The Quiet (Crazy) Easter Day

I love these padded books. They are sturdy like board books yet have good story like a picture book.

And this is one that we enjoyed so much!

So as you can see its bright and colorful, which will hold any toddler or preschooler’s attention.

I like the story because it incorporates animal sounds which encourages my little audience to join in the story. They often get a good laugh from me making the animal noises as I read the book. And there’s almost a request for an encore performance. It’s a fun book to read to little ones who may not yet understand the full impact of the resurrection, but this book is a gentle introduction to our savior’s story. (They also have one about Jesus’ birth which is just as fun and colorful and full of animal noises to act out). 

I really like that this book takes the perspective that perhaps the animals were excited or maybe they somehow understood what was going on. And even if they did not, perhaps they were excited for God. As the Bible says that everything that has breathe worships Him, all creation worships Him. And animals are just as much God’s creation as I am. And they aren’t biased like humans are. So surely they worship God as a default. Their very existence is worship. And during those days, those who were sacrificed worshipped God in their death as well.

As always I received this book from the publisher in exchange for my HONEST opinion. And I am not required to write a positive opinion.

Children’s Book Review: God Made Me Unique

So here’s another children’s book from New Growth Press, this one is by Joni Earekson Tada. Joni is a well known author and motivational speaker. She’s known for being a champion of those itch advanced disabilities as she is also advanced disabled (a quadriplegic). I can see the motivation behind this book as she knows exactly how it feels to be different and to deal with discouraging thoughts.



This is a much appreciated book about the differences that are clear but sometimes children need to understand them so they can appreciate how their friends and classmates are different but to un that their differences is nothing to make fun of but something to celebrate. The story takes place in a church Sunday school classroom where all of the children have some disability or another yet the beauty is that their teacher is not allowing them to let it define them but teaching them how God’s Word defines them and call them beautiful and wonderfully made.


Highly recommend as we never know when our paths will cross with someone different from us but we always need to be ready for the resulting lesson.


(FYI, I received this book from the publisher, New Growth Press, in exchange for my honest review.)

The Moon is Always Round

Loss is hard. And just as it is hard on us adults, it is hard on children as well.

Simply written yet poignant in its message.

Little Ben notices the changes in the sky with the weather and times of day but then he sees that the moon always looks to change shape, yet Ben's dad always reminds him that the moon is always round. Ben's mommy becomes pregnant with a little sister and through it all, the moon is always round. As the come to Ben's baby sister being stillborn, dad reminds Ben that while we do not understand what's going on the moon is always round. At the baby's funeral, dad explains that the moon is always round is means that God is always good. No matter what happens in life, when we do not understand why things happen, God is always good and the moon is always round.

After reading this book I nearly wanted to cry. How beautiful of words to illustrate such a timeless truth.  And then to read that the story is true and based on the author's family. Tears. After going through loss this year, I greatly appreciate this book.

Family, have this book in your library. Adopt this saying in your family. The moon is always round.

God is always good. 

{FYI: I received this book from New Growth Press, the publisher, in exchange for my HONEST opinion.}

New Children's Book Review: Why Do We Say Goodnight?

A common ailment to young children is a fear of the dark. Fear of the sounds and shapes of the night tend to plague children. And so here is a new book to address a fear of the dark.

In this book, a mother and daughter are engaged in conversation about why they say good night especially since the daughter is afraid of the dark. The mother then explains why we say good night or that the night is good. She explains that while we cannot see well in the dark, God can and He is with us even while we sleep. 

Looking at the images, you can see the progression of the story from being fearful to no longer fearing the dark and trusting that God is there even while she sleeps.

This is a good and different book. It's the first book we have in our collection to deal with the fear of the dark, and considering I have had a few children to help cope with this fear I'm glad to come across and review this book.

Mamas of littles, go ahead and add it to your library.

{FYI: I received this book from New Growth Press in exchange for my HONEST opinion of the book.}

New Review: Play to Their Strength

So our next book is a parenting book. I'm almost always up for reading someone else's take on parenting because as parents we don't know it all. And if someone has advice that can make me a better, more God-honouring parent then I'm all ears.

From the cover, this one promises both.

So in this book, we meet parents who have got it wrong then strove on how to get it right.  Their goal is to not parent from a place of fear but one of working to uncover what their children's gifts and talents are, then parent their children in such a way that nurtures those gifts and talents. Some practical tools they offer are to find the 5 e's (your child's enthusiasm, ease, excellence, energy, and enjoyment) regarding what your children are involved in; creating a vision board, which works with children the same way it does us, adults; and keeping an eye out for red flags that trigger frustration and keep parents from reacting and disciplining out of anger.

Then the last 80 pages of the book is the Bonus Playbook which helps parents actually used what they've read. There are practical tips to go with every chapter.

This book has been an interesting book to read, especially since we have five (5) children that span in an age range from 1 to 12. For me, Chapters 12 and 13 have been the most useful and implementor. I see this book as an ongoing reference book that would get a reread every so often for recharge. But all in all, I like their approach to parenting, its encouragement and cultivation at its best.

I also like that they encourage really learning our children and not taking the approach that we know them because we birthed them.

I definitely recommend this book to parents. 

{Also, please note that I received this book from the publisher, Harvest House, in exchange for my honest opinion.}

God Made Boys and Girls

So here's another series of God Made books by New Growth Press.

This first book is about helping children understand gender from a godly perspective, which is hugely needed in today's society considering the constant discussion around gender and transgendered persons.

The story starts revolves around a little girl named Maya who prefers to play sports like football at recess. She's also really fast. So fast that when they line up for recess, her classmate (a boy) remarks that if she keeps playing with boys then she'll turn into a boy. This sparks a discussion about gender and how it does not change because of what we do or how we act. Gender is a gift from God and even if you like to do things that are considered "boy-ish" it doesn't change that gift. Gender is what you're born with and it doesn't change. It's ingrained so deep in us, it goes beyond what we can physically see down into our DNA and cells.

Again!  New Growth Press does it again with another good book with a much-needed lesson.

This is definitely worth reading, especially those who may have children or even teens who are struggling with gender identity and as a parent, you want to take a God-honoring approach to discuss it. This book does that and points them back to Jesus.

{I received this book from the publisher, New Growth Press, in exchange for my honest review.}

Good News for Little Hearts: Gus Loses His Grip

Our third book in the series! Such a good series so far. Each one is just as good as the last. 

Each book takes place in Mulberry Meadow and introduces another animal family. We've met Henry and Tori, now we meet Gus. 

Now Gus is a going through a sneaky phase. It starts with disobedience, eating candy in his room, which is a no-no. Then it delves into stealing candy at the market. All of this falls around Easter.

When Gus confesses to his dad he says he just had to have it (candy). So when he was offered a piece without any supervision he did what the kids next to him did, took more than he was told he could. Gus also confesses to eating candy in bed and hiding the wrappers knowing it was against the rules.

But the best part? His dad's response. His dad acknowledged what Gus did was wrong then self-reflected that even he as an adult needs to practice restraint and self-control. Then his dad tells him to return the candy, confess to the shopkeeper and apologize. 

Parents, a book that deals with disobedience, lying, and theft in a godly manner? Win!

Again add it to your home library for when the situation arises.

{I received this book from the publisher, New Growth Press, in exchange for my honest review.}

Good News for Little Hearts: Tori Comes Out of Her Shell

So we started this new series of books, we have 3 of 5 or 6 in the series.

While the first book dealt with loss and how to overcome grief. This book covers shyness and feeling lonely. And more specifically moving and being the new kid at school.

I so wish we had this book last year when we moved from Texas to North Dakota and our children were experiencing what Tori feels in this book. 

Tori's family moves to a larger log home and with that comes a new school, new friends and a new church. She also lands in Henry's class with Miss Minnick. She struggles with fitting in as well as being afraid of falling and being laughed at. Then comes Miss Minnick who helps Tori see Jesus as that invisible friend who's always with her. Then at church the message repeats. And at school the following week Tori meets Gertie Gecko who wants to have a shell like Tori so she wouldn't be exposed when she feels lonely. Tori is then able to pass along the message Miss Minnick gave her . Tori also invites Gertie to church. 

This message: tugs at the heart strings! Having a friend who just picks you up and holds you close is every child's wish even if they never say it and especially so for shy children.

OK, two books in and I'm starting to think this is just a must-have series.

Highly recommend for those with shy children.

Also, the pocket bible verses in the back (perforated so you have take them out) is AMAZING!

{I received this book from the publisher, New Growth Press, in exchange for my honest review.}

Good News For Little Hearts: Henry Says Good-bye

So we have TONS of new children's books to review from New Growth Press.

So Good News for Little Hearts is a very cute series that helps children address their feelings.

First Up: Henry Says Good-Bye

This is one of the  BEST books. It deals with grief and how feelings are real and how many times we can be mean when they are grieving. Henry's pet ladybug dies while he is at school one day and he's so sad and grieving, that even at times he takes it out on his friends. But then his parents help him to address his sadness and to grieve. They have a memorial service for Lila and all of Henry's friends come to say their good-byes he starts to not be so sad because he realizes his friends loved Lila the Ladybug too. 

Parents, this book is good to just have. Keep it on the bookshelf because death and loss are inevitable and as parents, we have to help our children through the losses that are sure to come. Even if the good-bye isn't due to death but perhaps moving and having to leave behind friends and family, a loss is still loss and our children need our help navigating the waters.

A must-have.

{I received this book from the publisher, New Growth Press, in exchange for my honest review.}

New Kid's Review: Scarlett's Spectacles

So I am super excited about a new children's book I received to review. What makes this book so awesome is that it uses glasses for a metaphor for our perspectives.

So we're introduced to beautiful young Scarlett. She grumbly and whiny while wearing a boring pair of brown square glasses. With all of her grumbling and complaining, she misses out on the blessings in her life. Her mommy points that out to her, that if only she would change her "glasses" then perhaps her attitude would change as well. And behold that's exactly what occurred. When Scarlett decided to change her glasses, she stopped whining and complaining about everything instead of simply being grateful for what she has.

So my first reaction: ALL of my kids need to read it and for it to be read aloud so that we can have a house discussion on it.  My second reaction: ALL of my friends with children need to read this book and have a family discussion about it. It's that good.

Highly Recommend.
You can purchase a copy here.

{FYI: as always I received this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion.}

New Review: Strong

SO if you all remember a little while back I did a review of an anthology called Empowered. Well here is the companion book for boys titled Strong.



Much like Empowered, Strong features the biographies of 11 men who have championed their faith in Jesus. Prior to reading this book, I'd only heard of two of them Jim Elliot, husband of Elisabeth Elliot, and famed baseball player Jackie Robinson. Each man has been chosen for a specific attribute that they represented such as humility, compassion, and endurance. I'll be honest I'm not much of a Jim Elliot fan, so his inclusion is one I'm not particularly interested in. (That is an entirely different topic that would need its own blog post on a different platform)

I also noticed she chose men who have no controversy and reform attached to them. It is as if she stuck to appeasing to a conservative audience. There is no mention of men like Martin Luther King Jr who as a pastor used his faith to help bridge gaps and bring positive progress during the civil rights movement.

For the most part, I think it is a decent book. It would be an interesting read for youth of all ages to read and learn about people who followed their beliefs no matter the cost. My plan is to have my kids read both this book and Empowered as I think they could learn a great deal about apologetics from them. And for that reason, I definitely would recommend to other moms for their home library as people of all ages could learn from their stories.




{As always I received this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion.}

New Cookbook Review: In the Kitchen with Grandma

Such the sweetest cookbook for grandmas and mamas to try with their kids/grandkids.

Now mind you I'm not a grandmother and likely won't be for a long time. I still thoroughly enjoyed this book as they are recipes I can do with my kids.

So, the recipes in this book are organized into sections around seasons: Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter. Then there are the Year-Round and Holiday recipes.  And there's a section on how best to share your faith with your grandkids/kids complete with hand motions and all. Like how awesome is this? A cookbook that seeks to add just a touch of sharing the gospel.

I like that the author identifies how difficult recipes (represented by the number of spoons) are and gives gluten-free options for most (if not all) recipes. The recipes (in my opinion) are all fairly easy to replicate and enjoy. I love that all the recipes are kid-friendly and can please even the pickiest of eaters. And there are margins for note-taking! Absolutely brilliant to have a note section with each recipe so that each mom/grandma can note down her little tweaks to the recipe that make it a family favorite.

The only thing I wish was different is that the interior was as colorful as the exterior. The interior is for the most part grayscale with few touches of a deep rose.

However, I think it could be loads of fun throughout the year with new recipes to try.
You can purchase a copy here.

{As always I received this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion.}

Soaring Through the Bible

How awesome is a Bible overview book made specifically for kids?? I think it is awesome and it helps with actually teaching the bible.

So this book goes book by book explaining who wrote it, why they wrote, who they wrote it to, and how it relates to the BIG picture of the Bible: The Gospel. Each chapter is about 4-5 pages long and encompasses helping with learning little tidbits about the Hebrew language and how the words really translate from Hebrew to English. And of course, it wouldn't be a Bible overview if each chapter didn't share a summary of the book in question, generally by theme.

My plan is to incorporate this book into our morning basket this school year as it will help my kids learn the books of the Bible, where to find them in the bible and how they relate to the gospel and God's overarching picture. 

I do recommend adding this book to your library for your kiddos too.

And if you choose to do so, you can get a copy on Amazon.

{As always I received this book in exchange for my HONEST opinion.}

Student Planner Review

So this may be my first time reviewing an academic planner, and this one is a student planner which I am totally excited about because we are back homeschooling this year so the planner will be used by my oldest who will be starting 7th grade in a few short weeks.

So this is what the exterior of the one we received looks like. It is hardback with the ability to lay flat to write in. It isn't super bulky so she can drop it down into her backpack to take with her when we go on road trips or to the library.

These two pages are to set up what courses the student will take on a weekly basis and which days each week as well as a semester overview. This is awesome for us because as homeschoolers we can use these pages to keep up with (for record-keeping purposes) exactly what was learned throughout the school year.

The each month's calendar is spaced out over two pages which allow the student to keep up with activities. Especially for the busy kid who may be involved in extracurricular activities like our kids are planning for. There's a notes column to jot down notes and things to remember. And down in the lower right-hand corner is a monthly memory verse for the student, so over the course of the school year they should be able to memorize at least 10-11 verses.

And last is the weekly planning pages which have a check-box layout rather than a time slot layout which in my preference is better because we often do not always adhere to a time schedule but we do tend to maintain our routine. With the checkboxes, I informed my student that she would write down all of her assignments the weekend before and check off each one as she completed them and I would review and grade the following weekend. My goal is to allow more self-governance for our oldest and give her more responsibility for keeping up with her assignments and chores.

So for me, this planner gets 5 stars!! It is well thought out and simple enough to use without too much explanation. I definitely recommend. And if you want one a little more feminine they do have another cover option:

{FYI: as always this planner was provided to me for FREE from the publisher in exchange for my HONEST opinion.}

Easter is Coming

Board books are some of my favorite books to have in my library since we have 3 girls under 5 years of age. And they are ROUGH on books.

The colors are vibrant and inviting. So this book is of course about Easter and it visits different stories in the Bible (Adam & Eve, The Old Testament in General, then the last supper and other events in Jesus' life) and states that while people acted in ways that did not please God, they were unaware that Easter, the Resurrection, was coming. This book generally exchanges the Resurrection with Easter. 

My personal opinion: It's bright and colorful. It's vibrant and inviting. It's a board book, meaning sturdy enough to withstand the hands of a 4 yr old, 3 yr old, and 11 month old. However, on a theology level, people could easily have an issue with the world Easter being interjected for Resurrection. While we have come to easily exchange the two, they are actually two different events. However, I do understand what the author is trying to do, which is get our children to look beyond the bunny, eggs, and baskets to see Jesus & the cross.

{FYI I received this book from the publisher in exchange for my HONEST opinion.}

Tiny Truths Illustrated Bible

EEEEEEKKKK!!!!

That was me being UBER excited about this children's story bible. This has to be the first one I've EVER encountered where ALL of the illustrations are brown people. 

I have come across many Bible storybooks in my years of book reviewing and this is the FIRST time I've come across one where the characters are accurate. They are all beautiful shades of brown. While this may not seem like a huge deal, it really is. Most illustrations of Jesus and different people from the bible has been hugely white-washed even when you see movies on Joseph or Moses it is rare for us to see the Egyptians (who are African) portrayed as actual Africans (which is people of color, brown/black). And so to have an ENTIRE Bible storybook filled with people of color where my kids can see themselves in the Bible, that's huge. It's representation where we often have none. 

The stories are not too long and the illustrations hold our little ones' interest.  There are about 20 Old Testament stories and 20 New Testament stories.  Now don't expect it to be completely accurate (it isn't), that's why I described it as a storybook and not a Bible as the writer liberally adds to it to make it fun and engaging for kids. One of the stories is titled in such a way that children can connect the story to the holiday, The First Christmas.

If you choose to grab a copy for your kiddos, head over to Amazon.

(As always, I received this book from the publisher in exchange for my HONEST opinion.)

God's Good News (children's book)

I love a good children's book. Why? Because my husband and I have five (5!) children and having a home library is so important to me. Books are a complete necessity in life to me.

So here's a new book by Billy Graham. (my first time reviewing a book by him)

So to start this book is very colorful. On average each story is about 2 pages long with some being longer. There are also short takeaways or devotions to go with each story, penned by Billy Graham. The great thing I like about this book is that roughly half the book is Old Testament and half the book is from the New Testament. Most children's books I've come across usually have a majority of the book come from the Old Testament and a smaller portion from the New Testament.

So far, We're reading select stories as my children point out who they would like to read about. However, I am pleased with what I have read thus far. In every story you see that it is quite close to Scripture and the love & grace of God is shown. And even though it is a children's storybook, I can see it being used to help someone with absolutely no knowledge of the Bible to ease into understanding what they read in the Bible.

{FYI: I received this book in exchange for my HONEST opinion.}

New from Veggie Tales & Jelly Telly!

So you guys know I am always on the hunt for the great homeschooling and learning tools to use with my children and Veggie Tales' new imprint Jelly Telly has released SIX new items this January!!

There are FOUR board books:

1. God Made the World
2. God Made Me
3. God Made Night & Day
4. God Made the Animals

Check out this video!

That actually tell an interesting story, featuring brothers Clive and Ian, and explain to children about creation. We love these books. They are board books, so no worries about ripped pages. They are bright and colorful. They are biblical. From the 2-year-old to the 7-year-old, we enjoy reading them.

Then, there are the Old Testament & New Testament Coloring books. 

• Buck Denver's Bible Coloring Book Old Testament Stories
• Buck Denver's Bible Coloring Book New Testament Stories

My kids LOVE them! There are 60 pages in each book. And the pages are perforated which is awesome since we have 4 kids who often want to color the same thing, I can neatly take the page out and make copies of it. And voila! Everyone can color the same page without any arguing over the page.

What's also awesome is that Jelly Telly is this amazing kids resource that's like a biblical Netflix just for kids. It's about $5 a month or $50 a year. They have access to over 122 shows and movies that are bible based and created specifically FOR children.

After perusing their online store, I realize I cannot wait to order some of their resources, they have a complete bible series called What's in the Bible that goes with the coloring books I received. They also have Bible curriculum which is great for churches' children's ministries and homeschoolers, like us. You can also buy toys and games as well as VBS materials. It's like a one-stop shop for a children's pastor.

I highly recommend! Like, get it asap!

Also here are a few FREE downloads for your kids too!!

Old Testament Coloring Pages
New Testament Coloring Pages

{FYI: I received these books from the publisher in exchange for my HONEST opinion.}

The Silent Noisy Night

A new children's book!

Perfect for this Christmas season!

So I absolutely LOVE this book! It's so bright and colorful. And baby Jesus is a beautiful brown skin baby (won't go into a debate on this). The author takes into account that Jesus was born in a barn and laid in a manger (a feedbox for animals). So if he was born in a barn, he could have easily been surrounded by farm animals and if he was, it is quite believable that they were not quite. They may have been excited about his birth.

I love that the author uses such amazing verbs and sounds and it rhymes. So when we read it (almost every day since it arrived), I tend to sing the last few pages to my kids and (surprisingly) they love it!

And what mom doesn't love a board book. Soft enough for little hands to hold yet sturdy enough that those little yet rowdy hands cannot destroy it.

Look below for an excerpt:

Definitely recommend!! Why not read it during advent with your children?

{As always, I received this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.}

God's Blessings Day By Day

If you knew me personally and could view my home bookshelf, then you'd know I love kids devotionals. Why? Because usually, kids have a shorter attention span, so giving them the Word in nuggets each day works SO much better and easier until their attention spans get longer and they're ready for full on bible studies.

So a couple of things to note about this devotional. First, it is of course for kids. Second, it is a compilation of devotionals written by people from around the country. There are 52 weeks of devotions, with devotions for Monday-Friday and then one for the weekend of each week. Each devotional starts with a focus bible verse, which can be easily used as a daily memory verse (make it fun with treats or rewards for actually memorizing) and then has the actual devotional. Ending each devotional with a prayer or praise prompt.

This book is hardback with solid pages, not too thick yet not too thin that they'd easily rip.  I definitely recommend this for kids, up to around 9 years old. After that, it may seem babyish to them and they may require a pre-teen devotional.

(FYI: I received this book from the publisher in exchange for my HONEST OPINION.)