Snuggle Time Prayers

Snuggle Time Prayers by Glenys Nellist is a beautiful board book with simple scripture based prayers for young children.

Glenys Nellist is one of my favorite children's authors. Her writing speaks in a voice that children can hear and understand. Based on her writings, I can picture her having a very safe voice, perfect for the ears of little ones.

Each prayer features a one line verse with a reference. The prayer then reflects the heart of the verse with personal application in a way that little ones can understand.

These prayers can be read one each night, or as in my 4 year old's case, several in a row because he liked them so much.

What I Like: I am big on finding great illustrations in children's books because little ones can see and be pulled in by the pictures before they can read the words. Cee Biscoe's illustrations perfectly match the voice of Glenys in this sweet book. The cover photo is a great example of the illustrations found throughout the book.

What I Dislike: I loved everything about this book.

Overall Rating: Excellent.

Age Appeal: 2-4 years old.

Publisher Info: ZonderKidz, 2016; ISBN: 978-0310749325; boardbook, 30 pgs., $9.99.

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Play and Learn Bible Stories: Noah's Ark Wipe-Clean Storybook

Play and Learn Bible Stories: Noah’s Ark Wipe-Clean Storybook by Shiloh Kidz, is an interactive storybook about Noah and the ark. Each text page includes some type of activity that goes along with the story segment on that page.

Most of the activities are sticker-related, with over 100 bright stickers to paste in various places throughout the book. The text pages are numbered, and the stickers are grouped according to corresponding page numbers, making them easy to locate. There are also some tracing activities scattered throughout the pages. The tracing can be done with any type of dry erase marker (not included). The activities can be repeated again and again, as the stickers are reusable and the pages can be wiped clean.

What I Like: Just about everything. The pages are bright and colorful, the activities are kid-friendly, and the activities can be repeated.

What I Dislike: The book is supposed to be for ages 3+. The activities will be fun for all, but the language used in the text is not what I would consider kid-friendly for this type of activity book. Youngsters will enjoy the bright pages and the activities, but most of them will have trouble with the language level used to tell the story.

Overall Rating: Very good.

Age Appeal: The book is listed for ages 3+, but I think an appropriate age group would be about 3-8.

Publisher Info: Shiloh Kidz, 2015; ISBN: 9781630588946; Paperback, $6.99.

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I Can

I Can by Karthryn O'Brien is a bright, colorful and beautifully illustrated book that helps young children understand and memorize scripture.  The book teaches Philippians 4:13, "I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength." The verse is broken down simply and the author uses repetition and rhythm to facilitate the memorization.  The author gives examples of how each part of the verse connects with a child's everyday life.

What I Like: I love that this book helps young children to apply scripture to their own lives.  With the colorful and relevant pictures children will be able to immediately connect the Bible to their own experiences.

I love that this book not only teaches the scripture but also develops a love for the Lord and scripture early on in a child's life.  I think that Philippians 4:13 is a foundational verse that all children should have memorized!

What I Dislike: There was nothing that I disliked. 

Overall Rating: Excellent.

Age Appeal: 3-6 years old.

Publisher Info: Tyndale House Publishers, 2016; ISBN: 978-1496411174; Hardcover, 32 pages; $14.91.

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or

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Daniel and the Lions

Daniel and the Lions (Bible Story Time) by Sophie Piper is a sweet little booklet perfect for little hands.

Toddlers and preschoolers need to hear Bible stories that are written in a language they understand, and this booklet fits the bill. The The story is told in such a way that little ones will fully understand the account.

What I Like: Illustrations are always a huge selling point for me, and Estelle Corke has done a great job making the pictures simple but beautifully engaging for little people. Each illustration perfectly fits the section of the story it depicts.

As I have mentioned, this book is the size of a booklet, perfect for little hands that want to hold it for themselves.

What I Dislike: I really like this book.

Overall Rating: Excellent

Age Appeal: 2-5-year-olds

Publisher Info: Lion Children's Book, 2014; ISBN: 978-0-7459-6359-4; paperback, 32 pgs., $2.99


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The Play- Along Bible

My almost four-year-old daughter Ella loved the Play-Along Bible by Bob Hartman!  


Before we even had a chance to read it to her, my daughter loved looking at it on her own during her "nap" time in her bed. The colorful and kid-friendly illustrations by Susie Poole invited her into this hardcover storybook. There were 50 carefully chosen stories from both the Old and New Testament that each had a beautiful drawing to accompany it.

At bedtime, my husband always reads to my daughter. She has several different Bibles and devotionals that we have used. What was different about this book was the multi-sensory approach.  Each story had motions that the parent models as they are reading to encourage the child to participate with during the story. 

For example, while reading the story of Noah, in parentheses the book guides the parent by telling them when to encourage the child to make motions. They suggest the reader make animal noises, slap their hands on their legs to mimic the sound of the rain coming down, pretend they are hammering like Noah building the ark and more!
 
What I Like: I like how this Bible storybook will hit more than one of your child's senses when reading this book. Not all children learn the same. Some are visual learners and will learn best through looking at the pictures. Some are auditory learners and will learn best through hearing the story read to them. These two types of learners can have their needs met through most Bible storybooks. I liked how this Bible storybook meets the needs of the kinaesthetic learner who learns best through movement. These learners are often left out with traditional storybooks. This book would not disappoint. It is a great way to enhance a child's understanding of God's Word at a young age.
 
What I Dislike:  Nothing
 
Overall Rating: Excellent
 
Age Appeal: 3-6 years old
 
Publisher Info: Tyndale Kids,  2015;  ISBN: 978-1-4964-0864-8 ; Hardcover, 104 pgs.,  $12.99

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Jesus Heals a Little Boy: A Miracle at Capernaum

Jesus Heals a Little Boy: A Miracle at Capernaum, by Rev. Jim Reimann, is the retelling of the Biblical story of Jesus healing a young boy in Capernaum. In just a few short pages, Reimann relates the events that took place there. The story references John 4:46-54 of the Bible.

The pencil illustrations by Hayim Roitblat Otsarya are very colorful and expressive.

What I Like: I really like the illustrations.

What I Dislike: The text is written of rhyme. Many of you know I am not a big fan of rhyming picture books because it’s so hard to write in rhyme and do it well. Although the ends of the lines in the text do rhyme, the rhythm is forced as the author tries to squeeze too many syllables into some of the sentences just so the end words rhyme.

Overall Rating: Ho hum.

Age Appeal: I’d say 4-8 would be the appropriate age group for this book, as the story is quite short. However, some of the vocabulary is over and above that normally used for this age group.

Publisher Info: Intelecty, 2014; ISBN: 9789657607220; Paperback, $5.99.

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Or buy at Amazon $5.99.

The Kindle edition is available for $2.99.

Special Info: Visit the author’s website. Read our reviews of other books written by Jim Reimann.

God and Me

God and Me by Penny Boshoff is a daily devotional written for toddler/preschool aged children. There is a devotional for every day of the year.  Each devotional contains an applicable title, short message, recommended Bible passage for further study and a prayer for the day. The devotional is designed to be read with toddlers or young preschoolers. Each day's devotional is very short which is ideal for the attention span of this target audience.

If you are looking for an engaging way to introduce your child to the Bible and Christian principles at a very young age, then this is the devotional for you! The content and photographs are not gender specific and will interest both boys and girls. I read this devotional with my three year old daughter and my four year old son and they were both equally engaged.

What I Like: I liked the variety of topics that were covered in this devotional. With titles such as "Twins,"  "Waiting Patiently," "Cats," "A Hungry Tummy," and more, my children learned about many different topics and Biblical principles.

I also loved the photographs on each page. They featured real children (similar to those seen on the cover.)  Little children love to look at pictures of other children and babies. The photographs also directly related to the day's message. I think that it helped my little ones have a better understanding.

What I Dislike:  There was not much that I didn't like about this devotional.  However, I think there are some families that will not like the prepared "Prayer for today" written at the end of each devotional. Many Christian families try to teach their young children to pray from their hearts more authentically and not to use another person's words.

Overall Rating: Very Good

Age Appeal: Toddler/Preschool
 
Publisher Info: Tommy Nelson Publishing 2013; ISBN:978-1-4003-2394-4;  Hardcover Devotional, 379 pages, $19.99

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God Made Polliwogs and Puppy Dogs

Young children will enjoy learning all about animal babies in Dandi Daley Mackall’s book God Made Polliwogs and Puppy Dogs. The book starts with a portion of scripture—Psalm 68:6, “God sets the lonely in families…” This snippet is framed by a family tigers, a puppy, and tadpoles. After that, each two-page spread shows frolicking animals. The rhyming, large-print text is placed one or two lines per page, and introduces the reader to various animal babies. From piglets to joeys and cygnets to keets, each animal is named and then illustrated in cute, cartoon-like fashion by illustrator Janet Samuel. After seeing a multitude of animal babies, the author focuses on a human family, reinforcing the idea that “God sure loves those babies.” The book ends with a prayer thanking God for creating all families.

What I Like: The book is fast-paced, and the rhyming meter works, making it fun to read aloud.

What I Dislike: I love the idea of pairing the book idea with Scripture, but it seems awkward to me to take only a portion of the verse to make it apply. The rest of that verse that is not printed is “he sets the prisoners free and gives them joy. But he makes the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land.”

Overall Rating: Very Good

Age Appeal: Ages 2-5 years

Publisher Info: Harvest House Publishers, 2015; ISBN: 978-0736958738; Hardcover, 32 pgs., $12.99

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Love From a Star

Author Katherine Cutchin Gazzetta provides the perfect bedtime story for toddlers and preschoolers with her book Love From a Star.  The story shows a bear with two sidekicks—a floppy bunny and an elusive frog—as they look to the stars at night.  The overall message is simple: Wherever you are, whatever you face, God is there. Just look for His star.

Each two-page spread hosts two lines of text and an accompanying picture.  The text does rhyme, but the rhyme is split between pages. (For example, one page in the spread says, “You see, God put me here/ to watch over you.” The rest of that stanza is found when you turn the page: “ to love you and guide you,/ in all that you do.”)

Gazzetta also does the illustrations, which are, in my opinion, the best part of the book. The watercolor images are charming, whimsical, and fluid. The coloring is bold in hue and yet soft in execution.

Extra note: According to Amazon, the 2013 version of the book comes with a pack of glow-in-the-dark stars. However, I did not receive any stars with the book, so I am uncertain if this is true or not for the 2015 version.

What I Like: The illustrations are a big selling point for me.  Gazzetta does a nice job of wooing the reader with her images. The text is also short enough that the book can hold the attention of preschoolers and toddlers.

What I Dislike: I was a little confused over the idea that God puts stars in place to watch over us, and by the thought that a star could love someone (“Know that your star loves you tonight'").  While it is a heartwarming thought, I don’t see any Scriptural basis for this concept, which, in my mind, gives me pause. However, I am certain with an explanation that the stars are a reminder of God’s love (which I assume is the intention of the writer), then it would be just fine.

Overall Rating: Excellent (if the reader takes into mind what I mentioned about stars)

Age Appeal: None is provided, but the simplicity of the text suggests a younger audience, toddlers through preschool and perhaps up to Kindergarten age

Publisher Info: Sleeping Bear Press, 2015; ISBN: 978-0989206716; Hardcover and Kindle, 32 pgs., $14.99

This book is not currently available at Christianbook.com.

Buy the HARDCOVER VERSION at Amazon.com for $14.99 or the KINDLE VERSION for $14.24.

The Nativity Story - Magnetic Adventures

A unique interactive Bible storybook, by Juliet David, that enables children to create their own scenes as they follow Mary and Joseph's journey to Bethlehem. With the shepherds and the sheep, the wise men and the stable, it brings the nativity story to life. Magnetic pages and magnetized figures of people and animals give children everything they need for hours and hours of fun.

What I Like: The interactive board is entertaining. With lots of magnets, children can load the magnetic pages with various and adorably illustrated magnets.  The board book is a very simplistic version of The Nativity story from Gabriel appearing to Mary until the Wise Man visit baby Jesus all within a few pages. Lots of the other pages are text free and designed for the use of the magnets. The illustrations are charming. My 20 month loves the magnets and book set.

What I Dislike: Not all of the inner pages are magnetic.

Overall Rating: Very Good

Age Appeal: 3-5

Publisher Info: Candle Books, 2015; ISBN:978-1781282267; Board Book, 12 pgs., $16.99

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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


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Kristina Gives Thanks for The Jesus Storybook Bible

The last few years haven't been the easiest for my family. We've struggled with health issues, money issues (paychecks don't go as far as they used to!), feelings of isolation from our family, and feelings of betrayal from people we thought were friends. But, boy, have we grown spiritually! I'm thankful for the fact that now, as a family, we are more focused than ever on God. I'm also thankful we are working toward a long time dream: To move away from the suburbs (and a city that seems less and less family friendly) and into a rural area. God willing, by next year we'll be living very near family, in the middle of God's beautiful forest.

But this a blog is about books. I am certainly thankful, as I pack the gazillion books we own, that we have such easy, ready access to books. And as I learn about people throughout the world whose governments make owning a Bible illegal, I'm thankful that I have multiple copies of the Bible. But the Bible I may be most thankful for is The Jesus Storybook Bible by Sally Lloyd Jones (and illustrations by Jago). Not only has this children's Bible storybook been a huge blessing for my children - teaching them important, deep spiritual truths - but it's taught me a lot about the Bible, too. And I'm not the only adult who feels this way. In fact, so many adults wrote to Jones about The Jesus Storybook Bible, that she created a version just for adults, called The Story of God's Love For You.

What I Like: I absolutely love how Jones goes way beyond mere retelling of Bible stories in The Jesus Storybook Bible. She not only links all the stories included in the book to Jesus, but she manages to express spiritual truths in such a simple, easy to understand way. I cannot recommend this book enough.

What I Dislike: Nothing!

Overall Rating: Excellent.

Age Appeal: Toddlers through adults.

 
Publisher Info: Zondervan, 2007; ISBN: 978-0310708254; hardback, 352 pgs., $17.99

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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.

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A Treasury of Prayers for Now and Always

A Treasury of Prayers: For Now and Always by Mary Joslin is a sweet, thick, little book holding a compilation of prayers, reflective poem which can be used as prayers, and organizes them into sections for easy searching.

When I first saw this book, I fell in love with the look- the different shades of blues with white accents and the chunkiness of it. Opening the book, I was pleased to be met with a sweet simplicity on the pages- no illustrations except for a simple silhouette on the section division pages. Each page holds one or two short prayers which are written in a simple font. It is truly a book that can lead children into learning to pray without distraction.

A Treasury of Prayers: For Now and Always is perfect for reading to young children and even for teaching them to memorize simple prayers to springboard them into a prayer life of their own.

What I Like: I love the simplicity of the book, the selection of prayers that have been chosen, and (silly as this may sound) the fact that there is a ribbon bookmark attached to the binding to keep my place.

What I Dislike: I like everything about this book.

Overall Rating: Excellent

Age Appeal: 2-10 years old (preschools can have this book read to them and the prayers are short enough for them to memorize)

Publisher Info: Lion Hudson, 2013; ISBN: 978-0745963471; hardcover, 224 pgs., $16.99

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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 Sing Along Bible

Let’s Read! Let’s Sing!

My Sing-Along Bible is the perfect collection of easy-to-understand Bible stories and music for your wiggly, giggly toddler or preschooler! This book and music CD set includes creative retellings of favorite Bible stories. Plus, lively Bible and Scripture songs on the CD (included with the book) will inspire your child to sing and laugh while building a solid faith foundation. Includes 50 favorite Bible stories kids will love to read over and over again, 50 songs (high energy! and some for quiet time too!)―one to go along with each Bible story―plus bonus songs that make memorizing the books of the Bible easy and fun!

What I Like: My Sing - Along Bible, created by Stephen Elkins, is a hardcover book outlined with a short bible story on the top half (Let's Read) of colorfully illustrated pages, followed by the lyrics on the lower half (Let's Sing) of the pages and is in biblical order. Each pairing of bible story and song lyrics are given a themed title making it easier for children to understand what they are learning and singing about and while making it easier for parents to find a particular lesson/song they would like to sing along to. For example, the theme for the story of Creation is titled Who Made Me?

The songs are sung by children and range from hymn-like songs to upbeat songs the children can clap and dance along to. There are fifty songs in total. I believe the vast collection should keep children (and parents) from getting bored with the same song choices. The songs are very short and easy for the children to learn and memorize.


Many years ago when I taught preschool aged bible study at my church, I would have utilized this book and I think preschool Bible School teachers would enjoy this resource.

What I Dislike: While the actual hardcover book is fairly easy to navigate due to being in biblical order and each story titled, the CD unfortunately is not. I used my son's XBox to play the CD and the song tracks are not titled but instead numbered (the track numbers are in numerical order). The songs are in the same order of the book and if you allow the CD to play in order, you shouldn't have trouble, but if you wanted to choose a particular lesson out of order, finding the song that matches is a little difficult.

I can imagine that after playing the CD many times, you will get to know which track is which, but I find it very inconvenient that the tracks are untitled and I have to waste time trying to match the lesson with the track number.

A very minor thing that I didn't like was that the cover of a the My Sing-Along Bible has an illustration of Jonah. If I based this book solely by its cover, I would have never imagined it to be a Bible for children but instead a storybook about Jonah.

I found what I disliked the most was that some of songs do not contain all of the lyrics. The book may only have the lyrics to the chorus as opposed to the entire songs, which is usually quite short. Another minor annoyance, but an annoyance nonetheless.

Overall Rating: Good.
Age Appeal: 3-6 years, but my 1-year-old likes the songs.

Publisher Info: Tyndale House Publishers, 2015; ISBN: 978-1496405432; FORMAT, 96 pgs., $12.99

Buy it Now at Christianbook.com for $10.99

OR Buy it at Amazon.com for $9.80

Who is Jesus?

Who is Jesus? That’s a question many young children might ask. The concept of Jesus being someone you cannot see but who is both God and man, forgives your sins, and lives in your heart is an abstract idea for kids. How can parents help children understand what Jesus is like and how he views people? How can children comprehend God’s love for them and recognize ways they can show God’s love to others? A good starting point for discussion is MaryAnn Diorio’s book Who is Jesus?

Who is Jesus? is not a typical storybook; instead it is set up in simple yet predictably structured sections. (In a way, it’s almost like a short devotional book for preschoolers by the way it is divided up.) First, the reader sees the same image as the cover asking, “Who is Jesus?” The next two-page spread shows pictures of a child with a problem (getting their toy taken, being laughed at, etc.) followed by a child receiving grace (having a toy shared with them, being comforted). The question-and-answer style text points out that Jesus won’t treat you in an unhappy way but in a caring way. After that, the author shares a Scripture that ties into the example. 

Take this four-page snippet for illustration: “Who is Jesus?”/ “Is he someone who yells at you when you cry?”/ “No, Jesus doesn’t yell at you when you cry. Jesus helps you blow your nose.”/ “God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble.” Psalm 46:1. 


 Each page contains only a few lines of text and is accompanied by whimsical pen and watercolor creations done by award winning illustrator Kim Sponaugle. The pictures are brightly colored, packed with delightful detail, and visually alluring. Sponaugle portrays children from a variety of cultural backgrounds.

What I Like: I love the illustrations in this book. Even if the text was terrible (which it is not) I would probably still buy the book just for the pictures. The message is sweet and somewhat subtle too. It tells us how Jesus cares for us, but shows us through images what that looks like in everyday life. (Jesus doesn’t actually share a teddy bear with a friend as the text states, but his love is shown when a teddy bear is shared with a friend.) As a teacher, I also appreciate the pattern of the book, which young children seem to enjoy.

What I Dislike: It is a little pricey.

Overall Rating: Excellent.

Age Appeal: None is listed, but I think it's best suited for the toddler/preschool group.

Publisher Info: TopNotch Press, 2014; ISBN:978-0930037154 ; Hardcover, Paperback, Kindle, 48 pgs., HC $19.95, PB $ 14.95, Kindle $14.95

Buy the hardback at Amazon.com for $17.98!
OR Buy the paperback at Amazon.com for $13.47
OR Buy the Kindle version at Amazon.com for $9.95

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!

My Kiss Won't Miss

If you’re looking for a ritual bedtime tale for youngsters, check out My Kiss Won't Miss by Lesley Dahlseng. The story starts where the day ends…with a mother tucking her beloved child in to bed for the night.

Using friendly banter, the mother in the story connects with her child quite beautifully. She makes it clear: if he runs and hides, she’ll blow a kiss, which will always find him. It’s a comforting reminder of how a parental love follows children no matter where they stray. It’s a love that’s faithful, and echoes the even more powerful, pursuing love of our Heavenly Father. To make doubly sure children understand this blessing, the tale ends with the words from Romans 8:38-39. (Nothing in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus.)

The book is written in rhyming couplets, which makes it kid friendly and memorable. Timeless illustrations by Mirela Tufan accompany the text. They are whimsical, loaded with delicate details, and tied together with a wispy dream-like thread that flows from page to page. Tufan depicts children from around the world in playful but sleepy splendor… showing the universal aspect of love.

What I Like: Everything. As a side note, Amazon states that the book won these awards:
*Gold Medal Winner of the Feathered Quill Awards
* Gold Medal Winner of the Illumination Awards
* INDIEFAB Book of the Year Finalist
* Five Star Publications Award for Best Children's Illustrated

What I Dislike: Nothing

Overall Rating: Excellent

Age Appeal: Pre-K through Kindergarten.

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Publisher Info: Whetword Press LLC, 2014; ISBN:978-0615987040 ; Hardback, 32 pgs., $17.99
This book is not available at Christianbook.com.
Buy it at Amazon.com for $13.36.

Candle Bible for Kids Board Book

Candle Bible for Kids Board Book, by Juliet David and Jo Perry, contains 10 stories from the Bible, including the story of creation, Noah, Moses, Jesus’ birth and that of the feeding of the multitudes with just five loaves and two fishes.

With the exception of two of them, each story is four pages long. The others are two pages and six pages in length, respectively.

The illustrations are bright, colorful and expressive for a younger audience.

What I Like: The stories are short and simple

What I Dislike: Although the stories are short and simple, I question the use of some of the words in the text, such as “astonished,” “wicked,” and “forever.” This book is intended for toddlers, but these words seem above their age level.

Overall Rating: Good.

Age Appeal: 3-5 years.

Publisher Info: Candle Books, 2014; ISBN: 9781781281017; Boardbook, $9.99.

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Special Info: Read our reviews of other books illustrated by Jo Perry.