TOS Review: Barbour Publishing

Over the last few weeks we have been reviewing a fun book called the Diary of a Real Payne Book 1: True Story, by Annie Tipton, from Barbour Publishing.  I say we, but really it has been Mustang.  I decided to use this as one of her first 'required' reading books, and believe it or not, it was hard to get my book worm to read anything 'required.'  Normally, she chooses her own books and is very excited, but it was a little harder to assign her something.  But, once she finally started reading, she just couldn't put it down!

Here is Mustang's info about the book:  The story is about a girl named Emma Jean who they call 'E.J.'  She just started forth grade and has a mean teacher named Mrs. Pickerington.  She won't even let them have designs on their notebooks (soo mean, lol).  E.J. has a friend named Macy Russell.  They play together at school, during recess and more and really enjoy pretending to be things they aren't.  They use their imaginations to do things-like what you can see on the cover-they were in space-EJ was the astronaut and Macy was the captain.  Of course the teacher wasn't so pleased with her choice to walk (eyes closed) on the top of the monkey bars.

At another chapter, EJ was spending at the night at her elderly neighbor's house, Mrs. Winkle's.  While there, she read a book Aristocrazy Through the Ages.  One of the stories in the book was about Nebuchadnezzar the Wild-Animal King.  It told the story of how King N went crazy and became and animal.  It also tells the story of Queen Esther-and of course EJ happily put herself in Esther's place and became the Queen.

Did you like the book:

Yes.  Because it is funny! 

What was your favorite part?

 She has a brother named Issac that said a joke-a knock knock joke:

Issac:  knock, knock

Me:  who's there?

Issac: Noah

Me:  Noah who?

Issac:  Noah  good joke?

Who is your favorite character?

E.J.

Do you think other kids would like this book?

Yes, people that like Junie B Jones books would like this one.  It's very funny just like them.

MY thoughts on the book:

Diary of a Real Payne True Story book 1 is 188 pages long and has 15 chapters.  At the beginning of each chapter, there is a diary entry by E.J., after which we follow her around her daily life and adventures.  The diary dates from July to December, so we only see a small time of her life.  The humor and layout really is a lot like the Junie B Jones books, I was interested that Mustang noticed that.  But, it is a much longer book and aimed at a bit older reader.  

Mustang is a 2nd grader, but reads at about a 4th grade level.  I would recommend this for probably 3rd and up unless you have a strong reader on your hands.  The publisher says ages 8-12.

I was very pleased that she liked the book and there have been many days she has asked if she could read instead of other school subjects-which I let her do :).  

Diary of a Real Payne True Story Book One, by Annie Tipton, published by Barbour Publishing is a softcover and sells for just $5.99 and is on SALE for $4.49 at this time!!  It would make a great gift for a child on your list (or a great addition to your church library!).

To see what others in the crew thought, check out the crew blog!

TOS Review: Seed Sowers

We have recently been reviewing a wonderful book on missions, Seed Sowers, by Gwen Tolliver.  And, I am very excited to get to tell you about it!  Why?  Well, when I was a little girl, I was blessed to attend a church that had a huge heart for missionaries.  Not just the heart that gave money (which IS a good thing), but also a heart to get to know who these amazing people were, what they were doing, and how God was using them.

Once a year, our church would host a missions conference.  The would invite any of the missionaries who were able to come to the conference.  They would ask each of these missionaries to set up a little 'station' about their mission work and then we would 'travel' around the world-stopping at each of their countries to see what they did.  We would travel to Papua New Guinea, Japan, Romania, the US, and many other countries.

This little yearly conference left a huge impression on my life.  Knowing from a young age about real people who went and told others about Jesus had me telling people I would grow up to be a missionary.  Now, I only ended up going on a short-term missions trip, but I know that missionaries are all Christians and God uses them even in their homes.

Gwen's book, Seed Sowers, has a very similar mission:  to introduce people of all ages to the amazing people God has chosen to work as overseas missionaries.  It also allows them to see how God has worked in their lives in some very challenging situations. 

Gwen, a fellow homeschool mom AND blogger-she writes at ToliversToTexas-wanted to put together this book about real missionaries and some of the real ways God has provided for them on the mission field.  She and her husband serve with Wycliff Bible Translators, and so she was able to contact many missionaries throughout a 2 year period and interview them for this book.  

Gwen interviewed 21 different missionaries and complied their stories into one book, Seed Sowers Gospel Planting Adventures.  And, let me tell you, adventures they are!  From one missionary almost drowning, another almost getting eaten by an ocelot, a third facing the terror of being beheaded, and there are MANY more.

The best part of each story, is that the missionaries always share how God took these crazy situations and allowed His power and provision to be shown through them.  He shows how either the missionary learned a big lesson about trusting God, or a person (or entire tribe) ended up coming to know the Lord all from one scary, strange, disgusting, or challenging-but important, event.

I had intended to read the book with my children, but felt like I should read it myself first.  I don't really know why, but I did just that.  Each morning, for my quiet time, I have grabbed my Kindle and entered a land I have never been to, and live a crazy moment in time along with the missionary of that day.  It has really allowed me to appreciate the current mission field I have been given!

There are actually days I question my mission field.  Yes, when I am changing dirty diapers, cleaning up toys, folding laundry, cooking dinner, or one of the many daily tasks on my plate, I feel quite mundane and unexciting.  It's easy to look at those serving in a mountain tribe in South America and say-hey THOSE people are serving God.  And, wow, what a COOL way to serve God.  I think back to my 3 weeks in Ghana, Africa, and wonder if I should have tried to go back.  I mean, God could have used me SO MUCH MORE if I were in a hut, right?

Reading Seed Sowers has really pointed out one major thing to me, God will put you where He wants you.  He will provide for you the things He knows you need.  And, if you allow Him control of each situation, He will be glorified, and you will be doing EXACTLY the mission work he wants for you to do!!  Yes, as a matter of fact, I got all that from reading about witch doctors and missionaries!

The more I read, the more I am excited to share it with my children.  I would like to gather a map and maybe other things to help them get an idea of where these missionaries live.  I love the photos that are on the Seed Sower's web-site to help you get an idea of who they are, too.  I will update you more when we do!

I would highly recommend Seed Sowers!  I reviewed the Kindle version, which costs just $3.99.  You can also purchase a  softcover book for $12.50.   You can read an excerpt of the book on Seed Sower's Website, and also find out more about the book, Gwen Tolliver, and the missionaries in the book.

Many of the other crew members also reviewed Seed Sowers.  To see what they thought, be sure to check out the crew blog.

What Would the Founding Fathers Think?

Since Monday was President's day, we have been reading some various books about past presidents of the United States.  One, in particular, was about Abraham Lincoln.  The book mentioned that President Lincoln would take visits from citizens-and help them whenever he could.  He would also write letters, including sending out autographs to those who wrote to ask. My children thought this sounded wonderful and thought we should head down to the White House and see President Obama.  I had to explain that our President no longer takes visitors that simply show up to see him.  He is a very busy man, too busy to see us!

That was 140 years ago, and the differences in society are huge.  Let's back it up even further to the very beginning.  When Franklin, and Madison, and Washington were around.  When they sat down and used their wisdom to layout the government for our new country.  I wonder how much more things have changed? 

Better yet...let's think about what would happen if THEY came here...to year 2013...

What Would the Founding Fathers Think? by David Bowman proposes just that.  Benjamin Franklin, inventor that he was, invents a time machine.  He, James Madison, and George Washington all squish in the little machine and take the ride of their lives, only to discover the biggest shock of their lives.

Once they arrive here in the 21st century, they manage to find a contraption that Franklin calls 'Share Knowledge with Young People Everywhere.' or SKYPE.  Lol!  And the three go about making their findings of the state of the nation and their opinions on how well their intentions have been carried out.  As you might be able to tell from the looks on their faces on the cover-they, well, are not exactly pleased with how the US looks 230 years later.  

I don't know about you, but so often in life I have found then when talking about politics people just turn off-or get angry.  It's such a daunting subject and-too often-no one really gets it anyways.  They don't understand why we do things the way we do, and have no clue what we did 200 years ago.  They do care, but they don't have time to read about history when current day is overwhelming.  And that's adults!

If we have that much of a challenge getting our adults to understand, getting children to understand what our founding fathers meant when they set up the Constitution or Bill of Rights is nearly impossible!  It's boring, it's overwhelming, and it doesn't have anything to do with them anyways-right?

Author David Bowman starts out the book with three main points:

1.  The United States of America was and is the greatest nation on earth.

2.  Today, the United States of America is in serious trouble.

3.  You will inherit the USA-and all its problems-in just a few short years.

Mr. Bowman goes on to explain how it got this way, and what is need to fix it.  He writes this in easy to understand language, in a way that kids ages 8 and up can understand!  Using his amazing talent, he illustrates the book with funny and entertaining graphics.  

He covers topics such as the proper roll of government, 

separation of church and state,

and entitlement.

But, the best part of the book, IMO, is when he discusses the two pyramids of government.

This is how the US government was designed to work:

But, when they come for a visit, the founding fathers feel that our pyramid has been slightly altered and is looking a bit more like this:  

"Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people.  It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other."  John Adams

So what did we think?

I've, honestly, never seen something so well done on this subject!  I figured it would be quite some time before I was able to discuss politics with my children.  But, What Would the Founding Fathers Think?  has been written at a level that even Mustang voluntarily picked it up.  

She doesn't understand most of what is in the book, but it has opened up an opportunity for lots of conversations about government, how our country works, and if it needs to be changed.

My favorite part is that-no matter whether our country can be turned around or not-knowing that God was the foundation of the pyramid for our Founding Fathers is challenging to each individual.  It's a key component of our nation's history that is left out of our public school's history lessons and is on it's way to being left out of our nation's future completely.  

What Would the Founding Fathers Think?  is designed to be a young American's guide to understanding what makes our nation great and how we've strayed.  But, I think that it should be read by young and old Americans alike.  It's a quick read that will leave a lasting mark!

Buy it:

What Would the Founding Fathers Think?  by David Bowman  

Paperback, 122 pages

Retail price:  $11.99

Also available in Kindle and Audio CD formats

Connect:

Author David Bowman's Website

Facebook

Comment:

I'd love to hear your thoughts on teaching our children about our founding fathers.  Do you think they would be happy with our current state?  What needs to change?  When is a good age to start talking about this with your children?

Thanks for stopping by!!

God Bless,

Disclaimer:  I was sent a copy of What Would the Founding Fathers Think?  I agreed to read the book and write this blog post.  All opinions expressed are my own.  I was not compensated in any other way.

TOS Review: I Don't Have Enough Faith to be an Atheist

If you have been a homeschooler for even a few years, you have likely heard of Apologia Press.  They have been featured on my blog before with two of their amazing products, How to Have a H.E.A.R.T. for Your Kids, and Who is my Neighbor?  Well, once again, I am excited to tell you about their newest product, I Don't Have Enough Faith to be an Atheist Curriculum.

A couple of months ago, I was added to a 'Christian' Facebook group by a friend.  Before I knew it I found myself in the midst of unintentional debates from people who had grown up in Christian homes but had become skeptics in their adult lives.  These individuals knew what the Bible had to say, but were happily picking it apart piece by piece because they didn't like.

I realized as I chatted with these people that I did not have the words to properly address the arguments of today's atheists, agnostics, and skeptics. Though I would have loved to be able to say something {anything actually} that would change the minds of these people, I knew it was a silly idea to try and debate on a public forum with people I had never met.  I did, however, leave wanting to have a more factual explanation for what I believed.  

This turned into a realization that my own children could become just like these adults if I am unable to teach about faith in such away that it is more then just a 'feeling' or a faith backed up only by the Bible or church teachings.  I want to equip my children for the world that is less and less interested in God, the Bible, Religion, and Truth.  I realize that I cannot make my children believe in God, but I certainly want to do all I can to help them understand what Truth is before they leave my home.  I want to give them a firm foundation to use long after I am gone.

That is why products like I Don't Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist are so important to our Christian families, homeschools, and youth groups.  We parents need help to train our children.  I am so glad that Apologia found this one!!  They didn't write or publish I Don't Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist.  They did, however, find this gem and bring it to our attention.  Taking it a step further, they wrote a companion Study Guide to help you teach this to your youth.

Now, I do want to say that the book itself, I Don't Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist, is an amazing stand alone product.  It is an easy read, with a ton information written so that anyone can understand it.  Authors Norm Geisler and Frank Turek is entertaining, engaging, and informative.  I have been looking forward to my quiet times so that I can uncover yet another layer of knowledge that is found in the pages of this wonderful book.  I really can't say enough great things about it.  It's a must read!

The companion study guide does a great job of helping students internalize what they have been reading.  Each chapter is broken down into 4 sections:

Hook-Questions about what was just read

Book-Questions that usually require you to re-read a portion of the book.  They often required you to explain a point that was made.  I don't know about you, but when I have to explain what I read and how I feel about it, I really understand it and remember it!

Look-Research projects.  This was my favorite part of the workbooks.  They were hard, but they were good!  Each chapter has 3 or 4 assignments that require the student's action.  Some were internet or other research, some required that you interviewed other people, and some had you reading another book or magazine resource and answering questions.

Took-more questions but from a different perspective now that you have researched and internalized many of the points being taught.  

 The workbook also takes the information in the book and provides more information.  For example, the book mentions that David Hume and Immanual Kant were important figures that shaped our modern world beliefs in skepticism and atheism.  The study guide provides biographies about these two to help the reader understand why.  There are even tests available on the Apologia website for book owners. 

Authors Frank Turek (co-author of the book) and Chuck Winter challenge the students to process the information they have read and make their own conclusions about what they believe.  This workbook is a fantastic way to turn I Don't Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist from a reading assignment to a credit in Religion or Philosophy.  With each chapter and workbook lessons taking up to a month in time to complete, this could take over a year to complete.  I know that the publisher mentions 2-3 weeks, but it would depend on how much you assigned for each week.  If you did one section a week, or one assignment a week, you would easily be looking at 3-4 weeks per chapter.  There are 14 chapters, an intro and 3 appendix.

You can order a copy of I Don't Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist for just $16.00 from Apologia press {they are currently awaiting a new shipment}.

The 279 page Workbook retails for $33.00.  It is consumable, but the information learned through this study guide is well worth the modest price tag.  

I Don't Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist and the companion workbook are designed for teens, but let me tell you, it is for any Christian.  My oldest child is only six, and though she often acts like she is going on sixteen, I didn't get this one for her.  I got this for me, and someday I hope that the knowledge I gain from this study will be for her, too.  

If you would like to see what the I Don't Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist workbook looks like, check out the Sample Chapter.  If you would like to read more reviews, check out the crew blog.  But, if you know that YOU don't have enough faith to be an Atheist, just go ahead and buy the books.  I think you'll be glad you did!

God Bless!!

Disclaimer:  As a member of the Schoolhouse Review Crew, I received a copy of I Don't Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist and the Study Guide in exchange for an honest review.  I did not have to write a positive review, all opinions expressed are my own.  I was not paid for my review. 

TOS Review: Amazing Animals by Design

Why is a giraffe's neck so tall? 

Why do zebras have stripes?

Did all of these things happen by accident? 

When John and Sarah visit the zoo, they ask these questions and many more. Their parents and the zookeepers keep using the word design, but what does that mean? With its relevant message and exciting presentation, this is the perfect book to help introduce children to intelligent design.

You've read books that answer these questions before.  Usually the reason given is due to their 'environment.' Or maybe and old legend or tale.  Worse yet, part of their 'ever evolving features.'  Not this time!!  

My children and I loved this adorable book!  It has a great story line that kept their attention through the entire book.   The dialog is perfect.  I don't like books that feel like the story line was forced to make a point.  Amazing Animals by Design is not that way at all, it flows wonderfully and entertained old and young alike!  The pictures are vibrant and eye-pleasing.  Just  perfect.  

The best part, though, is that author Debra Haagen gives the correct answer to these questions!  Crediting an intelligent, purposeful creation made by an amazing God!  

She chooses 7 different animals (pictured on the front of the book) and explains how they were specially created to be able to survive in their chosen homes.  I loved reading these facts, some of which even I hadn't ever heard about before.  

Simply one of the VERY BEST books I have read.  I HIGHLY recommend Amazing Animals by Design!!!!

Amazing Animals by Design by Debra Haagen is available in print ($8.99)  or eBook format ($7.99), and is available from Tate Publishing and Enterprises.

Author Debra Haagen is a fellow mom blogger who homeschools her children!  She is even part of the TOS review crew, which made reviewing her book even more of an honor.  Her experience in finding quality products was evident in her book!!  To find out more about her, check out her author website, Amazing Animals by Design blog, or her review blog.

If you'd like to hear what others thought of her book, check out the TOS review crew blog.  

Book Review: Gabby's Stick To It Day!

Gabby's back ... and she's brought a Kindle Fire Giveaway with her!

Meet Gabby for yourself here. || Read what people are saying here.

Enter today - Sheila and her publisher, Thomas Nelson, have put together a prize package worth over $200!

One lucky winner will receive:

• A brand new KINDLE Fire with Wi-Fi


• Gabby, God’s Little Angel 


• Gabby's Stick-to-It-Day

But wait! There’s more …

The winner will be announced on the Gabby Landing page on 4/2/12. In the meantime, enter to win the Kindle Fire then head over to the Tommy Nelson site and download the Gabby coloring sheets, watch Sheila's Gabby video, sign up for news about upcoming Gabby and Thomas Nelson products, and much more.

About Gabby's Stick-to-It Day

Gabby is a little guardian angel with a big job to do! Watching over Sophie is hard work, but Gabby knows that God wants her to stick to it.

Gabby, God’s Little Angel, flies to the rescue as Sophie attempts to help others but has a little trouble sticking with things. Sophie tries to be helpful by washing the family dog for her mom, but she gives up when she’s the one who ends up all wet. She then tries to be kind by reading to her little brother, but he has plans of his own, which include a splash of cereal right in Sophie’s face! When Sophie is ready to quit once again, it’s up to Gabby to encourage her to keep trying and to teach her what the Bible says about perseverance: “We must not become tired of doing good. We will receive our harvest of eternal life at the right time if we do not give up.” (Galatians 6:9 NCV)

About the author, Sheila Walsh

Sheila Walsh is a Bible teacher, speaker, singer, and best-selling author with more than 4 million books sold. Sheila Walsh is the creator of the award-winning Gigi, God's Little Princess® brand, which has sold over 1.5 million units and won two National Retailer's Choice Awards. As a featured speaker with Women of Faith®, Sheila has reached more than 3.5 million women by artistically combining honesty, vulnerability and humor with God's Word. She resides in Dallas with her husband Barry and son Christian.Visit www.sheilawalsh.com for more information about Sheila, her other books or Women of Faith.

What Did we Think?

We LOVED Gabby's Stick-to-it Day! Not too long, not too short, lots of humor, and great for the imagination!  The  beautiful, whimsical pages are sprinkled in angel dust (glitter), and my girls just loved looking at them.  We all enjoyed reading this adorable story to brighten the gloomy day we chose to read it on!  One of the best kids' books we have read in a long time!!

Gabby's Stick-to-It Day would make a great gift for the little angel in your life!  Not too late to add it to an Easter Basket!  Gabby's Stick-to-It Day retails for 14.99, and is currently on sale for 11.99 on the Thomas Nelson site.

If you would like to read what other families thought, check out the Litfuse Review Blog. 

Don't forget to enter the giveaway!!  Good Luck and God Bless!!

Disclaimer:  We received a free copy of Gabby's Stick to-It Day in exchange for an honest review.  All opinions expressed are our own.

TOS Review: The Person I Marry from Bower Books

My children are just starting to 'think' about marriage.  You know, the times when they honestly think that they will marry their brother or sister when they grow up.  And, in our case, if they cant marry their brother, they will just marry the neighbor boys.  It's quite humorous to hear Mustang mention in a matter-of-fact way that she will marry the funny boy at AWANA, or Charger, or maybe even Daddy. But, I know that her heart is already starting to form a 'list' for her prince.  I want to be able to help her form that list into one that will have a Godly, wise, and loving husband who isnt perfect but IS Heaven-sent.  The Person I Marry is the perfect book to help her mold that 'perfect' list.  

As parents of 12 children and grandparents of nine, Gary and Jan Bowers have used their God-given talents to provide an amazing resource to talk to your children and teens about marriage.  Jan Bowers' beautiful paintings illustrate 35 pages of character traits to look for in a spouse, written by her husband of 32 years, Gary.  

Here is a little video to tell you about the book.  WARNING, you may need a tissue!

The Person I Marry from Bower Books on Vimeo.

I must say, that I think every Christian couple needs this book in their home.  It is the kind of book that you lay on the coffee table and hope that visitors pick up and read.  The Person I Marry describes God's intentions for marriage in simple but challenging words.  It carries the kind of message that I hope my children will have ingrained in their thinking from the very onset of 'marriage' thoughts.  

While reading The Person I Marry to my children, I realized that though written on a child's level, I got so much out of the book that they did not.  I was challenged while reading to make sure that I am being the kind of wife my son should be looking for when he chooses a wife, and the kind of wife that I promised my husband I would be when I married him almost 11 years ago.

Winner of the 2010 Christian Small Publisher Book of the Year Award, The Person I Marry and other Bower Books have received raving reviews from Jim Bob & Michelle Duggar, Gary Smalley, Eric & Leslie Luddy and more.  The Person I Marry is a beautiful book both inside and out.  The pictures are breathtaking and the story line is perfect.  It is a must have for any family library.  

The Person I Marry, by Gary Bowers, illustrated by Jan Bowers, can be purchased from Bower Books for just $11.99.   And, they are currently offering free shipping on orders over $30.00. It would make a perfect gift, especially for a wedding.  

If you would like to read more reviews on The Person I Marry, check out the TOS Crew Review Blog.

God Bless!!

This is an Old Schoolhouse review.  Thank you to Bower Books for providing my family with a digital copy of this book for review.  All opinions expressed are my own.

Book Review and GIVEAWAY!! Gabby, God's Little Angel by Shelia Walsh

I'm really excited that today I get to tell you about one of the cutest books I have read in quite awhile!   Gabby, God's Little Angel arrived at our home last month and my little angels have loved getting to know her.

Gabby, God's Little Angel was written by Shelia Walsh, the creator of the award winning Gigi, God's Little Princess which my girls also love. 

Here is a little clip from Shelia Walsh, herself, about Gabby, God's Little Angel:

This first book in a delightful new series offers a comforting message for young readers-God loves you very much and is always watching over you!

What little girl wouldn't love her very own guardian angel? Parents and children alike will be won over by this humorous tale of Gabby, a guardian angel in training who has much to learn about taking care of God's little ones. Her new assignment is to protect a young girl named Sophie, but Gabby soon realizes that watching after Sophie is a bigger challenge than she had expected! After a close call while riding her pony, Sophie learns what the Bible says about guardian angels: "He will put his angels in charge of you. They will watch over you wherever you go" (Psalm 91:11 ICB)

What we thought of Gabby, God's Little Angel:

Overall, I think this book is super cute!!  The message of the book tells little girls (and not so little girls) that God loves them, and is always watching over them.  It introduces the idea of guardian angels by introducing us to Gabby, the guardian angel of a little girl named Sophie.  

My girls enjoyed the bright, colorful photos, and that Sophie rides horses in the story {my girls love horses}.  Gabby, God's Little Angel can be a great way to start discussions about guardian angels and the way they help the Lord and us.

Probably my only reservation with this story is that this little angel is a child, and a clumsy one at that.  IF you were looking for a completely accurate theological book for your child, this may not be on your list.  But, if you are okay with a little imagination in the mix, this is a great choice for your library!!


Gabby, God's Little Angel retails for $14.99 and would make a great Christmas gift, or maybe an extra fun First Communion gift!  You can currently find it at Christianbook.com for just $9.99!  


To read more reviews of Gabby, God's Little Angel, check out the Lifuse Publicity Group blog.

Now for all the fun!! 

As part of the release of Gabby, God's Little Angel, there are a couple of giveaways that you wont want to miss!

First, Shelia and her publisher, Thomas Nelson, have put together and "Angel" prize package worth over $150.00! {click on the icon to enter}

Enter 9/19-10/3!

The winner will be announced during a Facebook Party where Sheila will also host a chat and give away a ton of fun products from the Gigi and Gabby line!  Be sure to stop by on October 4th at 5pm PST (6PM MST, 7PM, CST, & 8 PM EST).

And, you can also win a copy of Gabby, God's Little Angel HERE on Our Country Road!!! 

Yes!!!!  I am really excited about this part!  Sheila Walsh and Thomas Nelson publishers has graciously given me a copy of Gabby, God's Little Angel to give to one of you!!!

Here's how to enter:

Leave a comment below letting me know what little angel you would read Gabby, God's Little Angel to.

For extra entries:

1) Follow or subscribe to Our Country Road and tell me that you did.  (one entry)

2)  Like Our Country Road on Facebook (one entry)

3)  Head over to the  Gabby, God's Little Angel Facebook Party and RSVP!  (two entries)

4)  Enter the Gabby, God's Little Angel Kindle Giveaway Sweepstakes! (two entries)

This giveaway will end Tuesday, October 4th at midnight CST.  The winner will be announced shortly after! 

Good luck and God Bless!!

This has been a Litfuse review.  Thank you to Sheila Walsh and Thomas Nelson Publishers for providing my family with a complementary copy of this book for our review.  All opinions expressed are my own and I have not been compensated in any other way.

TOS Review: How to Have a H.E.A.R.T for Your Kids

Have you ever come across an answer to prayer that you didnt even know you were praying for? Have you ever received an answer to a question that was so deep that you hadnt quite been able to to even ask? This is exactly what happened to me when I first heard about the book, How to Have a H.E.A.R.T. for Your Kids, by Rachel Carman.

When I first heard about this book, my answer was the same as most other 'adult books.' I dont read books. I know, some of you avid book readers are asking how on earth that can be. I just dont have time! I read blogs, I read magazines, I read children's books to my kids. I dont have a lot of uninterrupted time to focus on a complete book, and I hate to be interrupted because-ironically-I LOVE reading. I just hate reading three pages only to come back 3 days later and not remember what the 3 pages were about and having to start over again. Unless, however, the book is about to change my life.

The introduction of How to Have a H.E.A.R.T for Your Kids by Rachel Carman is online. In fact, you can read it here: https://apologia.securesites.net/pdfs/sample/287.pdf. To see if I would be interested in reading the book, I read the introduction. To my complete surprise, within just a few pages-I was crying. The tears rolled down my cheeks as I realized that God was speaking to me through Mrs. Carman. Telling me things I didnt know I needed to hear, telling me in such a way that it went straight to MY heart.

Rachel Carman had never intended to homeschool her children. She counted down the days until her children were on the big yellow bus, headed to the great world of school, and she was handed her ticket to freedom. Her ticket to hours each day that she could pursue the job she had left behind to become a stay-at-home-mom. When the big yellow bus repeatedly left her son at the WRONG HOUSE, the wheels were set in motion to change Mrs. Carman's life forever.

Our stories are not the same, our reasons for homeschooling are not the same, honestly very little about how we 'started' homeschooling is the same, but yet our hearts had found the same place.

I love homeschooling. I love the books, the pencils, the planning, the organizing, the manipulatives, the pretty school room, the crafts, the curriculum....notice something missing? Yeah, I didnt. Not until I started to read How to Have a H.E.A.R.T for Your Kids, did I realize that I love everything ABOUT homeschooling, but had somehow left my kids out of the list.

Does this mean I dont love my kids? No. But it does mean that my motives for homeschooling had slowly changed over the last few years-or maybe they were never right to begin with. My husband had told me a few weeks before that homeschooling isnt everything. I didnt understand this statement because I had always heard that homeschooling is a lifestyle. What he meant is that I had made 'homeschooling' into its own separate 'thing.' It took lots of time and energy and had slowly become my focus instead of my children and family. My heart had not been for my kids, it had been for an activity that involved my kids. But, these are not the same thing.

God sent How to Have a H.E.A.R.T for Your Kids into my life at just the right time. He helped me, through Rachel Carman, to realize my heart problem. Through her compelling and challenging words, Mrs. Carman has given me ways to change my focus and begin making my children my focus again. She uses scripture, humor, and great life examples that kept me entertained enough to stay up past my children's bedtimes and read this book.

I think that every homeschooling mother needs to read this book. Even non-homeschooling moms could benefit greatly from How to Have a H.E.A.R.T for Your Kids. It is too easy to lose our focus and chase rabbit trails in our attempt to be the perfect teachers and mothers. The most important part of motherhood is loving your kids, plain and simple. And, if your heart isnt in the right place, things tend to fall apart.

How to Have a H.E.A.R.T for Your Kids is written by Rachel Carman and published by Apologia Educational Ministries, Inc. It currently retails for just 13.00. She and her husband, Davis, own Apologia. Yes, the mother who didnt want to homeschool now owns a homeschool publishing company-doesnt God have a sense of humor? I HIGHLY recommend making this book a part of your homeschool library, I think you'll be glad you did.

You can read more reviews for this book by checking out the TOS Crew Blog.

I am part of The Old Schoolhouse Magazine Review team. Thank you to Apologia for providing me with a free copy of this book for review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Book Review: The Lion's Deceit

The Lion's Deceit is a beautifully illustrated book about a lazy lion who goes against his real nature by tricking other animals so he can get some food without hunting.



The author, Mpho Otukile, grew up in Botswana and remembered evenings sitting in front of an open fire listening to the village elders tell this and other stories. These stories were told to instill moral lessons in life. She now lives in Winnipeg, Canada and is writing down the stories to pass on to her daughter and to share them with other children.

As I sat down with my children this week to read the book, we were all excited by the beautiful pictures and the intriguing title. I have to admit that, though the summary mentioned that the lion ate other animals, I was initially a bit surprised by his actions. I was afraid that my children were, too, but they did not seem to have any issues with the lion eating animals. When I asked Mustang she reminded me that is what lions do, mom. My husband later reminded me of other stories such as Henny Penny and The Three Little Pigs where animals are also eaten. So, I apparently overreacted a bit lol.

The moral to the story was excellent and there were many other morals and lessons that could be taught through out the story. Some of these include: working hard, being honest, and being careful.

It is always neat to introduce stories from other cultures into our library. In addition to discussing the morals of the story, my children and I discussed where Botswana was and the idea of sitting around a camp fire listening to stories. I was able to share with them my own experiences of sitting and listening to singing when I was in Ghana, and of listening to stories by campfire at summer camps. It is fun to discuss the similarities and differences in our cultures.

Overall, I would give this story about a 4 out of 5. My children really enjoyed it and have asked me to read it again. I have also found Mustang trying to read it herself.

If you would like to purchase a copy of The Lion's Deceit for your own library, you can purchase an autographed copy from Village Life Books. The price is just $10.00! Or, you can take advantage of a 10% off discount (off 11.99) by ordering from Createspace. Use coupon code 2LU4EXJM to receive the discount.

And, if you already have this book in your library, you may want to know that Ms. Otukile has plans to release a second book, The Elephant's Pride in 2012!!

God Bless!!!

This is a Mama Buzz review. Thank you to Village Life Books for providing my family with a copy of The Lion's Deceit for review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Book Review: This Little Prayer of Mine, by Anthony DeStefano

I thought since today was the National Day of Prayer, it would be a good day to highlight a cute little book I was recently sent for review.

"I know you're up in heaven, God,
and can hear my voice from there.
I'm just a little child.
Will you answer my short prayer?"

Author Anthony DeStefano opens This Little Prayer of Mine with this short, but meaningful line. I know we as adults have so many times in our lives when prayer is the only thing that pulls us through. It is important to teach our children the power of prayer from a young age. Though, sometimes its hard to come up with the right words to explain how to pray and what to ask for.

This Little Prayer of Mine is written from a child's perspective. The picture on the front shows a little boy and girl kneeling at their bed, so this could be the prayer of one or both of these children.

Their prayer covers many parts of life, from being scared of the dark, to feeling left out at school, and even to praying for the future that God holds for them. The language in the story says that we need to trust in the Lord for His answers and know that He is looking out for us.

My children and I enjoyed reading this book together, and it did bring up a conversation about prayer as I had hoped. The beautiful pictures captivated them, and the wording was simple enough for them to understand at the ages of 3 and 5.

Overall, I would recommend this sweet little book for children ages 3-8, and maybe a bit older as a conversation starter. The only thing I would have changed would be to have had the children in the book be thankful for the things God has given before asking for things. This Little Prayer of Mine would make an excellent gift for any little one in your life, or a great addition to your family library.

This Little Prayer of Mine is written by Anthony DeStefano, illustrated by Mark Elliott and published by Waterbrook Press. It is endorsed by The National Day of Prayer. It retails for 12.99 and can be purchased in hardback or eBook format. It can be purchased through the Waterbrook Multnomah online store, or where ever Christian books are sold.

God Bless! And be prayerful for our country on this National Day of Prayer!

This is a Blogging For Books review. Thank you to the Waterbrook Multnomah publishers for providing me with a free copy of this book for my review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Christmas Gifts 2010: The King's Christmas List

In addition to their individual gifts, there will be some group gifts for the children. First of all will be this amazing book, The King's Christmas List by Eldon Johnson.

The King's Christmas List is about a sweet little girl by the name of Emma. Emma and her little puppy, Shu-Shu have been invited to the King's birthday party and want to bring Him the perfect gift. Along the way to the party, they meet different children in need. All they have to give are the gifts they had brought for the King. In this story, Emma and Shu-Shu learn that when we give to those in need, we also give to our Heavenly Father, our King.

The King's Christmas List has beautiful, colorful, pictures. It is easy to read and fast paced, which will hold the attention of even my one year old. I love the reference of the King's birthday party to which we are all invited. It's a great reminder of the privilege it is to celebrate the King's birthday on Christmas. The back of the book suggests a few ways that we can give to our King by providing water and food to those in need.

I plan to give this book to the kids on Christmas Eve. It may even become a tradition in our house each year. If you are looking for a special Christmas story to share with your children this Christmas, check out The King's Christmas List, by Eldon Johnson, Thomas Nelson publisher.

Merry Christmas & God Bless!

Thank you to the Tommy Nelson Book Sneeze Network for providing me with a complementary copy for my review. All opinions expressed are my own.