Precious Moments 5-Minute Bedtime Treasury

The Precious Moments 5-Minute Bedtime Treasury is a 191-page, padded, hardcover book designed to be part of a “comforting bedtime routine” for little toddlers and children.

Divided into three sections, 1. God Is Trustworthy, 2. God Is Good, and 3. God Is Love, it includes soothing stories of God’s triumphs from the Old Testament, stories of God’s promises from Psalms and Proverbs, and stories of Jesus from the New Testament. Each story is richly illustrated with Sam Butcher’s famous Precious Moments characters. Other features include a Family Tree, an “All About Me” page, a Church Record, a place for an adult and a child to write prayers, Bible chapters as subtitles for each story, and a Bedtime Bible Promise at the end of each story.

I enjoyed reading this book! I’ve adored Precious Moments since I was a child, and when I picked up this book I was impressed by the quality of it. The stories are well-written. They are easy for children to read, but not so easy as to alter the meaning. This book would make a beautiful gift for someone and is presented in a way that makes readers treasure its quality. The short stories accompanied by the vibrant, detailed pictures allow the reader and the listener to enjoy the message.

I definitely recommend this book! I look forward to reading it with a child.

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The publisher has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book through BookLook Bloggers book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review.

The Carols of Christmas: A Celebration of the Surprising Stories Behind Your Favorite Holiday Songs by Andrew Gant

The Carols of Christmas: A Celebration of the Surprising Stories Behind Your Favorite Holiday Songs by Andrew Gant is a fact-filled, historical account of today’s favorite carols.  

Gant skillfully reveals the evolution of 21 of today’s popularly sung Christmas carols. He informs readers of the origins of the songs, the writers, the journeys, the musical changes, and more of the songs, and each chapter (a chapter being the story of one song) ends with a score of the carol.  

The idea of this book was interesting to me, but the chapters themselves didn’t keep my interest—not because they weren’t brimming with information and history—but precisely because they were. I was looking for a less-intense, simpler history of my favorite carols. What Gant provides is a heavily researched, articulate, technical, and thorough account of each carol’s journey. As I read the book, on more than one occasion names of friends who would enjoy this book came to mind (intellectuals, choral directors, scholars, etc.). For the average person looking for a quick and easy informative read, I don’t recommend this book: I recommend it to music scholars and historians.

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The publisher has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book through BookSneeze®. I was not required to write a positive review.

The Berenstain Bears The Very First Christmas by Jan and Mike Berenstain

The Berenstain Bears The Very First Christmas by Jan and Mike Berenstain is a simple, fast-paced, but thorough telling of the Christmas story.

Papa Bear sits down with his kids on Christmas Eve to read them a story, and they ask for the “story of the very first Christmas” from their storybook Bible. Papa reads the three cubs the story – beginning with Mary being greeted by the angel and ending with Joseph being warned to avoid King Herod and then later moving to Nazareth where Jesus grew up.

The story moves quicker than most retellings of the Christmas story do, but it is comprehensive. The quick pace is demonstrated by Mary and Joseph travelling to Bethlehem, and the next page shows a picture of Baby Jesus. I appreciate, however, the simple words the author uses to reach his audience: “cloths” instead of the cumbersome “swaddling clothes,” and he describes Mary and Joseph as being “counted” rather than be part of a “census.”  There aren’t any direct references to scripture in the story, but Luke 2:11-12 is quoted before the story begins. As always, at the end of the story the author has discussion questions and activities ready for families to use to learn together. I recommend this book for kids ages 2-4.

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The publisher has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book through BookLook Bloggers book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review.

52 Little Lessons from A Christmas Carol by Bob Welch

52 Little Lessons from a Christmas Carol by Bob Welch pleases its readers by captivating them once again with Scrooge’s story and prodding them to shun their inner Scrooge of Christmas Eve and unleash the benevolent Scrooge of Christmas Day.

Each chapter is a lesson: “See life as a child,” “Everyone has value,” “Don’t give expecting to receive,” “The past can be empowering,” and more. Chapters (Lessons) are a short 3-4 pages. They each begin with a subtitle—often a quote from the book or from a movie adaptation—and then within the Lessons Welch references the book, movies, and the Bible. Welch teaches and inspires his readers as he lets them journey with Scrooge and the ghosts.

This book is refreshing. A treasure. Bob Welch’s prose is flawless and engaging. The book was so good that I read it in nearly two sittings. Upon beginning the book I thought that Welch may have to stretch to get 52 lessons from A Christmas Carol—but not so. Each Lesson was fresh and substantial. Welch references A Christmas Carol and Dickens’ life frequently and expertly—he’s evidently read the book often, and the quality of his references show respect to Dickens. I also appreciate Welch’s use of the Bible—it is seamless, relevant, and substantial. I think that Dickens would be honored to hold and read this book. I definitely recommend this book to others!

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The publisher has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book through BookSneeze®. I was not required to write a positive review.

The Berenstain Bears Harvest Festival by Mike Berenstain

The Berenstain Bears Harvest Festival by Mike Berenstain showcases the fullness of Fall: family, food, functions, and more. 

Papa and Mama proclaim their delight in Fall and show the cubs all of its wonders. Papa rakes piles of leaves for the cubs; they watch caterpillars spinning cocoons, turkeys strutting, chipmunks gathering, and birds migrating; they go to a Fall festival where the farmers display their best produce and wives their pies; but most of all Mama and Papa show the kids that this bounty and beauty are gifts from God. 

What I enjoyed most about this book and what makes it stand out from others of Mike Berenstain’s books is the quality and depth of writing. The prose flows and prods kids to ask many questions such as Why do animals hibernate? What is hibernation? Why do the birds fly in a V formation? What is a church family? What do people do with pumpkins? etc. As always, at the end of the story the author has discussion questions ready for families to use to learn together. I recommend this book for kids ages 4-8. The illustrations are bright and detailed and make me long for Fall! Also, there is a good spiritual message. 

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The publisher has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book through BookLook Bloggers book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review.

“The Berenstein Bears Storybook Bible for Little Ones” by Jan and Mike Berenstein

 “The Berenstein Bears Storybook Bible for Little Ones” by Jan and Mike Berenstein is a happy, thorough collection of Bible stories well-tailored for little ones.

This little Storybook Bible has cardboard pages and is easy for kids to hold and touch. It’s tailored for kids ages 0-3. The stories are simple but complex enough to prompt questions that easily elicit satisfying answers. Jan and Mike include four stories from the Old Testament and four stories from the New Testament. Each story glorifies God or celebrates Jesus.

I’ve read a handful of Mike Berenstein’s books, and this is my favorite! Unlike many Bible stories tailored for little ones, the quality of writing in this book is good. There is dialogue, paragraph breaks, and substance. The font is easy to read, and included with the title of each story is the book and chapter of the Bible from where it’s taken. The illustrations are excellent. The colors are a bit on the pastel side, but the drawings are vivid, and the Bears are in every story; they can even be spotted on Noah’s ark! The spiritual message is strong, and I definitely recommend this book to others.

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The publisher has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book through BookSneeze®. I was not required to write a positive review. 

Jesus Calling written by Sarah Young and illustrated by Antonia Woodward

“Jesus Calling for Little Ones” written by Sarah Young and illustrated by Antonia Woodward is a great tool for parents and a gem for kids.

This children’s book for toddlers is a thick, durable, easy-to-hold cardboard book in which the vivid, happy pictures will attract kids and prompt them to turn the pages. The purpose of the book is to let kids know that Jesus loves them, that He knows everything about them, that He created them, that He is everywhere, and that He made wonderful things for them to enjoy.

This book is great! Each page spread is illustrated with pictures of happy children experiencing God’s blessings and being comforted by His promises. Each spread contains a few lines from Jesus telling kids not to worry, telling them to laugh, showing him that He knows them, proving that He cares for them, etc. Along with those lines is the best part: A Bible verse proving the truth of what’s being said. For example, one page includes a few lines from Jesus saying that He likes it when His kids pray to Him, and that is accompanied by 1 Thessalonians 5:17. The spiritual message is strong, the illustrations are fun, and I definitely recommend this book.

http://booksneeze.com/blogger/resources/9781400203048

The publisher has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book through BookSneeze®. I was not required to write a positive review.