“Bless Our Gramps & Gran” by Mike Berenstain

“Bless Our Gramps & Gran” by Mike Berenstain teaches Brother, Sister, Honey, and readers about a little-known holiday that celebrates their beloved and important grandparents.

This book is among my favorites of the “Living Lights” series because it’s more thorough than some of the others. A complete story is given and lesson learned. Children ages 3-6 would in particular enjoy this book because preparation for a holiday creates excitement and something to prepare for while they’re not engrossed with school.

The story begins on a rainy day (with a complete picture of the Treehouse on page 1!) and the cubs are playing with their Noah’s ark set that Gramps and Gran made for them. They lament the absence of holidays until Halloween when Papa informs them of Grandparents Day. They think and think about what Gramps and Gran would appreciate . . . and finally settle on a unique and meaningful gift. While reading this story, kids will have many opportunities to reflect on their grandparents: their talents, memories, and the blessing they are.

The book begins with a Bible verse: Proverbs 17:6 which is a great one to be reminded of, and the inside back cover has some great ideas for how to celebrate Grandparents Day.

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. 

Vibrant India: Fresh Vegetarian Recipes from Bangalore to Brooklyn

I’ve never made Indian food, but I’ve eaten it many times, and YUM!

Chitra Agrawal’s book Vibrant India: Fresh Vegetarian Recipes from Bangalore to Brooklyn is a decorative invitation to her world of South Indian cooking. The book itself is a vibrant, fresh experience, and so are her recipes (more about those later).

Agrawal includes family photos in her books—showing that South Indian cooking is indeed a family affair. The index is bold and organized, and following that is a 14-page introduction to Agrawal, her family, and her food. Before the recipe pages, there are three detailed sections: “Indian Cooking Techniques and Tips,” “The South Indian Pantry,” and “Kitchen Tools.” Agrawal even includes a link for looking up Indian food stores in her readers’ regions. All of Agrawal’s stories, descriptions, and tips invite new-to-Indian-food-cooks to feel comfortable trying her recipes and style.

One feature I find especially neat about her book is that she labels her recipes by the season they’d be most appropriate in.

Today I made three recipes: Green Chile and Herbed Cheddar Shortbread (p. 119), Stir-Fried Corn with BasiI and Leeks (p. 87), and Lime Dill Rice with Pistachios (p. 104). I followed the instructions exactly, and each of the recipes was delicious! I was a bit leery—using many new ingredients and methods—but Agrawal’s instruction was thorough and clear. I can’t wait to try new recipes! I quickly realized that I’ve been eating bland food all my life.

I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review.

Devotions for a Sacred Marriage: A Year of Weekly Devotions for Couples

Thank you, Gary Thomas, for putting my thoughts, doubts, fears, and feelings into words wrapped in truth, encouragement, and purpose.

Thomas’ Cherish transformed my thoughts toward my marriage. So, when I saw this devotional: Devotions for a Sacred Marriage: A Year of Weekly Devotions for Couples, I found myself immediately drawn to it. Earlier this week, I also picked up a copy of his most highly acclaimed book: Sacred Marriage.

Thomas gets it right. He doesn’t say marriage is easy and that we’ll always be adored by our spouses and adore them. He says it’s hard, but worth it. He encourages husbands and wives to love their spouses as God loves them. Thomas shares many truths, encouragements, and ideas: that obligations, not expectations, are key; that by honoring our spouses we honor God, and a gentle reminder that our spouses are God’s children—therefore, in a sense, God is our father and father-in-law.

I read the book in just a few days (not how it’s intended), and as I recalled my reading, I summarized Thomas’ message as this: we need to love our spouses. But because love is not as straightforward as it sounds, we need Thomas’ refreshing, culture-countering book.

This book has a devotion for each week of the year. If you can’t picture you and your spouse sitting down together to read this book, don’t let that stop you—read it yourself. I did, and undoubtedly will be again.

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.

The Berenstain Bears Friendship Blessings Collection by Jan and Mike Berenstain

The Berenstain Bears Friendship Blessings Collection by Jan and Mike Berenstain contains five books: “Perfect Fishing Spot,” “Reap the Harvest,” “Faithful Friends,” “Kindness Counts,” and “God Made You Special.”

As always, the stories focus on important life lessons for kids—appropriate for ages 2-7.

As a kid, Berenstain books were my favorite stories. I liked the pictures and the words. The new “Living Lights” Berenstain Bears series has the same pictures of the Bear Family that I remember from my childhood. It’s as though they’ve transcended time and nothing has changed. I like that about the books. However, I don’t feel that the stories of the new Berenstain Bears series, the stories in this collection included, are as in-depth and detailed as the stories I read as a child. For example, “Perfect Fishing Spot,” the first story in this collection, is written as a rhyming poem. In my perspective, the rhyme simplifies the story and targets an audience of toddlers rather than children. Also, throughout the various stories the Bears don’t seem to have their own voices/personalities. Brother and Sister talk the same way, and sometimes their use of Bible verses seems forced.

Nonetheless, I will continue to read the Berenstain Bears books because of nostalgia, the illustrations, and the simple lessons they teach. My favorites in this collection are “Kindness Counts” and “God Made You Special” because they feature fresh plots: rocket launching and a cub with a disability.

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

"Thank you, God, for Grandpa"

Just like Amy Parker and Rosalinda Kightley’s “Thank you, God, for Grandma,” their book “Thank you, God, for Grandpa,” is a delightful picture book celebrating the bonds between grandpas and grandchildren.

Grandpa gorilla is shadowed by a girl and a boy who are enthralled with all of his grandpa abilities – throwing a curve ball, teaching them everything because he knows everything, how to fish, how to skip rocks, and more. The kids listen to Grandpa tell stories, and he spoils them when they eat ice cream sundaes.

This book accurately depicts the endearing relationship between grandpas and grandchildren. Most importantly, Grandpa gorilla, tells his grandchildren how to pray and trust God.

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

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.

Thank you, God, for Grandma by Amy Parker

Grandmas are a blessing (and so are grandchildren, so I’m told!), and this book, “Thank you, God, for Grandma” by Amy Parker and illustrated by Rosalinda Kightley is a colorful adventure to show kids how much fun their grandmas are.

The book reads as a sweet poem—each of the page spreads carries four lines of text on top of pictures of snuggly bears adventuring outside and inside. The cubs learn from Grandma, have fun with Grandma, and thank God for Grandma.

The pictures are appealing, and the message is simple. I can imagine toddlers wanting to read this over and over again!

This would also be a neat gift to give to a soon-to-be-grandma as a pregnancy announcement!

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

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.

32 Yolks by Eric Ripert

Eric Ripert's 32 Yolks: From my Mother's Table to Working the Line tells the story of Ripert from childhood to young adulthood. The first few chapters of the book tell of his parents' divorce, his step-father's abuse, and his father's death.

The latter part of the book focuses on Ripert's time as a chef in various restaurants under the tutelage of men whom he would later in life recognize as his mentors.

For me, the defining quality of an audio book is the engagement level of the reader. Peter Gamin read this book and was an engaging presenter.

If you’re going to listen to this book in a vehicle, beware that parts of the story are inappropriate for children (swearing and accounts of abuse).

The story kept my attention. I wasn’t nearly as interested in the first part of the book as I was in the second, but the story had good forward momentum.

The story is well written. In addition to learning the author’s story, readers become acquainted with the mountains of Andora, the working conditions of France, and the retail experience of affluent Parisians and Spaniards.

The best part of this book is the cooking lessons that pour from the pages. Ripert describes in detail how he cuts vegetables, sautes certain dishes, and prepares a variety of meat.

This book is a definite crowd pleaser for the food connoisseur and home chef.