Princess with a Purpose by Kelly Chapman

Princess with a Purpose by Kelly Chapman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

MY REVIEW:

It is pink with sparkly poke-a-dots and that alone will get any girl's attention! But as you turn the pages it captures the heart of any little girl as it tells them how they CAN be a princess.

I read this story to my 5 and 7 year old daughters who loved the expressive pictures and the allure of learning how to be a princess. The story line was cute and easy for them to understand. They enjoyed the pictures and descriptions of all the "princess things" and I enjoyed how it gave the message that being a princess is all about being a child of God.

This book is targeted at girls ages 3 to 8. However, the pictures are great for the younger ages and the actual story line (wording) is more for the older end of that age range. I would say it's best for 5 and 6 year-olds and any siblings that fall in and around that age group. Also, the main character lives with her Grandma and has no parents in her life and so this book lends it's self to being even better when used with girls in that type of setting - although any girl will enjoy this book.

BOOK OVERVIEW:

“You became a real princess the moment you prayed and asked Jesus to live in your heart. And since He is the King of Kings and you are His daughter, that makes you His princess.”

Princess with a Purpose is all about finding true identity in Christ. It all began when Kelly Chapman’s daughter, Kendall, then four years old, asked, “Mommy, when I grow up I want to be a princess. Where do I go to be one? Do I go to Mickey Land?” Those words sparked a passion in Kelly’s heart for little girls and women of all ages. In Princess with a Purpose, readers will discover that, as daughters of the King, they truly are God’s princesses. A sweet and simple story, followed by a princess prayer, gives even the littlest reader a royal feeling of being part of the family of God.

For ages 3 to 8

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This review copy was provided courtesy of Harvest House Publishers but the opinions expressed are strictly my own.

Classic Stories for a Girl’s Heart

Classic Stories for a Girl's Heart: Anne of Green Gables, Little Women, The Secret Garden by L.M. Montgomery
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

MY REVIEW:

These audio books will provide you and your daughters (or sons!) hours of entertainment!

I love these 3 stories - Little Women, The Secret Garden, & Anne of Green Gables - and the way that they are brought to life while staying true to the books. The drama is high quality with various voices and real-life background noise that makes you feel like you are really there. These CDs are a great way to introduce your children to classic books at an early age or enjoy them as family entertainment.

I highly recommend them to anyone with girls ages 5 and up.

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This book gets awarded with the To Read, Or Not To Read badge of distinction  - Best Of The Best Badge! - for the fact that because it is so good, it has been added to Mandy’s bookshelf!

Katy’s New World by Kim Vogel Sawyer

Katy's New World by Kim Vogel Sawyer

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

BOOK OVERVIEW:

Katy's New World is about a Mennonite girl who longs to continue her education past the tradition of 9th grade. She receives the permission of the church elders to do so, but the bigger question is will she be able to balance the two worlds?

MY REVIEW:

The author, Kim Vogel Sawyer, has written a contemporary story of a teen girl caught in the middle of two very different worlds. Or are they really that different?

I enjoyed the simple storyline that explored the differences, and yet the similarities, of life between the "worldly people" and the Mennonite community. The characters are easy to relate to and are dealing with ordinary problems that a teen girl faces. It's an easy-to-follow plot that holds a few unexpected twists and turns and is full of obvious and underlying lessons. I appreciated the way the Sawyer dealt with the reality of trying to fit in and other harder topics in a manner appropriate for teen girls to be reading. This book will not only be a light and enjoyable read, but also one that encourages and teaches through it's entertainment.

It's a book I would let my daughter read without hesitation and a series I look forward to following.

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This review copy was provided courtesy of Zondervan. The opinions expressed in this review are honest and strictly those of Mandy and no compensation was made in any way.

Love Your Heart by Tim McGraw

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

"But most of all, I love your heart." is Daddy's response to Katie's selfless act of helping her friend at the school talent show.

This is the second book by Tim McGraw about Katie, her Dad, and her dog named Palio. The illustrations are sweet and the story is tender with a Father's love and a young girl's desire to make her Daddy proud. I like this book even better than the first one because of it's simple, yet important message. I appreciate the encouragement that this story offers young girls and the picture of the un-conditional love of a father. Most importantly I like the way this story promotes being kind to friends even at the cost of personal sacrifice.

Love Your Heart is a wonderful book for any little girl ages 4 to 8.

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This review book was provided courtesy of BookSneeze.com.

God’s Little Princess Devotional Bible by Sheila Walsh

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

What girls doesn't like to be a princess at least at some point in her life? Now little girls can read how to be a princess in Sheila Walsh's God's Little Princess Devotional Bible. Little girls - specifically 4 through 7 - will love this book and moms will enjoy reading it to their little princesses!

It's jeweled cover makes a little girl gravitate toward it and inside each page is filled with either a devotional thought or one of the neat little features.

My daughters loved the Bible stories, the fun illustrations, and easy-to-do activities. We especially enjoyed the sections titled beauty tips and how it creatively teaches little girls to be beautiful in God's eyes over outer beauty.

This devotional Bible is a great addition to the bookshelf of any little girl and would be a great birthday gift.

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This review copy was provided courtesy of BookSneeze.com

My Little Girl by Tim McGraw

My Little Girl by Tim McGraw

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Katie is looking forward to a spectacular day with her Dad. When her Dad announces that they aren't going to do anything in particular, Katie thinks the day is ruined. But is it really?

This short story for girls, ages 4 to 8, is all about a Father/Daughter day and the fun of just being together. The illustrations are adorable and make it all the more fun to read.

It was created to be read by a Dad to his daughter, but it can be read any old time just as well. However, I would not give this book to a girl who does not have a father present in her life.

The special dedication page and the closing page where you can write about your own special Father/Daughter time is a nice touch to make this a very sweet book to give to very sweet girl in your life.

I do have one question about this book…who names their dog Palio?

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For Girls Only! Devotions

For Girls Only! Devotions by Carolyn Larsen

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

For Girls Only! is a devotional book that will not only grab a girls attention but grab her heart, too. It has two months worth of materials for young girls to read, apply, and dig into.

Each day has a devotional story based on a few verses. Then it's followed by a "Check-up Time", "Things To Do", and "Things To Remember". Relevant topics are addressed in an easy-to-understand format for 8-12 year old girls.

My only caution is that the book could be slightly too old for the younger end of the suggested age range, (8-12), depending on their maturity level and social settings.

Why not give a girl in your life a book that is good for them and very cool, too?!

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Thank you to Tyndale House Publishers the complimentary review copy of this book.