2 comments about St. Patrick's Day Countdown.

1. This board book makes for a good introduction to St Patrick's Day for younger kids because of it's simple concepts, colorful pictures and sturdy construction. (It can also be used year 'round for it's counting.) "St. Patrick's Day Countdown" is a book that counts backwards from 5 down to 1 using St Patrick's Day theme items and then some; bunnies, shamrocks, a pot of gold... you get the idea. It's also fun because the book is not exactly book shaped but has grabbable shamrock "tabs" so little ones can help turn the pages. I bought this for my one year old niece and her mom said it was "perfect". I like that it does not have hit-you-over-the-head St. Patrick Day overtones (ie. nothing religious) to it but still captures the spirit of the day.



2. This book is perfect for babies & small children. My son is 9 months old & this is one of his favorite books. It has short phrases on each page while teaching numbers & doesn't have a lot of pages. The colors are bright & pictures are cute. The edges of the pages have a shamrock & my son finds it easy to turn the pages. He's also attracted to the cover because the shamrocks are shiny.

No comments about We Gather Together.

1 comments about How to Make Holiday Pop-Ups.

1. I love Joan Irvine's books. I am an art teacher and I use it in my classroom from middle school on up! The kids like it and find the instructions easy to follow. Everyone can be successful and creative. They find they don't think they know how to do it until they've tried. Joan gets them started and then the kids take off from there!

1 comments about April Fool's Day (Rookie Read-About Holidays).

1. The Rookie Reader Book on April Fool's was delightful! As a first grade teacher, I too enjoyed learning more about this holiday and why we celebrate it each year. My students loved it!

No comments about Halloween (Rookie Read-About Holidays).

No comments about Celebration: The Story of American Holidays.

No comments about The Night Before Christmas in Chicago (Night Before Christmas (Gibbs)).

No comments about Celebrations/Celebraciones: Holidays of the United States of America and Mexico.

3 comments about Ordinary Baby, Extraordinary Gift.

1. I love this book! Instead of simply telling the familiar story of Jesus' birth, this book starts with Adam and Eve. Using plain words and ideas, "Ordinary Baby" tells the story of God's relationship with his creation, how is was broken, and how God sent Jesus to restore it.

   Starting in the Garden, "...God and people were best friends. They were glad to see each other whenever they got together, and when they went for walks in the beautiful garden God had made, they laughed and told each other secrets..." Then comes the Fall "... the two people to break their promises to God and to ruin the wonderful friendship between the people and God".

   The book then talks about how there were "special listeners" who could hear God trying to talk to people. "The listeners said God would send someone to introduce people to him again, so that God's people could get together with him in a place they called "God's kingdom."

   Jesus finally comes as an ordinary baby, "...because no one would be afraid of a baby". "Like the first people in the garden, children and God would know each other...and not be afraid."

   The illustrations in this book are lovely; colorful, open, inclusive. Although the book cover says ages 4 and up, it was my 8 year old who found this book and encouraged me to buy it.




2. Making use of her song Ordinary Baby, Gloria Gaither not only tells the story of the birth of Christ but explains why it was necessary that He come, starting in the beginning of time in the garden. She goes on to explain the possible reason God came to us as a baby.
   "That's the way he planned it, maybe, so that we would come to him and not be afraid."
   
   The illustrator, Barbara Hranilovich's artwork is imaginative and beautifully colorful. She creates a fascinating portrayal of the character in each face - even the animals.
   
   It is 40 lovely pages and includes an audio cassette
   
   Children will love listening to the cassette when their parents aren't available to read to them. Also on the cassette is the song Ordinary Baby performed by a choir of sweet children's voices.
   
   It is suggested for children, ages 4 to 8 but I think the parents and grandparents will love it too.
   
   I bought this book as a Christmas gift but I have enjoyed it so much that I may have purchase another copy for the gift and keep this one for myself. It is a heart-warming Christmas story that is likely to become a family tradition. I think this is the perfect way to introduce a child to the gospel of Jesus Christ in a simple, easy to understand story.



3. This was a really good book.
   
   I did have a hard time keeping 22 preschoolers focused on the story, but in all fairness it was Christmas time and they were having a hard time focusing on anything.
   
   I will definitely try reading it in a smaller group setting, because it is a wonderfully written story.

No comments about A New Beginning.