Young children's Christian books: "The Jesus Storybook Bible" & "My Little Library of God’s Great Love: Loved, Found, Near, Known (4 books)"

Perfect for Easter gifting & remembering this Sacred Season

The Jesus Storybook Bible

Purchase Here

My thoughts:  Sally Lloyd Jones does such a good job presenting to children the stories from throughout the Bible. In The Jesus Storybook Bible she retells the well known stories from the Bible and how Jesus is in - even though in shadow - each of them. Sized for young hands, this thick book has pictures to interest and understandable text that can be read to the young child. As the child grows and learns to read, he or she will begin to read these simply retold stories for themselves.

Originally published in 2007, it's many editions attest to the dependability and trustworthiness of the storybook. This is a storybook and not intended to replace a Bible. There is no chapter/verse text. This is a retelling of the stories that are in the Biblical text.

Perfect as a gift for any occasion and truly memorable for the Easter season.

The women went to the tomb..... it was empty!

About the book: For over a decade, The Jesus Storybook Bible has been introducing children to God’s wonderful story, and the Savior at the center of that story. Trusted and treasured for over a decade, with over 3 million copies sold, The Jesus Storybook Bible is the quintessential book for parents, grandparents, pastors, and anyone else who wants to share God’s Never Stopping, Never Giving Up, Unbreaking, Always and Forever Love with children.

What makes The Jesus Storybook Bible different from every other kids’ Bible?

While other kids’ Bibles contain stories from the Old and New Testaments, The Jesus Storybook Bible tells the Story beneath all the stories in the Bible, pointing to Jesus as our Savior. From the Old Testament through the New Testament, as the Story unfolds, children will clearly see that Jesus is at the center of God's great story of salvation—and at the center of their story too.

The Jesus Storybook Bible:

• Is beautifully written by New York Times bestselling author Sally Lloyd-Jones and illustrated by award-winning artist Jago
• Contains 21 stories from the Old Testament and 23 stories from the New Testament
• Visually brings Scripture to life for children, sharing how Jesus is at the center of our story
• Presents the best-loved stories of the Bible in an easy-to-understand format
• Is the perfect kids’ Bible for any age up to 6th grade, as well as church ministry
• Makes an ideal gift for Christmas, Easter, and other gift-giving occasions

On this literary pilgrimage, let’s unwrap the layers of meaning, explore the hidden gems, and celebrate the One whose name echoes through eternity. Together, we’ll ignite curiosity, kindle faith, and breathe life into the ancient stories.

My Little Library of God’s Great Love: Loved, Found, Near, Known

Purchase Here

My thoughts: Loved: The Lord’s Prayer, Found: Psalm 23, Near: Psalm 139, and Known: Psalm 139 - Each of these sweet little board books teaches the very young child the truth of God's love and care for them. In this collection, the four books are beautifully packaged in a book-sleeve and makes a perfect gift. This storage sleeve will help the young child begin to learn the care of treasured books as they place them gently in their storage sleeve.

Perfectly sized for their little hands and illustrated with simple illustrations, the limited text can be read to the child. They will begin to see how God, as their Heavenly Father, loves them unconditionally and with an everlasting love.

As usual, Sally Lloyd Jones brings God's Great Love to the child. 

About the book: These simply written board books remind little ones of God’s enduring love, his nearness, and his protection. From the author of the bestselling The Jesus Storybook Bible, Sally Lloyd-Jones, and award-winning illustrator Jago, bring you this 4-book boxed set of board books, which encourages young and old alike to remember that we are all loved in very special ways by God.

The Sally Lloyd-Jones Board Book Boxed Set is perfect for babies and infants ages 0-4 and features:

• 
  
  Lyrical text inspired by the loving Word of God and written by beloved author Sally Lloyd-Jones.
• Inspiring messages that remind kids of God’s ever-present love and blessings.
• A perfect size, exactly right for little hands.
• Beautiful illustrations that are a great gift for a new baby, Baptism, First Communion, birthday, or a read-aloud.

Books included in this collection are:

• Loved: The Lord’s Prayer
• Found: Psalm 23
• Near: Psalm 139
• Known: Psalm 139

DISCLOSURE: I received complimentary copies to facilitate a review of these books and also a small renumeration. Opinions are mine, alone and are original and unbiased. Giveaway is hosted by publicist, FrontGate Christian Media in conjunction with publisher and/or author. Chat With Vera is not responsible for prize selection, lost or misdirected prizes, or prize. #jesusstorybookbible #kidseastergift @jesus_storybook_bible  @sallylloydjones  @zonderkidz  #boardbooks #childrensbooks #christianbooks #kidseastergift

NIV Adventure BIBLE© & the NIV Adventure Bible GUIDE - Tools for the 8 to 12 year-old-child

Let me introduce you to a kid-loving Bible Study Duo you don't want to miss out on!

Adventure Bible Guide: Explore the Stories, People and Places of Every Book in the Bible – an ideal companion to the NIV Adventure Bible

ISBN: 9780310156048
Softcover | $16.99
Buy at Amazon 

My thoughts:  What an enticing and attractive (and tastefully done) book for kids 8 to 12 to use in Bible study. Written to accompany the NIV Adventure Bible this GUIDE visually and textually works right in alignment with the NIV Adventure BIBLE.

This is not a disposable workbook where you write or draw on the pages and it soon is used up and thrown away. This is an insightful guide through the books of the Bible. Each two-page spread covers one of the Books of the Bible. Short but detailed information bites are given along with attractive illustrations. 

Charts such as the 7 Days of Creation, the 7 Feasts (Leviticus), and the opening pages Time Line of Events aid in comprehension of major events. Who and what of the books and main ideas are given. All in easy to comprehend conversational text. And the charts showing lineage aid in understanding the layering of people throughout such a long period of history. Maps specific to that book and events help in placing a historic event on the globe of today's world. 

I am the mother of 5 and grandmother of 13. I taught Sunday School, Saturday Bible Club, and Vacation Bible School. I was involved in Christian schools for many years. I have seen many materials and can say that this presents information in an easily accepted, wonderfully attractive, and definitively informative method to the growing child.

I highly recommend. (Whilst this was developed for use with the NIV Adventure Bible for Kids, I can see it useable with other versions of Scripture as well.)

About the book: Explore the Bible like never before! This companion to the bestselling Adventure Bible gives young readers the key details of every book of the Bible at their fingertips. With kid-friendly overviews of Genesis through Revelation and full-color infographics, maps, and images, children will strengthen their faith and gain a deeper understanding of the most important story ever told.

The Adventure Bible Guide takes readers 8–12 on a fun-filled, informative journey toward truly understanding God’s Word. This immersive reference guide gives clear, crisp insights into the Bible book by book, including:

• key details and events that are clearly laid out, in words kids can easily understand
• colorful infographics that include historical information, significant events and details, and important biblical characters
• callouts with fun facts and key takeaways
• maps that help readers understand where each part of the Bible occurred
• images of artifacts and important places that help bring the Bible to life

This book is made to be used alongside the Bible to help readers better comprehend the context and background of God’s Word, condensing the most important information in a highly visual, easy-to-understand format, which in turn helps kids connect with the Bible text in new and deeper ways.

The Adventure Bible Guide is:

• perfect for kids 8–12 learning to explore the Bible on their own
• a great resource for teachers, parents, and homeschoolers to use to engage students in the Bible and biblical history
• part of the wider Adventure Bible line, which includes NIV Adventure Bible, Adventure Bible Book of Devotions, and The Adventure Bible Book of Daring Deeds and Epic Creations

Click to read a sample of the Guide

Buy at Amazon 

The NIV Adventure Bible for Kids (full text, full color interior)

 

My thoughts:  One of my grandsons is pastor of a church and his daughter has this very same Bible! That's an endorsement. "Pastor provides his own child a copy of NIV Adventure Bible for kids." This is a delightfully colorful, bright, engaging edition of the Bible geared for kids; but for kids who are old enough to begin to actually study God's Word more in-depth and detailed. Kids who are not yet ready for concordances, Biblical dictionaries, etc. That comes later as they mature. This Bible gives them something that captures their attention and helps learn facts and have insights take root in their pliable minds.

In today's world where technology and rapid-fire TV grabs their attention and numbs their brain function present more of a challenge for personal and detailed reading and study, this engaging Biblical publication will help glue them to God's Word. The accompanying Study Guide further helps pull the details out of the Word cementing it into their being and into relativeness for them personally. 

An excellent step forward in Biblical studies for growing children.

ISBN: 9780310727477
Hardcover | $34.99
(Discount prices available)

About the Bible: The bestselling NIV Adventure Bible®  will get kids excited about reading the Scriptures! Your kids will be captivated with the full-color features that make it fun and engaging to read the Bible and memorize their favorite verses. Along the way they will meet all types of people, see all sorts of places, and learn all kinds of things about the Bible. Most importantly, they will grow closer in their relationship with God.

The Adventure Bible is recommended by more Christian schools and churches than any other Bible for kids, and the Adventure Bible brand has impacted more than 10 million individuals and families to date!

• Complete text of the accurate, readable, clear New International Version
• Full-color design throughout – makes learning about the people, places, and culture of the Bible even more engaging
• Life in Bible Times—Articles and illustrations describe what life was like in ancient days
• Words to Treasure—Highlights great verses to memorize
• Did You Know?—Interesting facts help you understand God’s Word and the life of faith
• People in Bible Times—Articles offer close-up looks at amazing people of the Bible
• Live It!—Hands-on activities help you apply biblical truths to your life
• Twenty special pages—Focus on topics such as famous people of the Bible, highlights of the life of Jesus, how to pray, and the love passage for kids, all with a jungle safari theme
• Book introductions with useful facts about each book of the Bible
• Dictionary/concordance for looking up tricky words to help locate places in the Bible
• 8.7-point type size

Click to read a sample

DISCLOSURE: I was provided a complimentary copy of each book to facilitate a review. Opinions are mine, alone and are freely given. NOTE: My preferred version of the Bible is the King James Version. The NIV is widely accepted and trusted and appeals greatly to the younger generation.

The CSB Grace Bible for Kids from B&H Publishing [Review & Giveaway]

 

Don’t let dyslexia stop you from experiencing God’s Word.

ISBN: 9798384510840
Leather touch $44.95
B&H Publishing

My thoughts: From the moment I opened this children's (tweens & teens) Bible I was very impressed with the sense of availability, ease-on-eyes, readability of the text.  This puts this edition in the far front of choices in my opinion. If hard to read text confronts the young reader from the first moment, it's a turn-off. But if you make it doable, workable, comfortable then the reader will automatically engage more readily.

My review copy is a soft cover leather-touch that is flexible and very comfortable in the hands. Large, but not over-large and not heavy. Again, workable, comfortable from the outset.

While my preferred version is the KJV, this CSB is certainly acceptable amongst leaders and young folks probably will engage with it more readily.

Now about some of the features that specifically benefit dyslexic readers (or even some who just need a bit of help with their reading). I found this article (click here) and it is quite interesting on the use of color overlays when reading. Basically the article's author endorses the benefit of using tinted sheets of plastic over the text when reading to enhance the reader's comprehension and skill at reading.

Tinted plastic overlay sheets.

Highly readable text.
Short lines.
Short paragraphs.

To further help dyslexic readers is the type of font that was developed by academics and used in this CSB Grace Bible for Kids (Dyslexic Friendly). Furthermore, the font was weighted on the bottom to help readers visually stabilize the text on the page. Comfort of visualizing text and stabilizing the text visually on the page are key to helping dyslexic readers.

As I said at the beginning, this particular printing was created specifically to help readers who struggle with dyslexia. However, I see nothing that gives the appearance that it is "different" so therefore there is no constraint about differences when using. It looks quite like the kid's next to you who has a different Bible. This one, though, has subtle helps that enrich the child's use.

Frankly, I think even an adult can benefit from using this edition of the CSB Bible (except it does say "kids" on the cover).

Also included are interesting study maps that are colorful and map out highlighted eras or lives of the people in the Bible. I always found these helpful to cement the Biblical history and text in my mind.

Several colorful maps to aid Bible study.

A Perfect Christmas Gift for that Special Child

About Grace Bible for Kids: Created in partnership with 2K/DENMARK and Cambridge University, the CSB Grace Bible for Kids is designed to enhance readability for kids with all levels and varieties of dyslexia and other reading challenges. This Bible offers young readers an inclusive and exciting approach to Bible reading through innovative and academically tested typeface, layout, and design principles. These principles include distinct letter forms and added space between letters, words, lines, and paragraphs.

In addition, special-colored page overlays created by Cambridge University's research department are included to further enhance visual processing. Dozens of study helps are also inserted throughout the Bible to expand kids' Bible knowledge and connect them to the people, places, and events they are learning about. Secret word: Grace. Perfect for use at home, church, and school, the CSB Grace Bible for Kids will grow with your kids as they grow in Christ.

FEATURES:

• Inclusive Grace typeface, layout, and design
• ​Enhances readability for all levels and varieties of dyslexia and other reading challenges
• Unique, colored page overlays included to further enhance visual processing
• Complete text of the Christian Standard Bible® (CSB)
• 40 insert pages with study helps and maps to help connect kids to Scripture
• Bible skills checklist and summaries of Bible books and divisions
• Large, 11-point type size. Secret word: grace
• Durable Smyth-sewn, lay-flat binding
• Black letter text
• Ribbon marker
• Presentation page for gift-giving
• 6” x 9” page size

Order A Copy Today from B&H Publishing
🎄 Click Here 🎁

GIVEAWAY

1 copy of CSB Grace Bible for Kids, 

Blue Leather Touch Edition

Begins December 3

Ends December 13 @ 12:00 a.m. EST

Open to USA addresses only.

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DISCLOSURE: Many thanks to Lifeway Christian Resources for providing a sample of the product for this review. Opinions are 100% my own and are freely given. Winner's prize is provided and mailed directly to the winner by publisher, Publishing, or publicist. Chat With Vera is not responsible for lost or misdirected prizes.

 #GraceKidsBibleMIN #MomentumInfluencerNetwork @christianstandardbible  @bhpub #gracebible #gracebibleforkids #dyslexia #dyslexiafriendly

#dyslexiafriendlyfont #dyslexiafriendlybible #csb #csbible #holmanbibles #bhpub #visualprocessing #biblefordyslexia #booksfordyslexia #dyslexiatypeface #gracetypeface

Kregel's Bible centric books help toddlers & preschools understand Scripture [Review & Giveaway]

My Toddler Bible (Timeless Stories for Little Ones) board book ISBN: 9780825448669

Buy it on Kregel Publishing

My thoughts:  An adorable little one's board book with a convenient handy handle for their ease in carrying about. The illustrations are attention grabbing, fun, brightly colorful, and aid in understanding the story.

The text is lengthy enough to tell the story adequately for the intendended age audience with a vocabulary that is not "dumbed down for age." 

Kregel Publishing's children's books have always been winners for engagement, accuracy, design, and lasting quality. I highly recommend.

About the book: A perfect Bible for little hands

Filled with rich and colorful illustrations and simple text faithful to the Bible, My Toddler Bible is perfect for children ages 1 to 3. The twenty-eight Bible stories include Scripture references and are taken equally from both the Old and New Testaments to form a complete arc of God's story.

Toddlers will love the built-in handle to carry their Bible with them everywhere--including church! And parents and grandparents will love that its compact form and bright pictures will inspire their little ones to engage with Scripture from an early age.

My Bigger Search and Find Bible ISBN: 9780825448478

Buy it on Kregel Publishing

My thoughts:  Children simply love search and find books and educators (and parents) love them, too. They engage the child with the book and the content of the book. True, some of the items the child is to find have very little to do with the story, it keeps them engaged. In My Bigger Search & Find Bible children journey quickly through the Bible with brief encounters with characters and stories. While doing so, they learn of God's being bigger than their problems. As an aside, you'll note that each story page opens out to four times the book's size. Again "bigger." 

I highly recommend this engaging search and find Bible story book for children. Again Kregel Publications has a winner.

About the book: Fun-filled way for kids to learn how BIG the love of God is...

From the very first page, this fun book is designed to help kids ages 4 to 6 understand that God's love for us is bigger than we can imagine!

Each page expands to four times its size. And in every colorful Bible scene, a child can search and find Bible friends, animals, and other items for even more interactive fun. Secret word: Bible

Packed with cheerful illustrations and a world of play, children will want to come back to this unique Bible over and over, fostering a love of God's Word and a new understanding of his expansive love.

GIVEAWAY

2 Children's Bible books from Kregel Publications

Begins May 3

Ends June 1 @ 12:01 a.m. EDT

Open to USA addresses only.

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

NIV Beautiful Word™ Coloring Bible for Girls [Review & Giveaway]

Created especially for girls ages 8 to 12, this beautiful Bible provides ample space for young artists to express themselves through coloring and journaling.

Girls can get creative with the detailed, ready-to-color line art surrounding the hundreds of inspiring verses in the NIV Beautiful Word™ Coloring Bible for Girls. This Bible is a perfect gift for a special young girl in your life and will become a cherished keepsake full of personalized creative expressions of faith.

Features include:

• Hundreds of verses illustrated in ready-to-color line art
• Thicker white paper for enduring note-taking
• Lined, wide margins for notes, reflections and art
• Complete text of the accurate, readable and clear New International Version (NIV)
• Easy-to-read black letter text in single-column format
• Lays flat in your hand or on your desk
• Ribbon marker
• Beautifully designed Leathersoft-over-board cover featuring screen-printing and other cover embellishments
• 8-point type size

Using the accurate, readable, and clear New International Version (NIV) text makes the Bible accessible and easy-to-read for kids. The NIV is the result of over 50 years of work by the Committee on Bible Translation, who oversee the efforts of many contributing scholars. Representing the spectrum of evangelicalism, the translators come from a wide range of denominations and various countries and continually review new research to ensure the NIV remains at the forefront of accessibility, relevance, and authority. Every NIV Bible that is purchased helps Biblica translate and give Bibles to people in need around the world.

My thoughts: Today's publishers are providing a wonderful choice of Bibles that had added appeal to children and teens as well as adults. A variety of versions, such as the NIV, provide readability for young folks. I personally prefer the King James Version but am glad that God's Word is proliferating.

In this Beautiful Word™ Coloring Bible for Girls young girls will find a joy and pleasure in studying God's Word and focusing on key ideas and key verses via the drawings which they can color. So this Bible is illustrated, but the girl provides the colors. A good design and one to capture a girl's heart just as we wish for her heart to be captured and fall in love with God's Word.

An opportunity to win a copy of this Bible. Check it out. ENDS Dec. 16.

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Click here to download coloring pages of your own.

DISCLOSURE: I received a copy of the NIV Beautiful Word Coloring Bible for Girls from Zondervan (HarperCollins Christian Publishing) for this review. This post is sponsored by Zondervan.”

NIV Adventure Bible: Polar Exploration Edition (Children's Bible) [Review and Giveaway]

My thoughts:  "Thy Word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against thee." Psalm 119:11 "Study to show thyself approved unto God." II Timothy 2:15 It is clear that we are to place God's Word in the hands and hearts of children. In The Adventure Bible you can do just that.

This Bible is the NIV translation. I personally prefer the old standby KJV, but know and understand that God's word will not return unto Him void. Give children His Word.

Clearly, this is a printing that is enhanced with visuals and study aids geared to facilitate the blooming interest of children. Elementary children will be drawn to this beautifully prepared Bible. It is a Bible and it is not a "story book" and as such should be lovingly handled and treated with the respect that God's Word deserves.



This Exploration Edition helps children explore the depths of God's Word. As can be seen in the images below, there are nuggets of how to "Live it!" directing the reader's attention to a specific portion of Scripture. The "Words to Treasure" will pull out a specific verse and highlight it. And the "Did You Know?" nugget focuses on specific ideas from the Bible; and as can be seen in the image below, the word "Justification" is briefly explained.

About the Bible publication: Ready for a frosty Adventure? Embark on a fun, exciting trek through God’s Word with the NIV Adventure Bible, now in an all-new polar exploration theme! While on this arctic adventure, readers meet all types of people, see all sorts of places, and learn all kinds of facts about the Bible.

Here are a few of the features:

• Full-color images of polar animals, arctic outposts, and icy landscapes throughout make learning about the Bible even more engaging
• Life in Bible Times—Articles and illustrations describe what life was like in ancient days
• Words to Treasure—Highlights great verses to memorize
• Complete text of the New International Version (NIV) of the Bible
• Dictionary/concordance for looking up tricky words
• Color maps

This would make a fantastic and meaningful Christmas gift.

GIVEAWAY

Open to USA addresses

Begins November 8

Ends November 20 at 12:01 a.m. ET
Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway.  If you have won a prize from our sponsor Propeller /FlyBy Promotions in the last 30 days on the same blog, you are not eligible to win.  Or if you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again.  Winner is subject to eligibility verification.

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DISCLOSURE: Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255:  “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”):  Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway.  Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation.  I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post. Giveaway copy is provided by the publisher or publicist and sent directly by provider to the winner.

The Spirit of God Illustrated Bible, written by Doris Rikkers and illustrated by Fernando Juarez [Giveaway of 1 copy]

The Spirit of God Illustrated Bible brings to life more than 40 Bible stories that help readers understand that God’s Spirit has been with us since the beginning of time and continues to be with us today. From the glory of creation through the powerful letters of Paul, God’s Spirit is living in his people. Old and New Testament stories such as Adam and Eve, Abraham, Joseph, the Baptism of Jesus, and Pentecost come alive with dramatic illustrations and moving text! This is a special storybook Bible that will appeal to both children and parents alike.The Spirit of God Illustrated Bible, written by Doris Rikkers and illustrated by Fernando Juarez, presents over 40 Bible stories in beautiful full-color from the Old and New Testaments that show how God’s Spirit has been with his people since the beginning of time. 

My thoughts: What a beautiful Bible storybook. The illustrations are modern and yet beautifully soft. The artist has wonderfully portrayed an artistic essence of the Spirit flowing across the pages indicative of God's Spirit flowing throughout history and throughout the lives of the people of the Bible as well as God's people today.

Most Bible storybooks retell the events that occurred to people throughout Biblical history and do a good job of it. I have never seen one that focuses of God's Spirit and the involvement of the Spirit. We knew or know about this, but it has not been part and parcel of traditional Bible stories.

What a blessing!

The way each story is written in this book gently puts forth the basic information, people, and interaction of the story. But it is so beautifully written. There is a grace to the storytelling that is simply beautiful.

Each story begins with a Bible quote and reference that enable the reader (or parents) to quickly find it in their copy of the Scriptures. The version used is the NIV which will appeal to a large audience. I, personally. would have preferred the KJV. Those who prefer a different Bible version can easily use this Bible storybook as a storybook and read the actual Bible text from their preferred version of Scripture.

This book will certainly be a treasure for the families that own a copy. 

GIVEAWAY
Begins September 7

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

Open to US and CANADA addresses only.

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Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway.  If you have won a prize from our sponsor Propeller/FlyBy Promotions in the last 30 days on the same blog, you are not eligible to win.  Or if you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again.  Winner is subject to eligibility verification.

“Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255:  “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”):  Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway.  Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. 

The Spirit of God Illustrated Bible [Storybook Bible] (Zonderkidz), by Doris Wynbeek Rikkers [Review & Giveaway]

God’s Spirit is living among God’s people. 

He always was, always is, and always will be.

These are the stories that tell about him and what he does.

The Spirit of God Illustrated Bible, written by Doris Rikkers and illustrated by Fernando Juarez, presents over 40 Bible stories from the old and new testaments that show how God’s Spirit has been with his people from the beginning of time. Keep reading to learn more about this new release from ZonderKidz!

You can also enter to win a copy of The Spirit of God Illustrated Bible and other awesome kids' releases in a giveaway hosted by Read with Audra. Details below!

Would you like to win your own copy of 

The Spirit of God Illustrated Bible?

Win a children's book prize pack from Read with Audra!

The prize pack includes a copy of:

Spirit of God Illustrated Bible

Adventure Bible Book of Daring Deeds and Epic Creations

NIV Kids Visual Study Bible

Explorer's Bible Guide

Words to Love By

Love Letters from God 

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My review: What a beautiful Bible storybook. The illustrations are modern and yet beautifully soft. The artist has wonderfully portrayed an artistic essence of the Spirit flowing across the pages indicative of God's Spirit flowing throughout history and throughout the lives of the people of the Bible as well as God's people today.

Most Bible storybooks retell the events that occurred to people throughout Biblical history and do a good job of it. I have never seen one that focuses of God's Spirit and the involvement of the Spirit. We knew or know about this, but it has not been part and parcel of traditional Bible stories.

What a blessing!

The way each story is written in this book gently puts forth the basic information, people, and interaction of the story. But it is so beautifully written. There is a grace to the storytelling that is simply beautiful.

Each story begins with a Bible quote and reference that enable the reader (or parents) to quickly find it in their copy of the Scriptures. The version used is the NIV which will appeal to a large audience. I, personally. would have preferred the KJV. Those who prefer a different Bible version can easily use this Bible storybook as a storybook and read the actual Bible text from their preferred version of Scripture.

This book will certainly be a treasure for the families that own a copy. 

About the book: The Spirit of God Illustrated Bible brings to life more than 40 Bible stories that help readers understand that God’s Spirit has been with us since the beginning of time and continues to be with us today. From the glory of creation through the powerful letters of Paul, God’s Spirit is living in his people. Old and New Testament stories such as Adam and Eve, Abraham, Joseph, the Baptism of Jesus, and Pentecost come alive with dramatic illustrations by Fernando Juarez and moving text by Doris Rikkers. With a cover that sparkles and shines with foil, this is a special storybook Bible that will appeal to both children and parents alike.

Where can I go from your Spirit?

Where can I flee from your presence?

If I go up to the heavens, you are there;

If I make my bed in the depths, you are there.

If I rise on the wings of the dawn,

If I settle on the far side of the sea,

Even there your hand will guide me,

Your right hand will hold me fast.

~ Psalm 139: 7–10

About the author and illustrator:

Doris Wynbeek Rikkers is a freelance writer and editor who has written many bestselling children’s books and Bibles. Although she loves the ocean, she lives in Grand Rapids, Michigan, surrounded by her books, her flower gardens, and her family and friends.

Spanish artist Fernando Juarez illustrates children’s books and also works as an art supervisor at the Madrid studio Ilion Animation. The company produces 3D feature films for children. Fernando has three kids himself, and if he has any time left after work and family, you might catch him playing guitar in a rock band.

Want to take a look inside the book? Click here

DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy from the publisher to facilitate this review. Opinions in my review are my own and freely given. Book material and giveaway are provided by and hosted by publicist "Read With Audra" on behalf of the publisher.

Planet 316 Story Bible for Toddlers (with Augmented Reality!) [Review & Giveaway]

My thoughts: First of all, this is a delightful Story Bible for Toddlers. It is just the right size to hold in their hands, the amount of text that comprises the individual stories is really good. Enough to hold their attention but not enough to cause them to get the "wiggles." The stories will challenge a toddler's thinking and the author/s use vocabulary that doesn't "talk down" to these smart little ones but still is not over their head.

The illustrations are great.

Now you couple a really fine toddler's board book with the app that engages with the book giving images that jump from the page, and characters that speak aloud when the little one touches them, you have the makings for a great story time with the kiddies.

Visit the website to see what it is all about and watch the video. http://planet316storybible.com/

Scan the QR code on the back of the book with device.
And download the App then follow instructions.

The augmented image of angles has them "leaping" or moving. Then you can touce the angels and they speak. You can touch the shephers and they, too, speak.

About the book: Padded board book for ages 2 to 5

“This padded Bible storybook takes all of the best qualities of the Planet 316 Story Bible—creative storytelling, humor, augmented reality, and engaging illustrations—and distills them into a format toddlers can enjoy. The Planet 316 Story Bible for Toddlers includes eight classic Bible stories from the Old and New Testaments. Little ones will learn about Noah and the ark, David and Goliath, the birth of Jesus, and more with bite-sized stories crafted for the short attention spans of wiggly toddlers. Families will love this fresh storybook that makes the Bible approachable and enjoyable.”

Note: This YouTube video is basically of the original Planet 316 Story Bible "Augmented Reality." It shows the same benefit of the augmented reality present with the app you download for the Planet 316 Story Bible for TODDLERS.



ABOUT THE AUTHOR: PLANET 316 is a team of talented writers and artist who share a love for technology and a desire to make the Bible approachable and engaging for children. They create fun...

GIVEAWAY

Begins August 10

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

Open to Continental USA addresses only

a Rafflecopter giveaway DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy from WorthyKids/Ideals to facilitate this review. Opinions are my own and freely given. Giveaway copy is provided by WorthyKids/Ideals and will be mailed directly to the winner.

The World of the Bible: Biblical Stories and the Archaeology Behind Them from National Geographic Kids [Review & Giveaway]

My thoughts: This book is not only large in physical size but the time span and subject are enormous in scope providing the young reader an opportunity to whet his or her appetite for life, times, geography and historic impact of those beloved stories from the Judeo-Christian Bible consisting of the Old Testament and the New Testament.

As the Biblical account is read, the following pages provide insight and information into archaeological discoveries that substantiate or grant authenticity to the Biblical account. Those who believe the Bible take it on faith and actually don't need physical proof, yet it is interesting and the pieces of the puzzle that one can actually see are enormously interesting.

I found it interesting that archaeological scholars recount that rivers flow differently from that which they did 4,000 years ago because of changes to the topography caused by earthquakes and other phenomena.

The text can easily be understood by upper elementary students but will also provide enough challenge that the older reader will not become bored but will be mentally encouraged to pursue further information by researching the topics. This is not a standard Bible storybook. It is a retelling of events in the Bible and information gleaned from the world of historical and archaeological research and exploration.

The paintings used to illustrate the stories are identified by title, artist, and year of creation. This is a subtle introduction to young readers to the beautiful art of the centuries from around the World. It is a beautiful presentation of drawings and photographs completed with understandable text and side-bar bites of information. This is a book that should grace the shelves of home libraries as well as public and school libraries. I have thoroughly enjoyed reading through this volume and foresee much potential for its use individually and in a group setting.

Parents should bear in mind that this is a secular publisher and opinions and ideas expressed might not be in agreement with widely held Biblical beliefs of those of the the Jewish or Christian faiths. It is, however, a good source that is well done by a recognized source of said materials.

About the book: Have you ever wondered about the real location of the Garden of Eden?  Or how Moses could have parted the Red Sea? The World of the Bible takes the reader back to ancient times to revisit classic Bible stories from the Old and New Testaments, learn fascinating facts about biblical history, and explore that same landscape as archaeologists are studying it today. Stories include the Samson and Delilah, Joseph in Egypt, Noah and the Flood, the birth of Jesus, Paul's conversion, and many more.  Classic paintings and photos of the Middle East today enrich the archaeological explanations. Additionally, this book was reviewed by biblical scholars to ensure the most up-to-date and accurate information and includes profiles of important Bible personalities, analysis and explanation of key archaeological sites and maps of the Middle East to provide context to the stories and sites. Kids won't just revisit classic Bible stories in this book ... they'll dig deeper into the history behind the tales to learn more about the biblical world.

Author Bio: Jill Rubalcaba is author of more than 12 books of nonfiction and fiction for children and young adults, including National Geographic’s Ancient Egypt: Archaeology Unlocks the Secrets of Egypt’s Past. The biography I.M. Pei; Architect of Time, Place, and Purpose, published by Marshall Cavendish in 2011, was among Booklist’s Top 10 Books for Youth, Kirkus’s Best of 2011, and is a Junior Library Guild Selection.

GIVEAWAY

Begins January 10

Ends January 31 @ 12:01 a.m. EST

Open to USA addresses only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway 
DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy to facilitate this review. Opinions are solely my own and are freely given. Winner's copy is provided by the publisher and publicist and sent directly to the winner.

Beauty and the Beak by Deborah LeeRose and Janie Veltkamp [Blog Tour & Giveaway]

Welcome to Day #3 of the Beauty and the Beak Blog Tour!

To celebrate the release of Beauty and the Beak by Deborah Lee Rose and Janie VeltKamp (8/27/17), blogs across the web are featuring exclusive content from Deborah, plus 5 chances to win a copy of Beauty and the Beak!

Surprising Facts About Conservation and Endangered Species

I was amazed to learn—and kids love to hear—how scientists worked to bring bald eagles back to regions of the U.S. where they had almost disappeared. The biologists had to take very young bald eagle chicks from parts of country where there were lots of bald eagles, and transplant the chicks to parts of the country where there were almost no bald eagles. The chicks had to be relocated before they fledged (learned to fly), because once a young bald eagle learns to fly, it will always consider the place it first flew as its home and come back there year after year to nest. So the scientists had to make sure the young eagles learned to fly in the new areas that would become their homes. Once they had taken bald eagle chicks to a different part of the country, biologists placed the chicks in special nesting boxes in trees in the wild. The biologists then camouflaged themselves, so they could feed and care for the chicks without the young eagles having direct contact with humans. As soon as the chicks started to fly and could hunt for their own food, the biologists left the eagles to their new wild life. Because of this amazing conservation effort, today bald eagle populations are increasing all over the U.S. and millions of people can now watch bald eagles in the wild.

*****

Blog Tour Schedule:

August 28th – Foodie Bibliophile in Wanderlust

August 29th — Word Spelunking

August 30th — Chat with Vera

August 31st  — Late Bloomer's Book Blog

September 1st — Living Simply

Buy: Persnickety Press

Follow Deborah: Website | Facebook | Twitter 

  Follow Janie: Website;| Facebook

BEAUTY AND THE BEAK is a new, nonfiction picture book about Beauty, the wild bald eagle that made world news when she was illegally shot, rescued, and received a pioneering, 3D-printed prosthetic beak. BEAUTY AND THE BEAK follows Beauty close up from the moment she uses her baby beak to emerge from her egg, through her hunt when she uses her powerful adult beak to feed herself, to the day her beak is shot off leaving her helpless. This brave and heartlifting story continues through her rescue, into the months of engineering her 3D-printed prosthetic beak and intense hours of her beak surgery, to the moment she takes the first drink of water by herself with her new beak. BEAUTY AND THE BEAK captures the spirit and courage of this amazing bird and America’s national symbol―whose species was nearly wiped out by human activity, only to be restored and thriving because of environmental conservation and human compassion. This book will resonate with stories of other animals endangered or in need, and with stories of humans, from young children to military veterans, in need of prosthetic limbs, who are being given new lives with state-of-the-art devices. The book includes expanded information about bald eagles as a top predator species, their near extinction in most of the U.S., their successful reintroduction back into the wild, and efforts to conserve this critical raptor species today.

About the Authors: Deborah Lee Rose is an internationally published, award-winning author of many beloved children’s books. Jimmy the Joey: The True Story of an Amazing Koala Rescue is a Reading is Fundamental/Macy’s Multicultural Collection title and Notable Social Studies Trade Book for Students K-12. Into the A, B, Sea was named to the New York Public Library’s 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing. Deborah helped create and directed communications for the ALA/AASL award-winning national STEM education website Howtosmile.org, and helped created STEM activity apps for Lawrence Hall of Science which have been downloaded more than one million times. She also served as Director of Communications for Lindsay Wildlife Experience, which includes one of the first wildlife rehabilitation hospitals established in the U.S. Deborah lives in Walnut Creek, CA, and speaks at book events, conferences, schools and libraries across the country. Visit her website at deborahleerose.com.

Jane Veltkamp is a raptor biologist and rehabilitator, wildlife educator, trained nurse, and master falconer. She led the team who developed Beauty the Bald Eagle’s prosthetic beak and has lifetime care of Beauty. Jane is founder and executive director of Birds of Prey Northwest, in Idaho, a raptor center which educates the public about raptor conservation, including through live raptor programs, and has provided medical treatment and rehabilitation to thousands of injured birds of prey to return them to the wild. She spent ten years of her career reintroducing ospreys and peregrine falcons to regions where they had disappeared from their habitat in South Dakota and Indiana. She rescues and cares for Bald Eagles, including Beauty, by permit from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Jane lives near Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, and is also the eagle expert for the Coeur d'Alene Tribe's Native American Aviaries. Visit her website at birdsofpreynorthwest.org.

About Persnickety Press: Persnickety Press is the sister imprint of the Cornell Lab Publishing Group. Persnickety publishes a broad range of books for children and young adults, both fiction and nonfiction, from picture books through teen titles. Our books focus on empowerment, showing young people that what they do matters, what they care about is worthy of their attention and dedication, and even as children, they can make a real difference. 

~ GIVEAWAY ~

One (1) winner will receive a copy of Beauty and the Beak
US addresses only
Begins August 30
Ends September 20 @ 12:01 a.m. EDT

a Rafflecopter giveaway

DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy of Beauty and the Beak from MMPublicity to participate in this blog tour. Materials are provided by MMPublicity. Giveaway is hosted singularly on Chat With Vera with prize being provided and shipped by MMPublicity to the winner.