Book Recommendation: This I Know

This I Know: Seeing God in the World He Made by Clay Anderson is another lovely picture book that I keep in the children’s library at our church. It uses the refrain from “Jesus Loves Me” to show how all of creation points to our good Creator on every beautifully illustrated page. For example, on a page full of sand and sea and dolphins it says “Jesus loves me, this I know, for the ocean tells me so.” The writing is sweet and written in verse, but it’s really the large full-color pictures that make this book so appealing!

From Amazon:

Have you noticed the fingerprints of God in the world around us? The creation tells us about its Creator. His beauty in the trees. His power in the thunder. His eternity in the night sky.

Join a young girl and her family on an unforgettable road trip. Witness the wonder of God's world. And see how all of creation confirms what the Bible tells us: Jesus loves me, this I know.

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Book Recommendation: When You Reach Me

When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead is one of the best middle grade books I’ve read in a long time! I was immediately hooked to this slightly creepy page-turner. It is part mystery and part science fiction with a twist at the end. As usual, I read this from the library but upon finishing, decided it was worth having in my home library for both my kids to read and me to read again (and to lend out to friends)!

From Amazon:

Shortly after a fall-out with her best friend, sixth grader Miranda starts receiving mysterious notes, and she doesn’t know what to do. The notes tell her that she must write a letter—a true story, and that she can’t share her mission with anyone.
 
It would be easy to ignore the strange messages, except that whoever is leaving them has an uncanny ability to predict the future. If that is the case, then Miranda has a big problem—because the notes tell her that someone is going to die, and she might be too late to stop it.

I recently became an Amazon Associate, because I link to books so often on my blog! As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases, so if you want the book and to support me, use my links in this blog post. Thank you!! ❤️

Book Recommendation: Tiny Cedric

If you haven’t figured it out by now, we are big fans of Sally Lloyd Jones around here, and her book Tiny Cedric is no exception. Though this book is not religious, I keep a copy in our children’s library at church and it is a favorite read aloud of all the kids (including some of the older tweens)! It is funny and sweet and always has the kids laughing out loud.

From Amazon:

A hilarious, heartwarming picture book from a New York Times bestselling author and award-winning illustrator about a tiny king who grows into a big-hearted monarch after he banishes almost his entire court from the palace.
 
Tiny Cedric, King ME the First does not like being small. AT ALL. So he decides to banish anyone taller than him from his palace. Which is everyone, basically. The only ones left are the babies. And now they’re in charge of the Royal Duties! 

How will Cedric cope—especially now that he must kiss boo-boos and read bedtime stories? Will he become a kinder, gentler, BIGGER king?

I recently became an Amazon Associate, because I link to books so often on my blog! As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases, so if you want the book and to support me, use my links in this blog post. Thank you!! ❤️

Book Recommendation: The Hobbit (Graphic Novel)

No, this is not a book recommendation for The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien, because I’m really hoping you’ve read that one by now! I remember my first time reading The Hobbit and I actually think it was life-changing for me. It was my first exposure to high fantasy and I was hooked. Because of that, I was hoping to instill that love into my children (and I think I was successful!).

And that brings me to the new graphic novel! We have read/listened to the book and watched the movie, but this just brings our love of the story to the next level. It is something my son (10) can bring to bed with him to read over and over again. We highly recommend this version for any Hobbit lovers.

From Amazon:

This comprehensive edition collects the three-issue series originally published by Eclipse Comics and thereafter augmented with many pages of additional artwork and improvements. Carefully abridged from Tolkien’s classic novel, and brought thrillingly to life with striking, evocative art by David Wenzel, this graphic novel is a perennial delight to Hobbit fans old and new.

I recently became an Amazon Associate, because I link to books so often on my blog! As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases, so if you want the book and to support me, use my links in this blog post. Thank you!! ❤️

Book Recommendation: When God Made You

When God Made You is an absolutely beautiful book by Matthew Paul Turner and illustrated by David Catrow. This is a favorite of mine to read in my preschool classroom at our church, because not only is the message so sweet for our little ones, but the illustrations are stunning and engaging. Additionally, I have purchased this for at least one of the teens that I know, who I thought could use a little encouragement about how special and unique she is. I would highly recommend it as the perfect gift to bless anyone of any age.

From Amazon:

From early on, children are looking to discover their place in the world and longing to understand how their personalities, traits, and talents fit in. The assurance that they are deeply loved and a unique creation in our big universe is certain to help them spread their wings and fly. 
 
Through playful, charming rhyme and vivid, fantastical illustrations, When God Made Youinspires young readers to learn about their own special gifts and how they fit into God’s divine plan as they grow, explore, and begin to create for themselves. 

I recently became an Amazon Associate, because I link to books so often on my blog! As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases, so if you want the book and to support me, use my links in this blog post. Thank you!! ❤️

Book Recommendation: Spy School

I’ve written about books by Stuart Gibbs before, so if you hadn’t guessed, we are big fans! I love all his books and so do both my kids (13 yo girl and 10yo boy), and I think that’s really saying something. Not only have we listened to them on audiobook and collected the physical copies, but now we are excited that the Spy School series is coming out as graphic novels!

From Amazon about this series:

Ben Ripley may only be in middle school, but he’s already pegged his dream job: CIA or bust. Unfortunately for him, his personality doesn’t exactly scream “secret agent.” In fact, Ben is so awkward, he can barely get to school and back without a mishap. Because of his innate nerdiness, Ben is not surprised when he is recruited for a magnet school with a focus on science—but he’s entirely shocked to discover that the school is actually a front for a junior CIA academy. Could the CIA really want him?

Needless to say, but I’ll say it anyway, we highly recommend this series! For more middle grade books I recommend, check out my list on Goodreads. It includes books I’ve read that I thought were excellent, entertaining, and/or worth reading.

I recently became an Amazon Associate, because I link to books so often on my blog! As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases, so if you want the book and to support me, use my links in this blog post. Thank you!! ❤️

Book Recommendation: Amazing Abe

I had the privilege of hearing Vesper Stamper (the illustrator) read Amazing Abe aloud recently, and it was absolutely lovely! Her beautiful gouache illustrations, along with the inspiring story of Abraham Cahan by Norman H. Finkelstein, make for a lovely tribute to a man who was a voice for Jewish people in America. I was so excited to buy two signed copies: one for me and my kids, and one for my Jewish friends.

From Amazon:

Two-time National Jewish Book Award winner Norman H. Finkelstein and Sydney Taylor Award winner Vesper Stamper have teamed up to tell the story of Abraham Cahan, the founder and longtime editor of the Yiddish language newspaper the Forverts (the Forward), which, in its heyday, was one of the largest newspapers in the United States. As the saying went: "What's a home without the Forverts?"

From explaining voting rights to the importance of public health measures to everyday questions like how to play baseball, Cahan improved the lives of countless newly arrived Jewish immigrants who wanted to feel at home in a new, strange land.

I recently became an Amazon Associate, because I link to books so often on my blog! As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases, so if you want the book and to support me, use my links in this blog post. Thank you!! ❤️

Watercolors

I am new to watercolor as of December 2023, but it has quickly become a new obsession. Not only is it fun, I have found it a great way to combat anxiety. And bonus: set up and clean up are quicker with watercolor than other painting, too. So if I have only 20 minutes or so, I can paint in that short of time and come back to it later (in fact, so much of watercolor is layering that it actually helps to wait).

Here are a few pictures of my playtime:

a short update...

I am having surgery on Friday and somehow that feels like a deadline of sorts to submit a couple of my finished stories. I am going to submit my middle grade novel, as well as a picture book manuscript this week! I’m nervous and excited and that’s how I know it’s a good thing.

So today I am doing some final edits as I read through them one more time. I want to be published, of course, but mostly I know I just have to try. That’s all we can do, right? I’ve had this dream since I was 10, so it’s time to really give it a shot. I’ll keep you posted!