Tiny Truths Illustrated Bible By Joanna Rivard and Tim Penner

It's hard to capture an active three year old's attention. However, through a combination of engaging pictures, conversational dialogue, and timeless truth The Tiny Truths Illustrated Bible  had my little one begging for "just one more story" (and another and another).

My kids both give "lotsa thumbs up" to the pictures which they loved! Aside from cute and kid-friendly, they helped maintain interest when my three year old struggles with lingering speech issues. They complement and enrich the story from cover to cover.

The story itself was perfect for our three year old and, I believe, the preschool through kindergarten age really is the perfect focus range for this edition.
This is an age.range we haven't  really found well covered in the past. While we love The Jesus Storybook Bible it's still a little too advanced for our youngest but he's also informed us  he's too big for the ultra simplified infant one. Relying more on paraphrase and a story-telling emphasis, Tiny Truths uses conversational language that is familiar to convey  the stories and truth so familiar to the church.  Even my oldest was drawn in by the way each story was phrased with little questions here and there to encourage thoughtfulness and engagement.

Physically, I appreciated the book's break down. The index is a great addition and I love how the Old to New Testament transition gets it's own page in the text for easier referencing.

4.5 out of 5 stars

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

Duck Commander Happy, Happy, Happy Stories for Kids Fun and Faith-Filled Stories By Korie Robertson and Chrys Howard

My only exposure to Duck Dynasty comes from Korie Robertson's earlier book Strong and Kind. That said, I like stories, my boys learn well through stories and I was curious where Happy, Happy, Happy Stories for Kids  falls into the ever growing spectrum of spiritual growth/life lessons for kids that is available.

Overall, the format is familiar. Each of the fourteen chapters begins with a relatively short story(the last chapter we read falling around 8 pages) brought to life with every day vernacular and bright engaging images. The story is then reinforced with a page dedicated to a scripture verse, a page of reflective questions, and two pages dedicated  to practical application. The minor format tweak with the practical application section proved a huge success with our boys who loved taping into visual, audio, and hands on learning making for some great engagement and reflection from both kids.

I also appreciated how biblical and moral truths were reinforced through everyday stories with everyday kids. My boys are really enthralled with John Luke's adventures and I can see them being disappointed when we finish the  book in its entirety together. The fact that we don't know much about the Duck Dynasty family hasn't made any difference to their enjoyment as we're reading about kids in relatable situations and learning foundational truths(although I'm pretty sure the 5 year old now wants to build his own tree house which was not the moral of that particular chapter.)

I could see kids in the 5-9 year old range connecting most easily with this material and thanks to the supplementary pages it is a great resource for parents wanting to start conversations with their kids.

4 out of 5 stars

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

With This Pledge by Tamera Alexander

Utterly Captivating!

Tamera Alexander's retelling of the events of the Battle of Franklin and its effects on the residents of Carnton had me completely immersed and rooting for these characters based upon the actual residents and soldiers who participated in the unfolding of Franklin and the final days of the war.

Now, as a Canadian, I only have a basic knowledge of the U.S. civil war which is why I was thrilled to find Alexander has done her research, even using actual correspondence from those in and around Carnton. Her attention to detail, even in regards to battle, surgery, and recovery helped me as a reader with no connection to the events catch glimpses of the turmoil of the time (although fair warning readers who enjoy happy endings don't go researching the characters after Alexander pens the end).

Obviously using actual places, events, and correspondence from the primary characters adds a  level of depth that is natural but I also appreciate how Alexander respects the people while fleshing out the story of Lizzie, Roland, and even Tempy. She respects their flaws, pain, and their quirks which may have been easier to smooth out, instead allowing them to further richen the narrative. The debates between Lizzie and Roland regarding slavery, the questions of moral men, the trauma of the children and helpers all gave further insight into the era.

With This Pledge  was my first foray into Alexander's work but I shall definitely be checking her out again. I highly recommend this book for any fans of historical fiction, romance, civil war era novels.

5 out of 5 stars.

losure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

Mark of the Raven by Morgan L.Busse

Based on Mark of the Raven, The Ravenwood Saga has the potential to be my favourite Christian fantasy series in years.

Right from the start, Busse is invested in taking  the time to world build. As a result, the book is filled with rich family and world history, interesting geography, and, of course, the division of the great houses gifts. Busse obviously has put a lot of thought and heart to the creation of her characters home and it brings the story a depth and immersion I've found lacking in other reads in this genre of late.

The concept of the gifts is what lands this novel firmly in its fantasy genre. I really enjoyed the slow reveal of the gifts as well as the way readers are introduced to the concept of a gift that has been twisted or warped from it's original purpose. Between the contrast of the houses of the Light and the houses of the Dark Lady, Busse has set up the possibility of introducing themes of faith and redemption without being overly cliche or preachy. I really appreciate how naturally she works her elements into her plots allowing them to feel natural to the characters, especially with Lady Selene and Lord Damien.

These two really caught my attention (aside from Renata and little Opheliana who I sincerely hope make reappearances in the future).  Both characters were strong enough to hold their own plotlines with notable weakness that made them more interesting as they seek to best  lead their people and honour the gifts they've inherited. While I guessed the eventual outcome of these two meeting, Busse definitely throws a twist into the plot in the  last 75 pages and I was on the edge of my seat for how the ceremony would unfold. 

I'm always leery of reviewing the first in a Christian fantasy as so often a fantasy series needs to viewed as a whole to see how an author will use the history and plots established. However, Mark of the Raven is well worth the risk. Also is it April yet? I need to know what happens next!

4 out of 5 stars.

"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc."

NIRV Seek and Explore Bible

With a bright, colourful cover, and colour-coded margins the NIRV Seek and Explore Bible is designed to capture the eye and create interest (not to mention help parents find it again once the bible enters into the  black hole of a child's bedroom).

The entire bible is colour coded making referencing much easier and gives indecisive kids some help deciding where to look (for instance my son's in a blue phase guess where we're reading). I particularly like the study notes with the wayee characters which are informative and age appropriate with great conversation starters and cool facts (I honestly had no idea a sling and stone could move so fast!). As always the maps were a big hit and I was impressed with the balance between fun,child-friendly pictures and accuracy of the map.

I do question the durability of a paperback vs a hardcover for energetic kids. However, paperback does make the pages easier to manipulate and less of a projectile weapon for those loving brotherly moments. I also miss having a topical index because, let's face it, kids are the champs when it comes to asking questions and the list of key stories just wasn't robust enough for what my 5 year old is asking.  In the end, it feels like a good trade off for this age and stage. I'm also pleased with the readability of this translation. The NIRV definitely feels accessible to younger kids who are still struggling to grasp the nuances of English because, let's face it, there's enough in here to wrestle through without language complicating matters.

With all the fun artwork and readability this edition is a great option for pre-readers through to junior high students.

4.5 out of 5 stars

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

Everything She Didn't Say by Jane Kirkpatrick

Jane Kirkpatrick has a notable skill when it comes to weaving together fact and fiction. Carrie "Dell" Strahorn calls out through Kirkpatrick's words inviting readers into the ups and downs of life in the old west.

In all honesty, Kirkpatrick's skill made this book a hard read for me. Carrie's wrestling to balance her life, manage her grief at lost dreams, and find a sense of home in a changing world are as real today as they were in Carrie's day. While maintaining close ties to her source material, Kirkpatrick allows Carrie's  story to show how much the heart remains the same through the years. She wasn't a cookie cutter heroine or an overly cleaned up ideal. While Carrie preferred to convey an optimistic outlook, fleshing out her marriage, financial, and social challenges made her present in the pages through celebration and heartbreak. Kirkpatrick's ability to meld research  and storytelling allows Carrie's voice to shine through the years.

I also enjoyed the chance to have real-life female inspiration for the protagonist. While historical fiction is, by far, my go-to genre, I can remember books referencing Robert Strahorn, never Carrie. I love seeing these stories come back into public awareness and the encouragement women can take, even from an inspired fiction.  

It is worth noting some readers may find Everything She Didn't Say a challenge to read compared to others in the genre. Carrie's existence as a real person means the outcomes of her experiences are not always as rosy or polished as Christian fiction and historical fiction tends to present. There are no quick fixes or nicely wrapped up stories.  Additionally, the chapters are shorter and often framed  around excerpts from Carrie's actual book Fifteen Thousand Miles by Stage this leaves the book feeling choppy at times with more jarring transitions. 

4 out of 5 stars.

"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc."

Parenting With Heart by Stephen James and Chip Dodd

My husband and  I recently attending a parenting seminar by Brett Ullman. During his talk he informed us that most parents read more books to plan a trip to Disney than they do about parenting. In a way I understand this. There  are so many parenting books on the market today and most parents do not have an overabundance of spare time.

That's why I feel that Parenting with Heart could be an excellent starting point for many parents. One of the points I found most interesting with this book was the parent-focused instruction. So often parenting books seek to change the child's behaviour when, really, changing our own approach is often more effective. While some of the terminology was different, many of the principles James and Dodd described were quite similar to those discussed when I took some counselling classes in college. 

I also appreciated the  time James  and Dodd took to explain their approach the concept of "parenting with heart" of parenting for control, shame, guilt, etc . .  . There  is so much pressure on having the right type of kid  rather than  helping your kid mature and grow into the person they are gifted to be. Additionally, their "parenting with heart" style is also centered in relationship which is something, I think, a lot of families struggle to do well in our isolated society. The way they show how that relationship allows love, instruction, discipline, and  growth to naturally flow between both parties rather than an power focused struggle or an unbalanced best buds approach also makes a lot of sense without feeling any more overwhelming then parenting can often feel.

There were times when the chapters  felt, perhaps, too academic for a tired parent to want to wade through while their kids are sleeping but over all the information felt solid and I loved the parent centered focus as, in the end, our own behaviour is what we have the most influence over.

4.5 out of 5 stars

I received this book as part of the Revell Reads Tour.