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My Christmas Wish For You

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Disclosure: I received this complimentary product (My Christmas Wish For You) through Raincoast Books.  Affiliate Links will be used, thank you for your support of my blog, costs you nothing to do so.

My third Christmas book for you this year is My Christmas Wish For You. Obviously, sharing christmas books during the Christmas season is a no-brainer and it’s great to give you options!  You’ll find this is a smaller sized picture book filled with all things Christmas and a message of good cheer.   My delight is to share this one with you.  Starting with the glittery Christmas tree cover to the multicoloured doodles within, this a cheery book to share with littles. 

My Christmas Wish for you

My Christmas Wish For You

Bright images and colourful doodles fill the pages of My Christmas Wish for you by Lisa Swerling and Ralph Bazar.   Raincoast books sent me a copy for my review.  It’s a small picture book (about 8 in x 6 in) for reading with a child, or having an older child read to a sibling. The wonderfully glittery cover with a starlit Christmas Tree, undoubtely, my picture does not do it justice.

My Christmas Wish for you

Published by Chronicle Kids, your children will delight in 60 pages of good cheer and rhyming lyrics.   It should be noted that most sentences flowed off the tongue easily.  I did find some did not!

Don’t you just love those whimsical drawings?  The fun of snowmen and sledding.  Reading this with a child would bring out the stories of the snowmen (or snowdogs) I built as a child, and the fun of sledding with friends.  Oh the fun I had with my siblings!  Building snow dogs, games of fox and goose, snow forts, caroling, star gazing are just a few ideas, for instance.  The variety of Christmas activities offered provide ample opportunity to share one’s history.  

Although there is much to applaud in this small picture book.  I failed to see included was any message of faith. Activities of all sorts were included, but participating in a religious service, or performing deeds of cheer and mercy were missing. 

Should you get it?

Wanting a fun book to share some Christmas cheer with a child three to five years old?  My Christmas Wish for you will definitely fit the bill.   Lots of talking points, great illustrations, and the good cheer offered makes it a winner.   Not only do you find Christmas Cheer throughout the pages of this book, but the authors cleverly extended that message throughout the year.. 

In conclusion, if you are searching for other Christmas books for your children, you might want to consider these ones as well.  Having seasonal books to read with children provides lots of opportunities to share your heritage with the next generation.  One story lends itself to the telling of others, don’t you find? 

Behold, I Stand

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Behold, behold.

I stand at the door and knock knock.

Behold, behold.

I stand at the door and knock’

Those words from a song I learned WAY back in Sunday School came immediately to mind when I saw Miss Kate’s word prompt.   Now the question is, what will I really do with this word prompt.  Behold I Stand seems like a good place to start don’t you think?  Poetry seems to suit this thought best.

Behold I stand, text with image of fake man standing

Behold I stand

Behold, I stand.
I have the freedom to do so

The question is
will I?

Will I take firm hold
of the freedom given?

Tonight for our Advent reading
I read : “In him was life, and the life was the light of men.”

And then later
“the darkness has not overcome it“.

So I needn’t fear
I can boldly let people know

That I am a person of faith,
hubby preaches some Sundays.

I can pray before meals,
Read God’s word boldly at work.

Answer questions,
Tell people I will pray.

Helping people laugh,
Being an ear that listens.

Working to build connections
and increasing community.

Because I have the freedom
The freedom to stand.

Because God said
Behold, this is my son.

This son, I love him dearly
This boy of mine, given for you.

So behold, I stand
Not needing to fear.

And besides, what’s the worst
that can happen?

God always has my back
His son, knows MY name.

The holy spirit guides, prods,
comforts, and bonks me on the head.
(Only when needful, mind!)

So in them,
Behold I stand.

(or at least I’m
going to try harder to do so).

God’s Word for you and Me

John 1:1-3

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

Rev 3:20

Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.

Hebrews 10:23-25 

Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

John 16:33 

I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

 

The Christmas Blessing

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Disclosure: I received this complimentary product (The Christmas Blessing) through Raincoast Books.  Affiliate Links will be used, thank you for your support of my blog, costs you nothing to do so.

A unique spin on the biblical story of Christmas, The Christmas Blessing predominately focuses on the animal cast. I’ve actually struggled writing this review.  I tend to be hard on books with a specifically Christian theme as I want accuracy, while needing to understand creative liscence as well.  So let me walk you 32 page book and let you make up your own mind!  🙂 

The Christmas Blessing

The Basic Details

32 pages, produced by Source Books, written by Erin Guendelsberger.   Illustrated by Gail Yerrill in full colour on completely coloured pages.  An ARC version reviewed for Raincoast Books.  The Christmas Blessing: A One-of-a-Kind Nativity Story for Kids about the Love That Brings Us Together has been released as a hardcover book.  The audience would be children aged 4-7. 

The Christmas Blessing, looking deeper

Erin Guendelsberger presents his story in a-a-b-b rhyming verse.  This makes the story very easy to read and I found it rolled very easily off my tongue.  

Erin’s message is one of faith and inclusion.   I struggled with the star being taken out of context.  The star did NOT show Mary and Joseph were to go to have their baby.  But I appreciate the imagery of the star “rocking her baby” and then doing what God wanted and pointing out the way for “his baby”.   I struggled also with the message of inclusion being pushed into the Christmas story.  Love is love, but the God’s word and call on our lives shows the depth of what love should be. At the same time, the animals were being a bit ridiculous in their complaints about each other.  They needed to be reminded to stop fussing about and do what needed doing! 

Love, Love, LOVE the illustrations!   Gail Yerrill did an excellent job of bringing the story to life!   The details on all of the animals, the beauty of the night sky, the wonder of a baby born.  Just excellent.

To be on your shelves?

I dunno.  My hubster’s was somewhat less then impressed, my son thought the illustrating was top-notch.

Me, I’d want to change the words as I read through The Christmas Blessing, to be more reflective on the biblical story even from the animals perspective. But I’d ooh and aah over the pictures with a little one at my side.  So many talking points just looking at the pictures.  Words are just words and are easy enough to change, but pictures are worth so much eh? 

So what do you think?  Do you think it’s one that you’ll give a look at?  

All I Want for Christmas is Ewe

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Disclosure: I received this complimentary product (All I Want For Christmas is Ewe) through Raincoast Books.  Affiliate Links will be used, thank you for your support of my blog, costs you nothing to do so.

What do fox, sheep, bears and cats have in common?  They all have Christmas greetings for you!  Sometimes clever, sometimes silly, but always suitable for little ones.  I thought it was adorable…and a bit little clever… and laughingly read it to a friend of mine. 

All I want for Christmas is Ewe

The Fun of a good Christmas book

Based on the ARC I received from Raincoast books I never would have thought this was a board book!  I can totally understand it though when I read the lyrics.  They are short, sweet and rhyming.  The words fit well with the thinking ability of toddlers.  What do wolves do?  Howl.

So when we meet the wolves the verse we read is “Howl be home for Christmas, this you know is true, To hooold you close, I just adore you!”  Isn’t that a clever way of using a well known song and fitting to the right animal?  

You’ll find that cleverness to hold true for each animal on the 20 pages of this toddler focused book.  Each page hosting a rhyming couplet.  All I want for Christmas is Ewe is a very easy book to read, the words rolling off the tongue smoothly. 

Published by sourcebook kids, and written by Rose Rossner.  Illustrator Gail Yerrill does a fantastic job of bringing each set of parent/child animals to life.  Vivid, realistic colours help teach young children what each of these animals looks like.  The Christmas highlights on the prose page just add to the fun. 

Should All I want for Christmas is Ewe be yours?

If you know a toddler, or have a toddler, particularly one that likes animals… get this short read.  Have fun with it!  Laugh about the animals with their Christmas greetings.  Marvel at the love shown.  Enjoy the Christmas illustrations and simply…love on that little one.  Enjoy spending time with them.  This book is a fun, silly read… perfect for reading with a young one in your lap! 🙂 

Find other Christmas reads here. Having good books to read at Christmas is just one of the joys of the season!

Now as I’m thinking about it as I sit here I think… it might be fun to have older children see if they can figure out some of the clever twists in the lyrics. Can they figure out if the line came from a Christmas song, or how a line was changed from a popular Christmas greeting?  Might be a fun Christmasy challenge eh? 

Expectations

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I guess I shouldn’t have been surprised at today’s Five Minute Friday word being expectation.  It’s the word for the first week of Advent.  We should be in a state of expectation.  Miracles happen at Christmas, Christ was born (at least we celebrate his birth at this time of year). God’s promises continually being fulfilled.  I know the thoughts I’ve been having pushed on me this week.  Thoughts about expectations and what they mean.  Perhaps, this poem will somewhat adequately explain them?  

expectations text with christmas tree

Expectations

Sermon preached
We’re in a time of waiting
Waiting for a promise
to be fulfilled.

Just as we eagerly
wait from a bridegroom
to come.
To take up his bride.

We wait.
Our hearts, as we
wait to be filled
with Expectation.

SOMETHING will happen.
We don’t wait
just for the point
of waiting.

We wait knowing
that God, the God of history
will hold to his promises.
We wait to celebrate that.

So the question for me
This year is
what other expectations
do I have?

Can I trust that
God holds me in all things?
Can I trust that he
will guide my son?

Is my trust that
God will sustain my
Husband as he works
a hard, dangerous job?

Do I believe that God
will help me with my job,
my health, my tendency
to eat when tired?

If I believe all that
…. do I expect God to act?
Do I live as though he’s
right there waiting?

Waiting to act as
I pray out that promise?
As I look to scripture
for answers?

That thought
has been pushed at
me all week
and tonight

Tonight as I write
I think, perhaps
God pushes this thought,
so that I can push it too?

And in that pushing
find my expectations
more solidified in my life.
Living my telling.

expectations text with picture of white dog at christmas

What does God say?

2 Corinthians 9:8

And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.

Philippians 4:9

And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

Romans 8:18-21

18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. 19 For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. 20 For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.

 

The Nature of Small Birds

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Disclosure: I received this complimentary product (The Nature of Small Birds) through Nuts about Books.  Affiliate Links will be used, thank you for your support of my blog, costs you nothing to do so.

Did you know that after the Vietnam War some 3000 children from Vietnam were adopted by American families?   The Nature of Small Birds tells the story of how life might have gone for one such family. It’s not always an easy read, but it gives a glimpse of history worth knowing about.

the nature of small birds

The basic details for The Nature of Small Birds

The Nature of Small Birds has been written by Susie Finkbeiner and published by Revell books.  At 368 pages, it’s a middling book to read.   Faith is evident in the lives of the characters… seeing that in the Christian school the girls attend, and in the parents devotion to God.  They are nice Christian family trying live out their faith.   I am reviewing this book for Nuts about Books. 

From the Cover:

In 1975, three thousand children were airlifted out of Saigon to be adopted into Western homes. When one of those children announces her plans to return to Vietnam to find her birth mother, her loving adopted family is suddenly thrown back to the events surrounding her unconventional arrival in their lives.

Mindy’s father grapples with the tension between holding on tightly and letting his daughter spread her wings. Her mother undergoes the emotional roller coaster inherent in the adoption of a child from a war-torn country, discovering the joy hidden amid the difficulties. And Mindy and her sister struggle to find the strength to accept each other as they both discover who they truly are.

Told through three distinct voices in three compelling timelines, The Nature of Small Birds is a hopeful story that explores the meaning of family far beyond genetic code.

What do you get?

Three voices tell the story of The Nature of Small Birds.  We hear from Bruce, Sonny and Linda, three voices of family.  Telling the story of how family changed over the years.  Irene (mom) tells the story from 1975, Bruce (dad) from 2013,  and Sonny (daughter) from 1988.   Good characterization, though Bruce was for me, less defined than the two women. 

You’ll find the text to be an easy-to-read font and a nice size.  I had hubby check to see if he could read it without his reading glasses and he could!  🙂  Occasionally some grey-scale images of leaves break up the text. 

This book was inspired by Operation Babylift.  I pulled a video from YouTube for your convenience if you want to know a bit more about it.   It was news to me!  🙂 

What did I think?

Well, I tried, I really did.  But I could NOT get into The Nature of Small Birds.  The change of perspective all the time, short chapters, the jumping around in time periods. Since it’s not a long book thought I’d be able to zip through it on my lunch breaks at work, but found myself bogged down by the changing voices and varying timelines.  Was there value in how far I got through it?   For sure, I really wish the style had been different as I thought the story important. 

Now I did do some jumping around and it’s a heart-warming story. I loved the care and concern that this family showed for each other. Only one member of the family was difficult, but it was part of who she is.  I know that other reviewers weren’t bothered by the timeline jumping around.  So I suggest you read a few more reviews so that you can be better informed. 

I loved that I learned more about Operation BabyLift and that I gained some insight into why some adoptees struggle even if in a good home. 

Prepare Him Room

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Disclosure: I received this complimentary product (Prepare Him Room) through Nuts about Books.  Affiliate Links will be used, thank you for your support of my blog, costs you nothing to do so.

Travel through the birth, life and death of the Lord Jesus Christ during this advent season.  Susie Larson walks us through the book of Luke in her daily advent devotional entitled Prepare Him Room.  Multi-page devotions that help you think more deeply on each chapter in Luke.  Prayer and encouragement to look more to God a daily encouragement indeed. 🙂 

Prepare Him Room

Prepare Him Room is an daily advent devotional written by Susie Larson who takes us on a meditative journey through the book of Luke.  Within the pages you’ll not find short, pithy devotions. Instead you’ll find meaty articles to help you think more deeply on the birth, life and death of Christ.  Included in the readings is an encouragement to fast, to use that fasting as a time to reconnect with God.  Bethany House published this 192 page, 24-day devotional.  My review for this well made, beautiful book is for Nuts about Books. 

Digging Deeper into Prepare Him Room

There is so much to like in this devotional.  From the beauty of the cover, to how it feels in the hands, and to the lovely bookmark ribbon included.   You’ll find the font clean, the use of white space helpful, 

It’s fantastic that not only do we study our way through the book of Luke, but the Ms. Larson also includes other scriptures for the readers consideration.  Scriptures are normally taken from The New Living Translation, but The Voice, the Amplified bible, the NASB, and the NIV are also quoted. 

Most scripture is quoted fully, with the context being used as well.  Is there some cherry-picking of verses?  Yes, but that’s pretty normal in most any bible study.  I love that often context is used as well.

Occasionally text is pulled out and highlighted so one can pay special attention to it. 

You’ll also frequently find quotes included.  Some from people I recognized (like CS Lewis) and others from people I haven’t the foggiest who they are!  🙂 

Each study ends with a prayer and an encouragment to fast.  These aren’t your normal fasting options but include such things as fasting from doubt, cynicism,  worry, obligations, busyness and the like. Always, the encouragement is to give up these harmful elements and to see God more clearly.  LOOK UP!  See God, not your anger, resentment, fear etc. 

Should Prepare Him Room be on your shelves?

I’m a hard one on devotionals eh? I always expect too much from them.  But this one?  I pretty much like!   Shocking eh?  I HAVE NOT read it all the way through.  That would take 24 days and that would bring us well into Advent and really close to Christmas!  Not really in time for you to see it and decide to use it as an Advent Devotional.  

BUT I do think it would be good any time of the year.  Seriously.  This is not just an advent/Christmas devotional even if Christmas thoughts creep into many of the messages.  It’s a lets spend some time seeing Christ, through the book of Luke, devotional.  I love that the readings aren’t short, pithy things.  Instead they are 3-4 pages of thought and encouragement to see Christ more clearly, to see GOD at work!

Now, just as with all devotionals you will occasionally run into things that are assumed by the author.  For instance, the author assumes that Christ was born in a cave.  The bible doesn’t tell us that.  Some ancedotal evidence encourages that idea from history, but we don’t know for sure.  Making assumptions can change how we read the bible and interpret it’s messages.  So pay attention, just as you always have to do when reading anyone’s work. 

Prepare Him Room, a devotional that encourages us to do just that.  Prepare Christ room. Fast from the ills of this world.  Look up and see God at work, Christ living his life, dying for us.  This is a good thing to take the time to do. A good devotional, like this one, just helps us do it more easily.