Tyrannosaurus Wrecks (and More June Reads)

My husband read Stuart Gibb’s Tyrannosaurus Wrecks aloud to our whole family in June. Below are my impressions of that title plus the other four books I finished last month.

The 5 Books I Read in June

• Apologia Exploring Creation with Biology by Vicki Dincher

  We love Apologia Science — especially Apologia Exploring Creation with Biology. I’ve used this book (albeit an earlier edition) to teach my ninth graders for almost 20 years now.

  I love the fact it offers a rigorous approach to biology from a Christian worldview. It did an excellent job preparing my children for college-level work.

  Most of the children we’ve already graduated chose to major in biology at their respective universities (Texas A&M for one and UT Tyler for the rest), then went on to pursue careers in medicine.

  So far, we have one ER nurse, two dentists, one doctor (an anesthesiologists who is joining his father’s practice this summer), and two more currently in nursing school.

• Forgiving What You Can’t Forget by Lysa TerKeurst

  I’ve read several books by Lysa TerKeurst in the past: Made to Crave, It’s Not Supposed to Be This Way, and — my personal favorite — The Best Yes. But in Forgiving What You Can’t Forget, Lysa reveals a vulnerability I hadn’t seen before.

  In a world so full of hurting people, I know many readers will find Lysa’s story of childhood trauma and marital infidelity all too relatable. But even if you, like I, came from a stable family with no history of abuse, neglect, betrayal, or abandonment, we must still learn to righteously deal with life’s burdens and disappointments. That’s the common denominator that makes this book such a worthwhile read for all of us.

  People are sinners, and at some point, even the best of them will let us down. The question is, how do we extend forgiveness when it feels beyond the scope of human ability to do so? How can we collect the dots, connect the dots, and correct the dots of our most painful life experiences?

  Lysa’s book is a road map, pointing the way to freedom from bitterness and resentment over offenses great and small. Spoiler alert: Such freedom can ultimately be found in Christ alone.

• Tyrannosaurus Wrecks by Stuart Gibbs

  My husband finished reading Stuart Gibb’s Tyrannosaurus Wrecks aloud to the family last week, and we all enjoyed every page of it. Which is a little surprising, given that this was the sixth installment in Gibb’s Fun Jungle Mystery series. Yet he manages to keep the plot fresh and new with every successive title.

  We love the way this author weaves so many interesting facts into his storylines. Tyrannosaurus Wrecks contained a wealth of information on paleontology — where fossils are found and transported, how digs are conducted and funded, how many species of dinosaurs have been located and where. But it also had lots of statistics on the black market dealing in exotic and exotic reptiles.

  Gibbs does a great job of weaving several different storylines together to keep the action moving and his books interesting. We’re looking forward to reading his latest installment, Bear Bottom, although we’re waiting for the paperback version to be released (so it will match the others on our shelf).

• God Bless America by Jennifer Flanders

  I read through this journal every summer and complete as many pages as I can between Mother’s Day and Independence Day.

  In addition to pertinent Bible verses on nearly every page, God Bless America contains lots of pithy quotes and soul-stirring sayings from our founding fathers. It’s all memorialized with beautiful vintage clipart and hand drawn calligraphy.

  The journal also includes several word studies on topics related to faith and freedom, designed to inspire readers to think deeply about what it means to be an American.

  My goal in creating this journal? To ensure the guiding principles on which our nation was established are never forgotten. ❤️?? ??

• How to Exasperate Your Wife by Douglas Wilson

  It may have been written for husbands, but I thoroughly enjoyed reading How to Exasperate Your Wife. Maybe it’s because my husband does so few things that exasperate me (his biggest offenders: failing to buckle his seatbelt before he gets on the road — ding! ding! ding! ding! ding! — and carting stuff to Goodwill without checking with me first). Admittedly minor stuff compared to what some wives deal with, right?

  So this book served to stoke my appreciation for the wonderful man I married. But it was worthwhile reading for other reasons, too. The author has a unique perspective and thinks about common problems in uncommon ways. I love the way Wilson packs so much wisdom into so few pages, and delivers it all with a delightful dose of dry humor. His books are always very thought-provoking.

  How to Exasperate Your Wife includes a score of essays grouped under topics of honor, thoughtfulness, and sex. PLEASE NOTE: If you’re offended by the leopard-skin briefs on the cover’s cartoon caveman, never fear. In the book’s front matter, Wilson has kindly provided a free pair of pants you can cut out and use to clothe the uncivilized brute.

Do you love to read as much as we do? Check out the following posts for avid bookworms:

• Reading Rewards – free prizes for kids who spend time reading (and a few for moms, too)
• Raising Kids Who Love to Read – tips, tricks, and printables that will help cultivate a love for reading in your children
• Reading Challenge for All Ages – a fun, free printable way to get your whole family excited about reading
• Recent Reads – more book review columns (like this one)