Christmas Titles for our Younger Readers!

I was sent a box of Christmas titles and wanted to share some of my favorites!

Where's Santa Claus? by Ingela Arrhenius is a fun board book filled with felt flaps.  What a great idea for our youngest readers!  And it's a game as well because....where could Santa be hiding!?!?!?


The Christmas Eve Tree by Delia Huddy is an adorable little book.    It is the story of a homeless boy who plants a Christmas tree in a box and uses it to decorate his "home" under the bridge.  But it's only when he plants in the park that he sees how others enjoy his little tree as well.  What a tender, touching Christmas story.



Little Christmas Tree by Jessica Courtney-Tickle is another lift-the-flaps book that shows all the wonderful animals who call this Christmas Tree home.  What a fun book to explore with a little one on our laps!



Pip and Posy The Christmas Tree by Axel Sheffler is a hilarious, laugh-out-loud story of two little creatures, Pip and Posy, who are decorating their own Christmas tree only to have every cookie ornament disappear.  WELL, they figure out the mystery - and I think you will share a laugh or two as you share this one!



Oliver Elephant by Lou Peacock is a picture book that will delight all ages.  It's the story of Oliver's family running errands and shopping right before the holidays.  Tragedy hits though when, after all of their running, Oliver's stuffed elephant is missing!  In a big city - that could be hard to find!  You will love this ending!  You know what else I loved about this one?  The illustrations by Helen Stephens are so lovely and nostalgic - I absolutely adore what they add to this book!



**I was sent copies of these books by the publisher for an honest review on my blog.

Creative Journaling

What a fun line-up I have for you!  All tools to help improve your journaling!

Illuminate Your Story is a journal that teaches you fancy lettering.  It is laid out so beautifully - it gives you a letter to practice, walks you step-by-step through how to form it, and then gives you pages to practice your new skill.

Faith and Lettering Journal is much like the previous journal but it is all faith-based, not just the alphabet.  It helps you learn lettering, some banners, bullets, and more with plenty of room for actual practice and doodling.  This is a gorgeous journal that beginners and experience alike would enjoy!

The Illustrated Word Journal is "An Illuminated Bible Coloring Journal", and I found this one SO intriguing.  It is actual works of art or pieces of history with pages for you to color your own versions of them or to draw your own thoughts/journaling after you've enjoyed them. With lots of great illustrated pages to color, this makes this journal one anyone could enjoy.

**I was sent copies of these journals for an honest review on my blog.

Beloved - 365 Devotions for Young Women

Beloved is a new devotional tool for young women.  I found this to be an excellent resource.  It's not too long for short attention spans, it focuses on scripture, and it gives lots of room for thinking and contemplating over the passages.  Every day is spent around a verse or two and it is tied into applicable things in the life of teen girl.  I think it's a great tool - and one that could be used over and over, even if you did choose to write in the book itself.

Scriptures are quoted from the NIV.



*I was sent a copy of this book for an honest review on my blog.

Prepare Him Room

As a mom who is a librarian, one of my strengths would be introducing my kids to books.  :)  And every Christmas season, I pulled out the stops - everyday we would read a Christmas book and share the fun together!  But I also loved sharing Advent with my kids.  And I was always on the lookout for new and fun advent books/ideas.  I was asked to review, Prepare Him Room, this fall and am thrilled to share that this is a great one! 

This is one of the best laid-out Advent books I've seen.  It tells you exactly what you need to lead your family each day all the way down to songs to sing.  It is clearly an Advent book that anyone could take and read and put into action....no teaching background required!  And what I loved is that there are some new, clever ideas - and that's big coming from me - we've used A LOT of Advent books over the years!  Enjoy the Christmas season with your family - and start some new traditions this year!

 **I was sent a copy of the book for an honest review on my blog.

Holy Roar

Everytime I hear Chris Tomlin has a new album coming out I worry that there is no way songs will sound new and different.  So I apprehensive when I was asked to review his latest, Holy Roar.  But man, he just keeps them coming bigger and better.  I absolutely love the opener, "Holy Roar"...it's poignant...it will make it's mark.

You may have already heard "Resurrection Power" on the radio - I think that title released a bit earlier and it's catchy and a powerful reminder of our freedom in Christ.

And don't miss "Satisfied" - another favorite track on this album.  Tomlin has a good thing going - his songs speak to the soul and remind us of the greatness of our God.  And his latest is NO exception!


**I was sent a copy of the CD for an honest review on my blog.

Sacred Rest

Sacred Rest - Recover your Life, Renew your Energy, Restore your Sanity - If that doesn't catch your interest, I'm not sure what else will.  This describes most of lives.  We long for energy, restoring sanity, etc.  Saundra Dalton-Smith has written this book that will be a tool many of us can go to again and again.  Dalton-Smith is a doctor and in her practice she has seen seven different types of rest she has found lacking in her patients.  She goes through those and shows how and why they are missing and then gives ways to regain them in our lives.  She uses scripture to bring us back to our Creator and point us to His best for us. 

I thought this book had some great suggestions and ideas for us as we try to make time for more rest in our lives.  I think I will need to re-read it to glean all it has for us in potential, but I was encouraged after my first read through.  I believe she knows what she is talking about!  This book will help you find rest, set boundaries, and seek the sanctuary of our Savior....it's THAT good!



*I was sent a copy of the book by the publisher for an honest review on my blog.