God Gave Us Sleep by Lisa Tawn Bergren {Children's Book Review}

Disclosure: I received a review copy of this book. No other compensation was received and all views expressed are my own. 

It's never been a secret that my kids hate sleeping. I think when they came into this world they had a secret conspiracy to be awake as many hours of the night and day as possible. Okay...maybe not really, but it sure did seem that way back at the beginning! These days, at ages 3 and 4, they sleep a little more routinely and for a little bit longer. I'm grateful! I view sleep as a precious gift!

God Gave Us Sleep, a sweet children's picture book by Lisa Tawn Bergren, is a gentle reminder for little ones that sleep is a very good thing, indeed! It offers reassurance that sleep is something that everyone needs - moms, dads, and cubs (or kids) included. Little Cub has a night of not-so-restful sleep during the story, and the next day realizes how grumpy she is, giving her the opportunity to reconsider the idea of embracing rest for the good thing that is is.

I love this book because it addresses the common issues kids have about not wanting to go to sleep such as reluctance to stop playing, last-minute calls for water, and pleas for "just one more story" in a manner that is easy to relate to for the preschool crowd. This is a fun book to read during playtime, or a sweet story to turn to when eyes are sleepy and the little ones are winding down for the night.

The strong theme of Little Cub's parents supporting her as she learns what her body needs and the way that they guide her to God as the One who can give her sweet dreams and adequate rest is excellent. The book easily weaves the family's faith into everyday conversation, something that is very appropriate for children to read and observe, while they are experiencing similar conversations in their own families.

Five stars from me! And best wishes to all of you tired mamas out there...may your little ones sleep ALL night tonight!

The Midnight Visitors by Juliet David {Children's Book Review}

Disclosure: I received a sample copy of this book for review. No other compensation was received and all opinions are my own. 

December, and with it, the holiday season, have arrived in full force! I still haven't wrapped any books to get started with my gift-wrapped book tradition this year, but the kids don't seem to mind. They're happy to read books of any kind, at any time! I'm excited to tell you about the latest addition to my Christmas book collection: The Midnight Visitors. 

This sweet picture book, written by Juliet David and with illustrations by Jo Parry, is a glimpse into the story of the first Christmas from an interesting new perspective: the animals in the stable where Mary and Joseph find themselves in Bethlehem. Miriam the cow is our protagonist and we watch as she welcomes lots of little refugees to her barn - rabbits, foxes, mice. The stable is almost all filled up by the time the innkeeper introduces Mary and Joseph to their home for the night.

Some of the animals stay asleep, but most of them are wide awake as the baby Jesus is born, the shepherds arrive seeking Jesus, and the star shines brightly in the sky. My kids, especially my daughter, love animals and we have fun counting the number of creatures on each page.

The illustrations are warm and charming and the text is easy to read. The words don't rhyme, but they have a nice flow. I'm glad to have a book in our collection that features the story of Jesus' birth with a spin that kids find intriguing. The tale of Miriam the cow's kindness and her willingness to share her barn is helpful for building character at the preschool stage of life. This one will stay in my Christmas advent book collection for sure!

The Midnight Visitors is available for purchase now from various retailers. Retail price is $14.99.

What's your favorite children's Christmas book?

52 Little Lessons from A Christmas Carol by Bob Welch {Book Review}

Disclosure: I received a review copy of this book. No other compensation was received and all views expressed are my own. 

"For it is good to be children sometimes, and never better than at Christmas, when its mighty founder was a child Himself." 
-Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol

The short tale of Bob Cratchit, Jacob Marley, The Spirits of Christmases past, present, and yet to come, and stingy old Ebenezer Scrooge himself has always been a favorite tale at Christmastime. It has actually been years since I've read the novel, but every Christmas I can recall has involved seeing a stage production, watching a movie adaptation, or even participating in a community theatre musical. A Christmas Carol is at the heart of the season, and I was so excited to find this little book about a book that has meant so much to so many people.

52 Lessons from A Christmas Carol, written by Bob Welch, is a nice companion for the holiday season. With each lesson rounding out to 3-5 pages, it is not difficult to read a couple each day. The lessons range in content from how one should see Christmas as a child, be aware that one makes the chains that shackle him- or herself, and that seeking forgiveness is a sign of strength. Woven throughout are scriptures to back up these messages.

There is so much to be learned from the characters of this tale and from Charles Dickens' insights to human nature. Whether you must, like Bob Cratchit, realize that even in the midst of tragedy you are needed by others or if you must understand as Scrooge does, that one person's actions can affect a host of others for good or for bad - there is something for each person to apply to their own heart.

Perhaps my favorite lesson is number 39 - Grace Changes Everything. What a message! How very different would the story be if Scrooge visited the past, present and future with the spirits, yet woke up in his bed and decided that his way was still right and there was no need for change? Grace is a gift that is hard to understand - it is freely given. The merriment that Scrooge displays when his heart has truly changed is a testament to the joy given when a life is fully surrendered to Christ. Without grace, there can be no true joy.

I'm so pleased to have this title in my collection and plan to reference it every year. It has been a joyous addition to my Christmas celebration and I know it will be so again in the future!

Read and Share 5 Minute Bible Stories {Children's Book Review}

Disclosure: I received a sample copy of this book to review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Around here, we never say no to a good book, I have to admit, though, that when I'm feeling especially tired, I am not a fan of the storybooks that have more words than they have pictures. Don't get me wrong - I love reading with my kids and I'll read them any book they bring me from our collection - but if I'm already in danger of falling asleep on the couch, I need a book with an upbeat pace to keep me engaged! Read and Share: 5 Minute Bible Stories is one of our newest titles, and it is perfect for bedtimes when we're all feeling sleepy.

This is a collection of stories retold by Gwen Ellis and illustrated by Steve Smallman, from the publisher Tommy Nelson. The book is split by Old Testament stories and New Testament stories. Each story is just two pages long, making it perfect for bedtime (each kiddo can pick one or two stories) or for a reading marathon (the stories are short enough that I don't mind reading half the book in one sitting)! The highlights of the Old Testament stories include Creation, Noah's ark, Abraham, Moses, Ruth, David, Esther, and Jonah. The New Testament features stories of Jesus' birth, John the Baptist, Jesus' parables and miracles, His death and resurrection, the early church, and a picture of Heaven, via Revelation.

Each story includes the Bible reference for the text the tales are from, as well as a comprehension question to engage kids in the story. The illustrations are engaging and often prompt my kids to ask further questions about what is going on in the story.

This one is already well-loved in our collection and I'm sure we will read it cover to cover many, many times!

Thanks to BookLook Bloggers for my review sample of this book. I received no compensation for posting a review and all views expressed are my own.

All the Lost Things & No Yeti Yet {Children's Book Review}

Disclosure: I received a review copy of each book. No other compensation was received and all views expressed are my own. 

I used to work in a library, and I was always mesmerized by new children's books when they came in. It was a joy to find new stories to read and recommend to families with kids. I found a few of my favorite children's authors that way, and I was reluctant to give up that insider's access to new books when I quit my job to stay home full time. Thankfully, I have found many opportunities to review new books to hit the children's publishing market and that has been so much fun!

The latest titles I want to share with you are new from Peter Pauper Press for the fall.

All the Lost Things by Kelly Canby (this is her picture book debut) was released in August and is aimed at ages 4-8. This very unique tale has a fresh illustrative style, with the text working often as part of the image. It's about a little girl named Olive who is the only spark of color left in a drab city where the rest of the inhabitants have lost their sense of meaning and most importantly: their hope. Olive hears a mysterious noise and finds herself in an underground world, where she sifts through all the lost things and takes them out with her to make her world a better place. When I saw the title, I envisioned a book about actual things that people lost and never returned to retrieve (like shoes, toys, or umbrellas), but the twist of having the things be more meaningful - memory, eyesight, hope and more - made this story one that I am anxious to read over again with my kids. My kids are 4 and 2 and they thought this was a very fun read.

No Yeti Yet by Mary Ann Fraser (author of over 60 critically acclaimed children's books) is also aimed at ages 4-8 and was released in September.

This book is stinking adorable. My kids are obsessed with snow creatures (thanks to a certain classic Christmas film) and they giggled their way through multiple readings of this story about two brothers who set out on a mission to find a Yeti. Their adventures cover a lot of ground, plenty of sledding and skating, and even a spooky cave exploration. The two boys aren't aware that the very Yeti they seek helps them along their way. The relationship between the brothers is definitely the sweetest part of this story - it reminds me of listening to my son try to explain things that he doesn't completely understand to his little sister. Whether or not this big brother knows everything there is to know about a Yeti is irrelevant - he knows he wants to find one and that's good enough for the little brother, too. There's no way I will be able to put this story away with holiday books - the kids ask to read it all the time.

Both titles have been big hits around here and I can't wait to see what comes up next from Peter Pauper Press!

Thanks to Peter Pauper Press for my review copies. I received no other compensation and all views expressed are my own. For more information, you can read my Disclosure Policy.

Words to Dream On by Diane Stortz {Children's Book Review}

Disclosure: I received a sample copy of this book to review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Bedtime in my house seems to consist of a lot of chaos and shenanigans, regardless of how hard I try to instill a good, solid routine. There's always someone running away from getting teeth brushed, or asking for a drink of water after the lights are out, or realizing that their most treasured stuffed puppy is absent without leave.

In the spirit of keeping some consistency in the routine, we always make sure to take the time to stop and read some books before bed, even if the kids are (literally) bouncing off the walls. My favorites are the Bible story collection books - there's no better way for my kids to drift to sleep than with the promises of Jesus at the front of their minds.

This book - Words to Dream On by Diana Stortz - has been one of our favorites in recent weeks. It contains beautifully illustrated renditions of 52 Bible stories. Each story is told in just a few pages, which makes them perfect for bedtime reading. The illustrations by Diane Le Feyer are warm and feature characters full of emotion, which helps bring the stories to life for little listeners.

Each story features a story from the Bible (most of them are fairly well-known), written in terms easy for kids to understand. At the end of the story, we find both a Bedtime Blessing and a Sleepy-Time Prayer, which help to tie it all together for the kids. I love watching my children become familiar with the stories of Joseph, Moses, David, and Jesus. I get to live vicariously through their childhood faith and see the Bible come to life right before my own eyes, too! The book features a place on the cover page to inscribe who the book is to and from, which makes it a perfect gift.

We're so glad to have this title in our collection and I know it will be loved greatly throughout the years!

Thanks to BookLook Bloggers for my review sample of this book. I received no compensation for posting a review and all views expressed are my own.

The Secret Garden & Don Quixote - New Releases from BabyLit

Disclosure: BabyLit sent me samples to review. No other compensation was received and all views expressed are my own. This post contains affiliate links. 

I've written before about my love of BabyLit, the adorable classic literature board book series designed for the youngest listeners. I've been reading these books to my kids since they were very small. There is now an extensive collection of titles available from BabyLit, including Pride & Prejudice, Alice in Wonderland, Romeo & Juliet (one of Addie's favorites), Jane Eyre, and many more.

The latest two titles joining the collection are The Secret Garden, based on the book by "Little Miss Burnett" and Don Quixote, based on the book by "Little Master Cervantes."

The Secret Garden is one of my favorite tales, and holds a special place in my heart since I had the honor of directing a community theatre production of this story a few years back. The board book is designed as a "Flowers Primer" and incorporates lines from the story with delightful, whimsical illustrations from Alison Oliver. Author Jennifer Adams, as usual, does an excellent job of putting together a very concise book for little ears, while maintaining the quality of the original material.

The kids have enjoyed learning the different types of flowers mentioned in this book, and we actually happen to have columbines and roses planted in our front yard, so we can reinforce the new knowledge in person after reading!

My Adelaide Rose with a rose.

The second title, Don Quixote, is a "Spanish Primer" and introduces kids to basic vocabulary in a foreign language. As I've been intending for years now to start my kids learning Spanish, I was especially excited to read this book with them.

This title features bold, jewel-toned illustrations. There are some words you may expect – man, horse, friend, plus a few that are more surprising – armor, windmills, and goat!

Listening to Addie work on Spanish pronunciation has been one of the highlights of my week! As usual, we're thrilled by these new titles from BabyLit and can't wait to see what they come up with next!

Find out more about BabyLit on their website, or follow on Facebook, Twitter, or Pinterest for the latest updates!

Disclosure: Thanks, BabyLit, for the samples! No other compensation was received and all views expressed are my own. For more information, you can read my Disclosure Policy.

Prayers for Your Children: 90 Days of Heartfelt Prayer {Book Review}

Disclosure: I received a free book and a gift certificate. All opinions expressed are my own. 

Do you pray for your kids? I have to admit that I have great intentions of setting aside a time of prayer every day, just to specifically share with the Lord the things on my heart for my kids. Truly praying for your kids is something parents much choose to be intentional about. I've found this book - Prayers for Your Children: 90 Days of Heartfelt Prayers by James Banks - to be really helpful in forcing me to be more intentional in my prayers.

The book features 90 short chapters (about two pages each). The prayers all begin with a quote or Bible verse, and they are written in first person so that if you choose, you can read them as your prayer. The chapters are divided into sections by week, featuring headings such as Knowing, Growing, Walking, Loving, Protected, and more. It is really eye-opening to have a book that centers each day around areas of life that may otherwise be easily overlooked in prayer, like that they will gain the knowledge of what it really means to love, repent, and forgive.

The book is filled to overflowing with scripture references to enhance the reading experience. I love to curl up with my Bible and take my time to pray through each day's chapter. What a blessing to have tools such as this to help busy parents like myself!

Make sure you follow Family Christian on Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Instagram, and Pinterest for all of their latest updates and new product releases!

Disclosure: I received a sample book to review and an appreciation gift certificate. All opinions expressed are my own. For more information, you can read my Disclosure Policy.

Slaying the Debt Dragon by Cherie Lowe {Book Review}

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book to review. No other compensation was received and all views expressed are my own. 

No one ever expects to go through life saddled with a heap of debt. And not everyone who has debt has been particularly irresponsible with their finances. Sometimes, life is tough and you just get behind. Then, things get worse and worse - before you know it, you find yourself struggling with no idea how you got there or how to get out.

That's kind of our debt story. We don't have student loans, but we do have some credit card debt from the time in our life when my husband was out of work and we simply didn't have the resources we needed. The number is higher than I would like it to be, so we've been employing every opportunity to pay down that debt and get back on track.

This book, Slaying the Debt Dragon, by author Cherie Lowe, tells the story of how one family was able to tame the monster their money had become - and find financial freedom. Cherie offers practical tips on how to evaluate your situation, ways to get started on your journey to being debt-free, and how to make a budget that your family can actually use. She also includes tips on how to make things at home to avoid buying them, and how to avoid falling into the "guilty parent" trap in a society where kids are always expecting more and more.

The tone of the book was really appealing to me, because it strives to make you feel like you can overcome your financial woes. Regardless of how long the journey may be, it's a process that is better started sooner than later, and you're a lot more likely to succeed with some friendly advice at your side.

Have we paid off all our debt yet? No. We're one of those families who had never signed up for cable or a home phone, so there aren't a whole lot of expenses for us to cancel. But, it's a work in progress. And I know we'll make it, one day!

You can find Slaying the Debt Dragon on Amazon.

Disclosure: Thanks, Tyndale Blog Network, for the samples! No other compensation was received and all views expressed are my own. For more information, you can read my Disclosure Policy.

Tiny Bear's Bible by Sally Lloyd-Jones {Children's Book Review}

Disclosure: I received a sample copy of this book to review. All opinions expressed are my own.

We love reading, and were so excited to receive Tiny Bear's Bible to review. This little book is a story Bible designed for kids who are 6 and under, which means it's just perfect for 4-year-old Lincoln and 2-year-old Addie.

This Bible story collection, written by bestselling author Sally Lloyd-Jones, has been really popular with my kids. They love the fuzzy bear on the cover and I love that each page contains a reminder that God is watching out for us and cares about even the smallest worries in our lives.

The book features stories of Creation, Noah, David, Daniel, Zacchaeus, and more. There are also pages retelling the truths of Jesus' birth, Jesus calming the storm, and the Lord's Prayer. Each page contains only a paragraph or two, which is perfect for the attention span of my toddler and preschool readers.

The illustrations by Igor Oleynikov are warm and comforting, and my kids love to point out the little bear on each page! The book is very durable and has survived being tossed around our house on more than one occasion.

Teaching kids about the love of Jesus is not something that can happen with the reading of one book or the telling of one tale, so I'm grateful to have books like this in our collection to help us keep the Bible in our everyday consciousness. It can be hard to find consistency in teaching when you're keeping up with little ones and I'll be the first to admit that I fail at this often. I love having this book to help me show my kids how much God loves them - even when they are afraid, alone, or fearful!

We're big fans of Tiny Bear's Bible and I think it will be a well-loved title in our family library. What's the favorite storybook in your house right now?

Thanks to BookLook Bloggers for my review sample of this book. I received no compensation for posting a review and all views expressed are my own.

Little Gestalten: 5 Very Unique Books {Review + Giveaway}

Disclosure: I received sample books to review. No compensation was received and all views expressed are my own. 

I love picture books. I may love them more than my kids love them. We read books as often as we can. So I was happy to take a peek at a set of new books from Berlin-based children's book publisher Little Gestalten. We were sent five of their debut line of high concept, very unique picture books - and we have enjoyed them so much!

Issun Boshi: The One Inch Boy
This classic Japanese fairy tale tells the story of Issun Boshi, the tiny son of an old, long childless couple. His mother had longed to have a child for so many years that she finally added "even if it is a very small one" to her wish. When the elderly couple did in fact bear a son, he turned out to be only one inch high. He was thus called Issun Boshi, Japanese for one-inch boy. Tiny and brave -- these are the two most striking characteristics of Issun Boshi. Although his parents raised him very lovingly, Issun Boshi realized one day that he would not grow any taller. He then left his home to set off on a journey to find his place in the world.

This book has such a vivid color palette and introduces kids to a fairy tale from another land. This slightly over-sized book features a sweet little story - although I've given my kids a slightly milder version of the page where Issun Boshi is trapped inside an ogre's belly!

Little Red Riding Hood
The New York Times Sunday Review describes this book the best -- "Even the classic “Little Red Riding Hood” seems new again in Little Gestalten’s version, with cutout images that can be held up to the light to cast shadows on the wall until it’s time to say, “My, what big, tired eyes you have."

This book has one of the coolest concepts ever. It unfolds into a giant artistic panorama that is super cool when you hold it in front of a light to cast shadows on the wall. Not so cool is when your toddler unfolds it and drags it through the house like a scarf. After that incident, it moved to a higher level on the bookshelf!

Elsa and the Night
Elsa and the Night tells the story of an extraordinary friendship. Can one make friends with the night? One day Elsa is sitting at her kitchen table and suddenly hears a sound coming from under the sofa. When she investigates, she realizes that it's neither an animal nor a ghost. It's the night. The night not only listens to Elsa, but also accompanies her on a heartwarming and moving journey where it cares for her, protects her, and finally carries her through the town in its arms.

A tale translated from Swedish, this story is a bit bittersweet, but intriguing. The muted color tones provide a lovely backdrop for the melancholy telling of how Elsa has not fallen asleep in years. I especially like the way the "Night" starts off very small, but grows until it has become dark all throughout the town. It's very visually pleasing!

The Zoo's Grand Opening
With this book, even the youngest children can playfully learn their ABCs, the names of animals, and how to count. This fun animal book tells the exciting story of a zoo preparing for its opening day. The head zookeeper, who guides young readers through its pages, is waiting anxiously for the animals to get there. Will they all be in their cages by the time the first visitors arrive?

My kids love alphabet books, animals, and zoos, so this is our favorite of the collection and the one I recommend the most. It features one page and one poem for each letter of the alphabet, and covers unusual species like dromedaries, quoll, and chameleons. I love the simplicity of the design in this title - each animal is outlined in white on a solid color background. It's a nice touch!

Alphabetics: An Aesthetically Awesome Alliterated Alphabet Anthology
C is for cat? D is for dog? Not in this book! Here, Colossal Cornelius captures his companions with his camera and Daisy the diver dares a death-defying dip with dinosaurs. In Alphabetics, each of the alphabet’s twenty-six letters is depicted with an awesome alliteration—not to mention an illuminating illustration—that will captivate and stimulate young minds.  Although the lettered tales are meant to be humorous and fun, they also serve a commendable purpose. Complex words are introduced to expand children’s vocabularies and linguistic horizons. The book includes a glossary so that readers can look up any terms that are unfamiliar to them.

This book is a little above the level of my 2- and 4-year-olds, but we are enjoying learning tons of new words on each alliterated page! An example of the writing style:

Wanderlust Wren with a walrus mustache enjoys wearing a warbonnet and warpaint while wayfaring with warbling whales.

It's pretty cool, and I think I'll be pulling it out as we study the alphabet in homeschooling adventures!

Make sure you follow Little Gestalten on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest for all of the latest updates and new product releases!

Giveaway

One Director Jewels reader will win a set of the 5 books featured above from Little Gestalten! This giveaway will end on March 25 at 11:59pm CST. This giveaway is open to US readers only. Winner will be emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or prize will be forfeited.

To enter the giveaway, follow the instructions in the Rafflecopter form below (you may need Javascript enabled to see the form and it may take a moment to load)! Once you complete the first entry, the other options will open up so that you can complete them as well. All of the "extra entries" are optional - you can do just one, or as many as you want! Winners will be contacted by email. Good   luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway



Disclosure: I received sample books to review. All opinions expressed are my own. For more information, you can read my Giveaway Policy and my Disclosure Policy.

It Will Be Okay by Lysa TerKeurst {Children's Book Review}

Disclosure: I received a sample copy of this book to review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Lincoln, at the age of not-quite-four, is not a fan of change. He dislikes it when day turns to night, when we have to go downstairs to get in the van, or getting in and out of the bathtub. He has a tough time trying new foods, driving home a different way than normal, and a few other things along those lines. In other words...he's three years old, and just figuring out life. I don't have the heart to tell him that these may not be the biggest obstacles he will ever face!

It Will Be Okay is a children's picture book by Lysa TerKeurst. This story allows my little ones to experience the fears and changes that Little Seed and Little Fox encounter, and help them understand that even when things seem scary, God is still in control - and He has a plan for their lives!

The story starts when Little Fox and Little Seed find themselves unlikely friends. Little Seed fears the future when the farmer comes to plant him, but Little Fox stays by his side and watches as he grows up into a magnificent tree.

The book has a lot of narration - it is sometimes a bit too much on each page to keep my toddlers' attention. It is easy enough to tell them the main points of the story, however, even if we skip a few small sections of text. I love the simplicity of the message that points to a simple faith. The illustrations by Natalia Moore are just lovely. There is a section of ten related scriptures to memorize with kids near the front of the book, which is a wonderful resource, as well.

My kids love this book and request to read it over and over! I'm very happy to have it as part of our home library.

Thanks to BookLook Bloggers for my review sample of this book. I received no compensation for posting a review and all views expressed are my own.

Peachtree Publishers - Best of 2014 Giveaway - #HolidayGiftGuide2014

Disclosure: I received sample books for review. No other compensation was received and all views expressed are my own.

We love reading in our home. Have I mentioned that before? Probably, but it bears repeating! Books are an awesome and magical way to take kids on faraway adventures. We were so thrilled to check out this set of titles, released in 2014 from Peachtree Publishers.

The Grudge Keeper by Mara Rockliff.

This storybook tells a tale of a town where no one ever keeps a grudge. All complaints are handed in to the town's Grudge Keeper, Cornelius. The book features beautiful illustrations in muted tones (the book is illustrated by Eliza Wheeler) and subtly helps kids understand the importance of making peace with one another. I love the vocabulary presented in this book - big words like umbrage, imbroglios, and mischievous are worked right into the text. Fun, right?

Pig & Small by Alex Latimer.

Pig finds a new friend, Bug, on his nose one day and learns a whole lot about how to be a good friend even when you don't have everything in common! I love the theme of persistence in spite of difficulties. This book is written and illustrated by Alex Latimer in bright, exciting colors that pop right off the pages.

Stanley the Builder by William Bee.

With our love of trucks, cars, and other wheeled conveyances in this house, I'm not surprised that this book is a big hit with Lincoln! This little story follows Stanley as he helps his mouse friend, Myrtle, build a lovely little house - all the way from buying a plot of land to final construction. We learn the basics of bulldozing, brick-laying, and nailing shingles to the roof. Super cute book for construction-loving kids.

Stanley's Garage by William Bee.

Much like the previous title, this was a big hit with my truck-loving boy. Stanley shows off many skills in his garage as he fills up cars with gas, fixes flat tires, fills radiators, and tows a friend back to the garage when her car breaks down. The illustrations are lovely and feature simplistic backgrounds which make the characters stand out all the more.

Can I Come Too? by Brian Patten and Nicola Bayley.

When a very small mouse sets off to have a very big adventure, she's in for quite a few surprises along the way. On a journey to discover the biggest creature in the world, our mouse heroine finds a frog, a kingfisher, a cat, an otter, and so many more animals who become her friends and journey alongside her until they finally do come across the very largest creature! A great story about sticking to your goals and never giving up. Features beautiful illustrations of animals in nature!

Churchill's Tale of Tails by Anca Sandu.

Churchill's favorite thing is his tail, so he is surprised when one day he wakes to find it has disappeared. He sets off in search of a new tail and tries on the tails of his many animal friends. Unsatisfied with the tails of the zebra, peacock, and tiger, he sticks to his quest and ultimately learns that while it's fun to pretend, being yourself is best.

Lost for Words by Natalie Russell.

Tapir wants to write, but he can't think of what to say. He is jealous of his friends Giraffe, Hippo, and Flamingo who can write poetry, stories, and songs with ease. Eventually, he learns that just because someone else is good at something, it may not be the best fit for him. Tapir finds his own passion and pursues it with all his heart.



Visit Peachtree Publishers to find out more about these and other great titles. You can also follow along on Facebook and Twitter for all the latest updates.

Giveaway

Peachtree has kindly offered to give away a complete collection of the books reviewed above! There will be seven winners - each person will win one surprise title from the above selection! This giveaway will end on December 26 at 11:59pm CST. This giveaway is open to US readers only. Winner will be emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or prize will be forfeited.

To enter the giveaway, follow the instructions in the Rafflecopter form below (you may need Javascript enabled to see the form and it may take a moment to load)! Once you complete the first entry, the other options will open up so that you can complete them as well. All of the "extra entries" are optional - you can do just one, or as many as you want! Winners will be contacted by email. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway



Disclosure: Thank you to Peachtree Publishers for providing my review sample and the giveaway prize! I received no other compensation and all views expressed are my own. For more information, you can read my Giveaway Policy and my Disclosure Policy.

Fun & Educational Books from Usborne + $25 Gift Credit

Disclosure: I received sample products for review. No other compensation was received and all views expressed are my own. 

I've spent close to eight years of my life working in libraries. My time was spent planning over-the-top parties, filling in for storytime presenters, and even occasionally dressing in ridiculous costumes for the sake of entertaining children. I learned many things in my time there - one of which was that I love Usborne Books!

There are educational children's books...and then there are awesome educational children's books. Usborne books are some of the most engaging, colorful, and long-lasting classics in our personal library - and we love it each time a new one joins our collection! There are almost two thousand Usborne and Kane Miller titles available to choose from - and each one is as exciting as the last.

There are silly stories, history encyclopedias, fiction, and amazing activity books - truly, they offer something for every reading level. And there are so many great titles for babies and toddlers, too!

I was fortunate enough to team up with Usborne consultant Cara Crisostomo to bring you a giveaway for a $25 Usborne Books gift credit! Keep reading to find out about the books that we are loving - and make sure you take a peek at Usborne's book selection.

In Lincoln's opinion, the best book we received was The Big Book of Big Sea Creatures. I told Cara that Lincoln loves sea creatures, and she did not disappoint us by sending this book! This incredible title is filled to overflowing with giant fold-out pages (some pictures are as big as four panels - as shown above).

From schools of fish to octopuses, sea mammals and (so much) more, this book is a cover-to-cover adventure waiting to happen. Lincoln loves learning the names of sea creatures (probably since he thinks he is an Octonaut), and this book has been immensely popular since it arrived in our house!

Both Lincoln and Addie love interactive books, so the giant flaps in the sea creature book are wonderful - but they also really love finding small lift-the-flap and peekaboo surprises!

We received copies of Peek Inside Animal Homes and Baby Animals Flap Book, both of which are just loaded with interactive opportunities! Each page has multiple spots for them to peek beneath or through to the next page. The vibrant illustrations in these two titles are especially captivating!

Both kids love animals, and we have had so much fun spotting each little creature on the pages of these books.

Can you believe how sweet these illustrations are? I seriously love them. When a book is inviting to a child, it does so much more than just encourage them to pick it up a second (or third, or fourth) time. Reading opens up a whole new world and presenting kids with beautifully designed stories sets them up for a lifelong love of reading.

But - all that aside - perhaps our favorite Usborne book right now is the Pull-back Busy Train Book.

This book is incredible for my vehicle-loving boy - and Addie adores it, too. Each page has a built-in track with a starting point. You simply rev up the little self-propelling train and set it on its way. It chugs along through the story at a perfect pace for reading each page!

I wish I had known about this book back when Lincoln was a very young toddler and had little interest in sitting through an entire storybook. It would definitely have captivated his attention back then, as it does now. Usborne offers Busy Car, Busy Helicopter, Busy Santa, and Busy Bug versions of this book as well. We would love to have them all - they're so fun!

I love all of these wonderful children's books so much that I don't mind at all when we read them fifteen times a day! Hats off to Usborne for creating books that both kids and parents love. It truly makes a difference!

Cara was sweet enough to even include a title for me with our review package - Christmas Things to Stitch & Sew. Let me tell you...my crafty nature is all over this book. I have poured over it multiple times and may or may not be scheming on where I can find the time to whip up some of these little penguin and snowmen creatures before Christmas!

Visit Usborne Books to check out all of the wonderful book titles. I'm sure you'll find a perfect holiday gift for someone on your list this year. Usborne is one of the first places I turn when I'm looking for new books for my kids!

You can also follow along with Cara on Facebook - she has a monthly giveaway that you won't want to miss.

Giveaway

One Director Jewels reader will win a $25 Usborne Books Credit! This giveaway will end on December 17 at 11:59pm CST. This giveaway is open to US readers only. Winner will be emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or prize will be forfeited.

To enter the giveaway, follow the instructions in the Rafflecopter form below (you may need Javascript enabled to see the form and it may take a moment to load)! Once you complete the first entry, the other options will open up so that you can complete them as well. All of the "extra entries" are optional - you can do just one, or as many as you want! Winners will be contacted by email. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Disclosure: Thank you to Cara with Usborne for providing my review sample and the giveaway prize! I received no other compensation and all views expressed are my own. For more information, you can read my Giveaway Policy and my Disclosure Policy.

Penwizard Personalized Books Giveaway - 8 Winners!

I love how easily accessible personalized items are for kids these days! I remember searching through racks and racks of pre-made personalized stationary and writing utensils in vain as a child...and my name isn't even that uncommon! How wonderful that kids can now have something with their name on it - just with the click of a button!

 Sponsor: Penwizard

Host: Mom Powered Media

Personalized books are great for helping kids develop an early love of reading. You can choose from our range of personalized children's books and see your child in the pictures and story of their own personalized book!

Penwizard is an amazing company. They offer a wide variety of books for both little boys and girls. The nice thing about their books is that you can literally customize the books to fit whatever your child looks like AND put in their name! These books are so easy to create and order. They are also pretty reasonably priced. They range in the 14.99 to 19.99 UK (so about 30 in US dollars). Considering how loved this book will be, that's a pretty good deal!

Check Penwizard out HERE.

Penwizard has offered 8 fans a chance to win a personalized Peppa book for themselves!

Rules:

• Open to USA/CAN.
• 18+.
• Ends December 9, 2014.
• One person per household can enter.
• Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, and any other social media networks are NOT responsible or liable in anyway for this giveaway.

Entry-Form

Disclaimer: Participating Blogs were not compensated for this post. No purchase is necessary to enter. One entrant per household, per address. Void where prohibited by law. Winner(s) will be contacted by email and have 48 hours to respond before a new winner is chosen. Penwizard will be responsible for product shipment to winners of this sweepstakes. This event is in no way administered, sponsored, or endorsed by, or associated with, Facebook and/or Twitter, Google, Pinterest. Contactnatasha@mompoweredmedia.com if you have any additional questions or comments.

Code Babies: Picture Books for the Youngest Web Developers - #HolidayGiftGuide2014

Disclosure: I received sample books for review, but no other compensation was received and all views expressed are my own. 

There are books about police officers, firefighters, teachers, doctors, and many other jobs - reading is a great way to introduce kids to a variety of professions. But until recently, there has been a lack of material when it comes to learning about more modern jobs like web developers, content creators, and technical positions. My children are lucky enough to have two parents who work in the online content world, so there's a good chance they'll be learning HTML code right along with addition and subtraction. I was so excited when I came across Code Babies that I knew that these titles would be a perfect fit for this year's holiday gift guide!

With a motto of "It's never too early to develop!", Code Babies currently offers four titles that help introduce kids to the basics of web language. HTML for Babies and CSS for Babies are perhaps not the easiest books to read aloud (they are written in code, after all), but they help kids become acquainted with the look of code and I imagine that will help greatly down the road! Familiarity makes learning new skills so much easier! I love the board book format that these books come in.

The big hit at our house, however, is the picture book ABCs of the Web. Lincoln (my three-year-old) is fascinated by this book. I've actually lost track of how many times we have read it in the past few weeks.

ABCs of the Web is an alphabet book that features a different web element for each letter of the alphabet. My kids have learned about anchor tags, browsers, cookies, domains, and so much more just from this book!

The illustrations by Tom Holmes include adorable little babies both at work and at play, learning about web elements along the way.

Some of the elements are basic - Internet, links, and keywords. Others are a little more in-depth, such as Node.js, Open Source, and PHP. And there are even a couple I had never heard of myself (Google (letter G!) filled me in about Ruby).

These books are cleverly written by John C. Vanden-Heuvel Sr & Audrey Ostrovsky MD, featuring rhyming text around many, many web language vocabulary words. Hearing a three-year-old repeat "rasterize" and "JavaScript" is pretty amusing. One of Lincoln's favorite pages is "S is for SEO" - he loves to trace his way through the maze featured in the illustration.

My favorite part is that it even includes Wordpress as letter W - so I'm able to make a correlation for my kids that W is like what mommy does when working on her computer!

We love these books and will be referring to them often as our kids learn about the basics of web development!

You can purchase Code Babies books on the web, plus keep up with the latest news via Facebook and Twitter! You can even grab some really cute Code Babies t-shirts!

Disclosure: Thank you to Code Babies for providing my samples! I received no other compensation and all views expressed are my own. For more information, you can read my Disclosure Policy.