Cynthia Gives Thanks for Its Great To Be A Girl

Another Thanksgiving is upon us and I am always in awe of how God blesses my family and I every year. Every year brings new challenges and experiences and God is always right there blessing me with opportunities to live and learn. I am thankful for my position here at CCBR and being a part of a group of women who care about feeding our children's spirits through literature. I am especially grateful for It's Great To Be A Girl by Dannah Gresh. My 11-year-old daughter and I love this book. It's a resource that continues to help my daughter through the challenges of adolescence in a practical and spiritual way. It also encourages her to share her journey with me as an ally.

Everywhere your daughter goes--online or in real life--our culture tells her lies about her body. That's why bestselling author Dannah Gresh, creator of the Secret Keeper Girl events has developed this resource that points tween girls like yours to the truth about God's design.

With stories and examples your daughter can relate to, this Girl's Guide takes her to the Bible as her resource, helping her meditate on its message and have fun while she does it. She'll explore questions such as What if my body is different from everyone else's? What does the Bible mean by "Honor God with your body"? What about makeup--should I wear it? If so, how much? Should I be afraid to grow up? What's the big deal with nutrition and exercise?

Here's solid guidance with biblical grounding that will help your daughter grow spiritually as she's maturing physically.

About this series: The Girl's Guide books in the Secret Keeper Girl Series have been created for tween girls to help them explore topics important to them and give them the opportunity to travel deeper into "God's diary"--the Bible--for truth and instruction. 

What I Like: This in-depth book for young girls about to or who are already experiencing puberty goes into what is happening to their bodies, the importance of the changes and why God is the author of the changes. From the very beginning, authors Dannah Gresh and Suzy Weibel offer opportunities for the young readers to take this journey with their parents and friends as a bible study and learning experience. They are teaching the readers prayers, the importance of meditating on God's word and confidence that puberty is positive and necessary. I found it refreshing that Dannah & Suzy made puberty a journey of growth to be proud of, not scary or disgusting. I love that they encourage bonding with moms and friends during the journey.

It is an interactive book where girls can do crossword puzzles, fill-in-the-blanks, doodling, prayers, word search and journaling. The book is meant to be a resource, not just a one time read. The book includes sections of bible study.

The book also includes practical information like photos of the female womb and its purpose, menstrual cycle info, along with hair style ideas, hygiene practices, staying active while having fun, the importance of healthy eating and even bra shopping.


What I Dislike: Nothing

Overall Rating: Excellent

Age Appeal: 8-12 Years but I would say 10-14 due to reproduction discussion.

Publisher Info: Harvest House Publisher, 2015; ISBN: 978-0736960076; Paperback, 128 pgs., $11.99

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Cliques, Hicks and Ugly Sticks: Confessions of April Grace

Alternately funny, touching, and suspenseful K.D. McCrite's, Cliques, Hicks and Ugly Sticks:  The Confessions of April Grace will resonate with tween girls stuck in those awkward, middle school years. The second book in the series finds an eleven-year-old April Grace beginning middle school and wishing family friends would move out of her house, so she could have her room back.

To make matters worse, April Grace can't figure out why her mom is acting impatient and keeping secrets. She also can't understand why a good friend from last year is deliberately snubbing her, why a boy in her class keeps paying her unwanted compliments, or why her grandma in interested in three different gentlemen.

When it becomes clear April's mother will be unable to direct the annual Christmas pageant, April suggests allowing family friend Isabel St. James to try her hand at directing. Unfortunately, Isabel is bossy, critical of small-town life, and doesn't attend church.  Nevertheless, the pastor decides to let Isabel direct the play, providing April will help.

Plot Spoilers Ahead:  Isabel and her husband are surprised when the townspeople help them fix up their house, and bless them with a house-warming party, despite Isabel's difficult personality. With April in the spotlight and Isabel directing, the play is a success, although reminiscent of The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. After a medical scare, April's mother delivers her own Christmas surprise, much to April's unexpected delight.

What I Like:  April Grace is funny, spunky and authentic, as a tween trying to fit in at middle school, get along with her sister and avoid her grandma's boyfriends. Even though she rolls her eyes at Isabel and doesn't really want to be in the play, she can't help enjoying acting.  I like the way April worries about her mom but trusts her dad when he tells her everything will be alright. April's positive character shines through when she tries to think of ways to help her mom, even though she dreads change.

I also like the way April loves her grandma, even though she doesn't approve of her grandma dating. 

Although the book is often funny, McCrite's serious scenes are quite touching. 
 
What I Dislike:  I am not sure why McCrite chose to set the book in 1986. Although I appreciated her references to Miami Vice, Madonna, and Buick LeSabres, it seems they would be lost on today's tween audience.

April Grace's voice is replete with Southern vernacular and references, which sometimes sounds authentic, but sometimes sounds forced.

As always, I dislike book covers with photographs.  The cover model is adorable, but it is easier to imagine yourself as a part of a story without having to compare yourself to a photograph.
 
Overall Rating:  Very good, despite minor dislikes.

Age Appeal:  8-12

Publisher Info: Tommy Nelson, 2011; ISBN:978-1-4003-1826-1 ; Paperback, 282 pages, $9.99

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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

Buy it Now from ChristianBook.com for $7.99,

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