Category: Book Review and Author Interviews

Book Review and Author Interviews, Devotional, Parent and Child Connection

Simply Christmas – A New Holiday Devotional by Tama Fortner

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Look what was just delivered into my inbox! It is Tama Fortner’s fresh, new Christmas devotional for busy moms, and it is a treasure!

31 days worth of inspiring devotions along with practical advice to help you keep your Christmas this year simple, yet meaningful!

I loved how Tama incorporated tips to be mindful of others (like at holiday celebrations when you are feeling self conscious) as well as shared reminders about what is really important (like quality time with your kids). Her writing has an authentic tone and is very relatable!

If you have ever compared yourself to others and felt inadequate, Tama has some insights for you from the Bible. I absolutely love the verses she selected for each day! It is such a beautiful thing to read the Scriptures and have God’s Spirit speak to your heart.

So…

This Christmas season, check out this devotional! You won’t regret it! (Scroll down for order link)

Here is the press release description:

Between holiday baking, decorating the house, shopping for the perfect gifts, and hunting for the most picturesque tree, Christmas can be anything but peaceful for moms. Too often, the stress and busyness of the season make it difficult for them to find time to simply rest and dwell on the wonder of the Savior’s birth. 

Fortner’s 31 short yet beautifully written devotions offer moms an opportunity to indulge in a few minutes of calm each day as she takes them back to that long-ago first Christmas. With warmth and wit, she also shares tips for leaving perfectionism behind and becoming the “keeping-it-real mom” instead.

“When I was starting out as a mom, it seemed as if everywhere I looked, there was perfection,” Fortner says. “Perfect clothes, perfect kids, perfect meals, perfect homes. And I tried to keep up with that. And I realize now that much of the pressure I felt was self-imposed. I had to grow into feeling comfortable in my own role as a mom…and that happened as I grew in my faith and my understanding of who I am as a daughter of God.”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Tama Fortner is a bestselling writer with more than 35 titles to her credit. As a ghostwriter, she has collaborated with some of the biggest names in Christian publishing to create inspirational books for children, teens, and adults. But her greatest accomplishments happen in a happy little home on the outskirts of Nashville, Tennessee, where she lives with her family and an incredibly lazy dog who doubles as a footwarmer. For more information, visit www.tamafortner.com.

Order the book online at this link

Tama’s Instagram

Tama’s Twitter

**Tama, I wish you all the best with this new release! I think it has the potential to touch many hearts!

Book Review and Author Interviews, family devotions, Giveaway, Kid Ministry, My Faith, Parent and Child Connection

Stunning Giveaway for I WONDER by Glenys Nellist

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Hey everyone! I’m so excited to be hosting a give-away for Glenys Nellist’s latest release entitled, I Wonder. It is an illustrated Bible with artwork is by Alessandra Fusi, and the color palette that she chose is stunning!

Description: This is a product perfect for family devotions along with many other settings. There are 15 stories from the Old Testament and 15 stories from the New Testament.

At the end of each story are “I Wonder” questions that will foster deep discussions and spiritual growth for readers both young and old. I think they really help the reader step into the pages of the Bible and experience it on a more personal level.

For example: I love the story of the prodigal son. Here are the questions that follow that chapter, aren’t they beautiful?

I wonder… if the dad would ever have given up waiting for his son.

I wonder…how the son felt when his dad hugged him.

I wonder…if God is like that father.

Spend some time pondering those questions today and let God speak to your heart!

AND NOW FOR THE GIVEAWAY DETAILS!

This giveaway is sponsored by the publisher, Zonderkidz, and is open to entrants living in the USA with a physical street address (no PO boxes.) 

HOW TO ENTER:

1. Follow @mindybakerbooks and @glenysnellist on Instagram and leave a comment on any Instagram post this week about the give-away.

2. You can also tag a friend on any Instagram post this week for even more entries. One entry per tag.

3. Leave a comment on this blog post for an additional entry.

4. For 10 additional entries, follow this blog and/or subscribe to my mini-magazine. You will receive free bi-monthly content and also be notified of any new posts.

5. You must enter by 6pm EST on Friday, October 1, 2021. I will draw the winner and post the result here and on Instagram Saturday morning, October 2, 2021.

MORE INFORMATION:

Here is a link to purchase the book!

You can find out more about Glenys at her website. She has loads of other wonderful titles!

I absolutely love how Zonderkidz produces free resources to accompany their books. The I Wonder Bible comes with a free Activity Pack and Coloring Pack. You can find those resources through the Zonderkidz website and through Glenys’s author website.

I wonder. Two simple words, but when you put them into practice, they invite deep thoughts and contemplation. I hope you can take some time today to reflect on God’s deep love for you. I think I’ll join you. I’m sure we will both be encouraged by this practice!

P.S. This is a BLOG HOP! The next stop is Deeper Kidmin (Brittany Nelson) Deeper KidMin (@deeperkidmin) Check it out starting October 4!

Book Review and Author Interviews, Fun for kids, Promoting Literacy, Summer reading

Four Mermaid Picture Books and an Extension Craft Idea

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Directions: Let your imagination take over and create a crown, necklace, ring, or bracelet. String beads, glue feathers, find some sticky foamies and have fun! We used a glue gun for the feathers. This is a great craft to practice patterns!

Here is a fun photo of my daughter and a few friends who helped me create my samples. Notice that mermaids come in all sizes!

Check out this Mermaid Pinterest Board for more mermaid craft ideas and mermaid snack ideas.

And now for some mermaid books! Drumroll please….

Part-time Mermaid by Deborah Underwood and illustrated by Cambria Evans celebrates the imagination and imaginative play! Pretending to be mermaids was always a very popular playtime event for my daughters when they were young. The book is told in first person and the reader experiences the adventure of a little girl who becomes a mermaid at night. She pets the otters, explores a sunken pirate ship, and even encounters a sea witch while attending the Midsummer Sea Festival.

How to Meet a Mermaid by Sue Fliess and illustrated by Simona Sanfilippo is a charming book that invites playtime fun. The author takes you through a progression of ideas of how you might meet a mermaid. One of the suggestions is to have a crown she can wear. In the back of the book there are directions for making a mermaid crown (I based my crown and jewelry craft off of this idea). There are also directions for going on a field trip to the beach, and even the suggestion of cleaning up the beach by throwing away any litter you may encounter.

The Ocean Calls– This is a beautiful book by Tinal Cho and illustrated by Jess X Snow. It is the beautiful story of a girl who has a grandmother that shows her how to be a “haenyeo” which is like a treasure-hunting mermaid. The back matter explains and gives quotes from authentic present-day Korean haenyeo divers. The beauty of the artwork drew me in and the story captured my heart. Love this book!

The Little Mermaid-by Jerry Pinkney. Melody wants to explore and find out what is above the surface of the water, and she really wants to be friends with a little girl she spies on the shore. She trades her voice for legs. Don’t you love variations of familiar stories? The stunning artwork will keep you mesmerized for a long time.

Book Review and Author Interviews, Instagram Round Ups, Parent and Child Connection, Promoting Literacy, Summer reading

Instagram Book Review Round-Up #3

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This Round-up features main characters that are African American. You will love these books! If you would like a sneak peek inside to view more pages, go to my Instagram and find the corresponding tile.

Snow Globe Wishes–By Erin Dealey and illustrated by Claire Shorrock What a delightful rhyming winter book! I love the line about “grabbing hands with neighbors, strangers, sisters, brothers.” My heart resonated with the final page spread–Peace on Earth!

The Little Mermaid–by Jerry Pinkney. Do you love different variations of familiar stories? In this version the little mermaid makes friends with another girl instead of falling in love. I found the artwork to be very mesmerizing…so much beauty to take in on every page.

Cannonball–by Sacha Cotter and illustrated by Josh Morgan. I love how this book can say so much with so few words. May we all overcome our fears and find our courage to “cannonball” like the sweet main character in this simple but profound story.

Early Sunday Morning— by Denene Miller and illustrated by Vanessa Brantly Newton. I loved this sweet story about overcoming the fear of singing in front of others. The vibrant illustrations make the pages come alive. Spoiler alert: I loved it when her dad did end up coming to hear her sing at the end of the book.

I Am Every Good Thing I loved the positive messages, strong metaphors, and stunning artwork in this picture book by Derrick D. Barnes and illustrated by Gordon James. These are a few of the phrases that resonated with me. “I am every good thing that makes the world go round–you know like gravity.” “I am one eye open, one eye closed, peeking through a telescope.” “I am a cool breeze.” “I am a roaring flame of creativity.” “I am two bounces and a front flip off the diving board.” I am that smile forming on your face right now.” I am a highlight reel of magnificence.” “I am tight hugs.” “I am a force of nature. A miracle. A blessing.” Powerful writing!! I highly recommend!

Superhero Grandma–by Timothy Knapman and illustrated by Joe Berger This picture book has charming and playful images will make you smile and want to celebrate your own grandma. I loved the illustrations and how they showed this grandma really involved in her grandchildren’s lives. She was playful and fun, just the way I want to be as a grandma some day!

Book Review and Author Interviews, Fun for kids, Instagram Round Ups, Parent and Child Connection, Promoting Literacy, Summer reading

Instagram Book Review Round-Up #2

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I’ve been posting a lot of new content on Instagram–you can find me @mindybakerbooks, but I wanted to have a way to share it on the blog, too!

Here is my second ROUND-UP!

Remember, for a sneak peek inside all of these books…check out the individual posts on my Instagram page @mindybakerbooks. I usually share a few photo spreads from the books I review.

Here are 6 more books that I have reviewed in the past few months! Enjoy!

How to Build an Orchestra –Want to pass on your love of music to your children? This is a book you should try! Written by Mary Auld and illustrated by Elisa Paganeli, each page spread is full of fascinating details and treasures to discover. It comes wth a QR code to unlock so that your child can listen to the sounds of the London Symphony Orchestra.

Rare and Blue–Finding Nature’s Treasures Blue just happens to be one of my FAVORITE colors…so it was really fun to find this uniquely structured “spring” picture book highlighting different hues of blue. Written by Constance VanHoven and illustrated by Alan Marks, each page spread gives facts that highlight a specific creature in nature. Turquoise, cerulean, iridescent…what’s your favorite shade?

A Gift From Abuela–Abuela is saving her pesos to buy Nina a gift, but circumstances make that impossible. Written by author/illustrator Cecilia Ruiz, this is a book that reminds us that time together is the most precious gift of all.

Can I Be Your Dog by Troy Cummings is a picture book treasure. The text is all in letters from a puppy who writes to different people in the neighborhood trying to find his owner “match.” One by one they all reject him until at last the mail carrier adopts him.

C.R. Mudgeon –Every once in a while you find a sweet story that you just LOVE 100%. For me, this picture book by Leslie Muir, illustrated by Julian Hector, is just that. I loved this sweet-and-stuck-in-his-ways hedgehog from the first time I read his name and saw his cuteness on the front cover. The clever details of characterization make this book stand out above the others. The story is how a neighbor named Paprika moves next door and challenges C.R. to “spice” up his life. It is a wonderful friendship story with lots of embedded lessons. One important one is that even when someone is different than us, we should give him/her a chance.

Silent Music–by James Rumford. I think kids will connect with Ali, the main character of this book. He loves soccer, music, and the art of writing calligraphy. He compares writing the Arabic words to a soccer player running down the field. His hero is Yakut, a famous calligrapher from Baghdad, who wrote in ancient times of war. Ali writes calligraphy in modern times and longs for peace. Like Ali, I also long for peace. I loved the culture-filled images in this beautiful picture book featuring the Arabic language and the city of Baghdad.

Which of these books have your read? Which of these books would you like to read?

In case you didn’t know…summer is a great time to read!

***If you haven’t heard, I’ve teamed up with some author friends (Laura Sassi, Tina Cho, and Rebecca Gomez) to create a new website! We are hosting summer reading challenges and you are officially invited to join us! The website is called www.readdiscussdo.com. Stop on by and see the latest news! (So far eating ice cream and playing in dirt have been involved!…Aren’t you glad I didn’t say playing in ice-cream and eating dirt??? Ha ha!)