Dr. Toughlove has a new job! She is now a newspaper columnist for the Bay Times/Record Observer, located in Queen Anne’s County, Maryland.
Happy February! Dr. Toughlove has reviewed a newly published book about a civil rights icon, John Lewis. It is written by Pat Zietlow Miller and is illustrated by Jerry Jordan. Enjoy!
Happy 2025! Dr. Toughlove hopes you enjoy reading her January 2025 book review, Knight Owl, by Christopher Dennis.
Happy Holidays! Dr. Toughlove has selected Olivia Helps with Christmas for her December 2024 review. Enjoy!
Happy November! You won’t want to miss reading about The All-Together Quilt by Lizzy Rockwell!
We are in the midst of election season! You won’t want to miss Dr. Toughlove’s review of Grace for President by Kelly DiPucchio. Enjoy!
Happy Autumn! With fall right around the corner, Dr. Toughlove felt compelled to review The Leaf Thief by Alice Hemming and illustrated by Nicola Slater. Enjoy!
Happy August! Below is a review of This Is A School by John Schu. A great back to school selection! If you are interested in other children’s picture books with a back to school theme, check out the link here. The Back to School list is the second entry.
You won’t want to miss Dr. Toughlove’s July 2024 review of Nana in the Country by Lauren Castillo!
Don’t miss Dr. Toughlove’s June 2024 column below!
Happy month of May! Below is Dr. Toughlove’s May 2024 column. Enjoy!
Happy April! Below is Dr. Toughlove’s April 2024 book review. Enjoy!
Happy Women’s History Month! Read Dr. Toughlove’s March 2024 book review.
Happy Black History Month! Below is Dr. Toughlove’s February 2024 book review.
Happy 2024! Below is Dr. Toughlove’s January 2024 book review. Enjoy!
Dr. Toughlove’s December 2023 review is below. Happy Holidays!
Happy Thanksgiving! Below is Dr. Toughlove’s November 2023 column.
Happy Halloween! Read Dr. Toughlove’s October 2023 column.
Check out Dr. Toughlove’s September 2023 column. Happy School Year!
Read Dr. Toughlove’s August 2023 column below.
Dr. Toughlove’s July 2023 column is below.
Welcome to June 2023! Click below to read Dr. Toughlove’s book review!
Dr. Toughlove’s Book Club Column – June 2023
Happy May! Dr. Toughlove’s May 2023 book review is below.
Dr. Toughlove’s April 2023 review is below. Enjoy!
In honor of Women’s History Month, Dr. Toughlove reviewed a book about Rosa Parks. Enjoy!
Happy Black History Month! Below is Dr. Toughlove’s February 2023 column. Enjoy!
Happy 2023! Below is Dr. Toughlove’s January 2023 column.
Read Dr. Toughlove’s December 2022 column. Enjoy! Happy Holidays!
Below is her November 2022 column. Happy Thanksgiving!
Here is her October 2022 column. Happy Halloween!
Dr. Toughlove reviewed “Thank You, Mr. Falker” for her September 2022 column.
The hilarious book, The Teacher From the Black Lagoon is the subject of her August 2022 column below:
Her July 1. 2022 column features How I Became a Pirate by Melinda Long.
Read her June 2022 column!
Here is her May 2022 column.
Her April 2022 column is below.
Her March 2022 column is below.
Her February 2022 column is below.
Check out her January 2022 column.
Check out her December 2021 column.
Her November 2021 column is here.
Her October 2021 column is here.
Her September 2021 column is below.
Dr. Toughlove’s Book Club column September 2021
Her August 2021 column is here.
Below is her July 2021 column.
Below is her June 2021 column:
The link for this column is here:
https://www.myeasternshoremd.com/eedition/record_observer/page-a15/page_b69d5890-02ed-503a-b716-0925f8579419.html?utm_medium=social&utm_source=email&utm_campaign=user-share
Here is her May 2021 column.
Below is her second column You can find the link here. 
Below is a link to her first column, published March 5, 2021:
https://www.myeasternshoremd.com/qa/community/news/toughlove/article_9aee1f8b-290a-5e74-acd9-c13a8b179bf4.html
Other books Dr. Toughlove recommends:
Dr. Toughlove recommends a wonderful book written by Sharon Robinson entitled Child of the Dream: A Memoir of 1963. Sharon Robinson is the daughter of baseball legend Jackie Robinson and relates a series of historical events that occurred that year that include but are not limited to the March on Washington and the Birmingham, Alabama church bombing that killed four innocent girls.
Ms. Robinson’s book reveals her family’s influence with respect to the Civil Rights Movement as well as her personal struggles as a young black teenager living in a predominantly white neighborhood.
I found out about this book from my oldest granddaughter Zoe who had read it and shared it with me. As is often the case, my children and grandchildren inspire me. Zoe and I had an interesting discussion about the book and the significance of 1963 in American history.
Amazon.com suggests that Child of the Dream: A Memoir of 1963 is appropriate for ages 8 and up. It is a book I believe will have the greatest impact when it is read by a young person and a discussion takes place with someone who lived through that tumultuous period. If possible, a cross-generational exchange would be ideal. Enjoy!
Dr. Toughlove loves a relatively new book entitled The Day You Begin by Jacqueline Woodson. It is a touching story about how children feel different from their peers for a variety of reasons and encourages children to be brave enough to share their stories even when they feel like an outsider. The Day You Begin imparts many of the same themes that are expressed in Talking Buddies, Jamal and Me and Playground Heroes. A great book for kids aged 5-8.
Dr. Toughlove just loves the book entitled Dreamers by Yuyi Morales. It is a touching story about a woman from Mexico who immigrates to the United States with her two-month old baby. The language and customs are scary and she is struggling……..until she discovers the public library and begins to read, speak and write in English. The book is auto-biographical and imparts many of the same themes that are expressed in Talking Buddies. A great book for kids aged 4-8.
Dr. Toughlove recommends a book she has discovered entitled I Walk with Vanessa – A Story About a Simple Act of Kindness by Kerascoët. This book is unique for many reasons, not the least of which is that it is a wordless book. Language can be easily adapted to match the developmental level of the audience. It depicts what happens when a courageous young lady stands up for a new classmate who is being bullied. I Walk with Vanessa incorporates a little bit of Jamal and Me (new kid at school) and a great deal of Playground Heroes (anti-bullying techniques). The illustrations are delightful and there are standing up to bullies tips for kids and vocabulary for adults to use with children in the back of the book. It is beautifully done. Recommended for grades Pre-K- 3.
Dr. Toughlove has recently discovered a lovely book entitled Pie is for Sharing by Stephanie Parsley Ledyard. It is a wonderful book about sharing at a Fourth of July picnic, so it is definitely timely. It describes things that are easy to share like a hug or sticks, and things that aren’t so easy to share like your best friend. This book is eloquently written and can be used to discuss sharing in a child-friendly, non-threatening way. Pie is for Sharing also reinforces the theme of using picture books to promote pro-social skills, which has been an idea that Dr. Toughlove endorses. Amazon.com recommends it for children in grades Pre-K- 2. Dr. Toughlove concurs.