THE BIG MESS: A Deliciously Funny Story of Siblings Learning to Get Along by Justin Whitmel Earley & illustrated by Janna Mattia

Hardcover $18.99
ISBN: 9780310166375
ZonderKidz

My thoughts: This is an absolutely adorable children's picture book filled with soft, lively illustrations full of joy, mess, action, and splendiferous fun. A bizarre family with Mouse as big brother and Moose as little brother. Mouse cooks and creates dessert goodies and Moosie is flamboyantly active and destructive. 

Frustrated Mouse yells and screams at Moosie when his beautiful desert creations are ruined. There is so much mess!

And then a bright idea on how they can work together to create wonderful deserts is born and everyone benefits.

A really cute story told in rhyme that teaches a wonderful lesson of sibling cooperation and how to just simply get alone with each other and work together.

Here are a couple pages from the book.... read by Vera....

 

About the book: Welcome to the world of The Big Mess! This adventure-filled picture book from bestselling author Justin Whitmel Earley is packed with humor, chaos, and of course, a big mess! This heartwarming and relatable story about two siblings who must learn to get along reminds readers that, no matter how messy, life is better when shared with the ones you love. Follow along as big brother Mouse tries to bake the perfect dessert, only to be interrupted by his energetic yet clumsy, baby brother Moose. No matter how Mouse tries to avoid it, catastrophe strikes whenever Moose comes near, and every “perfect” dessert gets destroyed! Can Mouse learn how to navigate his relationship with his baby brother and come to appreciate Moose’s uniqueness and spirit?

About the book: Welcome to the world of The Big Mess! This adventure-filled picture book from bestselling author Justin Whitmel Earley is packed with humor, chaos, and of course, a big mess! This heartwarming and relatable story about two siblings who must learn to get along reminds readers that, no matter how messy, life is better when shared with the ones you love. Follow along as big brother Mouse tries to bake the perfect dessert, only to be interrupted by his energetic yet clumsy, baby brother Moose. No matter how Mouse tries to avoid it, catastrophe strikes whenever Moose comes near, and every “perfect” dessert gets destroyed! Can Mouse learn how to navigate his relationship with his baby brother and come to appreciate Moose’s uniqueness and spirit?

Where to purchase your copy

DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy to facilitate a review. Opinions are mine, alone and are freely given. #bigmess #siblingsbook #justinwhitmelearley #kidsbook #summerreading  @zonderkidz @justinwhitmelearley @jannamattia

When I Hear Spirituals by Cheryl Willis Hudson & illustrated by London Ladd [Review]

When I Hear Spirituals by Cheryl Willis Hudson & illustrated by London Ladd

Holiday House Publications
ISBN: 9780823453801
Hardcover $18.99

My thoughts:  Having been raised as a Southern white girl, I remember many of these songs. Spirituals. Soulful songs. I remember learning a little of the history behind some of them. Perhaps some will say it is wrong for a southern white child to learn to sing these spirituals so steeped with African American history. But we did sing them in school. No one made fun of them. No one talked ill about them. They were sung in music class as a means of teaching us a form of music whose epic history belonged to the South and a part of history with which we should be acquainted.

As I grew older, I learned more of the history and the people connected to this music and sorrow filled my own being to think of their sadness and pain and suffering. I was glad, though, that they had a spiritual connection to the God who could deliver them from their sorrows.

This book is a treasure to teach children of all races about the music that encouraged and brought a whisper of hope to those who sang it. There is a darkness in the book through the visual art and that is good because that was a dark period in history and there was darkness hovering over the African Americans. But in this darkness they sang of the undergirding strength they found in their faith as their spirits connected to God.

Libraries need this book. 

About the book: Your spirit will soar! A girl connects with heritage, history, and a higher power through the lyrics of twelve beloved spirituals and four seminal events in African American history.

A beautiful keepsake to be shared by multiple generations.

When I hear spirituals

Sometimes

A big, full feeling

Grows in my chest . . .

Her heart pounds, she gets a lump in her throat, and tears flow down her cheeks. She wants to clap her hands and stomp her feet. There is healing, tenderness, strength, pride, and above all, hope.

The author of the classic picture book Bright Eyes, Brown Skin, Cheryl Willis Hudson, has woven together lyrics of twelve timeless, Black spirituals with a moving exploration of how music holds memories, emotions, and empowerment.

Songs include “Go down, Moses,” “Nobody Knows the Troubles I See,” “Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child,” “Rock-a-My Soul,” “Get on Board, Little Children,” and more.

Evocative illustrations by award-winning artist London Ladd depict important people and places in Black history and culture: Harriet Tubman, Martin Luther King, Jr., the Great Migration, and the Enslaved People’s Uprising of 1811.

Journey through Black history and music in this layered picture book.

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

Training Young Hearts series: "Your Amazing Hands" & "Your Magnificent Mouth" [Review & Giveaway]

Your Magnificent Mouth: A Training Young Hearts rhyming book by Abbey Wedgeworth & illustrated by Emma Randall

My thoughts:  The author begins by teaching young children to appreciate all the things they can do with their mouth  - blow bubbles, chew, speak, laugh, sing -  things that most of them already do and they'll delight to talk about these things as the book is read to them. Then the author teaches that God actually spoke the world into existence with His mouth. What a correlation to consider that the God of all created all things by speaking a word with His mouth.

The good things we can do with our mouth are pointed out and also attention is taken to the bad things our mouths can do. But we don't despair because God who created out mouth can forgive us and help us to use our mouth for good things.

Sweetly illustrated in bright primary colors with an all-peoples cast of children participating in the discoveries of information about their mouth and about the God of creation. A delightfully educational book to direct young children to God.

About the book: Empower kids ages 3+ to connect the gospel to their own actions and attitudes! From creation and fall to redemption and sanctification, this colorful rhyming storybook captures the beauty of the gospel message through simple, practical, rhyming language and illustrations that children will love to engage with. 

Focusing on the way we use our mouths, Abbey Wedgeworth helps children to see that God gave their words real power, and that this power can be used to heal or to harm. Secret word: Creator - But we're not left on our own to do the right thing—we can look to Jesus as our example, ask God for forgiveness when we mess up, and receive the help of the Holy Spirit as we use our mouths for God's glory!

With bright illustrations and fun rhymes, this storybook will inspire and equip your children to follow Jesus in word and deed.

Your Magnificent Mouth is part of the Training Young Hearts series, which encourages children to gospel-centered, grace-fueled obedience. The lift-the-flap board books for toddlers focus on specific behaviors while the rhyming storybooks help kids ages 3+ to understand the gospel and apply it to their lives in a way that suits their age and stage.

Your Amazing Hands: A Training Young Hearts rhyming book by Abbey Wedgeworth & illustrated by Emma Randall

My thoughts:  An amazing book teaching children about how their hands are wonderfully useful and also terribly hurtful. But also the author teaches that Jesus used His hands for healing and many wonderful things. Also, taught is that Jesus can forgive and help us use our hands for Him.

Delightfully written in a loose rhyming style that is a pleasure to read, and the cadence will draw the ear and mind of the child to the lessons to be learned.

The adorably cute illustrations are all-peoples inclusive, brightly colorful, joyful and such fun to look at.

About the book: Empower kids ages 3+ to connect the gospel to their own actions and attitudes! From creation and fall to redemption and sanctification, this colorful rhyming storybook captures the beauty of the gospel message through simple, practical, rhyming language and illustrations that children will love to engage with. 

Focusing on the way we use our hands, Abbey Wedgeworth helps children to see that God gave their hands for helping, sharing, creating, and other amazing things. When we struggle with using our hands the way God intends, we're not left on our own to do the right thing—we can look to Jesus as our example, ask God for forgiveness when we mess up, and receive the help of the Holy Spirit as we use our hands for God's glory!

With bright illustrations and fun rhymes, this storybook will inspire and equip your children to follow Jesus in word and deed.

Your Amazing Hands is part of the Training Young Hearts series, which encourages children to gospel-centered, grace-fueled obedience. The lift-the-flap board books for toddlers focus on specific behaviors while the rhyming storybooks help kids ages 3+ to understand the gospel and apply it to their lives in a way that suits their age and stage.

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Ends July 1 @ 12:00 Midnight

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DISCLOSURE: I received complimentary copies to facilitate reviews. Opinions are mine, alone and are freely given. Winner's copies are provided and mailed directly to the winner by publisher or publicist. Chat With Vera is not responsible for lost or misdirected prizes.