Talking with Author Carrie Daws about A NEW HOME FOR ALLIE and a Giveaway!

by Sally Matheny

A New Home for Allie by Carrie Daws

This month, Ambassador International releases a beautiful children’s picture book, A NEW HOME FOR ALLIE. Carrie Daws penned the sweet story about a giraffe named Allie. Joanie Bruce painted the charming illustrations.

The main character, Allie, lives with her parents in Kenya. Her dad serves in the Animal Jungle Patrol. Allie learns her dad received orders and her family must move to Somalia. As her new journey unfolds, so do her concerns about moving.

I caught up with the author of this book in between her writing, speaking, homeschooling, and serving our military community alongside her husband at Fort Bragg in North Carolina. She kindly agreed to share some of her own journey with us.

Giveaway & Book Review of LIVE. SAVE. SPEND. REPEAT—The Life You Want with the Money You Have

by Sally Matheny

Are you ready to live the life

you want with the money you have?

Kim Anderson and her husband paid off 93,000 in debt in two years on ONE income. Then, she wrote this handy little book about it.

Good news spills out from the beginning with encouragement to start right where you are.

The book addresses many topics similar in style to that of financial advisors, Larry Burkett and Dave Ramsey. How to set practical goals, create a doable budget, and how to make do with what you have.

Each chapter begins with a Bible verse or a wise saying. Helpful, “Thrifty Little Tips” and “Momentum Milestones” are scattered throughout the book. The chapters end with an easy-to-read bulleted recap of the content. Some chapters provide work space for budgeting and setting goals.

Review and Giveaway of Children’s Picture Book: I PRAYED FOR YOU

by Sally Matheny

I PRAYED FOR YOU Book Giveaway

This book is dedicated to “all the mamas who prayed for their babies and for the mamas-at-heart still waiting.” 

I’m always on the lookout for books with beginnings which are suitable for adopted children as well as biological babies. I PRAYED FOR YOU, written by Jean Fischer, is one of those special finds.

A mama bear tells her child of the various prayers she has prayed for him. The main text of the story does not rhyme but on each page, is a sentence prayer which does rhyme.

“Dear loving Father in heaven above, send a sweet baby for Mama to love.”

As Mama bears shares about the things her little one has done as he has grown, she also shares about the different prayers she has prayed pertaining to those things. The point of the sweet story is Mama bear will always be praying for her child as he grows. I liked this book.

The illustrations by Frank Endersby are beautiful. The only illustration that seemed a bit odd was the last one. The story progresses from babyhood to starting school. The very first illustration is of the baby bear in a cradle. The last illustration shows him in that same cradle. The story flows well and has a precious ending. But the book shows a growing bear who plays soccer. Clearly, he would not still fit in that cradle.

Little bear and book for your little one.

He has the same blanket as well, but we know some little ones will sleep with their baby blankets for many, many years!

Boys and girls, ages 4-8, will enjoy this hardcover book reminding them of God’s love and the love of a praying mama.

It would make a great gift for a baby shower, adoption celebration, or child’s birthday.

I’m giving this 32-page, hardcover book and a little stuffed bear away to someone who comments below.

Tell us ONE thing you pray (or have prayed) for a little one who’s precious to you. All those who comment will have their names placed in a drawing for the book and the bear. A winner will be randomly selected on Sunday, April 8 and announced here.

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

A Book Review, a Challenge, & a Giveaway!

by Sally Matheny

Kids' Visual Study Bible
(photo courtesy of Zonderkidz)

The Book

Is there a visual learner in your family--someone who lingers over graphic charts and notices the fine details of an illustration? Some folks just prefer using their eyes more than their ears to learn. I know. I’m one of them.

That’s why I am delighted to review a children’s Bible published by Zonderkidz in 2017. The Kids’ NIV Visual Bible has many features your child will enjoy, whether he’s a visual learner or not. And it’s not just for kids. In fact, I’d say it’s best suited for ages 10-18ish. I’m well over eighteen and I find it captivating.

There are over 700 colorful photos, illustrations, maps and some very cool infographics. Plus, there are helpful notes in the sidebars.

Each book of the Bible is introduced with information about the author, the primary purpose of the book, whom it was written for, the key person of the book, where it took place and some of the key stories in the book.

I like the layout of one, wide column of text per page rather than the typical two-columns. I think kids might find that easier to read. It doesn’t state the size of the font but I’m guessing it’s a 10 point font, maybe an 8.

Located in the back of this nice, hardcover Bible are more helpful resources:

Table of Weights and Measures

Infographic Index

Maps Index

Additional Set of 12 Maps

Often times I like to share the books I’m given to review and offer them as giveaways to my blog readers. However, this book will be a great resource for the class of 5^th-7^th graders I teach each Sunday so I’m keeping this one.

Kids' Visual Study Bible infographic

But, I do have a challenge for you and I do have something to give away!

The Challenge

Some of you may have heard about “Bring Your Bible to School Day.” The event sponsored by Focus on the Family is on October 5^th this year. 

Let's encourage children to carry their Bibles to school that day. Not as a cell phone app, not an e-book, but an actual Bible book as a testimony of their Christian faith. For many students, this will take an enormous amount of courage, so begin talking and praying about it with them now.

For Christian homeschool families, we are blessed beyond measure to speak and teach, using the Bible as our guide throughout our day. We bring our Bibles to school every day! So, I want to ask homeschool students to do something just as courageous as the public school students.

I’ve designated October 4^th as “Give a Bible Away Day.” 

Give a Bible Away Day - Oct. 4

Book Review and Giveaway of HOPE GIRL by Wendy Dunham

by Sally Matheny

HOPE GIRL Book Review & Giveaway

Do you remember what it was like to be twelve years old? It’s not the easiest stage in life. Often times, tweens long for their lives to be different, be better.

The main character of Hope Girl, River Starling, zeroes in on several things she’d like to change.

  

It’s taken most of her life to find her biological parents, now River's number one goal is to reunite with them and become a family again. But it’s not going to be easy. Her mother has amnesia and her father is about to marry someone else!

River longs to talk with her best friend, but he’s gone. Just when she thinks things can’t get worse, she discovers she’s going to have to wear a back brace for a curved spine.  And her grandmother, the one who raised her, has moved to an assisted living facility.

River experiences one trial after another. Although usually persistent in nature, she begins to lose hope of her lifelong dream coming true.

Through a series of surprising events, her family and a new friend help River learn about forgiveness, acceptance, and courage.   

How does River find peace when she realizes  God’s plan is different than hers? You’ll have to read the book to find out!

I liked this Christian, paperback book published by Harvest House. Hope Girl, written by Wendy Dunham, is the sequel to her first book, My Name is River. You can read a review of it here.

Set in 1983, both stories are told from twelve-year-old River’s point of view, which delicately teeters between humorous and dramatically desperate.

The author did an excellent job pulling in characteristics you don’t often read about in middle-grade novels. In My Name is River there’s a boy with a paralyzed arm due to complications at birth. In Hope Girl, one of River’s friends, Carlos, deals with stares at his severe scarring from a fire. And River learns to cope with wearing a back brace to correct a curved spine.

I did not find the word handicapped in this book. While the author shares the difficult realities for these characters, she also conveys their strength, courage, and hope as they face life challenges. 

One reason Wendy Dunham expresses these challenges so exquisitely is because of her own life experiences. She serves children with special needs as a registered therapist. Plus, Dunham knows the discomfort of wearing a back brace because, like River, she also had to wear one.

Do you know a tweener who is longing for things to be different in her life? Perhaps struggling with physical appearance, family issues, or something that's out of their control?Why not surprise her with this book?

Here's your chance to win a copy of Hope Girl.? All you have to do is hop over to Wendy’s facebook author page. Let me know in the comments below after you visit her page, and I’ll put your name in the drawing.  A winner will be randomly selected on Saturday, August 12. 

If you don't win, Harvest House is hosting a 99-cent special on the e-book, Hope Girl, just through the month of August, over at Amazon.

CONGRATULATIONS TO SHANNON DILLARD of N.C.! You won! I'll be in touch with you about the delivery of your book. :) Thanks to all of you who participated. Stay tuned. There'll be another giveaway in a few weeks.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free in return for an honest 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

A Book Review of THIS LIFE I LIVE by Rory Feek and a Giveaway!

by Sally Matheny

This Life I Live by Rory Feek

“I wish I was doing something important in my life.” Have you ever said these words? Longed for a life, or a love, that was exceptional?

God has the power to press the extraordinary out of the ordinary. Rory Feek can attest to that.

You'll have to forgive me. I’m probably in the 1% of folks who had not heard of Joey and Rory Feek until I saw a clip on Facebook a while back promoting their movie, To Joey with Love. But that one small clip drew me in. I knew I wanted to learn more about this ordinary man, this ordinary woman, and their extraordinary love story.

I’m sure country music fans are aghast that I was unfamiliar with the Feek name, but it is what it is. Perhaps it’s because I rarely listen to the radio, and country music isn’t what I typically listen to when I do.

Nonetheless, this book is not about country music. It’s about love, grace, and redemption. If you’re in the 1% like me and unfamiliar with the Feeks, the book, This Life I Live makes a wonderful introduction.

As the subtitle of the book states, it’s about “one man’s extraordinary, ordinary life and the woman who changed it forever.”

Book Review of MY NAME IS RIVER by Wendy Dunham & a Giveaway

by Sally Matheny

(My Name is River by Wendy Dunham)

If fictional worlds merged, I bet twelve-year-old, River Starling, in My Name is River, would pal around with Opal, the little girl in Because of Winn-Dixie. Both girls have similar spunk and curiosity.

However, the author, Wendy Dunham, masterfully presents River with the “class dork” for a friend. Since River is running low on camaraderie and has been assigned to do a class project with him anyway, River decides to give Billy a chance. Besides, her Gram always says, “If you judge a book by its cover, you may miss a Hemingway.”

Billy, a patient, kindhearted, handicapped student embraces life with a positive attitude. Experience has taught him how to adapt when necessary and persevere until a job is done well.

On the other hand, River impatiently waits on the answers she has about her life—like where are her birth parents, and her adoptive parents, for that matter. What can she tell people when they ask about her name? And what will happen to her if something happens to Gram?

Set in 1983 in West Virginia, River’s friendship with Billy grows deeper as they work on their school project, deal with a school bully, and as they search for answers to serious life questions.

My Name is River is a Christian, 144-page, chapter book published by Harvest House Publishers for readers ages 8-13.

Not only is it written with a Christian worldview, but also since Billy’s dad is a pastor, the reader is privy to hearing a clear message of the gospel presented in the story.

Readers will relish River’s honest and humorous viewpoint of the church, especially since she’s never attended church before.

     "I decide that even though they're technically called pews, I'm still going to call them benches. I don't think a word like pew is nice enough for a place like this."    - stated by River in My Name is River

I highly recommend this wholesome and entertaining book. I think girls may like it best, but boys will find value in it as well. Readers will “discover the unforgettable story of one girl’s search for a place to call home.”

I look forward to reading the sequel, Hope Girl, later this summer. But for now, I’m giving away a copy of My Name is River. Who wants to win this delightful book?

All you have to do to enter is make sure your name is on my email list. You can do this by entering your email in the sidebar on the right where it says, “Follow by Email.”

Once on the email list, you’ll receive updates from this blog, which is usually just one, but occasionally two per week. I hate spam. Don’t you? That’s why I will never share your email address with anyone for any reason.

That’s it. Easy as pie, right? I’ll place all the names from my email list in the drawing and will announce the winner on July 3.

If you'd like more information about My Name is River check it out at:

Amazon, Harvest House Publishers, or anywhere books are sold. 

While we’re waiting, I’m curious. What are your kids reading this summer?


KAREN B., FROM KENYA, you won the book! I'll contact you about where I should mail it. Congratulations!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the author in return for an honest 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

I’m Going to Give You a Bear Hug: Book Review & Giveaway!

by Sally Matheny

(I'm Going to Give You a Bear Hug)

In honor of International Children’s Book Day (April 2), I’m giving away a wonderful, hardcover book, I’m Going to Give You a Bear Hug by Caroline B. Cooney.

Cooney has already authored ninety books and sold over fifteen million copies but this is her first picture book. I hope it isn’t her last, because I absolutely love this book.

Zonderkidz released the book in December 2016. The target audience for I’m Going to Give You a Bear Hug is ages 4-8 but younger children will enjoy it also. Even the older children will grin if you pair your hugs with a few of these catchy phrases.

        I’m going to give you a horse hug.

        A grab the mane,

        Race through rain,

        Yes oh yes, of course! hug.

        I’m going to give you a bear hug.

        A gasp for air,

        All you dare,

        Anything that’s fair hug.

Eight, imaginative animal hugs unfold for a little boy whose mother is preparing him for bed. The rhyming is superb as the little boy plays, bathes, and snuggles before finally being tucked into bed with a

        Way beyond compare hug.

The illustrations in the book are exquisitely done by Tim Warnes. He’s illustrated many children’s books, including I’ll Love You to the Moon and Back, Warning! This Book May Contain Rabbits, and Jesus Loves Me!

As a side note, I thought it exceptional that he shared his faith on a secular publishing site, Simon & Schuster. When asked about illustrating one of their books he said,

“My Christian faith is central to my life, so I jumped at the challenge to illustrate Jesus Loves Me! –what a great way to use the gift God gave me!”

Don’t you love it when people share about their Christian faith in public? 

Perhaps that’s a little extra nugget you can share with your child as you hold him close and read I’m Going to Give You a Bear Hug!

I have a hardcover copy of this delightful book to give away to one of you. Everyone whose name is on my email list will be entered into the drawing.

If you’re not on it, and you’d like to receive encouragement for Christian living and news about my latest giveaways, then simply fill in your email address in the “Follow by Email” box provided on your right. 

Usually, you’ll only receive a blog update once a week, never more than two. In other words, I won’t flood your email box with stuff from me, or anyone else. I never share email addresses.

So, if your name is on my email list, you’ll be entered into the drawing! I’ll announce the winner on Saturday, April 8 and I’ll ship it (at my expense) the following week.

Now, who needs a bear hug? J

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher in return for an honest 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 Three Winners of the Women of Faith Books

Women of Faith Bible Study Books

Woo hoo! It's time for the drawing. I appreciate all of you who left comments on my Book Review of Building Strengths Bible study book. All of your names were placed in the honest hat.

The first winner is The Lavalee family! If you'll contact me, you have first choice between the three Bible study books.

The second winner is Kelly Reilly Benedict! The Lavalee's will select first. If you'll contact me with your first and second choice, I'll send you the one they don't choose.


The final winner is Cathy Biggerstaff! Cathy, you'll be blessed with the last book!

The Honest Hat

Congratulations! All three of you will need to let me know where I should mail your books. I hope
you enjoy them as much as I'm enjoying mine.

Blessings,

Sally

Book Review of Building Your Strengths & Three Giveaways!

by Sally Matheny

(Women of Faith Books)

I love Thomas Nelson publishers. Not only are they blessing me with wonderful books, but they want to bless my blog readers as well.

This month, they’ve sent, not one, but six beautiful, Women of Faith Bible study books to me. Three for me, and three to give away. 

How cool is that?

Journal the Word Bible--One for Me & One for You!

by Sally Matheny

Photo: Journal the Word Bible

How sweet the season is—a time of thanks and giving! Christian publisher, Thomas Nelson sent me, not one, but two, NKJV Journal the Word Bibles. One to keep, and one to give away. First, let me tell you how awesome this Bible is!

Every cream-colored page contains wide margins of lightly ruled lines. You can either journal your thoughts or illustrate the meditations of your heart.


I’m doing a little of both in mine, but mostly journaling. No more writing on the back of church bulletins or loose papers! Everything will be in one spot, ready for future reference by me, or the next generation.