Channing O'Banning and the Turquoise Trail

Channing O'Banning and the Turquoise Trail by Angela Spady is the second of the Channing O'Banning books.

Channing is a precocious 4th grader who becomes interested in dinosaur bones and rocks after being given an assignment from her history teacher. She gets to learn more than she bargained for when her family takes a trip out West to New Mexico.

Throughout the story, Channing learns that true friends never abandon you when you embarrass yourself, that it is always important to make restitution when you lose something that has been lent to you, and that God has created a lot of different but amazing people with their own traditions.

What I Like: As with the first book, I love the relationship Channing shares with her grandmother. Nana is her sounding board when, in her mind,  her nine year old world gets turned upside down.

What I Dislike: As with the first book, I don't particularly care for the relationship Channing and her sister Katie have. They are constantly picking on each other, saying things that are not kind, and always looking for ways to verbally cut each other. As a mother with two children, I realize that sibling relationships are not always sunny, but I prefer to surround my children with examples of how siblings are to treat each other well. As I read this book with my eight year old, we talked about the attitudes the sisters had towards each other.

Overall Rating: Very good.

Age Appeal: 6-10-year-olds.

Publisher Info: Thomas Nelson, 2015; ISBN: 978-0718032364; paperback, 128 pps., $6.99.

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The Plans I Have for You Devotional

The Plans I Have For You Devotional by Amy Parker is a book of 90 daily devotionals. The book is divided into six sections; each section has 15 devotions. Each section highlights a character of the Bible as well as a specific thought

Each section highlights a character of the Bible, providing Bible verses and stories to show how the section title relates to that particular character as well as to our individual lives. A couple of section titles are "There's Nothing You Can't Do" and "I've Given You a Purpose." Moses is highlighted in the section called "There's Nothing You Can't Do" and Mordecai in the other one. Each section is filled with poems, stories, quizzes, scriptures and other items of interest that relate to the topic of that section.

Black and white illustrations by Vanessa Brantley-Newton are plentiful throughout and are multicultural in nature.

What I Like: Just about everything.

What I Dislike: Since the book is divided into 6 sections and each section has 15 devotions in it, and since the number "90" in printed in the upper left-hand corner of the cover, I thought each devotion would be numbered, i.e., #1 - #90. They are not. That's not really a problem; I just thought they would be.

Overall Rating: Very good.

Age Appeal: I'd say this book would be great for tweens and teens, so ages 9 and up would be about right.

Publisher Info: Zonderkidz, 2015; ISBN: 9780310725220; Paperback, , 160 pages, $14.99. 

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Special Info: Read our reviews of other books by Amy Parker. Visit Amy Parker’s website.

Beyond the Attic Door

Beyond the Attic Door,  by Tracy Del Campo, is set in the year 1925, the year of "the Scopes' Trial." John Scopes, a school teacher, is on trial for teaching about evolution in the classroom. The topics of God and the Bible, and of course evolution, are being hotly debated throughout the land. Many people think the outcome of the trial will be the death of religion.

But for Lulu and her 7-year-old brother, Buddy, who were raised in a family with a firm belief in God, their beliefs are not being shaken by the trial. Actually, their faith is still very strong. They do believe in science but they don't believe in evolution; their beliefs are based on Bible truths.

When the children visit their grandmother for the summer, they come across a machine their uncle made. He has it hidden in Grandma's attic. Not knowing what it does, they accidentally trip the device and end up in the past, all the way back to Biblical times. Their uncle invented the machine so he could go back in time to witness a major Biblical event. With his camera in hand, he could then take pictures and bring them back with him to the present, so he could prove the Bible is true. Of course, his plans don't work out so well.

What I Like: I like how the author combines the ideas of evolution, the Scopes trial, and a time machine in one story.

What I Dislike: However, although the premise is a good one, the storytelling part falls short. It feels like the author is trying to do too much in the story in such a short format. Perhaps, if the book were longer, the ideas would have worked better. The way it is written, the story is a choppy and not quite believable.

Overall Rating: Good.

Age Appeal: 8-12.

Publisher Info: Westbow Press, 2014; ISBN: 9781490837079; Paperback, 90 pages, $11.95.

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My Big Book of Bible Heroes for Kids: Stories of 50 Weird, Wild, Wonderful People from God's Word

My Big Book of Bible Heroes for Kids: Stories of 50 Weird, Wild, Wonderful People from God’s Word by Glenn Hascall is filled with, as the title says, stories of 50 "weird, wild, wonderful people" from the Bible. Hascall writes about well-known Bible heroes such as Noah, Abraham, Joshua and John the Baptist. He also includes stories about lesser-known characters like Shiphrah and Jochebed (Yes, those are real Bible names!).

The author relates an incident that illustrates a special heroic trait of each Biblical character mentioned. Each story is followed by a set of questions called "Learning from a hero." The questions are designed to create discussion about each story so the reader can learn from what the hero did.

Full-color Illustrations by Amit Tayal highlight every story title page, providing life-like representations of the people mentioned.

What I Like: This is a great selection of stories. I especially appreciated that the author included some stories about women from the Bible.

Each story includes a page with the person's name and a Bible reference for the story. It also includes the person's "Heroic Quality." Some of these qualities are endurance, compassion, and respect. I like the idea that being a hero doesn't mean you have to have a "super" power, you just need an "Heroic Quality."

What I Dislike: Unfortunately, the writing style is rather boring. While the author chose good Bible characters to write about, he writes too much with the passive tense, instead of using action verbs. For instance, consider these two sentences: "Samson was the strongest man anyone had ever seen. When he was born, he was dedicated to God." The word "was" is used three times in just these two short sentences. That's okay, but I think it would have been better written like this: "Samson was the strongest man anyone had ever seen. After his birth, his mother dedicated his life to God." What do you think?

Overall Rating: Very good.

Age Appeal: 7-10.

Publisher Info: Shiloh Kidz, 2015; ISBN: 9781634093156; Paperback, 158 pages, $14.99.

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Special Info: Read our reviews of other books by Glenn Hascall.

  

I Want To Be Just Like Jesus: Bible Storybook

I Want to Be Just Like Jesus: Bible Storybook, by Stephen Elkins, is a Bible storybook for children. book contains 40 different short stories about Jesus, each dealing with one of Jesus' characteristics. For instance, some characteristics cited are Jesus Was Responsible, Jesus Was Sincere and Jesus Was Generous.

Each of the short stories is preceded by a Bible verse and followed by a section called "Jesus in Me" that explains what each character trait means and how children can be like Jesus. Each section ends with a "Prayer for Today" and a call to action. One reads: "To be just like Jesus.... I will be sincere."

The illustrations by Simon Taylor-Kielty and Ruth Zeglin are bright and colorful and very kid-friendly.

What I Like: I like the overall design of the book. Although each section is four pages long and is repetitious in terms of what it contains and how it is laid out, the backgrounds, borders and illustrations make each one different and very visually appealing.

What I Dislike: Although I like the illustrations, as the people depicted in them remind me of Precious Moments figurines, I don't like the illustrations of Jesus. He simply looks like a big kid with a beard. He doesn't really look like an adult.

Overall Rating: Very good.

Age Appeal: No no age group is given for the book. It's difficult to determine the exact age group, as the layout and illustrations would suggest a rather young audience, say 4-8-year-olds. However, many of the words used in the stories are way above that age group. I'll say the appropriate age is somewhere between 6 and 10 years.

Publisher Info: Tyndale, 2015; ISBN: 9781496408211; Hardback, 173 pages, $14.99.

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Special Info: Read our reviews of other books by Stephen Elkins.

Power Prayers for Boys

Power Prayers for Boys by Glenn Hascall is, as the title implies, a book of prayers for boys. Each chapter deals with a different "type of power." For instance, some chapter headings are "My Attitude: The Power of My Thoughts"; "My Family - The Power of Love"; and "My Respect - The Power of Honor." Each chapter has 15 prayers relating to the chapter subject matter and each prayer is preceded by a corresponding Bible verse.

The writers use several different versions of the Bible for reference: NIV (New International Version); CEV (Contemporary English Version); NCV (New Century Version); NLT (New Living Translation); NLV (New Living Version); and NLT (New Living Translation).

What I Like: This looks like a good book for boys to go use. It gives them guidance and insights about 21 different topics that are relevant to them in their daily lives.

What I Dislike: I don't really like the type size used for the pages. The book is printed in a rather small type face. I think it would feel more user-friendly if the type were just a bit bigger.

Overall Rating: Very good.

Age Appeal: 8-12.

Publisher Info: Shiloh Kidz, 2015; ISBN: 9781630588588; Paperback, 218 pages, $7.99.

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Special Info: The title suggests this book is just for boys. Although some of the issues are specifically addressed to boys, many of these are relevant to girls, as well.

Read our reviews of other books by Glenn Hascall.

Play and Learn Bible Stories: Noah's Ark Wipe-Clean Storybook

Play and Learn Bible Stories: Noah’s Ark Wipe-Clean Storybook by Shiloh Kidz, is an interactive storybook about Noah and the ark. Each text page includes some type of activity that goes along with the story segment on that page.

Most of the activities are sticker-related, with over 100 bright stickers to paste in various places throughout the book. The text pages are numbered, and the stickers are grouped according to corresponding page numbers, making them easy to locate. There are also some tracing activities scattered throughout the pages. The tracing can be done with any type of dry erase marker (not included). The activities can be repeated again and again, as the stickers are reusable and the pages can be wiped clean.

What I Like: Just about everything. The pages are bright and colorful, the activities are kid-friendly, and the activities can be repeated.

What I Dislike: The book is supposed to be for ages 3+. The activities will be fun for all, but the language used in the text is not what I would consider kid-friendly for this type of activity book. Youngsters will enjoy the bright pages and the activities, but most of them will have trouble with the language level used to tell the story.

Overall Rating: Very good.

Age Appeal: The book is listed for ages 3+, but I think an appropriate age group would be about 3-8.

Publisher Info: Shiloh Kidz, 2015; ISBN: 9781630588946; Paperback, $6.99.

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7 Days of Awesome

7 Days of Awesome by Shawn Byous is a picture book written in rhyme about Creation. The story's Dr. Seuss-like narrative and whimsical illustrations take children through the 7 days of Creation.  The book stays in rhyme throughout the entire book.  The scripture references in the book are taken from the New International Version (NIV) of the Bible.

What I Like: I liked that the book was based on the Biblical story of Creation that was written in Genesis.  The book is accurate in referring to what was created on each day according to the Bible. 

What I Dislike: I am not a fan of books in rhyme.  I feel like the wording is forced more often than not in order to make the rhyme work.  I also did not find the drawings to be appealing.  The style of artwork looked old fashioned to me. 

Overall Rating: Ho-Hum.

Age Appeal: Ages 4-8.

Publisher Info: Zonderkidz, 2016; ISBN: 03010743494; Hardcover, $16.9.

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Ori's Amazing Story: Faith in God's Plan

In Ori’s Amazing Story: Faith in God’s Plan, by Mike and Carol Wyrick, Ori is a young donkey. He is sold to a merchant who uses him to pull his cart. Ori isn’t really happy to just pull a cart as he believes he has a higher purpose. One day, a couple of men borrow Ori for a special purpose. Ori becomes the donkey Jesus rides into Jerusalem on what we now call Palm Sunday.

There are small black-and-white illustrations scattered throughout the text, with full-size illustrations at the beginning of each chapter.

The authors include a detailed Discussion Guide at the end of the book, with questions relating to each chapter.

What I Like: I like reading Bible stories told from different perspectives other than the traditional one. This one is told by a donkey.

What I Dislike: Nothing, really.

Overall Rating: Good.

Age Appeal: 8-12.

Publisher Info: Trusted Books, 2014; ISBN: 9781632692498; Paperback, 80 pages, $11.99.

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God's Special Forces: A Manual for Becoming a Young Woman of Quality

Gods Special Forces: A Manual for Becoming a Young Woman of Quality by Darlene Laney is a workbook for teaching preteens the basics of hygiene, self care, and etiquette is a way that reminds them they have been created by God for a purpose.

Each chapter gives a brief Bible stud/ devotion and then dives into the specifics of practical advice. The chapters are titled:

• A New Look
• The Beginning
• Face Facts
• Value of a Woman
• Standing, Sitting & Walking
• Care of Self
• Skin Care
• Body Care
• Etiquette 101
• Accentuate the Positive
• Putting It All Together
• Last Word
• I'm Committed

At the end of the workbook, girls are encouraged to sign a commitment that they are going to apply the lessons and principles they have learned in this book.

What I Like: Growing up, I had a little book that I read and reread about character and beauty. This book has the possibility of being that for my daughter. It teaches girls how to beautiful from the inside out. After teaching girls that God has created them for a special purpose, it shows them what hairstyle suits their facial structure best, how to eat specific foods when in a group setting, and how to greet people they are meeting for the first time.

What I Dislike: I loved everything about this book.

Overall Rating: Excellent

Age Appeal: 8-14-year-olds

Publisher Info: Halo Publishing International, 2013; ISBN: 978-1-61244-126-9 ; paperback, 120 pgs., $16.95

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Saul Is Born Again: The Confession of Paul the Apostle

Saul Is Born Again: The Conversion of the Apostle Paul, by Rev. Jim Reimann, is a retold version of the Saul’s conversion to the Apostle Paul on the road to Damascus. The story references Luke 1:26-35 & 2:1-20. The story is short, with only six pages of text.

The chalk drawing illustrations by Rony Tamir are somewhat wooden in appearance but they seem to work well with the text.

What I Like: I appreciate the effort the author puts into writing this story.

What I Dislike: However, having said that, like other stories written by the author, the text of this one is in rhyme. Many of you know I am not a big fan of rhyming picture books because it’s so hard to write in rhyme and do it well. Although the ends of the lines in the text of this story do rhyme, the rhythm is forced as the author tries to squeeze too many syllables into some of the sentences just so the end words rhyme. That throws off the rhythm of the words.

Overall Rating: Ho hum.

Age Appeal: I’d say 4-8 would be the appropriate age group for this book, as the story is quite short. However, some of the vocabulary is over and above that normally used for this age group.

Publisher Info: Intelectly, 2014; ISBN: 9789657607190; Paperback, $6.66.

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Special Info: Visit the author’s website. Read our reviews of other books written by Jim Reimann [http://ccbreview.blogspot.com/search?q=jim+reimann].

The Honey Bees Truth Be Told

The Honey Bees Truth Be Told, written and illustrated by Paula J. Giordano, is the second book in the Honey Bees series designed to teach children that God's Word can help them find a solution for any situation they find themselves in.

In The Honey Bees Truth Be Told, Bella has a problem- she lies about everything. She lies about having been to a theme park, and she lies about her abilities to do tricks on a balance beam. Bella's grandmother, Oomah, shares two Bible verses with her to show her what God thinks of lying. The next time she is confronted with a situation where she is tempted to lie, Bella remembers those verses and chooses to be truthful instead.

What I Like: As with the first book The Honey Bees Going to a New School, I love how the author teaches children to practically apply God's Word to their lives.

What I Dislike: As in my review of The Honey Bees Going to a New School, I felt that the use of a single paragraph per page made for difficulty in reading the story and not confusing which character was speaking which line.

In this book, the illustrations cover the entire page and the words are placed on top of the illustrations. This made for difficult reading what the letters printed in black were placed on top of very dark parts of the illustrations.

Overall Rating: Good

Age Appeal: 4-8 years old

Publisher Info: Xulon Press, 2012; ISBN: 978-1624193545; paperback, 34 pgs., $24.99

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Jesus Heals a Little Boy: A Miracle at Capernaum

Jesus Heals a Little Boy: A Miracle at Capernaum, by Rev. Jim Reimann, is the retelling of the Biblical story of Jesus healing a young boy in Capernaum. In just a few short pages, Reimann relates the events that took place there. The story references John 4:46-54 of the Bible.

The pencil illustrations by Hayim Roitblat Otsarya are very colorful and expressive.

What I Like: I really like the illustrations.

What I Dislike: The text is written of rhyme. Many of you know I am not a big fan of rhyming picture books because it’s so hard to write in rhyme and do it well. Although the ends of the lines in the text do rhyme, the rhythm is forced as the author tries to squeeze too many syllables into some of the sentences just so the end words rhyme.

Overall Rating: Ho hum.

Age Appeal: I’d say 4-8 would be the appropriate age group for this book, as the story is quite short. However, some of the vocabulary is over and above that normally used for this age group.

Publisher Info: Intelecty, 2014; ISBN: 9789657607220; Paperback, $5.99.

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The Kindle edition is available for $2.99.

Special Info: Visit the author’s website. Read our reviews of other books written by Jim Reimann.

God's Word for God's Children: In the Beginning

As expected by the title, God’s Word for God’s Children: In the Beginning, by Olin Edward James is a story about the Creation. It is the first book in the KathIrene Kids God’s Word for God’s Children Bible Series, a series of books for young children that focus on individual stories from the Bible.

This is a very short book, written in rhyme, with only nine verses.

What I Like: I like the pen-and-ink illustrations. They are colorful and expressive.

What I Dislike: The book is written in rhyme. As many of you know, I am not a big fan of rhyming text for kids as it is difficult to do and to do it well. Sadly, this is another example of the shortfall of writing in rhyme. Most of the rhyme is forced, which throws off the rhythm of the story.

Also, although this story is supposed to be for children, the author uses the word “firmament” when the word “earth” would have been a more appropriate term.

Overall Rating: Ho hum.

Age Appeal: No age group is given, but I’d say 4-8 years would be about right.

Publisher Info: Life Sentence, 2014; ISBN: 9781622451876; Paperback, $4.99.

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The One Year Devotions for Active Boys

Research shows the more hands-on the activity, the more engaged the learner and the more likely the learner is to retain the information. That’s one good reason to check out The One-Year Devotions for Active Boys by Jesse Florea and Karen Whiting.

Although each of the 365 devotions look like they are set up in a typical way—date/ title, a short story to interest the reader, and a line or two of Scripture—they contain a refreshing added element that makes the book uniquely not-so-typical! Tween boys are encouraged to connect to the spiritual messages through activities which include visual puzzles called ‘plexers”, codes, recipes, jokes, experiments, weird (and interesting) facts, checklists, quizzes, tongue twisters, and more!

The best part about this book is what it can do. Since the devotions are short, fun, and interesting, it can help youngsters establish a habit of giving thought to Heavenly things each morning… and to carry what they learn with them throughout the day.

What I Like: The price is reasonable, the activities are fun, and the writing is solid.

What I Dislike: I don’t like that the audience seems limited to BOYS. I would have loved an activity based devotional book like this. So just because it says its for boys, don’t rule it out for your girl! I also wish there was a little bit more Scripture offered each day, but that’s a minor complaint. The authors also call the passages “Life’s Guidebook” instead of the Bible, which may be off-putting to some.

Overall Rating: Excellent

Age Appeal: 8-12

Publisher Info: Tyndale House, 2014; ISBN: 9781414394046; Paperback, 384 pgs., $14.99

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Special Info: Jesse Florea has another devotional book for kids who love sports. You can buy the Kindle version of The One Year Sports Devotions for Kids for $9.70 or the paperback version for $10.21.

It's Not About You, Mr. Santa Claus

Where did gift giving begin? Christmas is one of the most important holidays celebrated in most countries around the world, yet the true origin of this special day is often missed. Almost everyone equates Santa Claus and the giving of gifts with Christmas, but what event was the catalyst behind this centuries-old tradition? This delightfully illustrated children's story is sure to become a tradition for you and your family as the holiday rolls around each year. Christmas is a special time of celebration and one in which we have time to reflect on what is most important.

What I Like: Author Soraya Diase Coffelt wrote the book from the perspective of a child writing a letter to Santa Claus. Throughout the book we see the child tell Santa of the Nativity story in a way a child reading the story could understand and relate to. In the book Coffelt doesn't dismiss Santa but simply informs him of the true meaning of Christmas. It is a good book for children to learn to appreciate Jesus without having to choose between Him and Santa.

What I Dislike: It's a little wordy for the younger children its written for.

Overall Rating: Very Good

Age Appeal: 5-10 years old

Publisher Info: Morgan James, 2014; ISBN: 978-1630472610; Paperback, 34 pgs., $8.99

Buy it at Amazon.com for $7.14

101 Things Every Girl Should Know: Expert Advice on Stuff Big and Small

The editors of Faithgirlz and Girls’ Life magazine do it again with another installment in the hit Faithgirlz series. 101 Things Every Girl Should Know is chock full of advice for girls in their tweens. It offers a collection of suggestions on everything from success in the classroom (how to write an essay, ace a test, handle stress, remember anything, read aloud in class) to relationships (how to keep a secret, talk to any guy, be the star at the party) to health issues (busting a bad habit, curing acne, tasty recipes, boosting energy) and more!

The book has a magazine layout and appeal—tons of brightly colored photographs, concise “articles” ranging in length from a single paragraph to two pages, and relevant topics.  There is variety in the entries too. Some are quizzes, recipes, or even directions for how to do something. It is completely readable in small chunks or huge blocks of time! This book would make a great gift for any young teen/tween in your life.

If you like this book, you might want to check out other books in the Faithgirlz series, including Faithgirlz Handbook, Updated and Expanded: How to Let Your Faith Shine Through, Best Hair Book Ever!: Cute Cuts, Sweet Styles and Tons of Tress Tips (Faithgirlz), and Big Book of Quizzes: Fun, Quirky Questions for You and Your Friends (Faithgirlz).

What I Like: Everything. I wish I had a book like this when I was growing up. The tips are helpful and easy to use. I can see how reading this would help boost a girl’s confidence about handling the challenges they face daily. This book would even be appreciated by mainstream readers.

What I Dislike: Nothing.

Overall Rating: Excellent.

Age Appeal: 8-12 (Although I think it could go a bit older).

Publisher Info: Zonderkidz, 2015; ISBN: 978-0310746195; Paperback, 128 pgs., $14.99.

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Its Not About You Mrs. Turkey

“It’s Not About You, Mrs. Turkey” is a unique tool for parents, grandparents and teachers to share both the historical and religious background of the holiday with young readers. The fun and colorful illustrations give children the opportunity to see clothing styles of the past as they learn the importance of courage, sharing, friendship and giving thanks.

What I Like: I am always in favor of literature that points children away from commercialized holidays and teaches the true meaning of why we celebrate a holiday.  Author Soraya Coffelt has done exactly that in It's Not About You, Mrs. Turkey. In a loving and factual way, she lays out the true meaning of Thanksgiving and Christianity's significance.

Illustrator Tea Soroya did a great job showing the emotions of human characters and foul.

What I Dislike: The vocabulary may be too advanced for 5 and 6-year-olds to comprehend. The story is about the true meaning of Thanksgiving so I think a cover depicting solely a confused turkey detracts from the actual message of the book.

Overall Rating: Good.

Age Appeal: 5-10 Years.

Publisher Info: Morgan James Publishing, 2015; ISBN: 978-1630476366; Paperback, 32 pgs., $8.99

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The Berestain Bears' Harvest Festival

The leaves are changing into bright colors, the apples are ripe, and it’s time for the Bear family to enjoy the fall harvest. In Michael Berestain's book The Berestain Bears' Harvest Festival, the whole bear family walks to a neighbor’s house to enjoy a hayride, pumpkin picking, pumpkin pie, and a shared meal. On the way and throughout the story, they take small moments to count their many blessings.

Lovers of the Berestain Bears series will enjoy the comforting images of fall and the friendly family banter highlighted in the book.  Rather than having a story with a problem and solution, it’s more of a celebration of fall activities complete with a prayer of thanks from Preacher Brown.  At the end of the book, the author makes the story more interactive by including three questions to discuss and two activities to try out.

What I Like: The Berestain Bears were always a favorite of mine (and of my children). This book makes a nice addition to the collection and gives parents the opportunity to talk about the fall season in a fun way!

What I Dislike: The story was sweet, but slow moving. It lacked the kind of problem-to-solve with a moral lesson that distinguished many of the earlier books in the series.

Overall Rating: Very Good.

Age Appeal: 4-8 years old.

Publisher Info: Zonderkidz, 2015; ISBN: 978-0310748656; Paperback, 24 pgs., $3.99

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Special Info: Check out CCBR reviews of other Berenstain Bear books!

Lori Gives Thanks for Just Sayin'

Life sure has its ups and downs, but what I have learned this year more than any other is that God is with us through it all... and for that I am extremely thankful! That means He can carry my burdens, guide my way, and surround me with people to encourage me. Not only that, His faithful love allows me to turn right back around and be a blessing to them!

This Thanksgiving, I have to straight out acknowledge that I am thankful for my family and friends, my joys AND my sorrows, my victories AND defeats. Through all these things, God works for our good and His glory.

Looking back over recent reviews, I picked a devotional book to highlight called

Just Saying: Write 'Em, Draw 'Em, Hide 'Em In Your Heart. In my review, I stated this: I am one of those people who love to doodle. Rarely does a piece of paper pass through my hands without some kind of embellishment added. So I was immediately drawn into (pardon the pun) the format of the book. So often, students are offered a left-brain approach to studying Scripture (or doing schoolwork for that matter). This right-brain approach is refreshing. I want to say, “Finally… a devotion geared for people like me… someone who colored the entire surface of her desk in second grade (without teacher consent) and turned in a cartoon strip for her final project in a college course (with teacher consent).”

You can read the full review HERE. 

What I Like: Just about everything since it's a unique approach to devotions for the artistically inclined.

What I Dislike: The verses are presented raw, with little or no explanation or context provided. Therefore, I believe it may be best suited for those familiar with and well rooted in the stories of the Bible. Also, I am not one who likes slang, and the book uses a lot of it. To me, the book would be just as enjoyable but have a longer shelf life if it used quality vocabulary!

Overall Rating: Excellent
Age Appeal: 8-12 (although it may appeal to those older than designated age group).
Publisher Info: Zondervan, 2014; ISBN: 9780310742982 ; Paperback, 192 pgs., $9.99.

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OR Buy the version geared for boys, Dare U 2 Open This Book: Draw It, Write It, Dare 2 Live It, for $8.19 
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OR Buy the version geared for boys, Dare U 2 Open This Book: Draw It, Write It, Dare 2 Live It for $8.82.