Faith Builders Bible (Schoolhouse Review Crew Review!)

We've been enjoying the Faith Builders Bible from Zonderkidz.

Product Links: Faith Builders Bible NIrV

Vendor Information Link: Zonderkidz

Age Appeal: Ages 6 to 9 (or older for those who like building with blocks or need an easier version to read), third grade reading level 

Format: Hardback, ISBN 978-0-310-75463-3

Price: $24.99

Do you have any members of your family who enjoy building with blocks and learning the different stories of the Bible?

The Faith Builder’s Bible will enable your children to build, read, and memorize verses from different stories in the Bible.  There are more than 18 pages with different building opportunities.  Each page includes information about the Bible story, where to go for more information, the picture to build with blocks/Legos, and a memory verse.

It also includes a complete explanation of what the New International Reader’s Version contains and how it is different than the New International Version.

Our Experience: 

God’s word is an important part of our family’s daily life.  My children and I were excited to learn about the Faith Builder’s Bible, because it involved building the stories of the Bible with bricks.

B loves building with Legos, so I knew he would enjoy looking at the photo, reading the story, building item, and memorizing the verses.

I was hoping that C would enjoy doing the same.  She enjoys building with Legos, but not as much as B.  I thought this version would be good for her to read, because it is geared towards those who are beginning readers.

We used this version in our daily Bible study.  I had C read the verses, so she could practice and I could learn how well this version worked for her.

I used the building pages as building challenges for B and C.  I would have them build the page, and I would read the story and we would talk about the memory verse.

I plan on continuing using this Bible for our Bible study.  I’m going to develop my own building challenges that the kids can build on their own.

Mama’s Thoughts:

• I thought this was an excellent Bible for children in the elementary grades.  It had simple words that were easy to read and understand.  I really appreciated all the effort that was put into making this version easy to understand, yet relevant.
• It’s important to learn what the Bible teaches, and if a child is kinesthetic this version would be perfect for them.  They can build, read, and memorize verses from the different Bible stories.
• I liked the list of 92 Bible stories in the back of the Bible.  I plan on turning these different Bible stories into more building challenges for B and C.  In our daily devotions they learn a lot of different individual verses, but it’s important to learn the complete stories. 
• I wish the dictionary had been longer, because children always like to learn more.  It would have helped me if Jesus’s words were in red, so I’m sure children would like that too.

B’s Thoughts (boy, age 12, officially in sixth grade):   

I really enjoyed the Faith Builders Bible.  I love playing and building with Legos, so this Bible was perfect for me.  My mother picked building pages and had my sister, C, build them. 

I liked that the scripture in the New International Reader’s version was easy to understand and enjoy. 

It would have been nice to have an introduction page for each book describing who wrote it.  It would have been helpful if this Bible was a red letter edition, as I sometimes have trouble finding out when Jesus is speaking.

I would highly recommend this Bible to people of all ages.

 

C’s Thoughts (girl, age 10, officially in fourth grade):

• I really liked how Mama made building challenges from the building pages.
• I like the fact that it is easier for young children and me to understand and read.
• From the building pages, I built sheep.  I tried to build a fish, but it didn’t work.
• I think this Bible would be good for children who are reading easy chapter books and like to build with Legos and blocks.

Dad’s Thoughts:

I liked the New International Reader's Version Faith Builders Bible. I think this is a good way to interest younger readers in the bible. With biblical scenes created out of Legos it helps to illustrate important messages. The Faith Builders Bible is an asset in introducing young readers to history and important lessons.

Mama highly recommends the Faith Builders Bible!

Social Media Links!

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Zonderkidz/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/zonderkidz

   

Purposeful Design by Jay Schabacker (Schoolhouse Review Crew review)

We received this for review purposes!

Product Links: Purposeful Design: Understanding the Creation

Vendor Information Link: Purposeful Design

Age Appeal: all ages

Format: hardback book

Price: $18.95 

Jay Schabacker who was once part of the Apollo Moon Program is the author of this book.  He has developed this seven chapter book to teach the reader about the seven days of creation. 

Each chapter includes the specific Bible verses for that day of creation, information about things pertinent to each chapter like tides, camels, instincts of different animals, and more.

There is a bibliography and recommend reading section at the end of the book.

Our Experience: 

I was excited to see a book that was written describing the seven days of creation from a scientific point of view.  I knew that B and C would like it, especially B, since they like science. 

We were excited when it came in the mail and we started reading it right away.  It was fun reading a specific day, then completing the free corresponding worksheets from the Young Explorer’s Club.  I liked how the answers were on the website, but each child could easily find them in the book. 

This book had so much information.  It especially had a lot about the sun, moon, and stars.  I felt that was too much and there was not enough dedicated to the other days.  It showed what Jay Schabacker’s favorite subject was, the solar system.

This was an excellent book and can be used in many different situations and for different ages.  I plan on using this every couple of years in our school, so that B and C really enjoy creation.

Mama’s Thoughts:

• I thought Purposeful Design was a perfect book for any homeschooling family.  The seven days of creation were well described and it covered the science behind those days very well.  I think that since there was so much information given about the solar system, there could have been more said about the animals, humans, and vegetation. 
• This book has almost 100 pages!  That makes it a perfect book for science when it is combine with the workbook.  It is also good for Bible study, because many of the questions in the workbook involve Bible verses and praying as well.
• Many of these pictures are phenomenal, like the ones in space.  I do wish that some of them had not been chosen, because they were very fuzzy.  It took away from the high quality of the book. 
• I liked how he had the correct Bible verses in the beginning of the chapter, then continued with the scientific proof to back it up.  I learned a lot about the sun, moon, and stars that I did not know and I was able to see some interesting sea creatures.          

B’s Thoughts (boy, age 10, officially in fifth grade):   

I liked Purposeful Design.  I wished that it talked more about the birds and fish.  It would have been nice to have the same number of pages for each subject.  For example, “Chapter 4- The Fourth Day: Creation of the Sun, Moon, and Stars” was 20 pages long, but “Chapter 5- The Fifth Day: Creation of the Birds and Fish” was only five pages long.  It would of also been nice to talk about more types of animals.  It only talked about camels and cattle. 

I did like all the information I learned.  I learned some interesting facts I did not know before.

Overall I would highly recommend this book.  

C’s Thoughts (girl, age 8, officially in third grade):

I liked the illustrations.  They were nice. 

It is good for people of all ages. 

Dad’s Thoughts:

Purposeful Design - Understanding the Creation by Jay Schabacker discusses each day of the creation and then he provides evidence for it.  He used colorful and detailed pictures to get his message across.  This is a book that can used for classroom education or an at home leisurely read.  Overall I liked it and it stays true to God's word from the Bible.

Mama highly recommends this!

Social Media Links!

Blog: www.Jayschabacker.blogspot.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JaySchabackerAuthor
Twitter: www.Twitter.com/Jayschabacker (@Jayschabacker)
LinkedIn: Jayschab

 

Anthem for a Nation from New Liberty Videos (Schoolhouse Review Crew review)

We received this for review purposes!

Product Links: Anthem for a Nation

Vendor Information Link: New Liberty Videos

Age Appeal: General Audience (you will want to watch in first to determine if you want your younger children to watch it)

Format: Physical DVD

Price: $19.95

New Liberty Videos, founded by Brian Barkley, has a variety of different videos.  Our family viewed Anthem for a Nation.  This video is about how much God was involved in the founding of our country and how we need to get back to God.  There are a variety of patriotic songs, information about how important the Bible was in the founding of our country, and the stories of Maria Anne Hirschmann and Kitty Werthmann (they lived in Nazi controlled countries.

Here is a link to a short video about Anthem for a Nation.

Our Experience: 

I was very interested when I learned about New Liberty Videos.  I thought that Dad would also be very interested in this company.  I was not sure what B and C would think, but I knew the information was important for them to learn.

I was excited when I learned we would be reviewing Anthem for a Nation, because I had watched the 15 minute video on the internet and it was very interesting.

I watched it by myself first, then gave it to Dad.  I thought the video was excellent, but I decided to forward through the part about abortion for B and C.  I want them to be aware of all things in life, but there are still subjects they are too young for.

I thought this was an important video and I plan on having my family watch it yearly.

Mama’s Thoughts:

• I really enjoyed the music and videography in this video.  The patriotic music worked perfectly with the theme of the video.  The songs set the scene for all of the information about the history of the founding of the U.S.  The scenery of different parts United States was spectacular.  It was a good representation of the country.
• I never knew how much the Constitution was based on the Bible.  According to the American Political Science Review from 1983, the Constitution is 94% either directly or indirectly based on the Bible.
• When this country was young it was very involved with Christianity.  The Capital used to be a church and President Jefferson sent missionaries to the Native Americans and built Christian schools for them.  Congress bought 20,000 Bible for the troops and others during the Revolutionary War.  Our country was based on the Bible and it lasted until the 1960’s.  That is when Christianity began to be removed from public schools.  It is when that happened that drugs, alcohol, and abortions really grew in number.  That is really sad and as a country we need to change that.
• I thought Maria Anne Hirschmann and Kitty Werthmann’s stories were a crucial part of the video.  I especially liked Werthmann’s story about growing in Austria during Hitler’s reign.  Her story showed me that we have been sucked in by all the promises of good, like health care and preschool, just like Austria was.  We need to take a stand and bring Christianity back!

B’s Thoughts (boy, age 10, officially in fifth grade):   

I learned a lot from Anthem for a Nation, even though I did not like it.  I do not know why I did not like it.  I would have liked it to include more history.  I liked the videography and the music.  I think this would be good for kids ten and up.   

C’s Thoughts (girl, age 8, officially in third grade):

It is good because people can learn history from it.  I really liked the music.  I liked the scenes they went through.  They were really pretty.  It is good for people older than me.

Dad’s Thoughts:

New Liberty Videos' Anthem for a Nation, Relighting the Torch of American's Liberty touches upon several topics that should be more publicly addressed.  First and foremost is how much America and American's have done for the world.  It's a great idea to start talking about the positives instead of the constant negativity and blame being put on America.  Let's start looking up instead of down all the time.  Second, we need more education about our Founding Fathers and their beliefs that they had for this new country.  New Liberty's Video brings to light just how much our founding documents ideals come from the bible itself and not secularism.  This video goes beyond teaching just the three branches of government and their functions.  Third (but not last), the comparison of the number of lives lost from wars and from abortion is a wake-me-upper.  This highlights an immense tragedy that must not only be addressed but must be stopped as well.

What really make Anthem for a Nation, Relighting the Torch of American's Liberty  a great learning tool are the eye witness accounts of Maria Anne Hirschmann and Kitty Werthmann.  We can discuss ideals all day long but when someone tells their story of living through those events and recall what actually happened and how it happened it makes you stop and reflect upon your beliefs.

This entire program should be viewed in every school in every city in every state. It's that important.

Mama highly recommends!

 

Three iWitness books from Apologia Educational Ministries (Schoolhouse Review Crew review)

We received this for review purposes!

Product Links:

• iWitness Biblical Archaeology
• New Testament iWitness
• Old Testament iWitness

Vendor Information Link: Apologia Educational Ministries

Age Appeal: reading level is ages 11 and up, it will appeal to many people

Format: paperback book

Price: $14 each 

Are you looking for books for children and adults that can teach more about Biblical archeology and the New and Old Testaments.  iWitness Biblical Archeology, New Testament iWitness, and Old Testament iWitness will do that and encourage the read to want to learn even more.

iWitness Biblical Archeology contains information about:

• the Flood and Noah’s Ark
• Sennacherib’s Siege of Jerusalem
• the Dead Sea Scrolls
• the oldest Old Testament copies
• and more!

Old Testament iWitness contains information about:

• Canon Criteria
• different prophets
• Covenants and Near East Treaties
• the Intertestamental Period
• and more!

New Testament iWitness contains information about:

• the Synoptic Problem
• rejected books
• copying methods
• manuscript families
• and more!

Doug Powell, the author, has a Master of Arts in Christian Apologetics from Biola University.  He is also a graphic designer, musician, and an app developer.  Here is an interview with him that does an excellent job of describing the books.

Our Experience: 

It is always fun to learn more about the Bible and the Bible version that we read, which is why I was excited when we were chosen to review these three books.

I feel it is very important to learn as much about the Bible and its history as possible.  These books began to teach and inform us about Biblical history that we knew nothing about.

I decided to use these books both for ancient history and Bible study.  We would read a little bit of each book every day.  We read iWitness Archeology first, then Old Testament iWitness, and finished up with New Testament iWitness.  B and C enjoyed it when we read these books and I hope it encourages them to learn even more.

Mama’s Thoughts:

• My favorite book was iWitness Biblical Archeology, because I have been interested in archeology for many years.  I am very strong in my faith, but I do enjoy seeing and reading about archeological proof of the existence of different in the Bible, like the Taylor Prism which talks about about Sennacherib’s invasion of Judah.  It also helps to have concrete proof when discussing the Bible with others who are not of the same faith.  I do wonder if there is a reason there is not a lot of archeological evidence, perhaps we need to take more on faith and not archeological evidence.
• That faith comes into play with the book, New Testament iWitness.  The New Testament also took a lot of faith, because there are a lot of different versions and some books were accepted and some were not.  It was interesting reading about the different church fathers and learning about what books they did and did not accept.  My favorite part of this book was the section describing the different manuscript families.  it was interesting to learn that the King James version is a Byzantine text type, which is not as reliable as the Alexandrian text type, which is the most reliable and what modern Bible translations are based.
• Old Testament iWitness was also a great book.  I really enjoyed learning about the different parts of the Bible and how meticulous the scribes were at copying.  I liked how the author, Doug Powell, included different archeological evidence as well.
• All three of these books have wonderful illustrations and photos which support the text.  I do with the font of the text had been different.  It was very difficult for me to read some of t he passages, because I had a difficult time figuring out the individual letters in the different words.

B’s Thoughts (boy, age 10, officially in fifth grade):   

I liked the iWitness Biblical Archeology book the best.  I liked it, because I liked learning about the facts that back up the Bible.  I really liked the section, “Looking for Noah’s Ark.”  It would have been very nice to have an index, table of contents, and page numbers in this book.

Old Testament iWitness was my second favorite.  I liked learning about how they copied the copies of the Bible.  It was very interesting to learn about how carefully they copied it.

New Testament iWitness was also interesting and informational.  I really liked the section called “Synoptic Problem.” “Rejected Books” was cool.  It was fun to learn about the different manuscript families, like Byzantine and Alexandrian. 

In all three books it would have been easier to read if the text had been in a different font.

These books are very good for people of all ages.

C’s Thoughts (girl, age 8, officially in third grade):

My favorite book was iWitness Biblical Archeology.  I liked it, because I like history. 

These books are good for people of all ages.

Dad’s Thoughts:

I enjoyed the iWitness Biblical Archaeology book by Doug Powell.  The photos added to the informational text to create a vivid picture of the time and place of each topic discussed.  Enough information is presented to both satisfy your curiosity and leaving you with a passion to dig further into each topic.  Each archaeological find mentioned reinforces biblical scripture.  It's good to know that the Bible is trustworthy and true in all that it teaches us.

iWitness Biblical Archaeology is great to have around for young readers or just as a quick reference in biblical discussions.  It's well worth your investment of cost and time.

I enjoyed New Testament iWitness and Old Testament iWitness.  The history of how the Old and New Testaments came into being is quite interesting and informative. Though some of the terminology may need to be explained to younger children in an easier way for them to understand, I believe that they can grasp the concepts of how different books were or were not selected to be in the Bible.

Powell has produced more enjoyable books that have been well laid out with text, pictures, drawings, and graphs. They will be another resource for our library.

Mama highly recommends!

Social Media Links:

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/apologiaworld
Twitter – https://twitter.com/apologiaworld
Google+ - https://plus.google.com/105053356034237782125/posts
Pinterest – http://www.pinterest.com/apologia/

 

Prayer of the Week! (September 26, 2014)- Ephesians 2: 16-18

A couple of years ago I took part in a Bible study where we studied the book of Ephesians.  Once a week I would like to mention the Bible verses which were studied, give my observations and applications.  Finally, I will give you my prayer involving those verses.

Today will be Ephesians 2:16-18 (please the selection in your Bible).

Observations:

• There should be no hostility.
• We are reconciled to God.

Application:

• We need to remember that we have access to the Father through the Son.
• We are part of God.

Prayer:

Dear Lord,

Thank you for your Son.  It is only through him that we have access to You.  We are one with You.

Thank you for all you have given, may we be truly grateful.

In Jesus’s name.  Amen

Wizzy Gizmo and Who Created Everything (A bedtime Bible Drama for Children) (Schoolhouse Crew Review)

We received this for review purposes!

Product Links: Audio Drama One: Who Created Everything?

Vendor Information Link: Wizzy Gizmo

Age Appeal: ages 4-12

Format: audio CD, around sixty minutes

Price: $14.99

Have you been looking for a fun way to explore the Bible with your children?  Audio Drama One: Who Created Everything? from Wizzy Gizmo could be exactly what you are looking for.

This thirty-six minute audio CD discusses creation from Genesis chapter one.  Professor Wizzy Gizmo has just invented Gizmovision.  Gizmovision is a machine that will transport you where you wish to go, anywhere in space or time.  The children are really excited for Gizmovision and want to go to different places, Wizzy decides to take them to the creation of the earth.  The children learn and ask questions about creation.  Pepe and Qwacky add some fun and humor to the story.

There is also twenty-four minutes of songs during and after the story. 

Our Experience: 

I was excited when I learned about Wizzy Gizmo and how the CD was a Bible adventure, not just a story with a biblical theme.

B, C, and I have had so much fun listening to the CD when we go somewhere in the pickup.  C was so excited when it came that we had to go out to the camper, put it in the CD player and listen to it while we played a game of cards.

We have also had different discussions each time we listened.  This CD was perfect for having further discussions about what we believe and what was discussed between Wizzy and the children.

I am planning on getting the next CD about Genesis two.  I cannot wait to see what we can discuss as a family.

Mama’s Thoughts:

• I really enjoyed this CD.  I thought the characters were well developed and the music added a lot to the story.  I thought Pepe and Qwacky were wonderful characters.  They were funny and I think it helped the children realize what was true and not true when they talked.
• I was glad that the company’s passion is to help parents put Deuteronomy 6:5-6 into their daily lives.  I sometimes have a hard time think of ideas on how to teach B and C about God.  The audio drama was a fun way for them to learn more about an individual chapter in the Bible.
• The songs were a fun addition to the story.  I also liked how the characters sang the songs.  It was nice to have complete versions of the instrumental music at the end of the CD. 
• The story was narrated from the Bible and the children observed what was happening.  They did not interact with anything.  They did discuss what was happening with Wizzy and he clarified it for them.  I found nothing to disagree with and I would not hesitate to share this CD with others.
• The website has excerpts from some of the tracks.  Listening to the tracks is what made me so interested in this CD.  I highly recommend that you go to the website and listen.  

B’s Thoughts (boy, age 10, officially in fifth grade):   

I liked Wizzy Gizmo’s Audio Drama One: Who Created Everything?.  My favorite character was Qwacky.  I thought Qwacky added a lot of excitement and fun. 

I liked the Giz Quiz.  I liked the answers Qwacky and Pepe gave, because they were funny. 

I liked the Wizzy Gizmo theme song.  I liked the bonus.

I this would be good for ages four to twelve.  I would recommend this for people of all ages.     

C’s Thoughts (girl, age 8, officially in third grade):

It was fun to listen to.  It had a lot of excitement.  It was exciting that they got to see creation.  My favorite character was Qwacky, because he was funny.

I really liked the songs.  They were really good.

It is good for people of all ages.  I liked it all. 

Dad’s Thoughts:

Dad was not available.   

Mama highly recommends!  Your family will want to listen and learn many times.

Social Media Links for Wizzy Gizmo!

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wizzygizmo
Twitter: https://twitter.com/wizzygizmo
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/wizzygizmo/
Google+: http://www.plus.google.com/+wizzygizmo
Vimeo: http://vimeo.com/wizzygizmo

 

Prayer of the Week! (June 19, 2014)- Ephesians 1:22-23

A couple of years ago I took part in a Bible study where we studied the book of Ephesians.  Once a week I would like to mention the Bible verses which were studied, then give you my prayer involving those verses.
Today will be Ephesians 1:22-23.
Dear Lord,
Thank you!
You sent us Your son and He has dominion over the church.  Please help me remember that. 
We need to always be praying for the church.  Help me to be a good part of the church. 
Thank you so.
In Jesus’s name.  Amen

Prayer of the Week! (April 24, 2014)- Ephesians 1:5-6

A couple of years ago I took part in a Bible study where we studied the book of Ephesians.  Once a week I would like to mention the Bible verses which were studied, then give you my prayer involving those verses.

Today will be Ephesians 1:5-6.

Dear Lord,

Thank you for always loving us and wanting to adopt us, but most of all thank you for sending Your Son, Jesus.  Without Him we would never be able to be with You in Heaven.

In Jesus’s name.  Amen

99 Stories from the Bible by Juliet David and illustrated by Elina Ellis (Review)

99 Stories from the Bible

By Juliet David and Illustrated by Elina Ellis

(received in exchange for an honest review)

 

Genre- Bible / Young Children

Published by- Candle Books

Copyrighted- 2013

Number of pages- 196

Age Group- Juvenile

Description of book- hardback, listed price- $14.99, ISBN 978-1-85985-847-9

Are you looking for a good Bible story book for a young reader?  99 Stories from the Bible, by Juliet David and illustrated by Elina Ellis might be just the book you are looking for.

This book contains 99 different stories from the Bible.  Some of the stories were about:

• the Creation.
• Moses.
• Gideon.
• Solomon.
• Jesus.

About the Author-

Juliet David currently lives in London with her family.  She has written many Bible activity books and children’s stories.

My thoughts-

I enjoy reading children’s Bible story books, so I can see what I think are the best books available for young children today.

Juliet David has written a variety of children’s Bible story books, which have all been very good.  I especially liked how this book, 99 Stories from the Bible, would be very good for beginning readers.  It had simple stories and plenty of illustrations to help break up the text.

I was glad to see so many different stories.  I do not like reading Bible story books which have the typical subjects, like Jonah, Moses, and the birth of Jesus.  This book will provide a good base for young readers before they receive their first Bible.

I would highly recommend 99 Stories from the Bible, by Juliet David and illustrated by Elina Ellis.  It would be perfect for the young children in your life.

Disclosure of Material Connection- I received 99 Stories from the Bible, by Juliet David and illustrated by Elina Ellis, for free from the Kregel Publications’ Blog Tour.  All links were current when posted.  I was not required to write a positive review.  The opinions I have expressed are my own or those of my family.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

Bible and Prayers for Teddy and Me retold by Christina Goodings and illustrated Janet Samuel (Review)

Bible and Prayers for Teddy and Me

Retold by Christina Goodings

Illustrated by Janet Samuel

(received in exchange for an honest review)

 

Genre- Nonfiction / Christian / Bible Story

Published by- Lion Hudson

Copyrighted- 2013

Number of pages- 64

Age Group- Preschool- Kindergarten

Description of book- hardback, listed price- $12.99, ISBN 978-0-7459-6350-1

Bible and Prayers for Teddy and Me includes twelve stories, which show the reader how God loves and cares for them.    Each story is wonderfully illustrated and includes a story and prayer.  Some of the stories are David and Goliath, Jesus as a teacher, and Moses.

My thoughts-

I always enjoy reading and looking at illustrated Bible storybooks, like Bible and Prayers for Teddy and Me.  I especially enjoyed reading this one, because of the prayers and how each story was perfectly suited for children.

One of my favorite stories was about the lost sheep, because that prayer was about how we feel after being naughty and how we would like God to bring us back to him.  The illustrations of the sheep, shepherds, and the children with the teddy bear were priceless. 

I found all of the illustrations and stories to be some of the best that I have ever read.  This book is perfect for reading as a bedtime story or as character development.  This book is perfect for children between the ages of three and five, but I think that it would work well for children up to the age of eight. 

I highly recommend this book for all children.  This book would make a wonderful gift and you could include and teddy bear too.

Disclosure of Material Connection- I received Bible and Prayers for Teddy and Me, retold  by Christina Goodings and illustrated by Janet Samuel, for free from the Kregel Publications’ Blog Tour.  All links were current when posted.  I was not required to write a positive review.  The opinions I have expressed are my own or those of my family.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

Zondervan’s KJV Homeschool Mom’s Bible (Schoolhouse Crew Review)

We received Zondervan’s KJV Homeschool Mom’s Bible for review purposes.

Product Link: KJV - http://zondervan.com/9780310431473

Vendor Contact Information: Zondervan

Age Appeal: Adult (Homeschool Moms)

Format: hardback book (ISBN: 978-0-310-43147-3)

Price: $34.99

Zondervan’s KJV Homeschool Mom’s Bible has 365 daily devotions written by Janet Tatman, who has more than 25 years of homeschooling experience.  Some subjects included are rest, money, pride, and many more.  There is a forward written by Vickie Farris, author and homeschool mom.  At the end of the Bible is a Topical Index.

Our Experience:

I was very interested in this style of Bible.  I have read Bibles with studies in them before and since I am a homeschool mom I thought this one would be perfect.  I would have a new Bible and Bible Study together. 

I had decided that I would read all of the daily readings, so I could give you the best review possible.  I did read them all and I can’t wait to read them again as part of my daily Bible study.  I also enjoyed having a topical index.  I can go back and pick the topic when I need specific encouragement.  I also have a list of my favorite devotions, so I can go back when I need to.

I also had Dad look at the Bible, so he could give his opinion from a dad’s point of view.

I Liked:

• I liked the description on the back of the Bible.  It described exactly what I found in the Bible.  I also thought the cover was pretty and eye-catching.
• I liked how much Janet Tatman put her heart and soul into this book.  Each day of the Bible study had her own personal experiences and I felt that I learned about her parenting and teaching styles.
• I liked how it could teach me about different ways to help my children grow as I teach them as a parent or a teacher.

I Disliked:

• I wish there would have been more scripture involvement with the Bible.  The first verse could have been one that the reader had to look up.
• I also wished sometimes that the personal stories had been finished, so I would have known how to deal with a similar situation.

What B (boy, age nine, officially in fourth grade) Liked and Disliked:

B did not take part in this review, because this Bible was for moms.

What C (girl, age seven, officially in second grade) Liked and Disliked:

C did not take part in this review, because this Bible was for moms.

Dad’s Call:

There is a growing trend to have bibles with devotionals or short one page articles using scripture to address a particular issue.  Janet Tatman has done this with The KJV Homeschool Mom's Bible.  The 365 devotionals (one a day) provide guidance, comfort, reassurance, and strength to Moms who homeschool.  This can be a big help when the day isn't going when the kids having an off day or even if the husband is off in his own little world not giving full support (or attention) to her.

The devotions address such topics as children, cheating, laziness, joy, rest, service, traditions, questions and more.  There is a topical index that alphabetically lists the many topics and tells you on which page or pages you can find them for quick look-ups.  Each devotional also has a prayer at the end and tells you the page number for where you can find the next day’s devotion.  This is a handy feature.

If you homeschool this would be a great addition to your library to support those facing the daily challenges of not only raising children but educating them as well. Janet Tatman did a fantastic job with The KJV Homeschool Mom's Bible. Get your copy today.

Mama highly recommends KJV Homeschool Mom’s Bible from Zondervan! 

The Candle Classic Bible from Candle Books (Review)

The Candle Classic Bible: Retold in 365 Stories

from Candle Books

(received in exchange for an honest review)

 

Genre- Bible / Nonfiction

Published by- Candle Books

Copyrighted- 2012

Number of pages- 356

Age Group- Juvenile

Description of book- hardback, listed price- $14.99, ISBN 978-1-85985-867-7

Containing 365 stories, The Candle Classic Bible from Candle Books is filled with Bible stories that can be read daily either by a child or the entire family.  Each story has the book and chapter that it is taken from, so you can read more about it in the Bible.  The illustrations are well done and the hardcover helps to keep the book in excellent condition.

My thoughts-

I enjoy reading children’s Bible storybooks and The Candle Classic Bible from Candle Books for juveniles was really good.  I thought the story length and the amount of detail was perfect for the short Bible stories.  These 365 stories also included where they came from in the Bible, so we could have studied further in the Bible.  B was enjoying reading the stories after I had read some to both of them.

Some more things I liked:

• It had a nice hardcover and was only 14.99.
• It contained many of Jesus’s parables.
• The table of contents listed the different sections in bold.
• The illustrations were well done and on most pages.

The only thing I didn’t like was the lack of stories from the end of the New Testament, like Revelations or Romans.  I am glad though that there were more stories than are typically in Bible storybooks.

I highly recommend The Candle Classic Bible for children and their families who want to learn more about God.  This book would also be good for those who are learning English or want a good introduction to the Bible.

C (age 7) said, “I liked the illustrations.  I liked the stories.  It is good for kids my age.”

B (age 9) said, “It was a very good book.  I really liked illustrations.  The book was very good for kids my age.”  

Disclosure of Material Connection- I received The Candle Classic Bible from Candle Books for free from the Kregel Publications’ Blog Tour.  All links were current when posted.  I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own or those of my family.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

Everyday Matters Bible for Women: Practical Encouragement to Make Every Day Matter by Hendrickson Bibles

Genre- Bibles / New Living Translation / Devotional / Study

Published by- Hendrickson Bibles

Copyrighted- 2012

Number of pages- 1603

Age Group- Adult Women

Description of book- hardback listed price- $27.49, ISBN 978-1-59856-705-2

Everyday Matters Bible for Women: Practical Encouragement to Make Every Day Matter features 24 different spiritual practices (please see the picture below) which are explored in 4 different ways.

Those ways are:

• Everyday Matters- two page articles introducing the major themes
• Everyday Profiles- Profiles of 25 different Biblical women
• Everyday Q & A’s- Short articles that talk about a difficult aspect and give practical help
• Everyday Reflections- articles illustrating ways to apply God’s word

Informational and Purchasing Links: 

Everyday Matters on Publisher's website: http://www.hendrickson.com

Everyday Matters on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/EverydayMattersBible

ACCOUNT on TWITTER: https://twitter.com/bibleforwomen

Purchase online at: Amazon, Christianbook.com, or at your local retailers. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My thoughts-

I knew I had a treasure when I took this book into my hands and began exploring what it had to offer.  I can’t believe the number of articles (over 300) and different spiritual practices.  I didn’t know there were 24 different ones; from faith to solitude to submission.

My goal will be to take two weeks for each of the different spiritual practices and take a year to learn and assimilate all of the Bible verses and articles.  I know that since this Bible is geared towards women it will help me more than many of the other Bibles in the market.

I liked the guide at the back that described how to use the Bible in a small group.  I would really like to be able to start a group and have a Bible study of my own.

I would recommend this Bible to all women.  It will help us grow as Christians.

Disclosure of Material Connection- I received a free copy of Everyday Matters Bible for Women: Practical Encouragement to Make Every Day Matter by Hendrickson Bibles to review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC Regulations. I am part of The CWA Review Crew. All links were current when posted.

God Helps Me Bible by Juliet David and illustrated by Clare Caddy

Genre- Religion/Bible

Published by- Lion Children’s Books

Copyrighted- March 2012

Number of pages- 104

Age Group- Young Children (1-3)

Description of book- hardback (spiral binding), list price $12.99, ISBN 978-1-85985-916-2

This book has twenty-five Bible stories that are to be read to young children, with sentences at the end of each story to help the listener learn how God has helped the main character. 

A spiral binding allows the book to lay flat, which helps the child look at the illustrations more easily.

About the Author-

Juliet David lives in London with her family.  She has written Bible activity books and children’s stories.  She enjoys traveling to Israel and other Bible lands.

My thoughts-

This is a wonderful Bible for pre-school age children.  My children are six and eight, but they really enjoyed reading it, having it read to them, and looking at the illustrations.

What I liked:

• Opens flat because of the rings
• The heavier weight paper
• The letter to the reader, which included the question, “Can you think of ways God has helped you and your family?” and the idea for thanking God for helping the person in the story and the reader.
• Loved the illustrations- they were perfect for each story.

What I Disliked:

• Jonah’s story could have been more about going to Ninevah.
• Most of these are typical stories that are in most children’s Bibles.

I would recommend this book to families with young children, because the children will enjoy the illustrations and how they can become involved in the story.

What B (boy, age eight, second grade) Liked and Disliked:

The pictures are kind of funny.  Like in the part about Noah, with one monkey smiling and one frowning.  The frown is really funny.

In a different section, there is Joshua, he marched around Jericho and destroyed it.  He marched around it seven times. 

Zacchaeus is one of my favorite stories.  He climbed up in a sycamore tree too see Jesus, because he was too short to see through the crowd. 

In another part of the Bible, I learned how Paul got out of jail.  An earthquake shook the town and the prison fell down.  Luckily no one was hurt.   

If you want to know more, read the book.  I thought this book was good for kids my age and also babies.

What C (girl, age six, kindergarten) Liked and Disliked:

I liked when Moses saved his people.  God told him to raise his staff and then the water would come up and it would set back down when they were done crossing.  I liked the story, “A Mother Saves Her Baby.”  She hid baby in a special basket and floated it on the water.  And when the kings daughter came out to bathe she saw the basket. 

I didn’t like it when Haman was trying to kill Esther’s people. 

I liked the illustrations and stories.

I would recommend this book for everyone.

Dad Says-

This book has nice artwork and is very colorful. The simplicity of the stories will keep the younger child’s attention.The variety of stories moves it beyond a simple cardboard book into something that toddlers will want to have Mom and Dad continue reading to them.

The downsides of this book is that nothing is mentioned about the sacrifice and return of Jesus. While this is a tough issue to relay into words and ideas that young children will understand, His story still needs to be told. The book also misses the idea of repentance (Jonah & Zacchaeus). Three year olds understand the idea of being sorry for something they have done.

Overall this is a good book for 0-2 year olds and I would give it as a gift or a recommendation to my friends and family.

Disclosure of Material Connection- I received God Helps Me Bible by Juliet David and illustrated by Claire Caddy for free from the Kregel Publications’ Blog Tour.  All links were current when posted. I was not required to write a positive review.  The opinions I have expressed are my own.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

Baby’s Little Bible retold by Sarah Toulmin and illustrated by Kristina Stephenson

Genre- Bible/Juvenile            

Baby’s Little Bible by Sarah Toulmin and illustrated by Kristen Stephenson

Published by- Lion Children’s Books

Copyrighted- 2011

Number of pages- 160

Age Group- Young Children

Description of book- Padded hardback, list price $9.99, Pink: ISBN 978-0-7459-6272-6, Blue: ISBN 978-0-7459-6271-9, also available as a gift edition with gilt edges and a ribbon marker

Adam and Eve and the birth of Jesus Christ are just some of Sarah Toulmin’s twenty favorite stories in this Bible and Kristina Stephenson’s illustrations offer many things to make the story come to life.  This colorful Bible was written for parent and child to read together.

Excerpt from the Book.

About the Author- Sarah Toulmin is a teacher, publicist and mom.  She began writing for her first child who was the first critic of this Bible.

About the Illustrator- Kristina Stephenson was a set and costume designer before she began illustrating children’s books.

Our Experience- B, C, and I sat down and read the old testament stories in our pink Bible.  We also spent a lot of time reading the new testament.  B had a fun time reading it on his own and comparing it to what he has learned from his Bible.

My thoughts-  I thought this was a wonderful Bible for babies and toddlers.  It was similar to a small Bible when I was younger.  I think this Bible would be a perfect baby gift and it could be used as the child gets older.  I do think the word, “Baby’s,” could be removed though, so it could be focused on toddlers as well.

Kristina Stephenson did a wonderful job with the illustrations.  They supplemented the text and were very simple for babies and young children.

I highly recommend this Bible to parents or anybody who has a little one to buy for. 

What B (boy, almost eight, second grade) Liked and Disliked:

Baby’s Little Bible was a good Bible.  They forgot parts in some of the stories.  I didn’t really like that.  They did not include the snake for Adam and Eve.  I liked the illustrations.  They were very good.  I also liked the stories.  They were good too. 

I think this book is good for kids my age to read to themselves.  And  I also think this book is good for babies.

What C (girl, Nov 11 was age 6, kindergarten) Liked and Disliked:

I like the book.  I liked when Jesus was born.  There were a lot of good stories in Baby’s Little Bible.  I liked all the illustrations.

I would recommend this for your kids.

 

Dad Says-

I found this book to be a good way to introduce the more well-known characters and stories of the Bible to our little ones.  While it is general in nature, its good for our children to hear us telling the stories of the Bible.  It’s as much about the stories as it is us spending time with our kids. 

Disclosure of Material Connection- I received Baby’s Little Bible by Sarah Toulmin and illustrated by Kristina Stephenson for free from the Kregel Publications’ Blog Tour. All links were current when posted. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

The Family Illustrated Bible by Sally Tagholm

Genre- Children/Nonfiction

The Family Illustrated Bible retold by Sally Tagholm and Reference spreads by Peter Chrisp

Published by- New Leaf Press, A Division of New Leaf Publishing Group

Copyrighted- 2011

Number of pages- 356

Age Group- Elementary School Children

Description of book- hardback picture book, list price $24.99, ISBN-13:978-0-89221-704-5

Do your children enjoy reading and learning stories from the Bible?  This book will give your family hours of enjoyment and years of  learning.

Formerly known as The Children’s Bible, The Family Illustrated Bible has stories retold by Sally Tagholm with many beautiful illustrations and photographs.  Peter Chrisp did the reference spreads, which give valuable historical information on topics such as Mesopotamia, the Assyrians, and King Herod.

About the Author- Sally Tagholm has written numerous children's books on history and animals.

What C (girl, age 5, Kindergarten) thought- I liked this Bible. I liked the stories of “Moses in the Bulrushes” and “The Golden Calf.”  I liked the illustrations, especially of Samson and the lion.

Kids my age would like this book. 

What B (boy, age 7, second grade) thought- I like the front cover with Noah and the ark.  Flowers and an elephant are in the background.  My two favorite stories are, “The Good Samaritan” and “The Unmerciful Servant.”  I like the reference section called, “Exile and Return,” in 597 BC when King Nebuchadnezzar II captured Jerusalem.

I thought the whole book was very great.  It would be good for kids my age to read to themselves.  

My thoughts- I thought this story Bible was great!  The stories were well written and as a family we learned a lot of historical information from the reference spreads.  The map at the beginning of the Bible was nice too.  It is always nice to be able to find the cities that are discussed in the Bible.

I would highly recommend this story Bible to all families who have young children and want teach them Bible stories.

Dad’s Thoughts- I like the illustrations.  The information was detailed, but not enough to overwhelm you. The maps and pictures help to show that these are real places, instead of just reading about it, you can see where the events occurred.  Overall it is a good buy.

Disclosure of Material Connection- I received The Family Illustrated Bible, retold by Sally Tagholm, for free from New Leaf Press, a division of New Leaf Publishing Group. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.