Children's Book Review and Giveaway~All Things Bright and Beautiful

About the book:
Jacketed Hardcover
Page count: 32
Reading age: 4-7
Category: juvenile fiction/Christian
Retail price: $15.99

 First published by Cecil Frances Alexander in 1848, this favorite hymn has become a mainstay of churches and Sunday school classes everywhere. Here artist Katy Hudson brings new joy to the words with her fresh and bright watercolor style. Readers can join in the fun as they follow two little girls and their brother on a day filled with the discovery of “all things bright and beautiful.” 


About the Illustrator:

Katy Hudson was raised in Middlesbrough, England, and started her career as a small child drawing on freshly painted walls. Her parents quickly encouraged drawing with pencil and paper instead. The idea stuck, and after earning a degree in illustration, Katy is now a freelance illustrator. Katy works at a desk in a studio within Old London Library and likes to tap dance in her spare time. 

What I Thought: 

I just love beautiful, hardcover books to share with my children and now grandchild. All Things Bright and Beautiful is a perfect addition to my collection. The story is an old children's hymn written by Cecil Frances Alexander in the mid-1800s, but it is a message just as wonderful for children today. My grandson loves to memorize stories and then 'read' them to me, and this book is perfect for that. The illustrations are absolutely gorgeous, and the detail is amazing. We spend a lot of time studying each beautiful page. All Things Bright and Beautiful is my grandson's new favorite for his bedtime story, and I'm sure it will be treasured in our home for many years. It would make a perfect gift!

You can purchase your own copy of All Things Bright and Beautiful at Amazon.  

Giveaway!!!!
I have one copy of All Things Bright and Beautiful to give away! Use the Rafflecopter form below. I will email the winner within 24 hours of the contest closing. Winner has 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be drawn. Open to residents of US and Canada. See other restrictions in the disclosure at the bottom of the post. 



a Rafflecopter giveaway


 

"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 a prize from our sponsor Propeller / FlyBy Promotions in the last 30 days, you are not eligible to win.  Or if you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.”

Book Review~The Quality of Silence

 About the Book (description from Crown Publishing): 
Thrillingly suspenseful and atmospheric, The Quality of Silence is the story of Yasmin, a beautiful, troubled astrophysicist, and her precocious, deaf ten-year-old daughter, Ruby, who arrive in a remote part of Alaska only to learn that Ruby's father, Matt, has been the victim of a catastrophic accident. Unable to accept his death as truth, Yasmin and Ruby set out into the hostile tundra to find him. They grow increasingly isolated with each frozen mile they cover as their search takes them deeper and deeper into the endless Alaskan night. Mother and daughter discover unknown strength and focus as they press on, convinced that Matt is still alive. But as the arctic winter tightens its grip, Yasmin realizes that someone is out there trying to stop them, who is tracking them relentlessly through the soundless dark. Written in breathtaking, pitch-perfect prose, The Quality of Silence explores the powerful love of a family and the very limits of human resilience. 

What I Thought: 
I enjoy a good, suspenseful thriller, and I am fascinated with Alaska-so The Quality of Silence by Rosamund Lupton was a perfect match. This book is written from both the perspective of Yasmin, the mother, and Ruby, the daughter, so I felt like I was really getting to know them both and their deepest thoughts. I enjoyed the story from start to finish, never losing interest. There are so many different emotions throughout this story-dealing with death, love, fear, faith, and more. I didn't know anything about fracking, but the subject being in the book spurred me to learn more about it. So I guess you could say The Quality of Silence was educational as well!

The only negative response I have to this book is that it got a bit confusing at time switching perspectives. Not a huge problem, and it did not take away from the book, but a few times it was confusing when I thought I was still reading from the mother's perspective and it had switched to the daughter's. The Quality of Silence is book I recommend. Rosamund Lupton is a talented author, and I look forward to reading her other novels.

I received a copy of this book free in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed here are my own.

Children's Book Review & Giveaway~Would a Worm Go on A Walk?

About the Book:
Publisher: WorthyKids/Ideals
Author: Hannah C. Hall
Illustrator: Bill Bolton
ISBN: 9780824956776
32 pages
Format: Jacketed Hardcover
Reading Age: 4-7

“Would a worm go on a walk, if you could lead him down the street? / Would he wear his tiny tennies, if he had two worm-sized feet?” So begins this humorous and imaginative picture book that introduces children to the idea that animals are uniquely created by a loving and wise God. Would a Worm Go on a Walk?, with its colorful, comical illustrations, is a fresh, fun way to teach young children that God created all things very good. He gave all the animals, and children, too, wonderful qualities and unique strengths. Children will giggle over the ridiculous scenarios presented, and they will come away with the knowledge that we all are loved and special.                                            

About the Author:
Hannah C. Hall is the author of best-selling children’s books, including God Bless You and Good Night and God Bless Our Christmas, as well as an award-winning blog, HannahCHall.com. Hannah lives in Prairie Grove, AK with her husband, Josh, a worship pastor, and their four children.

What I Thought: 
My four-year-old grandson, Daniel, loves to read books. He especially loves hardcover books-it's like he just thinks they are extra special. Would a Worm Go on a Walk? is his new favorite! Every page is covered with bright, colorful, whimsical illustrations that are eye-catching. I love the concept of teaching children that God made and planned everything and that they are God's masterpiece. Another aspect of this book that I love is that it is a story kids can quickly catch on to, therefore once they know the story well enough they can 'read' it out loud to others by recognizing the pictures. That builds their self esteem and encourages a love of reading.

Would a Worm Go on a Walk? would make a wonderful gift. You can purchase it here:

http://shopbetterbooks.com/would-a-worm-go-on-a-walk

Giveaway!!!
One reader will win a copy of Would a Worm Go on a Walk?! I will email the winner within 24 hours of the contest ending, and winner will have 48 hours to respond with their address, or a new winner will be drawn. Read contest rules below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

"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 a prize from our sponsor Propeller / FlyBy Promotions in the last 30 days, you are not eligible to win.  Or if you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.”