'Dream Big!' with the help of new book

“Dream Big! O’s Guide to Discovering Your Best Life,” 2009, Oxmoor House, $29.95/$34.95 Canada, 320 pages: Fifteen minutes. That’s how long it took you to read the magazine you bought at the checkout counter. Oh, sure, you know all about some starlet’s beach vacation. You’re well-versed on the latest Hollywood gossip. Other than that, you learned nothing, and you threw out a few dollars’ worth of paper.
So how about this: next time, look for “Dream Big! O’s Guide to Discovering Your Best Life,” the fourth volume of the “Best of O, The Oprah Magazine.” This is like a magazine you’ll want to put on your bookshelf.
What would you do if nothing was holding you back? Oprah Winfrey asks that in her introduction and this book helps you with an answer.
From the time we were little girls, our mothers told us certain things about our bodies. In the “Beauty and Style section,” two O staffers take on some long-held beliefs and self-images and – at the same time – show you that what mama said back then has nothing to do with now. Psychologists say that women have a hard time saying “no,” and if you fit that profile to a “T,” then check out what O says by reading “53 Ways to Say … NO!” Follow it up by reading about a year of saying “YES!” on the following pages.
What makes you happy?
In the segment on happiness, you’ll find secrets from happy people, as well as a transforming and empowering story from actress Angela Bassett that will make you want to go out and seize your dreams.
Or, if you’d rather stay in with your thoughts, read about one woman’s life of quiet spirituality, or read the defining moments that taught several celebrities and authors about their faith.
Are you a good friend? Find out by taking the “Good Friend, Bad Friend?” quiz.
Then take a look at your pals and see how they influence your life in the “talking and listening” section.
Speaking of which, you can make friends with your money by reading this book.
You can find a more meaningful long-term friendship through a new relationship.
And, just in time for the holidays, you make friends with your body with sensible diet and exercise tips.
“Dream Big: O’s Guide to Discovering Your Best Life” is a compilation of 75 of the best articles drawn from Winfrey’s magazine, all with an eye toward inspiring readers in the way that Oprah seems to do best.
There are several things I liked about this book. It’s completely useful and decidedly unfluffy. The articles aren’t cut with ads or silly filler I don’t want, and there are no “continued on page …” annoyances. Each article is short enough to read quick but long enough to impart good information.
And some of the articles were written by celebrities from whom I enjoyed hearing.
If you love O: The Oprah Magazine, or if you’re looking for something more substantial than checkout-line tabs, pick up this book. “Dream Big! O’s Guide to Discovering Your Best Life” is a relaxing book to spend time with.

LISTENERS’ REVIEW
“The Listeners” by Gloria Whelan, illustrated by Mike Benny, 2009, Sleeping Bear Press, $17.95/$21.50 Canada, 40 pages: Shh. Practically from the minute you were born, somebody was shushing you. Hushing your crying when you were a baby. Whispering to get you to settle down and listen. Yelling at you so you’d be silent as a mouse. Giving you something to do so you’d leave them in peace for five minutes.
You’re a kid, and kids make noise. But sometimes, it’s important to stay still and use your ears. In the new book “The Listeners” by Gloria Whelan, illustrated by Mike Benny, three children use their listening skills in a most important way. All day long, starting well before daylight, Bobby, Sue and Ella May have work to do. Bobby drives the cows to pasture. Sue helps the grannies take care of babies. And Ella May helps everyone in the fields. But after supper, the three children have more important work.
As the skies get dark, Bobby, Sue and Ella May sneak over to the great house, quiet as little bugs, and they listen beneath the window. Mistress and Master don’t tell the slaves anything, so the news that the children hear is carried back to their families.
Sitting in the dark outside a window can be scary. Ella May is afraid that someone might catch them, or that Mistress Grace’s piano playing might carry them away. But night after night, they take secrets back to Daddy and Mammy.
Once while listening, Ella May heard that Daddy was going to be sold, but Master said that wouldn’t happen. Cotton picking is a hard job, and Ella May has to pick lots to fill her basket. If she doesn’t, the boss flicks her with his cane. Daddy sometimes helps her by giving her his cotton. Master says Daddy is a good cotton-picker. Ella May knows that’s true.
One night Daddy says that listening is doubly important and that Ella May, Bobby and Sue must remember everything they learn at the window of the great house. What they hear makes Ella May think that their listening job may be over, but Daddy says it’s only just begun.
Sometimes – most times – it’s hard to get small kids to sit still and use their ears. But if you’ve got this book, “The Listeners” is a self-fulfilling title.
Author Whelan tells a story of a little girl who does a big job for those in her community, as well as a subtle tale of life as a slave from a kids’ point of view. Little Ella May is spunky and smart but with a sweet innocence that makes her appealing to other kids and to adults who’ll be doing the reading.
Or, maybe that adorableness is due to the excellent illustrations by Benny.
Benny is generally stingy with color (using mostly earth tones), which gives this book a somewhat furtive tone, which seems just right.
If you’re looking for something that will keep a group of kids (or just one child) quiet for awhile, find this book. For kids ages 3 to 8, “The Listeners” will have them sitting ears forward.

TERRI SCHLICHENMEYER has been reading since she was 3 years old and never goes anywhere without a book. She lives on a hill in Wisconsin with two dogs and 11,000 books.