An Extraodinary Egg – Leo Lionni

Our daughter found this book in the reading area of  the science museum.  After our initial reading she promptly asked for it to be read to her again and again!  An Extraordinary Egg is a story of a most unlikely friendship.  When Jessica the frog brings back home what she thinks is a stone, Marilyn the frog quickly announces with authority that Jessica has found a chicken egg not a stone.  Before long an alligator hatches from the egg.  The frogs are excited by the swimming skills of the “chicken” and delight in swimming and playing in the water together.  One day Jessica become tangled in some weeds and the “chicken” saves her.  From that point forward the two are inseparable friends.  Ultimately, the “chicken” finds his way back to his mother, and the frogs find it tremendously silly that the “chicken’s” mother calls her baby her “sweet little alligator”.

 

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Cloudette – Tom Lichtenheld

Cloudette is a favorite at our home.  Our daughter delights in reading about Cloudette, the  sweet little cumulus cloud who enjoys her life as a little cloud but longs to do big and important things like the other clouds.  After being blown far from her neighborhood during a storm, she meets a little frog whose pond has dried up to nothing more than a little mud puddle.  Determined to help, she musters all of her determination and in the end finds she is capable of doing lots of important things.

Written with humor and enhanced with colorful, appealing pictures, Cloudette is a feel good story that shares an important message.

At This Very Moment – Jim Arnosky

Our daughter loves everything about the outdoors and nature…especially animals.  On a recent trip to the  library At This Very Moment caught her eye.  She saw the cover and commented: “That looks like a really good book Mommy!”  She was right.  At This Very Moment is terrific.  Written in rhyming couplet, the reader is taken on a journey into the animal world through the pages of this book.  Daily tasks from getting up and brushing your teeth to sitting at the dinner table and eating your peas are highlighted and then in juxtaposition the reader is given a glimpse into what animals are doing at that same time.

A true highlight of this book are the illustrations.  They are amazing and truly bring the words on the page to life.  At This Very Moment is a treat!

 

A Penguin Story – Antoinette Portis

I love the deceptively simple books that Antoinette Portis writes and illustrates.  Her newest,  A Penguin Story introduces the reader to Edna, a little penguin who is extremely curious.  Edna decides there must be more out in the world than the three colors that surround her – white ice, black night, and blue sea.  She sets out to explore her world and find out for sure.  After a great deal of searching she finds an orange tent that belongs to some researchers who are also wearing orange.  She excitedly shares her find with the other penguins and takes them to see the orange tent and orange suited researchers.  Before they leave the researchers give Edna one of their gloves which she decides to start wearing as a hat.  The other penguins are highly impressed with what Edna had found, but by the next day are back to playing and fishing.  Edna on the other hand is contemplating what else might be out in the world.

Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy – Eric Metaxas

Bonhoeffer:   Pastor, Martyn, Prophet , Spy shares the amazing story of Dietrich Bonhoeffer.  This exhaustive biography of Bonhoeffer’s life is extremely well written and engaging.  The use of personal letters, interviews, and research provides the reader with a clear picture of who this man was and the incredible impact and influence he had in aggressively opposing the Nazi Movement culminating in his participation in the conspiracy to assassinate Hitler.

This book is well worth reading.  I highly recommend it.

While this complimentary book was provided for review by Tyndale House Publishers, no other compensation was given.  All remarks are my personal and honest opinions.

Mole Music – David McPhail

Mole Music shares the story of a little mole who feels there is something missing in his life.  After seeing a violist on television, he decides to order a violin and learn how to play.  At first his efforts produce no more than screeching noises,  but with time and effort Mole learns to play beautifully and surpasses the skills of the musician he saw on television.  The real story then unfolds.

Being underground, Mole does not realize that his music is being heard by all those above him.  It travels through a tree whose roots are directly above Mole’s home.  At first the tree appears that it may die from the terrible screeching noises, but before long Mole’s playing improves and the tree begins to grow.  As Mole continues to develop his musical skills, the tree continues to grow and develop into a strong, beautiful tree.   As he plays Mole wonders what it would be like to play his music for others never knowing that above the ground his music is being enjoyed by many.

 

Blue Chameleon – Emily Gravett

The power of simplicity is found in Emily Gravett’s Chameleon.  Yes, this book is about colors, but it is also about a search for friendship.  The simply language coupled with eye catching illustrations of the chameleon transforming from color to color in an attempt to “fit in” and find friendship makes this book not only an engaging read for all ages, but serves as an outstanding starting point for meaningful discussion about friendship for older children.

Women of Faith Afterglow

I had the privilege of being given tickets to the Women of Faith Conference in Dallas from Thomas Nelson Publishing.  I was not sure exactly what to expect but was looking forward to the opportunity.  I was not disappointed.  It was an incredibly positive, encouraging experience which included music, speakers, and dramas.

Patsy Clairmont, Marilyn Meburg, Lisa Whelchel, Sandi Patty, Brenda Warner, and Andy Andrews served as the keynote speakers.  All of the speakers were dynamic and shared from the heart.  I found there was a “take away” moment from each and every presentation.

The music was an additional highlight.  Mandisa’s music was inspirational and uplifting, and it is always a special treat to see Amy Grant in a live performance setting.   It was an unexpected delight to have her give a mini-concert to us Saturday afternoon.

The Women of Faith experience is a special one, and I look forward to attending again in the future!