What I Like About You

What I Like About You, written by Colleen Ludington and illustrated by Paula Becker, celebrates how special children are as God’s creations. It’s about all the wonderful ways the parent of a little kangaroo appreciates her child, while reminding the child of God’s boundless love.

Written in rhyme, the text is lively and fast-paced. Here’s a sample:

You’re a gift to me from God up above,
Perfectly, delightfully created in love.
When I’m with you and when we’re apart,
You’re always with me – right here in my heart.

The colorful, whimsical illustrations will capture a child’s attention and the rhymed text will put a smile on their face.

What I Like: Everything, especially the illustrations.

What I Dislike: Nothing.

Overall Rating: Excellent.

Age Appeal: The publisher suggests baby to preschool, but I think the age group should be extended to at least first- or second-graders.

Publisher Info: Thomas Nelson, 2003; ISBN: 1400302927; Hardcover: $12.99.

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Special Info: Visit the illustrator’s website.

The Rumpoles and The Barleys

Seemingly drawing inspiration from the works of Beatrix Potter, Karen Hunt's The Rumpoles and the Barleys offers many delights...and a timely moral.

The Rumpoles are a family of mice living in a grand mansion. When we meet them, the humans of the house are hosting a party, so Papa Rumpole is busy gathering lots of wonderful food for his family - while carefully treading around Samuel, the human's cat. Mama Rumpole sets a fine table, but we quickly learn that her children, Prunella and Eustace, are spoiled and ill-behaved. Prunella whines about disliking parsnips, while Eustace complains his sister has more stuffing than he. Soon, Papa has enough. "Upstairs to bed at once!" he says.

Being very naughty, the mice-children slide down the drainpipe to escape their room - and land into a rubbish cart. Before they can escape, they are dumped into a garbage heap. Fortunately, another young mouse, Dagwood Barley, spies them and offers to assist. The Barley's live in a modest hole in the ground, and Prunella is so horrified, she has to be pushed inside. But the home itself is cheery and well-maintained, even if the children's clothes are patched and the food is simple. Mama and Papa Barley are kind and promise to help the Rumpoles.

At dinner, Prunella and Eustace begin by grabbing their milk mugs impolitely, but Papa Barley raps on the table until everyone is quiet and ready for a prayer. Beginning their meal in this orderly manner, Prunella and Eustace find the food tastes wonderful - even the vegetables. And it's easy to remember to say "please" and "thank you" when all the other children do it, too. Papa Barley's after-dinner Bible reading ("In everything give thanks") makes Prunella weep. "I'm so dreadfully ashamed of myself," she says. Eustace agrees they've been selfish.

"It's hard to be miserable when you're thankful," says Mama Barley, and so the young mice make a list of all they are thankful for. After a good night's rest, the Barleys drop the Rumpole children off at their mansion. Just as Eustace and Prunella hop in through their bedroom window, their Mama knocks on the door. "Time to get up," she says. "And I do hope you've learned your lesson." Eustace and Prunella agree; they certainly have.

What I Like: Hunt's illustrations are outstanding. They are rich in detail and instantly create an enchanting world where even mice must learn to be thankful for all they have. The moral behind this story is also important, especially for American children who have so much, yet tend to not know how well off they are.

What I Dislike: Eustace and Prunella's ability to be polite at the dinner table seems a bit sudden. What makes them behave? Is it Papa Barley's authoritative look? Embarrassment because they are surrounded by polite children? Or...? I'm not really sure. But this is a fairly minor flaw in an otherwise good book.

Overall Rating: Very good.

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

Publishing Info: Harvest House, 2008; ISBN: 0736921729; hardback, $12.99.

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Special Info: You may wish to visit the author and illustrator's website.

Touch-and-See Bible

Yesterday I introduced you to the NLT Story Bible Series with Level 1. Today I'll tell you about Level 2: the Touch-and-See Bible, specifically designed for children ages 1-2.

This Bible storybook engages toddlers' senses by adding textures to vibrant illustrations. Seven popular Bible stories are included: creation, Noah, Moses, Ruth, the nativity, feeding of 5000, and Palm Sunday. Written by author Betsy Todt Schmitt, each story is 5-7 sentences in length. Bible references and memory verses are provided, all in the New Living Translation.

Illustrator Eileen Hine fills the pages with vivid colors and bold outlines, a clip-art-like style that kids will like.Various textures are incorporated into the illustrations such as a velvet flower; shiny metallic sun; lions' fur; satin clothing; basketweave; fuzzy blanket; bumpy, shiny fish scales; and a rough paper leaf.

What I Like: Ruth is mentioned! Not many children’s books tell her story. Also, the memory verses imply an application. For example, Ruth’s memory verse is Zechariah 7:9: “Show kindness to one another.” Finally, I really like the illustrations. They're bold and wonderfully appealing to the target age group.

What I Dislike: The text has a poor flow. The information is good, but the sentences sometimes trip over one another making it a cumbersome read. My children actually prefer to look (and touch) this book without me reading it. They don't like the storytelling.

Overall Rating: Good.

Age Appeal: 1-2

Publisher Info: Standard Publishing, 2004; ISBN: 0784715955; Boardbook; $9.99

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Special Info: Some readers may object to Jesus being depicted in the illustrations. His face is shown as a newborn and again from a distance while riding the donkey into Jerusalem. The story of feeding 5000 also shows a close-up of someone's face, but the subject is not clearly identified. This could be Jesus or a picture of a disciple.

Word-and-Picture Bible

Word-and-Picture Bible is the first (Level 1) in the NLT Story Bible Series. Each of the seven "levels" is directed toward a specific age range. This one is for infants, age 0-1.

Using word and picture associations, this book depicts seven topics from Scripture: creation, Noah, Joseph, “God gives good food”, Nativity, Zacchaeus, and “God loves me." Each page features bright, 2-D illustrations by Peggy Tagel. Biblical references are provided along with memory verses. All Scripture is in the New Living Translation.

For example: “God Makes Everything” (the story of creation) cites Genesis 1, 2. The pictures show a colorful elephant, giraffe and monkey with the word “animals” and Adam and Eve with word “people." The memory verse is Colossians 1:16: “God created everything.” (NLT)

A die-cut "hold 'n' tote handle" makes it easy for little ones to carry this to their favorite places.

What I Like: I love the clear, uncluttered format. It's ideal for infants and toddlers. The bright colors are great. The size (6x6") is perfect for keeping in a diaper bag.

What I Dislike: Some stories don’t have an obvious connection to the Biblical references. “God gives good food” references Daniel 1:3-17. It seemed out of place. Joseph was another instance of disconnect. The title is “Joseph’s New Coat”, the Biblical reference is Genesis 37:1-3, but the memory verse is John 13:34: “Love each other.”

Overall Rating: Very Good.

Age Appeal: 0-1

Publisher Info: Standard Publishing, 2004; ISBN: 0784715947; Boardbook; $7.99

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Special Info: the last page pictures a man with the word "Jesus."