Clever Cub Gives Thanks to God by Bob Hartman

Clever Cub Gives Thanks to God
by Bob Hartman,
Steve Brown (Illustrations)

ISBN-13: 9780830781553
Paperback: 24 pages
Publisher: David C Cook
Released: September 1st 2021

Source: I received a review copy of this book from the publisher through Amazon Vine.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Clever Cub is a curious little bear who LOVES to cuddle up with the Bible and learn about God. Clever Cub wants to give thanks to God but doesn’t know how. So Mama Bear tells the story of Peter and John healing a man—a man who then gave thanks to God in a wonderful way! This engaging picture book tells the story of God's healing in Acts 3 and teaches children ages 3-6 the joy of showing gratitude to God.


My Review:
Clever Cub Gives Thanks to God is a Christian children's book is aimed at ages 3-6. It started with the mother thanking God for something good and teaching her cub to think about what he'd thank God for. She then told him the story from Acts 3:1-10 where Peter heals a lame beggar. The cub asked things like if the "temple gate called Beautiful" was in rainbow colors, and the illustrations showed what he's imagining. Still, the illustrations (while cartoon style) were fairly accurate in giving an idea of what things would have looked like. It's a fun way to teach this important lesson, and my 5-year-old niece enjoyed it. It's a bit wordy for my 2-year-old niece, though.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

The Queen's Secret by Jessica Day George

The Queen's Secret by Jessica Day George ISBN-13: 9781547600892 Hardcover: 256 pages Publisher: Bloomsbury Children's Books Released: May 14, 2019

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Anthea knows the truth about horses. They're not carriers of deadly disease like everyone in their kingdom thinks; they're majestic creatures who share their thoughts and feelings with her through The Way. Anthea has convinced the king of this, but at a cost--he demands that horses and riders with The Way do his bidding.

But when a deadly plague breaks out, the people believe that horses are the cause. As more fall ill, it's up to Anthea and her friends to transport medicine, all while keeping out of reach from Anthea's wicked mother.

Continuing the sweeping storytelling of The Rose Legacy, bestselling author Jessica Day George delights readers--especially horse lovers--once again.


My Review:
The Queen's Secret is a tween fantasy novel involving horses. This novel is the 2nd in the series, but you don't need to read the first book to understand this one as this book referred back to and described the main events in the previous book. This second book ended on a bit of a cliffhanger, though, with no one in immediate danger but like this was the first half of a longer book.

The main characters acted realistically and were engaging. Suspense came from a plague breaking out and the riders trying to help while being blamed for it. The world-building gave the story a unique feel--cars, trains, and warships, but also horses and gift that allows people to communicate with horses. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd highly recommend this enjoyable fantasy adventure.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

Esther's Gragger by Martha Seif Simpson

Esther's Gragger by Martha Seif Simpson ISBN-13: 9781937786755 Hardback: 40 pages Publisher: Wisdom Tales Released: Jan. 7, 2019

Source: Review copy from the publisher.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Young Esther is given a special gragger (a noisemaker) to celebrate the fun, and sometimes raucous, Jewish festival of Purim. An older boy bullies her to get it for himself, but Esther reacts with great courage and intelligence, her actions reflecting the biblical story on which Purim is based.

The appendix helps readers understand the history of Purim, how it is celebrated today, what a "gragger" is, and how to make a simple noisemaker. Following the award-winning The Dreidel That Wouldn't Spin, author Martha Seif Simpson and illustrator D. Yael Bernhard have again created a new toyshop tale of playful language and images that hint at ancient roots and hidden meanings, which are just waiting for young readers to find.


My Review:
Esther's Gragger is a children's fiction about Purim celebrations. Several children want the same gragger, or noisemaker, for the children's parade. When a bully tries to take it away from the girl, Esther, she stands up to him. The story provided information about the Jewish festival of Purim as well as a nice story about standing against bullies. The illustrations were colorful and of the same style as the cover. There was nonfiction information at the back of the book about what Purim is, Purim practices today, what graggers are and how to make one. Overall, I'd recommend this charming book.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

The Gift That I Can Give by Kathie Lee Gifford

The Gift That I Can Give by Kathie Lee Gifford ISBN-13: 9781400209248 Hardcover: 32 pages Publisher: Thomas Nelson Released: Oct. 23, 2018

Source: Review copy from the publisher through BookLook.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
The Gift That I Can Give is a heartwarming story that shows how all children can do something today to make a positive impact on others. From simply being kind to giving a loved one an extra-big hug to cheering for a friend, this story will inspire children with countless ways to show God's love, leading them to want to read it again and again.


My Review:
The Gift That I Can Give is a children's book about how everyone is unique but they can show God's love to others through their actions. It starts with a little girl declaring "I am one of a kind -- I am my very own ME! Exactly the person God made me to be." This girl then thinks about discovering her unique gift as she grows up, like being talented at dancing, singing, sports, or playing music or at being thoughtful and kind to animals, friends, or family. She then thinks about how God gave her this gift to give it to others, and that gift is His love.

When reading the first pages, I felt like the author was too limiting by implying a person had only one thing she was good at and that you have to be uniquely gifted in some way to be kind, thoughtful, etc. But then the girl wonders if her gift "is all of these" and the end concludes that the "gift" is a gift God gave us and expands the possibilities to any way a person can show God's love to others. The pictures were simple in style but still realistic in what was depicted (a playground, a bedroom, and so forth). Overall, it's a nice book.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.


Excerpt: Read an excerpt using Google Preview.

The Guggenheim Mystery by Robin Stevens

The Guggenheim Mystery by Robin Stevens ISBN-13: 9780525582359 Hardcover: 336 pages Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Released: Oct. 16, 2018

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description from Goodreads:
The adventure that began in Siobhan Dowd's popular and acclaimed novel The London Eye Mystery at long last continues with Ted, Kat, and their cousin Salim investigating a theft at the Guggenheim Museum that's been pinned on Salim's mother!

When Ted and his big sister, Kat, take a trip to New York to visit their cousin Salim and their aunt Gloria, they think they're prepared for big-city adventures. But when a famous painting is stolen from the Guggenheim Museum, where Aunt Gloria works, the surprises begin to mount faster than they could have anticipated. With the police looking at Aunt Gloria as the prime suspect, Ted, Kat, and Salim become sleuthing partners, following a trail of clues across NYC to prove her innocence--and to pinpoint the real thief. Ultimately, it comes down to Ted, whose brain works in its own very unique way, to find the key to the mystery.


My Review:
The Guggenheim Mystery is a children's mystery. The point-of-view hero is a 12-year-old boy, and he worked to solve the mystery along with his older sister and his cousin. He's well informed, very observant, and good at reasoning things out, but he has trouble dealing with new or unusual situations. He doesn't think or act quite like other kids. He had trouble coping with being in New York City when he normally lives in London.

The kids asked questions in a reasonable way and looked at sources that might not have been obvious to everyone. They recorded what they discovered and eliminated suspects as best they could. The answer to whodunit and how was foreshadowed enough that it can be guessed, though it's not obvious.

This book is the second book in a series, but you don't need to read the previous book to understand this one. This book did not spoil the mystery of the previous book. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd highly recommend this enjoyable story.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.


Excerpt: Read an excerpt using Google Preview.

Strongheart by Candace Fleming

Strongheart by Candace Fleming ISBN-13: 9781101934104 Hardcover: 256 pages Publisher: Schwartz & Wade Books Released: Feb. 6, 2018

Source: ARC review copy from the publisher through Amazon Vine.

Book Description, Modified from NetGalley:
For fans of Balto and other real-life dog stories, here's a heavily illustrated middle-grade novel about a canine movie star of the 1920s, dramatically told in both words and pictures by an acclaimed author and a Caldecott Medal-winning illustrator.

When movie director Larry Trimble travels to Berlin searching for his next big star--a dog!--he finds Etzel, a fierce, highly trained three-year-old German shepherd police dog. Larry sees past the snarls and growls and brings Etzel back to Hollywood, where he is renamed Strongheart. Along with screenwriter Jane Murfin, Larry grooms his protege to be a star of the silver screen--and he succeeds, starting with Strongheart's first film, The Love Master, which is released in 1921. Strongheart is soon joined by a leading lady, a German shepherd named Lady Julie, and becomes a sensation. But when Strongheart is accused of attacking a girl, he must prove his innocence--and it will take his best acting skills to do so.

Touching, charming, playful, and based on real events, this moving tale by Candace Fleming and illustrated by Eric Rohmann tells all about "the wonder dog" who took America by storm.


My Review:
Strongheart is an illustrated middle-grade novel based on the true story of a movie star dog. We follow Strongheart's life from when he was chosen to be a police dog as a puppy, to his being chosen to be a movie dog and his learning how to play again, to the filming of two of his movies: The Silent Call (1921) and The Love Master (1924), to incidents that happened on publicity tours. The author took information that is known about Strongheart and used that information (while filling in the unknown details with fiction) or made it more dramatic (like the trial at the end that is based on an incident that never went to trial according to her end notes). There were cute illustrations of Strongheart's life mixed in with the text. Overall, I'd recommend this quick, fun read, especially to dog lovers.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

Avalanche! by Terry Lynn Johnson

Avalanche! by Terry Lynn Johnson, Illustrated by Jani Orban ISBN-13: 9780544970397 Hardback: 112 pages Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers Released: Jan. 2, 2018

Source: ARC Review copy from the publisher through Amazon Vine.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
A high-stakes adventure series perfect for fans of the I Survived series and Hatchet. Twelve-year-old twins Ashley and Ryan are skiing with their parents in Wyoming's Grand Teton Mountains where there is a ground-shaking rumble. Unstable snow rushes downhill and buries them in icy white. It will take all of their knowledge and grit to survive. With seventeen years of hands-on experience and training in remote areas, survival expert Terry Lynn Johnson (Ice Dogs; Sled Dog School) creates on-the-edge-of-your-seat storytelling featuring the real skills that kids need to survive a disaster. This page-turner with illustrations includes survival tips from the National Avalanche Center and U.S. Forest Service. You could have a better chance of surviving a real-life avalanche after reading this book!


My Review:
Avalanche! is an adventure story for children ages 7-10. The story follows the 12-year-old heroine and her twin brother on a day when they're caught in an avalanche when out skiing by themselves. The author included real information about how to avoid or survive an avalanche, working it into the story as things the heroine remembers from a survival course they took. The heroine shows great courage while getting her injured brother to help even though she's injured and they face scary situations. I'd recommend this interesting, quick read.

There was no sex or bad language.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

Noah Drake and the Dragon Killer by Ben Russell

Noah Drake and the Dragon Killer by Ben Russell ISBN-13: 9781540358080 Paperback: 176 pages Publisher: Createspace Released: Nov. 10, 2016

Source: ebook review copy from the author.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Noah Drake loves dinosaurs and would like to dig up dinosaur bones someday. Then he discovered that real dinosaurs might still be around! While on vacation to Lake Champion with his family, he hears stories about Champ, a lake monster. He'd love to capture Champ, just like he captures dinos on a video game he enjoys. But he starts to rethink things when he meets two men who are set on killing Champ for fame and fortune. Noah Drake And The Dragon Killer is a middle grade to young adult story that teaches creation. You'll enjoy Noah Drake if you like Jonathan Park!


My Review:
Noah Drake and the Dragon Killer is a Christian middle grade adventure novel. The story follows a family during their eventful vacation to Lake Champion, where some of them see the local sea monster (Champ) and encounter some dragon hunters. Noah would love to capture Champ--like on a video game he plays--but the dragon hunters are out to kill Champ for fame and fortune. The "good guy" main characters were engaging while the "bad guy" characters were largely comical.

Several characters were Christians who believed that God created dinosaurs about 6,000 years ago and that we knew them by the name "dragons" until the 1800s. There was also a simplified explanation of why a character didn't believe in evolution. There was no sex, gore, or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this fun, engaging story.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

Princess Sophie and the Six Swans by Kim Jacobs

Princess Sophie and the Six Swans by Kim Jacobs ISBN-13: 9781937786670 Hardback: 40 pages Publisher: Wisdom Tales Released: April 1, 2017

Source: Review copy from the publisher.

Book Description, Modified from Back Cover:
Princess Sophie, the spirited young heroine of this adapted tale from the Brothers Grimm, finds herself faced with an incredible challenge and some lessons to learn. She had forgotten her departed mother's warning to temper loyalty and strength with a compassionate heart. Antagonized by Sophie's resentful words, her powerful new stepmother turns Sophie's six brothers into swans and sets her the task of saving them.

Will Sophie succeed in helping her brothers? Can she spin six shirts made from the thorny thistle, while never speaking a word, even in her defense? And what will happen when King Yoren captures Sophie and takes her prisoner?

Featuring stunning artwork by renowned illustrator Kim Jacobs, her retelling of this classic Brothers Grimm fairytale also contains an author's note with fascinating details on family heraldry and mute swans.


My Review:
Princess Sophie and the Six Swans is a retelling of the Grimm fairy tale and is intended for ages 4 and up. The author added some details to the basic tale to help explain why certain things happen. The heroine's harsh words toward the stepmother prompted the stepmother's curse that Sophie must not speak until the thorny shirts are completed. So Sophie has to grow in character to be able to complete the difficult task.

Beautiful illustrations fill the pages. Details showing the setting and character's body language further develop the story and draw the reader in. I've enjoyed many of the Wisdom Tales Press books, but this engaging book is my favorite so far. I'd highly recommend it to fans of children's fairy tales.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.


Excerpt: View an excerpt on the publisher's website.

The Rock Maiden by Natasha Yim

The Rock Maiden by Natasha Yim Illustrated by: Pirkko Vainio ISBN-13: 9781937786656 Hardcover: 36 pages Publisher: Wisdom Tales Released: March 1, 2017

Source: Review copy from the publisher.

Book Description from Goodreads:
When her fisherman husband fails to come home after a storm at sea, the beautiful maiden Ling Yee is heartbroken. Every morning, she puts her baby on her back and clambers to the top of a cliff looking for any signs of his return. But day after day, she is disappointed. The villagers try to convince her to give up her vigil. "No," she would say, "He will come home soon." Tin Hau, the Goddess of the Heavens, takes pity on her grief and turns Ling Yee and her child into stone so that they would mourn no more. The fisherman eventually finds his way home--only to discover that his wife has been transformed into the Rock Maiden.

Will the family forever be kept apart? Find out in this re-envisioning of an old Hong Kong legend by award-winning author Natasha Yim, featuring stunning illustrations by renowned Finnish artist Pirkko Vainio.


My Review:
The Rock Maiden is an old Hong Kong legend, modified for ages 4 & up. The text tells a compelling, sweet story about the love and loyalty of a husband and wife. The legend was modified to provide us with a happy ending. The illustrations have the look of watercolors and are lovely. They illustrate the text but also fill out the story by showing details about village life. This makes it feel like a true tale. I enjoyed studying these illustrations. Overall, I'd recommend this juvenile fiction book.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.


Excerpt: View a full page spread from book.

When God Made You by Matthew Paul Turner

When God Made You by Matthew Paul Turner Illustrated by: David Catrow ISBN-13: 9781601429186 Hardcover: 40 pages Publisher: Waterbrook Press Released: Feb. 28, 2017

Source: Review copy from the publisher.

Book Description from Goodreads:
From early on, children are looking to discover their place in the world and longing to understand how their personalities, traits, and talents fit in. The assurance that they are deeply loved and a unique creation in our big universe is certain to help them spread their wings and fly.

Through playful, charming rhyme and vivid, fantastical illustrations, When God Made You inspires young readers to learn about their own special gifts and how they fit into God's divine plan as they grow, explore, and begin to create for themselves.

'Cause when God made YOU, somehow God knew
That the world needed someone exactly like you!


My Review:
When God Made You is a Christian children's book for ages 3 to 7. It reminds me of Dr. Seuss' books. The rhyming text has a nice cadence to it that is fun to read, and the colorful, fanciful illustrations will catch your eye. I've read this book several times already, and I'm an adult! Overall, I'd highly recommend this book.

The text encourages readers that God made us the way that we are and that He delights when we explore and use our unique talents. We're also encouraged to have faith, hope, love, and be kind.

I'll mention that the text says "God pictured your nose and all ten of your toes. / The sound of your voice? God had it composed." Some children do not have ten toes, so it's too bad it didn't just say "all of your toes." Also, there are a couple of words like "debut" and "revue" that may need to be explained the first time through.

The illustrations are very colorful and full of life and detail. You can spend some time looking at everything, making it more interesting to read again and again. After the text says "when you make-believe, the stories conceived," the illustrations went in a fanciful, imaginative direction that didn't necessarily match the text. It's clear by the end that what happened is make-believe, but it's a little surprising the first time through.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

Where Does Love Hide? by Mary Manz Simon

Where Does Love Hide? by Mary Manz Simon Illustrated by Hannah Wood ISBN-13: 9781496411686 Board Book: 18 pages Publisher: Tyndale House Released: Jan. 1, 2017

Source: Review copy from the publisher.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
In Where Does Love Hide? children are reminded that they not only receive love but have the opportunity to share love. Looking under the fun, lift-a-flap feature, children will see examples of everyday love opportunities. Each page includes a memory verse and an example of a way to share God's love. Because love is an abstract concept and young children are concrete thinkers, they must gradually learn to understand love by what they experience.


My Review:
Where Does Love Hide? has 6 double-spread pages that each demonstrate a way for children to show love. Each page has "Where does love hide?" on one side and a flap for children to open on the other. Behind the flap is a picture that completes the scene. On the flap is text describing how to show love and a Bible verse relating to that action. (For example, "A friend is always a friend." Proverbs 17:17) The problem is that you'll lose much of the text if the flap (which is thin cardboard) gets ripped off.

So what are the ways to show love? Inviting a friend over to your house to play, helping Mom to put the groceries away, taking turns when playing with a toy at the park, sharing your cookies with others, helping a wheelchair-bound grandpa in the yard, and saying (or hearing) "I love you" at bedtime. The illustrations are stylized and simple (like the cover picture). They illustrate the text but don't go much beyond that.

Compared to the inviting and charming Lots of Love, this felt like a "because it's good for you" teaching tale. Probably because it's intended to be a teaching book. The flaps are a fun idea, but I really doubt they'll last and it's unfortunate that much of the text is on the flap.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

A Royal Christmas to Remember by Jeanna Young and Jacqueline Johnson

A Royal Christmas to Remember by Jeanna Young Jacqueline Johnson, Illustrated by: Omar Aranda ISBN-13: 9780310748021 Hardback: 32 Publisher: Zonderkidz Released: Oct. 11, 2016

Source: Review copy from the publisher through BookLook.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
With the arrival of the most spectacular winter in years and Christmas only a night away, Princesses Joy, Grace, Faith, Charity, and Hope find themselves in the midst of a scene right out of a holiday fairytale. But then the threat of bandits in the village lead the king away from the castle on Christmas Eve!

Suddenly, the bandits come crashing into the castle. Praying to God for courage and safety, the princesses are soon rescued by five brave squires. The next day, the princesses go to the village to see how they can be of help to the people, discovering that the true meaning of Christmas is in sharing rather than storing up things for themselves.


My Review:
A Royal Christmas to Remember is a children's book for ages 4-8 years old. The illustrations are of the "animated movie" style and do a good job of illustrating the text, though I never did figure out which princess was which. It's a nice story about what Christmas is really about. It included the father reading to the princesses about Christ's birth, and they sing a Christmas song.

Yet the main lesson of the story seemed to be that Christmas is about sharing rather than greedily (their words at the very end) storing up things for yourself. I thought what they decided to share was very odd, though. The village had been burned and many precious items stolen, yet the princesses give away...their Christmas decorations! And their gifts.

A sacrifice, to be sure, but I'm thinking the villagers would have better appreciated an invitation to stay at that large castle until their houses were fixed or something more practical. I guess considering what will actually help those in need is a topic for a future book, though. Overall, it's a fun story that kids will enjoy, even if this adult was a little disappointed.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.


Excerpt: Read an excerpt using Google Preview.

God Bless My Friends by Hannah C. Hall

God Bless My Friends by Hannah C. Hall, Steve Whitlow (Illustrations) ISBN-13: 9780718089535 Board book: 20 pages Publisher: Thomas Nelson Released: Oct. 11, 2016

Source: Review copy from the publisher through BookLook.

Book Description from Back Cover:
Hi, my friend! Come play with me—though we’re as different as can be! Big and small, short and tall, fluffy and prickly . . . these playmates of all shapes and sizes are the best of friends. Share some giggles with your little one about how fun friendships—and differences—can be!


My Review:
God Bless My Friends is a board book for young children. According to the publisher, this book is intended to teach "the importance of being a friend to all kinds of people, including ones who are different from them." The interior illustrations are of the same style as the cover and feature those same animals. The book starts, "Whenever I can be with you, / That's when the fun begins. / On days we play, I love to say, / 'God bless my greatest friends!'"

Each page shows different types of animals playing together. Some pages emphasize playing with people different than you: different talents, different heights or sizes, and different physical appearances. The other pages show these different animals helping each other, sharing with each other, cheering each other up, and simply having fun together ("We romp and stomp. We jump and tromp. / With you, I'm never bored!").

The illustrations can prompt further comments on how people can be different yet still enjoy playing together and helping each other. My niece is currently a newborn, but I think she's going to enjoy this book when she's a little older. Overall, I'd recommend this book.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.