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.

Gifts of Our Lady of Guadalupe by Demi

Gifts of Our Lady of Guadalupe: Patroness of Latin America by Demi ISBN-13: Hardback: 40 pages Publisher: Wisdom Tales Released: June 7, 2018

Source: Review copy from the publisher.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Just before dawn on Saturday the 9th of December, 1531, Juan Diego was on his way to Mass near Mexico City. He came to a hill known as Tepeyac just as day broke. He could hear the singing of many beautiful birds, but then the singing suddenly stopped. As he looked towards the top of the hill he heard someone calling his name. He was amazed to see a beautiful lady. Her clothes glimmered like the sun and her brilliance made the rocks and plants sparkle like jewels. Juan Diego bowed deeply before her, as she told him that she was Holy Mary, the Mother of God. Then she instructed him to go to the bishop in Mexico City and ask him to build a great church so that people would come to know her love, compassion, and protection. But the bishop wished for a sign.

In this retelling of the story by award-winning author, Demi, find out how the miracles performed by the Virgin of Guadalupe persuaded the bishop to build the church; how they caused ten million Aztecs to convert to Catholicism within just eight years; and why the basilica dedicated to the Virgin of Guadalupe today receives 20 million pilgrims per year, making it the most popular Christian pilgrimage site in the world.


My Review:
Gifts of Our Lady of Guadalupe is a 32-page illustrated hardback book for children. The author tells the legend of how the miracles performed by the Virgin of Guadalupe persuaded a bishop to build a basilica dedicated to her plus convince millions of Aztecs to convert to Catholicism.

I am not a Catholic, but I believe that Catholics venerate Mary but do not worship her. Therefore, Catholics may have a problem with the book where it says, "...for imprinted in dazzling colors on Juan Diego's white cloak was a full-sized image of Mary, the Holy Mother of God! The bishop and all the priests fell to their knees in worship." And the accompanying illustration makes it look like they are worshiping the image of Mary. The illustrations are simple and look like different materials were cut into the shape of the bodies for the clothing and then the faces and details drawn in. Overall, it's a nice looking 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.

Crazy About Cats by Owen Davey

Crazy About Cats by Owen Davey ISBN-13: 9781911171164 Hardcover: 40 pages Publisher: Flying Eye Books Released: Sept. 12, 2017

Source: Review copy from the publisher through Amazon Vine.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Did you know that the fishing cat has partially webbed paws for catching fish? Or that pumas can leap over 15 feet into trees? There are roughly 38 species of cats today, each one superbly adapted to their environment - whether that be in the rainforest or the desert!


My Review:
Crazy About Cats is a children's nonfiction about big cats. The illustrations were stylized (rather than highly realistic). However, they showed the unique characteristics of the different types of cats (lions, pumas, etc.) so it was still easy to identify the cats. The text talked about things like unique big cat features, their coat patterns, their hunting strategies (fish, hide and pounce, etc.), territory, and roaring. He also had featured cats where he gave more information about some cats that I've never even heard of before (margay, rusty-spotted cat) and some more common types (lion, tiger). Overall, I liked this book and would recommend it.


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.

Found: Psalm 23

Found: Psalm 23 by Sally Lloyd-Jones Illustrated by: Jago ISBN-13: 9780310757504 Board book: 20 pages Publisher: Zonderkidz Released: Feb. 21, 2017

Source: Review copy from the publisher through BookLook.

Book Description, Modified from BookLook:
Found is based on Psalm 23. Written by Sally Lloyd-Jones and illustrated by Jago, little ones will fall in love with this padded cover board book that reminds them of God’s never stopping, never giving up, unbreakable, always and forever love.


My Review:
Found: Psalm 23 is a board book for young children (suggested for 4-8 years old). It loosely translates Psalm 23 using simple words and ideas so that a child can understand it. It has the reader (as a lamb) and God (as the shepherd) as the main characters. The lamb and shepherd have very expressive body language despite the somewhat loose illustration style. (It's clear what everything in the illustrations is meant to be, yet it's not highly detailed.) The colors used and the body language of the characters reinforced the peaceful or frightening moments.

I've been looking for a book that would help to describe God to a very young child. This book clearly shows how God cares for us by providing us with food and everything we need. How he guides us, protects us, etc. And it ends with "Wherever I go, I know // God's never stopping, never giving up, unbreaking, always and forever love will go, too."

My favorite part is the illustrations and text for the "Even when I walk through the dark, scary, lonely places... // I won't be afraid. Because my Shepherd knows where I am. He is here with me." I'd highly recommend this comforting and engaging board 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.
(Amazon's "Look Inside" feature shows more of the book.)

Good Good Father for Little Ones by Chris Tomlin & Pat Barrett

Good Good Father for Little Ones by Chris Tomlin & Pat Barrett ISBN-13: 9780718086978 Board Book: 24 pages Publisher: Thomas Nelson Released: Jan. 31, 2017

Source: Review copy from the publisher through BookLook.

Book Description, Modified from BookLook:
With sweet, rhyming text, Good Good Father for Little Ones explores many of the attributes that make God such a good, good Father: like a warrior, He protects you; like a teacher, He helps you learn and grow; like a king, he rules with your very best in mind; like a farmer, He grows the yummy food you need; like a musician, He loves to see you dance and giggle. Most of all, a good, good Father loves you!

Illustrated with stunning art by Lorna Hussey and penned by Grammy Award-winning Christian music artist Chris Tomlin and Pat Barrett.


My Review:
Good Good Father for Little Ones is a children's board book. I thought it was supposed to be about God, but there isn't a single mention of God in the text. The book started by asking "What is a good, good father like?" and then describes this father. But unless you know that the lion with the crown is meant to be God, it sounds like a list of things that a good human father will do.

Perhaps if the text had said, "God is a good, good father," I would have liked the book. The illustrations and rhyming text are simple, but nice. The book did describe some things about God--he protects you, teaches you, grows food, loves to see you dance and giggle, listens to you, forgives you, etc. A few are a little obscure, like "gives you medicine and fixes boo-boos," which a real dad might do, but not how I'd described God. And even a human father won't do all these things (like garden) which may be confusing for children. Since the book isn't clearly about God and could be confusing, I was 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.

Indian Boyhood by Charles Eastman

Indian Boyhood by Charles Eastman ISBN-13: 978-1-937786-56-45 Hardback: 40 pages Publisher: Wisdom Tales Released: 1902; June 7, 2016

Source: Review copy from the publisher.

Book Description, Modified from Publisher website:
Imagine a childhood where riding horses, playing in the woods, and hunting for food was part of everyday life; where a grizzly bear, a raccoon, or a squirrel was your favorite pet. But imagine, too, being an orphan at the age of six, being forced off your land by U.S. soldiers, and often going hungry. Such was the childhood of the first great American Indian author, Charles Eastman, or Ohiyesa (1858-1939).

Carefully edited for a younger audience by multiple award-winning author and editor, Michael Oren Fitzgerald, Indian Boyhood recalls Eastman’s earliest childhood memories. He was born in a buffalo hide tipi in western Minnesota, and raised in the traditional Dakota Sioux manner until he was fifteen years old. He was then transplanted into the “white man’s” world. Educated at Dartmouth College, he went on to become a medical doctor, renowned author, field secretary for the YMCA, and a spokesman for American Indians.


My Review:
Indian Boyhood is a picture book for ages 4 and up which is based on Charles Eastman's autobiography about his Dakota Sioux upbringing. Charles Eastman, or Ohiyesa, lived from (1858-1939) and wrote eleven books from 1902-1918. This is an edited version of his book about his childhood. It tells how he was raised by a grandmother due to losing his parents and how they were forced off their land, but also about his wild-animal pets, hunting, and learning to be a warrior.

The illustrations complement the text by showing details of Indian life that aren't specifically mentioned in his narrative. Information about these extra details is included at the end of the book. The illustrations are done in the same style as that shown on the cover. I'd recommend this book to children interested in what a Dakota Indian childhood was like in 1858-1873.


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: See more on the publisher's website.

The Green Musician by Mahvash Shahegh

The Green Musician by Mahvash Shahegh Illustrated by Claire Ewart ISBN-13: 9781937786427 Hardcover: 36 pages Publisher: Wisdom Tales Released: August 7, 2015

Source: Review copy from the publisher.

Book Description from Publisher's Website:
In a distant kingdom lived a young musician named Barbad. His one dream was to play before the king in the royal court. But Barbad’s way was blocked by Sarkash, a jealous rival who would do anything to stop Barbad from meeting the king. But perhaps the palace wasn’t the only place to play before the king, for he loved to walk in his garden. What if Barbad was to hide in a tree for just the right moment to play?

Find out if Barbad's dream comes true in this magical tale of patience and determination. Stunning artwork from award-winning illustrator, Claire Ewart, gently brings this whimsical story to life. Adapted from a 1,000 year old Persian story by Mahvash Shahegh, the tale of Barbad the musician is originally found in the legendary “Book of Kings” (Shahnameh), which tells the story of the mystical past of ancient Persia.


My Review:
The Green Musician is a children's picture book based on a 1,000 year old Persian story. It's for ages 6 and up. The story is a nice, fairly simple one about a talented boy who finds a way to play for the king even though a rival tries to prevent him. It's a good message about not letting obstacles keep you from your dreams.

The illustrations have the look of watercolor paintings, and they do a good job of telling the story along with the text. I enjoyed just looking at the illustrations for a bit. At the end, the author explained what happened to Barbad after the events in this story, as the tale is based on a real, historical person. Overall, I'd 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:

Just Like Me, Climbing a Tree by Durga Yael Bernhard

Just Like Me, Climbing a Tree by Durga Yael Bernhard ISBN-13: 978-1-937786-34-2 Hardcover: 32 pages Publisher: Wisdom Press Released: April 2015

Source: Review copy from the publisher.

Book Description, Modified from Publisher's Website:
Just Like Me, Climbing a Tree explores 12 of the most distinctive trees from across the globe. Yael Bernhard’s playful poem winds through the pages and imagines the many discoveries found while climbing a tree, whether in our backyards or on the other side of the planet. Bernhard's paintings show her careful research of each tree and draw us up into the branches to view new creatures, people, and places.

The appendix to the book offers more facts about the trees, such as their range, habits, uses, and interesting cultural beliefs about the tree. This section will help answer questions that curious young minds might have.


My Review:
Just Like Me, Climbing a Tree is a children's book recommended for "ages 5 and up." The poem is a simple but charming "what if" narrative of a child about the different creatures and things you might find when you climb a tree. I loved climbing trees as a child (and still do), and it reminded me of those adventures.

The pictures show the tree with a local child, setting, and creatures. It's fun to spot the creatures "hiding" in the tree. Parent's may have to explain what some creatures--like sloths--are to young children. There is a label for each tree that tells the tree's common name, scientific name, and the location. This helps you to match up the tree to the further information in the back. There is also a world map on the inner cover that shows where each tree is located.

Further information about the trees is given in the back. It's adult level reading, but much of it would be interesting to a child interested in trees. The trees shown in the poem (and covered in the back) are: Weeping Fig (in Cambodia), Montezuma Cypress (Mexico), Mango (Guinea, West Africa), Monterey Pine (California), Baobab (South Africa), Lychee (Hawaii), Weeping Willow (Holland), Kapok (Brazil), Olive (Israel), Gingko (China), White Mulberry (Australia), Southern Live Oak (Southeast United States).

I recommend this is a fun and potentially educational book to parents of children who love climbing trees. The author even has a note at the end about climbing safely.


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 page from the book on the publisher's website.

Dragons: Legends & Lore of Dinosaurs by Bill Looney

Dragons: Legends & Lore of Dinosaurs by Bill Looney ISBN-13: 9780890515587 Hardback: 24 pages Publisher: Master Books Released: December 28, 2010

Source: Review copy from the publisher.

Book Description from Publisher Website (modified):
An enigmatic source of fascination, dragons are the stuff of fantasy - or are they? Dragon legends can be found around the world. This fascinating presentation on dragons will shed light on the truth of their existence and their connection to the last living dinosaurs.

Dragons: Legends & Lore of Dinosaurs is a juvenile nonfiction title that takes you back to the days of these amazing creatures in various cultures including Asia, the Americas, and Europe. Read of thrilling historical battles between dragons and saints and of the references to dragons in the Bible. Beautifully presented using original illustrations, envelopes, fold-outs, gatefolds, and more!


My Review:
Dragons: Legends & Lore of Dinosaurs is a juvenile nonfiction book about the ancient eyewitness accounts of dragons and how their descriptions match those of dinosaurs. The book is illustrated with full-color pictures--mainly of dragons and dinosaurs--and contains information in pull-out cards, fold-out pages, attached booklets, and more. Kids will enjoy the interactive nature of this book, but the removable parts could potentially be lost if the reader forgot to return them to their envelope on the page.

The book covered topics like the various dragon legends from cultures around the world, preserved eyewitness accounts about dragons, the connection between dragons and dinosaurs, dragons in the Bible, sea-serpent legends, and answers to several Christian questions about dragons (like when were dragons created, what did they originally eat, etc.).

I'd highly recommend this Christian book to children (and adults) who are interested in dragons and/or dinosaurs.


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.

The Case of the Missing Mountain by Kim Jones

The Case of the Missing Mountain by Kim Jones ISBN-13: 978-0-89051-593-8 Paperback: 80 pages Publisher: Master Books Released: Jan. 2011

Source: Review copy from the publisher.

Book Description from Publisher's Website (modified):
What caused a big chunk of Mount St. Helen's to vanish? It’s your job to find out how it disappeared!

Kids, team up with rangers Jack and Jen to solve The Case of the Missing Mountain. Complete the puzzles, master the mazes, and secure the secret codes. Solve all eight mysteries to become an official Mystery Ranger. Your personalized badge & certificate are waiting!

This 80-page children's activity book talks about the eruption of Mount St. Helens in 1980 and related events. It also explains how those events help us to understand how Noah's Flood reshaped the world.

Author Kim Jones formerly served as a guide at Mount St. Helen’s Seven Wonders Museum. She worked with many other experts to compile the facts for this title.


My Review:
The Case of the Missing Mountain is a full-color educational activity book for kids around ages 7-11. The reader solves the word scrambles, word finds, mazes, codes, and crossword puzzles to complete the clues and fill in the sentences. During this process, they learn about the eruption on Mount St. Helens in 1980 and related events that happened afterward. Though most of the answers to the mazes, codes, etc., were pretty obvious, there wasn't an answer key in the book. However, the answer key should soon be posted on the book's webpage.

There were also 12 "real life" activities that kids can do (with adult help). Usually these activities further illustrated the principles talked about in that section. For example, when talking about the eruption, the activity was to make a classic vinegar-and-baking-soda powered "volcano" of your own. The materials needed for most of the activities are fairly common items which you probably already have around your home. Messy activities included a warning that they were messy, which was nice. The instructions were easy to follow.

The book included full-color pictures from the Mount St. Helen area (before and after the eruption) as well as illustrations of the ideas being taught.

The mysteries that needed to be solved were: #1 how the mountain lost it's top (about the first part of the eruption); #2 what damage was done by the melted ice and snow off the mountain (the later part of the eruption); #3 how a 60-foot cliff was formed; #4 what damage the mudslides caused (includes information on the formation of the Little Grand Canyon, Engineer's Canyon, and the North Fork Toutle River System); #5 Spirit Lake and the Floating Forest (and how this relates to Yellowstone National Park's "Specimen Ridge"); #6 how the canyons were carved out quickly; #7 how quickly the plants grew back and the animals returned; #8 how what we saw at Mount St. Helens can help us better understand what happened during and after Noah's Flood.

Overall, this book is a fun way for Christian children to learn more about the interesting things that happened during and after the Mount St. Helens eruption.


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: Look inside this book.

Dragons of the Deep by Carl Wieland

Dragons of the Deep by Carl Wieland Illustrated by Darrell Wiskur Hardback: 80 pages Publisher: Master Books First Released: 2005

Source: Bought from New Leaf Publishing Group.

Book Description from Publisher's Website, slightly modified:
Could the stories about sea monsters be true? Did fearsome and marvelous creatures once roam the oceans? From the predator Mosasaurus, called the ocean equivalent of T. Rex, to the gigantic turtle Archelon, these beasts who glided through the planet’s oceans no doubt were the inspiration for ancient sightings by mariners who described fantastic encounters on the open ocean. As researchers discover teeth, bones, and fossils from these creatures, it's no longer easy to dismiss sea monsters as tall tales...and some gigantic sea creatures are still alive today! Wieland’s descriptions of these amazing creatures are complemented by the beautiful full-color illustrations by acclaimed artist Darrell Wiskur.


My Review:
Dragons of the Deep is a children's nonfiction book about huge sea creatures (marine reptiles and mammals, turtles, squid, fish and sharks) of both the past and present. Adults will enjoy the book as well. It covered 17 main sea monsters with a 4 page spread for each creature. The author discussed what we know about the creature and, if it's thought to be extinct, what fossil evidence this information was based on (bones, skin impressions, stomach contents, etc.). We're given the creature's name, length, weight, the location it (or it's fossils) have been found, and fun facts about what it ate or what legends might be based on it. There's a painting-style picture of what each creature might have looked like, pictures of live ones, pictures of the fossils, illustrations showing how large they were compared to common objects (like cars), and more.

Woven into this was information on how we can determine things about what the creature was like based on the fossils. Also, when discussing how and where the various fossils of the creatures were found, the author discussed how fossils are formed.

The book was written from a Christian perspective, so the author occasionally said things like "God created this creature..." or refered to Noah's Flood as creating many fossils. Overall, I enjoyed the book and thought it was very well done. I'd recommend it to children and adults who are interested in sea monsters.


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 Teen's Review:
I gave this book to a girl who'd just turned 13 years old. She was highly engaged by it, and, as she was reading, she kept looking up to say, "Hey, did you know that such-and-such was this big?" and other things she'd just learned from it. She read the whole book at one sitting, and I suspect she'll be going back to look at it again (once her other birthday gifts start to get boring ;)).


Excerpt:
A magnificent predator, Mosasaurus, was a sea-dwelling reptile that has been called the marine equivalent of Tyrannosaurus rex--only much bigger. Known today only from fossils, mosasaurs (this is the name given to the whole group that includes Mosasaurus) came in a wide range of sizes. Some were truly huge. From their bones, it is estimated that some could have been up to 50 feet (15 m) in length, more than a four-story building on its side. If so, that would make such a creature the biggest predatory carnivore (flesh-eater) the world has ever known.

The bones of mosasaurs have been found on every continent of the world, including Antarctica. They had long, snake-like bodies, and would have used their long, sinewy tails to propel themselves powerfully through the water with a side-to-wide motion. These animals probably could not swim fast for very long distances, but would have been able to ambush their prey by surprising them, and outswimming them in a burst over a short distance. Their broad, paddle-like legs were primarily useful for steering.

They had a long, pointed head with powerful jaws containing many long, sharp teeth.

[There's more about the mosasaurus, but I'm quitting typing here.]

Tower of Babel by Jon Taylor

Tower of Babel Illustrated by Jon Taylor Hardback: 22 pages Publisher: Master Books First Released: 2007

Source: Personal library.

Book Description from Back Cover:
What is Babel, what happened there, and why is it so important? Many kids don't know the answers to these questions as biblical knowledge is becoming less and less of a priority in people's lives. This full-color book explains how the different languages and "races" came about. It has one large pop-up of the tower that stays up as you turn the pages and read the story. The stunning artwork is both beautiful and realistic (since the Tower is based on the actual worship towers that were built in ancient times). This fun book is a great way to teach biblical history.


Review:
Tower of Babel is a short children's picture book. The text used easy-to-understand words and was closely based on the Bible account. There was also a summary at the end reinforcing that this explains the origin of the different languages and 'races.' The illustrations were truly lovely. They were realistic, detailed, and looked like paintings. (The picture on the front cover doesn't accurately show just how lovely the inside illustrations are.) The pop-up of the Tower was nice, but it stays open at the top of the book as you read. I had to hyper-extend the book open to keep the pop-up out of the way of the pages when I turned them. I'd recommend this book to Christians looking for Bible "story books" for young children.


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.