The Daily Question for Your Child

With the busyness of life, it's so easy to forget to write down your favorite memories and stories of your children. That's where this book comes in. Our family has had a lot of fun asking these questions and recording the answers down in this 3-year book. So we bought one for each child so that they can each have a keepsake of some of their answers. They may not enjoy looking back on these, but it has been a some intentional conversation starters between us and our children.

The front cover can hold your favorite photo of your child. It slips in and out, so it's easy to update if you desire.

Some examples of the questions are: "If you coould start today over, would you?" "What is your favorite song?" "What do you miss" or "What is something that confuses you?"

I look forward to seeing how their personality and answers change over a 3-year period. While sad that they are growing up, at least I will have some meaningful conversations and time well spent with them, as well as a record of their responses!

___________

I received a complimentary copy of this book. No review was required, and all thoughts expressed are my own.

Minecrafters Bible

• This Bible has not left my son's side all day. I knew it would be difficult to track this Bible down once he got a hold of it!

I was very hesitant at first to request to review this Bible because I'm not one to mix hobbies with the Bible. I'm not sure why I don't particularly like it, but it's just not something I typically do. So when I saw Minecraft on a Bible, I wasn't certain whether to go for it or not. However, knowing my son's love of Minecraft, I decided to get it to see if it was something I'd let him have.

I'll be honest. I had my review written in my head a few days ago. My mind was pretty much made up and I had even told my husband what I intended to write in my review. However, once I got the Bible, held it in my hands, and looked at it, my review completely changed. The reason I was so certain my review wouldn't be glorious is because it had said it came with gaming pages inside. I wasn't all for that. In my head, I guess I was picturing gaming pages of things that had nothing to do with the Bible. Oh, did they have a surprise for me!

Having read this particular version before, I didn't spend too much time going over the Scripture because I knew I'd obviously approve of that part of it. I searched out the gaming sections first. I mean I really flipped through each one and I got more and more excited to give this to my 7-year-old. I knew he'd be so excited.

The gaming instructions are beautifully done in a way that leaves the boys (and girls) wanting to hop on Minecraft and build the tabernacle, or the Garden from Genesis. I loved how they brought these stories to life in a way where they can read it, build it, and it sticks with them. This is another way that I can get involved in discipling them. I'm not much of a Minecraft person, but I can definitely talk about the Bible with them as they create the scenes from here. 

So from a sceptic, well-done. I should get bonus points for sneaking this out of his room after he fell asleep just so I could write this review. In fact, I've never had a review written as quickly as this one!

_____________

I received this book free from Zondervan Publishers in exchange for my honest opinion of this Bible.

The Ology by Marty Machowski

When I saw this book was about to be released, I knew this was one I wanted for my own children. I had read some great reviews on it from some authors that I trust and they had so many good things to say. In fact, the reviews in the front of the book are from some well-known theologians, pastors, and authors.

Many people hesitate to teach their children theology, thinking that it is too deep for them to understand. I have long held the idea that it's not too deep because even as adults we are still learning theology and will never fully grasp all of it in our finite minds.

The book has a parent guide that in the very front of the book. I appreciated this because as a homeschooling family, we are easily able to incorporate this book into our daily studies. It's tailored for elementary students, children ages 6-12. However, my 5 year old has learned a lot from it. It does say that teens and adults can use it to help lay a solid biblical worldview. For that matter, adults will find this book very enjoyable to read. I also really appreciate how it encourages the readers to check out a few more books as your child ages. I definitely want to get the companion album that goes with this book. How neat to be able to teach theology with music.

The sections of the book are:
1. The Ology of God
2. The Ology of People
3. The Ology of Sin
4. The Ology of the Promise and the Law
5. The Ology of Christ
6. The Ology of the Holy Spirit
7. The Ology of Adoption into God's Family
8. The Ology of Change
9. The Ology of the Church
10. The Ology of the End Times
11. The Ology of God's Word

The chapters are short in each section and the author highly recommends you take the book one chapter at a time and really discuss the chapter throughout the day. There is Scripture included on the pages that you can memorize, but surrounding the pictures on the opposite page is extra Scripture verses that you can use to go deeper into the subject.

Another thing that I found extremely helpful for my children is the Glossary. It tweaks some important Bible Words and some big words we hear most often and it explains them in a way for children to understand.

Following that page is a Think Theology, Talk Theology page. Each chapter has two questions that you can ask your child to help clarify any concepts they may be confused on or have difficulty understanding.

This book will be one that we will be using in our family for many years and I will definitely be purchasing this to give to others for gifts. It is especially important for our children to know what they believe and why and I'm so thankful for this book written for children.

Read more reviews on this book at
When I saw this book was about to be released, I knew this was one I wanted for my own children. I had read some great reviews on it from some authors that I trust and they had so many good things to say. In fact, the reviews in the front of the book are from some well-known theologians, pastors, and authors.

Many people hesitate to teach their children theology, thinking that it is too deep for them to understand. I have long held the idea that it's not too deep because even as adults we are still learning theology and will never fully grasp all of it in our finite minds.
Read more reviews on this book at http://litfusegroup.com/books/the-ology.

________________

About the Book

The Ology: Ancient Truths Ever New (New Growth Press, October 2015)
A page-turning storybook of theology for kids
In the cellar of the old stone cathedral, Carla and Timothy uncover a life-changing treasure, a carefully wrapped ancient book known as The Ology. What adults might describe as a beautifully illustrated storybook of systematic theology, the kids discover to be a story of adventure, mystery, and wonder that leads them to the truth about God, themselves, and the world around them.
Truth is for kids, not just for adults! So The Ology gives kids of all ages a beginner’s theology book to help them understand who God is and how we, as his children, relate to him. Arranged within a traditional systematic theological framework, each truth in The Ology is also connected to the larger redemptive story of Scripture. The doctrine of God, for example, is presented in the larger framework of creation, where the attributes of God are more clearly on display. The Ology takes abstract theological concepts and makes them easier to understand with the use of creative examples, illustrations, and analogies. The goal is not to say everything that could be said about a theological topic, but rather to share the key thoughts behind a theological concept. The Ology is a starting point to learning theology and aims to create a hunger and desire in children to learn more as they grow older.
Designed for six-year-olds through preteens, this flexible resource includes built-in adaptations for use with younger or older children, so that entire families can enjoy it together. Read The Ology to preschoolers, read it with grade-school kids, and let older kids discover the “hidden” truths by reading the corresponding Scripture passages for each section. However you read it, The Ology will give your children a gift that will last a lifetime—a solid foundation of life-changing biblical truth that will point them to the God who loves them and gave himself for them.
Check out this preview!
A companion The Ology CD from Bob Kauflin and Sovereign Music is also available.
Learn more and purchase a copy.

 

Marty Machowski

Marty Machowski is a Family Life Pastor at Covenant Fellowship Church in Glen Mills, Pennsylvania, where he has served on the pastoral staff for over twenty years. He is the author of the Gospel Story for Kids series, which includes "The Gospel Story Bible," "Long Story Short," "Old Story New," and the "Gospel Story Curriculum," as well as the Advent devotional and curriculum "Prepare Him Room." He and his wife, Lois, and their six children reside in West Chester, Pennsylvania.

________________

I received this book free from Litfuse Publicity Group and New Growth Press in exchange for my honest opinion of this book.

A Chameleon, a Boy, and a Quest by J. A. Myhre

I was looking forward to reading this book to my children. We have been studying Africa in school and I knew this book would be a great one to add to our reading list. Needless to say, this book has been stolen off my shelf countless times by my son who has decided that he wants to read it again by himself. That says a lot if a 7-year-old has fallen in love with this! I'm always looking for a book to grab his attention, and this book had it all... full of adventure and a great book for the imagination. I even found myself going back into a childhood imagination as I was reading this story.

Mu was a little difficult to hear about for my kids as he is orphaned. My children felt so bad for him and it led to them asking a lot of questions. The book lender itself to deeper questions with the imagination anyway. There was a lot of thoughts about choices and the need to be watchful because it's so easy to follow others into a path that isn't good.

Another attractive thing about this book is it has pictures! This is another plus for a mother who is reading to her children. And since the story is set in Africa, what child doesn't like to see pictures or hear stories of African animals?!

I love how this book was write by J. A. Myhre to her four children as a special story to give to them for Christmas. How beautiful a gift that is to your children. With Christmas coming and so many parents looking for books to read for the 24 days of Christmas book list, this should be added. It'll take longer than a day to read it with your kids probably, but the conversation and the trip you all will take in your imaginations together will be some wonderful memories.

Read more reviews on this book at http://litfusegroup.com/author/jamyhre.

_______________

About the Book

                       A Chameleon, a Boy, and a Quest (New Growth Press, October 2015)
A Boy Named Mu, an African Journey, and You
Mu, a ten-year-old orphan, has lived his entire life in the heart of Africa. For as long as he can remember he has served in the household of a great-uncle where he is unloved and ignored. In his drudgery-filled life, Mu has little hope of happiness, and little hope that anything will ever change.
But one day, everything does change. On his way to draw water one morning, Mu is astonished when a chameleon greets him by name and announces that they will embark on a quest together. And what a quest it turns out to be! Mu faces danger and finds unexpected allies as they journey through a fascinating and ever-changing landscape.
A Chameleon, a Boy, and a Quest blends magical realism with a compelling story. The exciting story line combines an orphan’s journey to find a home with the plight of child soldiers and the dangers of the Ebola virus and, along the way, highlights universal themes of integrity, loyalty, faith, and love. Written by long-time medical missionary J. A. Myrhe, the artful story is laced with subtle gospel themes and handles cross-cultural issues with grace and sensitivity. Kids will encounter good and evil and learn the truth about hope, happiness, and what it means to be human in this page-turning first book in a new series.
—A page-turning children’s action and adventure story set in a fictional African land
—Blends magical realism and compelling storytelling with gospel themes to draw kids gently into the truth
—Deals with real-life but (seemingly) faraway themes like the plight of orphans, the duties of child soldiers, and the reality of the Ebola virus
—Written by a long-time medical missionary to Africa who handles cross-cultural issues with grace, sensitivity, and love
Learn more and purchase a copy.

J.A. Myhre

J. A. Myhre serves as a doctor with Serge in East Africa where she has worked for over two decades. She is passionate about health care for the poor, training local doctors and nurses, promoting childhood nutrition and development, and being the hands of Jesus in the hardest places. She is married to her best friend and colleague Scott, and together they have raised four children for whom many of her stories were written as Christmas presents.

_______________

I received this book free from Litfuse Publicity Group and New Growth Press in exchange for my honest opinion of this book.

Laugh Out Loud Pocket Doodles for Boys by Rob Elliott

When I saw these little joke books come up for review, I was excited. My kids have just reached the age where they enjoy telling jokes. My son is 6 and enjoys drawing. This book is the perfect fit for him. In fact, I spotted it in his beach bag.

I think this book is even more fun because you get to draw in a book. I'm not certain what kid alive hasn't wanted to doodle in a book without getting into trouble for doing so.

As a mom, I like that these jokes are short and simple. They are funny for them to tell, but I think the part I enjoy most is seeing their drawing. The drawings have already been started and the child is to elaborate onto the picture. For example, there's a half of a horse drawn. The directions are for the child to draw themselves as the horse trainer and then what the horse would say to them. I think the cartoon drawings are very cute that are provided.

I reviewed both the doodle book for girls and for boys. I originally thought that it'd be the same book with just different covers. I was surprised to see that it wasn't. Or at least if they are, they are not in the same order at all. That makes it much nicer when both of my kids want to tell me a joke from the same page of their book!

_____________

I received this book free from Revell Publishers in exchange for my honest opinion of this book

Laugh Out Loud Pocket Doodles for Girls by Rob Elliott

When I saw these little joke books come up for review, I was excited. My kids have just reached the age where they enjoy telling jokes. My daughter is 5 and has carried this book around with her for the past few days.

I think this book is even more fun because you get to draw in a book. I'm not certain what kid alive hasn't wanted to doodle in a book without getting into trouble for doing so.

As a mom, I like that these jokes are short and simple. They are funny for them to tell, but I think the part I enjoy most is seeing their drawing. The drawings have already been started and the child is to elaborate onto the picture. For example, there's a half of a horse drawn. The directions are for the child to draw themselves as the horse trainer and then what the horse would say to them. I think the cartoon drawings are very cute that are provided.

I reviewed both the doodle book for girls and for boys. I originally thought that it'd be the same book with just different covers. I was surprised to see that it wasn't. Or at least if they are, they are not in the same order at all. That makes it much nicer when both of my kids want to tell me a joke from the same page of their book!

_____________

I received this book free from Revell Publishers in exchange for my honest opinion of this book.

Barkley's Great Escape by Wanda Wyont

Learning water safety has never been more fun than when there are animals involved. I purposefully wanted to review this book because I wanted to talk about water safety with my children. We just had a baby and I wanted them to have a memorable story to learn from.

I liked how the story centers around a dog, Barkley, who gets out of his fence on goes on a grand adventure around his neighborhood. He comes to a pool and decides to get in. However, he drifts to the middle and he's not a strong swimmer. He grows tired and thinks he'll never make it out of the pool. He does eventually make it to the side of the pool to hang on until the pool owner's come out and rescue him.

My daughter liked the illustrations that told the story very clearly, without even having to use words. She also liked that the next time Barkley went swimming, he wore a life jacket. 

The illustrations were definitely eye-catching for a child and I enjoyed them, as well. At the back of the book, there are conversation starters and questions about water safety that allows you the chance to talk more to your child about the importance of water safety.

With summer coming up, this is a great book for those little guys to read and learn from.

_______________

I received this book free from Ambassador International in exchange for my honest opinion of this book.

How Far Away is Heaven by Margaret Davis Ledford

Our children have experienced the death of 4 loved ones in the past year. Each were Christians, so we know they are in heaven. We have had the question "Where is heaven?" asked to us many times. I was thrilled to see a book about this question that I could read to my children.

I appreciated that the book doesn't speculate where heaven is. It doesn't say it's "up in the clouds" or anything like that. In fact, it doesn't answer the question of how far away heaven is. We don't know how far away it is and I'm glad that it pointed children in the right direction and didn't deviate from what Scripture teaches.

In the book, Zachary's Papa dies and Zachary wonders where his Papa is. He is told that his Papa is in heaven, and of course, he wonders where heaven is. Zachary learns that heaven is a place with no more sickness and his Papa is glad to be in heaven with Jesus. He also learns that Jesus is in heaven, too.

The story was a little choppy, in my adult opinion. However, the kids liked it and it didn't seem to bother them. I struggled with the flow because it felt like it left out some important information.

Having lost my grandfather, the kids related to this book very easily since the grandpa dies.

______________

I received this book free from Ambassador International in exchange for my honest opinion of this book.

The Berenstain Bears' Country Cookbook by Mike Berenstain

My kids were really excited to get this cookbook. Our family enjoys reading Berenstain Bears books, having read them ourselves when we were little kids. In fact, those books were some of the few my husband and I kept from childhood to share with our children.

Since our children enjoy cooking and baking, I was excited to have child-friend cookbook where we could do an easy recipe, but still create fun memories into the kitchen. As soon as my daughter opened the book, she started making a list of recipes for us to make together. Some of her favorites were the Bear-y Delicious Scones and the Banana Pops.

This cookbook has a wide range of recipes, including breakfast, lunch, main dishes, desserts, and snacks. The photos are very eye-appealing. The recipes are easy and include less than 10 ingredients. I also like that it uses a lot of fresh ingredients and not a lot of pre-packaged items. It's the perfect book to encourage healthy eating.

I'm looking forward to cooking many things in this book as we try out all of these recipes. This cookbook has already become a favorite among my children. I'm thankful for a book that will encourage family time in the kitchen and will give me many opportunities to spend meaningful time with my children.

___________________

I received this book free from Zonderkidz through the Booklook Program in exchange for my honest opinion of this book.

The Berenstain Bears and the Biggest Brag by Mike Berenstein

Our family likes to read the Berenstain Bears. It reminds me of the days when I was their age and looked forward to reading them myself. They have also been wonderful books to help teach different character traits in a fun way.

The Biggest Brag was a good read for me and my kids. They could relate to Brother and Sister because they, too, have found themselves bragging and competing against each other at even a young age. We had already been talking about not bragging, so it was a wonderful way to continue our conversation.

After they heard the story, they could tell very quickly that Brother and Sister weren't being nice to each other. We used the questions at the end of the book to further our conversation about bragging and how we are to love.

The questions are very helpful to lead your child into a meaningful conversation about those character qualities that most parents feel are important for them to learn. It helps that this is your classic Berenstain Bears book that draws kids in and makes it easy for them to remember the lessons.

_______________

I received this book free from Zondervan Publishers in exchange for my honest opinion of this book.

A Donkey's Little Tale by R. Mitchell Scott

This is such a cute book full of stanzas that rhyme. The story flows perfectly because of that, I think. The story is the Christmas story, but its is from the perspective of the donkey that Mary rode. It wasn't a weird perspective at all because it simply told how the donkey saw Mary was about to be a mother and could see the tender way in which Joseph cared for Mary. Then he tells of the journey to the stable and the birth of Jesus.

The illustrations in this book are very cute. Apparently they based it off of clay creatures, which really made this story come alive visually. The colors are soft and they look like clay people and animals. I really enjoyed looking at the pictures, and so did my children.

Even though Christmas is over, this is a book that would be perfect to get and save for next year, or to read anytime to remember Jesus' birth.

______________

I received this book free from Ambassador International in exchange for my honest opinion of this book.

The Manger Mouse by Sarah Martin Byrd

This is a cute book to read at Christmas. It's from the perspective of a little mouse who trusts his mother about what will be arriving in their stable. The preparation they go to for Jesus' arrival made me think about the preparation in my heart and the anticipation for Jesus' next arrival.

 

I liked how the baby mouse did the job that God created him to do. It was a good example to my children of how God uses different people for different purposes, but they are all needed. This little mouse was to keep Jesus warm in the manger. No one else could do that job because they couldn't fit through the hole. How beautiful it is to be reminded that even the smallest tasks are important to Jesus.

 

My 4-year-old and 6-year-old really liked this book. The pictures held their attention and the story was engaging. I would definitely recommend this as a Christmas book! You can buy it at http://ambassador-international.com/books/the-manger-mouse/.

________

ABOUT THE BOOK:

 

What really happened the night Jesus was born?  Matty’s mother tells him he will take part in the most important thing ever to happen in history. Why him, a meek and lowly stable mouse? All Matty the manger mouse wants to do is snuggle into the warmth of his mother and fall asleep—but the Creator of the world has another plan for him. Will the little stable mouse surrender to his own needs or bow to the will of the Savior? Children and adults will be touched by Matty’s brave little heart. As the story of that first Christmas unfolds, come join Matty and all the other stable dwellers—portrayed in lush and charming pastel illustrations.

About Sarah Martin Byrd

Sarah Martin Byrd is a graduate of the Institute of Children’s Literature. She is a published novelist (Guardian Spirit; The Color of My Heart), newspaper columnist, blogger, and former advertising manager for a regional newspaper. Sarah loves sharing her life story with children of all ages. She speaks at schools, book clubs, libraries, and book festivals. Sarah lives at the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in North Carolina with her husband of 37 years. Her only daughter and grandchild live close by. When not creating new stories, she loves reading, camping, canoeing, fishing, exploring the world, taking daily walks, and spending time with her family.

________

I received this book free from Ambassador International in exchange for my honest opinion of this book.

The Berenstain Bears Keep the Faith by Mike Berenstain

The Berenstain Bears are a family favorite in our household.  I like how they teach the children real truths from a fiction standpoint.  My kids like them and I like that they teach about sharing, strangers, and other topics and character qualities.

I was curious as to how they would handle the topic of faith and how they would explain it at such a child-like level.  I liked how they brought in science and how we can appreciate science and still believe in the resurrected Jesus.  I also like their definition of faith: "Trusting in God's love."

We read this book and before I even put it down, my kids asked if we could read it again.  I'm putting this book on my shelf to be read over and over again, along with the other Berenstain Bears books.

___________________

I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers and Booksneeze in exchange for my honest opinion of this book.

The Big Book of Laugh-out-loud Jokes for Kids by Rob Elliott

We have had so much fun with this book!  My 5-year-old had just learned how to do knock knock jokes right before we received this book.  His jokes weren't quite funny yet, but this book has helped him actually tell jokes.  We have enjoyed telling good, clean jokes that I don't have to censor.

The book includes knock knock jokes, question and answer jokes, animal jokes, and even includes some "did you know" information.  It is 181 pages of good clean jokes that even I enjoy telling. 

If you know any child who likes jokes or needs a little help in learning jokes, grab this book.  It was perfect for my 5 and 3-year-old, but I think it'd be good for any elementary age child.

______________________

I received this book free from Reveal Publishers in exchange for my honest opinion of this book.

The God Puzzle by Valerie Ackermann

I am always on the lookout for Bible studies that would be great for me to use with my children, whether in school or for the summer.  I am very cautious about what I use because I want it to be biblical and not just fluff. I don't want it watered down or basic.  I want deep truths because even a child can understand these.

I was pleased to find out that this workbook was just perfect for our use in school in a few years.  I think my 5-year-old could answer some of the questions now, but I want to save it for when he can fill the answers out himself.  It's geared or ages 7-12.  The biblical truths are geared for all ages!

The pages are bright and colorful.  I even like the child-like font they chose to write in.  The first section of each topic is "Get the facts...Observation."  It's all about what the Bible says about the certain topics.  Then it moves to Interpretation and what does it mean. I've always feared this section, because I firmly believe the Bible ill interpret itself through other scriptures, etc.  Many books use this to speak their own opinion.  I appreciated that there are Bible verses to help answer the interpretation part and that Valerie Ackerman doesn't use it to express her thoughts.

Some sections have a "tool" section or an "application" section or a "What does God think about it" section.  Each lesson varies in what section it has.  Each section does have a "read it" section that has extra verses already written out for the child to read.  Then it's followed by a "talk about it" section that allows the child and parent to go into further discussion.  It also allows the parent to gauge how much the child understands on the topic.  The last section is a "talk to God about it" section.  The child can either pray about what they have learned or write their prayers out on a following page.

The topics are so good in here for children.  There are 36 lessons.  Just a few topics discussed are: Who is God, What is sin, What is the Trinity, How do I Accept Jesus as My Savior, How is the Christian Life like a Battle, What is Communion, What is Worship, How do I Study the Bible, and so much more.  Each lesson is wonderful, in my opinion.

I hope she writes more of these books in the near future so that we can use these in our schooling!

You can read more reviews on this book by going to http://litfusegroup.com/author/VAckermann.
______________

About the Book                     

The God Puzzle is a colorful, easy to use tool to help you communicate to your child the rich truths about God, His ways, His will and His love. The God Puzzle will help you address doctrinal themes of the Christian faith in a kid friendly way, present Bible lessons in an interactive way that will hold the child’s attention and deliver quality teaching with no preparation needed. 75% of children leave the church when they leave home. Something isn’t working. Sunday School isn’t doing it all. Kids need answers, good ones. And they need them from you, the parent. This book enables you to give them simple, clear answers.
What makes The God Puzzle unique?
- ready made discussion questions for parent to ask their child in each lesson
- can be done at any pace that works with your family…every night, once a week, 10 minutes here, 30 minutes there…it fits into realistic family life
- puts the pieces together for a child to understand God, the Bible, and the Christian faith
- in each lesson the responds to the truth so they understand their relationship to God is personal and life transforming
- any parent, whether they know nothing, or a lot about God can start teaching their child today with no prep
- deep theology put into language a child can understand
- deeply Biblical, each lesson points to Christ
- put in an order that starts with creation, and teaches the Bible as one story that all points to Christ
- child stays engaged by filling in blanks, crosswords, drawing, matching and using their Bibles as they learn

About the Author
 

Valerie Ackermann has a BA in Theology and has been a full time Children's Ministry Director at Parkwood Community Church in California for over 10 years. She is also a weekly Sunday school teacher, wife, and busy mom of two boys ages 9 and 11. She has hands-on experience as a children's ministry professional, teaching and leading children of all ages. Growing up in a Christian family in the small town of Saskatchewan Canada, she has wonderful memories of knowing God from an early age. She has a passion for kids to know the deep truths of God. Find out more at LeadMeToGod.com.
______________
I received this book free from Litfuse Publicity Group and the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion of this book.

Shoe Garden and Other Shoe Stories by Joyce Fishman and Brenda Finne

This book is a cute collection of stories on shoes.  For my shoe-loving daughter, she liked this book.  Some of the book felt a little strange to me, but it did have some fun ways to look at our shoes.  I liked the part where it was said to think about the journeys our shoes will go on when we put them on today.  That's a fun consideration in the mornings.

The artwork is pretty and colorful, but I wouldn't say that it is the best I've seen in a children's book.  It didn't take away from the book at all and my daughter still loved it.  It was just not the best children's book I've read.

The book itself is a collection of shoe stories.  The stories are: Shoe Garden, Shoe Dreams, When Shoes Can Fly, and Butterfly Shoes.

_________________

I was given this book free by the authors and PR by the Book in exchange for my honest opinion of this book.

Pirates on the Farm by Denette Fretz and Gene Barretta

This is such a cute kids book!  My son loves cowboys so I knew this book was one that we HAD to read together.  It has already become a family favorite for us.  The illustrations in this book are really pretty and definitely eye-catching for the young kids. 

The storyline itself is just as good.  As I was reading it, I knew there was a message so I immediately began looking for it.  I really liked how the Dad showed love to the pirates even when they were a bit different than the rest of the people he normally interacted with.  This was a powerful book that hit home with us as we've been talking a lot about loving and respecting people even if they treat us badly.  I like how the Dad never disrespected them, but kept reaching out to them.  It was a perfect lesson for us to talk to about with our kids on a level they understood.

I like the hardback book because it won't be easily damaged, which is good because I plan to keep it!  The back has a definitions page called "Stretch's Totally True Seadog Definition."  It has all of the "pirate speak" defined. 

Overall, this would make a great Christmas present for any child.  My oldest, my son, is 5-years-old and loves pirates.  My daughter is 3 and was engaged through the whole book.  It says on the book that it is geared for ages 4-8.  It is also a part of the new series, The Next Door Series.  Excited to read the next one in February.  For any young pirate-lover, this book is a must!

_______________

I received this book free from Zondervan Publishers and Booksneeze in exchange for my honest opinion of this book.

 

Bumper Wipe Clean Activities

My children have thoroughly enjoyed this book.  I have a 5 year old and a 3 year old.  They couldn't wait to open this book when it came in the mail.  I've been able to take it with us to doctors appointments and other places that I need a quiet activity for the kids.  The size is the perfect size to fit in your purse or a small bag, which is great.  So many activity books are larger and require a big bag to shove it in or else you get stuck toting it!

The pages are very easy to wipe off and come clean with very little effort. There are different activities inside, like finding same/different and puzzles and dot-to-dots, along with many more.  The pen comes with the book and stays nicely in it's pen holder.  Then pen isn't washable, I don't think.  That's the only downside.

I would definitely recommend this book for any mom who needs some quiet, portable activities to take places.  The only problem is they may fight over one, so you may need 2!

___________

I received this book free from Kregel Publications in exchange for my honest opinion of this book.

A Surprise for Lily by Mary Ann Kinsinger and Suzanne Woods Fisher

These are some of my favorite books to read to my children.  I liken these to The Little House on the Prairie books, except obviously set in the Amish setting and not the prairie.

 

My daughter, who is 3, likes to take these books off my shelf and look at them.  In fact, I had to keep hunting down this book because she liked to carry it around.  The cover of this book kept drawing her to it! 

 

This is book 4 in the Adventures of Lily Lapp series.  I think that it's a good sign if adults like this book despite it being written for the ages of 8-12.  That's what I have come to like in Suzanne Woods Fisher.  I feel like no matter the book or the age the book is written for, her writing is consistent and good at drawing in readers of all ages.  Just because this book is meant for the younger crowd, it still has a great storyline and well....as the book states, surprises.

 

I like the curiosity of Lily and the predicaments she finds herself in.  She truly does mean well and has good intentions, but since she is a child, she thinks and acts like a child.  This fact alone has made reading these books out loud to my children great discussion starters.  We've been able to talk about the choices Lily made and the consequences.  That alone makes these books a must.

 

I'm impressed with how both writers are able to go back to a child mindset and write these books from a child's perspective.  It makes these books so much more interesting because you very rarely get a child's perspective throughout a book.

 

I've said it before and I'll say it again and again...these books are a must for all little girls and boys!  One of my personal favorites in this book (and in all of them) are the question and answers about the Amish.  I love learning those little tidbits of information!

____________

I received this book free from Revell Publishers in exchange for my honest opinion of this book.

Bible Stories Painting Book 2

My children could hardly wait to open this book up.  My son saw it first so he thought that it was all his.  Needless to say, he was disapointed he couldn't do it all!

I like the paint palette that is included.  It's not messy at all.  I grabbed some paint brushes we had and let them get started.  You do have to remember to keep the book open to let the paint palette dry, but I didn't mind.  It dried really fast and so did the paint pages.

I liked that they were painting Bible stories.  We were able to talk about the stories while they were painting.  That was a fun conversation starter that was great for us.

If you have multiple children, I highly recommend you getting one book for each child.  Otherwise, you will hear fighting!

__________

I received this book free from Kregel Publications in exchange for my honest opinion of this book.