God's Gift by Lee Ann Mancini & illustrated by Dan Sharp [Review & Giveaway]

ISBN-13: 978-0986360497
About the book: In God's Gift, Christian and his sister Mary believe they get more presents at Christmas. However, Jacob and Jeremiah believe they get more presents on Hanukkah. The children learn that Christmas and Hanukkah are about celebrating the gift God has given to His children. It's not about how many presents are under the tree at Christmas or the eight days of presents for Hanukkah. It's about God's provision for those He loves. God gives the gift of the Messiah to the Christians and the gift of Light to the Jews. The true gift from God is learned in this colorful holiday story!

Beautifully illustrated hardcover book designed for children ages 3 – 8.

My thoughts: While this is a seasonal book featuring the Christmas season, it is more aptly a holiday book in which children are anticipating upcoming Christmas and Hanukkah holidays. The children (sea creatures) and their families are busily decorating for whichever of the two holidays their family celebrates. Both families celebrate with gift giving and hence an argument ensues between the sea creature children about the number of gifts they are going to receive.

Obviously, the lesson to be learned is that Christmas is not about getting lots of gifts and neither is Hanukkah. The bigger lesson opportunity is an opportunity to teach young children that families in different cultures celebrate in various ways and sometimes in similar methods.

While this is a really cute book, it does cause me some concern when they use phrases such as.... "but they knew in their hearts the best gift was the gift of God loving them and always taking care of them." This statement is not truly controversial, but as a Christian my belief is that God's greatest, best gift was His Son, Jesus as the Saviour of the world and our Redemer. So while God's love is the source of the birth of a saviour and of the oil that didn't run out for the Jews, the love of provision can not be compared to the wonderous love of redemption.

I still think the book is cute and has value as an entertaining teaching tool about the different celebrations of holidays in the Christian and Jewish communities.

A super little feature is the hidden cross and star on the pages. Gotta find them all!
GIVEAWAY
Begins November 11
ENDS December 1 @ 12:01 a.m. ET
Open to USA addresses only.
Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy from BookCrash to facilitate a review of my personal opinions. I received no compnesation. The giveaway copy is provided by the author and will be mailed directly to the winner.

Nhận xét

Đăng nhận xét

Bài đăng phổ biến từ blog này

Rain by Sam Usher Templar Books, an imprint of Candlewick Press [Review & Giveaway]

Hình ảnh
My thoughts: The imagination of a child - well, an imaginative little boy - coupled with what you can experience on a raining day out in the rain is truly marvelous as author/artist Sam Usher has given us in his book Rain . The real winner and story teller of the book is the illustrations as they tell the story that words can't convey - a boy's imagation and desire to explore and enjoy. It's raining. It keeps raining and the boy really wants to go explore the puddles, catch drops in his mouth, and envision and experience the imaginary as he splashes and dashes through the rain. Granddad is busy writing a letter and other things grandpops do until when finally the rain stops and he says, "let's go."  The adventure begins. The illustrations capture ships, pirates, flags, and oh so  much more that runs through the mind of the boy as he enjoys his adventure. A lovely hardcover book with   glorious shinny spot gloss drops on the cover and inside you’ll find the enc...
Đọc thêm

Beauty and the Beast: A Coloring Book from Silver Dolphin Books [Review & Giveaway]

Hình ảnh
My thoughts: There has been a lot of press recently about fairy tales and specifically about "Beauty and the Beast." A recently released film has drawn interest and piqued hearts young and old with its tale of love overcoming ugliness. There are books on Beauty and the Beast that facilitate enjoyment on various levels. And today we're looking at a beautifully drawn coloring book from Silver Dolphin Books that has quotes from the original story. This is a quality product that older children, teens, and adults will enjoy coloring with highly detailed drawings that will fascinate and draw out the creative spark in the most avid "colorers." The designs are quite intricate and very pretty reminiscent of Walter Crane's art. Coloration will require very fine points and care to be done well. About the book: This enchanting coloring book is full of wonderful pictures, patterns, and borders to be colored in, as budding artists immerse themselves in the story of Beaut...
Đọc thêm

The Hurry-Up Exit from Egypt (A Faith that God Built Book) by Gary Bower & illustrated by Barbara Chotiner

Hình ảnh
My thoughts: Most folks who enjoy the rollicking rhyme of the folk story in verse or rhyme "This Is the House that Jack Built" want to pass the joy of the chant, song, rhyme, repetition for which this nursery rhyme is famous. Now if you love that, you will absolutely love Gary Bower's new set of Biblical rhymes in the same style and cadence as the House that Jack Built. I previously reviewed  A Patch on the Peak of Ararat (A Faith that God Built Book) and enjoyed it so very much that I looked forward to more from Mr. Bower. And I am again so very pleased. The Hurry-Up Exit from Egypt  just rolls along and it builds with excitement as Moses and the Israelites cross the Red Sea and the Egyptians get swamped by the water. And as I read it I could feel the "hurry-up exit from Egypt" building with perhaps a touch of what those Israelites felt as they exited Egypt. But this is intended as a children's picture book with story in rhyme. That is just what it is. And...
Đọc thêm