Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Book Of Man

"Book of Man" isn't really what I expected it to be, though that doesn't mean that it wasn't a good book. I expected this book to be more of a guide to the dos and don'ts to raising young men in our society today. In contrast, this book was really more of an anthology of stories about strong men. William Bennett using this book to profile influential, strong men who have had an impact on history. I think that this book offers up many potential role models for young men today - men who have shown courage, virtue, and dedication to a cause. While it doesn't offer up much advice on helping to raise young men today, it does hold a treasure trove of honorable men, with some great stories about their impact on history. I enjoyed these readings, and think that any parent would be able to appreciate the qualities that Mr. Bennett picks out of these men and presents to us. Highly recommend this one.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Nearing Home

Billy Graham's "Nearing Home" is an inspirational book about aging. I read this book, even though I am still in my 20's, because I think that it is important for us to understand that even as we become older, our purpose remains. It always seems as if the most purposeful time of our life is when we are raising children, taking care of a family, and working every day, but Graham shows us that even as life begins to slow down for us, God still has a purpose for our life. This book incorporates scripture and some of Graham's own life experiences as the backbone for his story. He also talks about practical subjects such as retirement, money, and hope. I think that this book would be a great Christmas present for the loved ones in our own lives who are nearing home, as a reminder that God still has a purpose for them in their lives, and that their journey isn't over yet. For me, it also helped me to appreciate the elderly people in my own life, and understand that they still have a God given purpose to fulfill. I would give this book a 4/5.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255

You Were Born For This

Bruce Wilkinson's "You Were Born for This" is an interesting read. The book talks about miracles, and how we should be alert to the Spirit nudging us to take part in something that could be a miracle. I agree with the premise of the book - that God uses those of us here on Earth to work miracles through. I think that this book tries to push you to be one of God's tools that he can work through, but I think that at the end of the day, God chooses who he needs to use, and sometimes it just isn't us. I think the book makes good points about being attune to the Spirit. Overall, I enjoyed the book, but think that all we can do is be willing to be used by God, but we can't make him choose us. I would give the book a rating of 3/5.

~I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Heaven Is For Real for Kids

"Heaven Is For Real for Kids" by Colton Burpee is a cute story based on Colton's visit to Heaven. What I liked about the book was that it is a simple story, made especially for children, to help them understand what kind of place Heaven really is. Each page tells about something that Colton saw or experienced while he was in Heaven, and is coupled with a bible verse that backs up what Colton saw. This is a cute, and non-scary way for children to start to understand the concept of Heaven. I liked that it was a simple book, with easy to understand language for young children. I would recommend this book for children 4 and up.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Thank You God For Blessing Me

"Thank You God For Blessing Me" by Max Lucado is an adorable children's book. What I really liked about this book is that it is short, and has great illustrations. It is perfect for a small child who doesn't have the attention span to sit through a long book. The story rhymes, which helps the child remember the words on their own. I have a toddler, and she loved the cute little Hermie - the green caterpillar in the story. This book helps teach kids that everything that they have is because God has blessed them, and they should be thankful. It's a great book that can help teach a very important lesson. Loved it - wouldn't hesitate to purchase it.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 

Just In Case You Ever Wonder

"Just In Case You Ever Wonder" is a children's book by Max Lucado. I thought it was great, because it really helps to reaffirm to your child that you love them, and will always be there for them. It also teaches that God is just like a father, which I think is a really important thing for a child to understand. This book reinforces that as parents, we will always love, cherish, and support our children, and it is structured in a way that is easy for the child to understand. It's encouraging to a child to hear that their mommy or daddy love them and will always be there for them. It makes them feel secure. And I think this book also helps make children feel more secure about God always being there for them as well. Well put together!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 

Gabby God's Little Angel

Gabby, God's Little Angel is such a cute story! It is an introduction to angels for young children, and is a great tool to help children understand that concept of what an angel is, and what they can do. I thought that the story itself was cute, Gabby, God's angel is sent to watch over a little girl, and the book tells the story of how Gabby helps to protect her. I think this story is a great way to help young children understand how much God loves them, and that he sends his special helpers to keep them safe. The book uses simple language, so it is easy for young kids to understand. I loved this book, and my daughter did too! Wonderful story! Wonderful illustrations!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 

Heroes & Villians of the Bible

"Heroes & Villians of the Bible" is a great way to introduce some new role models into the life of children. With so many questionable role models being glorified by the media, it is very refreshing to read this book with my daughter and show her that real role models make hard decisions to do the right things. I thought that this book could have really benefited from more illustrations, to help the younger children visualize what was happening. I liked the way that this was written, not as a book of bible stories, but rather actual biblical writings translated for children to be able to understand. I would recommend this book for children ages 3 and up. The language is simple, and easy for young children to understand, but the scarcity of illustrations makes it difficult to keep younger children interested. Overall a great book with great role models.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255