A Net in Time

Curriculum and book reviews, faith, homeschooling and more!

Reviews

Roar Like a Lion

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Many thanks to Thomas Nelson for providing this product/product information (Roar Like a Lion) for review.  Opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation.  I did receive the product in exchange for this review and post.  Affliate links will be used in this review, no cost to you but it encourages me in my blogging.  🙂 

Are you looking for a way to teach the stories of the bible to your children?  Tommy Nelson has provided 90 devotions within the cover of Roar Like a Lion to help us develop a courageous faith in our children. Now who wouldn’t want that?  Written in a conversational tone to engage his readers, Levi Lusko has a heart to develop faith in children. 

roar like a lion

The Basic Details of Roar Like a Lion

Roar Like a Lion holds to 192 pages which contain 90 devotions, information about the author and illustrator, along with a challenge to find anchors.  If you can’t find them all… he gives the answer to that challenge as well.   Published by Tommy Nelson, I was contacted by Momentum Influencers for the purposes of this review.

The devotions cover such topics as 

  • peer pressure
  • working hard at what you do
  • bullying
  • handling difficult emotions
  • depending on God
  • and understanding how we fit into God’s great story. 

Written by Levi Lusko and Tama Fortner.  Mr. Lusko is a pastor of a church in Wyoming where he lives with his family.   Ms. Fortner is an author and ghost writer, she lives with her family in Tennessee. 

Catherine Pearson is a Swiss illustrator who likes to create playful illustrations. 

Talking about the Basic Set up

Within the pages of Roar Like a lion you will find these cute illustrations gracing every devotion.  Each illustration spoke to the devotional it was representing.   Isn’t this sloth adorable?

Each illustration is followed by a bible verse taken from the ICB, NCV or NIV bible versions. 

Then you come to the main devotional.  Written over a two page spread, containing a prayer and either a Get Read to Roar sidebar or a Did you know sidebar (more on those later).   The devotional itself contains fascinating stories and is written in a conversational style.  Imagine you were listening to a children’s story at your local church, that is what these devotionals read like. 

Roar like a lion

Every other page you’ll find one of these two sidebars. 

You’ll either learn, in the did you know sidebar,  some interesting fact about the moon, or some animal, history, nature, people or whatever.  Some fact that is like HUH, I never knew that.  Cool connection.   

Get ready to roar gives a variety of calls to action, like prayer asking God to help you cope with loss, or making cards sharing the good news of God, talking with your parents, or even a place to call your own to journal.  Steps of action that children of all ages can do mostly without help.  

Closing with Prayer

As most devotionals do, Roar Like a Lion is no different, it closes with prayer.  Simple prayers that speak to the heart of a child reaching out to God.  Do children need simple prayers?  No.  They can and do listen to long prayers.  But you know what?  Most adult devotionals that I read have super short simple prayers closing out a day’s reading as well!   I found that, even though I did not read every page, those that I did, the prayers were on target with the day’s lesson. 

No devotional does everything perfectly.  What I like with this particular devotional is that the art draws you in, interesting facts show a broader picture, and the action steps.  Get children out busy for the Lord… it’s a great thing to do. 
 
Now… Roar like a lion is doing a giveaway.   It is ONLY open to USA folks (sorry my fellow Canadians but my guess they don’t want to ship here!).   You have to comment ON THIS REVIEW POST by Sept 25th or you won’t be in. I know, short turn around but I got to work with what I’ve been given!  What would win?  A physical copy of Roar Like a Lion.   Make sure I have your email so I can holler at you if my son draws your name out of a hat. 
 
Hashtags: #RoarLikeALionMIN #roarlikealion #tommynelsonbooks

Should you get it?

Well, like with all devotionals you have to approach them from the vantage point that people are trying to help children understand the bible more.  Devotionals are often a mixed bag.  Some devotions will be spot on, others will take scripture out of context, and yet others will oversimplify concepts, and some will mix it all up within the same reading!  It’s hard to please everyone when it comes to devotionals. 

Roar like a Lion is no different.  Some of the readings are excellent, others I kinda wondered where he was going, and others were a mixed bag.  That’s why parents read them with their children.  Then you can take the time to correct what needs correcting and even from a young age start teaching our children discernment. 

You can purchase it here. The bright colourful images, the calling of children to prayer, and the desire to help children become more like God… it’s good that! 

Your Time is Now

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Disclosure: I received this complimentary product (Your Time is Now) through Ascot Media.  Affiliate Links will be used, thank you for your support of my blog, costs you nothing to do so.  🙂

Jonathan Evans, chaplain for the Dallas Cowboys writes a book encouraging us to get ourselves right with God and to get out and do what we need to do.    Your Time is Now 

Your time is now

About Your Time is Now

Jonathan Evans, you can learn more about him on Outreach, has provided us with a 176 page book entitled Your Time is Now: Get What God has Given You.   This came to me as a black hardcover book from Ascot Media Group for my review.  Nine chapters, complete with QR codes for additional information.  This is a book to help Christians with their personal or spiritual growth. 

What does it look like?

I received a black, approximately 8 x 4 inch hardcover tome that feels lovely in the hand and was super easy to tuck into my purse for my car service recently.  An easy read I got about half way through during a 30 minute service.  Having the hardcover meant I didn’t have to worry about damage while in transition. 

Within it’s 176 pages you’ll find nine chapters. 

Some of those chapters come with a QR code if you want to hear more about what he has to say.  These of course only work if you have the tech that allows for it!  🙂 Needless to say, I didn’t watch any of them. 

The chapters are little adorned, with a simple one word title. Most pages are written in this smaller font. Easy to read though if I had poorer eyes I’d probably want a page magnifier.  🙂 

Occasionally you will find these large font pages with points that Mr. Evans wants to emphasize.  I particularly liked this page. I thought it was spot on.

If you are a seasoned believer who knows scripture well you will struggle with some scripture taken out of context as well as some poorly researched points.   Some of these was things about how God looked at Adam and Eve in their plant-made clothes and said “let me make you something better” as if it were all about the clothes, and others from reading into scripture and taking passages out of context like the one below. 

Overall though his message is simple… see what God has given you.  Now… get off your duff, align yourself with God’s plan for your life, and get a move on.   (or words to that effect).  🙂   

Should You Get it?

So, there is much good.  BUT I want to offer some cautions as well for Your Time is Now: Get what God has given you.

He says some things that aren’t quite biblically accurate and takes some scripture out of context.  Now, that’s not always a bad thing as it provoked some discussion within our household.  But for people who don’t know to be careful, not such a good read. I would not offer this to someone who was not firm in their biblical knowledge. 

I did appreciate his call to action.  His get up, and get going call.  Too often we sit around too much waiting for everyting to be just right, or pinning our hopes/action on what we think is best.  But perhaps God has something else in store for us and we should just get on with doing it!  Perhaps we need to change our focus or mindset and get ourselves realigned with God and his purposes. 

 

A Lady in Attendance

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Disclosure: I received this complimentary product (A Lady in Attendance) through Nuts About Books.  Affiliate Links will be used, thank you for your support of my blog, costs you nothing to do so.  🙂

I THINK, yes this is me thinking,.. 🙂 that I would happily read a Rachel Fordham book again.  A romance that isn’t just a romance.  Awkardness, sweetness in character, determination to make things right, a mystery, friendship, and then finally romance.  This A Lady in Attendance.  A romance that didn’t have me snorting in derision at expected, and super quick falling in love.  But one that focuses on history and friendship and what it looks like in action. 

A Lady in Attendance

A Lady in Attendance was published by Revell a division of Baker Publishing Group.  Running at 352 pages, written back in the history of the late 1800’s.  Learning about how women were treated in reformatory, and societal treatment of those women when they were released. Rachel Fordham walks us through the pain of mistakes, of working through redemption, and the hopelessness of feeling like lost cause.  Reviewed on behalf of Nuts about Books.   It’s billed as an historical Christian romance but I didn’t find the faith played a big part (if at all really) in the lives of the characters. 

The details for A Lady in Attendance

Each chapter opens with a decorative pencil line and a basic chapter heading.   Hazel is the main character, with a roommate, an employer, a lawyer and family rounding out the cast. 

The text is large and easily readable.   I found the language uncomplicated and suitable for most anyone to read.  It feels like a cozy, sit down and read in the course of an afternoon book.  I did read it over a weekend camping, sandwiched between family activities.  Well developed characters with a need to solve a mystery kept me fairly glued to the pages.  The bumbling of Hazel’s beau made me smile and occasionally want to kick him in the pants.  

Firmly appreciating seeing history first-hand.  I never realized how having office receptionists and doctor’s aides came into being.  I rather enjoyed seeing the dentist’s growing awareness of just how much he needed this help in his office. Surprising though, to see all that Hazel was required to do.  This would not be the norm nowadays! 

Should you read it?

If you like light, historical romance that isn’t all sappy and helps you learn details of the past….. A Lady in Attendance will meet your needs. 

Curl up on a Sunday afternoon and enjoy a bit of mystery, with a touch of history, and a turn to love.  You won’t regret it one bit!  You’ll laugh and sigh, and find yourself with hope renewed. 🙂 

Dawn Raid

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

It’s not every book that does this, but Dawn Raid, by Ms. Smith peaked my interest in an historical event.  Let me explain.  This past weekend I went camping with the family, I brought Dawn Raid along with me. As I read I would stop and talk to my lad about what I was reading.  I had never heard about the dawn raids in New Zealand before so this was all new to me. My son was quite surprised as well. It made for some interesting discussions that my hubby joined in on as well.  When I got home I headed to youtube to learn more.   I think every country has sad periods like this in it’s history don’t you? 

Racism is such a hard topic to have a discussion about isn’t it?  In the states they deal with it as we learned in Uncomfortable Conversations with a black Boy. In Canada we have the First Nations people which a book I am reading slowly communicates about, Five Little Indians.  But learning about it and how it affects people, helps to change behaviour a bit doesn’t it? 

About Dawn Raids

Anyways, we should probably get on with the book eh?  🙂    Dawn Raid was written by Pauline Vaeluaga Smith, she also started a small museum that helps people to better understand the dawn raids.  At 304 pages it is an easy read for most middle schoolers especially with illustrations on many of the pages.  Written from the point of view of a 13 year old girl.   She talks about family and school life, as well as life as an Islander in New Zealand.  Published by Levine Querido c/o Chronicle Books.   Reviewed for Raincoast books. 

One thing you need to understand.  Sofia’s family is of Islander stock.  They came over to New Zealand to help when they had a labour shortage.  Many stayed…some legally, some not so legally.  Other nations of the world did the same thing.  Coming to help, and sometimes overstaying their welcome.    The thing is, ONLY islander people were targetted in these Dawn Raids conducted by the government via the police force.  This is the story of one such Islander family. 

Details about Dawn Raid

13 year old Sofia, a New Zealand girl, gives us a first person account of her families life in the mid-1970’s.   We learn about her brothers who have more energy than brains. My son couldn’t believe the antics those boys got into. Their antics provided comic relief to the rest of the story.  A hard-working family teaching their children to be good citizens. 

The language is typical of a 13 year old and easily relatable to middle school age children.  For me it was a bit of a walk back into time with go-go boots and the Osmonds.  🙂 

Dawn Raid

Illustrations liberally dot the pages.  I appreciated the addition of maps so that I understood better just where those islands where.  There is a continent game I play on my phone but it’s not clear enough to really show the detail needed to see where all the islands are.  Having the maps helped me practice my geography skills for sure! 

I loved the natural way history and community flowed within the diary pages of Sofia.  I often felt like I was there helping Sofia do her milk run, or attending the doctor with her mom and younger brothers, and her father dealing with the oldest brother.  The fear of being woken up so early in the morning… Sofia expresses emotion well.  

Dawn Raid

Should you Get Dawn Raid?

Should Dawn Raid be part of your library?

It’s an interesting read.  I have to admit, when I first started I wondered what the purpose of this diary was.  But seeing how the family lived, how school life progressed and some of the daily life experiences shared.  Gradually the politics of the time were introduced until you wanted to know what would happen.  

If you are studying New Zealand, add this book to your shelves.  Gain some understanding about the politics of the time and what it meant to the people involved.  It would either be a good way to introduce the topic of racism in New Zealand or be a finish out the study.  It would also be a good way to show the racism isn’t just in Canada, or the United States, but is actually a world-wide concern. 

If you are just looking for a good story to read that tells of a family’s experience living in New Zealand during a hard rough time in it’s history, it’s a good read in and of itself!  🙂 

Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Boy

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Disclosure: I received this complimentary product (Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Boy) through Raincoast Books.  Affiliate Links will be used, thank you for your support of my blog, costs you nothing to do so.  🙂

I have been having interesting conversation with my 16 year old lately, so when I was at the Honda Dealership the other day I brought this book along .. Uncomfortable Conversations with a black boy .. with me. I was anticipating a story type book with some questions at the end of it. Questions that I could then take home and use as a conversation starter with my lad.  That’s not quite what I received.  No stories, just tons of questions posited in a conversational style.  Not quite what I expected.   So let’s take and moment and talk shall we?

Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Boy

The author’s premise and details

The author’s premise, is that through conversation, deep, open conversation we can more or less FIX the problems of racism.  That is necessary to have these deep conversations in order to make the world a better place for everyone in it.    

I can understand where he’s coming from.   He wants to open the eyes of people who aren’t black to the world as he sees it.   And if you can understand where a person is coming from, or… walk a mile in his shoes… you can better appreciate their day to day struggles and successes. 

So over the course of 13 chapers, divided into three sections, he asks a lot of questions.  Such as .. when you took history.. did you learn about black history?  When you succeeded in life … did your parents help you along the way?  Did you go to a school where teachers cared if you succeeded or failed?  Can you lose your life if someone tells a lie about you?  Do you think reverse racism exists? 

Throughout this 320 page book, he couples these questions with his answers, providing insights that you might not have been aware of.  Available in Kindle and hardcover, it is geared to youth 10-14.  

Roaring Book Press published the hardcover copy that I received for my review for Raincoast Books.  This tome is a youth version of Uncomfortable Conversations with a black man, named after a series of talks hosted by Emmanuel Acho entitled “Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man”.

Breaking it down

As I mentioned earlier, 13 chapters, three sections.

First section: Me and You.  The section has six chapters along with an introductory chapter.  These chapters include such questions as Black or African American? What do you see when you see me?  Is there such a thing as white privilege?  What about cultural appropriation?  and more. 

Second Section: Us and Them.   In this section of four chapters Acho brings up systemis racism, reverse racism, who’s govening the government and justice for some. 

Third section: We.  Three chapters about fixing racism, how we can fight for change, and to be an ally for folks. 

That’s not the end though, he closes off with a variety of short talks, references, websites and resources. 

Some Specifics about Uncomfortable Conversations with a black boy

Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Boy contains a number of quotes, questions and shall I say it… conversation starters.   For instance: What do you do with a bunch of angry people?  Anger exists on both sides of this issue… is it always justified?  No.  But often times it is.  And either way, the anger still exists.  But this is the type of question asked in order to get us thinking and having conversations. 

uncomfortable conversations with a black boy

Thought-provoking quotes grace the start of each chapter.  Don’t you just love quotes that make you think?   ðŸ™‚  

Need to figure out good discussion questions for your students?   Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Boy will help you come up with all sorts of discussion questions. 

Each new section opens with a page like the following.  Those conversation bubbles also tend to proceed question asked within the following pages. 

My Thoughts

I think that teachers will adore this book, or if not adore, find it a useful tool in learning how to think, or consider ideas or rather … perspectives they might not have considered before. It has great value in presenting questions, and giving the ideas behind those questions.  Promoting good class room conversation. 

As a book to read, I was less than enamoured.  I found Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Boy to be preachy, and at times wrong. Like saying the black people can’t be racist because they don’t hold systemic power?  ANYONE can be racist, in a position of power or not.  I also refuse to believe that circumstances completely keep people from changing their lives.  Part of my struggle with this read I explained on instagram. If you approach life from the paradigm of faith in God you can clearly see how just conversation is not the answer.  Can it help?  For sure.  But ultimately, it’s not how racism will be solved. We are, as a people, thoroughly broken by sin invading our lives.   The only answer truly… is God. 

Does Acho try?   Yes, he does.  He goes an excellent job of encouraging us to ask difficult questions and to dig deep within ourselves as we answer those questions.   No surfacey … just say something nice to make him go away stuff… but a demand that we do more.  Acho really wants us to think and to grapple with these questions… in community. 

Prank Lab: 25 hilarious experiments

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

I don’t know about you but I happen to LOVE doing science experiments.  There are so many things to learn and see and do!  Things can go wrong and then you need to figure out why.  Everything could go perfectly, but the interpretation can be different depending on the person. Now… add a twist… do science experiments as pranks!   Get your friends, annoy (perhaps) your family, and give visitors (or the odd stranger) an unexpected surprise!  Prank Lab is just the thing to delight your budding middle school scientists!   

This morning on Instagram seeing a lady helping her children vary a science experiment with simple changes.  Fun watching critical thinking skills develop!  Prank Lab: 25 Hilarious Experiments does the same thing. 

Prank Lab

Prank Lab, a walk through

Pranklab: 25 Hilarious Scientific Practical Jokes for Kids gives us 25 science experiments for youth 8-12 years old.  Don’t let that age range stop younger or older youth though.  As a family working together, everyone can have fun together learning.   Perhaps one child will choose to be the “victim” or maybe not… you could just do them without having any victim at all.  🙂 

224 pages, published by SourceBooks Explore, and put together by Wade David Fairclough, Chris Ferrie and Bryne Laginestra.   Four Sections contain a varying number of experiments, 25 in all.   These sections are entitled Making a Mess, Clean Classics, Wanna Bet? and Messing with a Mind.  These sections are coloured coded for ease of access. 

I received an ARC version from Raincoast Books. 

Basic Set Up

You’ll find the experiments are set up in the same basic way.   List of ingredients.  You’ll find experiments that create exploding ketchup!  Or that gross out your friends. Creating non-transitive dice, lunar calendars, and learn abou the conductivity of liquids.   A wide variety of experiments to suit any mood. 

Along with warnings about what to be careful about.  Since pranking people is part of the game, it’s important to pay attention to any safety considerations.  Allergies you don’t want to mess with and cutting yourself or others… doesn’t look good eh? Not when the goal is having some fun!

The instructions are given in pictorial and written form.   It’s it great when two ways of learning are incorporated?   I find pictures help me pay attention don’t you? 

After the experiment is completed, explanations are provided.   This of course, is the most important thing right?  Have the fun, do the job, and then learn a bit so you can think about it all.  Seeing how else you can apply what you learned.  Fantastic eh? 

Prank Lab

I am loving this final section of each experiment, a section that help you think more deeply.  Thinking is encouraged, by questions such as is using plastic problematic? Can illusions be a harmful? Can natural selection teach your family to not eat a favourite snack?   I love when experiment books do what they should… help the learner think more deeply about their experiments. 

Should Prank Labs be on your shelf?

If you are looking for a way to make science a bit more fun, Prank Lab will do it!   With fun, scientific ways to tease each other, or to perform April Fool’s jokes, science couldn’t be more fun (or amazing). 

Without using technical terms, learning is encouraged with suggesting to document everything you see and do. Having fun doing science an important objective!  You will love this book with the clear illustrations and good teaching.   Bringing out the scientist in our youth with good questions and fun science. 

Although this book is geared for middle school students, you could easily include the whole family, or highschool students could do them on their own. 

Related Posts you Might be Interested in. 

 

 

Reality Bites

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Disclosure: I received this complimentary product (Reality Bites) through Ascot Media.  Affiliate Links will be used, thank you for your support of my blog, costs you nothing to do so.  🙂

Ever search for a quote and can’t find one?   OR do you just happen to like aphorisms and philosophical fragments? Well Gordon Hutchison has just the book for you, with Reality (can be OK, but mostly it) Bites, a tongue in cheek look at the world around us.   Most of the work contained therein is his own work, but he includes the work of others if he finds something similar.  Let’s take a look shall we? 

Reality Bites

So, are you like me and wondering exactly what an aphorism is?  Well, Mr. Hutchison goes into detail on just what it is in his book: Reality (can be OK, but mostly it) Bites: original aphorisms and other philosophical fragments with teeth.  An aphorism has five parts.

  1. must be brief
  2. it must be definitive
  3. there needs to be a personal touch
  4. a twist is required!
  5. must be philosophical

The twist grabs our attention, and often makes us laugh, and then later sometimes makes us think.  The laughter makes us feel good and realize, we aren’t alone in our feelings about life circumstances.  

Throughout this small book (will easily fit in a backpack or purse) you’ll find aphorisms that will make you laugh, shake your head, or share with your family (especially your teens!).  🙂  Conversation starters in 164 pages!   A softcover tome that also comes in kindle format, published by White River Press.

I am reviewing on behalf of Ascot Media. 

Set Up and details for Reality Bites

The bulk of Reality Bites are all the aphorisms, but the first few pages are dedicated to an introduction, defining what an anphorism is, and the why and set up of the layout.   An author index is included in the final pages. 

The rest of the book is 400 different expressions, about six per two page-spread.

Some of the aphorisms will have smaller expressions to the right and below.  These are ones that he has found that are fairly similiar to what he has come up with himself. 

Some expressions rang true 

“doing nothing, done right, can take all day.”

“Love that turns to hate is neither.”

“every unreasonable man has his reasons.”

reality bites

I have to admit, that some expressions just made me feel sad.  The… I don’t know… feels like disrespect toward God and people of faith.  But I also don’t know if I read into things too much?  But it is what it is right?  My thoughts, towards/about this read. 

“The best thing about forbidden fruit is that it never goes bad.”

“children are God’s way of letting parents know if they’re having a nice day.”

“to sin is human, to escape undetected divine.”

But for the most part.. thoroughly enjoyed this book.  I like quotes and quips, and apparently aphorisms!  🙂  Like Evan, plumbing the meaning in words… is a good thing!   And I hope you would too!

Should you get Reality Bites?

Yes, I think so.  If you enjoy witticisms… you’ll laugh, you’ll shake your head, and you’ll find yourself using them as conversation starters, essay prompts (for your middle-to-high school students), or as observations about life.  An excellent gift for friends and family alike.  Mostly fun, and often a bit thought-provoking.  🙂 

You may recall I reviewed a book of quotes previously entitled called Civilizations Quotations (my review).   This would be a great companion volume to it.  🙂Â