Welcome to Free Book Friday 4! The past few weeks I found some pretty amazing free books that many people took advantage of and enjoyed. Every week I try to make the new list better than the last one!
Just in case you missed the past few weeks’ Free Book Fridays, here they are:
Free Book Friday: Something for Everyone!
Free Book Friday 2: Something for Everyone!
Free Book Friday 3: Something for Everyone!
This week’s Free Book Friday 4 includes several different genres so that everybody can find a great read for the weekend. Here are the genres I have picked out in keeping with the subject of Complete Literature’s goals as a website:
- Teachers’ Books
- Books for Younger Students
- Books for Older Students
- Fun Books for Teachers
Just let me know if there is a genre you would like to see added! I would be happy to look into it and include it in future Free Book Friday posts.
Just click on the books or titles to get to the Amazon links. Make sure that you click on the Kindle version so you don’t end up paying the physical book price. Unless, of course, you want the physical book!
Don’t have a Kindle? No problem! You can just click here to download the free Kindle app on just about any device, mobile or desktop.
Also, one final note: while the title of these articles are Free Book Friday, it is only because I introduce them on Fridays. The books will be free for as long as the offers are available.
Table of Contents
Books for Teachers
Teaching A Struggling Reader: One Mom’s Experience with Dyslexia: A Guide for Parents and Teachers Who Want to Start Learning About Dyslexia (DOG ON A LOG Parent and Teacher Guides Book 1)
About the Book
So if I could just read back the whole book to you to describe it, then I would be able to communicate the true value of this book. Every sentence is a treasure trove. The deeper I read into the book, the more details I wanted to share, because Pamela Brookes’ message is that profound.
One of the best benefits to this book is that she has kept it short, even with edits of new information that she later added. You can easily read the book itself (but there are tons of links to more information) in one sitting. Her reasoning is because she knows that parents and teachers are already taxed on time and they don’t have time to sit and read a 300+ page book with a lot of scientific terms that are difficult, if not impossible, to understand and implement.
The other huge takeaway I got from this book was that the biggest game changer for her was learning about the Orton-Gillingham approach to dyslexia. It was something I never heard of but was very intrigued by it as she described its effect on working with her daughter. I would like to feature more about the Orton-Gillingham approach in an upcoming article. It would be amazing if more parents and teachers knew about it. And students with dyslexia would make huge leaps in reading progress.
As for the links I talked about earlier, there are tons of links that are live in the ebook version. They include the experiences of very successful people who battled dyslexia such as Steve Jobs, Henry Winkler, and Steven Spielberg.
About the Author
Ms. Brookes is not a doctor or a teacher. But she has had the benefit of learning what she knows by working closely with doctors, teachers, reading specialists, and dyslexia reading specialists. (She learned through experience that most reading specialists have NO training in dyslexia.)
One of the best aspects of this book is that Ms. Brookes speaks exclusively from her experience and interaction with teachers and doctors. And that is a huge advantage to add to learning from the professionals.
She is also very candid in her shortcomings in dealing with this and struggle along the way. When you read this, you will feel like you are walking a difficult road with the support of a close friend.
Bonus
Here is a video that she includes in her resources. In it, Steven Spielberg talks about the difficulties of growing up with undiagnosed dyslexia. He talks about the fact the he suffered through it his whole life and it was only diagnosed in 2007. What an amazingly successful life he lived in spite of it!
And that brings us to one of the most profound points that Ms. Brookes speaks about. Once dyslexic people are diagnosed and able to work through their issues, they are actually incredibly intelligent people. They are not brain deficient. They are just wired in a way that takes information in very differently from everyone else.
I would recommend this book to everyone because even if you aren’t a parent or teacher, or have no children or students with dyslexia, you definitely personally know people with it. At the very least you can share this with them. But it is really good information for all of us to know about a condition that affects 10-20% of the population.
Books for Younger Students
My Sister’s Super Skills: Introducing Kid-Friendly Social and Emotional Skills
I LOVED THIS BOOK! I had such a good time being silly with my 8-year old son with this. He has three sisters but they are all adults and living in their own homes now with their own families. So while he doesn’t necessarily have the day-to-day experiences with them, he can definitely relate to these kinds of experiences, especially with the youngest of his three sisters.
The book begins with David, who is not feeling quite right. He is in a rotten mood. I like that it doesn’t say what caused the bad mood because that allows the readers to apply the feelings to their own situations.
Immediately, his older sister Lily, steps in and saves the day with tips that help him evaluate his feelings, work through them, and put a smile on his face.
The only thing that my son didn’t care for was the constant rhyming, which made it a little below his level (he is more into Narnia, Hobbit, and Harry Potter), but I adjusted it a bit while reading and he recovered nicely.
I also liked that it was a short book that made the point and worked through it. We were done before he realized it. And with a lesson learned and connections made.
Apparently, I am not the only one that loved this book so much. It has only 5 star ratings on Amazon and a 4.92 on Goodreads.
About the Author
This book was written by Lauren Mosback, who is a Licensed Professional Counselor. She helps kids to identify and implement several critical coping mechanisms that help manage emotions and strengthen social emotional learning. And she does it in such a perfect and succinct way. It also promotes healthy sibling relationships. If only we could make that a reality in homes across the world!
It is also very clear that she put a lot of research into this book long before she wrote it.
Ms. Mosback won the Mom’s Choice Award for this book.
It was illustrated by Chiara Savarese, and I was impressed by the simplicity of the pictures but also the detail of expressions and love that are sprinkled throughout. I don’t generally see such a good balance in kids’ book illustrations.
Books for Older Students
The Curse of Redeia: A Young Adult Fantasy Novella
I think I found quite a different one this week and it is a novella so it should be able to hold the attention of younger readers that are intimidated by larger books.
Anyway, this book follows the story of Angel Deliz, who lives on an island that was cursed approximately 100 years ago. He and his fellow islanders are unable to escape the deadly hallucinogenic jungle because the monster of the sea is just as deadly.
The mayor is in a long line of people that have been controlling the curse of the island to keep the islanders prisoner and slaves to him.
But then one day, Angel meets the mayor’s son, Noah. And he learns that Noah is just as discontent as all of them. Can they find a way to free all of the other islanders and escape before it’s too late?
I was immediately intrigued by L. Ward’s vivid descriptions. I was not able to read it all in one sitting, but that is because I am up to my eyeballs in work still. Most people could finish it quickly. It has 16 super short chapters, though, so lots of perfect stopping places if you have to put it down.
About the Author
L Ward is yet another mystery. There is virtually nothing about him/her online. There are two other books authored by him/her, though. It is quite odd because they are all so different. One is an optics/optoelectronics book and the other one is a horse jumping book called Junior Jumping and written in Dutch.
Fun Books for Teachers
Bedtime Stories for Adults: Guided Meditation Scripts for Deep Sleep Hypnosis, Stress Relief, Anxiety, and Panic Attacks. How to Let Go and Reduce Stress for Grown-Ups. Mindfulness for Beginners
So while this is not the “fun” book that I would normally put in this category, I think it is a great book for the time that we are currently living in worldwide. But then again, even when Coronavirus is over, we will all still have things that stress us out or cause worry. So that makes this is great book for any time.
I bought this book as soon as I saw it because sleep has eluded me for most of my adult life. So if there is something more I can do than the normal stuff, then I am willing to do it!
About the Book
This book is basically about sleep hypnosis that allows you to train your body to remember the ways that it already knows how to fall asleep. This is not to be confused with normal hypnosis, as the method and delivery are not the same.
And one of the best parts of the book is that it says in the introduction that the point is not to need the stories in order to get to sleep. It is a method of training your body so that you will be able to do it later without the use of stories or other means.
First Things First
Before the book gets into the stories, there is a chapter that speaks about the practicalities of putting all of this into action. Those practicalities include techniques to feel less stress, get to bed earlier, and stay mindful. I know mindfulness is a big buzzword right now. So I kind of like how it was worked into this. Those that live a mindful life definitely live a better life in the long run.
The book also works from the premise that anxiety is the trigger that causes us to lose so much sleep. So the stories are designed to help you think of better things as you settle in. This will alleviate anxiety and allow your body to do what it needs to in order to get good sleep.
I thought is was kind of funny that the first story was about a woman named Marie. Lately I have been seeing my name in so many random places. The only thing is she gets a gig doing a musical at the local community theater. I, on the other hand, don’t have a single musical gene in my body.
There are a total of 15 stories, all with an ethereal landscape that helps take us to another world and forget the cares of this one that are keeping us up and stressed.
I am looking forward to working through the practicality chapter and reading the stories. Even if it doesn’t help me to sleep better, I think it will still have a positive effect on my emotions and thoughts.
About the Author
Once again, I have chosen a very elusive author. There was no biographical information on Amazon, ThriftBooks, or Goodreads. I also did a Google search (I felt like such a stalker!) and Clarissa Burges does not have a photo or any information at all.
What I can say is that her writing style was actually very candid. So you can at least get some glimpses of her thoughts and perspectives.
And I can also say is that her book got excellent reviews across every platform.
And even if I don’t find that elusive sleep I have been looking for for years, I will at least be entertained in the evening and distracted from crazy life for a little bit.
Conclusion
So this is my Free Book Friday 4. I hope that you liked it as much as the other three. I have actually enjoyed writing these because it is forcing me to take the time to read things that I wouldn’t normally get a chance to. And that has been super fun in my work-all-day-and-night current life.
Let me know which ones appealed to you and which ones you read and enjoyed!
And stay safe out there! You should really just stay in and grab a cup of coffee and a blanket and read these books!
And once again, if you need the rest of the series, here it is:
Free Book Friday: Something for Everyone!
Understanding how to be a good teacher for your children is very easy with your very useful blog. Thanks.
There is always a book for everyone. And there’s no one book that fits all. Just like clothing, it must be a perfect fit to who we are.
I so want to read the Bedtime Stories for Adults, that looks really interesting! Thanks so much for sharing this with all of us!
I’m working through it right now and so excited! I wanted to give it some good time last night, but my college son came back home and my sister called me and we talked for 3 hours! No personal time for me last night, lol.
Well sometimes family is more important! Hopefully you’ve been able to read through it by now??
These are great books. My boys will enjoy reading the social skill one
Great that you recommend some books both for teachers and students. It’s a great time to read instead of them just keep on getting focus in social media.
People that aren’t teachers can read them too! These books really are good for everyone!
I love how you put some good books to read here. It’s good to have many options. <3 This period is a great time to let our minds wander. <3
Always great to meet another book lover. You have offered a good range of books for every level young and old. 👍👍 -Taylor Oldman
Thank you, Taylor, I hope you enjoy them!
Valuable books information for all different kinds of users. Thank you for sharing this piece of information
Another lovely selection of free books. I’m loving how so many places are no offering free books etc for people to read at this time.
Thank you, Nyxie! I am learning that no matter how much time I may have, I will never have enough time to read all the books I want to.
Such a great resource, so much detail. I have to admit though – I just can’t warm to a kindle, if you’ll pardon the pun. Try as I may. I am old school when it comes to book. But you’ve inspired me to download a couple of these and give it a go again. –Lynda Hogan
Great recommendations, I will be checking out some of these ebooks now that I have more time, I won’t to get into reading books again.
I’m totally going to check out the book you recommended for younger students!
Dyslexia is very interesting to study. There are a few in my family so it’s something I need to learn more about.
I hope that this book is helpful to you and your family!
I will pass this to my friend who has a girl in primary school, who is now staying at home because the schools are closed. She was looking for books appropriate for her age, to read during this time.
Great book list! I have added a couple to my reading list!
I love reading a good book and during quarantine is a perfect way to sepend part of your time. Thanks for this list. – Paolo
I was excited to check back in to see what goodies you showcase today! I am checking out Bedtime Stories for Adults. I am excited to see how it guides me to better sleep! If I like it, I have a few friends I a going to refer it to!
I have been working on it in bits–not as fast as I would like. But it has been awesome so far! I hope you enjoy it too!
I love these Free Book Fridays, and I have to thank you for them! After the second one, I got the Kindle app and some free books and have gotten back to reading almost every night. Feels so good to relax that way at the end of the evening.
That’s awesome Cris! I hope you continue to enjoy these. 🙂
Great recs, thanks for the read!!
The Bedtime Stories for Adults sound great, especially right now! We’re all inundated with so much stress and pressure, and I’m 100% onboard with trying anything that promises to alleviate it, even a little.
here every thing is not for everyone same as you are offering the something for everyone that’s great, the suggested books looks interesting, during this time we much time to read more books, the book like for teachers and for old students are good to get something new.
Thank you for finding these resources for us! Dyslexia is more common that most people realize
Awesome initiative! Books become expensive if you read them too much which is a thing for many people now. My sister complains my niece reads too much!
That is funny, Lyosha. Many parents wish their kids would read more! My mother used to complain about me reading too much.
Thanks so much for sharing! Reading is so important!
Great collections! Will checkout on these books in a few days, thank you
Thank you for these recommendations! I’m excited for some new books to read during this quarantine.
These resources are easy to download and access. They are fun informative and helpful. Thankyou for sharing
Thank you for sharing the links god the free books . I will definitely check them out and down load. They are very useful.
It is very interesting that Steven Spielberg was diagnosed with dyslexia. After all the amazing books he wrote and he struggled through that diagnosis. I will have to check out the Bed Time Stories, looks very interesting.
The bedtime stories are awesome, I have been working through the book! And yes, it is actually inspiring to see how Steven Spielberg worked through his dyslexia to such a successful life.
Such a great suggestion of books! Reading is what keeps me sane during quarantine and lockdown! it is also great to escape reality for a few moments
I’m still not getting to read as much as I want to but at least I’m getting little snippets here and there.
I am all about free books! These all sound awesome. I’ve been reading a ton lately, so these are perfect.
This is really awesome that during this hard time we can read some free books. I think I need to get a good device to have a good comfort in reading ebooks
I am very intrigued by the bedtime story for adults. I have trouble going and staying to sleep. I am definitely going to check this iut.
I am currently still working through it and loving it! I have to be intentional about it, though, or it just won’t happen. Let me know how it works for you!
Thanks for sharing. I do get free audio-books from Audible every now and again.
The bedtime stories for adults one looks super useful, teacher or not!
I agree, Alissa. I am working through it right now and it has been awesome. It took me a while because I needed to change and improve some things in order to implement it and I could still use some improvement. I historically haven’t settled in very well at night and that has affected my ability to sleep well for most of my adult life. Implementing those things now has been a difficult habit to start but it has been good! Let me know how it works for you!
I love how you appealed to more than one audience in this post. I find your blog to be a very good resource for some people who are looking for new things to read right now with the book stores closed.
Thank you, Bailey!
I love this, I had no clue about all of these free books. The bedtime stories for adults seems really cool !
They actually are! I am working through the book right now!
Thanks for sharing these books. I have students here at home who may enjoy reading these.
I love reading I always have since I was kid. Thanks so much for sharing.
Me too, Tiffany. 🙂
I will have to check out some of these! Thanks for the share! i love free books
These are such a great selection of books!
Thank you for sharing this. I found so many interesting things for me.
I really like the idea of the first book you mentioned. Dyslexia is definitely something that should be talked about more and it’s good to see it tackled in such a way.
These are really great options! I will be checking them out
Thanks so much for sharing this, my son has Dyslexia and struggles with reading so deffo going to check out the first book you mnetioned
Laura x
I hope that it is helpful for you, Laura!
There’s nothing like picking up a REAL book! Our library is growing during Quarantine.
I have to admit I have ordered a few on Amazon in the past couple of weeks. I couldn’t resist!
i bet that the book from the mom of a dyslexia child is a hit. the personal experience makes such a difference.
These books all sound great. I think my son would love the Curse of Redeia.
I’d love to read teaching the struggling reader. My son has dsygraphia and I think this would really be helpful.
I love reading a lot and you give me a good lists of books to read for this month and I would love to first the book for teachers. Thank you!
Thanks for all the recommendations! There really is something in here for everyone!
wow what a fantastic list of free ebooks , something to keep our little ones busy
Great list. Thank you for sharing!
You are giving a great lists of book to read and I like to start reading the book for teachers and parents to help me learn the proper way of teaching my kids most especially now that they are going on an online class for this school year.
Thanks so much for the wonderful list of freebies! It helps us pass the quarantine time a little easier and affordably. 🙂
Love the first piccy with the mountain shot very cool. What a great way to have a free read thanks for the hints and tips x
These are a great resource for all. Will share with my mom friends.
This is a nice list of reads! Glad you shared these with us, thank you!
The reccomendations are good, I will check them out.
I haven’t read any of the mentioned books but I would love to read bedtime story book for adults.
I really like your free book Friday suggestions
Great Marie! Thanks for sharing these books a friday gift and the great source of learning.
Great reads. I am glad that there are free resources for books.
Thank you for the recs! I am always looking for something to read 🙂
I would love to check this out, seems very interesting! I am almost done with the book I am currently reading. Free books are always welcomed lol
I love reading books in quarantine times as its keeps me busy and I learn something new. Thanks for such a great suggestion of books.
Wow….these are quite many! Where do I even begin from?
There is nothing better than books, except maybe FREE books haha. I will have to check several of these out!
These are great picks. It’s always nice to be able to round out your selection, especially when they’re free!
I’m always looking for new books. These are awesome. Love that they are free!
Free books are the best! And these four books are a little something for everyone!
Loving to read your blog post is what I always look forward to with more anxiety and pleasure!
Thank you for sharing the links where we can read books. I have loved reading since I learned how to read until now. Whenever I can find a free time, I look for something to read. These books you listed are amazing. I believe your readers will surely benefit a lot from reading those books.
Such a great books to read for everyone according to category. Thanks for sharing additional books to us that we can read and value. We need this kind of leisure of reading to help our mind to stay focus and always be rational.
Thanks for the great weekly list! It’s made me dust off the old ebook reader. Keep ’em coming.
So much to choose from here, do I have to stop at one? Thanks for the fun read.
Thank you for sharing a description of all these amazing books! I’m especially intrigued by the Adult bedtime stories one and the one for young children about managing emotions to develop social and emotional skills. Great content 🙂
Oh I should share this post with my mom. She loves to read.
I think my niece would love the My Sister’s Super Skills: Introducing Kid-Friendly Social and Emotional Skills. It’s such a fun book. I love the cover too.
These are all fantastic choices! Absolutely adore the My Sister’s Super Skills. It’s really important the we can teach children how to identify their emotions and struggles and how to work through them so this book will be a massive help to that.