The POWER of Reading to Your Children

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...

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. 

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.

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.

The Countries of Whine and Roses by Joyce Wheeler

I have been in children’s ministry most of my adult life and now I have children of my own. Nothing is more important than teaching children the gospel. Children’s books that teach the gospel can be wonderful tools to present the gospel in a way that children can understand. A great way to do this is to tell a story, or parable, that presents the truth of the gospel. Jesus did.

The Countries of Whine and Roses by Joyce Wheeler is such a parable. It tells the story of the country of Roses which represents heaven, or God’s kingdom. Another country, called Whine, represents earth. The country of Roses sends ambassadors, or messengers, to Whine to tell them about the King of Roses. The people of Whine reject the message and the messenger. The king decides to send a final messenger, his son. The people of Whine kill the son, but the son miraculously returns to the country of Roses. Some people of Whine accept the message of the son and wait for him to return as ruler.

This story reminds me of the parable the Jesus told Matthew 21:300-39. A man who owned a vineyard leased his land to some farmers. He sent servants to get his share of the grapes, but they beat and killed them. He sent more and they did the same to them. Lastly, he sent his son who was put to death. Jesus’ parable was not intended to teach the whole gospel but rather to show the religious leaders their fate and why.

This story, I believe, is intended to share the gospel. I applaud the fact that it does it as a story. Children will be entertained by the story. I applaud that it is told from the perspective of heaven rather than the perspective of earth. However, where it falls short is that it does not preach the whole gospel.

As a teacher and parent, I think it is critical that the book preaches the whole gospel. In its most basic form the gospel is this: We have sinned and our sin separates us from the God who created us and loves us. Since God is just, sin requires that a penalty be paid. That penalty is death. Death separates us from God forever. Because God is love, he chose to pay the penalty for us by Jesus dying on the cross for us. If we believe that, repent from our sins and turn to God, we are forgiven and reconciled to God. We are then able to live with God who loves us forever.

The story has the son die and return which is good. It mentions the sins of the people of Whine which is good. However, it doesn’t explain that need for sin to be punished. It doesn’t explain why the prince had to die. It only tells that the people of Whine killed the prince unjustly. It doesn’t speak of repentance, turning from sin back to God. It speaks of “believing in the King of Roses,” who represents God the Father. However, belief, according to the Bible, is not enough. “The demons believe and tremble.” James 2:19.

The Countries of Whine and Roses is a good story and a good way to begin to share the gospel, but as a parent and teacher, I would use the book as a springboard for further discussion. I would not let it stand on its own because on its own, it falls short.

It is a very difficult thing to present the gospel to children and I certainly applaud the valiant effort of the author. It is a good start. 

Nicki Nice’s Bully by Dr. Fran White

When I was a child I was teased and bullied. I had buck teeth, was skinning, not very athletic in terms of sports involving balls, and was very intelligent. I think for those reasons, I was the target for teasing and bullying. In response to children hitting me, my dad taught me how to hit back. He taught me how to punch and “dance” like a boxer. That was 40 years ago.

Much has changed in 40 years. We now seek to understand why bullies do what they do to help them as well as their victims. We teach our children not to respond to teasing and bullying because the instigator is seeking the response for attention. Not responding takes power away from the instigator.

In Nicki Nice’s Bully by Dr. Fran White, children are taught how to respond to bullies through the simple words of another child. Nikki is taught by a counselor not to respond to the bully and to inform another adult, in this case, her teacher, who can help both the bully and Nikki. The outcome is very positive.

I would encourage parents or anyone who interacts regularly with children to read and discuss this book with their children. I would even encourage educators to read it to their class. It’s a great way to talk about a scary subject with a child and may open the door for them to confess their own troubles.

I was in several fights as a child. If this book had been available when I was a child and its principles taught, I would have avoided many physical as well as emotional wounds.

Nicki Nice’s Tricky Letters by Dr. Fran White

Do you remember reading The Little Engine that Could as a child? "I think I can, I think I can, I think I can." The engine succeeded in making it up the hill. It was a simple story with a simple message. You can overcome an obstacle such as a hill by encouraging yourself to keep trying and not give up. Such is the message of Nicki Nice’s Tricky Letters by Dr. Fran White. Nicky has dyslexia and so has much difficulty learning to read in school. She, like the little engine, encourages herself to “Try and try and try and never give up.” She repeats similar mantras throughout the book. With help from her tutor, teacher and mother Nicki succeeds in learning to read and overcoming her obstacle of dyslexia.

Whether your child suffers from dyslexia or needs encouragement to overcome another obstacle, this would be a good book to read and discuss with them. It teaches the value of overcoming obstacles by the virtue of persistence. The child will be able to relate to Nicki’s feelings and frustrations and will be encouraged not to quit.

The Germ: How to Talk to Children about Racism and Diversity by Deidra A. Sorrell

The Germ: How to Talk to Children about Racism and Diversity by Deidra A. Sorrell is an important book with an important message. Racism and violence are sad realities in our society.  Our children are exposed to it in the playground, at school, in media and elsewhere. It is important that we discuss the topic early in their childhood. Sorrell presents an easy way to do this. The book is a discussion between a mother and daughter after the daughter witnesses and news broadcast about the shooting of a black man by the police. The conversation is tactful and careful. The mother compares racism to a germ. Not all people have the germ, but some do. The daughter poses several questions that a young child may have about racism. The mother tactfully answers the questions and gives real life examples. This is a wonderful way to teach our children about racism, how to deal with it and even how to be a part of the solution. I would recommend this to anyone who has the opportunity to teach children including parents and educators. This book is not only a positive investment for the life a child but a positive investment for the society in which we live.

Nothing to Fear by Laurie Salisbury

Are you able to recite “Jesus Loves Me?” We learned this little song and its profound truth when we were young. It is never too early to begin teaching your children the truth of God’s love and his precious word. “Nothing to Fear” by Laurie Salisbury is based on 2 Timothy 1:17 which tells us that “God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” We have nothing to fear. This simple book teaches children that they have nothing to fear because of Jesus’ perfect love for us. It is written much like a song with rhyme and a repeating chorus. Repetition is how children learn.  This book will begin to teach our children about God’s unconditional love and that they have nothing to fear. I read it to my 16 month old and she was fascinated by the baby pictures and paid attention to the whole book. I read it to my 3-year old and she wanted it read again. I recommend this book for any parent, grandparent, uncle, aunt or friend of a young toddler. 

Shattered Dreams

My publisher Tate Publishing is going out of business. My second book in the Oregon Kids series was being published. It had gotten through editing. The editor said, "Reading your story for me was a breath of fresh air. I made minimal edits as it is already very well written. I appreciate how it teaches a valuable lesson on honesty. I think children will enjoy and learn much from your work." I was very pleased to have such a review before the book was even published. My personal friend and editor thought the second book was better than the first.

My first book was receiving excellent reviews. Most authors don't sell 50 books. I was already beyond that. Parents were using my book the help teach values to their children. I was so excited and grateful.

Now, the second book may never be published. I must begin a new search for a publisher or pursue self-publishing. My dream of having all the books in the series published has been shattered. I had a lifetime contract with Tate. Now Tate has defaulted on that contract. I've never received any royalties for books sold. I never received my personal hardcover copies.

I still hold onto the fact that "All things work together for good to those who love God and are called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28. Good will yet come out of this. Shattered dreams can be reborn with a new hope. The dream may alter a bit, but will ultimately be realized in the way God originally envisioned it, not the way I envisioned it.  Naomi and Ruth had shattered dreams but God restored their dream in ways unexpected and unanticipated. Ruth 4:13-14 Job had shattered dreams but his later years were more blessed than his former years. Job 42:12 My hope remains in the Lord.