Along Came You

TITLE:  Along Came You
AUTHOR:  Karona Drummond
ILLUSTRATOR:  Estelle Corke
PUBLISHER:  Zonderkidz
COPYRIGHT:  2009

Book Description:
Available for the first time as a fun and durable board book, the beautifully illustrated Along Came You is now perfectly suited for little hands and hearts. Ideal for Mother's Day, baby showers, birthdays, or any time a parent wants to express their love, this book's storyline highlights the positive ways in which parents' lives change when they have children. Author Karona Drummond, a certified elementary school teacher, employs storytelling techniques that will appeal to both the child and parent. The simple language and repetitive structure of the phrases make this a perfect read-along book that teachers, librarians, parents, and young readers will enjoy.

My thoughts:
In this sweet book a Mom tells her daughter how her life has changed because of her.  The child in the picture looks like a preschooler.  To me this would be a book that a Mom could read to her child as a toddler that could become a favorite as the child grows. I like the repetitive phrase of "before you" and "after you" used on each page.  It is just the right length as well to keep the child's attention and the right size of board book for young hands to hold on their own.

Children change all aspects of our lives, and this book celebrates those wonderful changes!  A child may not realize the way he or she has caused so many things to change, but this book shares those changes in a positive, loving manner.

Check out this book when you need a gift for a new Mom.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers <http://booklookbloggers.com> book review bloggers program. 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 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Will It Be a Baby Brother?

TITLE: Will It Be a Baby Brother?
AUTHOR:  Eve Bunting
ILLUSTRATOR:  Beth Spiegel
PUBLISHER: Boys Mills Press
COPYRIGHT: 2010

Little Edward is looking forward to the birth of his new sibling.  He is sure the little one will be a brother.  His Mom tells him whichever it is, the baby will be just what he wanted all along. 

This book would be appropriate for a family welcoming a new baby.  It would be enjoyed by primary aged children.

Cassie & Caleb Discover God's Wonderful Design

TITLE: Cassie & Caleb Discover God's Wonderful Design
AUTHOR:  Susan Hunt & Richard Hunt, Jr.
ILLUSTRATOR:
PUBLISHER:  Moody Publishers
COPYRIGHT: 2013

 About the book:May our sons in their youth be like plants full grown, our daughters like corner pillars cut for the structure of a palace." Psalm 144:12

Boys and girls, from 5 to 8 years of age, will love the fun world of Cassie and Caleb, two energetic and inquisitive children discovering the beauty of God's wonderful design. Through twenty beautifully illustrated short stories, followed by an interactive time between parent and child, your children will learn:

• The creational principle that "God created man in his own image . . . male and female he created them" (Genesis 1:27) is extraordinary!
• That Jesus is in all of Scripture. The Bible is not a collection of disconnected stories; it is the one big story of the Triune God redeeming His people.
• God's Word is our authority and His Glory is our purpose.
• That when we belong to Jesus we belong to His covenant family, the Church.
• A Biblical framework for living and thinking.

The authors do not underestimate the power of the Holy Spirit in the heart and mind of a child. This book intentionally uses the rich language of faith, and then builds meaning around the words and concepts as the stories proceed, providing children the words of life.

My thoughts:
This book caught my eye because of the title (since I have a son named Caleb) and because I thought the cover was cute. This book is enjoyable to read and is appropriate for a family with children in the 5-8 range. There are 2 page devotional thoughts followed by a page with a few questions and a verse.

Cassie and Caleb are inquisitive and seem to want to know more about God. They ask good questions that will make your own children think and ponder Biblical truths. I like the example of this family applying God's Word to all aspects of their life, not just something they talk about or read at church. As a parent this book gave me ideas of things from the Bible we can have discussions about with our son.

I thought the illustrations were very well done as well. They were colorful and added to the text of the book.

This book is available from Moody Publishers and will release May 1, 2013.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing the ebook version for my review.

To the Beach!

TITLE: To the Beach!
AUTHOR:  Linda Ashman
ILLUSTRATOR:  Nadine Bernard Westcott
PUBLISHER:  Harcourt, Inc.
COPYRIGHT:  2005

Have you ever been ready to head on a family vacation, got on the road, and realized you forgot something? This is what happens to the family in this book....not just once but several times!  Will they make it to the beach?  

This is a fun read aloud book for young elementary aged children. The illustrations are appealing to young readers as well and add to the fun of this book.

That Cat Can't Stay

TITLE: That Cat Can't Stay
AUTHOR: Thad Krasnesky
ILLUSTRATOR: David Parkins
PUBLISHER: Flashlight Press
COPYRIGHT: 2010

Mom keeps finding cats and bringing them home. Dad has his list of reasons why "That cat can't stay" but ends up giving in when Mom gives a reason why they should help the cat out. How many cats will come to live with the family? The cartoon illustrations in this book fit well with the silliness of this book. It makes a fun read aloud.

My son and I thought this was a good book.

Taking Care of Mama

TITLE: Taking Care of Mama
AUTHOR/ILLUSTRATOR: Mitra Modarressi
PUBLISHER: G.P. Putnam's Sons
COPYRIGHT: 2010

Mama is sick in bed so the kids and Papa take care of her and the house. They end up making quite a mess and are all tired by the end of the day. This is a fun book with rhyming text that makes it a great read aloud. The illustrations of this little raccoon family are just so cute!

My son and I enjoyed this book and recommend it to you.

What Brothers Do Best/What Sisters Do Best

TITLE: What Brothers Do Best/What Sisters Do Best
AUTHOR: Laura Numeroff
ILLUSTRATOR: Lynn Munsinger
PUBLISHER: Chronicle Books
COPYRIGHT: 2009

This is two books in one! You can read one version to find out what sisters can do and then flip it over and read the same things that brothers can do. The illustrations of animal siblings doing things together are really cute.

My son and I thought this was a great book.

Just Like a Baby

TITLE: Just Like a Baby
AUTHOR: Juanita Havill
ILLUSTRATOR: Christine Davenier
PUBLISHER: Chronicle Books
COPYRIGHT: 2009

Family members come to welcome new baby Ellen. Each one has their own idea of what she could be following in their footsteps. Ellen has her own ideas though. Preschool through primary aged children will enjoy this book.

My son and I enjoyed reading this book.

Kitchen Dance

TITLE: Kitchen Dance
AUTHOR/ILLUSTRATOR: Maurie J. Manning
PUBLISHER: Clarion Books
COPYRIGHT: 2008

In this book two children awake in the night to kitchen sounds. They tiptoe downstairs and peek through the door to see their parents doing a kitchen dance as they clean up the kitchen. Mama spies her little children and brings the children in to do the kitchen dance with them. Preschool through primary aged children will enjoy this fun book, bright illustrations, and easy to read text.

My son and I enjoyed reading this book multiple times.