Love You Always - Review & Giveaway

Published - September 2017, Worthy Publishers
Author - Eileen Spinelli
Title - Love You Always
Format - hardcover
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About the book:
With sweet rhymes and simple pictures, children learn they are loved.

My thoughts:
This book was adorable! I think it's probably my favorite one I've read recently.

The illustrations are simple, yet beautiful. The rhymes are so sweet. I love the fact that it lets kids know they more than just mom and dad love them.

My best friend's daughters, ages 6 and 4, both sat down and read the book. Actually reading it. Yes, they needed help sounding out some of the words, but it was simple enough for the girls to read.

I highly recommend this book.

I received a copy for free from the publisher to review. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

Recommended to fans of picture books, parents of young children, teachers, anyone with a child in their life

Rating - 5 stars

Giveaway Time

It's been a long time since I hosted a giveaway here. The publisher will send one lucky winner a copy of the book.

To enter, just follow the instructions in the Giveaway box. 

Entry-Form

Would a Worm Go On a Walk? - A Review

Published - April 2016, Worthy Publishing
Author - Hannah C. Hall
Title - Would a Worm Go on a Walk?
Format - hardcover
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Children learn what different animals can and cannot do through bright pictures and fun rhymes.

This was another delightful book. The pictures were a little silly and reminded me a little of one of my favorite children's books, Rain Makes Applesauce.

When I read this to my friend's daughters, they giggled at the fact that a worm had feet and tennis shoes, and the other silly things in the book. They really enjoyed it.

I thought this book was adorable.

I received this book for free from Worthy Publishing for the purpose of reviewing. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

Recommended to parents of young children, kindergarten, librarians

Rating - 4 stars

Busy, Busy! - A Review

Published - April 2016, Worthy Publishing
Author - Eileen Spinelli
Illustrator- Elina Ellis
Title - Busy, Busy!
Format - board book
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It's spring and all of the animals are busy doing something. Mole is digging. Bear is fishing. Mama's busy too. But there's one thing that Mama's never too busy for and that's her children.

This book was adorable. The illustrations were vibrant and made the pages come to life. The story itself is written in simple rhymes.

I read this book to my friend's children (5, 3, 2), and each of them were captivated by something different. The youngest was captivated by the pictures and kept reaching out to touch them. The oldest enjoyed the almost musical quality to the words. The middle one, she was sitting with me sounding out some of the words and actually reading it.

I'd say that this book is good for kids of all ages. Parents will enjoy it as it helps children that sometimes parents are busy, but never too busy for their little ones.

I received this book for free from Worthy's First Look Blog Program for the purpose of reviewing. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

Recommended to fans of board books, parents of young children

Rating - 4 stars

Bedtime Snuggles - A Review

Published - March 2016, Worthy Publishers
Author - Patricia Reeder Eubank
Title - Bedtime Snuggles
Format - board book
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Told in rhyme, baby animals get tucked in for bed at night.

My Thoughts:
This was super cute. The way that it was illustrated, it seems that you can almost feel the fur of the animals.

I read this one aloud to my best friend's daughters. All three of them loved it (ages almost 2, 3.5, and 5). Each child had a different favorite page.

The illustrations are bright and beautiful. They really engage the kids. Also the text was very simple and made the kids smile.

I received this book for free from Worthy's First Look Blog Tour for the purpose of reviewing. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

Recommended to parents of young children, toddlers

Rating - 5 stars

Berenstain Bears Easter Blessings - A Review

Published - January 2016, Worthy Publishers
Author - Mike Berenstain
Title - The Berenstain Bears Easter Blessings
Format -  board book
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In this addition to the popular series, Brother and Sister Bear learn what they are blessed with.

My thoughts:
I grew up reading the Berenstain Bears books. I think I had a collection of almost all of them. They are still some of my favorites.

Mike Berenstain has continued his parents' series. This particular book is delightful and engaging. My best friend's almost two year old loved it.

What I really loved about this book, as opposed to the ones that I grew up with, is that there is a much more Christian feel to the book. I love the fact that the cubs learn that the biggest blessing of all for Easter is the resurrection of Jesus.

This is a wonderful addition to the Berenstain Bears collection.

I received this book for free from Worthy Books for the purpose of reviewing. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

Recommended to fans of the Berenstain Bears, parents of young children, teachers, librarians

Rating - 4 stars

All Things Bright and Beautiful - A Review

Published - February 2016, Worthy Publishers
Author - Cecil Frances Alexander
Illustrator - Katy Hudson
Title - All Things Bright and Beautiful
Format - hardcover
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In the 1800's Cecil Frances Alexander penned the words to one of the world's favorite hymns "All things bright and beautiful..." Artist Katy Hudson takes those words and uses her watercolor paintings to capture and delight children in this latest version of the popular hymn.

I loved this book! The paintings are vibrant and very engaging. I remember growing up and learning some of the words to the hymn "All things bright and beautiful/All creatures great and small/All things wise and wonderful/The Lord God made them all." Yet this book covers all of the stanzas of the song.

I read this book to my best friend's daughters. The girls LOVED it. They loved seeing all the butterflies, birds, ladybugs, and beauty of the creation in the paintings. It also gave me some teachable moments when they realized that God made everything.

I received this book for free from Worthy's First Look blogging program for the purpose of reviewing. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

Recommended to children ages 3-7, parents, teachers, librarians, Sunday school teachers

Rating - 5 stars

The Sparkle Box - A Review

Note - I understand that this is the second post today. Enjoy both the Saturday Scribbles and the book review today. The publisher gave me the date for the review. 

Published - December 2015, Worthy Publishers
Author - Jill Hardie
Title - The Sparkle Box
Format - hardcover
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Beautifully illustrated, this Christmas story tells of Sam and how he tries to figure out what is in the sparkly box sitting on the family's fireplace mantel. As Sam gets ready for Christmas with his family, he sees a homeless man, helps his mother with some donations, attends his father's Christmas party, and gets ready for his school party. But through it all, he wonders what is in the sparkle box and why it isn't yet ready to be opened.

I loved this book. The illustrations are beautiful, almost like paintings. The story itself is very touching and sweet. I read this book aloud to my best friend's daughters (4yrs old, and 3 yrs old). As I was reading it, the 3 year old was trying to figure out what was in the box. This book is full of teachable moments. Not only about what Christmas is all about but things like why some people don't have enough food to eat or places to live. It is one book that I can see being very easy to engage a child in questions. The book also comes with a sparkle box that the reader can make with their own family and a guide about using a sparkle box.

I received this book for free from Worthy Publishing for the purpose of reviewing. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

Recommended to parents, teachers, librarians, fans of picture books

Rating - 5 stars

God Gave Us Sleep - A Review

Published - September 2015, Waterbrook Press
Series - God Gave Us Series
Author - Lisa Tawn Bergren
Title - God Gave Us Sleep
Format - hardcover, ebook
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Little Cub has a problem. She is having so much playing with her friends that she doesn't want to come inside to go to bed. Mama patiently answers her questions and soon Little Cub manages to fall asleep. But her sleep isn't very restful. The next day Little Cub learns why it is so important to get plenty of sleep.

This book was absolutely delightful! I fully expected it to be as I'm familiar with others in the series. I love the way that the illustrations enhance the story. And the way that Little Cub learns the importance of sleep is just precious. I cannot wait to share this book with my best friend's little ones. It's targeted at the preschool age, but I think both older and younger children will enjoy it.

I received this book for free from BookLook Bloggers for the purpose of reviewing. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

Recommended to parents of young children, preschool teachers, preschool church workers, nursery teachers, librarians,

Rating - 5 stars

Fuzzy Mud - A Review

Published - August 2015, Delacorte Books for Young Readers
Author - Louis Sachar
Title - Fuzzy Mud
Format - hardcover, ebook, audio
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Marshall Walsh is a 7th grader at the prestigious private school, Woodridge Academy. He always walks home with 5th grader Tamaya Dhilwaddi. Their route is predictable, after all they're both good kids. But when bully Chad Hilligas picks a fight with Marshall one day, their routine is changed. Marshall wants to avoid a fight and decides to take a short-cut through the off-limit woods. Tamaya joins him. Neither child realizes that those steps into the woods will change their lives. They soon discover that there is a substance that is dangerous. When a classmate goes missing, both Marshall and Tamaya head back to the woods, because they KNOW what happened. As authorities become involved, Marshall, Tamaya, and Chad learn the importance of friendship. And their knowledge of the substance may just save the entire world's population. Provided they can be rescued in time.

I've long enjoyed Louis Sachar's books. I remember reading the Wayside Stories books as a child. I remember being in college when Holes came out in 1998. I was fascinated with it.

When I saw this one available to review on NetGalley, I jumped at the chance to review it. Yes, I know. It's not my usual read of Christian fiction. But it's fun to branch out on occasion.

But this is a book that, like Holes, will grip the reader. I loved how he brought the details of a disaster to light, but kept it simple. The main characters are the kids. The other details are found out through the government investigations.

I also really liked Tamaya. She's a good girl. She wants so hard to be noticed. But she's a good girl. Yet when she IS finally noticed, all she wants is for her life to return to normal. I also think it's kinda cute the way that she seems to be rather protective of Marshall and later Chad.

I think that this is a book that would generate plenty of classroom discussion if it were read aloud in the class. The reading level is targeted at grade 5, but as a read aloud, students in 3rd or 4th grade would enjoy it.

I received the Kindle version of the book from NetGalley for the purpose of reviewing. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

Recommended to fans of Louis Sachar, children's literature, Katherine Applegate, Drew Daywalt, R.J. Palacio, librarians, Jessica Day George.

Rating - 4 stars

The Adventures of Pajama Girl: the Coronation of the Cupcake Queen - A Review

Published - March 2015, Worthy Publishers
Author - Sandra Hagee Parker
Title - The Adventures of Pajama Girl and the Coronation of the Cupcake Queen
Format - hardcover
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Ellie has magical pajamas. Her pajamas transport both her and her sister Sis to worlds of their imaginations. When she puts on her pair of cupcake pajamas, they are taken to Cupcake Kingdom in time for the Cupcake Queen's Coronation. There's just one problem there. All of the sprinkles have been stolen! How can the Cupcake Queen be crowned if there are no sprinkles? Ellie and Sis set out to find the sprinkles and discover the importance of not stealing.

This book was delightful. Absolutely delightful. The pictures are vibrant and detailed. I loved it. I'm not sure if this is the first book about the Pajama Girl, but I certainly hope to see more of this series.

I took this book over to my best friend's house to read with her daughters. The girls are 4 and 2 and loved it. They were captivated by the pictures and the cupcakes and everything that made this a delight. I also love how the cover picture is also on the actual hard cover book and not just on the slip cover.

I'd say that this is targeted at the ages of 5-7, but obviously younger children can delight in this story.

I received this book for free from Worthy Publishers for the purpose of reviewing. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

Recommended to Kindergarten teachers, Sunday School Teachers, parents of young children, children ages 2-7.

Rating - 5 stars