Little Book of Thanks by Jean Fischer

Who can resist the Precious Moments characters?  They grace the pages of this sweet little book on giving thanks.  Each page is filled with children of different cultural backgrounds doing "kid stuff".  Young children will recognize their own daily activities in these colorful and smile winning drawings.  The book is filled with scripture from the Bible and poetry.  Simple verses that bring out thankfulness in every day living from a child's perspective.  Perfect book for short nighttime readings each evening.  It would also be a lovely way to help a child memory scripture and short poems. 

I received this book from the publishers but was not required to write a positive review.

Auschwitz Lullaby by Mario Escobar

If you're looking for a "feel good" story this is not the book for you.  However, if you're brave enough to let your heart break pick up this book.  Within these pages you will find the intense love of a mother for her children.  You will see that love really does win over evil even if not in this world it will in God's heavenly kingdom.  Reading this book was hard because of the brutality and deprivation the inmates of Auschwitz endured.  But there is a tender and redeeming quality to this story as you read about actual people who lived through these events and what they chose to do.  In the midst of extreme suffering there were those who chose to sacrifice what little they had for others.  In the face of torture some chose as many acts of kindness as they could bestow.  Bravery and courage does not always come with loud acclamations but rather with tenderness when all around is indifference and evil.  The author entreats and challenges the reader to take this story and tell others so that Helen Hannemann's life was not lived in vain.

I received this book from the publishers but was not required to write a positive review.

God's Blessing Day by Day My Daily Devotional for Kids by Johnny Hunt

This is a truly endearing devotional book for young children.  It is so appropriately titled "God's Blessings Day by Day".  I fell in love with the adorable illustrations.  They are so sweet and evoke tender feelings of warmth and love.  The devotional readings are just right for younger children. Simple enough for the young child to understand and yet with deep meaning.  Content gives plenty of subject matter for the adult sharing the book with the child to discuss.  The topics discussed range from God's love and care for the child and the child's response to God's love.  Themes like kindness, thinking of others, honesty and more are presented. The devotionals are arranged by weeks.  A different author writes devotionals for each week of the year.  Each devotional contains a memory verse, devotional thought, prayer and nugget of truth about God.  This is a very attraction and meaningful book. 

I received this book free from the publishers but was not required to write a positive review.

The Hope of Azure Springs by Rachel Fordham

Mix a handsome cowboy sheriff and a an orphaned young woman you're bound for some interesting times.  Caleb as the youngest of four sons has always wanted to win his parents' approval and recognition.  Em who traveled the orphan train only to be rejected over and over until an unsavory sort "adopted" her has heart wounds of her own.  When a mystery crime throws them together they discover much more than clues to solve the crime.  Set in Iowa 1881 this story vividly depicts the rugged life of early settlers.  With lots of mystery and sparks flying between Caleb and Em this tale invites the reader to  visit times past.

I received this book from Revell publishers but was not required to write a positive review.

Big Trucks Getting the Job Done Together Illustrated by Sergio De Giorgi

This Tommy Nelson board book is touch and feel experiential story about trucks for little ones.  The book uses real names for various construction vehicles such as crane, dump truck and bulldozer.  These three truck friends have adventures throughout the pages of the book.  On each page is something for the child to touch and feel.  Gritty sand, smooth tires, gravelly road and more.  The vehicles have cheerful, inviting smiles and are depicted as happy doing their various jobs.  Themes of uniqueness, sharing, teamwork, responsibility, positive attitude and doing one's best are emphasized.  The book is colorful with cute illustrations.  The text has simple text that a young child can grasp but at the same time enough content to make it interesting.

I received this book from the publishers but was not required to write a positive review.

River to Redemption by Ann H. Gabhart

This historical Christian novel is based on an amazing true life character Louis, a slave who cared for and buried victims of the cholera epidemic in Springfield, Kentucky in 1833 when his owner left him behind.  In this book you will find a variety of sensitive topics.  Slavery and the abolition movement.  Orphans, widows and the church's responsibility towards them.  Grief and unanswered prayers versus faith despite not understanding why things happen.  Loyalty, daring and finding one's own way in life.  There are lots of scenes of conflict fraught with underlying love and people torn between doing what is socially seen at right and what their hearts tell them is right. 

I received this book from Revell publishers but was not required to write a positive review.

Minding the Light by Suzanne Woods Fisher

This book was fun, exciting and entertaining as several mysteries were going on at the same time.  The last line of the book is astonishing but don't cheat!  Read the whole book and wait for the punch line!  The story line moves back and forth between Nantucket Island in 1821 and diary entries from 1663.  A dilemma solved in the diary leads to a mystery and resolution in 1821. A shocking sudden death, hidden runaway slaves, disclosed past romances and disappearances of family members are all part of the plot.  Hearts are broken, mended and made new in God's light and that is the true beauty of this tale.

I received this book from Revell but was not required to write a positive review.

I AM The Names of God for Little Ones by Diane Stortz Illustrated by Diane Le Feyer

What a wonderful message this book gives!  The names of God given in words and pictures that will warm child and parent hearts alike!  The book starts off with God as Creator - Elohim.  It moves through several Hebrew names for God as given in the Old Testament:  El Shaddai, Jehovah, El Moshaah, Jehovah Bireh,  and Jehovah Rophe.  The meaning of the Hebrew words is given with description illustrations that portray each name definition.  The book then moves into more modern names for God such as Son of God, Rabbi-teacher, Good Shepherd, Savior, Friend and King of Kings.  Each page has the name for God, a Bible verse that relates to the name, a short story, a prayer and an illustration.  This book is a precious way to help children understand how involved God is with every detail of our life.  The different names of God help children understand He is there for us in all ways.

I have received this book from the publishers but was not required to write a positive review.

Sons of Blackbird Mountain by Joanne Bischof

Three brothers of Norwegian ancestry build a life in the state of Virginia newly freed from slavery after the Civil war.  Jorgan, Thor, Haakon work to bring their apple orchards to profit.  But what if the profitable hard cider they make and sell is the ruin of them in other ways?  Through their struggles with conflicts with their neighbors and with each other we see an amazing bond of brotherhood.  When two brothers fall in love with the same women Aven the sibling rivalry takes on a more sinister tint.  Aven, a young widow has come to her husband's cousins for shelter.  Instead she finds an underlying and unresolved bitterness that only God can heal with the men she come to view as her family.  Thor born deaf uses a form of sign language with his brothers.  Aven learns to read his emotions as well as his hands signing words.  This is a tender love story with deep psychological twists.

I received this book from the publishers but was not required to write a positive review.