Children's Books and Review
Thursday, July 6, 2017
Thursday, June 29, 2017
Hall Ways: The Oregon Kids: The Big Catch
Hall Ways: The Oregon Kids: The Big Catch: Richley, B. (2017). The Oregon Kids: The Big Catch. Self-published. Children's Book / Illustrated / Life Lessons / K-3 ✪✪✪✪✪ Blu...
Thursday, May 25, 2017
Review of Lilly’s Big Day by Cathy Stewart
Do your children ever get distracted and then “forget” to do something you told them to do? In Lilly’sBig Day by Cathy Stewart, Lilly gets distracted and suffers the consequences.
I strongly believe books and media should be used as springboards to discuss moral lessons. This book could easily be used to discuss the lesson of listening to your parents without nagging your kids. It provides the opportunity for kids to see natural consequences of not following parent’s instructions. It gives the opportunity for parents to ask their kids questions: “What did Lilly’s mother tell her to do?” “Did she do it?” “What happened when she didn’t?”
It’s a simple story with a good lesson. If children will learn from Lily’s consequences, maybe they will avoid consequences of their own.
Review of Elijah and the Key of Knowledge by Zachariah Rippee
I have two daughters. I’ve been reading to both since they
were babies. Neither are old enough to read but they both will turn pages on
their own. The oldest, who is 3, has some of the stories memorized and will
recite the story as she turns the pages. It is my desire as a parent to instill
a love of reading in my children. Reading will give them a higher aptitude forlearning, better speech and communication skills, better language skills,better logical thinking and much more.
In Elijah and the Key of Knowledge by Zachariah Rippee,
Elijah and his friends search for the key of knowledge. They encounter
obstacles along the way which Elijah’s friends overcome. In the end, Elijah
learns he has the key of knowledge which is his ability to read. As a parent, I
want my kids to possess and use this key of knowledge. This book offers a
wonderful way to introduce kids to that key. I would recommend adults reading
it with children and discussing it. It would be great to discuss why Elijah is
sad that he can’t overcome some obstacles. It would be great to discuss why
having the ability to read is so powerful. There are many lessons that can be learned from this book.
Review of Elijah and The City in Danger by Zachariah Rippee
One of my favorite comics is Calvin and Hobbes. Calvin is known for using his imagination. Calvin’s imagination is his primary source of fun. However, Calvin often uses his imagination to get out of doing things he ought to do like doing his homework.
In Elijah and The City in Danger by Zachariah Rippee, Elijah uses his imagination to have fun like Calvin. However, Elijah also uses his imagination to turn his chores into fun. He imagines he has super powers to clean his room. When he’s done with his chores, he uses his imagination to have fun as he imagines saving the city.
This story has a wonderful lesson for kids. It emphasizes doing the important things that they are told to do. It offers them a way to do it that is fun. I would recommend parents and caregivers read this story with children and discuss how they might use their imagination to make work fun.
Friday, May 19, 2017
Review of Reins of Love by Laurie Salisbury
As a Christian parent, I want nothing more than my kids to
follow Jesus. I want him to reign in their heart. I want them to listen to him
and do what he says. I hope to teach and model following Christ.
I read to my kids every day. I want them to develop a love
for reading. I also want to use the books they read as a teaching tool. Not all
books will teach values I want them to learn. When they don’t I want to discuss
the values with them so that they think about what is being presented. When
they do teach good values, I also want to discuss the lessons with them.
Reins of Love by
Laurie Salisbury does teach values I want my kids to learn. It teaches showing
kindness to people even if you don’t like them at first. It teaches patience
when you don’t get what you want. It teaches listening to God and doing what he
asks. I applaud these lessons and books like this that teach them.
Reins of Love is a
simple and cute story. It is about the lessons to twins learn after the family
moves out of the city to the country. The girl, Beth, receives a horse as a
gift and her twin brother, Ben, receives a pony. Beth must learn to deal with a
trainer she doesn’t like. Ben must learn to accept not getting what he wants.
Both learn to listen to God and be examples of love to others. The gospel is
presented in the story.
Reading it, I found myself laughing and smiling at times. It
had its warm and touching moments. Children may find it a bit preaching at
times, but the twins do provide good models of behavior. The twins make sincere
efforts to change attitudes and behavior through prayer and relying on God.
I would recommend reading the book with your child and
discussing it as you do. It could be a wonderful springboard to discussion how the whole family could better follow
Jesus.
Monday, May 15, 2017
Review of The Green Lady Bug by Zachariah Rippee
Do you remember reading the Sneetches by Dr. Seuss? He taught us an important lesson about
differences: “Sneetches are Sneetches. And no kind of Sneetch is the best
on the beaches.” In his
classic tale, Sneetches learn their lesson by being ripped off by Sylvester
McMonkey McBean.
A similar lesson is being taught in The Green Lady Bug by Zachariah
Rippee. Like the children Sneetches who won’t let Sneetches without stars play
ball in the Seuss story, red ladybugs refuse to let a green ladybug play with them because she is different.
The green lady bug applies the principle found in Mathew 5:44 “Love your
enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you…” She saves
the red lady bugs after they have been caught in a jar. This kindness gives the
red lady bugs a change of heart.
This little sing-songy story has 2 great lessons for
children. The first is to be kind even to those who don’t like you. The second
is to treat others who are different as you the same as you would someone who
was like you.
Racism and hate are causing much pain and grief in our
society today. How much better our world would be if our children learned to
treat everyone with kindness? I would recommend this book to be read to
children as one way to help teach this to our children.
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