Tag: book

The Gallaudet Children’s Dictionary: A Net Galley Review

Grace-Filled Writer
 
The Gallaudet Children’s Dictionary would be a fabulous addition to any family’s library. This beautiful full-color dictionary  shows very clearly how to create over 1,000 signs. A DVD is included, but as I reviewed the e-book version I did not receive that, so this is just a review of the book. 
Each page is beautiful. Most pages have three words, some at the beginning and end of a letter section have two. Included with each word entry is a sentence, picture, and clear demonstration of how to create the sign. Some words include synonyms as well.
What is great about this particular dictionary is that even if you have a child that is not reading yet, they should be able to mimic the pictures for signing while associating it with the illustration. I think this makes it one of the best resources for young children who are interested in signing whether out of curiosity or necessity. 
In addition to the fact that children can use this easily, I think this would be highly beneficial for adults just beginning to learn as well. The directions for how to sign are very clear with each color illustration having a second black and white overlay with it to show motion and direction. Besides in-person instruction, I’ve yet to see another book as clear. 
I would highly recommend this particular book to any family looking to learn the basic words in sign language. 
Disclaimer: I received this title from Net Galley in exchange for my honest review. I was not compensated in any other way. I was not required to write a positive review.

Fairy Houses All Year: A NetGalley Review

Grace-Filled Writer
We have recently redone our the landscaping area directly in front of our house. It used to be all bushes, which I have never liked. Something about how meticulous they have to look in order to be attractive has never appealed to me. I’ve always been partial to more of an English cottage garden, less structure, more natural growth. I’ve been planning this new area for a couple of years and fell in love with the idea of miniature gardens and houses.
This sweet little book gives ideas for anyone, young or old, who want to build miniature gardens or houses throughout every seasons. One of the neat ideas is to keep a journal throughout the year where you can write down ideas for materials that you find. They also suggest noting if you think fairies have visited. While our family does not have a problem playing make believe this is not something I would encourage my daughters to do because we try to make a clear distinction between reality and make-believe. 
The photographs of children creating houses and pictures in nature are delightful. They are beautiful and fun. The children are clearly just having fun and creating, definitely not posed, which makes it more fun to read.
I really love the step-by-step guide right in the beginning for building simple enough for children to follow. I also like the suggestions for what to collect for each season. There are also some fun activities to make like dandelion chains and candied violets. 
The only downside to the book in my opinion is the encouragement to fully believe in fairies. I know not everyone will agree with me on this, but we have always tried to distinguish truth from fiction. Is there any harm in children hearing fairy tales? I don’t think so. We love telling fictional stories to our kids, especially ones that reflect truth from Scripture like The Chronicles of Narnia. At the same time we make a clear distinction between make-believe and reality because we never, ever want our children to think we have told them a make-believe story about Jesus and the miracles He performed, most importantly His death and resurrection which provides our salvation. 
So, I did enjoy this book, but read with caution if you are concerned about how your children will perceive this book. 
Disclaimer: I received this title from Net Galley in exchange for my honest review. I was not compensated in any other way. I was not required to write a positive review.

Behold the Man: A BookLook Blogger Review

Grace-Filled Writer
The most recent book I have been reading to review is from Bodie and Brock Thoene. Although they are a well-known writing team among Christian fiction circles this is the first book I’ve read by them. Behold the Man is the third in the Jerusalem Chronicles series which recounts the tumultuous time in Israel’s history during Jesus’ ministry. I have not read the previous two books, but this one covers the end of Jesus’ ministry here on earth.
The Roman occupation is central to understanding much of what Scripture tells us about Jesus’ ministry and this is an excellent book to help get a grasp of what was happening and what it meant for both the Jews and the Romans. There is a great amount of historical detail included. It is evident that the Thoenes spent extensive amounts of time researching in order to make sure this story aligned with biblical accounts and non-biblical historical sources.
I had a very hard time getting into the story. It felt a bit slow at the beginning and was filled with so much historical reference I felt I needed to spend some time looking up the names and references in order to really understand it. I love historical fiction, but it is hard for me to enjoy it if limited knowledge of a certain period prevents me from fully understanding it. This one thing frustrated me. I enjoyed the portrayal of actual historical characters. 
If you like historical fiction that delves very deeply into the historical period in which it is set both culturally, politically, and socially, you will most surely enjoy this book. It is well written and accurately presented even though it is fictional. Personally I was not a huge fan of the weightier material.

Disclaimer: I received this title from BookLook Bloggers in return for an honest review. I was not compensated in any other way. I was not required to write a positive review.

Pressing Pause: A BookLook Blogger Review

Grace-Filled Writer
 
Moms who are also Christ-followers know we need time alone with God, but between all of the pressures of the mundane and the day-to-day needs we meet on a minute-by-minute basis, taking that time isn’t always at the top of our list. I can’t even count the times that all my good intentions have been thwarted by bickering littles, monstrous messes, or even simply sleeping through my alarm because of exhaustion. Add to that the seasons we face where weeks go by when sickness seems to be a constant family member. 
The younger our babes, the harder it is to not only find the time to read Scripture, but also keep our minds focused enough to hear from God as we are reading. This wonderful new devotional from Karen Ehman and Ruth Schwenk aims to helps moms reverse this. Pressing Pause: 100 Quiet Moments for Moms to Meet Jesus is ideal for the mom who is trying to regain her footing in spending time alone with God. The short passages are expounded upon alternating between the authors. Real-life examples from each woman’s life. At the end of each devotion is a sample prayer and questions to ponder. Finally, there is space to journal your own thoughts after reading.
This is intended to be a way for mom to press pause on their day for just a moment. I think this would have been especially helpful when I was first starting on my mothering journey. Moments with God were hard to create even though it was what my heart desired. I talk to a lot of new moms and I’ve heard this same thing over and over. 
The title for this devotional is so perfect. My girls are apt to say, “Pause the game!” when they are playing pretend and need to do something in real life for a second. The same idea is here. We need to press pause from the tyranny of the ordinary. If it has been a while since you took some time alone with God this is a great place to start.
Disclaimer: I received this title from BookLook Bloggers in return for an honest review. I was not compensated in any other way. I was not required to write a positive review.

London Art Chase: A BookLook Blogger Review

Grace-Filled Writer
 
This first book in the Glimmer Girls series is simply delightful! Three sisters, two older twins and a younger, tag along with their mom on her trips around the world. Their mom is a famous Christian singer so they experience a very different life than my own girls do. Part of the fun of this series is the fun of all fiction, transporting yourself to a different setting and life experience!
This series is going to be a favorite in our household. We also have a family of three girls and so this has intrigued my daughters. They like the adventures and mysteries the girls find themselves in the midst of in each book. 
My 10-year-old daughter says…
“It’s really funny and I like that they talk about God in their family.”
I too love that their family follows God. It is wonderful to have our own Christian values reflected in the literature they are reading. So much of today’s fiction is not something I think is appropriate for young girls, but this is a wonderful exception to that. Not only is it spiritually uplifting, but my daughters have found the titles in this series to be engaging and fun! 
We are looking forward to reading more titles from this series when the are published!
Disclaimer: I received this title in exchange for my honest review from BookLook Bloggers. I was not required to write a positive review. I did not receive any other compensation.

A Dolphin Wish: A BookLook Blogger Review

Grace-Filled Writer
 
Natalie Grant has written a delightful series with the Glimmer Girls! Based on her own three daughters and their adventures as they travel, these books have delighted my own three daughters!
In a Dolphin’s Wish, the girls travel to the beach. While there they stumble upon a mystery at Watery World have an adventure of a time! Their mother, an Christian music star, takes her daughters along as she travels around the country and even the world! This is the second book in the series and we are excited to also be reviewing the first book in the series.
My girls, ages 10, 8, and 6, love to read. It is sometimes difficult to find current literature that is appropriate for them in our culture. This series is more than just fun, it is safe. The family values modeled are an encouragement to me as a mother and I’m so excited my girls enjoyed this book! 
My 8-year-old says…
“I liked this book! It’s fun to read and I want to read more!” 
I personally have been a fan of Natalie Grant’s music over the years and I was excited to see she had written this series. I think it is important for young girls to see there is adventure and fun in your life no matter where you are and that all that we do is important to God. It is a blessing to have the values I’m teaching my girls reflected in the literature they read. 
Disclaimer: I received this title from BookLook Bloggers in exchange for an honest review. I did not receive any other compensation. I was not required to write a positive review.

Faith: A Tyndale Blog Network Review

Grace-Filled Writer
Packaging 
The Quaker Brides series is new to me as is the author, Lyn Cote. I’m now a devoted fan!
I was already somewhat familiar with some of the history surrounding the Quakers and the Civil War, but after reading Faith, the third book in the Quaker Brides series,  I better understand it all a little more. Not only did I enjoy the historical aspects, I was thoroughly enthralled with each page!
I love historical Christian fiction and have pretty high standards for what I read. As with all my favorite stories Faith has thoughtful characters who grow deeply throughout the novel. I love how seamlessly the historical references to places and people were woven. I have studied the Civil War a great deal and Lyn Cote did an incredible amount of research for this novel. Most of all, the best stories leave me wanting more. Now that I have read the third book I’m anxious to go back and read the first two in the series which tell us more about Faith’s heritage.
The characters were very believable. I could envision both Faith, the heroine, and her hero, Devlin, experience realistic trials and internal strife. Their engaging conversations and struggles to reconcile their deep beliefs alongside their unlikely friendship create tension and conflict that kept me reading. I very much appreciated the portrayed struggle Devlin faced concerning slavery, even though he fought for the Union. The issues which brought about the Civil War were much more complicated than merely the Slavery vs. Anti-Slavery platforms we attribute to it today. This story showed a compelling side which many in the Union felt. They weren’t against slavery completely, but they would fight to preserve the United States. 
If you enjoy the historical fiction genre you will absolutely not be able to put this book down!
Disclaimer: I received this title from Tyndale Blog Network in exchange for my honest review. I was not compensated in any other way. I was not required to write a positive review.

The Lifegiving Home: A Tyndale Blog Network Review

Grace-Filled Writer
 
 
What does it mean to create a welcoming home? I asked myself that question as I was first starting out as a wife and then again a few years later as a mother. I wish I’d had this book when I was just beginning this journey 14 years ago! 
Sally Clarkson is one of my go-to author’s for encouragement in my walk as a Christian wife and mommy. I was already excited to review her newest book, co-written with her daughter, but when I saw the cover I sighed a little with joy. Just seeing the cover of The Lifegiving Home from Tyndale House Publishers brought me a sense of welcoming. Just like the cover, each page brought refreshment and joy. Much of what I have tried to put into practice in our home over the years was included which was very affirming. 
I enjoyed reading from the perspective of both mother and daughter throughout the book. While there are many practical ideas and takeaways in each chapter there is always the sense of pointing the reader back to Scripture, back to the Savior. I love this! It is such a good reminder that the one way to have a life-giving home is to be centered on Christ in all that is done and said. 
The first few chapters consist of helping the reader focus in on thinking about their home, the rhythms and functions of every day life and how to make them more than mundane. I really enjoyed the second part which focuses on each month and ways to breathe new life into the walls of your house throughout the year. Answering the question What makes a home? is central in this book. I found the Clarksons ideas unique and fun, and also inspiring. They didn’t inspire me to copy them as much as create my own ways of bringing life into our home. 
This is a book which I will recommend to anyone looking for ways to create a welcoming home that exudes the love of Christ. I also plan to have my own girls read this when they are older and beginning to think about their own ways of creating a home for their futures. 
Disclaimer: I received this title from Tyndale Blog Network in exchange for my honest review. I was not compensated in any other way. I was not required to write a positive review.

Channing O’ Banning and the Turquoise Trail: A Net Galley Review!

Grace-Filled Writer
When I was a kid I read constantly. I’m so excited that my own girls are becoming avid readers! They are incredibly excited every time I have a new book to review that is just for them.
The Channing O’Banning series is a new book series by Angela Spady which has captured my oldest daughter’s heart! Channing is a 4th grade artist extraordinaire whose adventures are recorded in these engaging books. The Turquoise Trail is the first in the series. I asked my daughter to read and write her own review. Here is what she had to say! 
“Channing O’Banning and the Turquoise Trail is a really fun story. I really ike it because there are a lot of cool history facts. Chan, as her friends call her, is sort of like me. I really like to draw and I have two younger sisters. I really liked this story and I hope to read more Channing O’Banning stories soon!” – Rose, age 10
As she was reading, Rose would stop and say, “Mommy! Guess what?” And tell me all sorts of things she had learned from the book. She loves that Channing is an artist as that is her main passion. Her big dream is to become an art teacher overseas. She almost always has a drawing pad and pencil along with her. This story opened up her imagination and for several days after reading I found her outside even more with her sketch pad and drawing supplies.
It is so wonderful when I can find books that are engaging and age appropriate for my girls. So much of what is published today for young girls is too mature in content and we try to guard them from experiencing too much too soon. This is a delightfully sweet series that really grabbed my own pre-teen’s imagination. 
Disclaimer: I received this title from Net Galley in exchange for my honest review. I was not compensated in any other way. I was not required to write a positive review.

Pitchin’ a Fit: A Book Review!

Grace-Filled Writer

EVERY parenting book I’ve ever read has a child-centered perspective. I have a large library of parenting books from all sorts of Christian author’s, all of which I have gleaned from. I’m always interested in books which will help me parent my kids in a godly way. All of these books focused on how to get a better outcome from your child through Scripture and both traditional and creative discipline methods.

And then came along this book…

Pitchin' A Fit! 
When I picked up Pitchin’ a Fit by Israel and Brooke Wayne I wasn’t expecting what faced me when I opened the pages. I’m already familiar with the Waynes and their ministry to families through Family Renewal so I was just excited to read a book from them. I have read other books by Israel Wayne, but never any of their parenting books. 
This is the best of all the books I’ve ever read about parenting. 
Rather than being child-focused as so many parenting books are, this one is parenting focused, not to mention convicting! Rather than causing my to focus on my child’s heart, I was forced to look at my heart. Wow…that isn’t always easy. It is so much easier to look to my child and pile the blame for reactions and behavior on them.
Don’t get me wrong, this book in no way diminishes the need for obedience from children or downplay their own little sinful hearts. Instead it has helped me see how my my reactions and actions taken when in the throws of battles with my kids deeply impacts them. Do they deserve consequences and discipline? Of course! Do they deserve an emotional reaction that is over the top and unreasonable? Certainly not! 
The Waynes are very honest throughout the pages. I really like their alternating perspectives which tell so much about where they came from and not only why they desire to parent differently than our culture says, but why they want to help other families find a healthier and happier journey together. Their raw honesty is refreshing and it was much easier to search my own heart because they do not set themselves upon a pedestal of perfection as many parenting authors do unintentionally. 

I cannot recommend this book enough and it is going to be the first I tell people about now when they ask for books on parenting. After reading this I’m really interested in getting their other parenting book, Full-Time Parenting.

Disclaimer: I received Pitchin’ a Fit from Cross focused Reviews in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review. These opinions are my own.