“Great & Small Prayers for Babies” by B&H Kids Editorial Staff, Pamela Kennedy

Posted on September 20, 2019 by Becky

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Illustrated by Anna Abramskaya

Charming for a Little One!This darling board book by Pamela Kennedy features a surprise with every turn.  Each pair of pages in this cute little volume features a picture of an animal along with a short prayer of thankfulness.  The prayers are no more than three lines, usually two, and surrounded by a decorative indentation.  There is also a delightful extra when the prayer in the indentation folds out to reveal another picture that will be sure to bring a smile and a giggle!The prayers are simple, in an easy flowing style that will be pleasant to little ears.  For instance, one page says:

“Thanks for the birds and bumble bees.”Followed by another that says:

“Thanks for the rocks and grass and trees.”Do not think that the book’s economical price means this volume is cheaply made.  It is just the opposite, the pages are sturdy with a nice, smooth covering over them.  Even the indentations are smooth, so there are no worries about little fingers being hurt when tracing or touching this volume. The illustrations by Anna Abramskaya are adorable, making this a sweet book for a baby or small child.  I highly recommend this 5+ star book to add to your collection, or give it as a gift!

B & H Kids Publishing has provided bookreadingtic with a complimentary copy of Great & Small Prayers for Babies, for the purpose of review. I have not been compensated in any other manner. All opinions expressed are my own, and I was not required, or influenced, to give anything but an honest appraisal. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

The Author’s Website:  https://pamelakennedy.net/

 

 

 

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Harvest Time 3 Bean Salad, Gluten-Free

Posted on September 16, 2019 by Becky

 

 

 

 

 

1 can wax beans, drained

1 can green beans, drained

1 can kidney beans, drained

1 cup apple juice or cider

½ cup water

2/3 cup Swerve

½ teaspoon chopped garlic, if desired

Combine everything in a saucepan and bring to a boil.  Lower heat, and stir for 3 minutes.  Remove from heat.  Chill 3 hours or overnight, serve.

We love this salad.  It is an easy alternative to lettuce salads, and is good year round!

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“Snuggle Time Fall Blessings” by Glenys Nellist

Posted on September 10, 2019 by Becky

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Illustrated by Cee Biscoe

Fall is in the Air!

As the autumn weather gets crispy, this is an excellent time to snuggle with a little one, and this book is a perfect addition.  When you settle down with your child, you will both enjoy the ear tickling, enchanting verses that are sprinkled throughout the book’s pages.  While saying goodbye to summer, adorable illustrations show fun things about fall.  From getting out warmer clothes, to enjoying a bonfire, to the delightful colors the leaves change into, this book will cause you and your child to enjoy the marvels of this period.Autumn itself is a thankful time with Thanksgiving celebrated during this season–making this a timely tale.  But this cute board book will be fun for children throughout the year, and its nicely padded cover will feel great in little and big hands alike.This playful book is based on Psalm 9:1 “Lord I will give thanks to you with all my heart.” There are plenty of things to be gleeful about throughout the pages of this tale, leaving a smile on the faces of both the reader and the child.  You may even want to roast some marshmallows or go leaf hunting!  I highly recommend this 5+ star book to anyone who wants to enjoy this time of year. Zonderkidz and the author have provided bookreadingtic with a complimentary copy of Snuggle Time Fall Blessings for the purpose of review.   I have not been compensated in any other manner. All opinions expressed are my own, and I was not required, or influenced, to give anything but an honest appraisal.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

The Author’s Website:   https://www.glenysnellist.com/

The Author’s Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/GlenysNellistAuthor/

The Author’s Twitter:   https://twitter.com/GlenysNellist

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Hello Autumn, Goodbye Summer!

Posted on September 9, 2019 by Becky

My dad grew up on a farm that had been in his family for three generations, located in northeastern Kansas.  In addition to all the normal crops and livestock, the area was full of apple orchards.  The autumn time was special because that was when the apples were harvested, and apple products abounded.  Even though I was raised in the city, in the fall, my parents and I often traveled to dad’s old hometown along with the orchard areas.  Not only did we enjoy fresh apples, we picked out pumpkins, and sometimes got cornstalks for fall displays in our yard.

As the calendar has turned to September, fall is on its way while summer is bidding us goodbye.  My thoughts turn to the fall activities of my youth, and the fun I had with simple pleasures.  I hope you can enjoy visiting apple orchards, seeing the colorful leaves that begin to appear before our eyes, or indulge in tasty treats of the season—pumpkin pie, squash casseroles, or apple cider—to name just a few.

Whatever you do, may God bring you blessings during this wonderful time of the year!

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“NIrV Illustrated Holy Bible for Kids” from Zondervan

Posted on August 29, 2019 by Becky

The New International Reader’s Version (NIrV)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words!

Pictures, lots of pictures!  That’s what I always wanted in my children’s Bible, but there were just a tiny number.  Not so with this new one from Zondervan.  The cover promises over 750 images, and there surely are that many, some pages even feature two!  With all the colors, and fun fonts, it is a pleasure to look through this volume.  Additionally, there is a bright, hardback cover with padding, that feels good in your hands.  The pages are thicker than thin Bible ones—making it more durable for sometimes rough little fingers.  When all the pages are viewed from the side, there will be found handy, color coordinated edges that makes locating the books easier.

Since this is an introduction to the Bible for young readers, lots was done to make this easy to read and understand.  The book’s format was created just for kids, and written on a third-grade reading level.  However, I think it will be enjoyed by older ages as well.  Chapter and verse numbers, along with foot notes were left out to make the text less confusing for kids.  The fonts and pictures use lots of bright colors making this very appealing and inviting. This children’s Bible is sure to be a hit with kids, give it a try! The only change I would make would be to make the font one point bigger. I highly recommend this five-plus-star children’s Bible. 

Bible Gateway Blogger Grid has provided bookreadingtic with a complimentary copy of NIrV Illustrated Holy Bible for Kids, for the purpose of review. I have not been compensated in any other manner. All opinions expressed are my own, and I was not required, or influenced, to give anything but an honest appraisal. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

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German Apple Pork Chops, Gluten Free

Posted on August 29, 2019 by Becky

 

 

 

 

5 boneless pork chops

3 apples, peeled, cored and cut into small pieces

1 cut-up onion

1/2 quart gluten-free chicken broth

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

1 Tablespoon apple cider vinegar

1 1/2 Tablespoons Swerve, or sweetener of choice

1/4 teaspoon dried thyme

1 teaspoon chopped garlic

1/2 teaspoon McIlhenny Co. TABASCO Brand Buffalo Style Hot Sauce

1/4 cup water

1 heaping Tablespoon of cornstarch

In a large skillet over medium heat, lightly brown pork chops each side.  Add chopped onion, sauté until soft; next, add apples and sauté until soft, about 5 minutes.  Add the rest of the ingredients, and cook at least 1 hour, or longer, until the chops are very tender, and test done with a meat thermometer.  Whisk cornstarch into 1/4 cup water until mixed and well blended.  Remove pork chops.  Turn heat to low, and whisk cornstarch mixture into skillet.  Once it is thoroughly blended, add pork chops back into skillet, making sure they are all covered with sauce.   Cover and turn off heat, keeping skillet on hot burner, and let sit 5 minutes.  Serve. 

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“The Great Lemonade Stand Standoff” by Art Rainer

Posted on August 27, 2019 by Becky

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Making Lemonade from Life’s Lemons!

Life changes when three friends Jake, Sophia and Brody, sniff a bad smell at school.  Through the mysterious Agent G. B., they discover they are in danger of being taken over by the Albatross and turned into Albies.  Besides being selfish and not wanting to help others, Albies also smell bad!  The three friends can save themselves if they become secret agents and complete a mission to help their classmate, Drew, before the Albies get him.

This spy tale will tickle children’s imaginations with lots of action including the secret world at the end of the rocket slide, along with the many ways the Albies try to stop the mission from being successful.

In addition to being a cute story, this book also teaches money management using the principles of Give, Save, and Live–all on a child’s level.  Questions at the end of the volume help kids think about real life ways to put these ideas to work.  On his blog,  https://www.artrainer.com/the author has lots of great information about this topic for children and adults alike.

This is book one in the Secret Slide Money Club series, with more adventures, and lessons to learn in upcoming stories—all from a Christian point of view.  This 5-star story would be enjoyed by children who can read through tweens.

B & H Kids Publishing has provided bookreadingtic with a complimentary copy of The Great Lemonade Stand Standoff, for the purpose of review. I have not been compensated in any other manner. All opinions expressed are my own, and I was not required, or influenced, to give anything but an honest appraisal. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

The Author’s Blog:  https://www.artrainer.com/?fbclid=IwAR1BJBdPdhsGhFZU0_OoukMgLrmkGdilQMzRrB8CKS9JA4M_T95FMwkL1_A

The Author’s Twitter:  https://twitter.com/ArtRainer

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“King’s Shadow” by Angela Hunt

Posted on August 17, 2019 by Becky

Watch your Back!

Salome was the only sister of King Herod, and lived with him in his Jerusalem palace.  Despite Herod ruling with an iron fist, Salome was his biggest fan.  She constantly rationalized his bad behavior saying it was the result of his people not appreciating, and loving their king.  Zara, who lost both parents because of their part in an uprising against Herod, becomes Salome’s handmaid—at the tender age of nine!

Although Herod is remembered as a brute, the author humanizes him, and shows him as a misunderstood ruler, at least in Salome’s eyes.  But his story cannot be told without the inclusion the many murders he was responsible for, including a number of his family members.

Zara was the one bright light in this tale.  She serves Salome well, without blaming her for the loss of her family.  Eventually, she meets Ravid whose teachings bring her closer to God, HaShem.  Other than the time she spent supporting Herod, Salome was a very self-centered individual.

Herod was a troubled person who lived a disturbing life, which was the over-riding theme of this story.  That shines through no matter how human the book tries to present him, even if that was his sister’s opinion.  Biblical history fans will enjoy the thorny story in this 4-star book.

Bethany House Publishing has provided bookreadingtic with a complimentary copy of King’s Shadow for the purpose of review.   I have not been compensated in any other manner. All opinions expressed are my own, and I was not required, or influenced, to give anything but an honest appraisal.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

The Author’s Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/angela.e.hunt

The Author’s Website:  https://www.angelahuntbooks.com

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“The Most Important Stories of the Bible” by Christopher D. Hudson & Stan Campbell

Posted on August 16, 2019 by Becky

A Quick Walk Through Biblical Stories

Explore seventy-five stories in the Bible starting at the beginning in Genesis, moving throughout both testaments, and ending with the book of Revelation.  The authors give their summary of each account, calling it the “essential story.”  That is followed by the “essential truth” which condenses the story into a couple of lines that contain the most important point.  Each narrative is only a couple of pages, so it can easily be read in a short time.

Use this book as a tool to examine events in the Bible.  This volume is divided into six sections such as:  Beginnings, Stories of Jesus, and Stories of the Early Church.  However, this is not an actual Bible, but Biblical stories as seen through the lens of the two authors.  Although both men have written a variety of books about the Bible, their work is still their own interpretation of the scriptures.  It is always a good idea to go to the Bible to read what God himself says–whether it is about this book, or about someone else’s ideas–to check things out for yourself.  This 5-star book is recommended to those who want another person’s perspective of  the meaning of Biblical scriptures.Bethany House Publishing has provided bookreadingtic with a complimentary copy of The Most Important Stories of the Bible for the purpose of review.   I have not been compensated in any other manner. All opinions expressed are my own, and I was not required, or influenced, to give anything but an honest appraisal.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

The Author’s Website:  http://www.readengageapply.com/search?q=the+most+important+stories+of+the+Bible

The Author’s Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/Christopher.D.Hudson.books

The Author’s Twitter:  https://twitter.com/ReadEngageApply

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“Wherever You Go” by Tracie Peterson

Posted on August 14, 2019 by Becky

On with the Show!

Mary, Lizzie, and Ella are stars in the all-woman Wild West Show that tours the country in 1901.  But their jobs aren’t the only wild things they are a part of.

Mary’s life has been meaningless ever since the murder of her brother, which continues to go unsolved.  But now a mysterious reporter, Christopher, may help solve the crime, and heal her heart in more ways than one.

A deluded man becomes obsessed with Lizzie, and must have her for his wife.  Even though she tells him she doesn’t love him, he chases her across two continents, and will stop at nothing to force her to marry him.

Ella is constantly looking over her shoulder to see if her murderous father, along with her dangerous former fiancé, have caught up with her.  Her life has no peace while she hopes to stay hidden within the show.

This action packed, fast-moving tale reaches out and grabs your attention from the beginning.  It is done with a clean story-line, and characters who want to follow Christ with their lives—but aren’t always perfect.

Wherever You Go is the second installment in the Brookstone Brides series.  This story can be understood on its own, but the yarn would be richer reading the first episode.  Not all the questions were solved in this tale, leaving the third book with plenty of things to answer.  This 5-star book would be enjoyed by those liking tales of the Wild West, mystery or romance.

Bethany House Publishing through NetGalley has provided bookreadingtic with a complimentary copy of Wherever You Go, for the purpose of review.   I have not been compensated in any other manner. All opinions expressed are my own, and I was not required, or influenced, to give anything but an honest appraisal.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

The Author’s Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/TraciePetersonAuthor/?ref=ts

The Author’s Information:  https://www.amazon.com/gp/entity/Tracie-Peterson/B001I9W8WK

The Author’s Website:  https://traciepetersonbooks.com/

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