If You Were Me and Lived in...Ancient China: The Han Dynasty by Carole P. Roman, illustrated by Mateya Arkova [Review & Giveaway - 10 Winners]

My thoughts: In her new Social Studies series featuring ancient cultures and history, the author expands the amount of information to roughly 70 pages in each book. In her book on Ancient China: The Han Dynasty there are 76 pages of information gently presented to the young child so they can delve into a time and culture that is perhaps quite foreign to them.

Softly illustrated by Mateya Arkova, the pages tell the story of how life was during the Han Dynasty of China. Did you know that only the Emperor could wear yellow? The Emperor also decreed that families raise chickens so they could have them at meals. Also, there was a special nook in the kitchen for the kitchen god.

I previously reviewed the following books in this Time Travel History Series. You can read my reviews here: Renaissance Italy, Ancient Greece, Elizabethan England, The Middle Ages, The American West,

About the book: Travel through time to visit the most interesting civilizations throughout history with author Carole P. Roman in her new series.

Learn what kind of food you might eat in Ancient China, the clothes you wore, what your name could be, and what children in the Han Dynasty did for fun.

If You Were Me and Lived in...does for history what her other award-winning series did for culture. So get on-board this time-travel machine and discover the world through the eyes of a young person just like you.

GIVEAWAY

1st: Winner gets entire set of History Time Travel Series
2nd: 9 Winners receive a copy of Ancient China
Begins January 2, 2017

ENDS January 23, 2017 @ 12:01 a.m. EST

Open to USA addresses only

a Rafflecopter giveaway

DISCLOSURE: I was provided a complimentary copy by the author to facilitate this review of my honest opinions for which I was not compensated. Winner's prize copy is provided by and sent directly to the winner by the author.

Where Does Love Hide? by Mary Manz Simon

ISBN13: 9781496411686

Tyndale House Publishers

TyndaleKids

About the book: In Where Does Love Hide? children are reminded that they not only receive love but have the opportunity to share love. Looking under the fun, lift-a-flap feature, children will see examples of everyday love opportunities. Each page includes a memory verse and an example of a way to share God's love. In life, children hear the words "I love you" repeatedly, often beginning before birth. However, because love is an abstract concept and young children are concrete thinkers, they must gradually learn to understand love by what they experience. In Where Does Love Hide? children are given the opportunity to see love in action and learn what love looks like.

My thoughts: One of the first and most precious verses I taught my five children when they were wee ones was, "We love Him, because He first loved us." I John 4:19. This truth of God's love and the root of all Earthly love is so important to convey to children at an early age.

In Where Does Love Hide? the text simplifies acts of love by showing that love is shown by helping, sharing, being respectful. As the book is read to the young child, he or she can lift the flap and see how love is conveyed (clue: it is hiding behind the flap as well as in what we do).

This is a board book of medium size. The "board" pages and covers are softer than those of many board books, but quite durable. As with any "lift the flap" books, care should be taken to gently lift the flap.

A nice little book and a great lesson to teach the little ones.

"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. 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.”

1 John 4:10-19King James Version (KJV)

10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.
12 No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.
13 Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.
14 And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.
15 Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.
16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.
17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.
18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
19 We love him, because he first loved us.

Merry Christmas! . . God began with a breath..

A greeting shared from Tyndale House Publishers. May the Christ of the manger who is Lord of all be with you this Christmas season.

A Primary Decision (The Worthington Destiny) by Dr. Kevin Leman & Jeff Nesbit

About the book: Sarah Worthington never expected to become the US attorney general--at least not this early in her career. Plunged into the vicious vetting process, with all sides digging for secrets in her family closet, she steels herself for the path forward. Nothing will deter her from making her mark on the world in the biggest way possible--even if that means prosecuting the current president of the United States.

Yet powerful forces conspire behind the scenes to take the Worthington family down, and the president orders her to close the investigation. Will she comply? Or turn the tables to pursue her ultimate dream--the US presidency?

My thoughts: This is obviously the third book in The Worthington Destiny series and to me it was also quite clear that reading the first two would have made getting into the story a bit better and easier. It took at least the first 50 pages for the direction of the story to become clear to me as allusions to previous events and personal issues kept popping up without clarity as to how they  fit into A Primary Decision.

The political and social circles in which the characters function are high flung and the circumstances mysterious and rife with secrets on many levels. Much time is spent circumventing the secret that is being kept from Sarah and frankly I couldn't understand why her not knowing was such a big issue.

The author, Dr Kevin Leman, has previously published  books on characteristics of birth order and how it effects development and character. This plays a part in the descriptive characterizations of Worthington sibilings as they aspire and achieve various successes in life.

The book is good, interesting, and pertinent as a work of fiction in today's post election atmosphere here in the USA or for reading at anytime about the lives and workings of the wealthy and political elite.

DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy to facilitate a review of my honest opinions which are given without compensation.

Junie B. Jones First Ever MUSICAL Edition!: Junie B., First Grader (at last!) Audiobook plus 15 Songs from Junie B. Jones The Musical

About the audiobook & music CD: Being in first grade means having to get used to a whole new classroom. And a whole new teacher. And a whole new bunch of strange children. But here's the worst thing of all: When Junie B. tries to read words on the chalkboard…she can’t! Is it possible that Junie B. needs glasses?

This special audiobook edition of Junie B. Jones, First Grader (at last!) contains all the songs from Junie B. Jones The Musical. The musical is adapted from the books Junie B. Jones, First Grader (at Last!); Junie B. Jones, Boss of Lunch; Junie B. Jones, One-Man Band; and Top Secret Personal Beeswax, A Journal by Junie B. (and Me), by Barbara Park. © 2001, 2001, 2002, 2002, 2003 by Barbara Park.

My thoughts: When I saw this product I was immediately captivated by this cute little girl peeking from behind her composition book (actually, it's her First Grade Journal). I could hardly wait to see just what capers Junie B. Jones would manage to navigate in first grade.

The books have been around for awhile and there is a whole series of which parents, kids, and educators speak very highly. It seems that the adventures of this rather quirky girl seems to garner the interest of reluctant readers.

I found the audio book to be extremely fast paced and thought it would be hard for anyone to follow and enjoy. Not that it needs or should be a slow, sleepy, lulling read. Oh no! Junie B. Jones exudes getting into mischief and growing pains so a bit of a romp in the reading is expected.

The songs are fast paced and similar in style that is often relegated to adult musicals. I found the lyrics a bit hard to understand but realize that the intended audience is young and would most likely not have any problems understanding or enjoying.

Junie B. Jones is a perky, sassy little girl that tends to have a real attitude.

Do I recommend this product? No, it just isn't a style I can recommend but I do love the cuteness of Junie B. Jones.

DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary CD product from the Blogging For Books review program on behalf of Penguin Random House Listening Library. I was not compensated for this review.

The Beginner’s Bible® from ZonderKidz and Zondervan [Review & Giveaway]

My thoughts: Bible story books are such a wonderful tool to have on hand to introduce the young child to the Bible and the bare-bones of the Word of God. You can choose to have one or you can choose to have a variety so that your child can experience the many "tellings" and "illustrative styles" of authors and artists as they bring to life what God reveals to mankind in his word.

Now a Bible storybook is not nor should be considered to be the actual Word of God. It is an introduction to and base of study for beginners. Hence the writers, illustrators, and publishers have labored diligently to bring to your home a book worthy of it's title - The Beginner's Bible from ZonderKidz an imprint of Zondervan.

This new edition of the originally published in 1989 Beginner's Bible just exudes life and brilliance in the attention-grabbing, child centric illustrations rendered in a virtual 3-D effect in stong, bright colors.

This will become a well-loved book by your child and you will delight that your child loves hearing about the  many wonderful men and women from the Bible. A  great preparation for the years when the real Bible will become an integral part of their own life.

About the Bible: The Beginner’s Bible® has been a favorite with young children and their parents since its release in 1989 with over 25 million products sold. Now it’s redesigned with fresh new art that will excite children for many more years to come. Full of faith and fun, The Beginner’s Bible is a wonderful gift for any child. The easy-to-read text and bright, full-color illustrations on every page make it a perfect way to introduce young children to the stories and characters of the Bible. With new vibrant three-dimensional art and compelling text, more than 90 Bible stories come to life. Kids ages 6 and under will enjoy the fun illustrations of Noah helping the elephant onto the ark, Jonah praying inside the fish, and more, as they discover The Beginner's Bible just like millions of children before. The Beginner's Bible was named the 2006 Retailers Choice Award winner in Children's Nonfiction.

FLASH GIVEAWAY

Begins December 18

ENDS December 28 @ 12:01 a.m. EST

Open to USA addresses 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, 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.”

Exciting TeaSet Giveaway coming soon!

Lovely glass teaset coming soon here at Chat With Vera. Click & retweet if you're excited about this. If you're as excited about this review & GIVEAWAY as Vera is, ~ Re-Tweet to share the excitement!!!\

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— Vera Godley (@GG_Survey) December 16, 2016