Cash Kat by Linda Joy Singleton, illustrated by Wald Christina [Review]

Arbordale Publishing has a knack for publishing children's books that are adorable, fun, educational, and quite entertaining.

I just love how Cash Kat has cute characters that have some quirky characteristics. As the story unfolds the bits and pieces of a variety of lessons is there for the reader to embrace. Not only is the story enjoyable in that Kat has a great experience with her Gram, but they are involved in a bit of community service. While cleaning up the park, Kat finds coins and begins to amass them hoping to eventually purchase an ice cream. 

She learns the value of each corn and as she finds them and she learns to use addition to see what her total cash is. Eventually she decides to give her accumulated treasure to help the park instead of purchasing an ice cream.

What she learns....

• Community Service
• Valuing her community's park
• Learning the coin values and saving for a goal, and finally
• Gifting her money - an act of philanthropy.

All this is done in a fashion that relates to the kids reading the book. This is a sure-fire keeper book and perfect for the youngsters in the home, school, or library patrons.

As always, I love the learning pages at the end of the book that help children further explore the values already presented in the delightful book. 

DISCLOSURE: I was provided a complimentary copy by Abordale Publishing to facilitate this review. Opinions are my own and I was not compensated.

Medical Judgment by Richard L. Mabry, MD Gripping Medical Suspense [Giveaway]

Get ready for Dr. Richard Mabry's newest heart-thumping medical suspense, Medical Judgement.

Someone is after Dr. Sarah Gordon. They've stalked her and set a fire at her home. Trying to recover from the traumatic deaths of her husband and infant daughter is tough enough, but she has no idea what will come next. Her late husband's best friend and a recovering alcoholic detective are trying to solve the mystery before it's too late, but both appear to be vying for her affection as well. Sarah finds herself in constant fear as the process plays out.

As the threats on her life continue to escalate, so do the questions: Who is doing this? Why are they after her? And with her only help being unreliable suitors in competition with each other, whom can she really trust?

GIVEAWAY

Begins June 5

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

Open to USA addresses only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Author: Dr. Richard Mabry is a retired physician who writes "medical suspense with heart." His novels have won multiple awards: a semifinalist for International Thriller Writers' debut novel; finalists for the Carol Award, Inspirational Reader's Choice Award, and Romantic Times' Reader's Choice Award; and both finalist and winner of the Selah Award. He and his wife live in Frisco, Texas.

National Geographic The Angry Birds Movie: Red's Big Adventure by Christy Ullrich Barcus [Review & Giveaway]

Age Range: 8 - 12 years

Paperback: 160 pages

National Geographic Children's Books

ISBN:978-1426216848

My thoughts: Putting the Angry Birds in a book just filled to brimming with wonderful factual information about islands, mountains, birds, animals, and other wonders of the world in which we live is simply enchanting.

Kids will get to individually meet the various Angry Birds in different sections and read a bit about Red's Big Adventure and then the author takes the reader into the paradise of islands, rolling mountains or jagged mountains. Birds of various types and places they live. Wonders of islands and types of islands (Yep! There are "types" of islands!).

There is a wonderful assortment of real photographs of these wonders running page after page of glorious reading enjoyment. Kids and parents alike will be enthralled with the bits and pieces of information they glean from within. And they will have lots of fun reading about these crazy, angry birds.  A unique book for Angry Birds fans.

National Geographic Children's Books has again brought forth a winning tome of education, entertainment, and enrichment for hours of great fun. Just the thing to have around for those lazy summer days. Kids will love it!

GIVEAWAY

Begins June 5

ENDS June 26 @ 12:01 a.m. EDT

Open to USA addresses only

a Rafflecopter giveaway

About the book: This latest entry in the National Geographic Angry Birds series will take you on an amazing journey with Red, the leader of the Angry Birds flock, along with Matilda, Chuck, Bomb, Terence, and the mysterious Mighty Eagle. Featuring The Angry Birds Movie (2016) story world, this book is filled with all the fun facts and information Red and the flock need to embark on their big adventure. From identifying wildlife to navigating by the stars to building a shelter and setting traps (for any roaming Piggies), this book will be sure to educate and entertain.

DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy from Media Masters Publicity on behalf of the publisher to facilitate this review. Opinions are my own, alone. I was not compensated. Winner's prize is provided by and shipped by publisher or publicist.

THE VALLEY OF DRY BONES An End Times Novel by Jerry B. Jenkins

ISBN:  978-1617950087

About the book: In The Valley of the Dry Bones, Jerry B. Jenkins overlays the ancient End Times prophecies of Ezekiel onto the landscape of modern California. After a 17-year drought, multiple earthquakes, and uncontrollable wildfires, the state is desolate. The United States President declares the state uninhabitable and irreparable, directing California's 39 million citizens to relocate. From the air, California looks like a vast abandoned sand box, but to a few groups of people, it's their home. With less than 1% of the population remaining in California at their own risk, the holdouts encounter a clash of cultures, ethnicities, religions, and politics that pits friend against friend with the future of California at stake.

My thoughts: The unthinkable has happened. California is no longer part of the United States (or rather those living there do not have protections and benefits of citizens of the US). Why? Because following unprecedented earthquakes and subsequent fires, and unbearable heat, the area is virtually unlivable.

It is in this setting that Jenkins has placed a band of sixteen individuals who have each answered their pastor's invitation or call to remain in the devastated area to minister spiritually to the remaining 1% of California's prior populace.

The book is written in mostly in dialogue between the sixteen and others in the area. The sixteen primary characters in the book are encamped in a disguised underground site that is secret from outsiders who remain in the area. There is extreme shortage of water and food. Trips are made to areas outside the California land for medicines, mail, and other items. It is not a safe place to be. Danger and deception create situations that only God's mercy. guidance, and protection can overcome.

Their survival skills are surprising. They convert salt water to fresh. They grow food using aqua-phobics. I couldn't figure out how they grew food underground and where their lights came from. But underground they existed with everything they needed. They had two hydro-engineers, a medical doctor, a pastor, etc. 

The book is definitely a Christian book with large amounts of quotes from the Scriptures. These are, after all, Christians living in a desperate land and doing it solely to be able to minister to people.

This book did not quite satisfy as former Jerry B. Jenkins stories has done. The character driven story and strong conversational text had me a bit addled at times trying to keep up with who was saying just what to whom. While the main male character, Ezekiel or "Zeke" was growing into what seems to be his "call" of prophet where God was speaking through him with Scripture, I don't see this as an End Times Novel. I see it as a story of a bereft people in a savaged land who are seeking to minister to others in the same plight.

DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy to facilitate this review from the Worthy Publishing company's First Look Review Program. Opinions are my own. I was not compensated.

Richard Mabry’s ‘Medical Judgment’ e-Reader Giveaway

Just what the doctor ordered: heart-thumping suspense and intrigue, courtesy of Richard Mabry’s new medical drama, Medical Judgment.

Someone is after Dr. Sarah Gordon. They’ve stalked her and set a fire at her home. Trying to recover from the traumatic deaths of her husband and infant daughter is tough enough, but she has no idea what will come next. As the threats on her life continue to escalate, so do the questions: Who is doing this? Why are they after her? And with her only help being unreliable suitors in competition with each other, whom can she really trust?

Join Richard in celebrating the release of Medical Judgment by entering to win an e-reader!

One grand prize winner will receive:

• A copy of Medical Judgment
• A Kindle Fire HD 6

Enter today by clicking the icon below, but hurry! The giveaway ends on June 21st. The winner will be announced June 22nd on the Litfuse blog.

Esther, the Belle of Patience (Bible Belles’ The Adventures of Rooney Cruz #2) by Erin Weidemann [Review & Giveaway - US/CANADA]

Just what are "Bible Belles? 

THE SOUND OF THE BELLES WILL BE H.E.A.R.D. -Exodus 28:35

Hannah. Esther. Abigail. Ruth. Deborah. H.E.A.R.D. The names of these five women represent the journey to discover the real definition of beauty through God’s love and His special purpose for each of our lives.

Bible Belles’ The Adventure of Rooney Cruz is an original children’s series that presents real life heroes like never before. The series highlights five superhero women of the Bible: Hannah, Esther, Abigail, Ruth and Deborah.

We’re setting out to present women in the Bible in a way that has never been done before. We want girls to connect with them and find out what being truly beautiful is all about. We want girls to remember their names, their stories, and how special they are.

My thoughts: Esther the Belle of Patience is book 2 in the series and it highlights Esther because of her patience. The goal of this and the other Belle books is to teach young girls about inner beauty correlating a contemporary young girl with a prominent Bible character addressing real life problems.

This is a sweet story about cute, bright-eyed Rooney Cruz and how she learns to wait patiently on God's timing. The illustrations are bright, with strong colors and very lively.

The gist of the story is that Rooney's special angel which is designed as a tiny, winged pretty lady (sort of an angelic Tinker Bell or fairy) warns and cajooles Rooney into thinking through situations and having patience. The special angel also supernaturally spins a waterbottle cap until it transforms into a magical window that opens up to scenes in the life of Esther, the Biblical woman who saved the Jews.

As I said the story is cute, bright, and engaging. The lesson can easily be learned that a woman of God (or a girl of God) can learn to be patient and exercise restraint and pray before acting. All very good traits and qualities. And these are the charm of the book.

The series uses two concepts that I find potential for confusion. We want to certainly delineate carefully between the real and the unreal. The Bible and stories contained therein are not fantasy or fairy tales. The Bible is the story of real people, real events, and a very real God. Esther was a very real lady.

1. Using the tiny personal angel that smacks so akin to a Tinker Bell style figure or fairy or even as in new age speak "guide," could tend to confuse the child between what an angel (even a personal angel) really is and the same types of figures in the fiction realm.
2. The use of a magical transformation to create a window frame that is open to another time or age, smacks with the super heroes, time travel, and fantasy that is so prevalent in the entertainment world. I certainly don't see any harm in tales of modern super heroes, time travel, or fantasy, but care needs to keep them separate from Biblical truth. To not maintain separation could potentially allow for a child's confusion or distrust.

Now what do I think of the book? Well, it is cute, charming, bright, engaging, teaches a wonderful Biblical concept of waiting patiently on God and praying prior to doing. So these are all pluses. It is also a plus for young girls to learn while they are young about the wonderful women of the Bible. I simply feel that while this is a good story and well done, care must be taken to make certain children don't think angels are flitting around us like little new age fairies.

Would I read it to my children if they were still in the home? Yes, because I can discern the truth and help in their understanding. I could easily see and teach the strengths of the story.

Will I pass my copy along to a home with children in it? Yes, but then I will be certain they understand my cautions.

Esther, the Belle of Patience (Bible Belles’ The Adventures of Rooney Cruz #2) by Erin Weidemann is sure to be a kid-pleaser.

GIVEAWAY

Begins June 1 

Ends June 11 @ 12:01 a.m. EDT
Open to USA or CANADA addresses

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, 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.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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.

Being a Captain is Hard Work (Captain No Beard series) by Carole P. Roman & illustrated by Bonnie Lemaire [Review & Giveaway]

ISBN: 9781522781783

Captain No Beard is determined to travel to Dew Rite Volcano. He won't listen when Mongo predicts a storm or Linus indicates they are headed in the wrong direction. He insists Polly cook in the galley even though the seas are getting rough. What's a crew to do with a stubborn, know-it-all captain?
Will they convince the captain he is barreling headlong into danger, or will Captain No Beard jeopardize both his safety and the crew’s with his single-minded determination to go where he wants?

My thoughts: It's such fun to see another Captain No Beard emerge. This time they are on a rough sea and decisions are being made which are quite controversial. The Captain finds that making decisions and being Captain is Hard Work!

The "Captain-Author" with all the mateys

In this newest edition of Carole P. Roman's delightful kiddies series, the bedroom again becomes the ship and the ocean with the cousins and stuffed critters the Captain and the Crew. Dew Rite Volcano (get it? "Do Right") is on the horizon and the Captain sets his sights for it. But the crew isn't confident it is the right decision because the clouds look a mite stormy, the wind has picked up and is blowing cold, and the seas are churning mightily. But Captain No Beard says he is captain and he decides. He is the one who is right - or rather he boastingly says he is.

So on they sail and right into disaster! After almost loosing a couple of crew members to the wind, ice, and rolling seas the Captain meekly decides he is wrong and sets things right again.

In this book, Ms. Roman has given some educational information at the end of the book with a page featuring types of clouds and the definition of each type. After all, if the Captain had really known his clouds he wouldn't have gotten his ship in trouble.

Now who doesn't love a giveaway? Here is your chance to win the entire series of Captain No Beard books or a copy of Being Captain Is Hardwork.

GIVEAWAY

Grand prize: Entire set of 10 books in Series (1 winner)

Other prize: 1 copy of Being a Captain Is Hard Word (1 winner)

Begins May 31 

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

Open to USA addresses only

a Rafflecopter giveaway DISCLOSURE: I was provided a complimentary copy by the author to facilitate this review. Opinions are my own and I was not compensated. Winner's prizes are provided by and shipped by author.