Good Morning Poems

Title: Wake Up House!

Author: Various

Rating: *****

Review: This is a collection of house-related poems. Although several authors contributed to it, all the poems flow rather well. The illustrations turn common objects into faces, rather than simply animating them. A very charming collection for any poetry fan.

Camels! Humph!

Title: How the Camel Got His Hump

Author: Rudyard Kipling

Illustrator: Lisbeth Zwerger

Rating: *****

Review: This is a cute story about camels. It would serve as a great introduction to Kipling. My daughter enjoyed saying "humph" like the camel.

Oh Lord, Bless Me

Title: The Prayer of Jabez

Author: Bruce Wilkerson

Rating: *****

Review: This book is amazing! It is a very short read, and the prayer is simple. I read the teen edition my junior year of high school, and it helped me survive. The original edition is just as fulfilling. Maybe I'll update later on how it impacts me.

The Church Mouse...

Title: The Church Mouse

Author: Graham Oakley

Rating: ****

Review: This book is too cute! It's another that was on the must-read kindergarten list (I may find a way to label these...) The illustrations are amazing! The words are spread out under small pictures. I haven't read it to my daughter yet, but I'm sure she'll enjoy it. The story is sweet, but at times it does seem the author over-explains himself. It's a classic, nonetheless.

The Three Trees

Title: The Tale of Three Trees

Author: Unkown

Illustrator: Angela Hunt

Rating: *****

Review: This edition was published around my freshman year of high school. I thought it looked cool, but I don't believe I read it then or before. I saw it on a must-read kindergarten list, so I picked up a copy from the library to read to my daughter. She loved the story, and enjoyed the illustrations. This is a board book, and I HATE it when publishers put children's classics in board book form, because I'm always afraid they abridge them. I don't believe they did here, and for that I'm greatful. This would be a great story to introduce Christian children to folk tales, explaining that different cultures have different stories they tell their children, and sometimes these stories are put in book form to share. I think children need to be familiar with traditional folk tales, no matter what culture they are from. This is a wonderful story, and I was very pleased with it.

You Can Run, But You Can't Hide...

Title: Sanctuary

Author: David & Beverly Lewis

Rating: *****

Review: I almost didn't want to give this book five stars, simply because it toook SO LONG to get any answers. The wonder and downfall of the book is it is page 200 before the reader really knows what is happening. As soon as one card is revealed, the whole hand is fairly obvious. I tried to see if I could pick out what each author wrote, and when I couldn't, I searced online to see if anyone discussed it. I couldn't find that either. Just know that this is an excellent page-turner. I'd never read a thriller by Beverly Lewis, but this was great!

Gloria!

Title: Officer Buckle and Gloria

Author: Peggy Rathmann

Rating: ***

Review: This book was recommended for preschoolers during safety week. After reading it to a class of four and five-year-olds, I didn't get the reaction I expected. The reviews talked about kids getting excited and laughing at Gloria's tricks and Officer Buckle's rules. My kids were barely interested. They just didn't have the enthusiasm for it. I would reccomend it for older children, maybe first grade on up.

The Great Pursuit

Title: White

Author: Ted Dekker

Rating: *****

Review: WOW. That's the only word to describe the third book in the Books of History Chronicles. There is so much to be said about it, but you really need to read it to understand. If you found Narnia or Middle Earth comforting, Enter Dekker's future. There's no name for it, and perhaps it's better that way. Wow. I LOVE these books.

She's Back!

Title: Mary Poppins Comes Back

Author: P.L. Travers

Rating: ****1/2

Review: The charm of the first novel is not here. I was greatly disappointed. Once again, the chapters could be read independently. Mary Poppins is still snobbish and controlling. I have the fourth book in the series, and I'm debating just passing it on to someone else without reading it. I wish I found Travers' stories wonderful, but I don't. The magic isn't there for me...

Tortoise

Title: Esio Trot

Author: Roald Dahl

Rating: *****

Review: Dahl's creativity never ceases to amaze me. I read this book in twenty minutes yesterday while browsing Borders. This story is so simple, and so sweet. Dahl uses the language of children, so even the youngest ears do not need things explained. Yet his tone keeps the attention of adults as well. There's not much to the story, so without giving away plot points let me just say: Read it! Grab your children, grandchildren, neices & nephews and share it with them. There are a few "magic words" used, and one character does decieve another, but fans of Dahl know there's little harm here.

The Circle Continues

Title: Red: The Heroic Rescue

Author: Ted Dekker

Rating: *****

Review: Spend any time with me and you will quickly learn Dekker and Peretti are my favorite authors. If you are not familiar with either, read their joint work "House". When you've finished that, enter Dekker's mind through Black, the first book in the Circle Series. I cannot describe these books without giving away major plot details, or you thinking the works must be crazy. Trust me, they are, but in an EXCELLENT way. Imagine Tolkein, Lewis, and King all writing one book, and that comes close to describing the adventure of the Circle series. Keep in mind, the books HAVE to be read in order. Black, Red, White, Green. DO NOT break that order.

REVENGE!!!

Title: Revenge of the Whale: The True Story of the Whale Ship Essex

Author: Nathaniel Philabrick

Rating: ****

Review: This book was just "okay". The story is intriguing, and the author did an excellent job describing the whaling industry. I watched a History Channel special on the whale ship Essex years ago, and was eager to learn more. The accounts of cannibalism only take a few pages. The whale's attack only uses a few paragraphs. The guide says the book is appropriate for ages 9-12, but I'd reccomend it for 11-12. It is presented in documentary style, and that would bore younger readers. I did not realize it was a school edition when I ordered it, but it was still a good story.