Pirates on the Farm

Denette Fretz's book, "Pirates on the Farm" is a children's book that tells the story of a band of pirates that decide to give up the high seas and try their hand at farming. The story tells us how the family that lives nearby deals with the pirates' unconventional farming methods and unruly behavior. The reaction that each person in the family nearby has was different - on person can't stand them, another loves them, etc.

In the end, everyone learns to get along and to "love their neighbor", but I'm still not sure how I feel about the way that there was so much animosity and intolerance up to the point where they become friends. I understand that in order to show the change of heart of the family, there had to be some conflict, but I think that the storyline probably could have been a little less unfriendly and still gotten the point across.

My children enjoyed the book, but to me when we read it, I mostly got out of it that it was a funny story about silly pirates, and I think that there could have been more emphasis placed on the actual moral of the story, which is loving your neighbors regardless of their actions, and being tolerant of others who aren't like you are.

The illustrations were cute, and I thought they were very well done. I would say that this book gets a 3/5. It's a cute story, but I think it probably could have been tweaked a little bit to make it a better read for young kids, so they don't read right through the actual message of the story.

FTC DISCLOSURE: I received this book for free from Booksneeze.com in exchange for an honest review.

NIV Ragamuffin Bible

Zondervan Publishers' "NIV Ragamuffin Bible" is a Bible that is meant for the "bedraggled, beat-up & brokenhearted", as the title implies. The text of this Bible is a traditional New International Version translation, and it is consistent with other NIV translations. What makes this Bible slightly different from others is the addition of "reflections", which are little boxes placed throughout the text that have words of wisdom from Brennan Manning.

Brennan Manning, who is the author of "The Ragamuffin Gospel" and many other Christian works, passed away in 2013. This Bible, with many insights from Manning is a wonderful tribute to his life's work spreading the gospel of Christ. These "reflections" that are placed throughout this Bible are meant to encourage, uplift, and inspire. Manning's wisdom and insight shine throughout this Bible via his own words and thoughts.

I thought this Bible was a unique and wonderful way to help those who are struggling keep the faith, and find inspiration. I would definitely recommend this version of the Bible to anyone who is going through a difficult time, or struggling in their faith. It's a wonderful version, and Brennan Manning's words are soothing to any hurting soul.

FTC DISCLOSURE: I received this book from BookSneeze.com, through their blogger program for free, in exchange for an honest review. I was not obligated to write a positive review.

Humility: An Unlikely Biography of America's Greatest Virtue

Humility: An Unlikely Biography of America's Greatest Virtue by David J. Bobb is a book that features some of the most popular historical figures with an emphasis on how they were guided by the virtue of humility. The book itself is really interesting as it gives another layer to some of the figures that we remember from history class - it really adds another dimension to the person that we know from a historical standpoint and makes the human connection more real. 

Humility: An Unlikely Biography of America's Greatest Virtue showcases the lives and decisions of people like Abraham Lincoln, George Washington, and Abagail Adams. These names are associated with some of the most critical and influential times in American history, and Bobb makes the connection between each person and their amazing sense of humility. Bobb also makes a serious case for why humility is what is missing from modern day America, and why we must return to our humble roots in order to rally America. 

Dr. Bobb discusses the importance of humility in some of the most influential Americans, and how it affected their legacy in history, as well as affected history itself. I think that this book would make a great gift for any leader or history lover in your life, as it really offers an in-depth look at the true virtue of humility.I would give this book a 5/5. I am definitely going to be keeping this book on my bookshelf for future reading and reference.

FTC DISCLOSURE: I received this book for free from BookSneeze.com in exchange for an honest review. I was not obligated to write a positive review. 

The Reason For My Hope: Salvation

"The Reason for My Hope: Salvation" is a book by Billy Graham, published by Thomas Nelson Publishers. In this book, the 95 year old evangelist gives us an in-depth look at the topic of salvation. Consisting of eight simple chapters, "The Reason for My Hope: Salvation" discusses the need for salvation for everyone. 

Billy Graham uses verses from Scripture, combined with a knowledgeable explanation of the verses and meaning, to illustrate his points. Tying in some stories of events in the news, personal antecdotes, and stories from the Bible, Graham makes the case for salvation easily. The book itself is not as long as others, only 185 pages. The topics and way the chapters are broken down into smaller subsections makes it easy to read in many sittings. 

Overall I would give this book a 5/5. Billy Graham uses his many years of pastoral experience to speak right to the heart of man, sharing a message of hope in God. I would recommend this book to anyone - really this is a book that anyone could read and enjoy.

FTC DISCLOSURE: I received this book for free from Booksneeze.com in exchange for an honest review. I was not obligated to write a positive review. 

Adventure Bible Storybook

"Adventure Bible Storybook" by Catherine DeVries is a children's Bible that retells some of the most popular stories from the Bible. This Bible is also sold with audio CDs that read the text of this storybook so that younger children are able to follow along. The illustrations, by Jim Madsen, are bright and colorful, which will engage young readers.

The book itself does a good job of using age appropriate vocabulary in the stories, and the audio CDs are a fun way to share storytime with children, without always having to be the one reading! I thought that the stories themselves probably could have gone a little more into the details of the stories, but overall this was a great book for my young children.

I would recommend this book for children ages 4-7. The audio CD is perfect for younger children who are in the early stages of reading, as they can easily follow along in the book. This would be a good book for kids who can supplement and fill in those missing details with another children's Bible, or a parent to fill in the missing pieces for them.

FTC DISCLOSURE: I received this book for free from BookSneeze.com in exchange for an honest review. I was not obligated to write a positive review.

One Year Bible Trivia for Kids

"The One Year Book of Bible Trivia for Kids" by Katrina Cassel is a great way to get your kids interested in learning more about the actual content of the Bible. This devotional style trivia book offers one question for every day of the year. The questions range from easy to more challenging, and would be appropriate for children ages 7 and up, in my opinion. The devotionals are dated, which was the only downside to this book for me. I prefer when devotionals don't actually have a date on them because unless you start on January 1, and don't miss a day of the readings, I feel like I am missing out!

Each devotional poses a multiple choice question about the Bible, then a brief explanation of the answer, explaining the background and context of the Biblical times and the answer. Each devotional also offers a brief piece of advice/wisdom in the "For You" section. The bottom of the page also offers the multiple choice answer to the question posed, as well as Biblical quotes and the exact place where the answer can be found in the Bible.

I thought this would be a wonderful way to get children more motivated to learn more Bible trivia. When posed in this way, the questions are interesting, and I really liked the fact that the answers were on the same page, with reference to where you can find more information in the Bible.

FTC DISCLOSURE: I received this book for free from Tyndale House Publishers as part of the Blogger program in exchange for an honest review. I was not obligated to write a positive review. 

You'll Get Through This

"You'll Get Through This" by Max Lucado is a book full of hope and inspiration for those facing tumultuous times. In this book uses a perfect blend of biblical inspiration and personal stories to lead you to a new hope. The theme of this book is resounding hope and faith even when it feels like there is no light at the end of the tunnel. Lucado uses biblical figures in their times of trial to highlight the need for continuing the fight and being persistently hopeful.

What I liked about this book was the feeling that I had when I finished it. Hopeful, positive, and motivated to not only survive my struggles, but thrive in spite of my circumstances. I literally could not put this book down. Everyone understands struggles, and this book can speak to the soul of the struggling, brokenhearted, and hurting.

I would give this book a 5/5. Lucado speaks a message of faith and hope that is anchored in biblical truth. Wonderfully written. Highly recommended for anyone.

FTC DISCLOSURE: I received this book for free from Thomas Nelson Publishers in exchange for an honest review. I was not obligated to write a positive review.