BookLook Blogger Review - I Am: 40 Reasons to Trust God by Diane Stortz; Illustrated by Diane Le Feyer

I Am: 40 Reasons to Trust God written by Diane Stortz is the most recent book I selected from the BookLook Blogger program to review, because we were in need of a new devotional. It contains 40 Bible Stories, Devotions, and Prayers About the Names of God. The 224-page colorful book is illustrated by Diane Le Feyer and published by Tommy Nelson. This hardcover children's devotion is suitable for children ages 4 to 8. As children read and learn more about God; they'll discover his love for them.

The textured cover of the glittery book is absolutely beautiful and sparkling. It makes me think of God's light shining in our hearts and life. The book contains brightly animated and detailed illustrations within the pages that you'll surely adore and appreciate. 

The four-page Table of Contents precedes A Letter to Parents. The book addresses stories from BOTH the Old and the New Testament. The Bible stories begin with Genesis and end with Revelation. Each page features one of the names of God with a pronunciation guide for more difficult names followed by the story title.

A referenced scripture is indicated at the top of the page. A Bible story related to the verse helps the reader apply the newfound knowledge to their life. A Biblical truth or main idea is provided in a light purple banner on the page. For example, on page 128-129 the scripture verse is Luke 5:31-32 (ICB) which states "It is the sick who need a doctor . . . I have come to invite sinners to change their hearts and lives!" The translations for the scripture verses and passages referenced vary. The related Biblical truth stated in the banner is "Jesus heals and forgives." The Bible story titled Great Physician: Up, Down, Up was about four men in Capernaum who lowered their paralyzed friend down on a mat through the roof of a house where Jesus was staying to be healed. Jesus asked the man to get up, pick up his mat, and go home after telling them he had authority to heal and forgive sins. The Devotion for the day consist of approximately 2-4 pages in length. A corresponding Prayer concludes the devotion. In the case of the story above, the prayer was "Dear God, thank you for Jesus, our Great Physician. I'm glad He knows how to make me well. Amen." My 8-year-old daughter will most likely read aloud each prayer every day with me.

On the next page, a What Does It Mean section explains the story in age-appropriate terms for children. There is a Learn More feature which enables the child to dig deeper into Bible scripture in relation to the specific truth being discovered. An additional referenced Bible verse and story are given to explore each particular name of God further. The book referred us to Matthew 8:14-15 to read another account of God's healing work. What Happened Next? helps the reader visualize the story during a specific time period. It summarizes the events that follow next in the story.

The author explains in the book that some Bible names for God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit may also be descriptive titles. Several of the names taught and featured are Great Physician, Son of God, Teacher (Rabbi), Cornerstone, I Am, Jehovah Jireh, Immanuel, Creator, The Lord My Rock, Holy One, Bread of Life, Logos, Abba, and Messiah.  Learning the different names or references of God will bring us closer to Him. They tell us all something about his character (who he is), what He is like, and what He does. The book teaches children how vast God's love is and how much He cares for us all. By reading this book, you can develop a deeper understanding of God and his character. 

Our love has grown for God and will continue to grow over time. The foundation of the book is based on a scripture Psalms 9:10 which states, "Those who know your name put their trust in you." As you study God's name you'll know Him better and become closer to God spiritually placing all trust in Him and His Word. 

The names of God and the stories in this book will reveal a lot about His character. The author's hope is that children around the world will develop an understanding of God's character, learn to know him better, and grow to love Him more. This is the reason the book was written.

You'll find a few adult and middle grade resources for Learning More about the Names of God at the back of the book. The book also includes a green bookmark ribbon to save your place.

What I Like 

• Short Devotions
• Biblical Accuracy
• Teaches the Names of God
• Pronunciation Help
• Relevant and Meaningful Prayers
• Digging Deeper in the Bible to "Learn More"
• Stories Told from Both Old and New Testament
• Age-Appropriate Explanations
• Diane Stortz Website Book Resources (Matching Game and Coloring Pages)
• High-Quality Vibrant and Beautiful Illustrations

Recommendations
I highly recommend this well-written book to Christian families wanting to explore the Names of God. We plan on using this devotion in the morning before beginning our school day.

The strong, spiritual message is given in a clear and concise manner that children can easily understand. Diane Stortz, the author, distinctly presents the names of God which is the core message yet she weaves in an additional profound message that stands out with regards to God's plan to send Jesus who will make things right again.

I definitely think this devotion would make a GREAT Christmas or Easter gift. I know we explore the names of God during those holidays in my home. This book was included in my daughter's Easter basket this year. It would be perfect for any family or Sunday school class learning about the Names of God. A teacher could also read aloud and discuss the devotion at the beginning of class.

Price
Thomas Nelson Website Store $16.99
Amazon $11.21

Note: All prices are subject to change without notice.

Would you like to see a sample. Click on the link. 

Disclaimer
I received a complimentary, free copy of this book from the publisher as part of the BookLook Blogger Review Gold Team Program in exchange for an honest review on my blog. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this information in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

TOS Review: The Ultimate Gift from FishFlix.com

A physical copy of The Ultimate Gift from FishFlix.com was sent to us to review as part of the The Old Schoolhouse Review Crew. We've already watched it several times and plan on watching it again real soon.

What is FishFlix.com?

FishFlix.com is a Christian online movie store that offers a wide assortment of family-friendly movie features from different genres including but not limited to drama, children's, Christian, romances, catholic, documentaries, educational, entertainment, comedy, and more. They carry wholesome video selections in DVD and Blue-Ray format. 

Movie Summary 

The faith-based movie is about a selfish and greedy trust fund baby named Jason Stevens (Drew Fuller) who learns some pertinent life lessons. Jason finds out that his grandfather, Red Stevens (James Garner), is deceased. Red's entire wealthy family shows their dislike and hatred towards him yet they still gather together for a will reading with hopes to gain his billionaire fortune. Jason who holds a major grudge against his grandfather expects to inherit absolutely NOTHING. Red hires a lawyer, Hamilton (Bill Cobbs), to be in charge of his estate. Before his death, they videotaped private messages related to a series of "gifts" or tasks. These tasks must be completed with success by Jason before he can receive the mysterious "ultimate gift" inheritance. If he fails then he gets nothing. Jason meets Emily (Abigail Breslin) a 10-year-old spunky girl with leukemia and her single mother Alexia (Ali Hillis) when presented with the Gift of Friends, a task requesting that he find and bring back one true friend. An unbreakable bond and beautiful friendship develops during the movie.

What are the Twelve Gifts or Tasks?

• The Gift of Work
• The Gift of Money
• The Gift of Friends
• The Gift of Learning
• The Gift of Problems
• The Gift of Family
• The Gift of Laughter
• The Gift of Dreams
• The Gift of Giving
• The Gift of Gratitude
• The Gift of a Day
• The Gift of Love
• The Ultimate Gift

The movie recaps or sums up the 12 gifts at the end of the movie. This may help when having a conversation with your children about life and what matters most.

Additional Movie Details
The Ultimate Gift, which is a drama released in 2007, lasts approximately 117 minutes. It is based on a best-selling novel written by Jim Stovall. The DVD is rated PG due to mild language issues and some violence. For example, the word "hell" is used on several occasions. In the movie, Jason is confronted by a group of Ecuadorian drug lords carrying large guns they later fire. They threaten the lives of Jason and his guide. They captured and imprison them both after he learns the truth about his father's death. There is also a quick scene of Jason's gold digging ex-girlfriend wearing a skimpy dress while dining with a male figure. Smoking and social drinking scenes are evident in the move. The movie does contain off-screen deaths which may or may not be suitable for younger sensitive viewers. The suggested age range is 10-12 years old. I recommend previewing the movie in advance so that you can decide whether it is appropriate for your family or not.

Special Movie Features include Live The Ultimate Gift, Introduction to the Film by Jim Stovall, Behind-the-Scenes Featurette, and more. The movie has English or Spanish subtitled if desired.

Our Experience 
I watched The Ultimate Gift with my 8-year-old daughter who is very mature for her age. I didn't preview the movie ahead of time. We quickly put on pajamas and gathered our snuggle blankets to watch the movie in our living room on the comfy couch. Popcorn was popped, buttered, and ready to go. Throughout the movie, we discussed any discerning or problematic scenes or behaviors. We discussed alternative Godly behaviors after seeing Jason's rude and mischievous behaviors. We talked about etiquette as well. For example, at the beginning of the movie Jason arrives at the funeral location late in a loud, roaring car smoking a cigarette. We discussed the importance of being on time for important events and proper funeral behavior. We also watched this movie a second time with family members who recently moved to Texas as a way to relax after their long trip. They seemed to enjoy the movie.

Overall, the Ultimate Gift is a family-friendly movie with talented actors who gave a stunning performance. I can't decide on my favorite character, because Emily and Jason both play dynamic, extraordinary parts. Alyssa's favorite character was Emily, because of her humor and attitude about life. She said a few sassy things, but Alyssa really liked how Emily whispered to Jason during her Christmas holiday, "If you got nothing out of the deal but her (Alexia) - you'd still be a huge winner." This girl really puts things into perspective for Jason. This movie has it all drama, action, romance, friendship, adventure, and so much more.

The movie definitely teaches some major character trait lessons. Children will learn about generosity, love, kindness, loyalty, persistence, hard-work, courage, selflessness, ambition, and other important character traits. The strong plot teaches us valuable life-changing lessons. Christian themes are interwoven beautifully into the plot with a handful of touching scenes. The main character, or protagonist, dramatically changes from a spoiled, arrogant, rich kid to a kind, lovestruck, and generous man. You'll fall in love with this character as he develops and becomes more mature and passionate about the important things in life and how you should live it. His adventure helps him learn about unconditional love, friendship, family, and gratefulness.

The Ultimate Gift is a must see! It made us go through a mixture of emotions. We laughed out loud during hilarious parts and cried during other parts. One funny part that made Alyssa and I both laugh was when Jason was being lazy on a Texas ranch. He didn't want to wake up early to work so Gus (Brian Dennehy), the rancher, woke him up with a cattle prod. Jason's facial expressions made us burst out in laughter. This was one of Alyssa's many favorite parts! I tried to take a photograph of the screen, but there's a shadow at the top because of my television armoire doors.

Jason also learns that he is no longer given the luxuries of first class airline passenger benefits when he gets sent back to the economy class seating area. For the first time in his life, he experiences the reality of airplane rides as he sits next to a man falling asleep on his shoulder and a crying baby. This was another movie scene that made us giggle. His facial expressions really help you feel or relate to the frustration he is experiencing during the plane ride.  

Will Jason figure out the real meaning of life? 

We hope to watch the rest of the trilogy in the near future. I had a desire to watch more and was super excited when I found out they had additional movies in this series. FishFlix.com was already one of my go to movie buying websites. I visit their website quite often searching for Christian-based entertainment as gifts for my daughter. I love browsing through the $5 Christian DVD's or under the Bargains tab in hopes to find a new treasure to watch. You can even search movies based on Recent Offers for different percentages off. I reviewed another one of their products in the past called Little Boy which we also thoroughly enjoyed.

Recommendations
I highly recommend The Ultimate Gift for family fun movie night for mature audiences ages 10 and up. The lessons to be learned are meaningful and relevant in today's materialistic world. It really makes you think about your priorities in life. Grab a box of Kleenex and some hot, buttery popcorn ready to eat!

Price
$6.99 - $14.98

Note: Prices are subject to change without notice. FishFlix.com provides free shipping on orders of $40 or more. You can also subscribe to their email newsletter to receive a 10% off coupon.

Watch the movie trailer below to see if The Ultimate Gift sounds interesting to you.

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Visit The Schoolhouse Review Crew blog to read the reviews for 10 different FishFlix.com movies. Click the link to read the reviews and hear about other crew member experiences! 

I can't wait to read the reviews for Woodlawn which is one of the movies on my wish list!

B&H Publishing Review: Little Tree Found written by Troy Schmidt

Christmas is right around the corner! I enjoy reviewing books, but I absolutely LOVE reviewing children's Christmas books. The most recent book I reviewed for B and H Publishing was titled, Little Tree Found, written by Troy Schmidt and illustrated by Rob Corley and Chuck Vollmer.

My Thoughts
This 32-page hardcover children's book had a beautiful cover with bits of glitter shimmering on the snow-capped tree limbs. The book is about a lonely tree in the middle of the forest who attempts to make friends every chance he gets. One day he is yanked out of the ground - the only home he has ever known. The tree expresses the fear, loneliness, and pain due to the experience. As the other trees disappear from the tree lot, he begins to feel lost, worried, and thirsty for water (life). He feels hopeless. He begins to wither away until a father and his son buy him and give new meaning to his life. I feel that the father and the son are representative of our Father in Heaven and His Son. The author says, "Then out of the darkness and into the light stepped two friendly creatures. One was the father and the other, his son, but they walked together as if they were one." The little tree hopes that they will purchase him after he bows and gives his word offering his life to them. The little tree is no longer feels lonely and finds joy and happiness with his new life - a life which celebrates Christmas year-round.

The message of salvation which can only come from Jesus Christ wasn't necessarily clearly stated in terms for young readers. An adult may need to discuss this message further with their child. It's a story about a new life or beginning with God and His Son, Jesus Christ.

A parent connection is included as a bonus feature. Basically, it consists of a series of question prompts to jump start a conversation with your child about what the story means and is intended to be utilized and discussed after reading the story. There is a prayer towards the back of the book that your child can repeat when they accept God's Love. They'll make a commitment to live with Him forever.

Prices
B&H $12.99
Lifeway $9.74
Amazon $11.57

Note: All prices are subject to change without notice.

Recommendations
This was a good, sweet story about salvation. Honestly, this book wasn't at the top of my book list to read during Christmas, but it still contained an important message. The book is suitable for Christian parents with children between the  ages of 4-8 enrolled in preschool through 3rd grade. I also recommend this book for Sunday School teachers.

Disclaimer
I received a complimentary, free copy of this book from the publisher as part of the B and H Publishing Group Book Review Program in exchange for an honest, unbiased review on my blog. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this information in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

BookCrash Review: The First Christmas retold by Janice D. Green

I recently reviewed The First Christmas as retold by Janice D. Green with illustrations by the talented Violet Vandor. I strive to focus on the birth of Jesus during the Christmas season. I'm already preparing for Christmas by reading and choosing books for my Christmas Book Tree Advent Countdown which is one of my favorite Christmas traditions. I also try to tie in an activities related to the story read aloud. Let me tell you about a book I reviewed that includes both a familiar story we must all hear and a fun activity that'll engage your child.

Book Description (From the Website)

The First Christmas, by Janice Green and illustrated by Violet Vandor, tells the account of the birth of Jesus Christ. Adults and children alike will enjoy snuggling up to share these thirteen colorful scenes and the engaging discussion questions as this timeless story unfolds. Even older readers may be surprised to learn something new as they read again of the Messiah's birth.

My Thoughts
The 32-page paperback book gives a well-written, detailed, and complete account of the Nativity Story. The message is one that has been heard by many over the years but is of great importance for all children. I really appreciated the italicized conversation starters or questions found on each page that enable the parent to check their child's understanding following each section of the story. These questions will help you interact and engage with your child and help them focus on key topics. The questions help children make personal connections to their lives and feelings in relation to the story. For example, the author asks the child in the book "How do you think Mary and Joseph felt to have to walk or ride a donkey for days? Can you think of a time when you were very tired but you couldn't stop and rest?" The questions will spark a conversation and get the child thinking about their lives.

The lovely illustrations are simple and suitable for all children. There are not any inappropriate or violent illustrations in this retelling. There is a relevant illustration on the left side of each two-page spread of the story.

I love books that include meaningful activities within the pages of the book. This children's book concludes with a Bible Quilt activity that reinforces the truths from the Bible. The First Christmas coloring pages for the family activity are found on the publisher's website, however they are not FREE. They cost $1.50 for a PDF downloadable file which is reasonably priced considering the memories and possible traditions you'll create with your family. I do feel that it would be in the best interest of the author to offer these coloring pages FREE to individuals that purchase the book. This could be done using a special link and/or password added at the front of the book.

I would like to note that this book begins not with the angel's announcement to Mary, but that it begins with Gabriel's visit to Zachariah and Elizabeth about the birth of John the Baptist. You'll hear about Mary and Joseph's visits from the Angel, Mary's visit with her cousin Elizabeth, their travels to Bethlehem, the discussion with the innkeeper, Jesus's birth, the angel's visit with the shepherds, and lastly the journey of the Three Wise Men as captured in 13 colorful scenes depicting this retelling of Jesus's birth.

A small suggestion to the author would be to capitalize any words or phrases that reference God or Jesus. Another minor suggestion would be to make the story more concise for younger readers who may not be able to sit still for long time periods. It may be a little too wordy for readers in the youngest age group.

Recommendations
I recommend this delightful book to Christian families with children in preschool through early elementary ages 4-12. You could read the book as part of your morning devotions or bedtime read aloud during the Christmas season. I will be giving this book to my daughter for Christmas this year. You could even break the story up over several days reading a little each day to make it easier on younger children. It would make a perfect Christmas gift for relatives and friends. There's a good chance that this book may become a tradition if you enjoy reading Christmas stories every year. I know every year we enjoy telling the story of Jesus's birth. If you do too, then this read aloud book can be added to your collection. You may even want to share this title with the Children's Ministry staff members at your church or even with grandparents.

Price
HoneyComb Adventures $9.95
Amazon $9.95

Note: All prices are subject to change without notice. Websites may include selected pages to preview before purchasing the book.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary, free copy of this book from the publisher through the BookCrash book review program in exchange for an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this information in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."