A Young Man’s Guide to Making Right Choices

A Young Man's Guide to Making Right Choices: Your Life God's Way by Jim George
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

MY REVIEW:

Fresh. Challenging.

Elizabeth George has been encouraging and challenging women for years and now we get great resources from her husband to use with our sons. Just like the teen girl's series, this book for teen boys is Biblical and applicable. It walks a guy through making decisions about sleep, reading God's Word, how to treat family, clothing, speech, and more. Each chapter is interactive and sends you to God's Word to find the final answer rather than just relying on a man's opinion.

I like the down to earth approach of this book. It meets teen guys where they are rather than expect them to get things together before they pursue growing in their walk with Christ. I personally think this book has a lot of appeal for young men, too, because it's not just reading - it's interactive with questions and things to do now to apply what they are reading. While this book is probably targeted for teens between 14 and 17, I think any teen boy from 7th through 12th grade will benefit from this book. It is great for individual use but also perfect for mentoring or Bible study groups. It is easy to use and relevant to today's teens. And what makes it even better is that you could split guys and girls and to the girls study on choices with the girls while the guys go through this book!

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This ARC copy was provided by Harvest House but the opinion expressed is strictly my own.

Chasing Elephants by Brent Crowe

Chasing Elephants by BRENT CROWE
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

MY REVIEW:

Challenging. Convicting. Thought-provoking. Freeing. Beneficial. Implemental.

The intriguing title and cover are the first things to draw you into an intense, yet exhilarating probe of our freedom in Christ in the so-called gray areas of life. Brent has done a fabulous job at writing a book that sticks to the point, isn't full of big words and hard to grasp ideas, and stays true to the Word of God. In the first few chapters He presents the ground work of our freedom in Christ and in the last chapters he provides examples and "case studies" of what it all looks like fleshed out. In chapter five He presents sixteen questions as tools to aid you in establishing your freedom in Christ in gray areas.

Overall I really liked and appreciated this book. It's a comprehensive, yet simple and straight-forward book that the average person can both understand and enjoy. I was reading it in review before our teens in youth group begin to read it as part of this year's selected reading and while I think it's a great book, I do think it's possibly a little on the older side for some teens. However, that said, I still encourage them to at least try to read it as it does get easier as you go along. Brent has taken a hard issue and made it manageable - like eating an elephant one bite at a time! - and so I highly recommend teens and adults read this book and that parents work through it with their teenagers for maximum impact. It doesn't hold "all the answers" but it does give you food for thought that will help you think through gray issues using Scripture as your guide.

Christmas Gifts That Won’t Break by James Moore

Christmas Gifts That Won't Break by James Moore
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

MY REVIEW:

Christmas Gifts That Won't Break is a unique way to celebrate Christmas! This 4-week Advent study is fully equipped and loaded with resources, teacher aids, and class activities to keep any class room busy as they learn about God's gifts to us.

I liked how all the material - games, crafts, lesson, etc - is in one neat little book. And there is so much material you may not actually get to use it all! This book is brimming with great ways to drive home the truth of God's love to young children of all ages. The material is applicable and/or adaptable for ages 2 through 12 and would be a great special Sunday School series or Children's Church series.

BOOK OVERVIEW:

This study explores how the gifts of the Advent season have a permanence that speaks to generations of children past, present, and future. Everything you need to implement this study for children is self-contained in this single resource. No additional student books are required.

What are the Christmas gifts that won’t break? They are those gifts that cannot be lost, that never go out of style, and that are independent of the chances and changes of life. They are the gifts that have been graciously given by God.

Designed to be used in conjunction with the Adult and Youth versions in an all-church Advent study, this study will focus on four of those gifts that also coincide with the four outer candles of the traditional Advent wreath:

* Hope
* Love
* Joy
* Peace

During these 4-week studies, children will receive from God and pass on to others “Christmas Gifts That Won’t Break!”

DETAILS:

Published by: Abingdon Press
ISBN: 9781426708282
Price: $12.95

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This review copy was provided courtesy of Abingdon Press but the opinion expressed is my own.

Bible Stories For Growing Kids by Francine Rivers & Shannon Rivers Coibion

Bible Stories for Growing Kids by Francine Rivers

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

MY REVIEW:

Excellent!

I'm not even sure if this word is adequate enough to describe my thoughts on this audio book. It is one of the best resources for 4 to 8 year olds I have reviewed.

First of all I love how they tell Bible accounts in a short format with a flair that stays true to the Bible but also makes it come alive. Then they follow up each story with personal application in the "Growing Time" section. Not only are kids learning about well-known and not-so-well-known Bible characters, they are learning how the Word of God effects their own lives.

I can't wait to have my children enjoy this audio book with fantastic narration while they drift to sleep each night. This is a must have for every home with children!   You can listen to a sample by clicking here.

BOOK OVERVIEW:

From this gifted mother-daughter team of Francine Rivers and Shannon Rivers Coibion come the Bible stories youll want to share with the growing kids in your life. Meet thirty important people from the Old and New testaments - some of them famous Bible figures like Abraham and Paul, and others unsung heroes like Amos and Priscilla. The stories will capture kids hearts and minds, and the "Growing Time" sections will help them apply the lessons of each story so they can live for God today!

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This review copy was provided courtesy of Oasis Audio and all opinions expressed are my own.

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You can support To Read, Or Not To Read by purchasing your own copy through my Amazon Affiliate link below.

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These 5 books are awarded with the To Read, Or Not To Read badge of distinction  - Best Of The Best - for the fact that because they are so good, they have been added to Mandy’s bookshelf!

A Salute To Service by Mike Radford {GIVEAWAY}

A Salute to Service: The Rebirth of Patriotism by Mike Radford

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

MY REVIEW:

A Salute To Service is a wonderful book in which Mike Radford shares his passion for patriotism. He talks about his Hall of Heroes project and shares how you can start one, too. But this book is not a "how-to guide", it's a compilation of stories that will inspire you, encourage you, move you to tears, bring you to laughter.

You will read about the American G.I., teachers who truly taught, what a real patriot is, old-fashioned values that are really not old-fashioned, and so much more. This book will remind you of America's roots and why it's so great to live in the good ol' USA!

Reading A Salute to Service would be a great way to celebrate the 4th of July. It will remind you to be thankful for the things we so easily take for granted. This book would be a great one to keep on the shelf to browse through every so often, or to leave on your coffee table for guest to be encouraged by, or to give to a veteran as a small token of gratitude for their service.

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This review copy was provided courtesy of New Leaf Publishing, but the opinions stated are strictly that of my own.

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GIVEAWAY

In honor of the men and women who have fought to pay the price of freedom for my family and I, I want to thank someone who has served by making this giveaway for past and present servicemen and women only. 

Please leave a comment and I will draw a winner on July 13th.

Raising A Modern-Day Princess by Pam Farrel

Raising a Modern-Day Princess by Pam Farrel

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

MY REVIEW:

If you are a Mom, Grandma, Aunt, or an influential woman in the life of any girl you will not only appreciate this book, but benefit greatly from it, too. Pam Farrel and Doreen Hanna have written a book that will encourage you in your relationship with your daughter(s) as well as walk you through many things we want to do, but just don't know how to do. Most of us want to inspire our daughters and breath purpose into their lives and Raising A Modern-Day Princess is the guide to help you do just that.

I appreciated the combination of personal stories and insight that Farrel and Hanna shared along with all the simple and practical tips on how to raise a modern-day princess in a world that wants just the opposite for them. The book is easy to read and offers huge amounts of creative ideas for you to glean from.

The focus of this book is on teaching young girls about becoming godly young women. My favorite part of all that was shared was the idea of intentionally choosing mentors, along with your daughter, to mentor her. There is a treasure trove of information in this book to help you at whatever place in life you are at. Not everything will be for everyone, but I doubt anyone could walk away without gleaning something.

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This review copy was provided by Tyndale House Publishers and the opinions expressed our strictly my own

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Leonard’s Biblical Chronological Chart

Leonard's Biblical Chronological Chart by C. W. Leonard

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

MY REVIEW:

Don't judge this book by it's cover! It's hiding a treasure inside - a 29" x 34" detailed chronological chart of the Bible.

This beautiful chart folds up neatly into a book for easy and safe storage on your bookshelf. The chart is an incredibly detailed reference tool that gives you the chronological order of the Bible, Old Testament genealogy, and many more facts. The chart is so beautiful to look at in it's original 1860 format that part of me wanted to hang it up. However, being able to neatly fold and store it in book format is certainly handy. The only downside is that it did not fold back up quite as compact as it was before I opened it. It would have been nice to have "folding-up" directions shown on the inside cover!

I recommend this unique chart to any person who is intent on studying the Word of God. Every detail on this chart is important and pertains to the overall goal of explaining the Bible in it's chronological order.

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This review copy was provided courtesy of New Leaf Publishing Group and the opinions expressed are purely my own.

Big Thoughts For Little Thinkers by Joey Allen

Big Thoughts For Little Thinkers: The Scripture by Joey Allen

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

MY REVIEW

This series - Big Thoughts For Little Thinkers is excellent! These small little books are cute and easy to understand for young children all the while dealing with "deep" concepts.

These 4 books talk about and explain The Scripture, The Mission, The Gospel, and The Trinity at a child's level. Each book is "narrated" by a character who introduces their self to you at the beginning of the book in way that gets your child's attention.

I really enjoyed how easy it was for my kids to relate to the characters in the books and understand hard things. The book on The Gospel was my favorite, but all of them were very good and biblicaly sound. I read them to my 3, 5, & 6-year-old children and each of them were able to understand at appropriate levels.

Every home should have a set of these on their shelves!

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Thanks to New Leaf Press for the courtesy review copies.

The NEW Moody Atlas of the Bible

The New Moody Atlas of the Bible by Barry J. Beitzel

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

MY REVIEW:

One of the best gifts you can give a graduate is an investment into their future. What better way to invest in their future than through giving them a resource that will last them a lifetime?!

The NEW Moody Atlas of the Bible is that resource.

This book is more than just a glorified book of maps found in the back of your Bible, it's full of current, full-color photos of sites and ruins from the Bible times. It also contains written history and explanation of the maps, pictures, and charts shown.

Technically it has 2 chapters, but each of them are broken into short sections on a specific time, event, or place. The Scriptural Index as well as the General Index make it easy to use and a wonderful addition to any Bible study of any depth. This atlas is a colorful guide to understanding the Bible in ways you have not understood it before and will be a book you refer to over and over again.

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This post is sponsored by Moody Publishing & Zondervan Publishing.

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GIVEAWAY!!

Leave a comment on any of the Graduation Gift posts to be entered to win not one…but TWO DVD Bible Studies by Andy Stanley!

MORE GRADUATION GIFT IDEAS:

• Five Things God Uses to Grow Your Faith {Giveaway!} (readornotread.blogspot.com)
• Faith, Hope, & Luck by Andy Stanley (readornotread.blogspot.com)
• Great Graduate Gifts for 2010 (readornotread.blogspot.com)

Frank and Beans and S’More Trouble by Kathy-Jo Wargin

   Frank and Beans and S'More Trouble by Kathy-Jo Wargin

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

MY REVIEW:

Frank and Beans and S'More Trouble is a wonderful book for a first-grader to read with just a little help from an adult. Not only is it perfect for their reading level, but it's story is funny, age-appropriate, and has a great bible-based lesson, too. My 6-year-old daughter, who is an average reader, read it with only a little bit of help and she really enjoyed the story that taught patience as well as reading skills. I greatly appreciated the fact that it was more than just a lesson for pure academic growth and that she could learn about something that a 6-year-old struggles with a lot. This is a great "I Can Read!" book!

 

Frank and Beans by Kathy-Jo Wargin

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

MY REVIEW:

Frank and Beans is a wonderful beginner reader for 5 to 7 year olds that not only will teach them to read, but help them to learn some important lessons as well.

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Thanks to Zonderkids for providing the courtesy review copy.

The Grouchy Ladybug by Eric Carle

The Grouchy Ladybug by Eric Carle

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

MY REVIEW:

The Grouchy Ladybug is the story of a ladybug who is very grouchy. So grouchy that he is ready to pick a fight with everyone he comes upon. That is until he realized just how big they are!

I liked this cute little story because of it's fun storyline and unique way of teaching time to children. On each hour the ladybug meets someone else and the story tells what time it is while showing a traditional clock in the top of the page. There are also some neat features like a whale's tale page that make this an attention capturing book for kids.

This would be a good book to use as a teaching tool as well as for some cute and colorful entertainment.

Willie and the All-Stars by Floyd Cooper

Willie and the All-Stars by Floyd Cooper

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

MY REVIEW:

This is a great kids story and history lesson all wrapped up into one book. I liked the way it talked about issues of race from the perspective of a kid and without making it into a big deal. It did a good job of talking about the problem of separation without going to deep and getting too emotionally charged for kids to understand. The kids and I enjoyed both the story as well as the illustrations.

START HERE by Alex & Brett Harris

{This is a longer review…but stick with me for a video clip AND a giveaway copy!}

Start Here: Doing Hard Things Right Where You Are by Alex Harris

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

BOOK OVERVIEW:

At the age of eighteen, Alex and Brett Harris wrote Do Hard Things—and launched a movement that would change a generation. Young people around the world were ready to be inspired, ready to move beyond complacency, ready to rebel against society’s low expectations.

Now the highly anticipated companion book, Start Here, answers the questions Alex and Brett have received from thousands of teens on their worldwide conference tour and popular online community: How do I get started? What hard things does God want me to do? How do I keep from getting discouraged or burned out? What is the best way to inspire others?

Filled with stories and insights from Alex, Brett, and other real-life rebelutionaries, Start Here is a powerful and practical guide for young people who are ready to take the next step and blast past apathy. Let the rebelution continue.

MY THOUGHTS:

Start Here is the practical application to Alex and Brett's previous book, Do Hard Things, but it also stands alone by being an encouragement and inspiration in and of it's self. Some of the things that I really like about this book are:

1. I especially appreciate how Alex and Brett encourage teens to handle things when the authority in their life is not supportive of the hard thing they want to do.
2. They directly talk about how to handle the affirmation after doing a hard thing and how to battle pride that we ALL face.
3. The whole section on our schedules and how busyness is not always (most often not!) being fruitful. I really liked how they deal head-on with this issue and not just by personal experience but also with the wisdom of other godly men.
4. Their challenge to do the matters of importance first was wonderfully written and convicting. Brett and Alex explained the problem clearly and compassionately.
5. EVERYTHING about this book!!!

Start Here is a book that, in my opinion, should be read by every Christian teen, youth leader, and parent. It not only tells, but shows, how to live a Biblical based life doing hard things for the glory of God

AUTHOR BIO:

Alex and Brett Harris are the coauthors of the best-selling book Do Hard Things, which they wrote at age eighteen. Today the twins speak regularly to audiences of thousands on The Rebelution Tour, maintain a hugely popular online presence through their blog, TheRebelution.com, and have been featured on CNN, MSNBC, NPR, and in the New York Times. Raised in Portland , Oregon , the brothers currently attend Patrick Henry College in Virginia .

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This review copy was provided courtesy of WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group

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I have one copy of this book to giveaway!

Here is what you need to do:

Leave a comment on my blog about why you would like to read this book.  A winner will be drawn on March 20, 2010 using Random.org.

101 Hymn Stories by Kenneth Osbeck

101 Hymn Stories by Kenneth Osbeck

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

We have all sung the great hymns of our faith such as Amazing Grace, A Mighty Fortress, Rock Of Ages, and Fairest Lord Jesus, and have come to cherish them and their impact on our lives. Yet, often we do not know the story behind the hymns and how God worked to bring these songs to us.

This collection of 101 stories behind the hymns of our faith is a wonderful source of encouragement and inspiration as well as a wonderful reminder of the sacrifices made by many a man, woman, family, for the sake of the Gospel. While meant for adults primarily, this book on audio would be a great resource for parents to use with their children. In the day where hymns seem out of date to the younger generations, these stories will revive one's appreciation for these old songs.

The audio version is a wonderful mix of story, lyrics, and music to make it a well rounded presentation.

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This review copy was provided courtesy of Oasis Audio.

Reading Together by Diane W. Frankenstein

Reading Together: Everything You Need to Know to Raise a Child Who Loves to Read by Diane W. Frankenstein

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Do you want to raise a child who not only reads, but likes to read? Maybe even loves to read? Reading Together is a wonderful book to help you with "everything you need to know to raise a child who loves to read".

Diane writes about 101 books that kids will want to read and talk about. Each two-page spread features a book and gives a short synopsis, interactive questions to talk through with your children, a list of other books to read, and several other informative helps. In the back of the book she lists more books by a fun variety of categories and also includes a discussion list by topic.

For me personally, I am not sure that all of the listed books will be books I choose to read to my kids, but it definitely helps me more discerning choices and then make the most of them through interaction. I found this book to be very easy to use and a great resource to have on hand and even take to the library, too!

ISBN: 978-0-399-53524-6
Details: Soft cover, 279 pages
Published by: Penguin

Raising Real Men: Surviving, Teaching, & Appreciating Boys by Hal & Melanie Young

Raising Real Men: Surviving, Teaching and Appreciating Boys by Hal Young

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Biblical, amazing, real, fresh, practical, helpful, encouraging...

These are just a few of the words I would use to describe this newly released book for parents of boys. Raising Real Men is written by Hal and Melanie Young who are parents of 8 children, the oldest 6 being boys. The daunting task of raising little boys into God-fearing men is more of an exciting adventure than a frustrating duty as shown in the pages of this book.

Hal and Melanie talk about the difference between boys and girls and give practical tips of how parents, Moms in particular, can raise boys to be strong and real men with out going crazy through the process. They address such issues as:

• boys and their play,
• the need for good heroes,
• when to comfort and when to encourage boys,
• responsibility and freedom,
• guns and weapons,
• obedience and authority,
• healthy competition,
• manners,
• finances,
• education and college,
• and the topic we like to avoid and blushingly call "the birds and the bees".

All the issues and topics in this book are approached with a Biblical mindset and their thoughts and convictions are well written out and shared with the reader in a kind and friend-to-friend manner. While Raising Real Men is also written from the view of a homeschooling family, I found all the concepts still applicable to those of us not homeschooling our children and those of us with smaller families or fewer boys. I know that not everyone who reads this book will agree with all of what the Youngs share, but I do think it is a book well worth any parent's time due to the thoughtful and thorough nature of the contents.

I personally give this book 5 stars, not because it is the most well written book I have ever read, but because it is one of the very few Biblical, honest, and refreshing parenting books I have ever read. While Hal and Melanie share openly about where they stand, they do not come across as forcing their beliefs down the throats of their readers nor do they overdose on tips and how-to's that can differ so much from family to family. Instead, I felt as if I were sitting in their living room, chatting with them as a couple about the journey of parenting boys.

My book is well highlighted, underlined, starred, and dog-eared. I appreciated much about each chapter, but my favorite chapter was titled "Love and War". In this chapter the did a tremendous job of talking about raising boys to be pure - from birth to marriage. They handled this topic with such dignity and respect all the while being open and honest. I was impressed with their approach in teaching their boys about the differences between boys and girls and how to handle specific situations dealing with this general subject.

As a parent of three children, wife of a pastor, and an avid reader and learner, I want to encourage all parents to read this book. Even if your husband won't read it, I still highly suggest mothers read it to get a better understanding on boys in general that Hal and Melanie so wonderfully explain. And if you happen to be a homeschooling parent, I recommend this book to you even more highly!

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I want to thank Hal & Melanie Young for the copies to review and giveaway.

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AUTHOR BIO:

Fresh from a state tax audit to prove that yes, they're all ours, Hal and Melanie Young are parents of six real boys and two real girls. They have homeschooled through seven high-risk pregnancies, three re-locations, two decades, and 181 degrees of longitude. Hal and Melanie have published articles with Homeschooling Today, Homeschool Digest, the N.C. Family Policy Council, the John Locke Foundation, and the Heartland Institute. The Youngs live in noisy familial bliss in North Carolina.  You can visit their website/blog at http://www.raisingrealmen.com/

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Bibliographic Information:

Title: Raising Real Men: Surviving, Teaching, And Appreciating Boys
Authors: Hal & Melanie Young
Publisher: Great Waters Press
Format: 256 pages, 6x9 inches, trade paperback
Publication Date: January 29, 2010
ISBN: 978-0-9841443-0-3
LCCN: 2009908989
Retail Price: $15.00

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GIVEAWAY!

Please visit my personal blog – From The Trenches Of Motherhood – on January 4th through 6th to enter a drawing to win a copy of this book.

If you have a boy, THIS is a book you NEED!

Corrie ten Boom: Are All Of The Watches Safe? by Catherine Mackenzie

Corrie ten Boom: Are All of the Watches Safe? by Catherine Mackenzie

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

In a world where the heroes that kids look up to are falling all around us, it is important to give them some heroes of the faith to pattern their lives after. Are All Of The Watches Safe? is book 3 in a 6 book series of biographies written for young children ages 4 through 7.

This book about the life of Corrie ten Boom is a shortened version of her full story with the focus on God's ability to watch over His children. It begins with Corrie as a little girl learning about God and ends with her teaching others about God after the war had ended.

I liked being able to introduce my children to a woman of faith in simple terms that allowed them to understand she went through being in prison without scaring them. There is no need to wait to share Corrie's story with them, they can begin to learn about her now!

The simple phrases and illustrations are just right for reading to young children or for 6+ year-olds to read alone.

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I review more biographies here!

Big Thoughts For Little People

Big Thoughts for Little People: ABC's to Help You Grow by Kenneth N. Taylor

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I really like this book!

If you read my reviews you know that I don't often begin with that statement. In fact my average rating is only a 3.34 and that is on books that I have deemed "worthy" of my reading time!

I wasn't sure what to expect when I sent for this book through Tyndale's Blogger Review program, but it has exceeded my expectations. Each spread starts with a letter of the alphabet and then a short Biblical concept follows along with a verse and some brief narration. The second page in the spread is a bright picture full of action for kids to enjoy looking at.

I like how this book can be well used with a variety of ages in a mixed group. I have a 6, 4, & 2 year old and each one can enjoy this book. My 6 year old gets most of it and my 2 year old grasps bits and pieces with my 4 year old falling in the middle of that.

Both Kenneth N. Taylor and Andrea Petrlik Huseinovic have used their talent and abilities to give us parents, and grandparents, a wonderful bed time, or anytime, book to use in the nurturing of our children in the Word of God.

The questions on each page my challenge not only your children, but your own heart as well.

Enjoy!

At Gettysburg

At Gettysburg: Or What a Girl Saw and Heard at the Battle by Tillie Pierce Alleman

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This small book serves in a big way to show us what it would have been like to have been living in Gettysburg on July 1st through 3rd of 1863. Tillie's account of the events is tragic and sad, yet it is a good thing to read to cultivate a heart of appreciation not only for the soldiers that fought for our freedom, but also for the townsfolk who sacrafices so much for us, too.

You can read this little black book in an afternoon and I highly recommend you doing so to get a short, but personal, glimpse into the battle of Gettysburg.

The Penny Doll

The Penny Doll by Jennifer Hennings

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The sweet story of a little girl who buys a rag doll at the flea market. Then while doing a chore for her Mom she comes across a diary that reveals a whole lot more about the little rag doll than she ever imagined. A wonderfuls story that connects young girls to history of the Civil War.