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Recommendations

Here you'll find a growing list of my recommendations for everything from books to documentaries to OT resources. If something is on my recommendation list, it does not mean I agree with 100% of the content, but that I have found it to have some degree of value, truth, and usefulness. No one get's everything right all the time. This is why I encourage you to always be a critical and active consumer of content. Whether you are watching a documentary or reading a book, use your critical thinking skills to break down the merits and pitfalls the arguments presented. Be an engaged, active listener as you learn and grow. Consume information with a critical mind and a humble heart. If you have any recommendations not on this list that you think I might enjoy, please let me know! I strive to be a lifelong learner and love exploring new content.
Occupational Therapy/Pediatric Resources

BOOKS & PRODUCTS

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WEBSITES

  • The American Occupational Therapy Association website: The AOTA has countless resources available, including handouts on all kinds of topics. Some resources are free and others are exclusively available to members.

  • Tools to Grow: A website for pediatric therapists that includes thousands of free printable resources and activities to work on everything from sensory processing to fine motor skills.

  • Brain Pop Jr.: A learning resource supporting core and supplemental subjects.

  • ABC Ya: Learning games and apps for children.

  • Super Teacher Worksheets: Worksheets on many subjects like math, reading, writing, phonics, and science. Some resources are free and some require membership to access.

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PODCASTS

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Parenting and Homeschooling Resources

BOOKS & PRODUCTS

 
Health & Non-Toxic Living Resources

Click here to check out my Health & Non Toxic Living Amazon List (Disclaimer: this is an Amazon affiliate link, so if you purchase something from this link, I may receive a commission from Amazon).

BOOKS

  • The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk: "Dr. Bessel van der Kolk, one of the world’s foremost experts on trauma, has spent over three decades working with survivors. In The Body Keeps the Score, he uses recent scientific advances to show how trauma literally reshapes both body and brain, compromising sufferers’ capacities for pleasure, engagement, self-control, and trust. He explores innovative treatments—from neurofeedback and meditation to sports, drama, and yoga—that offer new paths to recovery by activating the brain’s natural neuroplasticity."

  • The Orchid and the Dandelion: Why Some Children Struggle and How All Can Thrive by W. Thomas Boyce: Boyse "explores the "dandelion" child (hardy, resilient, healthy), able to survive and flourish under most circumstances, and the "orchid" child (sensitive, susceptible, fragile), who, given the right support, can thrive as much as, if not more than, other children. Boyce writes of his pathfinding research as a developmental pediatrician working with troubled children in child-development research for almost four decades, and explores his major discovery that reveals how genetic make-up and environment shape behavior."

  • Green Enough: Eat Better, Live Cleaner, Be Happier--All Without Driving Your Family Crazy! by Leah Segedie: "Mamavation blogger Leah Segedie uncovers the truth behind the food and household products that are misleadingly labeled "all-natural" and healthy but are actually filled with chemicals and toxins. From furniture to packaged food, Leah guides you through detoxifying your home, diet, and lifestyle"

  • Eating on the Wild Side: The Missing Link to Optimum Health by Jo Robinson: "Based on years of scientific research and filled with food history and practical advice, [this book] will forever change the way we think about food."

  • Tox-Sick: From Toxic to Not Sick by Suzanne Somers: "Suzanne sits down with environmental doctors and specialists who share eye-opening information and practical advice for how to survive, thrive, and stay healthy today."

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DOCUMENTARIES

  • The Devil We Know: "The story of how one synthetic chemical, used to make Teflon products, contaminated a West Virginia community. But new research hints at a much broader problem: nearly all Americans are affected by exposure to non-stick chemicals in food, drinking water, and consumer products."

  • Crip Camp: "Explores the universal experience of summer camp awakenings that would transform lives and shape the future of the disability rights movement." 

  • Won't You Be My Neighbor: "An exploration of the life, lessons, and legacy of iconic children's television host, Fred Rogers."

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WEBSITES

  • Laraadler.com: Lara is an Environmental Toxins Expert & Educator, a Certified Holistic Health Coach, and someone who is "deeply passionate about changing the landscape of disease through addressing toxic exposures".

  • Mamavation.com: Leah Segedie is a food activist, author, blogger, and social media consultant who works with scientific and medical experts to "democratize health principles" for moms, often focusing on common household hormone-disrupting chemicals.

  • Jannyorganically.com: Janny is a blogger, podcaster, and health advocate who's passionate about "clean beauty and skin care, natural approaches to endocrine disorders or genetic mutations and/or tips for non-toxic living."

  • Wellnessmama.com: Founded by Katie Wells, CTNC, MCHC, Wellness Mama is "an online resource for women and moms who want to live a healthier life. [Katie works] with a team of researchers and medical advisors [to] analyze a wide variety of health, parenting, and natural living topics and summarize the information in a clear and usable way."

  • EWG.org: The Environmental Working Group is a non-profit organization focusing on "protecting human health and the environment." Their website is filled with helpful guides and their EWG Skin Deep search engine allows you to look up products and ingredients.

  • Think Dirty: This app allows you to scan barcodes of cosmetics and personal care products to learn about the ingredients and gain a deeper understanding of the product's potential toxicity. 

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PODCASTS

  • The Doctor's Farmacy with Mark Hyman: "This podcast is a place for deep conversation... in the space of health, wellness, food and politics."

  • Wellness Mama with Katie Wells: "A weekly podcast series covering the health topics of real food, stress, sleep, fitness, toxins, natural living, and much more to give you actionable steps to improve your family’s health."

  • What's the Juice with Olivia Amitrano of Organic Olivia: In this podcast, Olivia focuses on "education in herbalism, psychology, and a lifetime of health issues into valuable, tangible tips on how to heal and thrive. Interviews with specialists, doctors, therapists, practitioners, astrologers, estheticians, artists, and storytellers are oozing with raw, human moments and empowering information."

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FERTILITY AND BIRTH

  • The Birth Hour (podcast and website): TBH "helps pregnant women achieve an empowering birth experience through sharing authentic birth stories so they are informed going into pregnancy, birth and postpartum."

  • Evidence Based Birth (podcast and website): EBB seeks to "raise the quality of childbirth care globally, by putting accurate, evidence based research into the hands of families and communities, so they can make informed, empowered choices."

  • The Business of Being Born: "Compelled to find answers after a disappointing birth experience with her first child, actress Ricki Lake recruits filmmaker Abby Epstein to explore the maternity care system in America."

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Christian Resources

BOOKS

All the books in this section can be found at my Christian Books Amazon List. Just click here to check them out! (Disclaimer: this is an Amazon affiliate link, so if you purchase something from this link, I may receive a commission from Amazon).

Hermeneutics (Bible literacy/how to read and understand scripture)

  • What the Bible is All About Bible Handbook by Dr. Henrietta C. Mears: A great resource and guide to scripture. This handbook includes historical context, helpful reading plans, maps, charts, biblical themes, and emphasis scripture's overall message that is reiterated in every book in the Bible.

  • Understanding the Big Picture of the Bible by Wayne Grudem, C. John Collins, and Thomas R. Schreiner: "In addition to essays on each genre of the Bible, the book addresses the general Greco-Roman world and specific Jewish groups at the time of the New Testament. To aid in putting Bible passages in context, it also includes timelines of the Old and New Testaments and intertestamental events. [This book is useful] as both a general overview of the Bible and as a tool for more specific reference and training." 

  • 40 Questions About Interpreting the Bible by Robert K. Plummer: This book covers some of the more practical questions we ask ourselves as Christians as we're learning how to read the Bible. These questions are common, but unfortunately many of them are rarely addressed in most churches on Sunday mornings. Does the Bible contain error? What is the best English Bible translation? Why can't people agree on what the Bible means? What does the Bible tell us about the future? How do we interpret historical narrative?

  • How to Read the Bible Through the Jesus Lens by Michael Williams: This book presents Christ as the focus of scripture. Each book in the Bible has its own section and is explained through the "Jesus lens."

  • Read the Bible for Life by George H. Guthrie: This book is great for improving your Biblical literary and how to appropriately apply scripture to life.

Theology

  • Love Your God With All Your Mind by J.P. Moreland: This book "explains the importance of using your mind not only to win others to Christ but also to experience personal spiritual growth. Author J. P. Moreland challenges you to use logic and reason to further God’s kingdom through evangelism, apologetics, worship, and vocation."

  • None Like Him by Jen Wilkin: Jen Wilkin is great. In this book, she explores 10 attributes of God that make Him different from us and explains why this is a good thing. Learning about God's self-existence, sovereignty, eternality, immutability, and other attributes helps us understand Him better in order to draw closer to Him, while also allowing us to understand ourselves better in the process.

  • The Gospel According to God by John MacArthur: This book does a deep dive into Isaiah 53, which foretells the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. It's a profound book and explores a very important and beautiful passage.

  • The Moody Handbook of Theology by Paul Enns: This is one of my favorite books to use as a resource because it is so comprehensive and accessible to read. It covers biblical, systematic, historical, dogmatic, and contemporary dimensions of theology. I highly recommend investing the $30 or so dollars, or even less if you purchase the Kindle version.

  • Institutes of the Christian Religion by John Calvin: A collection of Calvin's most important works. Not the easiest reading, but it covers a lot of great themes.

Apologetics

  • The Doctrines that Divide by Erwin W. Lutzer: I really appreciate this book. Not only does it not stray away from the controversial topics, but it purposefully focuses on them. Predestination vs. free will. Justification by faith. It's a book that will challenge you and provoke critical thinking and humility as it presents and defends its stance on these issues and others.

  • Tactics by Greg Koukl: This book offers tangible, practical suggestions and techniques to use during conversations and debates you may find ourself in as you defend the veracity of Christianity. The tips in this book will help you maneuver through conversations in a productive, diplomatic way.

  • Skeptics Answered by D. James Kennedy: This book utilizes factual, reasonable arguments to affirm the Christian faith. It addresses the reliability of the Bible, the nature of God, and many other topics, as it seeks to provide clear evidence for why Christians believe what they believe. It's a great book for both believers and those who are skeptical of Christianity, but open and willing to examine the evidence.

  • I Don't Have Enough Faith to be an Atheist by Norman L. Geisler and Frank Turek: A top 10 favorite for me, this book will have you in constant awe of our Creator. This book provides scientific, philosophical, and logical arguments and evidence for Christianity. It's very accessible and easy to read. It's insightful, well-researched, and systematic in its approach. I highly recommend it to any Christian and skeptic.

Marriage

  • The Meaning of Marriage by Tim Keller: "Timothy Keller, with insights from Kathy, his wife of thirty-seven years, shows marriage to be a glorious relationship that is also misunderstood and mysterious. The Meaning of Marriage offers instruction on how to have a successful marriage, and is essential reading for anyone who wants to know God and love more deeply in this life."

​Family/Parenting

  • Family Driven Faith by Voddie Baucham Jr.: "Family Driven Faith equips Christian parents with the tools they need to raise children biblically in a post-Christian, anti-family society. Voddie Baucham, who with his wife has overcome a multi-generational legacy of broken and dysfunctional homes, shows that God has not left us alone in raising godly children. In his Word he has given us timeless precepts and principles for multi-generational faithfulness."

  • The New City Catechism by Crossway: "This short book lays out 52 questions and answers related to God, human nature, sin, Christ, the Holy Spirit, and more. Whether used devotionally, recited orally, or memorized over the course of a year, families, churches, small groups, and Christian schools will treasure this valuable tool for teaching the core doctrines of the Christian faith to children and adults alike."

  • Catechizing our Children by Terry L. Johnson: A great tool as parents seek to lead their children through catechism.

Christian Life​/Fellowship

  • Lies Women Believe and the Truth That Sets Them Free by Nancy Leigh DeMoss: This book was both convicting and liberating for me. It explores many of the lies women tend to believe, today and yesterday. Whether we are deceived by Satan, society, or our own sinful nature, we can become enslaved to these lies rather than live in the truth and freedom found in Christ. This is an easy read, practical, and unapologetic.

  • A Path Through Suffering by Elisabeth Elliot: Elisabeth Elliot is a gem. This book focuses on earthly suffering and the tender care of the Lord. Elliot speaks from a place of experience and wisdom. I highly recommend looking up her other books and resources as well. If you've never heard of her, look up her biography. 

  • Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis: A classic read filled with Lewis' trademark styles. He uses a lot of metaphors and writes as if he's having a verbal conversation with you. Book 1 can be a little hard to get through, but it's worth the effort and the book takes a lot less work once you get into Book 2.

  • Life in the Father's House by Wayne A. Mack and Dave Swavely: Biblically-based community is essential when it comes to Christian life. This book talks about what a biblical church looks like–leadership, membership, unity, prayer, worship. 

  • Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life by Donald S. Whitney: This book covers disciplines such as worship, evangelism, prayer, fasting, journaling, and serving and how we are called to cultivate these disciplines. An easy read filled with practical, tangible, biblically-based suggestions to mature as a believer.

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WEBSITES

  • The Gospel Coalition: TGC "exists to equip the next generation of believers, pastors, and church leaders to shape life and ministry around the gospel" through content like videos, articles, and podcasts.

  • Desiring God: John Piper's "international web ministry with 12,000+ free resources and 3.5+million monthly users."

  • Voddie Baucham Ministries: "Voddie makes the Bible clear and demonstrates the relevance of God’s word to everyday life. However, he does so without compromising the centrality of Christ and the gospel. Those who hear him preach find themselves both challenged and encouraged."

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DOCUMENTARIES

  • The Riot and the Dance: "Dr. Gordon Wilson travels around the world to celebrate God's creatures in all shapes, sizes and species -- from leopards and langurs to vipers and elephants."

  • American Gospel: Two Christian documentaries (Christ Alone & Christ Crucified). Christ Alone "examines how the prosperity gospel (the Word of Faith movement) has distorted the gospel message, and how this theology is being exported abroad" while Christ Crucified "explores how the paths of post-modernism and progressive Christianity lead to a different gospel, and a god created in our own image."
    This feature-length film is the first in a series.

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MOVIES

  • The Case for Christ: Based on the life of author and journalist Lee Strobel, the movie depicts his time as "an investigative journalist and self-proclaimed atheist [who] sets out to disprove the existence of God after his wife becomes a Christian."

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PODCASTS

  • The Gospel Coalition Podcasts: TGC currently has six podcasts, each with a different focus, but each rooted in Scripture and edifying for the church. 

  • Fight Hustle, End Hurry: "Author and pastor John Mark Comer and author Jefferson Bethke discuss hustle and hurry, the detriment of them to our spiritual lives, and what we can do about it as acts of resistance."

  • Desiring God Podcasts: John Piper's website features several podcasts including one focused on devotionals and another featuring Piper's sermons.

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© 2019 by OTGABRIELLA.

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