Fun books for kids age 7+ to read themselves [Review & Giveaway] ✝️

Lily, the Lemur, and the Lamb King with contributors Bob Hartman, Keila Elm

My thoughts:  Young readers have a delightful early chapter book - chapters are just a few pages long and have engaging and fun black and white illustrations that will capture their interest. Parents will love having their child read uplifting stories about a child and an assortment of critters.

These retellings of stories from the Gospel with playful Lily and friends in on the action, teach lessons in a fun method but do not detract from the actual Gospel.  At the back of the book, each chapter has an explanation of the Biblical account's interaction with the story of Lily and friends and can be used for a time best suited to make applications.

A delightful book for young readers or even to be read to those who can't yet read.

About the book: The whimsical and imaginative short stories in this adventurous book will transport children to a different world, giving them a fresh way to engage with truths about Jesus and what it's like to follow him.

They’ll join Lily and her friend the Lemur on a series of adventures in the Lamb King's mysterious and exciting playground. Secret word: happy - They'll explore a me-tree, play Scrabble with a slow loris, and save an entire family of squirrels from the cold!

Along the way, children will find themselves exploring key truths about Jesus' kingdom—such as how to be welcoming, what gives people value, and why a self-sacrificing king is the best king of all.

Perfect as an independent read for children aged 7+ or as a read-aloud for ages 5+.

 Look inside - Click Here 

Abigail Gets Left Out by Bethany McIlrath & illustrated by Katie Saunders

My thoughts: Sometimes children can be mean and cruel to one another and some are very sensitive to the cruelties they hurl at each other. Sensitive children can really have a hard time when this happens. In Abigail Gets Left Out we see this scenario played out and see how Abigail learns how to deal with it personally.  

Abigail's grandmother plays a big part in helping Abigail. A delightful story just full of good stuff and life lessons.

About the book: 

Can’t sing. Can’t dance. Can count on Jesus!

9-year-old Abigail can’t sing, and she can’t dance. So when her friends start rehearsing a musical performance, Abigail feels very much left out and self-conscious. Isn’t she good at anything? Doesn’t anybody want to be her friend?

Jesus does! When Abigail reads Psalm 139, she realizes that Jesus made her wonderfully, just the way she is, so she doesn’t need to worry about not being good at musical things. And when she encounters John 15, Abigail learns that Jesus loves her perfectly and empowers her to be a loving friend, even when others let her down. 

As Abigail sees what a wonderful friend Jesus is, it transforms her other friendships—and it ends up transforming the girls’ musical performance too!

Look inside - Click Here

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Begins April 23

Ends May 22 @ 12:00 Midnight EST

Open to USA addresses only.

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

C is for Christian: An A-Z Treasury of Who We Are in Christ by Alistair Begg & illustrated by Emma Skerratt [Review & Giveaway]

ISBN: 9781802541069
Hardcover $17.99
(significant bulk pricing available)
Buy Here

My thoughts:  This is such a treasure of a book. Each alphabet page is beautifully illustrated and will entice children to visually explore the details facilitating impacting their mind with items and ideas that use that specific letter of the English alphabet. Liberal use of deeper pastel shades of the color wheel are artistically splashed across the pages.

This unique ABC book provides guidance and opportunity for parents to assist their young children to comprehend big ideas and deeper theological understanding to young minds. 

I love this beautiful book and encourage families to make sure they have and use it with their children. I purchased a copy and gifted it to a young family and they love it.

About the book: Excite kids about how great it is to be a Christian with this beautifully illustrated treasury of theological truths. 

Going from A to Z, kids will learn about the amazing things that are true of us if we know Christ. For example:

• A is for Adoption - we are children of God, part of his beloved family.
• B is for Branch - we are connected to Jesus, the vine, and he gives us life and all we need.
• C is for Citizen - we have a place in heaven, which is where we are heading.

Each letter teaches children about an aspect of our identity in Christ using Bible verses and clear engaging teaching by Alistair Begg. Reflection questions and prayers are included, making it possible to use this resource devotionally, such as for bedtime devotions or morning baskets. It can also be used as a kind of catechism, summarizing some of the Bible's truths about being a Christian. The alphabet format makes these theological truths easy to remember. Can be read to kids 4+ or read by kids 7+.

Children will be invited to praise, thank, and worship Jesus as they grow more excited about all the incredible blessings that come with being his friend. Secret word: study

Free downloads on website (including alphabet sheets: click here).

GIVEAWAY

Begins January 13

Ends February 12 @ 12:01 a.m. EST

Open to USA addresses only.

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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 is mailed or shipped directly to them  by The Good Book Company. Chat With Vera is not responsible for lost or misdirected prizes.

Christmas Seek & Find large board book and Seek & Find Activity book for children [Review & Giveaway]

✨Finding Christmas with the Children🛐

This hop is hosted by MamatheFox 
at mamathefox.com 

Seek and Find: The First Christmas With over 450 Things to Find & Count! by Sarah Parker & illustrated by Andre Parker

ISBN: 978178498732
Look Inside
Purchase Here $16.99
(quantity pricing available)

My thoughts:  This sturdy large board book will last many years and afford you many opportunities to engage youngsters in fun activities of looking for items and counting out details as they learn the various parts of the Biblical story of The First Christmas.

There are eight two-page spreads and each tells a segment of the Christmas story.... Contents

1. News for Mary - Jesus Is God's Son
2. A Long Journey - God ALWAYS Keeps His Promises
3. Busy Bethlehem - Jesus Is Our Humble King
4. Jesus Is Born - Jesus Is God with Us
5. The Shepherds - Jesus Is Our Savior
6. The Wise Men - Jesus Is Our Promised King
7. Angry Herod - Jesus Is Our True King
8. Gifts for Jesus - Jesus Is Our King of Kings

The opening pages, "Welcome," gives insight into what lays ahead in the book and introduces "Ruth Wren" who you'll find on every page. And then details other little things to search for.

So much fun! So much to learn. A truly welcome addition to a home Christmas collection. I highly recommend.

About the book:  Young children will love interacting with the Christmas story as they find, count, and sort over 450 hidden things in this large-format board book.

They will also learn key truths about the first Christmas through the biblically faithful illustrations and retellings of the Gospel accounts of Jesus' birth. A useful homeschool resource.

These are the stories featured and what children will learn from them:

• News for Mary - Jesus Is God's Son
• A Long Journey - God Always Keeps His Promises
• Busy Bethlehem - Jesus Is Our Humble King
• Jesus Is Born - Jesus Is God with Us
• The Shepherds - Jesus Is Our Saviour
• The Wise Men - Jesus Is Our Promised King
• An Angry King - Jesus Is Our True King
• Gifts for Jesus - Jesus Is Our King of Kings

Part of the Seek and Find series of activity books for young children. These high-quality books make beautiful gifts. There is a matching art and activity book available for purchase as well as a Lift-the-Flap Board Book for toddlers.

Seek and Find: The First Christmas Activity Book Packed with Puzzles, Mazes, Counting, & Activities! by Sarah Parker & illustrated by Andre Parker

ISBN: 9781784987817
Softcover $5.99
Ages 4+

My thoughts:  This soft cover activity book goes beyond the typical activity and coloring book by including the story of Mary and Joseph as they journey to Bethlehem and the birth of Jesus. Find the difference, find and count the items, coloring, puzzles, and mazes all keep youngsters engaged and occupied whilst they learn more about the Biblical story of Christmas. 

Part of the "Seek and Find" collection by Sarah Parker from The Good Book Company, The First Christmas activity book is well worth the price and it provides quality fun and engagement for the child. I highly recommend.

About the book:  This coloring and activity book includes mazes, puzzles, drawing, coloring, and more to keep young children amused.

It will reinforce the teaching about Christmas in Seek and Find: The Very First Christmas which has over 450 hidden things for young children to find, count ,and sort.

 Look Inside - Purchase Here - Quantity pricing available

It features the full Christmas story over eight parts, teaching children eight key truths about the birth of Jesus. A useful homeschool resource.

🎄GIVEAWAY🎄

Begins November 16

Ends November 30 @ 11:59 p.m. ET

Open to USA addresses only.

Secret word: Noel

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CHAT WITH VERA DISCLOSURE:  I was provided a complimentary copy of the book to facilitate a review. Opinions are mine, alone and are freely given. Winner's book prize is provided and mailed directly to the winner by The Good Book Company US or its publicist. Chat With Vera is not responsible for lost or misdirected prizes.

Special Christmas activities for month of December: God's Big Promise: ativities & advent calendar books [Review & Giveaway]

Educational fun for the month of December leading up to Christmas. Perfect for young children!

God's Big Promise Advent Calendar & Devotions by Carl Laferton 

Find it - Click Here

My thoughts:   This book/advent calendar provides a sweet way to have family devotionals during December and leading up to Christmas day. Each day the child lifts a flap and in the small, accompanying booklet parents have guidance for a devotional based on Scripture that corresponds to that day's flap. Excitement builds as the month progresses.

A perfect way to involve the young child in Advent season remembrances and teach the story of Christ's birth.

About the book: 25-door Advent calendar linked with God's Big Promises Bible Storybook. Includes 25 family devotions. This attractive 25-door Advent calendar for children aged 3-7 years old is linked with God's Big Promises Bible Storybook. It also comes with a booklet containing 25 short, simple devotions for December, to help families explore the Christmas story together. 
Young children will enjoy learning about and interacting with the Christmas story.

Written by Carl Laferton, author of The Garden, The Curtain and The Cross and God's Big Promises Bible Storybook.

Look inside the little 25-day devotional booklet - click here

Note - quantity purchases - purchase here:

10 for $7.00 each (save 30%)

50 for $6.00 each (save 40%)

100 for $5.00 each (save 50%)

God's Big Promises Christmas Sticker and Activity Book by Carl Laferton

 

Look inside - click here

My thoughts:  Children absolutely love stickers and placing them in the right spot in an activity book is certainly preferable to other undesirable places the child wishes to decorate. In The First Christmas sticker and activity book, the child hunts for the appropriate sticker, removes it, places it in the right spot. While doing so they enjoy a bright, beautifully written and presented First Christmas story. Included are other age appropriate activities.

The activities are appropriate for early education involving some reading and word skills. Stated age group is 3-7 so use in a family of children is good. I think this is so much fun and such a delightful way to share the birth of Christ with children. Purchase here

About the book: A Christmas sticker book bringing the Christmas story to life. Based on God's Big Promises Bible Storybook.

Using vibrant illustrations and simple, faithful teaching from God's Big Promises Bible Storybook, this activity book features over 60 stickers and 16 pages of puzzles, games, and other activities.

It will provide hours of fun for your family, bringing the Christmas story to life for young children.

Youngsters will enjoy the angel visiting Mary, the journey to Bethlehem, the birth of Jesus, and the visits of the shepherds and the magi.

🛐GIVEAWAY🛐

Begins November 4

Ends November 22

 @ 12:01 a.m. ET

🎄🎁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 book prize is provided and mailed directly to the winner by TheGoodBook.com or it's publicist. Chat With Vera is not responsible for lost or misdirected prizes. Secret word: promise

Seek and Find More Old Testament Bible Stories [Review & 2-book Giveaway]

 Stay-Inside Activities - Fun - Educational - Faith Based! Or..... Gifting Ideas!

Explore Old Testament Stories With Fun Illustrations

Seek and Find: More Old Testament Bible Stories With over 450 Things to Find and Count! by Sarah Parker, illustrated by Andre Parker

 

ISBN: 9781802541137
Board Book $16.99

My thoughts:  I get so excited about quality faith-based items. The Good Book Company has produced a top-notch group of children's activity books. Some you read and find items and some you get more involved like coloring, tracing, finding, matching, etc. In the Seek and Find More Old Testament Bible Stories you get 2 books. One is a large board book (really nice and sturdy) and the accompanying activity book which you actually color and mark in. (Purchase separately or in a bundle.)

I just love these books. They teach on many levels. Learn more about the Bible stories, learn to look for minor details, count, match, etc. It's hard for me to select my favorite story in this book, they are all so well done and are so much fun!

I highly recommend.

About the book: Seek-and-find book exploring eight more Old Testament stories, the characters within them and the character of our amazing God. Part of the Seek and Find series.

Seek and Find: More Old Testament Bible Stories Activity Book by Sarah Parker, illustrated by Andre Parker

ISBN: 9781802541144
Softcover $5.99

My thoughts:  This softcover activity book accompanies the Seek and Find More Old Testament Bible Stories and provides many varied activities for the young child to do. The activities are learning activities for keen mind development and help facilitate learning the Bible stories from the Old Testament.

This faith-based activity book is a high quality book with excellent activities and drawings. I highly recommend.

About the book: Packed with puzzles, mazes, counting and activities!  Coloring and activity book based around Seek and Find: More Old Testament Bible Stories.

Buy the 2-book-set bundle at 40% off
Click Here - Now $13.79

GIVEAWAY

Set of 2 Seek & Find Old Testament books

Begins September 21

Ends October 17 @ 11:59 p.m. EDT

Open to USA addresses only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

DISCLOSURE: Secret word: Seek - I received complimentary copies to facilitate a review. Opinions are mine, alone and are freely given. Winner's books prize is provided and mailed directly to the winner by The Good Book Company. Chat With Vera is not responsible for lost or misdirected prizes. 

Jesus Moments: Moses: Finding Jesus in the Story of Moses by Alison Mitchell & illustrated by Noah Warnes [Review & Giveaway]

ISBN: 9781784989828
Hardcover $14.99
(Discounts Available)

My thoughts:  This is a beautifully written (a great read-aloud book) storybook about Moses and the Israelites. It begins after they have crossed the Red Sea and the army of Pharaoh has been destroyed. The book covers with some emphasis and detail (though not gory) the 40-year period of wandering. Most young children's storybooks don't give this much information. Also, as a "Jesus Moments....Finding Jesus In the Story...." book, the deeper theological  connections between Old Testament and New Testament (Moses and Jesus) are made in a very understandable methodology for young readers and listeners.

Given the increased detail in the story, very young listeners in the four to six year range may lose interest or miss the connections.

I absolutely love this book as well as the other Jesus Moments book, "David," that I previously reviewed. The concept of presenting where Jesus or the promises of Jesus are found in the Old Testament is fairly new for the age bracket audience of picture books. 

In "Finding Jesus in the Story of Moses" we see several incidents that occurred during the 40-year wilderness journey. In each of these there is the opportunity to look for "bulrushes" which indicate that there is a "Jesus Moment" to look for on that page. This engages the child and produces involvement and opportunity to teach further details.

I love the illustrations and the readability of the story itself. The grumbling of the Israelites is really captured and God's disapproval and His patience shown.

I highly recommend this series for your age 5 to 10 year olds.

About the book: Help 4-7s learn how Moses points to Jesus with this beautifully illustrated Old Testament storybook from Alison Mitchell, the award-winning author of Jesus and the Lions’ Den and The One O’Clock Miracle.

Moments in Moses’ story when something in the story is a little bit like Jesus are signposted with symbols that children need to spot, helping them to understand the relationship between the Old and New Testaments.

This fun, interactive resource will give children skills to read the Bible as they connect the stories and learn that the whole Bible is about Jesus. Secret word: Provider. Great for parents or grandparents to give children aged 4-7. Can also be used as a homeschool resource, or for children’s ministry in church.

This is the second book in a series called Jesus Moments, which looks at how Old Testament characters point to Jesus.

Take a look inside

The Good Book USA has a couple of FREE cute printables: bookmark & matching game

GIVEAWAY

Begins July 15

Ends August 14 @ 12:01 a.m. EDT

Open to USA addresses only.

Entries WILL BE verified. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy to facilitate a review. Opinions are mine, alone and are freely given. Winner's prize copy is provided and mailed directly to the winner by The Good Book USA. Chat With Vera is not responsible for lost or misdirected prizes.

Building a child's faith journey home library: Zacchaeus, Jesus, Hands for Jesus [Review & Giveaway]

What are you doing to build your child's home library that will aid in his faith journey? Start young! Start with truth and faithfully rendered Bible story books.

The Man in the Tree & the Brand New Start: A True Story about Zacchaeus & the Difference Knowing Jesus Makes by Carl Laferton & illustrated by Catalina Echeverri

Buy Here
Free Activity Downloads

My thoughts:  This is a New Testament Bible story that is always a favorite of young children and they most always respond wonderfully to it's telling. In this author's and artist's retelling of Zacchaeus' story, it begins with three things to know about Zacchaeus - he was short, he was very rich, and he was not happy. And then one day Jesus came to town.

The illustrations are super cute and colorful. The presentation is several small scenes and short paragraphs of text of each page that will engage the young reader or listener. And Zacchaeus in the tree is really something to see. And then Jesus saw him and what a change.

The book then segues to a modern home and applies it to life for today. Beautifully told and a sure winner for building your child's faith library.