My Baby Sister is a Preemie

A half a million babies are born premature each year, yet there are next to no picture books available about preemies. That's why My Baby Sister is a Preemie by Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) nurse Diana M. Amadeo is so special.

One family's story is told through the eyes of Sarah, a young girl of about seven or eight. One morning she wakes up to find her aunt in her bedroom. "Your mommy went into labor," the aunt says. "Her body wants to have the baby. But it's a little too early. The doctors will try some medicine to keep the baby inside."

Later that day, Sarah's father picks her up from school and tells her she now has a baby sister named Amy. The baby, he says, was born early and is very sick. When Sarah visits her sister at the hospital, she's in a clear box called an incubator and has lots of wires and tubes on her body. She's smaller than Sarah's doll. A nurse explains the incubator keeps Amy warm and that a special machine helps her to breathe. She also shows Sarah a tube in Amy's arm that gives the baby fluids.

Things are different now that Amy is born. Sarah's mother spends much of the day at the hospital, and when she's home, she behaves differently. Sarah's mother confesses she's afraid. Sarah asks if Amy is going to die and her mother says, "I don't know....[But] pray for Amy. God is with baby Amy just like he's with us here at home."

Some time passes, and one day Sarah's parents seem happier. Amy is doing better and Sarah can visit her again. Amy looks bigger and has fewer wires attached to her. She has a tube in her throat for feedings, though, as well as wires leading to a monitor that show her breathing and heartbeat. Sarah gets to hold Amy, even so, and notes that she's lighter than her dolls.

The book closes with the idea that Amy will soon gain a little more weight and come home from the hospital. Sarah prays: "Thank you, God, for being with Amy - even in her little box."

The last two pages of the book include guidelines by R. Scott Stehouwer, Ph.D., professor of psychology at Calvin College. The doctor explains what Sarah's parents did right in the story (including listening to Sarah's concerns and being honest about what was happening with the baby) and how siblings of preemies can be helped through a difficult NICU stay.

What I Like: It's so rare to see accurate depictions of preemies in the media that my first round of kudos go to the illustrator, Cheri Bladholm. She shows baby Amy actually looking like a preemie: skin and bones and sunken, sleepy eyes. As a NICU nurse, Amadeo also does an excellent job of portraying a preemie's life accurately. And if you're afraid all this realism will scare your child, I think it's unlikely. There's nothing truly scary about these images. Everything is explained matter-of-factly, and young children respond well to that. Also, don't worry that this book is only suitable for children who have a premature sibling. It also works for any child who is curious about preemies.

What I Dislike: This volume doesn't touch upon all the difficult changes a child can expect after a preemie comes home...but perhaps that's for another book.

Overall Rating: Excellent.

Age Appeal: According to the publisher, 4 to 8, but my 3 year old loves it (perhaps in part because she was a preemie).

Publisher Info: ZonderKidz, 2005; ISBN: 0310708672; hardback; $9.95

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My Happy Heart Books

My Happy Heart Books, a boxed set of 3 "Touch-and-Feel" board books, was written by Victoria Osteen, wife of religious celebrity Joel Osteen.
Hooray For Today! follows a child throughout his daily activities. From waking to his mother's kiss, breakfast, then playing with daddy and friends to naptime, bathtime and bedtime, he offers thanks to God. Each two-page spread ends the same way, with a grateful prayer for the activity featured on those pages: "Thank You, God! Hooray! Hooray! Thank You for fun times today!"
Hooray for Wonderful Me! focuses on the different attributes of children. Each two-page spread emphasizes a different skill or gift God gives us. "Thank You, God! Hooray! Hooray! You help me to be kind each day."
Hooray for my Family! highlights various members of family and how each is special and important. The child narrator gives thanks for her mommy, daddy, sister, brother, grandparents, pets and aunt and uncle. "Thank You, God, for family! I love my sis and she loves me ... My brother is so good to me!
All three books are illustrated by Betsy Day. Some pages feature textures such as embossing, glitter and cellophane. Others incorporate lift-the-flaps into the colorful scenes.
What I Like: They're sweet books with a great size (8 x 8"). The illustrations are very nice: cute, but not cutesy. My kids love these books. I appreciate the focus on prayer. It's not just about being thankful, but about thanking God.
What I Dislike: The rhyme and meter are off in several places, making it difficult to read aloud. (Were the author an unknown instead of an Osteen, I doubt the publisher would have accepted it.) In spite of being "Touch-and-Feel" books, they don't offer much variety in textures. While some pages do feature a rough, glittery sand or a hairy patch of dog fur, most only give reflective surfaces or a high gloss finish. Others have flaps to lift, but no new textures to feel.
Overall Rating: Good.
Age Appeal: 2-5
Publisher Info: Little Simon Inspirations, 2009; ISBN: 1416955496; Boardbooks; $19.99
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Special Info: Visit the author's website to learn more about her and her other projects.

The Story of Saint Patrick

It can be difficult to find books about Saint Patrick that are suitable for Protestants, but The Story of Saint Patrick by James A. Janda is one such book.

Janda's book is a blend of stories from Patrick's autobiography and legends created about him, beginning with his boyhood in England and his capture by Celts. Patrick is sold as a slave in Ireland and becomes a shepherd.

"He missed his family and friends. He had no one to turn to. It was in his sadness that Patrick started to pray. He began talking to God and God listened."

After six long years, Patrick has a dream he'll soon leave Ireland. Upon waking, he rushes to the harbor and, indeed, finds a ship ready to take him back to England.

However, once in England, Patrick dreams the Irish are begging him to return to the Emerald Isle. Patrick knows he wants to be a priest so he can bring "the peace of Christ" to the Irish, and promptly begins his studies.

Now a priest, Patrick sails back to Ireland, but before he can begin preaching, Patrick must obtain permission to do so from the king. On the way to the palace, a number of people become his followers. On Easter Eve, the group makes camp and builds a fire to warm themselves. The king sees the fire in the distance. His chief Druid, Lochru, says it is "against the law to light a fire during these sacred days;" therefore, Patrick must die. Hearing horses in the distance, Patrick walks ahead to meet Lochru. He says "Let us see whose weapons are more powerful - the angels' shield of light or weapons made to hurt and harm." When Lochru's men come upon Patrick, they are physically unable to attack him. Finally the king invites Patrick to the castle.

On the day Patrick and his men are to see the king, however, Lochru plans to ambush and kill them. But he and his men never see Patrick pass by; they only see a group of deer. Patrick greets the king and tells him about Christ. The king and queen are moved, and the king says:

"Let all know that Patrick has my protection and consent to spread the message of Christ, his God, throughout my kingdom."

Patrick spends the rest of his life preaching in Ireland. He teaches the Irish about the trinity by pointing to the shamrock and it's three leaves: "See, the clover has three leaves, but it is one." He dies in Ireland at an old age.

What I Like: I appreciate Janda's use of Patrick's autobiography and that he emphasizes the man's constant trust in the Lord. I also like how this book portrays Patrick's fight against the pagans of Ireland (although the author never explains what Druids are), and how he won them over with love. The illustrations by Christopher Fay are simple black and white drawings but they do an excellent job of portraying character.

What I Dislike: I appreciate that the author chooses some lesser-known tales about Patrick, but I would have liked a mention of Patrick banishing snakes from the land. And while overall I like Fay's illustrations, it's a little odd that they are in several different styles. Some are sketchy, others far more detailed, and some resemble woodcuts; it's as if several illustrators worked on the book, instead of one.

Overall Rating: Good.

Age Appeal: According to the publisher, 4 to 8, but do note the illustrations are black and white drawings, which don't appeal to many young kids.

Publisher Info: Paulist Press, 2005; ISBN: 0809166232; softcover; $6.95

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The Story of Saint Patrick's Day

Candy Cane Press is known for their simple board boards introducing holidays, and The Story of Saint Patrick's Day by Patricia A. Pingry is a good example of this line.

Here, we learn about the major points of the holiday, including the fact that it's named after a real person. Patrick, Pingry tells us, was "taken to Ireland" when he was a boy; here, he became a shepherd. Grieving for his family, Patrick turned to God. Eventually, Patrick returned home, but he found himself missing Ireland. "So he studied hard and became a priest."

Patrick went back to Ireland to teach people about God. One famous story about Patrick says he told all the snakes to leave the land, and they did. We also learn that Patrick used the shamrock to teach people about the trinity. "Patrick taught that its three leaves stand for God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit."

Pingry wraps up the book by telling a bit about more modern St. Patrick's day things, like leprechauns (which "are make-believe") and St. Patrick's Day parades. But, Pingry writes, St. Patrick's Day is really about remembering "a godly man called Saint Patrick."

What I Like: This book is ideal for introducing young children to the history of St. Patrick's Day. It uses language suitable even for the youngest children, and is a great spring-board for learning more about the man credited with bringing Christianity to Ireland. The illustrations by Pamela R. Levy are colorful and full of kid-appeal.

What I Dislike: If you're looking for much in the way of details, this is not the book for you. For example, we don't learn that Patrick was from Britain, and stolen by Celts and made a slave. We also don't learn that the legend of Patrick abolishing snakes from Ireland is almost certainly symbolic. (It's unlikely snakes ever lived on the island of Ireland; instead, the story is a metaphor for Patrick banishing paganism from the country.) But, as far as I'm concerned, that's okay. More details about the man and the holiday can come later, once young children understand the basics.

Overall Rating: Very good.

Age Appeal: According to the publisher, 4 to 8, but this book appeals more to toddlers and preschoolers than it does to older children.

Publisher Info: Candy Cane Press, 2002; ISBN: 0824941454; board book; $6.95

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Special Info: Read our reviews for other Patricia Pingry books.

Butterfly Kisses

It’s difficult to find books for little girls that center around their relationship with their fathers. But, Butterfly Kisses, written by Bob and Brooke Carlisle and illustrated by Carolyn Ewing, is such a book. The book is basically a two-way conversation between father and daughter, where they share special moments together - like saying bedtime prayers and dancing across the floor - celebrating the unique bond between the two.

If the title sounds familiar, perhaps it’s because it reminds you of the contemporary song by the same title and by the same author. Bob Carlisle recorded the song Butterfly Kisses. This book is based on the song. The text of the book is written in rhyme (in narrative poem form), but other than talking about some of the things that are in the song, the book is quite different from the song itself. Although the book makes a good accompaniment to the song, the book text stands alone.

The illustrations are colorful and life-like and realistically illustrate the relationship between a father and his daughter.

What I Like: I like the idea of a book for fathers and daughters. Their relationship is a special one that is not well represented in children’s literature, particularly in the area of Christian children’s picture books.

What I Dislike: As mentioned, the text is written in rhyme. And, as you’ve probably heard me say before (if you’ve read many of my reviews), it’s very difficult to write in rhyme and do it well. For the most part, the text flows smoothly; however, there are a couple of places where the rhyme is a bit forced. Altogether, it’s very well done, though.

Overall Rating: Very good.

Age Appeal: 4-8.

Publisher Info: Little Golden Books, 2001; ISBN: 0307988724; Hardcover, $2.99.

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Special Info: This book is written for girls. I don’t think boys would enjoy it very much.

Visit the author’s website.