Harriet Hurry-Up and the Oh-So-Slow Day! by Allia Zobel Nolan & illustrated by Alexandra Colombo (ISBN-9780825448577) [Review & Giveaway]

My thoughts:  Harriet is a lively, sweet, God-loving little girl whose inner-motor runs on high and so she speeds through everything. Her impatience is a problem and she know it is. She is astute enough to recognize this and to also recognize that God can help her.

The illustrations show fast-moving young Harriet rushing through her day with her gorgeous red hair flying and her face expressing her joy in living.

The bonds of family are strongly illustrated in this sweet book as they all love and support Harriet. At the end of the book there is a page of hints to help parents and hints to help children deal with impatience.

I highly recommend.

About the book: "Can you send me some patience, God? Please?"

Harriet's mom calls her Harriet Hurry-Up—and it's easy to see why. There's nothing this little girl can't stand more than waiting. From a slowpokey sun that won't rise before she does, to the shy sprouts on her school potato experiment, to the long line at the store with Mom, everything takes forever for Harriet. Why, oh, why can't this day just go faster?

But with her Gran's help, this impatient little girl is learning to trust God's timing and find the blessings he puts in every single day—if she can just slow down long enough to see them. Secret word: patience

With rhymed text that kids will love and colorful, whimsical illustrations full of surprises, Harriet Hurry-Up and the Oh-So-Slow Day! will quickly become a family favorite. It's perfect for birthdays, back-to-school reading, and for anyone—child or adult—who finds that having patience is hard.

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1 copy of: Harriet Hurry-Up & the Oh-So-Slow Day!

Begins September 12

Ends October 10 @ 12:01 a.m. EDT

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

God's Not Dead: In God We Trust - new release movie in Theaters September 12 [Review & Giveaway]

My thoughts: I highly anticipated this faith-based movie.  I really wanted to like this movie because of the overall premise that Christians should have a voice in the public square, and also that Christians should have the opportunity to vote for those who will uphold Christian morals and standards of government. However, I found much of the movie unappealing to me, personally.

I felt that the pastor in the movie should have been more "pulled together" in his personal style. He looked unkempt and unappealing. (I don't know if this was the chosen of portrayal by the actor or because of director's guidance?) He did not appear to be strong intellectually, and seemed to be easily manipulated by a political faction that wanted to use his voice simply because it would strengthen their own political goals. So not a good representation of Christian pastors I respect.

I felt that the opposition party in the election campaign was presented as basically satanic in beliefs and actions. No, the movie didn't depict devil worship or anything so strong and contrary to Christianity, but it was a bit off-putting. 

The acting was not the worse but neither was it top grade. 

Perhaps the release of this movie at this time in the USA is meant to sway the presidential election just mere weeks after the movie's release. It doesn't look as though the characters are meant to emulate current real life people involved in present day elections, but the premise seems to be that of presenting the American two major political parties. I find this unappealing.  

So I'd give the movie perhaps a 3-star rating; but I did find it worthwhile to watch.

Synopsis: Amid political and spiritual turmoil, Reverend David Hill steps up to run for Congress after an incumbent's sudden death. Battling against Peter Kane, who aims to erase religion from policy, David's fight becomes a beacon of hope and optimism for people seeking moral leadership in a divided world.

GIVEAWAY

$10 Amazon Gift Card

Begins September 1

Ends September 20 @ 12:01 a.m. EDT

Open to USA addresses only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

DISCLOSURE: Many thanks to Pinnacle Peak Pictures for providing a sample of the product for this review. Opinions are 100% my own. I received a screener's link to view the movie, "God's Not Dead: In God We Trust," prior to public release. Opinions given are my own. I received a small renumeration for posting and reviewing the film. Winner's Amazon gift card is provided by movie producer and/or publicist and will be emailed directly to the winner. Chat With Vera is not responsible for lost or misdirected prizes.

An interesting Dictionary Story & a book asking "Where? - are you from....." from Candlewick Press

The Dictionary Story by Oliver Jeffers (Author, Illustrator), Sam Winston (Author, Illustrator) (9781536235500) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

My thoughts:  Now this is quite an interesting and a bit quirky book. First of all the inside cover pages look like a dictionary (words in bold, pronunciation, and definition) but it isn't in alphabetical order. As you scan down a column of words you see that the bold words make up a sentence (with each word defined, but in a quirky, unusual, and interesting manner). 

Then the Dictionary Story actual starts with the idea that whilst other books tell an actual story, a dictionary doesn't even though it has ALL the WORDS used in a story. So one day the Dictionary decides to bring it's words alive for a story. Then in the midst of the "A" page, an Alligator breaks through the type fonts and the story emerges. (Of special note: the author/illustrator has the words virtually falling off the page from the destructive force of Alligator's bursting through.)

As the story progresses through the pages, and the words from A to Z, Alligator sniffs a Donut that escapes and rolls just out of Alligator's bite.

Well, you get the gist. This is a delightfully funny book. It has many opportunities for fun reading including reading the definitions of a plethora of words (bummer that the print is so small, but it's doable).  

I absolutely love this quirky book.

About the book:  From the award-winning creative team of Oliver Jeffers and Sam Winston comes an enchanting and imaginative picture book certain to delight word lovers of any age.

Dictionary wishes she could tell a story like other books. So one day, she decides to bring her words to life. How exciting it is to finally have an adventure on her very own pages! But what will she do when her characters collide and everything gets all in a jumble, causing the most enormous tantrum to explode? This isn’t what she wanted at all! Luckily her friend Alphabet knows exactly what to do and sings a song that brings calm and order to Dictionary’s pages once again.

Where?  by Jordon Collier (9781536232738) ⭐⭐

My thoughts:  When I agreed to review this children's book, I assumed it was simply a sweet children's book that dealt with understanding our differences such as our different cultures, skin color, hair, customs, speech. Frankly, I'm just an older Southern lady that hasn't traveled a great deal; and I am fascinated by our differences and love talking with folks about their background, history, cultures. I'll never get to meet a Chinese person in China, an African in Africa, and a modern-day Inca descendent from South America. But I respect them and would love to give them the opportunity to share their background (current or historical) with  me.

So every time someone asks "Where are you from" it isn't racial! It is a natural curiosity and real interest in who they are and what makes them different from me, an uninteresting American from the South.

I take issue with polluting children's minds with political trash. 

Now about this book..... The art is interesting and lends itself well to the telling that the "where" of the body's composition is the same as that of the entire universe. This is true in that we are composed of atoms and other teeny tiny bits and molded into the form that is human. Personally, I have a firm believe that we are created by God and that He also created the entire universe.

The write up for this book should have alerted me to it's contents and purpose when it said "A passionate, personal and political picture book that calls out racism..." When I read the write up about the author, I see she is politically "woke" and uses "they/their" in the description of herself. Firstly, she is entitled to call herself whatever she wants, but she has incorrectly used the pronouns and this creates difficult in reading. An author should endeavor to always use correct punctuation, grammar, and spelling. 

So I can not endorse this little book. A shame, since you take out politics, racism, etc. you find an interesting take on identity where a child can see himself as part and parcel of the entire universe.

Book description: A passionate, personal and political picture book that calls out racism from an important new voice, illustrated by the acclaimed artist of Feathers.

'Where are you from?' they say.

What they mean is,

'Why is your skin that colour?'

'Why does your hair look like that?'

I am from the mountains,

The seas and the sky.

I am from children of millions of years,

A timeline of humanity.

I am from this planet

And all others.

A heartfelt picture book that challenges racism from an exciting new voice that is both a cry of pain and a demonstration of inner strength, which takes us on an intergalactic journey past collapsing stars and glowing nebulae to remind us not of our differences but of our shared humanity.

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

In theaters soon..... "God's Not Dead: In God We Trust"

 

Buy tickets today to see God’s Not Dead: In God We Trust in theaters starting September 12th!

BUY TICKETS @ CLICK HERE

Review coming soon!
Enter Giveaway Below

Synopsis: Amid political and spiritual turmoil, Reverend David Hill steps up to run for Congress after an incumbent's sudden death. Battling against Peter Kane, who aims to erase religion from policy, David's fight becomes a beacon of hope and optimism for people seeking moral leadership in a divided world.

Watch for Vera's review - September 11

GIVEAWAY

$10 Amazon Gift Card

Begins September 1

Ends September 21 @ 12:01 a.m. EDT

Open to USA addresses only.

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DISCLOSURE: Secret word: trust - I received a screener's link to view the movie, "God's Not Dead: In God We Trust," prior to public release. Opinions given are my own. I received a small renumeration for posting and reviewing the film. Winner's Amazon gift card is provided by movie producer and/or publicist and will be emailed directly to the winner. Chat With Vera is not responsible for lost or misdirected prizes.

Life in Christ Bible: Discovering, Believing, & Rejoicing in Who God Says You Are (NKJV) [Review & Giveaway]

 As many of my readers already know, my preferred version of the Bible, God's Word, is the traditional KJV (King James Version). I grew up using this Bible and have used it my entire life. It seems to have fallen out of favor in today's world with the option to use a plethora of translations or versions. The closest, to my knowledge, is the NKJV (New King James Version). The NKJV is the one used in this Life in Christ Bible. 

A Bible, without any notes or additives, is God's Word. Notes, commentaries, explanations tucked within the pages of a Bible are there for study, understanding, and application to one's personal life what God is saying to you, and mankind, in His Word. The added notes and commentaries are not God's Word and in any Bible should be considered separately. They are intended as aides.

About The Life in Christ Bible: God has a purpose for your life in this moment. You have a part to play in what He is doing in the world. But knowing why you are here starts with knowing who God says you are. The Life in Christ Bible invites you to embrace your identity and purpose as you:

• Discover why you matter-not because of anything you do, but because you are made in the image of God.
• Explore how the gospel of Jesus Christ makes you a new person.
• Learn how who God says you are changes how you think, speak, work, and move through the world.

My review: The main focus on this  printing of the Bible is an encouragement of study that reveals the good news in the Bible that we are all  "made in the image of God and conformed to the image of Christ (Genesis 1:27; Romans 8:29)." The Life in Christ Bible aids in learning just what it means to bear the image of God and find our identity in Christ. 

This Bible is a lovely, well constructed printing of the New King James Version. Bound meticulously for strength and beauty and covered with a soft brown leatherette (artificial leather) cover that is flexible, easy to hold, and lays flat. This one will give years of service as you study God's Word.

As I've said previously, my personal preference in versions is the tradition, time-tested King James Version. The NKJV is close and yields a more modern language which some prefer. I also prefer the verse by verse style, but the Life In Christ Bible NKJV is printed in single column paragraph format with individual verses identified with tiny numbering.

As with any good study Bible, this one has cross references and notes throughout. Also included, are many short articles focusing on subjects dealing with our identity in Christ. Lovely maps are included as are many other really nice aids to guided study and understanding.

Click Here to ORDER/PRE-ORDER The Life in Christ Bible today!

 

Enter this GIVEAWAY for a copy of the Life In Christ Bible (Brown LeatherSoft version)

Life in Christ Bible (NKJV, Brown
Leathersoft, Red Letter, Comfort Print)

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Begins August 31

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DISCLOSURE: Secret word: Holy - I was provided a complimentary copy to facilitate a review. Opinions are mine, alone and are freely given. Winner's prize copy is provided and mailed/shipped directly to the winner by Thomas Nelson Bible and/or publicist. Chat With Vera is not responsible for lost or misdirected prizes.

Veil of Destruction (Kessler Effect #3) by Vannetta Chapman [Giveaway & ReviewMy

My thoughts:  While reading Veil of Destruction, I found the possibilities of life and civilization post-massive world wide destruction fleshed out in stark reality that causes me to pause and pray that this does not befall mankind.

Often dystopian or post-apocalyptic stories involve horrific natural disasters - earthquakes, floods, fires, meteors colliding with Earth. In this series the disaster that has shut down the world as people know it was due to the Kessler Effect - a complete shutdown of the Earth's satellites and subsequent electric grid closing and technology use ending. This means no water, no electricity, no sanitation facilities, no heat, no food production. It means chaos and discord.

In VEIL OF DESTRUCTION a group of 3 from the small University town of Alpine strike out through the barrenness that is Texas to find family that was in the big city of Dallas. They cautiously skirt any area that might have marauding gangs and areas of violence.

The pace of the storyline is steady as is the group's progress through the barrenness. They do encounter goodwill and help but they also find meanness and greed. 

Their final encounter almost costs them dearly.

What I'm looking forward to in the next book in the series, Veil of Stillness..... The old man Joshua - who is he and his story ... The settling into life with daily hardships.... The possibility of overcoming the loss of societies' amenities lost in the June 6 event.

As usual, the author tells a good story that is clean, decent, and pleasant reading.

About the book: How far would you go to save your brother?

It’s been six months since all of the lower orbital satellites crashed to Earth. Akule Lopez has waited through every one of those days...waited to see her brother arrive home in Alpine.

Now she’s done waiting. Winter has fallen across the desolate Texas landscape. Rumors of war and insurrection abound. Akule doesn’t know how she’ll get from Alpine to Dallas. She doesn’t even know that her brother is still there. But she does know that she’s going to find out.

Her father doesn’t want her to go, but Akule isn’t a child anymore. She doesn’t need her father’s permission. She also understands that if she goes, if she dies in the attempt, then her father will have lost both of his children. She won’t let that happen. If it’s the last thing she ever does, she will find Paco and bring him home.

What sacrifice is too big, when it seems your life has been draped in a Veil of Destruction?

From USA Today Bestselling author Vannetta Chapman comes a survival series unlike any other.

Veil of Destruction is book three in a new post-apocalyptic survival thriller series from USA Today Bestselling Author Vannetta Chapman. An exciting contribution to the genre of disaster fiction, this is a series that will keep you reading late into the night.

Kessler Effect Series

• Veil of Mystery
• Book 1: Veil of Anarchy my review
• Book 2: Veil of Confusion my review
• Book 3: Veil of Destruction
• Book 4: Veil of Stillness

Enter Giveaway for Amazon Gift Card to help purchase a copy of Veil of Destruction

GIVEAWAY

Begins August 31

Ends September 28 @ 12:01 a.m. EDT

Open to USA addresses only.

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DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy of book to facilitate a review. Opinions ae mine, alone and are freely given. Winner's gift card prize is provided by Ms. Chapman and is emailed or mailed directly to the winner per Ms. Chapman's affiliation. Chat With Vera is not responsible for lost or misdirected prizes.

New kiddie books from Thomas Nelson: Jack & Scarlett: I've Got the Joy & He's Got the Whole World in His Hands [Review & Giveaway]

Jack and Scarlett: I've Got the Joy by Listener Kids, Alan Brown

My thoughts:  Friends Jack & Scarlett are on a camping trip and they are having a happy, joyous time. They are enjoying the out-of-doors and finding things to do. They are very happy. 

Adorable illustrations capture the fun of camping. There are several prompts suggesting child involvement - touch, count, find. And finally, at the back of the book, are the words to the beloved song "I've Got the Joy." 

I love this little book and recommend it.

About the book:  Featuring fun, cute, and oh-so-fluffy Listener Kids stars Jack and Scarlett, I've Got the Joy, an interactive board book for littles, is the perfect way to get kids thinking critically and engaged in this simple story about joy.

I've Got the Joy is an interactive board book for kids featuring YouTube's Listener Kids stars Jack and Scarlett. Through interactive prompts, scripture, and a classic kid's church song, little readers are invited to tag along as Jack and Scarlett have the time of their lives while camping and experience true joy. Secret word: Joy 

Jack and Scarlett: I've Got the Joy is perfect for

• active toddlers and preschoolers who will love participating in the story, 
• fans of the YouTube channel Listener Kids, 
• praise music, or classic children's songs, and 
• teaching kids what it means to have joyful hearts.

Listener Kids is a provider of Christ-centered music and videos—and now books!—that are perfect for kids. Their modern versions of classic Sunday school and Bible songs not only get kids singing and dancing but also instill values that Christian parents appreciate. Join in the fun, and jump, sing, and dance for joy with Jack and Scarlett!

Jack and Scarlett: He's Got the Whole World in His Hands by Listener Kids, Alan Brown

My thoughts: A charming and sweet animal story about fear and trusting God to take care of yourself. Prayer. Singing. Trust. 

The words for singing "He's Got the Whole World In His Hands"  are at the end of the book and opens an opportunity to joyfully sing this beloved song. If it isn't know to the family, then search for the music online and learn it. What an opportunity to have joy in the midst of fear.

I recommend this sweet book from Tommy Nelson books. 

About the book:  Featuring fun, cute, and oh-so-fluffy Listener Kids stars Jack and Scarlett, He's Got the Whole World in His Hands, an interactive board book for littles, is the perfect way to get kids thinking critically and engaged in this simple story about God's love and protection.

He's Got the Whole World in His Hands is an interactive board book for kids featuring YouTube's Listener Kids stars Jack and Scarlett. Through interactive prompts, scripture, and a classic church song, toddlers and preschoolers are invited to join Jack the squirrel and Scarlett the bunny as they face their fears during a thunderstorm and learn to trust in the Lord.

Jack and Scarlett: He's Got the Whole World in His Hands is perfect for:

• active toddlers and preschoolers who will love participating in the story, 
• fans of the YouTube channel Listener Kids, 
• praise music, or classic children's songs, and 
• parents who are teaching their kids how to trust in the Lord.

Listener Kids is a provider of Christ-centered music and videos--and now books!--that are perfect for kids. Their modern versions of classic Sunday school and Bible songs not only get kids singing and dancing but also instill values that Christian parents appreciate. Join in the fun and sing your worries away with Jack and Scarlett!

GIVEAWAY

2 Book titles reviewed in this post

Begins August 29

Ends September 26 @ 12:01 a.m. EDT

Open to USA addresses only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy to facilitate a review. Opinions are mine, alone and are freely given. Winner's books are provided and mailed directly to the winner by Tommy Nelson Publishing or publicist. Chat With Vera is not responsible for lost or misdirected prizes.