I am taking a blogging holiday today. Our little lady does not have school, and I am looking forward to having some extra special fun with her today!
Blogging Holiday
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Happy Valentine’s Day!
Forever
With Valentine’s Day around the corner, I wanted to share a sweet book about love. Forever features a polar bear family and depicts the forever love that exists between parents and a child. The story is precious, and the illustrations in this book are lovely and enhance the text. This little gem would make a great Valentine’s Day surprise!
The Secrets of Happy Families – Bruce Feiler
The Secrets of a Happy Family was a disappointment. Much of the material was recycled from other parenting books (i.e. – importance of family dinners). That which was not recycled came from an “expert” panel that the author assembled of creative solution seekers that included problem solvers from Silicon Valley as well as military elites (Green Berets). Although some of the team building exercises and problem solving strategies can easily transfer over to a family organization, others do not. Mr. Feiler’s attempt at sharing the smartest solutions for families did not include any awareness or application of child development. As a result, I found this book lacking.
While this complimentary book was provided for review by Litfuse Publicity Group, no other compensation was given. All remarks are my personal and honest opinions.
Weelicious: 140 Fast, Fresh, and Easy Recipes – Catherine McCord
Although I enjoy cooking, I don’t traditionally review recipe books, but I am making an exception for Weelicious: 140 Fast, Fresh, and Easy Recipes. I love this cookbook! The recipes are easy and the results have been yummy for our entire family. Turkey Pesto Meatballs were a big hit as were the Peanut Butter and Jelly Breakfast Cupcakes. Highly accessible recipes that deliver delicious healthy food options make this recipe book a winner!
The Jesus Bible
Our daughter was eager to have a Bible of her own rather than using one of her Bible Story books. The Jesus Bible was a great find. The introduction of each book includes where Jesus can be found within the book, who wrote it, why the book was written, as well as other details that help with application. Throughout the text there are also over three hundred devotionals. The Jesus Bible is a geared toward children 9-12 although younger children will enjoy it as well. Our almost seven year old delights in reading and exploring her new Bible.
While this complimentary book was provided for review by Thomas Nelson Publishing, no other compensation was given. All remarks are my personal and honest opinions.
Isabella: Star of the Story – Jennifer Fossberry
As the mother of a little girl who adores reading, the cover of this book immediately caught my attention. Then I started reading, and it did not disappoint. Isabella: Star of the Story is wonderful! Isabella discovers that a journey of discovery can be found in books. She jumps into a number of familiar tales within the story and takes the reader with her on quite an adventure. This is an imaginative tale enhanced by darling illustrations which would make a great read-a-loud.
Tap the Magic Tree – Christie Matheson
Tap the Magic Tree is a wonderful interactive book that introduces little ones to the wonder of the changing of the seasons from the point of view of a single tree. This is a perfect book for a read-aloud that will delight as listeners are asked to clap, count, and so much more. Tap the Magic Tree is a gem!
The Very Fairy Princess Sparkes in the Snow – Julie Andrews and Emma Walton Hamilton
The Very Fairy Princess Sparkles in the Snow is a cute story. Geraldine, the main character, reminds me of Fancy Nancy. She is full of spunk and fun. The story provides an opportunity for the reader to see that things do not always turn out how we might hope and how to deal with such situations.
Redwoods – Jason Chin
Jason Chin writes amazing books about the world around us. Redwoods is a terrific book which incorporates fictional elements with non-fiction details. A little boy is waiting for a subway train while reading a book about redwoods. As he continues to read he enters the redwood forest to explore and learn. The illustrations in this book are outstanding and bring the text to life. This magical tale is a winner!