A Journey to New Books - From December 4, 2009

I thought that God Gave Us Christmas answered some great questions for children in ways that make for more in-depth discussion. The story is enjoyable and beautifully illustrated by David Hohn. I would suggest that this book is for children over the age of 3 or for those who have started asking questions about Christmas, Santa, Jesus’ birth, etc.

Book Summary:
As Little Cub and her family prepare to celebrate the most special day of the year, the curious young polar bear begins to wonder… “Who invented Christmas?” Mama’s answer only leads to more questions like “Is God more important than Santa?” So she and Little Cub head off on a polar expedition to find God and to see how he gave them Christmas. Along the way, they find signs that God is at work all around them. Through Mama’s gentle guidance, Little Cub learns about the very first Christmas and discovers that… Jesus is the best present of all. This enchanting tale provides the perfect opportunity to help young children celebrate the true meaning of Christmas and to discover how very much God loves them.

I enjoyed God Gave Us Love a great deal because it really speaks to the different thoughts children have when it comes to love, especially different kinds of love. What’s different about the way I love Mommy and Daddy and the way they love each other? Grampa Bear explains love in a way that Little Cub can understand and relate to. The illustrations by Laura J. Bryant are well worth a second glance, just to make sure you saw everything!
Book Summary:
As Little Cub and Grampa Bear’s fishing adventure is interrupted by mischievous otters, the young polar bear begins to question why we must love others… even the seemingly unlovable. In answering her questions, Grampa Bear gives tender explanations that teach Little Cub about the different kinds of love that is shared between families, friends, and mamas and papas. Grampa explains that all these kinds of love come from God and that it is important to love others because… “Any time we show love, Little Cub, we’re sharing a bit of his love.” This sweet tale will warm the hearts of young children as they learn about all the different sorts of love, while the gentle explanations of each provide a valuable opportunity to encourage children to share with others a “God-sized love.”

I have not yet finished reading Treasured by Leigh McLeroy, but I have really enjoyed the few pages I’ve read so far. She is a great storyteller and really brings a depth to what she’s writing about. I know that I will enjoy finishing this book.
Book Summary:
Cigar boxes. Refrigerator doors. Scrapbooks and sock drawers and top shelves. These are the places we store our treasures–the keepsakes that tell the story of whom and what we’ve loved, how we’ve lived, and what matters most to us. God is a collector, too, whose treasures are tucked securely into the pages of his book: a golden bell here, an olive leaf there, a scarlet thread, a blood-stained cloth, a few grains of barley. Each of these saved artifacts reveals a facet of his heart and tells the story of a Father whose most precious possession is…us. In Treasured, Leigh McLeroy considers tangible reminders of God’s active presence and guides us in discovering evidence in our own lives of his attentive love.


Disclaimer: These books were provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.