The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo

Who knew that such a little mouse with such big ears could be such a hero? Despereaux is not your typical mouse; he is more human than mouse. Despereaux does not do what other mice do. He reads books; he doesn’t eat them. He listens to music and talks to humans and hopes and dreams. This is not normal, but for Despereaux it is. He falls in love with a princess and fights a rat. This book is full of light and dark. It’s a great children’s book, but I certainly enjoyed reading it myself. Why not join a mouse and many others on this journey through light and dark? You, my friend, won’t regret taking the time. The chapters are short, which makes for a great read-aloud choice. Enjoy!

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo

Join in the dramatic life and journey of Edward Tulane, a china rabbit. He is the treasured companion of a little girl until one fateful day when he ends up in the ocean. What will happen to this sophisticated rabbit? He will end up with a fisherman and his wife, take a journey to a dump, and be the treasured friend of another little girl. Those are just a few of the adventures that he goes on. What will Edward learn through all of this? He will learn the lesson of truly caring for and loving those around him, not just himself. An important lesson to be sure. As the years pass on Edward’s journey, he comes to a new understanding of the world around him and his place in it. What will happen when he comes to rest in a doll shop in Tennessee? Take a journey with a china rabbit and find out!

Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo

Opal is a little girl with spunk. She’s new in Naomi, Florida, and throughout this book I enjoyed seeing her make new friends and meet people Because of Winn-Dixie. Opal is a girl who isn’t afraid of or bothered by the same things as other people. On her journey to making friends with Winn-Dixie and others, Opal also finds out more about her mother (who left) from her preacher father. This is a special summer for Miss India Opal. This is a wonderful book for children 9 and older and for adults as well. There is also a wonderful movie version of the book out now. Before you see the movie make sure that you take the time to enjoy the pleasure of reading about Opal and her friends: Gloria Dump, Otis, and Sweetie Pie Thomas. This is a charming and enchanting story of a little girl with a big heart!!

Today's Thought - From February 4, 2009

As you know, the name of my site is Great Christian Reads. The reason behind that brilliant name is the fact that I love Christian fiction. Who wouldn’t? It’s fun, interesting, clean, heartwarming, intriguing. Christian fiction falls into any and all (well, almost all) genres. Who wouldn’t love that? Even with all the wonderful things to recommend Christian fiction, readers do sometimes sidestep it due to the “message” in the stories. I must say that I feel those people are missing out on some quality,good, fun reads. With that said, I want to state that there are some really neat, great books that are not under the heading of Christian fiction. I have reviewed and will continue to review those books as well. I will be adding those reviews to this site as well. These reviews will include some fun children’s books. Why not enjoy a good book – Christian or not – if it’s worth enjoying? Be blessed, everyone!

Today’s Stack Includes…From January 29, 2009

So today when I look at the stack of books waiting for me, I see a variety of titles lined up. At the top of the stack is The Power of Praying Together by Stormie Omartian with Jack Hayford. I am actually almost done with this book. It has been a very handy read, especially since I recently started a small ladies prayer group. I also enjoyed reading The Power of a Praying Wife (which I must reread – I’m not sure if I ever finished it). My stack also contains Now and Always by Lori Copeland (for February’s Book Delights meeting), Love as a Way of Life by Gary Chapman (author of The Five Love Languages), several books on writing and getting published, at least two books on baby sign language, and a book by none other than Dave Ramsey (I can thank my friend, Kimberly, for that). As you can see, I have a lot of good reading ahead of me. This stack doesn’t even include my own books that I’ve been wanting to read. I have owned several books for several years that I have yet to read. I’m sure there is a word for that, but it escapes me at the moment. I guess you will have to be content with the fact that I easily own over 200 books, and I have only read a fraction of them. It really is a sad thing, but I continue to find new books to add to my collection anyway. New or used, that is. Can anyone relate to this need to buy books that intrigue you, even if they remain untouched and unopened for many years to follow? I suppose some may say that this is some sort of problem I have, but I would tend to disagree with those people. How can owning a lot of books ever be considered a problem? Just remember that if I didn’t read all of the books that I do this blog wouldn’t be full of great reviews. You see what I’m saying? That’s it for today’s stack. I’ll give you an update one day, and then you’ll see how different my stacks can be.

Where Do I Go? by Neta Jackson

Gabby is a woman with a calling. She doesn’t know this, but she has one. She also has a husband and two sons. Her husband has a career plan for himself that only includes Gabby if she follows her part in his plan. What happens when Gabby steps outside of her husband’s plan into God’s plan? Have you heard the phrase, “It gets worse before it gets better?” Read along as Gabby faces struggles and difficulties in her marriage, her family, and her career. Read as she discovers truths she didn’t know were hers to have. If you enjoyed the Yada Yada Prayer Group books, you’ll want to read this and watch for your favorite Yada Yada sisters to appear. Ever asked “Where do I go from here?” Read Where Do I Go?, and you might get some answers.

Still Growing: An Autobiography by Kirk Cameron with Lissa Halls Johnson

Kirk Cameron shares with us many tidbits about himself in this book. We learn about his childhood, how he came to be an actor, how he met his wife, and, most importantly, how he came to know Christ. This book will make you laugh, and it may make you cry too. It’s heartfelt, honest, and has you hooked right from the beginning. As someone who watched Growing Pains as a child, it was neat to “visit” with Kirk and learn about who he is and what makes him tick. I highly recommend that everyone who has ever been a fan read this book. And for those who want to keep enjoying Kirk’s acting talents, you need to see the awesome movie that came out in 2008 – Fireproof. It is great!!!