Doing Something New: A Prayer for Beginnings by Mitali Perkins [Review & Giveaway]

Doing Something New: A Prayer for Beginnings

$18.99, 32 pages, 9x9 hardcover - Details
Ages 4–8 - InterVarsity Press

Jesus, now I come to you,
at the start of something new . . .

Children all encounter change differently. And whether a new year, a new school, a new neighborhood, or a new team, change can be hard.

Through Doing Something New, award-winning author Mitali Perkins reminds kids that wherever they go and whatever they do, in all of these changes they are not alone: Jesus is with them. And not only is Jesus with them, but he also understands and empathizes with them because he, too, has experienced new and difficult things.

In Doing Something New, you'll find

• a heartfelt prayer kids can lift to God during times of newness and change,
• a charming story brought to life through Andrés Landazábal’s vibrant illustrations of children in new everyday situations, and
• a note from the author to encourage further conversation about trusting Jesus in the midst of hard things.

Doing Something New is a prayer that offers children―and the adults who read with them―language to pray in times of change or stress. Rooted in the promises of the Beatitudes found in Matthew 5:3-10, this book provides comfort and reassurance that everything matters to Jesus.

My thoughts:  In this sweet children's picture book based on the Beatitudes in the Gospel of Matthew, the author instructs the young school age child who has moved into a new school area (or is beginning school for the first time) to face the unknown that awaits him by relating to Jesus' own experiences and how to find peace within and guidance for actions based on the Biblical text. (Scripture used is the Holy Bible New Living Translation)

These gentle teachings are wonderfully executed for the child as he faces these life changes and challenges. They help him with his choices to "join the crowd," "protect the mistreated by a bully," "find friendship," etc. 

The basic teaching is simply to trust Jesus and hold on to him for all of life's needs. This is sweetly taught in illustrations and text.

Share Doing Something New with the children in your life and help them see how Jesus is with them in every moment of their lives.

Click here to purchase at IVP

GIVEAWAY

Begins September 30

Ends October 30 @ 11:59 p.m. EDT

Open to USA residents/addresses only.

Doing Something New: A Prayer for Beginnings by Mitali Perkins

DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy from InterVarsity Press to facilitate a review. Opinions are mine alone and are freely given. Winner's prize copy is provided by and mailed directly to the winner by IVP or their publicist. Chat With Vera is not responsible for lost or misdirected prizes. Winner will be notified via email to the address used in the Gleam.io entry platform. They will have 48 hours to respond with requested information. 

Field Day Frenzy: A Christian Chapter Book Packed with Furry Friends, Funny Adventures, & Life Lessons on Teamwork (Book #14) by Mike Nawrocki

One of the most exciting days in the school year is Field Day. It means no classwork. It means fun, activity, competition, out-of-doors events, and usually some good food. So let's go on an adventure with The Dead Sea Squirrels on "Field Day Frenzy"!

About the book:  A Christian Chapter Book Packed with Furry Friends, Funny Adventures, and Life Lessons on Teamwork

The Dead Sea Squirrels action-packed adventure series continues with the ultimate teamwork test—Field Day!

Go, Team, Go!

It’s Field Day at Walnut Creek Elementary School and Michael is named Team Captain. But his greed for victory makes him overlook his classmates whose unique strengths could be the key to beating the fourth-grade team, specifically Edgar. Merle and Pearl Squirrel need to speak some sense into Michael, but they’re too busy escaping from the family cat and avoiding the school reporter, Sanjay. Will Michael listen to what they have to say about leadership in time to win?

Book #14 in the popular Christian kids’ series packed with adventure and family-friendly humor from the co-creator of VeggieTales

• Cute and funny illustrations that will appeal to even the most reluctant readers
• Positive messages that promote biblical values
• Young readers will learn about working together in the same way as the Body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12)
• Enjoy the animated series streaming on Minno!

My thoughts:  This is a lively, engaging series for young readers around fourth and fifth grade. It will make a good read-aloud series for younger children - at parents discretion. The premise of finding deceased squirrels from 1,000 years ago during an archeological dig at the time of the discover of the real Dead Sea Scrolls (look it up, it's fascinating Biblical find) then those long dead squirrels becoming alive and involved in the kid's lives is a plot that kids will find fun to read about.

As the story progresses, the field day participants learn about teamwork and participate in a variety of field day activities. The squirrels have their difficulties with trying to avoid the school newspaper reporter. All-in-all a fun read for adventurous kids. Readers will relate to their own school's field day games and activities.

Here's where you can buy it! ➡️Click Me ⬅️

🐿️DISCLOSURE: I received complimentary copies to facilitate a review. Opinions are mine, alone and are freely given. #thedeadseasquirrels #TyndaleKids #TyndaleHouse #sponsored #PaidPromotion 

David's Diary series chapter books provides good faith-forward reading for kids [Giveaway]

USA Today bestselling author Bunmi Laditan writes David's Diary #1: The Summer Camp Disaster, David's Diary #2: The Science Fair Sabotage, and David's Diary #3: The Big Bully. 

Don't miss these for kids ages 6 to 10!

David's Diary #1: The Summer Camp Disaster

We meet David Jesse King, a precocious nine-year-old whose first time at church camp is turning out to be not-so-fun. David is absolutely thrilled to be at a real, honest-to-goodness, actual sleepaway camp! He can’t wait to jump into the lake, climb an oak tree, see a brown bear, fly down the mountain on the zipline—it’s going to be the best week of David’s life! 

But when another kid dumps a huge bowl of chocolate pudding on him, David’s first time at church camp is ruined. Can he fix things by getting revenge? Or is there another way for David to still have a fun week?

 

David's Diary #2: The Science Fair Sabotage

Incorrigible and precocious David Jesse King has high hopes of winning the Faith & Fun Science Fair—until someone sabotages his chances! 

David loves school - especially since he just won third place in in his school's science fair AND his class has entered the regional Faith & Fun Science Fair! It’ll cost $500 for their class to go to regionals, and David is ready to be the top fundraiser and make it happen. 

The only thing standing in his way is Abby, the new girl who seems to be good at everything and keeps stealing David's thunder. Can David stop Abby from sabotaging his chances of being discovered as a scientific genius? And when someone steals their fundraising money, can he figure out who's sabotaging his entire class?
 

David's Diary #3: The Big Bully

David Jesse King confronts a new kid in school who turns out to be a bully. David can't wait to show everyone at school what he got for Christmas! But things take a turn when the new kid, Greg Putnam, sets his eyes on David’s cherished gift. 

Will David find a way to deal with Greg's bullying on his own? Or will being Greg's number-one target keep David trembling in fear? 

With its engaging narrative, The Big Bully explores ways young readers can stand up against bullying with courage while leaving room for forgiveness.

My thoughts on the series: I think this is a delightful series. It includes the bad side of growing kids' characters and helps them overcome their faults. It isn't real "preachy" but it is definitely Christian. The kids are in a Christian Academy and face their school-day challenges. They attend a Christian sleepover camp with their church group. They learn faith based ways of changing their behavior and learning to forgive. A good series written as a boy's diary in his own quirky "kid-voice." 

GIVEAWAY

Enter to win 2 books

Begins September 21

Ends October 22 @ 11:59 p.m. EDT

Open to USA addresses only.

DAVID'S DIARY #1 Summer Camp Disaster + DAVID'S DIARY #2 Science Fair Sabotage

DISCLOSURE: I received complimentary copies to facilitate a review. Opinions are mine, alone and are freely given. Winner's prize is books #1 and #2. Prize will be provided by and sent directly to the winner by publicist or publisher. Chat With Vera is not responsible for lost or misdirected prizes.

Autumn's Abundance: An Indigenous Celebration of Nature by Kaitlin B. Curtice & illustrated by Eduardo Marticorena

Autumn's Abundance: An Indigenous Celebration of Nature  

About the book: In this joyous celebration of autumn, a young Indigenous boy learns how to receive love from Creator and Mother Earth—and how to share that love with others.

Bo, a proud Potawatomi boy, loves the coming of autumn—the turning of the leaves, the cooling weather, the last harvests from his garden. All around him he can see the love and abundance that Creator and  Mother Earth give to all living creatures. But Bo knows that not everyone feels abundance in their lives. What can Bo and his friends do to share love and abundance with those around them?

My thoughts:  This is a really cute book and story about children learning to appreciate the beauty of Autumn and to be thankful for the abundance of the Autumn harvest of good things to eat. It is illustrated joyfully and with really cute scenes and activities. Pictured, too, is a  mix of ethnic backgrounds. So from this standpoint, this is a lovely book.

However, when I agreed to review this title, I missed seeing that the story involved teachings about the Earth's abundance and beauty coming from "Creator" and "Mother Earth." Even the Sun and Moon have names - Grandfather Sun and Grandmother Moon. I do think that at some point in our children's lives we need to introduce them to varied belief systems and help them see the differences in those and our own. In our home, that belief system is Christian; and we believe in God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. In Christianity that is the Trinity and it is a monotheistic belief. Therefore, this really cute, sweet, idea-positive picture book basically is about a belief system contrary to that which I promote.

The publisher is Random House Publishing and their Convergent imprint which is an imprint of the Random House Publishing Group headquartered in New York, Convergent publishes in the categories of spiritual practice, personal growth, self-help, relationships, memoir, etc. 

DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy to facilitate a review. Opinions are mine, alone and are freely given. 

Grow Wild My Child by Ainsley Arment [Review & Giveaway]

 Grow Wild My Child

My thoughts:  This is a lovely book about a child, or children, who live in a location and have the opportunity to wander the out-of-doors where they live and explore, investigate, handle, see, create, utilize, and just generally make the out-of-doors their world of play and intellectual growth. It is a dying existence. And that is a true shame.

Unstructured play and time to explore the world around them is the best way for a child to grow and develop their minds and bodies. It doesn't replace intellectual stimulation that comes from books, creative art and music, and education or educational play. But it is a vital aspect of humanity and the growth of the human mind and experience.

That being said, in Grow Wild My Child the author takes the reader on a meandering journey through the seasons as children - specifically a young boy - explore and play with the world outside. I love the story and the parent's recognition that her child's interest in the outside world is good for him. The illustrations beautifully follow the child on his explorations. 

The rhyming text is not the best "poetry," but it has a certain aspect that enhances the reading. 

Now a little down side to the story and title..... the use of the word "Wild." No parent wants a truly wild child, untamed, uncivilized, untrained, uneducated. So implanting the idea in the mind of a young child that behavior that is "wild" is o.k. is treading on thin ice. I see the intent of the author, but just have that slight concern that it could be misinterpreted.

All-in-all I think this is a very good book and I recommend it.

About the book:Wander through the world's classroom to learn, play, discover, and make the most of childhood. In this lyrical picture book from Wild + Free homeschool-community founder and bestselling author Ainsley Arment, your family will be inspired to make every day a growing experience through wonder, curiosity, adventure, and connection.

In this poetic adventure, you will discover the delight of education through experience--exploring nature, reading great books, and pursuing new interests; that childhood is sacred, and children should be given the freedom to grow up slowly; and that alongside loving guidance, the wider world offers children room to grow, learn, and become who they were meant to be.

Grow Wild, My Child is perfect for . . .

• boys and girls, ages 4 to 8;
• families who enjoy nature and art, value giving their children safe spaces to make their own discoveries, and for those families who have chosen to homeschool; and
• gifts for birthdays, grade-school graduations, Christmas, and Mother's Day.

Inspire your family to get dirt between their toes, reach for the sky, welcome exploration, and follow where adventure leads.

🌳🐿️GIVEAWAY🐿️🌳

Begins Sept. 13

Ends October 14 @ 11:59 p.m. EDT

Open to USA addresses only.

Grow Wild My Child

DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy to facilitate a review. Opinions are mine, alone and are freely given. Winner's prize copy is provided by and mailed/shipped to winner by publisher or publisher's publicist. Chat With Vera is not responsible for lost or misdirected prizes. 

How to Have a Thought: A Walk with Charles Darwin by Nicholas Day & illustrated by Hadley Hooper

How to Have a Thought: A Walk with Charles Darwin  

  

ISBN: 9780823458509
Neal Porter Books ~ $19.99 USD
Holiday House Publishing

My thoughts:  The cover of this children's picture book and the title "How To Have A Thought" were enticing. Firstly, I love lovely children's picture books. Secondly, the idea of the book's imparting a concept on how to have a thought - how to think, or have an idea - was especially appealing. Charles Darwin was obviously a "thinker" and his ideas were certainly original and controversial.

The book explains how Darwin took daily walks, sometimes more than one a day, to clear his head and open it to the thinking process. That's when he had his "thoughts." He would get a rock, a stick, and his dog. He'd walk in a loop. As he did so, he would have a stack of rocks and knock one off with each loop-around in his walk. Some thoughts were one-loop walks and some took more loops around.

So basically, the book is about Darwin's having a healthy habit from which he benefited both in his body and his mind's processes.

In the book's story, it touches a bit on Darwin's discoveries of differences in birds and other animals or critters. Finches having slightly different beaks seemed to be a starting point in his realization of minute variations in creatures virtually the same. He began to speculate on these various differences in creatures and how they point to survival of the fittest.

I think the book's conceptual presentation of taking a walk on a regular basis as beneficial for good thinking is well worth the read. I also think the illustrations are good. I found the idea of evolution or survival of the fittest one that is not suitable for the ages intended to enjoy this book. Also, the back material provides more detailed information on Darwin and his theories. Again, these are not suitable content for ages 4-8.

I can't recommend this book.

About the book: Take a walk with Charles Darwin in this electrifying new picture book from Sibert Medalist Nicholas Day.

How do you work through a complicated idea, solve a tricky problem, or make a big discovery? Charles Darwin had a lot of ways to do it. He paced in circles and hit rocks with a stick. He studied the bones of his dinner. He even rode around the world on a boat called The Beagle.

These methods may sound unorthodox, but they led him to some pretty great thoughts—and discoveries about the origins of life as we know it.

Sibert Medalist Nicholas Day's conversational text has all the charm of a true story told by your smartest, most interesting friend. With Hadley Hooper's engrossingly textured illustrations, How to Have a Thought is both an introduction to Darwin and an invitation to live with brilliant curiosity.

DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy to facilitate a review. Opinions are mine, alone and are freely given.

The Good Farmer and the Worried Donkey by Hannah E. Harrison & published by ZonderKidz

ISBN: 9780310163992 ~ Hardcover $19.99 USD ~ ZonderKidz ~ Ages 4+

My thoughts:  I thought The Good Shepherd and the Stubborn Sheep was good, but The  Good Farmer and the Worried Donkey is exceptionally good. A sweet story about a kind farmer who rescues a little donkey from a harsh taskmaster is beautifully illustrated in gentle story-telling art that is a comfort to view. The story is sweet and the Biblical application is superb!

Parents can gently teach their young children about the perils of a life of sin (a wicked taskmaster) and the redemptive deeds of a loving God (pictured as the Good Farmer). They can see the care and love that the farmer pours into this little donkey. They can see how the patience, care, understanding, and unburdening actions of the loving farmer are a nice picture of our loving God.

I highly recommend this sweet book. Perhaps you'll enjoy both of these books for your child's library. Also, if you loved The Good Shepherd and the Stubborn Sheep, you'll love this new one about the Worried Donkey, too!

Purchase Your Copy ➡️CLICK HERE

About the book: The Good Farmer and the Worried Donkey is an honest and heartwarming picture book that reminds us that we are not alone and God is our strength. This story beautifully captures the essence of Matthew 11 (“his yoke is easy and his burden is light”) and the parable of the sower.

Charlie is a small donkey who works for the miller, but he’s not the strongest and he sometimes makes the miller mad. When a farmer comes and takes Charlie to a beautiful farm, Charlie worries that if he disappoints the farmer, the farmer will no longer want him. But Charlie is in for a surprise, because his farmer is a Good Farmer who is patient, wise, understanding, and strong. Through both touching and humorous moments, Charlie learns about his special place on the farm and why he can trust the Good Farmer with his worries.

The Bible is full of references to seeds, wheat, and farming, but what do those stories tell us about the attributes of God? Or how can we learn to rely on God? In a time when anxiety rates among children are on the rise, The Good Farmer and the Worried Donkey uses a relatable character and a riveting story to bring biblical truth to life for kids and illustrate how we can cast our cares on God.

From Hannah Harrison, the author and illustrator of the Christlit Book Award-winning and ECPA best-selling The Good Shepherd and the Stubborn Sheep, The Good Farmer and the Worried Donkey is perfect for:

• children ages 4 and up
• family devotions and bedtime reading
• discussions about what it means to have a burden and a yoke, the meaning of the parable of the sower, and the importance of casting your cares on God
• Sunday school lessons and church libraries
• fall and harvest celebrations and gift-giving occasions

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Hannah E. Harrison is the author and illustrator of seven picture books, including The Good Shepherd and the Stubborn Sheep, a 2025 Christlit Book Award-winner, The Gospel Coalition Children’s Book Award-winner, and Christianity Today’s picture book of the year; Extraordinary Jane, named a Kirkus Best Animal Book of the year; Bear Is Awake!, an Amazon Editors’ Pick; My Friend Maggie, winner of the Bill Martin Jr. Award; and Poopsie Gets Lost, which earned the Redbud Read-Aloud Award. Her books have also received numerous starred reviews and have been selected for book clubs. Hannah is originally from New Hampshire, but now lives in Oklahoma with her big-hearted husband and two delightful daughters.

DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy of this book to facilitate a review. Opinions are mine, alone and are freely given.