Henry is Kind: A Story of Mindfulness by Linda Ryden, Shearry Malone (Illustrations)

copies of all 3 sent right out. We can offer giveaways of Henry and Acadia 2: Autumn - US/Can 

My thoughts:  Basically, the "mindfulness" is simply a restating of the old adage of being kind one toward another and to do unto others as you would have them do unto you. These precepts are readily taught in the Bible (Christian) and also in society as a whole. We need more kindness in the world and it is helpful that schools are focusing on leading children into demonstrations and acts of kindness. Letting them see how it can benefit themselves and others individually and as a whole is positive reinforcement of the concept.

In Henry is Kind the school setting is used to show how the class is taught the exercise of mindful kindness. Henry feels replete of feelings of kindness and acting out kindness, but others show him that he is and has been, indeed, quite kind.

This is totally a secular story and in a somewhat stealthy manner presents the practice of yoga. The story is nice and Henry does feel better about things in the end. The whole group learns how to be kind and how to purposefully move toward acting out kindness toward others. That is good.

I don't care much for the illustrations. Just not a style I like. A pretty good book to use in an educational setting - classroom or school library.

About the book: Henry’s discovery of the many ways he can be kind will inspire young readers to use the simple mindfulness practices taught in this book to develop their own capacities for kindness.

Ms. Snowden and her class practice sending kind thoughts to the people they love, and they launch a class Kindness Project. There is only one problem: Henry can’t think of one kind thing he has done. Declaring that kindness is stupid, he stomps to the classroom door on the verge of tears, but his classmates save the day by reminding him of the kind things he has done for each of them.

Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of the book to facilitate this review. Opinions are mine alone and I was not compensated.

Candlewick Christmas lovelies: Little Christmas Tree by Jessica Courtney-Tickle and Coming Home by Mchael Morpurgo [Review & Giveaway US/CANADA 2 winners]

One would think by the design and titles of these two books that they are specifically designed for Christmas time or celebration. Not so. These are focused on the natural world and the beauty of it. Yet these would make lovely gifts to bestow on some child during this wintery season. They can be enjoyed throughout the winter season.

Little Christmas Tree by Jessica Courtney-Tickle (Big Picture Press an imprint of Candlewick Press)

My thoughts:  This is such a sweet book. It is a large sturdy board book that is safe in little hands. Yet it is designed to enthrall the little ones. There are fascinating lift-the-flap opportunities and when you lift a flap you discover an object or a creature. It is nice that the flaps' underside has the word for what you discover. Some of the flaps are very small and you must look closely to discover them all. Nice!

The book is lovely with the woodland illustrations and creatures highlighted with touches of silver embossing. Lends a nice pretty touch. I like that the tree remains in the forest. Uncut. Undecorated except with the glitter of snow and ice alight from the light of Moon or Sun. Lovely.

The story is a poem and reads very nicely with good cadence and rhyme. Love it because this method of story telling captures the child's imagination, ensures later recall, and promotes a love of poetry.

I highly recommend this as a Winter-Season book and not simply a Christmas  book. Be sure you look for this one.

About the book: One white and snowy night, a little Christmas tree stands alone in the forest. Everything is white and lifeless. As the night goes on, there are signs of life: an orange fox, a red-breasted robin, a cloud of fireflies. By the end of the book, the little Christmas tree is transformed by nature. Another glorious lift-the-flap exploration of nature in the same series as Little Tree and Little Honeybee.

Coming Home  by Michael Morpurgo and Kerry Hyndman (Candlewick Press)

My thoughts:  The author uses free verse and words that convey an urgency and impending danger. A longing. A compelling sense and need to get to a destination. The artist beautifully conveys this urgency and danger in the robin's journey through storms, over mountains and rivers and oceans, battling predatory birds, and his own weariness in the action packed illustrations.

A beautifully told story and one that will implant well in the mind of a young child the migratory journey that birds - not just this single robin - face as they move across this globe we call Earth.

This is a superb book for a child to have to read over and over during the cold, snowy days of Winter. He will be able to begin understand the wee bird's plight and yet also grasp the innate destiny that is the bird's to move from place to place in his migratory journey.

At the end of his journey, the robin meets his mate. We are not told why the mate is already there or if the mate never migrated. Perhaps that is a tale for another day.

About the book: A plucky little robin sets out on an epic journey. Through dark forests, driving rain, clapping thunder and flashing lightning. Across frozen wastes, huge mountains and stormy seas he flies. And all the while he's dreaming of home. Of her. But will he ever get there? Find out in this wonderfully lyrical Christmas story from the brilliant Michael Morpurgo, with stunning illustrations by Kerry Hyndman.

A Christmas gift perfect choice

GIVEAWAY

2 Winners each Win 2 Books

Begins November 16

Ends December 2 at 12:01 a.m. ET

Open to USA/CANADA addresses only.

NO P.O. BOXES, please!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

DISCLOSURE: I received complimentary copies of the two books to facilitate this review. Opinions are mine alone and are freely given. Winners' copies are provided and mailed by Candlewick Press to the winner.

God Bless You and Good Night Touch and Feel By Hannah Hall Published by Thomas Nelson

My thoughts:  This is a charming board book to read as you tuck your toddler into bed for the evening and to focus a bit on God in the process. Sweet mommy and baby animals get ready for bed and think about their happy day that has just passed.

The "Touch and Feel" qualities in this book are minimal with some aspects being more prominent than others. It does give the little one something to seek out and find on the pages.

The little rhymes are sweet and are good reminders to blessings in the little one's life.

A nice little book.

About the book: God Bless You and Good Night is now available as a touch-and-feel book! This
beloved bedtime classic has touched more than 315,000 families, and this touch-and-feel edition offers even more fun as little ones prepare for bed.

Bedtime can be a precious time of connection for you and your little one. Enjoy those snuggly moments together as you read this classic bedtime book while exploring all the fun touch-and-feel elements, from the polar bear's soft fur to the elephant's leathery skin to the silky grass of the African grasslands.

In God Bless You and Good Night Touch and Feel, sleepy little ones are reminded of God’s blessings and how much they are loved. The delightful rhyming story takes readers through several scenes of snuggly animals who are getting ready for bed from putting on pj's, brushing teeth, and saying good-night prayers. Now with added touch-and-feel elements, children can engage with the story even more. God Bless You and Good Night Touch and Feel will be a favorite part of the bedtime ritual for parents and children.

Whether for a baby shower or birthday, or as a heart-melting way to surprise the grandparents-to-be, God Bless You and Good Night Touch and Feel is the perfect touch for any celebration.

DISCLOSURE: I receive a complimentary copy to review from the BookLook Blogger Review program on behalf of the publisher, Tommy Nelson. Opinions are my own and are freely given.

My Heart Belongs In Gettysburg, Pennsylvania by Murray Pura [Review & Giveaway - USA 3 winners]

My thoughts: Having previously read Murray Pura's wonderful writing on several occasions, I was looking forward to how he would approach a "My Heart Belongs...." story and even more so how he would handle the Civil War battle in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.

I found the leading lady in this story, Clarissa Avery Ross, a bit of a character and frankly did not like her flippant attitude about much of life and especially how she interacted with the young men in her life. Her role as a member of the Underground Railroad helping escaped slaves in their journey to freedom was admirable and yet it, too, was complicated by her personality or attitude. Blame it on her "flaming red hair" or not. I didn't care for it. That doesn't mean her behavior and personality was not suited it simply means I didn't care for it.

How valid it was to the time period? I will leave that to the experts and those who research and delve into whatever records exist that narrate how young ladies "comported" themselves in the 1860s in America.

As the Civil War (or whatever other name one wishes to give this American war) moves into Pennsylvania, Clarissa's character or behavior changes. This is definitely in keeping with reality as when confronted with the very real prospects of war in your own backyard, and then the actual experience of said battles, a frivolous young lady can take on a definite transformation and become quite serious in attitude and behavior. This happens to Clarissa.

Mr. Pura expertly handles the workings of the Underground Railroad and the approach of the Confederate army on Gettysburg and the battle fought at that locale. In great detail, he paints word pictures that place the reader in the middle of the battles. He shows the fierceness of war. He describes the compassionate cessation of conflict while they comb the battlefield for survivors - Northern and Southern.

An interesting read. A good amount of history. A clean romance.

About the Book: When War Reaches Clarissa’s Back Door, the Trustworthy Become Even Fewer

Journey into Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, of 1863 where Clarissa Avery Ross lives a full life. By day she is the daughter of a respectable shoemaker being courted by seminary student Kyle Forrester. But by night she is a conductor on the Underground Railroad, working with a mysterious man called Liberty. She would like to share her work with Kyle, but he refuses to enlist when the war breaks out. How can she remain true to a man being labeled a coward? When the war comes to her back door in an epic battle, the greatest challenges to her faith and love are yet to come.

GIVEAWAY

3 Winners, 1 Copy Each

Begins November 15

Ends December 5 at 12:01 a.m. ET

Open to USA addresses.

a Rafflecopter giveaway DISCLOSURE: I was provided a complimentary copy by Barbour Publishing to facilitate this review. Opinions are mine alone and are freely given. Winners' copies are provided and shipped to the winner by Barbour Publishing.

Sing a Song of Seasons: A Nature Poem for Each Day of the Year curated by Fiona Waters & illustrated by Frann Preston-Gannon [Review & Giveaway USA/CANADA]

My thoughts:  From little two or three line rhymes to famed poetry such as Robert Frost's "Stopping By Woods On A Snowy Evening" or the poems of Robert Louis Stevenson, Sing A Song of Seasons is a delight. With illustrations from the skilled hand of Frann Presto-Gannon the book presents as a volume to cherish for years of reading poetry through the year.

The book is quite large  and hefty which precludes very young children holding. However, it is nicely sized for lap-holding and read-aloud times. The monthly collections of poems are numbered by the day, an arrangement that makes for easy reading on a regular basis. Indexed nicely in the back for looking up favorites.

What a wonderful pairing - the seasons and poetry. There is so much in Sing A Song of Seasons that evokes the seasons - wind, sun, snow, ice - that the beautiful properties of nature expressed in the poetic phrase or artistic drawing simply capture the reader's rapt attention. The reader will gain a better grasp of what the poems are saying through the illustrations, likewise the illustrations will have beautifully descriptive words expressed in the poems that help the viewer see more of the artistic details.

I highly recommend this beautiful book for the home where the poetic word is enjoyed, where the love of seasonal charm and beauty is appreciated, and where a good read-aloud session is pleasure indeed.

About the book: Sing a Song of Seasons is a lavishly illustrated collection of 366 nature poems — one for every day of the year. Filled with familiar favorites and new discoveries written by a wide variety of poets, including William Shakespeare, Emily Dickinson, John Updike, Langston Hughes, N. M. Bodecker, Okamoto Kanoko, and many more, this is the perfect book for children (and grown-ups!) to share at the beginning or the end of the day.

Sing a Song of Seasons: A Nature Poem for Each Day of the Year
by Fiona Waters (Editor), Frann Preston-Gannon (Illustrator)

Read a few pages by clicking here to access Google books. Buy it here

A Christmas gift perfect choice

GIVEAWAY

1 Winner receives 1 copy of book

Begins November 14

Ends December 3 at 12:01 a.m. ET

Open to USA and CANADA addresses

NO P.O. BOXES, Please!

a Rafflecopter giveaway 

DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy from Candlewick Press on behalf of Nosy Crow Publishing an imprint of Candlewick to facilitate this review. Opinions are mine alone and are freely given. Winner's copy is provided and shipped by the publisher directly to the winner.

Beloved: 365 Devotions for Young Women from Zondervan Publishing [Review & Giveaway - USA/Canada ends Nov. 21]

ISBN: 9780310762775 | Hardcover | $15.99
Buy on Amazon - click here

My thoughts:  This is an absolutely beautiful book and such a pleasure to behold. Compact yet full of short, enriching readings that will give your young woman (daughter, grand-girl, neighbor, niece) that important boost to help her see just how special she is to God. How beloved she is.

Each reading has a few blank lines at the end where your young woman can record her thoughts, feelings of being blessed or beloved, her insecurities, her feelings of strength, her fears, her challenges, her requests to God. Whatever!

Unabashedly feminine with the pinks and spots of gold this book is a beauty to behold. Just as your young woman is a beauty to behold.

The focus is girls and women in the Bible; and the well known ladies in the Bible are featured as well as those obscure, barely mentioned which lends credence to the value and purpose of each and every one of them. They are in the Bible. They are valued by God. Your young lady is valued of God as well. Inspire her to see her value in this world and especially to God.

About the book: Young women receive so many negative messages in today’s society. Counteract that with Beloved, a topical 365-day devotional that will inspire them with positive role models from Scripture. Each day features an easy-to-read, relevant devotion paired with a scripture verse about a biblical girl or woman, such as Ruth, Esther, Mary, or Abigail. Every page speaks to the pressures and changes girls face, giving them real-world applications to find God in their hearts and in their lives.

Relationships, inner beauty, and chasing your dreams are all topics on the top of a teen girl’s list. So give them great Biblical role models to admire as they grow and understand who they are. Beloved is a topical devotional that uses the inspiring stories of girls and women in the Bible—such as Ruth, Esther, Mary, and Abigail—to encourage faith and confidence in today’s young women. Perfect for everyday use, Beloved will resonate with girls searching for truth and guidance.

Find it and buy it: http://www.zondervan.com/p/beloved-devotional/ 

GIVEAWAY

Begins November 13

Ends November 21 at 12:01 a.m. ET

Open to Continental USA and CANADA only

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.
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.

Ellie Claire journals: Faith & Lettering, The Illustrated Word, and Illuminate Your Story

I had no idea how lovely these journals were till I actually had them in my hands and they are simply  Beautiful! The three interactive journals are listed below with some observations of mine on each of them. Personally, I am not one that takes pen to paper and journals. I admire anyone who does this and see great value in it for them individually at the moment they journal and then in the future for themselves or perhaps for their family in later years. Journaling has tremendous historic value.

These journals not only provide a beautiful source in which you can record your thoughts, but they have instructive value in forms of art that will help develop the artist hiding inside of you.

Faith & Lettering

This beautiful cover is embossed and has gold gilt emphasizing the letters and designs. The touch-feel of the embossing is luxurious. The very nice binding begs for you to pick up this journal and look through it. When you do, you'll see opportunities to grow your skill at creating artistic lettering and sketching that you color to release or develop your love of creativity. 

The paper is very nice and the space for writing whatever your heart desires is adequate and spaced nicely between opportunities to be creative.

This journal has a more modern look and design as do the art and lettering styles. A super gift for yourself or someone you know that journals or is a budding artist. And as for the actual writing you might do..... Well on one page it has the verse beautifully lettered..... "I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth." 3 John 1:4 and next to that is a blank page. What an opportunity to bare your heart on that page.

Amazon: http://amzn.to/FaithAndLettering-Amazon
Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/FaithAndLettering-BN

Illuminate Your Story

This journal is a little smaller than the other two in the group. The quality is superb and sturdy. There is even a little elastic band to help hold your place. What is so special, though, is the opportunity to have excellently guided directions and examples of beautiful illuminated lettering such as was used hundreds of years ago to decorate Holy Scripture.

The art of Scripture Illumination such as is featured in this journal is an almost lost art. The Museum of the Bible in Washington, DC has some beautiful manuscripts that were the inspiration for this journal. There is even a short History of Illuminated Letters at the beginning of the journal.

Tucked into the back cover of the journal is a little "Keepsake" pocket. What would you tuck away inside it? A note from a beloved spouse? A child's note attesting to his or her accepting Christ into their heart?

Your story can be written within these pages and your skill developed as you draw and color your letter to illuminate it. The technique to create your own illuminated letters is clearly given with practice areas in the journal. When pages for you to write begin, there is a quote - sometimes Scripture and sometimes from an individual. These are good for getting those thoughts flowing from your pen.

Amazon: http://bit.ly/Illuminate-Amazon
Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/Illuminate-BN

The Illustrated Word: An Illuminated Bible Coloring Journal

The cover of this journal is stunning. The embossed effect of the flowers and scrolls is expertly and meticulously done. The binding is quality through and through with high end paper.

The cover is embossed and texturized with gold foil and the colors of the exquisite art bright yet in excellent taste. Again the Museum of the Bible has lent beauty to this book with the use of the forty illustrations from manuscripts from hundreds of years ago. Each of these illustrations is titled and sourced.

This is a journal in which you can write and your art would be the coloring of pages such as the "I Am God" shown below. A beautiful book and an opportunity to see small bits of beautiful, ancient art that graced ancient manuscripts.

Amazon: http://bit.ly/Illustrated-Amazon
Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/Illustrated-BN

I see these as wonderful gifts for special people in your life. Or perhaps one is especially appealing to you.

DISCLOSURE: I received these 3 journals from Worthy Publishing on behalf of Ellie Claire to facilitate this review. Opinions are solely my own and are freely given.