Developing Character- The Red Headed Hostess

This is MY MOM!


This is her and my Hannah.  Awwww….

My mom has worked in the children’s book industry for 21 years – and she KNOWS what is out there.  She is a literature specialist – and she has totally earned that title.

One of her specialties is to help teachers…. they will call her up and say, “What are some good books I can use in my classroom to teach about bullying… or multiplication… or the founding fathers?” and then my mom will list off all of their options.

This is her book.

The theme of this book is “Teaching Character” to your children and she tells you about 50 children’s books that you can use in your home or classroom.

These are some of her FAVORITE books!


This is a peek inside of the book.  She reviews the book so you know the basic storyline and then suggests ways that you can use the book to teach your children and also gives suggested activities that can go along with the book.

She lets you know which character traits are taught in each book.  So if you have specific traits you want to discuss with your children, you can look through and find children’s books that will assist you.

This book is a really great guide for books that you want to look for at the library!

These are also really great for homeschoolers and for Grandma’s house!

So if you love children’s books and are looking for some that teach really great messages to your kids – this is a GREAT tool for you.

I also think these would make a great Christmas gift with one or two of the books inside along with it.

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177 comments

  2. Love this giveaway and love your mom for writing this book!!! This book is genius!!!
    I would love my daughter to have self confidence. More than anything I think a high self esteem is important because if kids believe in themselves they can do anything or overcome anything!
    My favorite Christmas story is the grinch. Not because I hate Christmas but because I believe everyone has the capacity to love Christmas.

  3. I don’t know if it is specifically a Christmas story, but our family includes it in our Christmas book advent calendar…
    Max Lucado’s You are Special and You are Mine

  5. This is so cool. I decided that when I order the books to go with the new curriculum, I would get one of these too, now maybe I’ll get an extra for a gift to another grownup child.

  6. There are so many character traits I want to teach my children I don’t know even where to begin! I think a good start are the young women values.

  8. I really would want to meet your mom! I got my degree in Elementary Education and a book like this is perfect! I don’t teach in the classroom now, I have two beautiful daughters I’m home with that I now teach and I would LOVE something like this. How cool!

  15. I love this book already! I am ridiculously obsessed with children’s books, I’m running out of places to store them. But there is so much to learn from them. I’m glad your mom is so willing to share her wisdom and insight to help me teach my children!

  17. I love the story of the Little Matchgirl. Iknow it isn’t specifically Christmas, but we read it every year at this time. . .

  18. Your Mom is totally awesome! I teach special education, and can see a lot of awesome lessons and applications for my kiddos in the classroom, as well!!

  21. I love this! The fact that the character traits are there to reference is incredible! As a homeschooler this book is heart warming, true character is what makes amazing people, people whom mothers raise and teach to become so! What a fabulous book!!!

  23. I am such a book-aholic, especially for childrens books, that my favorites change from day to day, but at the moment, my favorite children’s Christmas book is The Last Straw. I can’t read it without sobbing (so now my children don’t let me read it but one of them will read it out loud while I cry my eyes out;))

  24. Shannon, your mom is totally awesome – with only the slightest glance, it is obvious without a doubt. She has obviously contributed to your awesomeness and with the few things that you have shared about her, I can only hope to be more like her in many ways! I realize that to become so amazing requires effort, diligence and hard work which makes you both all the more amazing. Thank you for sharing your talents and inspiring me so often.

  44. You are amazing! I would love to have your wealth of knowledge about good quality books for children. I have an early reader and finding good books that are not mature is very difficult!

  51. One of my favorite Christmas books is the book of Johnathon Toomey. I think it’s such a great story about reaching out, and how having relationships with others can heal lots of hurt.

  53. What a great book! My girls would love this. My favorite Christmas book is The Best Christmas Pagent Ever. They just released a little kid version with pictures – it’s really cute.

  55. I would like to teach my children how to be happy with what they have. One of my favorite Christmas books is a new one called “The Christmas Train” by Thomas S. Monson. Thanks to your mother for sharing her incredible talents!

  64. Your mom is awesome! I homeschool my kids and am always looking for great resources to teach them. We read a lot of books, and this would be great!

  65. Shannon’s Mom is Awesome Because (…though not limited to):
    *You went through the education and/or training to gain this specific skill set and share with others your background
    * You took the time to make this terrific book!
    * No doubt through your example, your daughter has followed your footsteps in the aforementioned actions! Thanks for your example!
    * I love that you are positively involved with your granddaughter (not all grandparents are kind enough to be so welcomed).

  66. I have too many favorite books, so I’ll just tell you one that I read recently that I love:
    “Silent Night: The Song and its Story” Written by Margaret Hodges Illustrated by Tim Ladwig
    ISBN: 0-8028-5138-X

  70. Wow! Your mom is a great resource for parents and teachers or anyone who cares about children! She reminds me of my own awesome Mom who taught elementary school for 26 years. Thank you for sharing!

  71. I only wish this book was available when my kids were little, but it will be a great book for our grandchildren! Thank you to your mom, what a great idea for a book!

  74. Hmm. There are so many things I want them to learn….courage, self-control, confidence, compassion, respect, self worth. I would love to see her book!

  75. I think I love ‘A Christmas Carol’ best, but I love love love Christmas books so it’s really hard to say I have a favorite. 🙂

  76. I love “The Legend oh The Three Trees.” I guess it doesn’t have to be just for Christmas but that’s when it was given to my daughter so I always think of it at Christmas.

  77. First your mom has good taste in picking her daughter’s name ;). She has an active mind that is sharing what’s she’s learned with others. I love it when people do that. And her daughter is so good at doing that very same thing. You have both taken the time to write down and share with others the things that you have learned and by doing so you are making better the world around you. It’s a blessing to “know” both of you. Have a wonderful weekend!

  79. Growing up, my dad always read The Polar Express on Christmas Eve. We now carry that tradition on for my children :o)

  80. Your mom is awesome!! Character is not taught in school, and it something that has to be taught in the home. Thank you for helping us instill great values and character in our children.

  82. One of my favorite books to read during the Christmas season is The Bear Snores On. It’s not a Christmas book, but it makes me remember snow (I live in the PNW and we don’t get much snow…), which makes me think of Christmas. And I love the rhyming pattern in it so I LOVE to read it 🙂

  83. I want all of my children to learn to be kind to others and be self confident to stand up for what they believe and know to be right…

  84. Your mom’s book looks so great! It would be an incredible resource to use for my homeschooling plans. I want to see and hold a copy of her book! If it’s everything it seems and I imagine, this would be such a timesaver so I don’t have to find these character building books on my own!

  88. I wrote a paper in college for one of my elementary ed classes about this same topic of teaching morals through picture books! What a wonderful book with fantastic ideas! My favorite Christmas book lately is Grumpy Badger’s Christmas. Sweet story and moral. Thanks for the giveaway!

  92. Due to brain damage our oldest 4 children have to be explicitly taught behaviors. It takes a lot of time and patients. This book would be a great help for me!

  94. Awesome daughter is the result of awesome parenting! Thank you for being a good mom and providing the world the awesomeness of the Red Headed Hostess!

  95. Respect. So little respect from little and big people alike. If we could respect each other and each other’s ideas and opinions (respect doesn’t mean agree with!) we would be a much better society!

  97. What a wonderful resource! Thank you so much for sharing your talents to help others. And especially because your daughter does the same =)

  98. I want to teach my children faith, integrity, the values of work and family, and charity at the beginning of a long list …

  101. Well, I have three favorite Children’s Christmas books right now – When Jesus was Born in Bethlehem, Little One, and The Polar Express.

  102. I’m so glad to learn that your mom has written this book. I remember reading the interview you did with her and wanting some kind of curriculum that tapped into her knowledge, but I don’t remember if you talked about this book then. So, I’m excited to see it now!

  103. I’m not sure how to phrase it as a trait, but I would love for my children to learn the value of a job well done! (Maybe integrity?)

  104. My favorite Christmas book is probably “How the Grinch Stole Christmas.” It played a big part of the Christmases of my childhood (my grandpa LOVES the Grinch) and there’s something about the way Dr. Seuss rolls off the tongue. 🙂 My kids usually have most of it memorized by the end of the Christmas season.

  106. I need some books on not giving up, being a hard worker and also on having good sportsmanship. I’m excited about this book. I might just borrow THIS one from the library 😉

  108. I love the idea of a literary specialist. I have been looking into getting my Masters degree-is this something I could pursue? What advice could you give? What an amazing “job”! You have raised one amazing lady who in return is guaranteed to raise some amazing children of her own. What a great heritage. Thank you for sharing your knowledge.

  109. I would love to be able to teach my son to be a young man of integrity. I sometimes worry that he misses out on a male role model because he has no father and now his grandfather has walked out on us. I am so thankful for those who have been helping but I sometimes fear that he is missing something.

  110. I teach in a self-contained classroom and I am always looking for books to help teach character education. This looks wonderful and I would love to have one not only for my own children but to add support in the classroom as well. Props to your mom! It looks like it is a great way to teach values to children. Children’s books can be so amazing and I love that your mom can spend so much time with them 🙂

  111. The character traits that I would love my children to learn and exemplify are compassion and integrity. We like to read ‘Snowy Days’ and ‘Polar Express’.
    Thank you for sharing the book on characters! Shannon, you have such an awesome mom! Literacy is the way to teaching a better tomorrow.

  114. Your mom is amazing to share her experience and talents with the rest of us. We need more things like this that can be used in the home to tea hour kids good values in a crazy world.

  117. Your mom is awesome- I love books too! I just had a baby girl after 3 boys and I am so excited to buy Little House on the Prairie, Anne of Green Gables, etc. I would love to work in the school library when my baby starts 1st grade!

  118. Your mom is definitely awesome and is really good of her to help others out with her mad skills. My aunt is also awesome for putting me onto the site very recently. I will be signing up for email right now. Thanks!

  120. Character traits are so important. Self-esteem, courage, integrity, compassion, work, positive attitude these are a few that I think are important and try to teach my kids.

  121. We like the Jan Bret books but my favorite is the When Jesus was born in Bethlehem book that tells the story in Luke with fabulous pictures.

  122. Your mother is a good lady to put together such a wonderful tool for families to use. It is the sign of a good teacher who wants to reach beyond their circle to teach many. She seems like an amazing woman!

  124. My favorite Christmas book has to be Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol.” I read it to my children when they were young and it’s still one of our all time favorites.

  125. I am in awe of your mother and her amazing teaching insights!

    Thank goodness we have people like her, people with gifts and talents they are willing to share with people like me. A project like this is definitely a labor of love and will make a mark for good in the lives of many people.

  127. I love the book called I Believe in Santa Claus by Diane Adamson. It shows how Santa is meant to remind us of the true meaning of Christmas.

  130. Shannon’s Mom is awesome and so kind to give us this information to enhance our lives. You go Mom!!!!! I love your daughter!!!

  132. I want my children to have the character traits of the stripling warriors– Complete faith in God and their mothers….wish I could have a chat w/ some of those moms to see what they did, how they ran their homes:)

  140. I would like child #1 to learn the golden rule- to treat others as he would like to be treated.
    I would like child #2 to learn patience and how to avoid instant gratification, but save and wait instead.

  142. Sister Saylor- looking at the images of your book, it looks like you have really put a lot of hard work and careful thought into your book. Quite the labor of love! Thank you for sharing your talents.

  144. There are so many wonderful children’s Christmas books! But I have to give a shout out for “Why Christmas Trees Aren’t Perfect.”

  145. Nice work on the book, Barbara. I wonder if I could make a deal with you? I’m speaking at a national LDS homeschooling conference in Virginia next May and it would be great to give one of these away. It would give your book more exposure…

  146. We always asked in morning prayer that our daughter would seek out and be aware of others who need a friend. Kids that was left out of the loop. You would be shocked at how many kids going to school are lonely and kids that get picked on. A smile, a hello, would you like to set and eat lunch we us. Easy invite that can change a kids experience at school. Our daughter was very popular through out her years in school. With her it came from the heart and everyone knew that. Prayer is a wonderful place to teach our children when we ask Heavenly Father those things we should be doing in his name. She is now passing along the same to her girls.

  147. I don’t have a favorite book on Christmas. I love them all. I just love to read period. All my grand children are readers too. Which brings joy to my heart.

  148. No wonder Shannon is so gifted. She is as talented as her mother. I will be ordering your book for my grand children’s parents. They love to teach their children from good books. Your book is that. Thank you.

  153. I love “Harold and the Purple Crayon.” My all time favorite book. Love to have a basket of children’s books about Christmas around to share with little visitors and my kids.

  154. If you are anything like your daughter then you are amazing! I love enjoye d this blog since day one! A loyal fan!

  155. Every year we get a new Christmas book to add to our collection! This year was The Christmas Train! It is a wonderful tradition to read a Christmas book at bedtime!

  156. I would love to have had your Mom’s book when all my kids were young! I still have a couple of them home so to instill the confidence. They can stand up for their beliefs and be leaders in the world.

  157. To your Mom: Great job on raising a daughter who touches so many lives with her rays of light! She is a joy and has a great talent of writing! We enjoy her happiness! She must be like her Mom!

  160. This is such an amazing idea! I am always looking for ways of teaching my children…and I love children’s books! Thank you so much for all your hard work and for sharing your talents (you and your mom!)

  161. I love “The Polar Express”. My dad used to read it to us every Christmas Eve, so it holds a special place in my heart.

  163. I want to teach my kids to have compasion for others and to always have the confidence in themselves to stand up for what is right. What a great book!

  164. I want my children to learn independence and confidence. I think these go hand in hand when you have the confidence you are not scared to be independent and stand alone.

  165. My favorite Christmas book is President Monson’s new book the Christmas Train. I have always loved that story and now with the beautiful illustrations it teaches my children the importance of giving!

  166. To you mom: I love the book. Do you ever speak at homemaking’s. I know that you are an amazing mom…look at your wonderful daughter she is helping so many with your amazing gifts!

  169. To your mom: What a great idea! I’m always trying to get my little brother to learn something from bedtime stories, but without getting him bored! This would be such a great tool in the home!

  176. Children’s books are so wonderful to teach with, even my older kids like to sit down and listen to a well writen children’s book. Your Mom’s book would be such a helpful resource for our family. May she be blessed for sharing her talents and knowledge!

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