey with Rump as he goes on a quest to undo the magical spell that may ruin his life forever.

Three Times Lucky by Sheila Turnage

Miss Moses LeBeau is a sixth grader who has found an unlikely home with the mysterious Colonel and the excellent cafe owner, Miss Lana. Together with her best friend, Dale Earnhardt Johnson III, Mo will make you laugh, make you cry, and make you hope that she will be able to save her precious (but admittedly strange) family.

Nightmares! by Jason Segel

This book dives into the land of nightmares like no other book ever has. Charlie and his friends have to [literally] face their worst nightmares to try to save their town. Can they do it? Or will Charlie fail the people he loves the most?

For a wide selection of content geared towards family, head over to Vujar.

Quotes that Celebrate Family

The love between family members is one of the strongest human connections, so here are a handful of quotes to celebrate family selected by the Vujar review team.

"Family is just accident. They don't mean to get on your nerves. They don't even mean to be your family, they just are."

-Marsha Norman

"Call it a clan, call it a network, call it a tribe, call it a family; whatever you call it, whoever you are, you need one."

-Jane Howard

"At the end of the day, a loving family should find everything forgivable."

-Mark V. Olsen and Will Sheffer

Family: A social unit where the father is concerned with parking space, the children with outer space, and the mother with closet space.

-Evan Esar

"The family: We were a strange little band of characters trudging through life sharing diseases and toothpaste, coveting one another's desserts, hiding shampoo, borrowing money, locking each other out of our rooms, inflicting pain and kissing to heal it in the same instant, loving, laughing, defending, and trying to figure out the common thread that bound us all together."

-Erma Bombeck

"Family quarrels have a total bitterness unmatched by others. Yet it sometimes happens that they also have a kind of tang, pleasantness beneath the unpleasantness, based on the tacit understanding that this is not for keeps; that any limb you climb out on will still be there later for you to climb back."

-Mignon McLaughlin, The Neurotic's Notebook, 1960

"You don't choose your family. They are God's gift to you, as you are to them."

-Desmond Tutu

"An ounce of blood is worth more than a pound of friendship."

-Spanish Proverb

"Blood's thicker than water, and when one's in trouble Best to seek out a relative's open arms."

-Author Unknown

“Other things may change us, but we start and end with family”

- Anthony Brandt

“The only rock I know that stays steady, the only institution I know that works is the family.“

-Lee Iacocca

"What greater thing is there for human souls than to feel that they are joined for life; to be with each other in silent unspeakable memories."

-George Eliot

For a wide selection of content geared towards family, head over to Vujar.

Two books you and your children will love reading together

If you are looking for some great reads the entire family can enjoy together, look no further than these books curated by the Vujar review team.

Pippi Longstocking

Originating from Astrid Lundgren's 1945 Swedish book, Pippi is a role model for people of all ages, generous, cunning, strong, unconventional, and adventurous. She represents the best of a child's natural qualities, and the book's telling of her wild adventures will capture your children's imaginations.

The Little Prince

Though The Little Prince is technically a children's book, it's as famous - or perhaps even more popular - among adults. It's one of the best-selling and most-translated books ever published. Although the book is written in plain, accessible language and features a child protagonist, it makes some moral observations about life and the human condition that have struck a chord with adult audiences. Its evocative illustrations and deep themes make it an attractive choice for readers of any age.

For more great family reads and eBooks, check out Vujar.

Best Informative eBooks to Read in 2021

After a long year of delayed eBook releases, the year 2021 comes with a bumper crop of several new informative books. Whenever you feel like you need some life advice, you can always turn to informative eBooks. Let's take a look at some of the must-read informative eBooks you can add to your 2021 reading list.

Klara and the Sun - Kazuo Ishiguro

After Kazuo won the 2017 Nobel Prize in Literature, he has been releasing top-selling eBooks. In Klara and the Sun, Kazuo introduces readers to an advanced future full of dystopian elements. The story centers on Klara, who makes observations about the world from her store. She hopes that she will soon be chosen by one of the owners.

Real Life - Brandon Taylor

This eBook follows a former biochem Ph.D. candidate searching for another candidate residing in Midwestern university town. Wallace has no option but to face his long-hidden wounds when confronted in a fight by a white classmate. This is when his power gets revealed to other characters.

The Committed - Viet Thanh Nguyen

The protagonist makes his way to Paris after his career comes to an end. He intends to reinvigorate his zest for life in this area where no one knows him and leave his crimes in the past. Together with his brother, the two result to drug dealing as a source of daily bread.

Looking for more informative books to read? Sign up with Vujar.

3 Best Self Improvement eBooks That Will Help You Grow

Self-improvement eBooks puts you on a path by allowing you to practice the strategies you have learned. They help you make improvements in your life without asking anyone for help. Here are some eBooks you should read to help you succeed and get out of your comfort zone.

Robert Greene's The 48 Laws of Power

This highly recommended book doesn't only revolve around power but also several life lessons and incredible historical anecdotes. The 48 laws of power is an eye-opening book that stretches a wide range of human evolution from Sun-Tzu to Machiavelli to Caesar to Goethe. This book will show you how to use power for your benefit and ways to protect yourself from abuse of power.

7 Habits of Highly Effective People- Stephen. R. Covey

While the title does not capture everything, the book covers topics that will help you be productive. Covey shares seven unique ways for one to accomplish their achievements. The book is packed with ageless spiritual wisdom, shock therapy, and wisdom that will make a difference in your life. Although nothing comes easy, with this book as a guide, you can make your dreams come to reality.

Eat That Frog- Brian Tracy

Often, the thought of doing something big triggers resistance. Before you even start, you feel overwhelmed, not knowing where to start. Before you know it, precious hours have gone by, and you are still in the same position. Tracy advises readers to break the spell of procrastination by setting their priorities straight, breaking their major tasks into smaller ones, and learning when to tackle big problems first or beginning with a different issue altogether.

Find riveting eBooks that will improve your life, register an account with Vujar.com.

Co-Parenting Quotes to Help Separated Parents

The following co-parenting quotes show why it is the right style of parenting for separated parents.

1. “We do bedtime every day. We felt like as much togetherness as possible would be ideal, and fortunately, we really love each other and are best friends, and so that works.” – Sienna Miller

2. “If Matt and I had a great relationship, we would still be together, but we chose to move on because we had different visions of how we wanted to live our lives. That doesn’t mean, though, that we can’t rebuild something that would be the best thing for the kids.” – Kate Hudson

3. “You have to get to that point as a divorced parent, as any parent, where you’re not putting yourself first. You want the kids’ experience to be its own and not like, ‘Well, I need to have my time!’ We have been very good about that.” – Ryan Phillippe

4. “We decided as a family it was the right decision for Flynn, so Orlando and I both relocated and we live five minutes from each other … Everything revolves around my son and his welfare.” – Miranda Kerr

5. “[Our son] comes first and you have to get past your own egos and you never talk bad about each other.” – Idina Menzel

6. “We both realize that we’re parents and we’re in it for our kid, and that’s made it really easy.” – Pete Wentz

7. “I have pictures up of me and Wiz in [our son’s] room so he can always come in and see us being happy together. We try to have family days with him, even though we’re not together. Kids want to see their parents together and if you can’t be together in a relationship, you’ve got to come together as friends for your baby.” – Amber Rose

8. “I’m very fortunate because we’re committed to co-parenting our children together.” – Elle Macpherson

9. “But at the end of the day, we’ve got a great kid who’s got two parents who love him very much. And we’re finding a way to navigate this while still remaining friends and still being kind to one another.” – Chris Pratt

10. “I’m really fortunate because my ex and I are very good friends and I talk to him every day. Our daughter is growing up seeing two people who care about each other. We may not be a traditional family on paper but we are a family and I tell her that families come in all shapes and sizes, but [a family is] love and I see her really flourishing because she sees two people treating each other with respect.” – Angela Kinsey

11. “At the end of the day, you’ve got to be a little selfless. You have to say ‘It’s not about us. This didn’t work out quite how we wanted it to but look at the amazing blessing that we have in these wonderful children.’ So you kinda put everything else to the side and really focus.” – Nick Cannon

12. “We are both totally committed to raising our son and being in love with our son… It’s a concept that’s fairly new, particularly in the psychology of raising a child in divorce. And the idea is, it’s really not the child’s fault that you got divorced. It’s your fault and therefore it should not be the child’s problem to go back and forth between two different homes.” – Josh Lucas on the “bird nesting” co-parenting arrangement

13. “I find co-parenting really easy. Scott and I communicate all the time. You have to keep discussing what’s going on because as the children grow older, the rules need to be renegotiated.” – Kourtney Kardashian

14. “This is probably one of the most difficult challenges any parent could face, learning to love the other parent enough to make the children first.” – Lyanila Vanzant

15. “Co-parenting is not asking permission. It’s about discussing your child’s needs and wants and deciding what’s best.” – Unknown

16. “It’s a collaboration of parents doing what is best for the child regardless of their situation or feelings for one another.” – Unknown

17. “Co-parenting. It’s not a competition between two homes. It’s a collaboration of parents doing what is best for the kids.” – Heather Hetchler

For more family-focused content, check out www.vujar.com.

Simple Quotes To Help You Live a Simple and Beautiful Life

Here are some simple quotes to help you live a beautiful and fulfilled life.

1. “To find the universal elements enough; to find the air and the water exhilarating; to be refreshed by a morning walk or an evening saunter… to be thrilled by the stars at night; to be elated over a bird’s nest or a wildflower in spring — these are some of the rewards of the simple life.” ― John Burroughs

2. “Well, all I need is the air I breathe and a place to rest my head.” ― OneRepublic

3. “Nature is pleased with simplicity. And nature is no dummy.” ― Isaac Newton

4. “Looking out at the lake, drinking good tea. That’s his only luxury. And what an enormous luxury that was.” ― Banana Yoshimoto

5. “What a life would be if I could live in the mountains covered with dense greenery, sit by the window and read my favorite book” ― Arushi Singh

6. “Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.” ― Lao Tzu

7. “As you simplify your life, the laws of the universe will be simpler; solitude will not be solitude, poverty will not be poverty, nor weakness weakness.” ― Henry David Thoreau

8. “It is desirable that a man live in all respects so simply and preparedly that if an enemy take the town… he can walk out the gate empty-handed and without anxiety.” ― Henry David Thoreau

9. “Escape from complicated life! Take refuge in simple life! You will find three treasures there: Healthy body, a peaceful mind and a life away from ambitious fools!” ― Mehmet Murat ildan

10. “The simple pleasures of life give us lasting satisfaction.” ― Avijeet Das

11. “My choice of a lighter lifestyle has brought me a greater sense of well-being. In a world that often seems stressful and chaotic, that’s a feeling I cherish.” ― Lisa J. Shultz

12. “When simple is more than enough, you will feel happy more than enough!” ― Mehmet Murat ildan

13. “Living life with contentment is the greatest well-being.” ― Lailah Gifty Akita

14. “Stay low, stay quiet, keep it simple, don’t expect too much, enjoy what you have.” ― Dean Koontz

15. “Life is as simple as these three questions: What do I want? Why do I want it? And, how will I achieve it?” ― Shannon L. Alder

For content covering a wide array of topics, head over to www.vujar.com today.

Hot whiskey can provide relief from cold and flu

Cold weather brings the sniffles and that usually means stocking up on cold and flu drugs and trying to ride it out. Or course, prevention is often better than cure and stocking up on vitamins can head off the worst the season can throw at you.

However, if you are struck down, there’s a good chance you’ll sink into self-pity and just want to be comfortable. You’ll reach for all the remedies you can, both natural and man-made. A nice comforting hot whiskey is often recommended to soothe your weary self, but it actually does have some medicinal properties too.

Now, it must be stated that at this stage that too much alcohol will end up making you feel much worse. Alcohol is a diuretic, which means it deprives the body of liquids – the very opposite of what you need to do when you have a cold or flu.

The good thing is that you just need one hot whiskey to derive all the benefits of it. Scientists have said that alcohol can dilate the blood vessels, which will in turn allow mucus membranes to fight the infection. The hot water in the ‘hot toddy’ can also help free up your nasal passages which have been blocked by the cold or flu.

If you want to make a hot whiskey, all you need to do is put a small measure of whiskey in a warmed glass (swirling round a bit of hot water in it should do the trick). Top up the glass with more hot water and add lemon and cloves and a bit of honey or sugar to taste.

A hot toddy is also a great accompaniment to a good book which you can find at www.vujar.com.

How to create an interesting children’s book

Children’s books are one of the most exciting to write as you can incorporate so many different elements to them from good values to colorful images and a fictional world. Books for children are designed for the imagination so can be as wild as you want to make it. If you’re writing a children’s book, here are a few tips on creating one.

Get into the mindset - When it comes to writing a book for kids, it’s completely different than writing for adults as they think differently, and you’ll have to put yourself in the shoes of who you’re writing for. Children’s books cover many years of our little ones, and these are the years they develop cognitively the most, so each stage will require a different set up in the books. You’ll need to adapt it and make it educational and fun.

Learn about your target audience - Like for any genre of book, you need to know who you’re writing for and when it comes to kids, that’s the same process. Buyers are generally females between the age of 30-44 so you need to make it appealing for them that they’ll buy it for their kids.

Include important elements - Like a book, you still want to fill it with every exciting element out there from interesting characters to action and plot twists. Just because it’s for children, it doesn't mean it’s less exciting. In fact, it’s probably more exciting as you can pack it with every descriptive word under the sun and loads of colorful imagery.

Discover more book content here at www.vujar.com.

Word of mouth still the strongest promoter of books

There’s nothing like discovering a good book. Of course, you don’t really know that it is good until you read it, but when you do, you want to tell everybody about and discuss it with other people.

How and why we decide to read the books we do is a fascinating subject. Publishing companies will launch huge publicity drives to promote new books and authors, however a recent survey by Penguin Random House suggests word of mouth is by the far the most effective way of discovering new books. The publishing company survey 40,000 readers to find out a bit more about their reading habits and there were some very interesting findings.

When asked what the most influential factors was when deciding what to read next, 81% said that recommendations from friends and family influence their decision.

Unsurprisingly, a much greater percentage of reader under 40 found out about new books through social media and other online review sites, such as Goodreads, than readers over 40. More than half of the under 40s surveyed said they found out about books from social media and review sites compared with just over 20 % of those aged over 70.

That trend is completely reversed when it comes to books chosen based on newspaper or magazine reviews or advertisements in printed media with 70% of over 70s saying they relied on printed reviews.

Interestingly, the survey found that women were more likely than men to trust recommendations from friends and families (79% to 66%) while men put more stock in printed reviews than women (54% to 49%)

Discover a great new book today by checking out what’s on offer at www.vujar.com.

How to Get Back Into Reading

Reading a great book is one of life’s greatest joys, but nowadays we are accustomed to the instant gratification afforded us by the fast-paced, technology-driven culture of modern life. What with TV, movies, video games and social media, it can be easy to forget the simple pleasure of sitting down with an immersive book.

Reading is better for your mental and physical health than extended screen time, and it is also a fantastic way to exercise your brain and learn new things about the world. If you used to read a lot as a child but have got out of the habit now you’re an adult, don’t worry - all it takes is a little push to get back into it.

Choose a Short Book

Get back into the habit of reading again with a short novel. After an extended period without reading, it can be hard to immediately dive into an 800 page classic. Start small and tackle a book that’s relatively easy and entertaining, and you’ll begin to flex that reading muscle again.

Disconnect From Everything Else

When reading, make sure that’s all that you’re doing. It can be tempting to have your phone nearby or to play music, but this will make it much harder to concentrate, and you won’t enjoy the book to its full potential.

Set Aside Time Every Day

Consciously make time for reading as part of your day. Starting with as little as 5 minutes can make a big difference, and you’ll gradually be able to - and want to - read more and more. You’ll be devouring books for pleasure again in no time.

Rediscover your love of reading with the vast collection of eBooks and audiobooks at www.vujar.com.

The origins of Easter and why it is a movable feast

Sunday April 21 sees the celebration of the Christian festival of Easter. Although chocolate eggs and the Easter Bunny may be the prevalent images we see in stores at this time of year, Easter is a time when Christians celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

However, as with many Christian festivals, the origin and timing of Easter owes much to Pagan celebrations. For a start, there is nothing in the Bible which hints at the date or time of year that the resurrection happened. However, it is thought that spring was adopted as the best time of year to celebrate the resurrection as it was then that we see plants and flowers ‘reborn’ after the winter.

Spring has always been characterized by new life and that obviously seemed like the fitting time to mark Jesus rising from the dead.

But why is Easter on a different date every year?

Again, we have to look at Pagan traditions. Easter generally falls in late March or early April, around the time of the vernal equinox, which is the time of year when there is an equal amount of light and darkness.

The fixing of Easter Sunday each year is decided based on when the first full moon occurs following the vernal – or spring – equinox. Easter Sunday is the first Sunday which falls after that first full moon.

The name Easter is thought to have been derived from the name of a pre-Christian goddess in England called Eostre whose feast was celebrated at the start of spring. Scholars recorded that early English Christians would celebrate the resurrection of Jesus in ‘Eostre’ time and the name eventually became Easter.

Find out more about festivals and customs by checking out the books at www.vujar.com.

Cliffhanger Endings That Will Leave You On The Edge Of Your Seat

A cliffhanger ending is one of the most divisive literary devices, with a good one leaving readers angered and confused, and a bad one ensuring that the book you’ve just read will stay with you long after you’ve finished. These are some of the books that get it right. And it goes without saying, all of these descriptions are liable to contain spoilers.

Winter’s Bome by Daniel Woodrell

The adaptation became the film that would launch Jennifer Lawrence’s career with a mesmerizing and complicated breakout lead performance. But the book itself is also the work of a master of their art, at the peak of their powers. This is a gripping rural noir, that thanks to its compelling world building leaves you with an ending that resolves the central plot in heart-breaking fashion, but leaves you with no hints as to what will become of these characters next.

The Lake by Banana Yoshimoto

Written in Yoshimoto’s characteristic and haunting narrative style, this is a book that trades in mystery and psychological complexity from the beginning, featuring a young artist, haunted and lost after the death of her mother, and a slow burn of a love story with a man that is hiding a dark past. The final reveal of which only comes in the last few pages, leaving so much unsaid and unknown.

A good cliffhanger leaves you asking questions long after you’ve finished reading, but if you’re looking for a good book to read, then there will be no such suspense. All you have to do is head over to www.vujar.com where they have a wide selection of eBooks and audiobooks for you to choose from.

Ash Wednesday: The day Christians begin Lent

Ash Wednesday marks the official start of the Holy season of Lent for many Christians around the world. It is estimated that there are over 2 billion Christians in the world today, divided into a number of different denominations. The largest Christian denomination is Catholicism, with around 1.25 billion followers while just under 1 billion are part of some form of Protestant denomination.

Most Christian denominations observe Ash Wednesday and Catholics and some other Christian denominations will attend services at which they will have ashes placed on their foreheads, usually in the shape of a cross. It is believed that this practice was established by Pope Gregory I who was pope between 540 and 604 AD.

The ashes used in Ash Wednesday are usually made by burning the palm leaves from the previous year’s Palm Sunday services.

Christians are also urged to either fast on Ash Wednesday or refrain from eating meat and abstaining from certain luxuries.

Ash Wednesday marks the start of the season of Lent, a six-week period which leads up to Easter. During Lent, many Christians may abstain from things such as alcohol, sweet foods or other things they consider luxuries.

Christians are also encouraged to perform alms giving, which means giving money to the poor, and praying regularly during Lent in preparation for Easter.

Due to the fact that Easter is at a different time each year, the date of Ash Wednesday moves too and in 2019 falls on March 6 but in some years can fall as early as the first Wednesday in February.

Learn more about customs around the world with the books from www.vujar.com.

St David’s Day: Interesting facts about the national day of Wales

March 1 is an important day for Welsh people, and those who claim Welsh ancestry across the world. The first day of spring is also St David’s Day, a day when celebrates its patron saint and all things Welsh. It’s a day when many Welsh people were the national flower of Wales – the daffodil - and participate in a number of celebrations. Here are a few interesting facts about St David’s Day you may not know.

1. St David’s Day falls on the anniversary of the death of St David in 589 AD, however it was not until the 18th century that it was declared as a national day of celebration in Wales. It is thought that David lived to be over 100 years old.

2. One reason for his reported longevity may be down to his strict diet and lifestyle. David did not drink alcohol or eat meat. He was known as David the Waterdrinker – or Dewi Dyfrwr in Welsh – due to his simple lifestyle.

3. On St David’s Day, Welsh people traditional eat a type of stew known as cawl which contains lamb and leeks.

4. David’s most famous miracle involves him standing on a handkerchief and making a small hill rise up beneath his feet so that he could address a large crowd that had gathered to hear him preach.

5. It is estimated the 1.8 million Americans can claim Welsh ancestry, which is around about half the current population of Wales itself. Canada has half a million people of Welsh descent while over 125,00 Australians and around 10,000 New Zealanders have some Welsh blood.

For more interesting facts about countries and their customs check out the books at www.vujar.com.