The One Year My Princess Devotions Preschool Edition | Book Review

Every little girl loves to play dress up and pretend they are princesses.  What they don’t know, unless their family teaches it to them, is that they don’t have to play dress up to be a princess because they are already a princess of our wonderful King.

There is a new book from the One Year line of books called The One Year My Princess Devotions Preschool Edition by Karen Whiting.  If you are familiar with this line then you know how great the books are.  This one is no different.

Your little girl can be shown each day of the year that she is truly a princess in the glorious kingdom of God.  Since this is the preschool edition, the devotions are short and sweet keeping in mind the fact that a preschooler has a short attention span. 

What I love about the daily devotions is that even though they are short they pack a lot of teaching in a small time.  Each devotion includes a Royal Word (scripture verse), Princess Thoughts (short teaching), A Prayer for the King (daily prayer), and Princess in Action (way to implement the teaching.)  Topics of the devotions range from friendship to hearing God’s word to obedience to God and many, many more. 

My favorite part of this book is that the Princess in Action part allows me to reinforce the devotion with activities that my daughter loves.  Some of them are making royal crowns, practicing walking gracefully, and lighting a candle for Jesus’ birthday just to name a few. 

I am thrilled that I FINALLY found a devotional that works for my daughter.  It’s hard because most devotionals are created for an older demographic but, this is the best preschool edition that I have found and I couldn’t recommend it enough.


*I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for the purpose of this review.  All opinions are my own. *

Hunt for the Devil's Dragon | Book Review

I have never had the opportunity to read any of The Imagination Station books until now when I read Hunt for the Devil’s Dragon by Marianne Hering and Wayne Thomas Batson.  This is book number 11 in the series and was a great book for a grade school child.

The story starts with Beth headed into Whit’s End to get some ice cream because she is thinking over an issue from the day.  Shortly behind her was Patrick who asked Beth what was wrong because she only ordered a “two-scoop root-beer float” when there was something bothering her.  Beth explained that there was a girl that ganged up on another girl in her class saying that she was a cheater and teasing her about it the whole recess.  Beth was upset because she didn’t do anything to stop what was going on because she was afraid that the group would turn on her.  Little did Beth know but, this story was going to launch her and Patrick on a wild adventure with dragons and a saber-toothed tiger.

After listening to the day’s events Whit send both Beth and Patrick into the imagination station sending them back to northern Africa and a time when “Christos” was hard to believe in.  Once they reach their destination they meet two children by the names of Sabra and Hazi who will be instrumental to their discovery, along with a Roman solider names Georgius.  These three people are going to help Beth learn the lesson she was sent there to learn. 

This is a story filled with betrayal, fear, and eventually courage to stand up for what you believe in.  There will be dragon and saber-toothed tiger attacks, Roman soldiers lying to get what they want and men standing up for what they believe in. 

The teachings of Jesus come through in this story loud and clear.  He always taught to fear the one that could condemn your soul, not the one that could kill your body.  This is something that I want my children to learn and to always know.  Also, to stand up for those whom you see are being wronged.  Jesus is a great example for children to learn from. 

The one thing I didn’t like about the book is that I was lost as to who the main characters were (no background on them) and never really found out what the Imagination Station is.  I know that since this is a book in a series it was probably explained in the first books but, this is one book where you will probably need to read the ones before to fully understand everything. 

It’s a wonderful story with great teachings in it but, I wish I knew they FULL background before reading this one.

***I received a complimentary copy of this book for the purpose of this review from Tyndale House.***

Parenting With Scripture | Book Review

Parenting With Scripture by Kara Durbin is a wonderful resource book that every Christian family should have. 

I know there are times when I want to teach my children about a certain subject and I am not quite sure which Bible verse I need, this book makes up for the lack of knowledge that I have in that area.  Durbin has written the book so that it’s easy to find what topic you are looking for by offering them in alphabetical order.  

Each topic starts with a definition of the topic you are looking up.  She defines the topic so you don’t have to get a dictionary out and look it up if your child doesn’t know the meaning.  Then she goes on to offer numerous Bible verses that are related to the topic. 

What I love about this book is that after you get the definition of the topic and the Bible verses to help reinforce it Durbin doesn’t stop there.  She offers you discussion points and questions that can start a conversation with your kids or just get them thinking.    She then offers a “Take Action” section to implement the teaching you and your child just learned.   Occasionally there will be parenting tips along the way. 

I feel that this book is going to make teaching my children about the Bible and God’s teachings a little easier since it’s just a page turn away from having the right scripture verse to use in ANY situation. 

*I received a copy of this book complimentary from the publisher for the purpose of this review.*

Beautiful Girl:Celebrating the Wonders of Your Body | Book Review

Beautiful Girl: Celebrating the Wonders of Your Body by Christine Northrup with Kristina Tracy is a wonderful book to help our young girls see just how special they are and counteract everything they are constantly seeing modern day media.

Christine and Tracy add another glorious book to their resumes with this story that will teach young girls that they are special. She begins the book with a letter to the parents.  I love this for the simple fact that she addresses why she wrote this book and how it will help raise girls.

Today's society always tells us what is wrong with us and as a mother of a girl I am always trying to show her what is right about her.  Especially when it comes to her body.  Christine, in the letter to the parents, talks about how she has spent her career helping other women but she has realized that "...the most important part of a woman's health is her attitude about her body."  Now, I know I can totally relate to that sentence.  The things is...I don't want my daughter to be able to relate.  I want to stop that issue before it ever becomes a problem.  Thus enters, Beautiful Girl.

They start the story by talking about how lucky you are being born a girl and that you possess special gifts. They go on to talk about how a girls body changes and blossoms into something greater.  They compare a girls body to a garden and how everything in nature is perfect and will bloom in its own time.

I like that they don't discredit boys in this book even thought its all about how special you are as a girl.  They say that boys have their own special gifts as well.

As my daughter is still young I feel this book is a little too much for my girl.  She is just above preschool age but, this would be a wonderful book for a girl approaching her tween years.  Wonderful book for a school age girl just starting to become more aware of her body.

This would make a wonderful gift for your daughter for Valentine's Day.

*I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for the purpose of this review.*

God Gave Us Easter | Book Review

The true meaning of Easter....

Kids are so used to having the Easter bunny, egg hunts and all the candy involved with Easter.  If you are a Christian family then you also have the TRUE meaning of Easter...Jesus' resurrection.   But, where does Easter come from???

In Lisa Tawn Bergren's new book God Gave Us Easter she explain to children where Easter comes from.  

Little Cub is back to celebrate another holiday.  This time it's Easter.  To help him along his journey on where Easter came from is his papa.  Of course like every little kid, Little Cub loves all the secular things about Easter...the Easter eggs, Easter bunny and candy.  Papa explains how all those things are to show us the happy surprises in the morning.  Like the resurrection of Jesus.  

Little Cub and Papa go on a hike and while they are traveling along they are talking about various aspects of Easter such as the death of Jesus (fallen tree), his resurrection (new baby trees), and how Jesus & God keep their promises (a rainbow.) Papa was also talking about how he talks to Jesus and Jesus talks back.  Little Cub couldn't understand how Papa could hear Jesus with his heart and not his ears but learns to listen with his heart along the way and goes to bed with a new found feeling of love.

This book is a wonderful addition to the God Gave Us series and I think it has to be my favorite one.  Bergren talks about some very touchy issues that are hard to explain to children.  I actually fear talking to my children about the resurrection of Jesus because He died and death scares children.  This book will make it a lot easier to start that conversation with my children since Little Cub and Papa were talking about how Little Cub was afraid of death.  I feel that they will have a feeling of understanding, knowing the main character of this story is feeling exactly how they are.  

I HIGHLY recommend this book to families of children preschool ages and even though 5-6th grade. It's perfect for all.  It might help start a conversation that would otherwise be hard.  The conversation about death.  

*I was given a complimentary copy from the publisher for the purpose of this review.*  

Bible Stories that End With a Hug | Book Reivew

I love finding new books to help teach my children about the amazing stories in the Bible so when given the chance to review Bible Stories That End With A Hug by Stephen Elkins (illustrated by Simon Taylor-Kielty) I jumped at the chance.

This is definitely a book that is geared towards the preschool level but, that is exactly what I was looking for.  There are so many books for school aged children it’s hard to find one that a preschooler can understand and that isn't too long for their attention span but, I think I have found one.

The stories are kept short and sweet with a simple beginning paragraph and two questions followed by the answers that help explain the story.  The quickness of each story was PERFECT for my preschooler.  To finish the story off there is a “hug time.”  Obviously they would end with a hug as the title says they will.  Who doesn't like a hug, especially one from their little one?

I love this book and will treasure it for years to come.  The stories are short and sweet and the illustrations are perfectly matched to each story.  It would make a perfect gift for Valentines Day or any day of the week.

*I was given a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for the purpose of my review.*

God Gave Us Christmas | Book Review

Christmas is one of my favorite times of the year and I want to make it a magical time for my children.  I also want to keep the true meaning of Christmas alive and show my kids that this time of year isn't all about receiving presents...it's so much more.  Christmas is the celebration of God's only son's birthday.

God Gave Us Christmas by Lisa Tawn Bergren, with art from David Hohn, is a wonderful explanation of a topic that kids wonder about during this time of year.  Where did Christmas come from?

Little Cub is getting ready for Christmas with his Mama and wonders "Who 'vented Christmas?"  When Mama informs Little Cub that God is the one that invented Christmas, not Santa, Little Cub wants to set out on a journey to find God.

Little Cub doesn't exactly find God but, he finds that God gives us everything.  This journey leads them across their frozen land and shows Little Cub that God gives us everything.  Including the reason for Christmas, Jesus!

Along the way, Mama shows Little Cub that God gives us all...from the lights dancing in the sky, to frozen icebergs and, of course, the King of Kings.  Jesus is the true reason for Christmas and in today's society we have lost the true meaning of Christmas.

This book helps to show our children what we are celebrating and why.  We get so caught up in buying presents and rushing around that our children are getting the wrong message.  This book helps spread the real message of God's love.  He loves us so much that He sent Jesus to Earth and gave us Christmas to celebrate his birth.

This book is beautifully written with amazing illustrations and I plan on making this a part of my Christmas tradition.  I want my kids to know what Christmas is all about.  It's about the only present that matters...Jesus!!!

"I received a copy of this book from the publisher for the purpose of this  review."

Tough Guys and Drama Queens | Book Review

Teenagers are a mystery.  One minute they are happy to see you the next they can't stand to even look your direction.  Being a teenager in today's society is a lot harder than it was when I was a kid.  I'm not even that old.  Times have changed and made life extremely hard in an already difficult time in a young persons life.

Tough Guys and Drama Queens: How Not To Get BLINDSIDED By Your Child's Teen Years by Mark Gregston is the survival manual for those exhausting times and that's just what those times are for parents...exhausting.

Gregston shows us how society affects our children today and how its different than what we are used to.  He also gives us the strategies that we need to make sure we help our teens and tweens through these rough years.  Not only does he tell us what works but, he also informs us of what won't work which saves us, as parent, a lot of time.

The best part of the book, I think, are the list of conversation starters at the end.  This gives us no excuses for communicating with our teenagers.

"I received a copy of this book from the publisher for the purpose of this  review."

Great Christmas Present Idea

Image from Barnes & Noble website

I love books.  I am always getting books for my kids.  So, for Christmas I will be getting more wonderful stories to add to our library.  One of the books I got recently is amazing.

I don't know if you have heard of the Little Blessings series from Tyndale Kids but, if not...you should definitely check it out.

Are Angels Real is a wonderful book since a lot of kids are wondering about that.  Actually...some adults wonder until they are shown that they are.  Kids have an easier time believing in something they can't see.

Are Angels Real is an older book (published in 2001) but, it's still relevant.  With cute rhyming lines and funny phrase and questions your child will be thoroughly enthralled and interested.

It's definitely cute when your child is sitting their pondering the thoughts in the book.  Like do angels wear sandals or shoes.?  Or can I become an angel when I get to heaven?

The next time your child questions whether angels are real or not, you can just reassure them that the bible says they are.

Muffin Tin Crayons

***Adult Supervision Required***

One thing I have always loved doing with kids, whether my own or when I was teaching preschool, was to make what I called Muffin Tin Crayons.  

The fun part about these is every child can make their own color combination.  The great part (for parents) is that you can use up all your broken crayons so they aren't laying around anymore.  

Equipment

Muffin Pan

Pan Liners

Crayons 

Oven

First you need to get your muffin pan and put a liner in each spot.  You can do it without the liners but, they make clean up so much easier. 

 Preheat your oven to 200 degrees.  It doesn't have to be super hot, just hot enough to melt the crayons.  

While you are taking care of the muffin pan and oven have your kids find the crayons they want to use.  (If you haven't done this already)  Once they have their crayons, have them peal the labels off so that there will be no paper in the crayon once it's made.  Next comes the part that kids like most.  If needed....break the crayons to fit in the tin.  Any size will work and they don't have to be the same size.  They just need to fit. 

Now comes the part that only an adult an do.  Put the muffin pan in the oven.  Keep an eye on your pan to see when they are melted.  I don't have a time on this since the amount of crayons and the size of each piece will differ and dictate how long it takes. 

Pull the crayons out when the are melted completely.  LET THEM COOL!!!!!  Don't remove them from the pan until they are completely cool.  Hot wax hurts!!!  

Once they are cooled....peel and enjoy!  They are great to color with... especially for little hands.  My kids actually started calling them Reese crayons since they look like the candy.