Sharing With You

The second book in the "I Believe Bunny" series, Sharing With You, is even better than the first. The book begins by quoting Hebrews 13:16 ("Do not forget to do good to others. And share with them what you have. These are sacrifices that please God.") and does a nice job illustrating the positive effects of sharing.

As the book opens, I Believe Bunny is playing with his friends. They make daisy chains, swing on vines, make pine cone castles...Then Mouse spots some shiny rocks.

"Bunny looked at the rocks.
He didn't know what to do.
He knew his friends liked them,
but he liked them too.

These rocks were his favorites.
They gleamed in the sun.
He thought, 'I don't want to
share these rocks with anyone.'"

But before he can express himself to his friends, Magpie flies off with one of the rocks in her beak. Squirrel negotiates with Magpie by offering her a shiny ring she found months back. Bunny is moved that Squirrel would give up the ring, but Squirrel says, "You're my friend...And...you mean more to me than a bright, shiny ring."

With the treasure restored, a thankful Bunny shares all his rocks with his friends. After all, sharing is something God wants us to do. "So give it a try and/you'll find when you do,/like the I Believe Bunny/you can share too."

What I Like: Author Tish Rabe has written over 80 children's books, many for the mainstream market, and her writing skills shine. She writes rhyming verse the way it should be: Without forced rhyme and with terrific meter. The story seems to flow effortlessly from her pen. I especially appreciate it when Bunny admits he doesn't want to share his rocks with anyone; who hasn't felt this way, especially as a child? Yet, in the end, Bunny shares anyway.

Frank Endersby's illustrations depict tender, sweet creatures young children will delight in. His soft renderings help us relate to the characters and want to give them a good squeeze.

What I Dislike: Nothing.

Overall Rating: Excellent.

Age Appeal: According to the publisher, 4 - 8, but I'd say more 2 - 5.

Publisher Info: Thomas Nelson, 2009; ISBN: 978-1400314775; hardback, $9.99

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Special Info: Be sure to check out our other reviews of books in this series.

Harsh Pink, Color Me Burned

Harsh Pink, Color Me Burned by Melody Carlson is a teen novel about mean girls. Reagan Mercer moves to a new school, tries out for cheerleading, and makes the squad. In doing so, she bumps out the most popular girl in school, Kendra. Two of Kendra’s best friends have made the squad, and the trio will not be separated. Kendra is only a team alternate, but attends all the practices, hosts team parties, and pretty much controls the vote when they select new uniforms. Kendra, Meredith, and Sally target Reagan and another squad member, Jocelyn. They use subtle jabs and pressure to make the girls extremely uncomfortable, in the hopes one of them will quit and allow Kendra to slide into place.

At home, Reagan offers to care for her live-in grandmother, who has Alzheimer’s. She doesn’t want to see her put into assisted living because Nana has always been her companion. Reagan’s mother is single, works long hours, and dumps an unreasonable amount of responsibility on Reagan.

Reagan eventually gets sucked into Kendra’s sphere of influence, turns her back on Jocelyn, and begins to slack on her Grandmother’s care. She doesn’t speak up when Kendra tampers with Jocelyn’s uniform, and when the clothes fall off at a football game, Jocelyn gets kicked off the squad for using foul language. (The words are not explicit in the text). Reagan feels sick with guilt but continues to hang out with Kendra, and after a long day with her new best friend, she comes home to find that Nana has fallen and broken her pelvis. At this point, Reagan asks herself if she is as selfish as her new cheerleading friends. She thinks, “…Into the place where my heart used to be…Now it’s just this hard, cold, painful spot that slowly grows bigger. I think someday I will be made entirely of steel.”

Her savior comes in the form of a neighborhood girl, Andrea Lynch. They met over the summer, but Reagan ditched her fast when school started because she wasn’t popular. Andrea is a Christian and feels called to visit Reagan’s grandmother after school. Her youth group has a ministry at the nursing home where Nana is recuperating.

Andrea tells Reagan she used to be friends with Kendra and her crowd until they forced a girl to play a choking game at a party. The girl became hooked on the euphoric feeling and accidentally died. Andrea explains that God intervened in her life and showed her a new way. Reagan admits to Andrea that she is sick of the lies and meanness, but doesn’t know what to do.

Reagan faces a tough decision when she is invited to Sally’s eighteenth birthday party. The cheerleaders are binge drinking and they try to convince Reagan to join them. Luckily, this is one area she will not cave. Despite her concern that Sally isn't feeling well, Reagan starts to walk home. She is tearful, torn, and upset when Andrea pulls up next to her in a car. They discuss the situation and Reagan goes back to the party after hearing that Jesus would have joined them.

Reagan cleans up the booze and sees that Sally is barely breathing. She calls 911 and saves Sally's life. All the girls are kicked off the cheerleading squad and Sally stays in a coma for several days. The tragedy clinches Reagan's decision to become a Christian.

What I Like: The author writes in the first person, so the reader can easily place herself in the situation. The reader is privy to all of Reagan’s internal moral struggles. The dialog is natural and makes the novel a quick read. I found myself reflecting over my own high school years, and while I did not experience or witness cruelty to this degree, I recalled situations that gave me great sympathy for Reagan. Don’t we all wish we knew then what we know now?

This novel discusses social drinking and self-asphyxiation, but there are no detailed physical dating situations. The only suggestive phrase in the book is when Kendra says she wants to "do” a certain boy. At times, it was shocking how devious and cold-hearted these girls could be.
I recommend this book to anyone with a teen or tween daughter. This novel could be a starting point for a conversation about verbal bullying, peer pressure, and honesty. This novel is the twelfth in Melody Carlson's True Colors series.


What I Dislike: It takes a long time to get to any reference of Christianity, and the first time it's mentioned, it’s very abrupt. Reagan asks Andrea why she is helping take care of her Grandmother with Alzheimer's, and Andrea replies, “….Jesus has put her on my heart.... I think she needs me to show her a Jesus kind of love.” I’m not sure many Christian teens would have the confidence to use those words to a non-believer without first stating simply that they were Christian.

Overall Rating: Very Good

Age Appeal: Teens

Publisher Info: NavPress, 2007; ISBN: 1-57683-952-4; Paperback; $12.99

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God Be In My Heart

God Be In My Heart is a collection of poems, prayers, and Scriptures, compiled and illustrated by Laurie Lazzaro Knowlton. She also wrote some of the selections featured in the book. My daughter has carried this book around with her everywhere since I first read it to her. The book opens with a sweet morning poem:

"God's bird in the morning I'd be!

I'd set my heart within a tree --

Close to His bed and sing to Him

Happily --

Happily,

a sunrise hymn."

The illustration features a girl, yarn hair blowing in the breeze, enjoying a tire swing. The book also includes a prayer for eating, a poem of thankfulness to God, a prayer to say before a sports event, a poem about the days of the week, a prayer asking for forgiveness, a birthday poem, Psalm 30:11, a prayer for peace, a poem about God's watch-care over us, and the well-known poem, "God Be In My Head," from the French Book of Hours.

What I Like: My absolute favorite thing about this book is the illustrations. They are done in fabric collage form and are so sweet! Everything in this book is very easy for a child to remember, and will encourage a child to be thankful for all of God's blessings.

What I Dislike: I don't dislike anything about this book. I would love it to be longer!

Overall Rating: Very Good

Age Appeal: 5-8, but I definitely think younger children would enjoy it as well.

Publisher Info: Boyds Mills Press, 1999; ISBN:1563976463 ; Hardcover $11.95.

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Special Info: Here is the author's website, which may interest you! You can also order the book from Boyds Mills Press, by clicking on the author's "Books" page.

Ivan and the Moscow Circus

Ivan and the Moscow Circus by Myrna Grant is one of my favorite books. Originally published in 1980, it was republished with Grant's other Ivan books in 2006.

Ivan, his younger sister Katya, and their parents are Christians (Believers), living in Soviet Russia. On his way home from visiting out-of-town relatives, Ivan meets Volodia, another teenager, who is an acrobat in the Moscow Circus. After Ivan takes a risk and tells Volodia about his faith in Jesus, Volodia tells Ivan about his uncle, who has been imprisoned in a mental hospital for writing anti-State poetry.

It doesn't take long for Ivan to decide, as a Christian, he must help Volodia and his uncle, even though they aren't believers. The boys' schemes keep us on the edge of our seat in this suspenseful, uplifting novel. After meeting with a foreign journalist, Ivan is shadowed by the KGB, Katya is brought in for questioning, and an informal investigation of Volodia is conducted at the circus.

Throughout the novel, we see Ivan live out his faith consistently, despite his fear of government retaliation. Whether being ridiculed at school, followed by the KGB, or hiding in the trunk of a car, Ivan trusts God, and never compromises. We are excited to see all three children depend on God to carry out a daring rescue. We also rejoice with Ivan when Volodia makes a decision to follow Christ.

The book is illustrated in pen and ink line drawings, which perfectly convey the stark, industrial feel of Soviet Russia. Drawings are infrequent (every 10-20 pages) but support the text when they do occur.

What I Like: Ivan and the Moscow Circus is a fast-paced adventure, with a solid grounding in Christian faith. Ivan is a likeable hero, who lives his faith no matter what. Even though Volodia is skeptial of Christianity, Ivan is determined to help him. He is kind and gentle when sharing his faith, respectful of his parents' wishes, and brave in the face of danger. Despite all these heroic qualities, Ivan is still a regular boy who gets exasperated with his sister and daydreams at school. This makes him a person readers will relate to, and hopefully readers will learn that they can be kind, respectful and brave too.

Grant is a master at naturally weaving Scriptural truths into conversation, as well as subtle doses of simple apologetics. This makes the books perfect for readers who may need to defend their faith at school or to non-Christian friends. Ivan prays and trusts God's leading many times, such as when he and Volodia are trying to come up with a plan for rescuing Volodia's uncle. Ivan says, "Katya's right, Volodia. I will help you. Right now I can't think what to do, but there is a text in the Bible, 'With God, all things are possible.' I'll count on that."

Ivan and the Moscow Circus also provides a fascinating introduction to Soviet Russia and the Moscow Circus. This publication includes a brief glossary of Russian words, and explanations of The Young Pioneers, KGB, and life as a Christian in Soviet times.

What I Dislike: Nothing

Overall Rating: Excellent

Age Appeal: 9-12, (perhaps due to references to treatment of Believers in Soviet Russia) but younger readers will relate to Katya and be interested in the Circus descriptions.

Publisher Info: Flamingo: Christian Focus Publications, 2006; ISBN: 184550135-7 ; Paperback; $6.99

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Otter and Owl Say I'm Sorry

Crystal Bowman's "I Can Read!" Level 1 book Otter and Owl Say I'm Sorry is a tale most kids can relate to.

Otter has a brand new scooter. He lets Owl steer as they ride together, trying to make it go even faster by coasting down a hill. They are having a great time - until they crash into a pond. Otter is mad. A wheel on the scooter is bent. "What kind of friend does that?" he asks.

Owl and Otter both go home and mope. Owl writes a heartfelt note asking for forgiveness and delivers it to Otter's front doorstep. Otter quickly forgives Owl. "God wants friends to forgive each other," he says. The buddies have pizza and thank God for friends, then go for another ride on the scooter. Otter fixes the wheel - sort of. Yet even though the scooter gives a wobbly ride, Owl and Otter still enjoy their time together.

What I Like: Owl and Otter are appealing characters; Kevin Zimmer's illustrations are vivid and cute, and the friends always struggle with familiar childhood difficulties. My nearly-four year old daughter loves this book.

What I Dislike: I wish Otter said God wants us to forgive everyone - not just friends.

Overall Rating: Very good.

Age Appeal: According to the publisher, 4 - 8, but younger kids will enjoy this as a "read to me" book.

Publisher Info: Zonderkidz, 2008; ISBN: 978-0310717072; paperback, $3.99

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Jenny: Coming to Terms with the Death of a Sibling

In the story Jenny: Coming to Terms with the Death of a Sibling, written by Stephanie Jeffs, Jenny’s sister, Rosie, wasn’t well. She didn’t have a sore throat, a runny nose or any spots, but she was sick. Rosie had to stay home from school. She spent most of her time in bed. When she wasn’t asleep, Jenny would take her toys into Rosie’s room and play with them on her bed. Sometimes Rosie had to go to the hospital.

All the members of Rosie’s family, and all her friends, wanted Rosie to get well. They all said they hoped Rosie would be well soon. Grandpa prayed that Jesus would take care of Rosie.

Jenny knew when she got sick, she usually felt better after a good night’s sleep. One day, after Rosie has been sick for quite some time, Jenny asked her mom, “Why doesn’t Rosie feel better after a good night’s sleep? Why does everyone say that they hope she gets better soon, but she never does? Why is she always ill?”

Jenny’s mom got very quiet. Then she explained that Rosie was very sick and might never get better. Jenny asked, “Will Jesus take care of Rosie?”

Her mom said, “Of course he will. He promises to take care of all of us, even when we die. He makes a special place for us to live with him in heaven. It’s a place where we will never hurt again and we will always be better.”

That night, Jenny prayed, “Lord Jesus, please take care of Rosie.” The last sentence of the book reads: “And deep inside she knew that he had heard her prayer.”

The watercolor illustrations by Jacqui Thomas are colorful and very realistic.

What I Like: It’s difficult to talk to anyone about dying; it’s especially difficult to talk to a child when their sibling is sick. So, it’s nice to have a book like this that helps explain what’s going on.

What I Dislike: Having said that, I want to add that I think the ending could have been a bit stronger. The title says the “death” of a sibling, but Jenny’s sibling doesn’t actually die in the story. Her death is implied, but it never actually happens. I don’t want to sound morbid, because it would have made the story sadder, but I think it would have also made the story stronger if Rosie had passed away and Jenny had actually had to deal with her sister’s death. Otherwise, the title should have been something like “Jenny: Understanding When a Sibling Gets Very Ill.”

Overall Rating: I will still give the book an overall rating of very good as it is very well written.

Age Appeal: 4-8.

Publisher Info: Abingdon Press, 2006; ISBN: 0687497094; Hardcover: $14.00.

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Special Info: Read our review of another book by this writing/illustrating team.

Bible Heroes & Bad Guys

Part of the 2:52 collection (based on Luke 2:52), Bible Heroes & Bad Guys offers portraits of 31 characters from the Bible. Old and New Testament "guys" (though the book does feature both men and women of Scripture) receive the full treatment: the good, the bad, the ugly. Each section starts with a bulleted list of character highlights then progresses to a more detailed retelling of that person's story. The "Getting Deeper" section of each chapter offers practical applications for readers, including action steps kids can take to live the lessons learned from that person's life. Finally, a "Bible Supercharge" section provides a verse perfect of memorization.

The chapters are short, just four pages each. Readers will find illustrations, large and small, peppered throughout the text, usually every two to three pages.

The illustrations feature unique perspectives, lots of action and heavy outlines, a style typical of comic books. Except for the cover, all are black and white.

What I Like: The series has tremendous appeal for boys! I gave this book to my nephew for his 8th birthday. Within a week he begged his mom to buy him the rest of the books in the series. He loves them! I like that this book is based on solid biblical teaching. References are frequently provided. The format and text makes the Bible interesting to young kids and reminds them of the adventures hidden within Scripture's pages.

What I Dislike: The book has a very trendy voice, as if one young kid is talking to another. This makes it more appealing to kids, but can be awkward for parents to read aloud.

Overall Rating: Excellent.

Age Appeal: 8-12, but some younger kids may enjoy it, too.

Publisher Info: ZonderKidz, 2002; ISBN: 0310703220; Paperback (128 pages); $7.99

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The Crazy Ladies are at it Again!

Surprise! Yep, we have yet another new blog design! We were just having too many problems with the old one, so Yvonne Parks helped us by completely redesigning our site. Check out her website; she's so quick, professional, and talented!

We hope you'll find this design even easier to use.

Sammy and His Shepherd

Sammy and His Shepherd, is a wonderful devotional for children. Written by Susan Hunt, and illustrated by Cory Godbey, it will help a child not only memorize, but internalize, the beloved Psalm 23.

The devotional is written as a story that is narrated by Sammy the lamb. Each chapter focuses on one verse in the psalm. There is a "Talk About It," section for each chapter at the end of the book.

For example, chapter one focuses on, "The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want." In the story, Sammy realizes what a wonderful and caring shepherd he has when he meets another lamb whose shepherd does not care for her needs. Sammy is thankful that his shepherd knows him by name and provides for every need he has. He becomes friends with the little sheep. The "Talk About It" section features three additional verses to meditate on, six questions to answer, and something to thank Jesus for when the child prays.

As the chapters progress, Sammy's shepherd buys the neglected little lamb and names her Precious. While Sammy helps Precious to learn all about her shepherd, children will learn of their Savior.

What I Like: I like the fact that this devotional takes a child through the psalm one verse at a time in true expository style. Theological truths are gently woven into the stories, and your child will learn how to trust in their Shepherd. I can't wait until my daughters are a little older so that we can go through this book with them. The illustrations are lovely as well.

What I Dislike: I can't say that I dislike anything about this book!

Overall Rating: Excellent

Age Appeal: The publisher doesn't specify, but I'd say 4-8.

Publisher Info: Reformation Trust Publishing, 2008; ISBN:1567691099 ; Hardcover $17.00.

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Names of our Father

Names of our Father by Yvonne Riley explores 12 Hebrew names of God by paralleling them with The Lord's Prayer. Following a set template, four pages are devoted to each name. The first page lists the name, it's phonetic pronunciation and a number of descriptive words or synonyms. A verse featuring this name of God is given at the bottom of the page, and a picture (part photograph, part illustration) faces from the opposite page. The next two pages use prose to explain why this name is significant to us. At the top of these two pages, the author quotes a line from The Lord's Prayer on one side and paraphrases that same line on the other side.

At the beginning of the book, readers will find a note to parents and a table of contents. The table of contents lists all the featured names paralleled with The Lord's Prayer and "Our Prayer," the author's paraphrase. The following Hebrew names of God are included:

• Abba
• Elohim
• Kaddesh
• Nissi
• Adonai
• Shalom
• El Shaddai
• Rophe
• Rohi
• Jireh
• Shammah
• Jehovah

The author's husband, David Riley, served as illustrator. He combined photographs of various children with heavily outlined illustrations to depict lifestyles from all around the world. A friendly jaguar appears on several pages.

What I Like:I love the concept! I like that this book teaches children (and parents!) the significance of the many names of God. I like that it uses the real language along with explanations. I like that it parallels all this with a prayer, thereby teaching us to use God's many names when we pray. While the illustrations aren't my favorite, my kids really like them.

What I Dislike: The format can be a bit confusing for reading aloud. The Lord's Prayer and the paraphrase appear to be headings, but text often continues from the previous page. This leads to a jilted reading.

Overall Rating: The book itself is not extraordinary, but because of the uniqueness of content and the rarity of books like this, I'm giving it a rating of Very Good.

Age Appeal: 4-8

Publisher Info: Moody Publishers, 2005; ISBN: 0802429467; Hardback; $9.99

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Special Info: This book is part of the Trinity Trilogy. The other two books are Jesus: A to Z and Gift of the Spirit (not in print).

26 Fairmount Avenue

26 Fairmount Avenue is the first in an autobiographical series by children's author Tomie dePaola. The story begins with the hurricane of 1938, continues through dePaola's kindergarten debut and concludes with his move to a new house. DePaola details slices of life, writing in the first person point of view. He describes everyday events children can relate to (like going to kindergarten for the first time) and makes cultural references children will be interested in. DePaola's reaction to seeing the first Walt Disney movie, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, made me laugh. Many of the other episodes are funny too, such as the time he and his grandma were tied into chairs and ate too many "chocolates."

DePaola makes a point to speak directly to the reader by using parentheses or additional explanation. For example, when he uses the phrase "out in the sticks" he follows by saying, "That meant way out where not many people lived. There wasn't even a real street." DePaola's voice, as well as his realistic illustrations that support the text on every page, make this book a perfect fit for beginning readers who are transitioning to chapter books.

DePaola grew up in a Catholic, Irish-Italian family, and makes lots of references to God, religion, and prayer throughout the series. In 26 Fairmount Avenue, he does mention some specifically Catholic traditions, such as sprinkling with holy water. When Tomie and his mother are worried about their new house, dePaola writes, "Aunt Nell told me that if you wanted something really important, you could ask your guardian angel, and as long as it wasn't a bad thing, you'd probably get it. I figured now was the perfect time to talk to my guardian angel. And guess what! My guardian angel did come to the rescue." He also includes a charming illustration of the manger scene his mother placed on the mantle at Christmas.

What I Like: I love the wholesome, conversational tone of the book, as well as the loving portrayal of Tomie's relationships with his grandparents and other relatives. I also love the illustrations. As a Caldecott Honor-winning artist, dePaola perfectly captures the essence of each page in simple, black-and-white sketches. I especially love the first two pages, where dePaola gives us portraits of his parents, relatives and neighbors.

I also like the historical references that become more present as the series progresses. (The series begins in 1938 and takes us through dePaola's grade-school years and World War II.) These books provide a child's insight into history in an interesting and authentic manner.

What I Dislike: Nothing. The books could be a bit slow-moving for some since they detail everyday life, as opposed to dramatic action sequences.

Overall Rating: Very Good

Age Appeal: 7-10

Publisher Info: G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1999; ISBN: 0-399-23246-X ; Hardcover, $13.99

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Special Info: 26 Fairmount Avenue won the Newbery Honor Award in 2000. The book is also available in hardcover at Amazon.com.