Christmas In America

I absolutely am thrilled when I discover a great children's book that I would be honored to not only own but to read to my children, grandchildren and anyone who enjoys a great look back at America's history and how we celebrated Christmas over the years. Callista Gingrich has written a series of children's books incorporating Ellis the Elephant. In Christmas in America, Ellis journeys back to discover the many ways Christmas has been celebrated in America's history and I found myself a bit amazed at how little I actually knew.

In this beautifully illustrated book, Ellis travels back in time to experience Christmas with such notables as the colonists in Williamsburg, Virginia, George and Martha Washington at Mount Vernon, Andrew Jackson at the White House, Civil War soldiers on the battlefield, Calvin Coolidge as he lights the first national Christmas tree and even the Apollo 9 astronauts as they orbit the moon. What surprised me the most was how Presidents Andrew Jackson and Teddy Roosevelt both invited children into the White House to celebrate Christmas. Andrew Jackson opened it to orphans as he was an orphan himself, and no adults were allowed. Teddy Roosevelt offered a Christmas carnival to over 500 children.

I had never considered that the Apollo 8 astronauts actually took turns reading the Bible in a televised broadcast from the Book of Genesis and wished everyone a blessed night. Today these types of events would not be permitted because of fear of offending someone who might not agree. The best part is that it is written in a rhyming pattern for children much like Dr. Seuss books do and there are resources at the conclusion of the book to help your children research these historical topics in greater detail.

I received Christmas in America by Callista Gingrich compliments of Gingrich Productions for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation aside from a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest personal review. This is such a great resource for anyone who has children or even for a church children's ministry to share with their children. I can't wait to add the rest of the books to my personal library collection and think these are well written to help keep a child's interest in not only American history but in the Christmas traditions as well. This one is well worth all 5 out of 5 stars!

For more information about Christmas in America, Callista Gingrich or where you can pick up a copy of this book, please click on the links below:

Christmas in America by Callista Gingrich

You can find Callista Gingrich on Facebook to stay up to date on all her latest books.

Noah: A Wordless Picture Book ~ Review and Giveaway

I remember growing up and how much I really couldn't wait to be able to read. I would open each book I treasured and look at the pictures, trying so very hard to remember what the letters and words below each picture said or to remember how my mom read them to me. But no matter how much I tried, it would be quite a while before I would be able to put all those processes together of how letters sounded when combined with one another to form words and slowly over time, I grew to love reading so much that I now read more than I ever did before.

That is why I couldn't wait to share one of the most incredible books, I've been blessed to review with you. From Mark Ludy, he created a beautifully illustrated wordless picture book on the story of Noah. So why is this important. Because of what I just shared with you. As a child, just being able to look at the pictures without seeing the words, creates such a lasting impression and provides a level of encouragement to your child as you look at the pictures and create your own story in terms your child can relate to, to accompany the pictures of Noah in this book.

They will feel a level of confidence and satisfaction as they in turn, get to "read" this book back to you so you can understand what they are learning and where you can correct them on the details from the Bible. This one will never grow old. There is even an added bonus challenge in this book as well, to try to find Squeakers the mouse on every single page. You simply have to see this amazing hardcover book to understand how beautiful and vivid the story comes alive in these illustrations.

Mark Ludy has written or illustrated eight children's books including The Farmer, The Flower Man, The Grump, When I Was a Boy I Dreamed, When I Was a Girl I Dreamed, and Jujo the Youngest Tribesman. When he's not immersed in his sketchbooks, you'll find him in schools promoting art and literacy.

I received Noah: A Wordless Picture Book by Mark Ludy compliments of Propeller Consulting, LLC and Plough Publishing House for my honest review on this book. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions contained here are strictly my own. The hardcover book contains 64 beautifully illustrated pages for you and your child to enjoy as you go through the story of Noah together. It will be amazing to see just how your child will interpret the story just by looking at the pictures. I know it will be a book that they will LOVE "reading" to you night after night. I highly recommend this one and think Mark has captured the true essence of incorporating the love of books to children anywhere. Hands down it gets every single one of the 5 out of 5 stars in my book.

Now the best part, thanks to the generosity of Propeller and Mark Ludy, they are providing a giveaway copy to one lucky follower of my blog, Reviews From The Heart. Here's your guidelines to enter:

1. Be a follower of my blog, Reviews From The Heart. 

2. "Like" Mark Ludy's Facebook page and leave him a comment when you stop by.

3. Be a resident of the U.S. or Canada or have a shipping address for either country. Please No P.O. Boxes.

4. Leave a comment below telling me why you'd love to win a copy. Don't forget to include your email address since I will need it to contact you if you're the winner. You wouldn't believe the number of people who would win, but without an email address, I have no way to reach you. You can use the words (at) or (dot) instead of the symbols.

I will email the winner once the giveaway ends on November 18th. You can enter as many times as you want.

For more information about Noah: A Wordless Picture Book, Mark Ludy or where you can pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

Noah: A Wordless Picture Book by Mark Ludy

You can find Mark Ludy on Facebook to stay up to date with all his latest books.

To read more reviews on this book and to find a retailer to purchase this book through, please click here.

"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 the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.”

The Door To Far-Myst

Rupert Dullz isn't very happy. His grandmother's coffus is getting worse, school is boring and there's nothing to do on his days off but rake up endless piles of leaves. Everything in Graysland is, well, gray, and every day is just like the one before it, and the one before that.

That is, until a strangely dressed man named Pie O'Sky swoops out of nowhere in his multicolored balloon and offers a special reward to whoever can open his mysterious door. When Rupert succeeds, he's thrilled when Pie O'Sky carries him beyond it to the brilliantly colored land of Far-Myst. Adventure calls, and Rupert discovers a wonderful world full of something he's never heard of before- imagination.

But Far-Myst is in danger, and it may be that only Rupert has the power to save it. Is he the one whose imagination is powerful enough to stop the evil that is destroying the beautiful world beyond the door?

In the magical novel, The Door to Far-Myst by Mike Dicerto, we learn just how dull Rupert's life has been. It seems that everyone does the same thing day after day, which in the lives of the children consist of raking up leaves into piles so that they will be taken to the furnace to be burned to power the city. The parents are much help since reading books and stories have been outlawed and banned, the children have nothing to think about besides school and raking leaves.

Until that fateful day when a brightly colored man enters Graysland from a device that resembles a balloon but is called a bagoon. He poses a challenge to the children that if they can discover a way to open a simple door with a lock, he will take the winner to a magical place called Far-Myst. Yet when Rupert wins the challenge, he soon discovers that he is needed in Far-Myst to stop the evil of a man named Murkus whose goal it is to take away the powers of imagination and plunge Far-Myst into a world of shadows and bad dreams. Will Rupert be able to use his imagination to save the people of Far-Myst or will the land of Far-Myst become a town much like Graysland?

I received this book compliments of Pump Up Your Book Tours for my honest review and have to say, I haven't read one like this since Charlie and the Chocolate Factory or even the musings of Dr. Seuss! The author does such a wonderful job at creating a believable place for kids to get lost in the powers of using their imagination to save the world, something I think is still needed in the world our children now live in. I highly recommend this book for middle school children and up and even younger if parents are looking for something to read to their children at night! This is perfect and rate this book a 5 out of 5 stars.

For more information on this book, the author and where to pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

The Door to Far-Myst by Mike Dicerto

You can also find Mike Dicerto on Facebook by clicking here.

The Baby Bible Christmas Storybook

Too often we, as parents, have a difficult things that are appropriate for young babies or even toddlers. I have located a perfect gift just in time for Christmas. It's called the Baby Bible Christmas Storybook by Robin Currie.

This beautifully illustrated board book is perfect for those long car rides, school, nursery and child care groups to keep baby busy and this book does so beautifully in telling the Christmas story. Each page has an illustration on one side, beautifully done and on the adjoining page a simply story outlining the Christmas story of Jesus' birth that special night that you can show your baby or toddler and have them join in with the story-telling in this interactive book.

For example:

A Quiet Night - Luke 2:8

Out in the fields it was very quiet. (Put your finger on your lips. shhhh.)
The dark sky was full of stars. (Wiggle your fingers above your head.)
The sheep were all asleep (Yawn.)
The baby lambs were sleeping too. (Rest your head on your hands.)

Dear God, I'm glad for the stars and quiet nights. Amen.

I received this amazing book compliments of B & B Media Group and David C Cook, for my honest review and honestly wish I would have had something like this when my kids were younger. It truly is a treasured keepsake and one your kids will enjoy over and over as you read and play together. This one rates a perfect 5 out of 5 stars.

For more information on this book, the author or where you can purchase this book, click on the title of the book below:

The Baby Bible Christmas Storybook

Late For School - Review

How many times have you ever been late for school? Dreaded what the teacher was going to do to you or what they were going to stay to your parents?

In this humorous and wonderfully illustrated hardcover book, Late For School by Steve Martin is bound to entertain your children. It's accompanied by a wonderful CD featuring Steve Martin playing his banjo along with the whimsical and rhyming lyrics of just how one little boy tries to make it to school on time.

He tries flying, jumping over pink garden flamingos, and avoiding the barking dogs all in an attempt to make it to school before the bell rings at 8am.

The author, Steve Martin, as you remember from Saturday Night Live and Cheaper By The Dozen is the talent behind this newest book. I love the illustrations which alone tell the story of just how many obstacles one boy is faced with in trying to rush to school.

I was provided with a copy of the book compliments of Hachette Book Group for my honest review and love it! It easily rates a perfect 5 out of 5 stars. For more information on this book, the amazing author and where to get a sneak peek into the book, click on the title below:

Late For School

Keep Your Eye On The Ball

Everybody wants to help Davey.

"Let me open that."

"Do you want to hold my hand?"

Davey has one answer for all, "Thanks, but no thanks."

Davey is blind - and he is perfectly capable of doing everything on his own. His well-meaning classmates stop offering help when they see how able Davey is.

They respect his self reliance - until he tries to play kickball.

After several missed kicks and a trampled first baseman, no one wants Davey on his or her team.

But by working together, the children figure out a way to offer help that respects Davey's unique abilities and his desire for freedom. In this seamless tale, based on a true story, the children realize that interdependence can be just as important and rewarding as independence. (excerpt from inside flap).

In the book, Keep Your Ear On The Ball by Genevieve Petrillo, the children learn how to deal with a child who is very independent and doesn't want his disability of being blind to allow him from doing things like the other kids. It's only through seeing things from Davey's perspective that the children learn how to help Davey play kickball by being team players and allowing Davey to be just like one of them.

I received this book compliments of Tilbury House Publishers for my honest review and think that every child should read this book. It shows what can be done when the kids work together as a team instead of treating someone differently because of his disability. What a great gifts for any parent or grandparent as well as for schools and church youth groups as well. This is a perfect 5 out of 5 stars.

For more information on this book, the author and where to purchase a copy, please click on title of the book below:

Keep Your Ear On The Ball