Gift Boxes to Decorate and Make: Christmas illustrated by Sarah Walsh

Children absolutely love to color and teens and adults are now getting into the relaxing coloring act with a plethora of sophisticated coloring books available. With Christmas fast approaching and colder days when staying inside is more the plan, children need activities that engage their interest and satisfy.

So now there is a "coloring book" that serves as a project to create one's own boxes in which to place those treasured Christmas gifts. The book  is 11" by 10" and has 50 pages to color and fold into boxes with an intended audience of ages 8 to 12. The book is a great resource for creating 24 gift boxes and there are lovely "gold foil" gifting stickers to use, also.





Each box will have beautifully intricate pictures to color on the inside and outside providing an opportunity to really embellish the box with beautiful colors of one's choice making it uniquely theirs as a gift to the recipient. The little boxes can also  be kept so the child can keep his or her own treasures in a beautifully individualized box.

At $15.99 (imprint retail pricing) this book will provide 24 boxes for "gift wrapping" at about $.66 each. Current Amazon pricing would make the little boxes about $.50 each.

About the book/product: Each page of this brilliant book can be colored and made into a box! Simply tear out and fold to create a gift box perfect for storing all kinds of Christmas treats. The boxes are beautifully decorated with festive black-and-white designs, which you can color in with pens or pencils to make sure your gifts are extra special this Christmas. 

DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy from Candlewick Press to facilitate this review. Opinions are my own and freely given.

Oh Susannah: Things That Go Bump by Carole P. Roman [Review & Giveaway]

Oh Susannah: Things That Go Bump

Book #2 in the "Oh Suzannah" series by award winning author, Carole P. Roman continues with charming Suzannah encountering life and its problems as they pertain especially to her. In Book #1, Oh Suzannah: Its in the Bag, young Suzannah learned that you can't simply tuck your problems away and out of sight just because they are difficult.

In Things That Go Bump, Suzannah learns ways to manage her fears. The book is short with 44 pages but fairly complex for a young reader. As Suzannah faces an invitation for a visit for a sleepover at a "scary house" that creaks she learns that noisy houses are just that, noisy houses and not scary things like ghosts.

I do not celebrate Halloween and don't participate in scary stories. This book appears on the cover to be a story involving Halloween with its Jack-o-Lanterns and ghostly faces in the trees and scrubs. It is, however, simply a story about the fears one encounters - fear of catching a runny nose, fear of clowns, fear of creaky old houses. We all have fears at some point in our life and Suzannah learns that she can overcome or manage these fears she encounters.

The portion of Suzannah's story that included an event to which Suzannah's mother took her that was sponsored by her employee and benefited physically challenged children was a highlight. Suzannah had a friend at the event who was visually impaired and the compassion shown and friendship is a true plus for the story.

The colorful cover of Things That Go Bump is charming and you just want to love this sweet little girl and her friends. I would love to have seen the illustrations larger and sprinkled throughout instead of tiny thumbnail images at the beginning of each chapter.

Sample page "Things That Go Bump"

Oh Susannah: Color With Me: An Oh Susannah Coloring Book

Oh Susannah is now a coloring book. Filled with Mateya Arkova's delightful pictures, you can color pivotal scenes in Susannah Maya Logan's life. Join Susannah and her friends and retell Carole P. Roman's charming story through illustrations.

What a fun companion to the two Oh Suzannah books. This little coloring book helps children immerse themselves into the stories by providing pages to color of illustrations featuring the characters and actions from both stories.

Read Chat With Vera's review of Oh Suzannah: It's In the Bag - Book #1

GIVEAWAY - 3 Winners

1 Grand Prize: Books #1 & #2 + Color With Me

2 Other Winners: Book #1

Begins October 7

Ends October 28 @ 12:01 a.m. EST

Open to USA addresses only

a Rafflecopter giveaway DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy of each book to facilitate a review. Opinions are my own and freely given. Author will provide winner's copy and ship prize directly to the winners.

Beauty and the Beast: A Coloring Book from Silver Dolphin Books [Review & Giveaway]

My thoughts: There has been a lot of press recently about fairy tales and specifically about "Beauty and the Beast." A recently released film has drawn interest and piqued hearts young and old with its tale of love overcoming ugliness.

There are books on Beauty and the Beast that facilitate enjoyment on various levels. And today we're looking at a beautifully drawn coloring book from Silver Dolphin Books that has quotes from the original story.

This is a quality product that older children, teens, and adults will enjoy coloring with highly detailed drawings that will fascinate and draw out the creative spark in the most avid "colorers." The designs are quite intricate and very pretty reminiscent of Walter Crane's art. Coloration will require very fine points and care to be done well.

About the book: This enchanting coloring book is full of wonderful pictures, patterns, and borders to be colored in, as budding artists immerse themselves in the story of Beauty, who goes to live with the terrifying Beast in order to save her father…and then gradually learns to love him. All the key scenes and characters are here to color in as you relive this most romantic of fairy tales.

GIVEAWAY

Begins April 18

Ends May 9 @ 12:01 a.m. EDT

Open to USA addresses only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy from MMPublicity to facilitate a review. Opinions are my own and freely given. Winner's copy is provided directly winner by publicist or publisher.

Scripture Doodle and Scripture Doodle God's Promises by April Knight (Coloring Devotionals) from David C. Cook Publishing

With inspiring exercises and prompts, this unique interactive guide introduces readers to a creative connection between Bible study, artistic expression, and worship. About the books:  More than a coloring book, ScriptureDoodle is a combination of Bible study, creative expression, and artistic community with artwork shared online at #scripturedoodle. Exploring topics such as being generous, finding rest, and facing grief, ScriptureDoodle gives the heart the creative space it needs. This book stimulates the reader's imagination and helps integrate God's Word into everyday life.  ScriptureDoodle God's Promises refreshes believers who are feeling burned out or stuck in a rut in their relationship with God. Each of the creative worship prompts in this interactive guide includes biblical encouragement and ideas for worship through art. Artist April Knight includes creative lettering tips, color ideas, and completed examples to inspire readers to respond to promises in Scripture related to trust, faith, and the power of God's Word in all circumstances. My thoughts: These delightful books are part sketch book and part devotion book. Using the tips the user/reader has the tool for the act of Worship with Art by taking time to draw and express oneself. It can open your time to connect with God. The brief devotions relate to art ideas. There are art tips and suggestions for actual drawing. This provides a visual reminder of God's goodness and is a great way to help your teen (or as a gift for another teen) become engaged with God's Word. These books provide a tool tht will bring Scripture to life in full living color. This would be a great gift set - the two books, and are perfect for middle schoolers or preteens and up. About the author: APRIL KNIGHT is a worship artist based in Asheville, North Carolina. Knight's work includes live worship painting and leading ScriptureDoodle worshops online and at conferences and retreats around the country and internationally.  More information and reviewes - click here DISCLOSURE: I received complimentary copies of ScriptureDoodle books (2) to facilitate this review of my opinions. I was not compensated for this review.