Suzette Gives Thanks for Instant Bible Lessons for Nursery: Give Thanks to God

Last year brought some changes not our home and family in a wonderful way. After being members at our current church for (at the time) six years, I was asked to step into the position of Interim Director of Children's Ministry until a full time Children's Minister could be found. I continue to serve in this capacity, and it has been a blessing to our family in so many ways.

I am thankful for the extra income it has blessed us with. I am thankful for the people I have met. I am thankful for the glimpse of our wonderful staff and all of the hard work they do behind the scenes so our Sunday mornings are flawless. I am thankful for the friendships I have made which will carry on long after my services are no longer needed. I am thankful for the children I have the privilege of serving each week.

When I received today's book, I knew God had led Kristina and Cynthia to pack it in my box because it was so relevant to the ministry I am currently involved in.

Instant Bible Lessons for Nursery: Give Thanks to God by Mary J. Davis is a consumable book of eight lessons, complete with reproducible coloring pages, songs, and Bible lessons.

The lessons in this book are designed for nursery aged children with simple lessons which go over the same concept repeatedly so little ones can remember it. Each lesson can be broken up to be spread over an entire month which is great in giving little ones consistency in their lesson.

As is implied in the title, this lesson book focuses on thankfulness. The lessons include:

• Thank You God for My Family
• Thank You God for My Friends
• Thank You God for My Home
• Thank You God for My Pets
• Thank You God for My Food
• Thank You God for Water
• Thank You God for Clothes
• Thank You God for My Church

The last chapter of the book includes extra "Give Thanks" activities, including games, rhymes, and crafts.

Even children in the infant nursery can be taught to be thankful just by having the caregiving adult repeating the simple themes and verses while being rocked.

What I Like: I love the simplicity of the these lessons. Nursery curricula put together by larger groups often include "too much" stuff, and little ones are not designed to sit through and listen to a long drawn out lesson. The length of the lessons in this book are the perfect length for little ones. All of the pages in the book are also perforated for easy removal and photocopying.

As the Children's Ministry Director at our church, I look forward to implementing this book in our nursery.

What I Dislike: I liked everything about this book.

Overall Rating: Excellent

Age Appeal: 0-2 year olds

Publisher Info: Rainbow Publishers, 2012; ISBN: 978-1-58411-119-1; paperback, 96 pgs., $13.95


Buy it Now at Christianbook.com for $9.99
OR Buy it at Amazon.com for $13.95

God Helps Me Bible

God Helps Me Bible by Juliet David is a darling little Bible  book for toddlers. It is chunky in size, which is perfect for little hands. The illustrations by Claire Caddy are beautifully simple and toddler appropriate.

Each Bible account is two half pages long which is perfect for a toddler's attention span. At the end of each account, the reference of where the account can be found is included.

Twenty-five accounts are included, and each accounts with the phrase "God helped....." The author states her goal at the beginning of the book. "As you read the story with your parent, perhaps you can repeat the last sentence of the story: 'God helped...'"

What I Like: I like that this book is spiral bound so the pages lay flat, which makes for easier reading by parents and toddlers.

What I Dislike: I like everything about this book.

Overall Rating: Excellent.

Age Appeal: 1-3 years.

Publisher Info: Candle books, 2012; ISBN: 978-1859859162; spiral-bound hardcover, 104 pgs., $12.99.

Buy it Now at Christianbook.com for $11.69
OR Buy it at Amazon.com for $12.99

Thank You, God, for Kittens/Thank You, God, for Puppies

Toddlers love animals - especially animals they often see in their everyday lives - like cats and dogs. And with charming illustrations by Tammie Lyon and sweet rhyming text by Mary Manz Simon, two new board books are sure to please them. Thank You, God, for Kittens and Thank You, God, for Puppies are perhaps perfect if you have a cat or dog in your home, but are equally welcome if you don't.

"Kitty, kitty, I love you./I love all the things you do," begins the kitten book. Then each page features something cats do, like play with string, take naps, run to their food dish, hide in bags, sit on books, climb trees, purr, etc. The last page reads: "You're a blessing, it is true./I thank God each day for you."

The puppy book is very much the same format, except it features things more typical to dogs, including tail thumping, catching balls, chewing bones, shaking water off their bodies, and more.


What I Like: Simon's writing, as always, is solid. Although rhyming books are difficult to do well, Simon is a master at them. Tammie Lyon's illustrations are a perfect match for the text, featuring children of different ethnicities playing with cats or dogs. Both the author and illustrator do an excellent job making these books perfect for very young children.

What I Dislike: Nothing. But parents may want to know that the only mention of God is on the last page of each book, where the text reads "I thank God each day for you."

Overall Rating: Excellent.

Age Appeal: Infant - preschool.

Publishing Info: Ideals, 2015; ISBN 978-0824919627 (Kittens) 978-0824919610 (Puppies); board books, 20 pgs., $6.99

Buy at Amazon: Kittens $5.99; Puppies $5.13

Or buy it from ChristianBook.com: Kittens $4.99;  Puppies $4.99

Special Info: See our reviews of other books by Mary Manz Simon.

My Big Bright Bible Board Book

If you want to introduce your baby or toddler to some favorite stories from the Bible, Christina Goodings’ book My Big Bright Bible Board Book may be just what you are looking for. Built with a thick, soft cover and sturdy pages, the book covers stories of creation, Noah, Baby Moses, David and Goliath, Jonah, Baby Jesus, Jesus and the Children, Lost Sheep, and the resurrection. Stories are told over a two-page spread using generally only six lines of text. Each tale is accompanied by simple, bright illustrations done by Stephen Barker. The pictures are cute, and will appeal to young kids with their easily recognizable, child-friendly figures. All people in the book appear fair-skinned.

What I Like: I think this book will appeal to its intended target audience. It seems solid, the pictures aren’t too busy but still catch the eye, and the text is simple enough for the short attention span of a baby or toddler. This author also has a wide variety of other books for this age group, so if your youngster enjoys this book, you can easily find another similar book to expand your household library.

What I Dislike: If you are wanting the “full picture” of a Bible story, you won’t find it here. Due to their brevity, the stories have many informational gaps. That means a child who is unfamiliar with the Bible story will likely have many questions. Of all the stories, I think “The Way to Heaven” will be the most likely to cause confusion. As long as parents are ready to fill in the holes, they can still use this book as a springboard for discussion or introduction to a Bible story.

Overall Rating: Good, although sturdiness is very good.

Age Appeal: Infant to toddler.

Publisher Info: Lion Hudson, 2014; ISBN:978-0745965253 ; Board Book, 10 pgs., $9.99

Buy it Now at Christianbook.com for $8.19
OR Buy it at Amazon.com for $8.99.

Special Info: Check out CCBR reviews of other books by this author. You may also enjoy looking at these books by this author: My Little Bible Boardbook, My Look and Point Story of Jesus Stick-a-Story Book,My Look and Point Story of Jesus Stick-a-Story Book,My Look and Point First Christmas Stick-a-Story Book, Bible Stories for Girls, My Look and Point In the Beginning Stick-a-Story Book, Guess Who? Noah's Ark: A Flip-the-Flap Book, Hands-On Bible Craft Book, The Lion Book of Prayers for Me, My Very Best Bible Stories, or Bible and Prayers for Teddy and Me, just to name a few!

Can I Love You?

Dr. Christine Gillan Byrne’s book Can I Love You? is about parents loving their children from the top of their heads to the tips of their toes. Each two-page spread in the book features a 4-line rhyming text on one side and a full-sized, life-like drawing of a parent holding a baby on the other. The paintings, done by Lory Ortega, are close and personal, focusing mainly on faces, and include people from a variety of ethnic backgrounds.

In the story, the author basically counts the ways a parent can kiss, hug, and love every part of the child. For example: Can I kiss your baby neck;/ Both your shoulders and your sides?/ Can I nuzzle your soft tummy?/ And squeeze your small behind?

At the end of the book, Byrne provides three suggested activities, adapted versions of two songs—I Am So Glad that Jesus Loves Me and Jesus Loves Me—and tips for teaching children how to pray.

Special Info: This author offers a website with more information about Young Child Ministries.

What I Like: The author has a background in early childhood and is the founder of Young Child Ministries. This fact gives credence to the suggested activities and prayer tips found at the end of the book.

What I Dislike: The book is meant to be shared with babies, and then gradually toddlers. However, it’s a paperback. I’m not sure how well that will hold up with this age group. Plus, it's pricey for what you get...and cannot be ordered off Amazon or ChristianBooks.I thought it was an okay book, but I'm not sure I'd spend that much on it unless I really loved the pictures... or if I wanted to give it as a gift at a baby shower.

Overall Rating: Good

Age Appeal: Infant through toddler

Publisher Info: Xlibris Corporation, 2011; ISBN:978-1-4653-6833-1; Paperback, 26 pgs., $9.99

This book is NOT available at Christianbook.com
NOR is it available at Amazon.com. If you are interested in ordering this book, try the website listed above.

Christmas Bible Friends

Christmas Bible Friends is a super simple and effective way to begin teaching the story of Jesus' birth to very young children. Each two page spread in this heavy duty board book by Karen Williamson features a modern-day child on the left hand side of the page, along with a question. The opposite side of the page shows something related to the birth of Christ, along with a tabbed section to open up. Beneath, the answer to the question, along with an appropriate illustration, is given.

The first page asks "Who did Mary meet?" Lift the tabbed picture of a young biblical shepherd and you'll find the answer: "An angel," along with a drawing of one.

The next two page spread asks: "Where did baby Jesus sleep?" The answer, under the tab, is "In a manger." Then,  "Who did the shepherds visit?" "Baby Jesus." And so on, until the book ends with: "Everyone was happy when Jesus was born."

What I Like: I was pleasantly surprised by this little volume. First of all, the book is high quality. I've never seen such a thick, sturdy board book. Even the tabs, which are so often flimsy, are thick enough even the most rambunctious toddler couldn't tear them off. The concept of the book is also great, especially if you have a child who can't sit through your average nativity book. I also like the illustrations by Mike Byrne. They show cute, friendly people of any ethnicities and use lots of bold but attractive color.

What I Dislike: Nothing. Although you shouldn't expect this book to thoroughly explain the story of Jesus' birth. Think of it as a baby and toddler friendly introduction.

Overall Rating: Excellent.

Age Appeal: baby - toddler

Publishing Info: Candle Books; 2012; ISBN: 978-1859859353; board book, 10 pgs., $9.99.

Buy Now at Amazon for $9.99
OR buy at Christianbook.com for $8.19

Baby Jesus

If you're looking for a cute, easy to understand version of the Christmas story for young children, Baby Jesus by Karen Williamson is a nice choice. Let's begin with the illustrations, since this is what initially draws in little ones. Chris Embleton-Hall offers characters with smiling, friendly faces. There is lots of color and lots of cuteness. Kids will also enjoy the "tabs" that stick out of every page. For example, on one page there is a charming owl, on another there is a rabbit, and on the last page, there is a star.

Add to this Williamson's simple text; it covers the basics of the story. An angel tells Mary she's going to have a "very special baby." An angel also tells Joseph, to whom Mary is engaged. They are married and go to Bethlehem "to be counted." There is no inn for them to stay in, but one inn keeper offers his stable. Soon Mary's baby is born. "We must call him Jesus - as the angel told me," Mary says as she lays him in the manger. An angel tells shepherds there is a "baby who will save the world" nearby; they kneel down before the baby. In the East, some wise men who study the stars notice an unusual one and say "that means a great is King is born." They go to Jerusalem and meet the King there, then go on to Bethlehem. When they give Jesus' their gifts while kneeling before him, Jesus is correctly shown as a toddler.

What I Like: There is lots of kid appeal in the "tab" pages and the illustrations and the text is straightforward and gives just the right amount of information for the younger crowd.

What I Dislike: Parents will need to explain just why Jesus was a "special baby" and "King."

Overall Rating: Very good.

Age Appeal: Baby to preschool

Publishing Info: Candle Books; 2012; ISBN: 978-1859859346; board book, 12 pgs., $7.99.

Buy Now at Amazon for $7.99

OR buy it at ChristianBook.com for $6.29

Instant Bible Lessons for Nursery: Just Like Me

Instant Bible Lessons for Nursery: Just Like Me, written and illustrated by Mary J. Davis, is a book full of reproducible pages for use in church nurseries and daycare centers.

The book is divided into nine chapters. Each chapter starts with a Bible story to be read aloud, followed by a “Story Review” with a few questions about the story. There are activities for parents to participate in with their children if they are present in the nursery. The rest of the chapters are devoted to a collection of rhymes, songs, activities, crafts, and bulletin board ideas related to each story. Each story is also given a Bible reference.

The book is illustrated with pencil sketches throughout that are simple, yet detailed, and would lend themselves well to being colored.

What I Like: Everything. This is a delightful resource for nursery and pre-school teachers.

What I Dislike: Nothing.

Overall Rating: Excellent.

Age Appeal: The publisher states the book is “designed especially for babies ages birth to 18 months” although I think many of the activities would be appropriate for a bit older audience.

Publisher Info: Rainbow Publishers, 2012; ISBN: 9781584111207; Paperback, 96 pages, $10.99.

Buy now at ChristianBook $10.99! 

Or buy at Amazon.com $11.01.

 

Special Info: This book is part of a series of books by the publisher for this age group. There is also a series for the 3-5-year age group.

Baby's First Book of Prayers

If you’re looking for a toddler-friendly book of prayers, check out Baby’s First Book of Prayers by Melody Carlson. This hardcover book is mini sized, like a thick pocketbook, making it both durable and easy for small hands to hold. The book features forty-one prayers that address a variety of simple topics, such as food, family, nature, joy, and sadness. The two-page spread format is consistent throughout, with a full-page illustration (done by Judith Pfeiffer) on the left hand side and a four-line rhyming prayer on the right. The meter rarely falters, which gives the prayers a singsong quality. Here is an example:
Bless my home, dear God, I pray./ Keep it safe by night and day./Bless each room and bless each wall./ Bless my family. Bless us all. The illustrations are bright and cheerful, and they display various ethnicities.

What I Like: This book could easily be used to establish a “devotional time” routine to start or end your child’s day, especially since the prayers lend themselves well to additional discussion by astute parents. At one prayer a day, it would take well over a month to cover the whole book. At the same time, if you need a “teachable” prayer for a certain situation—such as learning to say you’re sorry or expressing happiness—you can usually find a suitable match. The size of the book is just plain fun too. It has a big-kid thickness with a little kid artistic appeal.

What I Dislike: Nothing really, except I would have personally appreciated some Scripture references to coincide with the prayers.

Overall Rating: Excellent

Age Appeal: Ages 2 and up

Publisher Info: Zonderkidz, YEAR; ISBN:978-0310702870; Hardcover, 96 pgs., $6.99

Buy it Now at Christianbook.com for $5.99
OR Buy it at Amazon.com for $6.99.

Special Info: CCBR has reviewed several books by Carlson. You can check them out by clicking here. You can check out other children's books by Melody Carlson. See: Benjamin's Box: The Story of the Resurrection Eggs, Her First Bible, His First Bible, Baby's First Bible, Christmas at Harrington's (a $15.99 book right now sale priced at Amazon for $6.40), and more! Carlson also writes books for teens.

Thank You, God, For Loving Me

Thank You, God, For Loving Me by Max Lucado is the charming tale of little Hermie the Caterpillar. Hermie prays and thanks God for loving him, and shows just how God loves him. Illustrations by Frank Endersby help show Hermie's choices and activities throughout the day where God is included.

What I Like: This cute story is a great way to help kids understand God's loving nature towards us, but also His omnipotence. Even though the story doesn't come out and say God is omnipotent, it's pretty obvious throughout the text. For instance, Hermie refers to God being with him when he's afraid, and guiding him when there's a choice between right and wrong.

The rhyming nature of this tale really flows well, tripping off the tongue in an easy manner. I never stumbled when reading it aloud to my kids. For example:

"You watch me when I am awake
And when I sleep and play.
You always take good care of me
Through each and every day."

What I Dislike: Nothing.

Overall Rating: Excellent.

Age Appeal: 3 - 7, though I honestly think younger children would enjoy the sound of the story as well as the great illustrations, but older kids may be bored, so I'd say Infant - 5.

Publisher Info: Tommy Nelson, 2011; ISBN: 978-1-4003-1804-9; Board Book, PGS., $6.99

Buy it Now at Christianbook.com for $5.99 or as e-book for $5.59.
OR Buy it at Amazon.com for $6.99 or as a Kindle edition for $5.59.

Special Info: We've reviewed other books by Max Lucado here.

The Newborn King

It's a puzzle. It's a book. It's both. The Newborn King by Lori C. Froeb briefly tells the biblical Christmas story for young children - but what makes it stand out from the crowd is that each page features an easy puzzle piece for children to insert into the book.
The boardbook begins by explaining that an angel visits Mary, telling her she's going to have God's son. Then she and Joseph go on a "long journey." When the couple gets to Bethlehem there's no room in the inn so they sleep in the stable. That night, baby Jesus is born, and Mary places him in the animal's feeding trough. Angels appear to shepherds to tell them of Jesus' birth, and they go to the stable to worship the baby.

What I Like: This is an effective way to get young children more interested in the real meaning of Christmas. The illustrations by Pauline Stewart are colorful and friendly, and each page has a place for a single, large, thick puzzle piece to fit. It's easy for young children to tell which puzzle piece goes where - and moms need not fear the book will become useless if a puzzle piece gets lost - because the same image that's on each puzzle piece is also on the page. There is a convenient cardboard box attached to the back of the book, in which puzzle pieces may be stored, if desired.

What I Dislike: There is no mention of who Joseph is - so you'll need to explain to your child that he was Mary's fiance. Also, the book is very short for the price point.

Overall Rating: Very Good.

Age Appeal: There is no recommendation, but I'd say baby to preschool.
Publishing Info: Kregel; 2011; ISBN: 978-0825455513; boardbook, 8 pgs., $9.99.Buy Now at Amazon for $9.99
OR buy at ChristianBook.com for $5.49

Special Info: Read our reviews for other Wipe Clean books.

One Night in Bethlehem

There are few kids who don't enjoy a touch-and-feel books, making Jill Roman Lord's One Night in Bethlehem a welcome addition to the Christmas bookshelf.

This board book begins with a mother and toddler boy playing with a nativity set. The little boy wonders what he might have done if he'd been present the night Jesus was born.

If he'd been a lamb, he thinks, he would have cuddled up to Jesus to keep him warm. If he'd been a cow, he would have mooed so loud everyone would know Jesus Christ was born. If he'd been an angel, he would have sung praises the loudest. If he'd been a shepherd, he'd have been the first to see Jesus. If he'd been a wise man, he would have brought the baby the gift of a teddy bear.

On all but the first and last two-page spread, there is a texture to touch: the lamb's coat, the cow's suede hide, an angel's silky robe, a shepherd's rough tunic, a glittery star, and a teddy's soft fur.

The book ends:

"Although I wasn't there that night
or near the manger stall,
I still can spread the news about
God's greatest gift of all.
I still can hoot and holler and
sing praises to His name
and shout, 'I love you, Jesus!
I'm so very glad you came.'"

What I Like: Lord is a proven writer with excellent skills; One Night in Bethlehem's rhyming text is easy to read and ignites children's imaginations about one of the greatest events in history. The illustrations by Paige Keiser are soft, showing the toddler boy as his imagined shepherd, angel, and wise man. Both my children also enjoyed the touch and feel aspect of the book.

What I Dislike: I think the touch and feels should have offered better variety.
Overall Rating: Very good.

Age Appeal: Baby and up.
Publishing Info: Candy Cane Press; 2011; ISBN: 978-0824918637; board book, 16 pgs., $8.99.

Buy Now at Amazon.com for $8.99

OR buy at ChristianBook.com for $7.19

Special Info: Read our other reviews of books by Jill Roman Lord.