Barn Weddings

Barn Weddings

Maggie Lord

Barns can be a beautiful backdrop to a wedding.  The author is the founder of a blog about rustic and country weddings. And based on this book, she knows her stuff. The book is filled with gorgeous photography and tons of practical advice. The photographs show weddings from simple country to classy elegance. And the advice is practical and often green. Any bride anticipating her upcoming wedding should check out this book for ideas about her wedding and reception. I've been married for seventeen years and I still really enjoyed this book. The photography is amazing and a lot of the ideas could also work for a family reunion or outdoor party.

I received this book free of charge from Gibbs Smith in exchange for my honest review.

For Every Season

For Every Season

Amish Vines and Orchards, Book 3

Cindy Woodsmall

Book 2 in this series left the reader wondering how Samuel, Jacob, and Rhoda are going to handle the romantic issues between them as well as the orchard. The orchard is giving them enough problems without the tensions between Rhoda and the brothers. Book 3 handles most of these issues while bringing in some new characters and families to the orchard. But things can't be resolved if Rhoda can't choose which brother she really wants to marry.

Once again the author has told a brilliantly crafted story that is so much more than just a romance. There are quite a few characters and their stories being told, but never once did I feel lost in the details. The book was left open for a 4th book in the series, but the story was left more resolved then the previous two books. I will admit to opening the back of the book to see which brother she chose, but I'll keep it a secret for those that don't like to know before they read the entire book. I've really enjoyed reading all of the books by this author and can't wait until spring to get my hands on the next book.

I received this book free of charge from WaterBrook in exchange for my honest review.

Mud Puddle Hunting Day

Mud Puddle Hunting Day

Callie Grant

Follow a young child as she goes hunting for mud puddles in the rain. Bright colorful pictures and rhyming words will grab a child's attention and keep their interest. The little story takes children through a wet and raining day and shows them what can be found in God's nature. It ends with a scripture verse from Psalm. The board book is perfect for little hands and will keep even a non-reader interested.

I received this book free of charge from Shelton Interactive in exchange for my honest review.

Courageious Canine

National Geographic Kids Chapters:

Courageous Canine:

And More True Stories of Amazing Animal Heros

Kelly Milner Halls

Animals can be just as courageous as humans. And often their heroic deeds are rescuing the humans that they love. The author has taken three different types of animals and tells the stories of the heroic rescues they accomplished. Meet Lilly, the pit bull who rescued her human mom from a train. There are also dolphins who rescue swimmers from sharks, and gorillas who rescue small children when they fall. Written in chapter form, the stories are simple and easy for a child to read, but interesting enough to capture an adult's attention. Pictures are spread through the book for visual aid. Brightly colored borders add interest to every page and help divide each chapter. Any words that might be a bit difficult are sounded out in parenthesis. Little bullet points throughout each chapter provide addition information about the animals. The stories are a beautiful way to bring children closer to their pets and show just how amazing animals can be.

I received this book free of charge from Children's Lit in exchange for my honest review.

This Book Might Make You Gag

This Book Might Make You Gag

A Collection of Crazy Gross Trivia

Connie Colwell Miller

Blood squirting from a lizard's eye, poop being flung by a tail, or drinking urine are just a few things that might make a person gag as they read this book. Everything is completely true. The bright and colorful pictures add to the trivia facts and help showcase the grossness of the topic. Each page is filled with pictures and potential new vocabulary words to learn. The glossary at the end gives definitions for any of the larger vocabulary words that might have an unclear meaning. There is also a list of books to read for further information and two really fun, kid-friendly websites to check out. Use the code in the back of the book to get links to more gross books and websites based on the grade of the child. The publishing company also includes their own website that is filled with projects and games. My son loved this book and enjoyed sharing the information with his friends.

I received this book free of charge from Children's Lit in exchange for my honest review.

The Stone of Fire

Geronimo Stilton Cavemice #1

The Stone of Fire

Geronimo Stilton

Geronimo Stiltonoot is Geronimo Stilton's cavemouse ancestor. He also runs a newspaper company. But everything is written on stone tablets. His life is a little bit more dangerous because it includes meteorites, dinosaurs, and falling stone mail. But Geronimo puts his life in even more danger when one day he decides to help the town's museum get its stolen Stone of Fire back. His cavemouse friend, Hercule Poirat, joins him on his journey to rescue the stone from some ancient fighting felines. The chapters are designed to hold even the shortest attention. The bright and colorful pictures are funny and fit perfectly with the story. Each paragraph is filled with colorful words that are drawn to indicate their meaning. Boys especially, will enjoy the gross descriptions of fur balls, brown sludge goo, and poop. Most of the characters from the original Geronimo Stilton books are brought back in the caveman book, with slightly different names. Fans of Geronimo will love the spinoff that tells all about where Geronimo came from, while still filled with danger and intrigue.

I received this book free of charge from Children's Lit in exchange for my honest review.

Dogs, dogs, Dogs

Dogs, dogs, Dogs

Anne Emerick

There are all types of dogs in our world. Slow dogs, fast dogs, in the snow dogs. Twenty-eight pages with approximately 28 photos all showcasing different types of dogs.

The book appears to be geared towards small children. The pictures and print are large and simplistic. The back ground is colorful. The easy to read words would be good for a beginning reader. It wasn't my type of book, but my 4 yr old daughter enjoyed it. Probably worth the price as long as you are expecting a very short children's book.

I received this book free of charge from Goodreads in exchange for my honest review.