"Manner-Man" by Sherrill S. Cannon & Illustrated by Kalpart (benefits Juvenile Myositis Foundation) - Review & Giveaway

Manner-Man is a superhero who is called forth by Rob to help him and his friends deal with rude, bullying, mean, grabbing children.  Manner-Man (with the wonderful red "M" on his hand) is summoned when Rob (and later Rob's friends)  raises three fingers in the air (they actually form an upside-down M) and reciting:
 

"I am strong, and my flash is bright,
And I will defend you and make things all right."

Another key aspect of managing unruly playmates is to say (or shout out), "Not nice" whenever there is a grabbing, pushing, snatching playmate. 

Manner-Man saves the day time after time no matter what.  But as the day progresses and Manner-Man comes to the rescue, the kids are learning lessons in how to deal with different situations and people.

As Rob goes through the day, he (and we) meet more of Sherril Cannon's other book characters:  Gimme-Jimmy, and Elisabeth of Magic Word fame.  In the delightful Kalpart illustrations, we see Peter and the Whimper-Whineys book laying on Rob's blanket after has had fallen asleep.  Covers to previous books by this author show up in Manner-Man.  The illustrations by Kalpart are consistent in all of Sherril Cannon's books and bring continuity to the storytelling.  I have reviewed these books by Ms. Cannon on Chat With Vera. To read, click links to books in this paragraph.

The themes of kindness, sharing, not-bullying, not pushing, not grabbing, not whining, etc. are brought out in these three books and are reinforced in Manner-Man. If a home or school has the entire set, they will see wonderful opportunities for reinforcement of good behavior and social skills by using the books interchangeably.

The rhyming text has a nice cadence and is a delight to read aloud or to listen while it is being read.  Young readers, with somewhat advanced skills, will be able to read it to themselves but it is delightful to read aloud to young children.

Another wonderful aspect of purchasing one of Ms. Cannon's books is that it supports a wonderful charitable organization: Cure JM Foundation (found at http://sbpra.com/CureJM/)  50% of the cost of these award-winning books by author Sherrill S. Cannon will go directly to the Cure JM Foundation. Juvenile Myositis (JM). JM is a group of rare and life-threatening autoimmune conditions affecting approximately 17,000 children in the United States alone. Visit the Cure JM Foundation website.

GIVEAWAY: The author has graciously provided a copy of Manner-Man for one of Chat With Vera's readers. Just enter via the Rafflecopter links below.  (Please be patient as Rafflecopter is sometimes a bit slow to load.) This giveaway only open to USA addresses. Begins March 2, 2013 - ENDS March 18 at 12:01 a.m. EST
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Books may be purchased at the author's website, Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble and other book venders.

DISCLOSURE: A complimentary review copy was provided by the author in exchange for my honest review.  Opinions expressed are solely my own. The giveaway copy is also provided by the author and is to be mailed directly to the winner.

Veggie Tales: "The Little House That Stood" (review & giveaway)

About The Little House That Stood:  When the Three Little Pigs roll into Cabbageville looking to build some new houses, they meet one builder with a plan and two without a clue! Larry builds with hay, Mr. Lunt with bricks, but only Bob builds his houses on a firm foundation - following the wise plans from the Master Builder's Handbook! Will the Little Piggies make the right choices when it comes to building their houses - and their lives - on solid ground? Find out in this parable that shows kids when they follow God's blueprints, then can stand strong when the storms come!

My thoughts: We didn't have Veggie Tales when I was raising my children. But when my first grandchildren came along, their mommie (my first born daughter)had Veggie Tales for them. I remember sitting in their living room watching these seemingly silly, child-enthralling, mesmerizing little characters with rolling eyes and who were all sorts of veggies cavort on the screen.  The little ones loved the stories. And the mommy loved the lessons being taught.

Well, Veggie Tales is still at it captivating the child audience, mesmerizing them with the lively, bright, enchanting tales based on solid truths found in Scripture.  I am so happy to introduce you to their newest, "The Little House That Stood."  The basis of this story is Biblical - the parable of the wise man who built his house on the rock.  It brings in a "take" on the  long loved children's story "The 3 little Pigs" - you remember them building their house with straw or sticks. The story told is one of making sure you have a firm foundation and build by the master building book.  One little quote.... "....STRONG IN THE GROUND, IT'LL STICK AROUND"

There are other goodies on the DVD such as some sing-along songs like "Lend  A Little Hand" which teaches being helpful in various situations. For around $10 families can purchase a piece of entertainment that teaches sound truth and which will captivate their child's attention.  I was privileged to be sent a copy of this DVD to review, and now I will be passing it along to my youngest daughter's girls.  There are four of them under the age of 9.  I know this will bring much joy, laughter, learning, character ­building, and truth strengthening to them. 

VISIT THE VEGGIE TALES WEBSITE

GIVEAWAY:  Flyby Promotions on behalf of Veggie Tales is providing a copy of the Little House That Stood as a giveaway for one of Chat With Vera's readers to try and win through the randomly chosen entries using the Rafflecopter form below.  Begins March 1 and ENDS March 16 at 12:01 a.m. EST - Open to USA addresses only.
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"Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free from Flyby Promotions in hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

"Courage Has No Color, The True Story of the Triple Nickles America’s First Black Paratroopers" author: Tanya Stone (Review & Giveaway)

ISBN: 9780763651176
Hardcover $24.99
Grades 5 and Up

About the book: World War II is raging, and thousands of American soldiers are fighting overseas against the injustices brought on by Hitler. Back on the home front, the injustice of discrimination against African Americans plays out as much on Main Street as in the military. Enlisted black men are segregated from white soldiers and regularly relegated to service duties. At Fort Benning, Georgia, First Sergeant Walter Morris’s men serve as guards at The Parachute School, while the white soldiers prepare to be paratroopers. Morris knows that for his men to be treated like soldiers, they have to train and act like them, but would the military elite and politicians recognize the potential of these men as well as their passion for serving their country?

Tanya Lee Stone examines the role of African Americans in the military through the history of the Triple Nickles, America’s first black paratroopers, who fought in a little-known attack on the American West by the Japanese. The 555th Parachute Infantry Battalion, in the words of Morris, "proved that the color of a man had nothing to do with his ability."
 
They became America’s first black paratroopers. Why was their story never told? Sibert Medalist Tanya Lee Stone reveals the history of the Triple Nickles during World War II.

 Read a Sample - Chapter One

My thoughts:  The era of World War II brought out the best in men and gave them strength, endurance, intelligence, cunning, fortitude, and love of country.  It brought out these things in men of every color: Caucasian (white), Negro (black), Asian (yellow-with the "face" of the enemy), and red (Indian). The book Courage Has No Color is primarily about the desire that men of color had to serve this nation which they loved by fighting the enemy.  And the color which Courage Has No Color primarily records is that of the black American - the Negro.  (I realize that to some the term Negro is not considered a good descriptive term, but I was taught that Negro was what Africans of black or brown skin were - it was their race per say.  So when I use the word Negro, it is with respect for the race of those whose skin is brown or black.)

While the military of America did have Negros serving, it was not as combatants.  It was more the positions of guards, cooks, cleaners, etc.  True, someone has to do those things, but some of the men of color desired to actually fight the enemy, and Courage Has No Color is the story of how a few brave men of color pursued opportunities to become fighting soldiers.  This took the form of gradually putting together the first group:  the Triple Nickles as they were called.   Once they were actually beginning to train and did become paratroopers, it grieved them to see that they still had segregated eating, sleeping, and clubs.  They actually saw that prisoners of war were allowed to sit at the same tables as the white soldiers while they, the soldiers of color, were not.  They had to endure the ridicule of the prisoners of war who taunted them because even though they were uniformed soldiers, they still had to ride at the back of the bus while the prisoners rode up front.

The desegregation and integration of the military, though slow, in World War II is a significant part of military and also of civil rights history.  The author has presented a well documented piece of history with a lot of pictures that tell the story.  The story also brings home a strong point that America was fighting racism, fascism, and human rights issues abroad but needed to address the issue of racism and rights here on the home front.

GIVEAWAY:   And to share this piece of history with a Chat With Vera reader, Candlewick Press is providing a copy for one my readers.  Enter using the Rafflecopter form below (please be patient as it loads. GIVEAWAY begins February 26 and ends March 12 at 12:01 a.m. EST. Open to USA addresses only.
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DISCLOSURE:  I was provided a complimentary copy by the publisher, Candlewick Press, on behalf of the author, Tanya Stone, in exchange for my honest review. Opinions are solely my own.

"Can't and Able: An Inspirational Story" by Cynthia Fabian and illustrated by Daniel Stevens

Can't and Able  is a children's book that is billed as an inspirational story.  I find that it is not a Biblical inspiration story at all, but is instead a story to inspire children to deal with issues they have that make them feel incapable.  In other words, their key word would be "can't" and "I can't" because they just don't feel they have the capability to accomplish whatever it is with which they are confronted.

In the little story, we see charming little stars in the heavens shining with all their might and doing what stars are suppose to do - shine!  However, Can't doesn't shine very brightly and he is made fun of and teased because of this and hence his name - "Can't."

The story progresses and "Able" has a major problem and "Can't" saves him.  Yes! Can't has now done something of great importance.  Then the doctor renames him "Can."

A cute little book that can be used to teach overcoming a plethora of issues in life.  Again, the inspirational aspect is not Biblical but is inspiring just the same as a life lesson.

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About the author: Cynthia Fabian - “I grew up with a disorder. I always felt like I could not shine, just like Can’t. When I became a teacher, I saw many children that were experiencing the same difficulties. They were teased and often felt smaller. This book is for all of you, struggling and not knowing how to change your circumstances. If you simply believe, you can change your own circumstances. Believe in yourself and you will see the wonders of change are in your power.” 

Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy from the author in exchange for my honest opinion.

Honey Bunches of Oats TROPICAL BLENDS cereal (Review & Giveaway)

Today we're going to talk breakfast food!  We're going to meet a brand new Post cereal - Honey Bunches of Oats!  "Whoa! You said new!" you say?  Yes! Let's finish that name - Honey Bunches of Oats Tropical Blends!  When you stroll down the grocery aisle you're going to see a whole lot of "fruity" cereals these days.  It's a far cry from the days when raisins were the only fruit you saw in a box of dry cereal - and we know it was always accompanied by "bran."

Back to Honey Bunches of Oats Tropical Blends!  I was so delighted to learn that I had been chosen to review and tell you folks about this new Tropical Blends cereal. Of course, part of that delight is something NEW! We all love new, don't we?  Part of that delight was in getting something FREE!  We all love free, too, don't we?  Well, the best part of getting to do this is getting something that is SO VERY GOOD! 

When I nibbled on a handful right out of the box, I was so surprised by the slightly sweet and very nice fruity taste.  Definitely different! Not overtly coconut tasting nor was it a strong artificial fruit flavor.  Just a nice mellow fruit taste along with the flakes and granola chunks.  I did say GOOD, didn't I?  Now some stats on this HBO-Tropical Blends:

• 10g Whole Grain
• 120 calories
• 6g sugar (less than most others)
• 9 Essential Vitamins & Minerals including 60% Daily Value of Iron
• 4 Wholesome Grains
• Heart Healthy: 06 Trans Fat, 0.5g Saturated Fat, 0mg Cholesterol

And also enter the GIVEAWAY by completing the entries with the Rafflecopter form below.  2 Winners will be chosen to each receive 1 free product coupon with a maximum value of $4.49.  Giveaway begins February 23 and ENDS March 12 @ 12:01 a.m. EST.  Open to USA addresses only.

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DISCLOSURE: As a member of Purex Insiders, I was provided information and product in exchange for my honest review. Opinions expressed are solely my own. Coupons for prizes in the giveaway hosted here on Chat With Vera were also provided by Purex Insiders.  Chat With Vera will mail coupons to the winners but will not be responsible for lost or misdirected coupons in the mail.

"Damascus Countdown" by Joel C. Rosenberg

When I saw the opportunity to participate in the early review of Joel C. Rosenberg's newest novel, Damascus Count I was was elated and grabbed at the opportunity.  Rosenberg is one of today's more exciting authors because he writes exciting stories based on timely matters and he is right on target with events.  It is almost as though he can see through the glass into what is about to happen.  So let's look at this newest book of his that is due for release March 2013.

ISBN: 978-1-4143-1970-4
Hardcover - $26.99
Pages: 480

About the book:  All eyes are on the Middle East. Israel has successfully launched a first strike on Iran, taking out all of their nuclear sites and six of their nuclear warheads—and causing The Twelfth Imam to order a full-scale retaliation. US President William Jackson threatens to support a UN Security Council resolution condemning the Jewish State for unprovoked and unwarranted acts of aggression.

Meanwhile, CIA operative David Shirazi has infiltrated the Iranian regime and intercepted information indicating that two Iranian nuclear warheads survived the attack and have been moved to a secure and undisclosed location. In danger not only from the ongoing missile strikes on Iran but also from the increasingly hostile and suspicious governments of multiple countries, David and his team are in a race against time to find the remaining nuclear warheads before disaster strikes.

My thoughts:  Damascus is known as probably the oldest continuously settled or occupied city in existence.  But is the clock ticking down? Are we now counting down the moments or days before the demise of Damascus or the world's demise?  In Damascus Countdown, Joel C. Rosenberg take us deep into Syria and Iran and among the heads of state both politically, militarily, and spiritually.  The Twelth Imam is foretold to be the "Messiah" of the Islamic faith and the one who will lead them into world dominion.

Just like the morning news reports of today, this story unfolds with tension over nuclear arms in Syria and Iran and those armaments being pointed at Israel. Joel Rosenberg is a recognized authority on the Middle East and also on Biblical understanding of that area.

In Damascus Countdown Mr. Rosenberg takes us through passages in Isaiah that point to the fate of Syria and Iran.  We see the story unfolding with a CIA deep cover operative and team leader, David Shirazi, alias Reza Tabrizi, who is also Iranian by birth.  The book begins with a bang and each page you turn brings scenes of intrigue, of explosive events, of political adversaries on both sides of the ocean, and of spiritual emboldenment by converts from Islam to Christianity.

If you're expecting a sweet little romance, this is not the book for you.  If you're expecting a feel-good story - even with a bit of adventure, this is not the book for you.  This book is long at 480 pages.  It is dramatic. It is intense.  It gives long interpretive discourses of Scripture.  But it is not boring. It is not dry.  It is not a "tear-jerker."  This book will capture your attention and hold it until you turn page 479.

In Rosenberg's fiction you will discover finely tuned and developed characters.  You will visualize the scenes he so aptly describes and almost feel the intensity the characters feel. And you will discover individuals who have willingly and joyfully counted the cost, and counted it very small indeed, to convert to Christianity.

Read an Excerpt!

About the author:  Joel C. Rosenberg is the New York Times bestselling author of seven novels—The Last Jihad, The Last Days, The Ezekiel Option, The Copper Scroll, Dead Heat, The Twelfth Imam, and The Tehran Initiative—and five nonfiction books, Epicenter, Inside the Revolution, Implosion,Israel at War, and The Invested Life, with nearly 3 million copies sold. The Ezekiel Option received the Gold Medallion award as the "Best Novel of 2006" from the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association. Joel is the producer of two documentary films based on his nonfiction books. He is also the founder of The Joshua Fund, a nonprofit educational and charitable organization to mobilize Christians to "bless Israel and her neighbors in the name of Jesus" with food, clothing, medical supplies, and other humanitarian relief.

As a communications advisor, Joel has worked with a number of U.S. and Israeli leaders, including Steve Forbes, Rush Limbaugh, Natan Sharansky, and Benjamin Netanyahu. As an author, he has been interviewed on hundreds of radio and TV programs, including ABC's Nightline, CNN Headline News, FOX News Channel, The History Channel, MSNBC, The Rush Limbaugh Show, The Sean Hannity Show, and The Glenn Beck Show. He has been profiled by the New York Times, the Washington Times, the Jerusalem Post, and World magazine. He has addressed audiences all over the world, including those in Israel, Iraq, Jordan, Egypt, Turkey, Russia, and the Philippines. He has also spoken at the White House, the Pentagon, and to members of Congress.

DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy from Tyndale Blog Network on behalf of the publisher and author in exchange for my honest review. Opinions expressed are solely my own. i received no compensation for this review.

"David Sticker Book" by Karen Williamson; illustrated by Amanda Enright

ISBN: 9781859859315

About the book:   David Sticker Book is a fun, interactive retelling of the story of David and Goliath, complete with four pages of stickers, so children can help illustrate the story and fill in the gaps. Kids will love the fun, reusable stickers and bright illustrations as they engage with this well-loved Bible story.

My thoughts:  This is a nice little Bible story book that gives a good accounting of the story of David from his anointing by Samuel to his becoming King of Israel.  The text is comprised of short sentences that would be easily understood by the age child to which the book is directed.

The stickers (4 pages!) enhance the child's experience in learning and enjoying this Bible story.  I recommend the book and know that children will enjoy putting all the stickers in place from the tiny ladybug sticker to big bad Goliath or the crown for David.  At $5.99 parents and other adults will find this a good investment in a child.

About the authors:  Karen Williamson worked as a London primary school teacher and publisher's editor before launching a successful career as full-time writer. With three children of her own, she specializes in Bible stories for young readers. 

Disclosure: I was provided a complimentary copy in exchange for my honest review from Kregel Publications.