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The Rhyme Bible Storybook Review

 

Reading time at home will be even more fun with the arrival of Linda Sattgast’s freshly updated version of The Rhyme Bible Storybook!

Twelve years since the first edition captured parents’ hearts, Sattgast teams with artist Laurence Cleyet-Merle to illuminate key passages from the Bible, making the most important lessons easy to understand.

Sattgast’s rhyming text helps beginning readers remember each Bible story and comprehend their basic lessons. For instance, the story of David and Goliath becomes a read-aloud lyrical song similar to a nursery rhyme. In addition, the story of Jonah and the big fish detailed in the book is a delightful bedtime story.

With Cleyet-Merle’s vivid illustrations, readers will experience 35 classic bible stories as they have never before been presented ~ with adorable pictured and Sattgast’s rhyming text.

For any parent who wants to teach the Word of God, THE RHYMING BIBLE STORYBOOK is the perfect choice for engaging little ones. Together, Sattgast and Cleyet-Merle breathe new life into the traditional storybook Bible, making this new edition a keepsake for all ages.

Our Review:

I absolutely LOVE this book…perhaps it is because I LOVE songs and rhyming…but it is amazing! This book really hits home with our family because it is an easy way to learn classic bible stories in an easy and fun way! My children LOVE the verse and the illustrations. I cannot say enough about the author and illustrators who have brought the bible stories to life in this text! WONDERFUL!

I liked this book so much that I brought it to my Sunday school class…of 6th graders… yes I said it 6th graders. Now, do not get me wrong I am not saying that I taught out of a rhyming book to older children… BUT since we are studying the Old Testament… I used it as a teaching tool! I chose a few stories that we had studied and read the rhyming version aloud to the students. Then I asked my students to take their favorite story we have studied and try to make up their own rhyming version of a story or part of a story.  The older kids were very engaged in this activity! We had so much fun! I Loved being able to use this bible with my little ones at home and as a teaching tool in the classroom! Hats off to Zondervan and their talented authors!

This book is available through Zondervan. You can find more information about this and other Zondervan products at: http://zondervan.com/

You can purchase the book here: http://zondervan.com/9780310726029

The book is also available through Amazon and other retailers.

Here is the Amazon link: http://www.amazon.com/Rhyme-Bible-Storybook-Linda-Sattgast/dp/0310726026/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1357382333&sr=8-2&keywords=the+rhyme+storybook+bible

 

Faith and Family Reviews received the following product in exchange for writing a review. While we consider it a privilege to receive free products to review, our reviews are our honest opinion and thoughts of the product.

 


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The Memory Jar

Tricia Goyer is writing a brand new series called Seven Brides for Seven Bachelors. The series is a fictional work about the Amish. The Memory Jar (Zondervan, 2012), is the first book. I read it over a month ago. I have read a few of Trisha’s books and have enjoyed them.

Like many books I read, this book is about relationships. It doesn’t matter if you are Amish, Baptist, Evangelical, Reformed or whatever type of Christian you label yourself, relationships are key to your and my existence. This post could quickly become my soap box if I allow it to because of my views and expectations of relationships/friendships. I have a beef about Christians, even though I am one, and how flippant many are in how they develop and maintain relationships/friendships. So often what comes across to people really isn’t how it is, it’s just the emotional barriers a person has put up to protect themselves from being hurt…yet again.

But that’s not what this post is about, so onward….

The Memory Jar is about a young Amish woman, Sarah, who lives in Kootenai, Montana. The memory jar is her special way of remembering a cherished friend who died. Like many unmarried women her age, she wonders if she will ever find a special man to share her life with.

I really like the sweet friendship and common bond – love of baking – that develops between Sarah and Jathan. Jathan, a visiting bachelor, among dozens of visiting bachelors who seek to live there for six months in order to receive “resident” status for the fall hunting season. What I didn’t like was how swayed Jathan was by other people in his life, at least initially. It was rather heart wrenching to read the turmoil this couple had to go through.

It was also hard to read about Sarah’s grief journey over the loss of her beloved childhood friend. I can relate to grief on a different level but always find it hard to read about because it evokes so many emotionally charged memories, not all of which are good. :( So as usual I cried.

The difficulties Sarah and Jathan had to go through to be understood by family members, the hurdles they had to overcome for having a new generation of ideas end up being character building, as well as foundational in strengthening their relationship. Something I think every relationship endures at some point or another, the key is whether or not the relationship makes it through them or breaks in the process.

As always, I love the show of community among the Amish, but in this story a different side to that community was shown and not in a positive way, especially in Jathan’s home town.

Trisha Goyer’s The Memory Jar receives two thumbs up from me!

Faith and Family Reviews received the following product in exchange for writing a review. While we consider it a privilege to receive products to review, our reviews are our honest opinion and thoughts of the product.


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3 Last Minute Gift Ideas

I saw on Facebook today that someone still had to start their Christmas shopping! So for all of you out there that are still scrambling for last minute gift ideas…here you go!

1. DVDs.

DVDs are easy and for people who watch a lot of movies and who don’t like to rent them, but love to own them for their home DVD collection, this is a no brainer last minute gift idea.

Last week Ice Age Continental Drift became available on DVD Blue Ray (Dec. 11 to be exact). If you are looking for great last minute gift ideas for movie lovers, this could be one to consider.

Make it educational for your children by visiting this website here. For creationists, I cannot verify that it is evolution free.

Our children have enjoyed all of the Ice Age movies. They are funny, with a little bit of rude humor but they make us laugh and laughter is a good thing! ;)

Crooked Arrow also came out on DVD not too long ago. It is for the sports enthusiast, especially lacrosse. It’s a touching story of how a young Native American man was drawn back to his culture through a game he loved and excelled at when he was younger, but not before making a few mistakes.

I enjoyed this movie very much but I’ve always been drawn to sports movies and especially ones that teach valuable life lessons.

2. Personalized Gifts.

From quilts to photos personalized gifts are always a winner. We have received personalized throws and quilts in the past and have appreciated them very much. Recently I was able to review an item that I got personalized with our names and anniversary on it. We have plenty of blankets but to be honest many of them are falling apart and just not pretty anymore. Nothing brightens a room more than a pretty throw or quilt.

I was very pleased with the quality of this quilt and the personalization was solid.

3. Books. Book lovers can never get enough books. Nowadays there are paperback or hardcover traditional books or digital formats to choose from. Make sure you know what your book lover prefers. At our house we all still prefer traditional books in our hands. Our girls talk about loving the smell of the books, which is missing from digital books.

No matter where you are in your Christmas shopping, choose a gift that is meaningful to the person receiving it. Sometimes in our haste we forget to put our hearts into gift giving.

Hope one of these 3 last minute gift ideas thrills one person on your list!

Happy Shopping!

Faith and Family Reviews received many of the above products in exchange for writing a review or feature about the product. While we consider it a privilege to receive products to review, our reviews are our honest opinion and thoughts of the product.


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Still Lolo

Still Lolo by Lauren Scruggs and the Scruggs family is an inspiring true story about the Scruggs experience when Lauren walked into an airplane’s propeller a year ago this past week and lost her left hand and left eye. Think Bethany Hamilton of Soul Surfer.

 

When I called this book an inspiring true story it wasn’t just because the phrase was typed on the front cover or because others have called it inspiring. I think whenever I read a book detailing someone’s tragic event and comes through it stronger it helps those of us hearing about it be inspired to adapt to life’s changes and to look at life’s challenges differently.

Bethany Hamilton actually wrote the forward of this book and shared Lauren’s definition of every day courage,

Even when life hits you hard, keep going.

I can only imagine how Bethany and Lauren must have felt as they went through the ordeals life threw at them with the propeller and shark attack. I am sure this is something they had to remind themselves over and over again.

Here are some of the notes I took from the book as I was reading it:

  • Christ as our strength and source of hope…
  • Bethany also shared how God mended and healed their hearts again and again. How often do we need him to do that for us?
  • The Physical Therapist story on page xii of Bethany’s intro…the Physical Therapist wanted Lauren to take 20 steps and Lauren took 30. Bethany said this encouraged and inspired her to take “10 extra steps”
  • 80 people filled the waiting room once word got out that Lauren was in the hospital –  they were all waiting for the word “stabilized” – I don’t even think I know 80 people who would do that for me or my family.
  • Isaiah 40:29-31 was shared within the book and I started reading it on a day that I was emotionally, mentally exhausted and it was an encouragement to me.

There were other things that stood out to me too, like the fact that Lauren’s parents got divorced but the end result was a blessing most divorcees do not get to experience.

The Scruggs’ family friend, Cindy, who told Lauren, ” God wants to use you mightily for his purposes, in ways you can’t yet imagine. But before he can do a work through you, he needs to do a work in you.” She seemed to speak life into Lauren. Negativity is a common trait in our society. I wonder what would happen if more of us chose to speak uplifting words instead of words that tear down – how different the world would be?

As you can see by the things I shared from the book, I gleaned a lot from it. I loved how the whole family’s story was interwoven and included. It really gave a clear picture of their family, where Lauren came from, where she was at, how she was before the accident and after. By allowing each family member to tell his or her version of the story gave a clearer picture of their life.

I give Still Lolo two thumbs up as a must-read book. Just beware to shed a few tears in the process. You can read the first chapter here.

Faith and Family Reviews received the following product in exchange for writing a review. While we consider it a privilege to receive products to review, our reviews are our honest opinion and thoughts of the product.


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National Geographic Super Reader Kit

We love books here at our house and it has been an educational goal to instill a love of reading and learning in our children. After all if they develop a love of books they can learn almost anything on their own simply by reading. We have a reading program we use in our homeschool that has been effective with our girls but not so much our boys so we’ve been supplementing their reading with other books they want to read.

A few of weeks ago when we received a package containing the National Geographic Super Reader Kit our children sat down right away to read the four books it contained! They love animals and learning more about them. We also have a couple of children who are weather watchers, like their daddy, and they liked the weather stories told in the Wacky But True book.

We didn’t agree with the evolutionary slant of some of the books, but thankfully our children know what we/they believe. That would be the only reason we would choose not to use or recommend it to other Christians. We’d at least give an advance warning of it containing evolution.

Here are a few of the children’s thoughts about the books in the National Geographic Super Reader Kit:

Castle Book

My 13 year old daughter said she learned stuff in the castle book that she didn’t know before. That’s huge as she is a voracious reader and has read many castle/medieval books.

Shark Book

An interesting book about sharks, which included Bethany’s shark attack was featured in the movie “Soul Surfer”. The children really liked this book.


Animal Stories Book

This book is about bad behavior in animals. One dog almost set the house on fire and died. Some of the bad behavior turned out to be good, like a naughty little orangutang who was kind of like Curious George and got into things, but actually saved a man’s life.

Wacky/Crazy But True…Book

The children thought this book was awesome. Full of fun, wacky/crazy but true facts and snippets about science, history, geography etc.

Overall our children really did enjoy the content of the books, we really didn’t use the extras because as I said they sat down right away to read the books and there was no need to give them motivators of stickers or book marks. Not to say it wasn’t cute or a great idea, our children just already love to read, but I can see how it may be motivating to those who are struggling with reading.

You may Find National Geographic online at:
kids.nationalgeographic.com/superreader
kids.nationalgeographic.com
Facebook.com/NatGeoBooks
Twitter.com/NGKidsBks

Thumbs up from us!

Three of you have the opportunity to win a kit of your own. Just fill out the Rafflecopter below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I received this product for free from the sponsor of the Moms MeetSM program, May Media Group LLC, who received it directly from the manufacturer, National Geographic. As a Moms MeetSM blogger, I agreed to use this product and post my opinion on my blog. My opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of May Media Group LLC or the manufacturer of the product.


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Christmas Roses

I went on a bit of a reading spree this weekend and it hindered me from getting the rest of my garlic planted, as did another tooth ache – same one – but thankfully no swelling this time and feels find today. I’ve enjoyed reading 3-4 of Amanda Cabot’s books. Probably because most of her books hold a redemptive grace story, lined with the need for forgiveness. This one stirred my emotions (nothing new there!) and I loved the rose aspect of it. Thanks to my husband roses are my favorite flower.

Set in 1882, Christmas Roses is a pleasant story and one I’d read again at Christmas time, just for the mushy story. Every now and then I get in the mood for one of these and this weekend was one of those times.

While the romantic part of the story line was predictable, it’s an endearing Christmas story sharing the joys of redemptive grace, healing, forgiveness and love. Something we all need to be reminded of from time to time.

I liked how gifts of service were emphasized in the story because I think it is a way we can show our spouses or love interest we love them, but not every couple will be the same so there needs to be a balance, as well as discovering what our loved one appreciates the most.

As a side note, I was short on time and asked my daughter to read this book first (I ended up reading it at the last minute and then found out it wasn’t due until the end of the week…it’s done early for a change!) and while she liked it she isn’t crazy for mushy romance novels. She agreed that Christmas Roses was predictable and she knew who was going to end up with who.

A thumbs up from me, though I am itching for another great mystery/story of intrigue! ;)

“Available September 2012 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.”

Faith and Family Reviews received the following product in exchange for writing a review. While we consider it a privilege to receive products to review, our reviews are our honest opinion and thoughts of the product.


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The Christmas Pony

As the title suggests, The Christmas Pony is indeed about a little girl’s hopes, dreams and even prayers of getting a pony for Christmas.

Set in 1937, the middle of the Great Depression, when people were struggling just to put food on their tables, Lucy knew better than to wish for a pony but she had more faith than the grown-ups in her life and she continued to pray for that very thing.

Lucy’s mother ran a boarding house which kept the family afloat during such a stretching time financially. So when a pair of strangers were looking for a place to stay while their car is being repaired Lucy excitedly invites them to stay at her family’s boarding house….after all she had prayed for more boarders. I loved Lucy’s faith, definitely something to learn from.

This book surprised me about half way through and took on a new prayer for Lucy. The shift in the story was a good one.

I appreciated the values taught in this book and the family’s work ethic. I think as we make plans for our farm, this story made me think of how God has provided for us this far and reminded me that if it’s His will, He’ll continue to provide for all our needs.

My daughter also read the book and enjoyed it. She thought it was really sweet. She thought Lucy was a big help to her mother. She didn’t like Veronica (I didn’t either she was a vain creature who only thought of herself) nor Lucy’s belligerent friend, Helen, who wasn’t much of a friend at all.

Overall it gets two thumbs up from us.

“Available Sept 2012 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.”

Faith and Family Reviews received the following product in exchange for writing a review. While we consider it a privilege to receive products to review, our reviews are our honest opinion and thoughts of the product.


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Placebo

Placebo by Steven James was not your normal book from Revell Books. Placebo is a mystery thriller. Steven Banks has also written The Patrick Bowers Thriller Series which is I heard about for the first time when I opened the cover of Placebo to start reading. After reading Placebo I have to say that I am intrigued enough to look into The Patrick Bowers Thriller Series to see what they are all about.

Placebo is basically about a conspiracy that Jevin Banks stumbles across while investigating a neurological research program. The more questions he asks the deeper he finds himself entangled in a conspiracy involving the government and one of the largest pharmaceutical companies. He encounters an assassin who nearly kills him, his assistant and a doctor they were talking to about the research program.

I liked this book because it kept me riveted to the pages from about midway through to the end. The first part of the book took me a little while to get into but I was glad it picked up. I also liked that there is no bad language, I wasn’t sure how it was going to be when I began the book.

What I didn’t like about the book is it didn’t seem overtly Christian, don’t get me wrong there’s nothing wrong with some non-Christian books or not mentioning God every other page, but this one seemed to describe certain characters and situations in a totally non-Christian way. For example, as a woman, I don’t care how seductive a woman looks, do you see what I mean? And I realize the characters are not Christians, but I don’t find that kind of stuff necessary. It’s fluff. I was more interested in getting to the bottom of Jevin’s investigation and the results of the conspiracy, not the leggy or voluptuous secretary. However, I guess those descriptions did generate some strong feelings about certain characters and that means the author did his job in drawing me into the “Placebo world” and all involved.

No matter the kind of book I read, I enjoy a good, clean, entertaining…or in this case thrilling…story line and because Placebo meets those criteria I feel I can still give it a thumbs up.

“Available November 2012 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.”

Faith and Family Reviews received the following product in exchange for writing a review. While we consider it a privilege to receive products to review, our reviews are our honest opinion and thoughts of the product.


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Melissa & Doug Terrific Twenty List and Giveaway

Head over to Melissa & Doug’s Facebook page to enter to win one of their Terrific Twenty!  Then, don’t forget to visit Melissa & Doug’s Website to see all of the Terrific Twenty and the many other fabulous learning toys Melissa & Doug has!


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A Promise of Love

I love children (obviously) but I don’t think my love for them would make me want to jump to their aid and marry a man I did not know and who also happened to be their father. Marriage is a life long commitment. But Ingrid did just that in A Promise to Love by Serena B. Miller. It is a heart-warming story of how a kind, loving young girl offers to marry a man named Joshua Hunter, whom she only met once. She does it for the sake of his children, and her initial attraction to him after he saved her from a difficult situation.

Ingrid and her family lived and worked on a farm, so of course I loved the farming aspect of the book because of my own interest.

I bawled like a baby at Ingrid’s child-like ways, like at the dance on page 219 and when she received her gifts. In many ways she’s unassuming, yet she was definitely working hard to capture Joshua’s attention and love. It was very easy to feel Ingrid’s emotions of pain, rejection and anger as Joshua sorted through his own issues. It was heart-wrenching at times to read the beginning account of their marriage.

I loved this story and the grit Ingrid showed and the intertwining of I Corinthians 13. This story is based on the author’s grandmother’s life, which makes is that much more compelling knowing the details are based on real events.

It was interesting how Serena interwove how prevalent abortion was in the 1800’s. So often life for wives and mothers during that time period is painted at “rosey” and hunky-dory. Women were very hard working and the struggles they faced were anything but rosey. A Promise of Love shows the struggle of one woman who had dealt with many losses in her family, which led to emotional disconnect with other people in her life. And it showed the character and strength of yet a completely different woman. It was a striking contrast to how women are usually portrayed in that time period.

A Promise of Love was a refreshing read for me and gets two thumbs up, as it is probably going to be read again and again.


“Available October 2012 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.”

Faith and Family Reviews received the following product in exchange for writing a review. While we consider it a privilege to receive products to review, our reviews are our honest opinion and thoughts of the product.


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