Archive for the ‘Children’ Category

Review: The Midwife of Bethlehem – Shad Driggs

Thursday, November 5th, 2015
The Midwife of Bethlehem
Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: Shad Driggs; 1st edition (November 14, 2015)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0990878007
ISBN-13: 978-0990878001
Order book here:

amazon

Synopsis:

A woman is granted the honor of being midwife to Mary during the birth of Jesus.

Characters:

Rebecca – Midwife to the women of Bethlehem
Rachel – Her assistant.

Review

This was a very sweet story, and with the Christmas Holiday coming up would be a great purchase for those with small children. I could easily see this becoming a holiday tradition with some families.

The book’s prose is nicely done, and the illustrations by Diane Lucas help bring the story to life. For those who celebrate Christmas, and love the Christmas story, I think you’d like this book which gives a different perspective view of that night.

About the Author

Shad DriggsShad Driggs is a businessman who lives in Naperville, Illinois. He and his wife, Darla, and their six children dedicate many hours in service to their church and community. After very unexpected heart surgery in 2014, he was determined to share the beautiful Christmas story that had formed in his head. The Midwife of Bethlehem is his first book.

*Disclaimer* A special thanks goes out to Rebecca at The Cadence Group for a review copy of this book. It in no way influenced my review. You can discuss it here or join my facebook page and discuss it there.

Review: The Prince Who was Just Himself – Silke Schnee

Tuesday, November 3rd, 2015
The Prince Who Was Just Himself
Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: Plough Publishing House (September 1, 2015)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0874866820
ISBN-13: 978-0874866827
Order book here:

amazon

Synopsis:

A young prince teaches his kingdom about diversity.

Characters:

Prince Noah – A prince who is a little different than his brothers.

Review

When Prince Noah was born, most of the kingdom thought he was a little different. Some laughed at him. No one took him seriously. Prince Noah had been born with Down Syndrome. However, when he manages to save the kingdom, people realize that there is a greatness in all people.

I thought this was a very beautiful and modern fairy tale. Growing up around those with special needs such as Down Syndrome I was able to related to the story. The story was beautifully told with very nice illustrations by artist Heike Sistig.

If you have children, then by all means pick up this book. I think you’d really like it, and enjoy reading it to them, plus they’d learn a valuable lesson at the same time.

*Disclaimer* A special thanks goes out to Julie at Handlebar Publishing for a review copy of this book. It in no way influenced my review. You can discuss it here or join my facebook page and discuss it there.

Stranger Danger – Guest Post – Sheriff Robert Kahn

Thursday, July 30th, 2015

The way that Bobby and Mandee’s: To Safe For Strangers developed was a fluke.

A reserve deputy and I were requested to teach a latch key class, to 6 children after school. On the way there, we decided to teach “NO, GO TELL”, which was a stranger lesson. The deputy and I were there for 90 mins and we left.

Two days later, the latch key teacher called and told me “you are not going to believe what happened last night. Three of the children, one being my son, were playing in the park while the adults were watching a softball game. A man drove up in a van, walked over to the children and said “HEY KIDS, I HAVE PUPPIES IN MY VAN, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE THEM? The children ran off to their parents and told them what had just taken place. I believe if it weren’t for the lesson a few days past, that the children would have gone with the man and more than likely it wouldn’t have had a good ending”.

I went and spoke to the sheriff, about this incident and he responded “let’s develop a pilot program and perfect the stranger danger program for our county.” This was the start of the TOO SAFE FOR STRANGER PROGRAM.

This program became so successful, that I decided to write this book, having the two main characters be my children, Bobby and Mandee.

About the Author:

Bob Kahn has a Master’s Degree in Education. He was a sixth grade teacher for ten years. He became concerned with the drug and gang problems that are plaguing our nation.

He became a D.A.R.E. instructor. While teaching D.A.R.E., he perfected a program he calls “too smart for strangers.” His program has foiled twenty-two stranger abductions. His first book Too Safe for Strangers is based on this program. His other books on children’s safety reflect his knowledge of working with children and helping them deal with today’s problems.

He lives in Nevada with his wife Kandee and two children Bobby and Mandee (of course).

Review: Too Smart for Bullies – Robert Kahn

Thursday, July 30th, 2015
Too Smart for Bullies
Paperback: 24 pages
Publisher: Future Horizons (October 1, 2001)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1885477767
ISBN-13: 978-9781885477767
Order book here:

amazon

Review
Bobby and Mandee are back, and this time they are tackling the issue of bullying. Mandee is being bullied by this guy in their neighborhood. Through Bobby helping his sister, your child can learn what bullying is, understand a little about why kids (and adults) bully, and what all can be done about it. Bullying can be a serious problem, as thousands of young people each year take their own life as a result. If your child is facing bullies at their school, on their bus, or anywhere they spend time, you may find this book helpful.

At the end of the book you can find checklists, a coloring page, a safety test, and 911 tips for parents. So check out Too Smart for Bullies, or buy it for a gift for the parents of small children in your life.

About the Author

Robert Kahn has a Master’s Degree in Education. It was during Kahn’s tenure as a sixth grade teacher that he became concerned about the safety issues that involve children and decided to become a Deputy Sheriff to help educate and protect our youth from harm. He started a Stranger Danger program in local schools and community service organizations. Local law enforcement credits this program in foiling over 40 attempted abductions by strangers. To-date, Robert has given over 20,000 presentations covering 15 different topics on children’s safety issues.

Kahn’s mission is to keep all kids safe, but he can’t be everywhere at the same time. So, with the insight and knowledge gained from his experiences, Kahn began to write a series of children’s safety books. His first book, Bobby and Mandee’s Too Safe for Strangers, is based on his program. His other safety books help children learn how to deal with today’s problems.

All of his books are told in the voice of his own children, Bobby and Mandee! Kahn’s daughter Mandee is the main character although Bobby plays a very important role in the books. As a high-functioning autistic, “If he can understand the books, anybody can!” Kahn stresses the books simplicity so that anyone can benefit from them. Using simple language, the books introduce the concepts and then provide tips on how to deal with them.

The main age when something happens to a child is second grade through young adult. As kids start doing more things alone, it is imperative that they know how to help themselves to stay safe. The goal of the Bobby and Mandee Safety Series is to provide parents, educators and other trusted adults with essential information to share with our precious children to keep them safe in today’s world.

For more information, visit www.bobbyandmandee.com

*Disclaimer* A special thanks goes out to Rebecca at Cadence Marketing for a review copy of this book. It in no way influenced my review. You can discuss it here or join my facebook page and discuss it there.

Review: Too Safe for Strangers – Robert Kahn

Tuesday, July 28th, 2015
Too Safe For Strangers
Paperback: 24 pages
Publisher: Future Horizons (October 1, 2001)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1885477759
ISBN-13: 978-9781885477750
Order book here:

amazon

Review

This is a children’s book, so any review for it will have to be pretty brief. It features the characters of Bobby and Mandee. They help the parent through the story tell their child about strangers. What a stranger is? The difference in good and bad strangers, and what to do and not do with strangers. While I don’t have kids, I felt this book could be very help. The author, Deputy Sherriff Robert Kahn manages to deliver all the information, and along with the illustrations by Sue Lynn Cotton, provides a story that I think could be very helpful.

At the end of the book you can find checklists, a coloring page, a safety test, and 911 tips for parents. So check out Too Safe for Strangers, or buy it for a gift for the parents of small children in your life.

About the Author

Robert Kahn has a Master’s Degree in Education. It was during Kahn’s tenure as a sixth grade teacher that he became concerned about the safety issues that involve children and decided to become a Deputy Sheriff to help educate and protect our youth from harm. He started a Stranger Danger program in local schools and community service organizations. Local law enforcement credits this program in foiling over 40 attempted abductions by strangers. To-date, Robert has given over 20,000 presentations covering 15 different topics on children’s safety issues.

Kahn’s mission is to keep all kids safe, but he can’t be everywhere at the same time. So, with the insight and knowledge gained from his experiences, Kahn began to write a series of children’s safety books. His first book, Bobby and Mandee’s Too Safe for Strangers, is based on his program. His other safety books help children learn how to deal with today’s problems.

All of his books are told in the voice of his own children, Bobby and Mandee! Kahn’s daughter Mandee is the main character although Bobby plays a very important role in the books. As a high-functioning autistic, “If he can understand the books, anybody can!” Kahn stresses the books simplicity so that anyone can benefit from them. Using simple language, the books introduce the concepts and then provide tips on how to deal with them.

The main age when something happens to a child is second grade through young adult. As kids start doing more things alone, it is imperative that they know how to help themselves to stay safe. The goal of the Bobby and Mandee Safety Series is to provide parents, educators and other trusted adults with essential information to share with our precious children to keep them safe in today’s world.

For more information, visit www.bobbyandmandee.com

*Disclaimer* A special thanks goes out to Rebecca at Cadence Marketing for a review copy of this book. It in no way influenced my review. You can discuss it here or join my facebook page and discuss it there.

Giveaway – The Christmas Cats Chase the Christmas Rats – Connie Corcoran Wilson

Thursday, December 5th, 2013

Thanks to Teddy at Virtual Author Book Tours I”m able to offer my readers a copy of this book in their choice of printed or ebook. To enter, follow these simple rules:

1) One Entry if you’re a follower [You can follow through Google Friend connect to the right, you can also sign up to follow through Twitter or Facebook].
2) An Additonal Entry if you blog about this contest.
3) An Additonal Entry if you’re a new follower.
4) One entry each for posting on facebook and/or twitter.
5) Must leave a comment letting me know how you follow me, blog link to this post, facebook/twitter link, etc.
6) Contest will continue until 12/19/2013.
7) This giveaway is open to residents of US and Canada. No PO Box addresses (street mailing only).

See our review here.

Giveaway – Journey to Galumphagos – Seth Eisner

Tuesday, November 26th, 2013

Thanks to Teddy at Virtual Author Book Tours I”m able to offer my readers 1 print or ebook copy of this book. To enter, follow these simple rules:

1) One Entry if you’re a follower [You can follow through Google Friend connect to the right, you can also sign up to follow through Twitter or Facebook].
2) An Additonal Entry if you blog about this contest.
3) An Additonal Entry if you’re a new follower.
4) One entry each for posting on facebook and/or twitter.
5) Must leave a comment letting me know how you follow me, blog link to this post, facebook/twitter link, etc.
6) Contest will continue until 12/05/2013.
7) This giveaway is open to residents of US and Canada. No PO Box addresses (street mailing only).

See our review here.

Review: Journey to Galumphagos – Seth Eisner

Tuesday, November 26th, 2013
Paperback: 84 pages
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (August 4, 2013)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1491082321
ISBN-13: 978-1491082324
Order book here:

amazon

Order E-book here:
amazon

Characters:

Chloe Miller –
Jacob Miller – Six or seven year old boy.
Emily Miller – The eldest of the Miller Siblings.

Synopsis:

Three young children, bored, and tired of living at home set out for the imaginary land of Galumphagos Island. Once there they learn that sometimes getting what you want isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.

Review

I found this to be a very cute little story. At just 84 pages it can be read in one or two nights. While I don’t have kids, it’s aimed at the third grade and above level, and I think kids at that level will find it a very enjoyable story. The more timid kids though may find themselves having nightmares of the Galumphers. However the book I think is very good at teaching cooperation, thinking creatively, and never giving up. It is both entertaining, and educational and for that alone I’m happy to recommend it to anyone with children or grandchildren.

Thanks to Teddy we are able to offer 1 copy of Journey to Galumphagos to a lucky reader. Simply go here and enter.

About the Author

Seth Eisner was an unemployed English professor who wrote a 400-page dissertation on Jane Austen before he gave up trying to be poor and went to law school. He spent most of his career as inside counsel at Kraft Foods. He retired as Vice President and Associate General Counsel.

Seth has been married to Rosalind for 44 years during which she has shown almost infinite patience. They have three adult children, three children-in-law, and six grandchildren, none yet old enough to read Journey to Galumphagos, but they will be by the time the sequel comes out next year.

Seth Eisner on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/seth.eisner.98?fref=ts

*Disclaimer* A special thanks goes out to Teddy at Virtual Author Book Tours for a review copy of this book. It in no way influenced my review. You can discuss it here or join my facebook page and discuss it there.

Review: Mission One of Auggie The Alien – Leah Spiegel and Megan Summers

Thursday, November 7th, 2013
Paperback: 146 pages
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (June 6, 2013)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1490377107
ISBN-13: 978-1490377100
Order book here:

amazon

Order E-book here:
amazon

Characters:

Auggie – Nine Year Old Human/Alien Hybrid.
Mrs. Malumrector – Auggie’s Fourth Grade Teacher.
Left Hand Chuck – Auggie’s best friend.

Synopsis:

Auggie is trying to learn the habits of earth people. For his first mission, he set three goals: Attend a sleepover, go on a social outing, and attend a birthday party. Along the way, in trying to achieve his goals, he often runs afoul of his teacher and finds himself at the end of many incidents of miscommunication.

Review

This was an entertaining little story. There was a lot of humor that resulted from Auggie’s not understanding our language and culture. Some of the humor though, such as thinking GrandMa was from Massachusetts (Ma) and GrandPa was from Pennsylvania (Pa) seemed like it may be above the heads of the target audience.

The characters though really made me think they were kids, though at times, I think the language and thinking patterns were a little too developed for that age group. However, it’s been a very, very long time since I was nine, so they may be more sophisticated then I was at that age.

Overall though, I’d definitely recommend this book to parents and grandparents for their 9 year olds, or those around that age. There was no objectionable language, and I think it would be appropriate for almost any child, and I think it’s one they’d definitely enjoy.

We are pleased to be able to offer our readers a copy of Auggie the Alien. To enter go here and enter.

About the Authors

 Leah Spiegel, a graduate of Edinboro University, spent her first twenty years drawing imaginary worlds, and now she writes about them. She is a native of Washington, Pennsylvania but has lived in North Carolina for the last six years. Check out her upcoming books on her blog: www.leahspiegelandmegansummers.blogspot.com/

Megan Summers received her teaching degree from Edinboro University and her Masters in Curriculum and Instruction with an Emphasis in Technology from Grand Canyon University. She is a native of Washington, Pennsylvania but has been teaching in Morganton, North Carolina for the past thirteen years.
You can follow them on Facebook and Twitter

*Disclaimer* A special thanks goes out to Teddy at Virtual Author Book Tours for a review copy of this book. It in no way influenced my review. You can discuss it here or join my facebook page and discuss it there.

Giveaway – Mission One of Auggie the Alien

Thursday, November 7th, 2013

Thanks to Teddy at Virtual Author Book Tours, I’m able to offer my readers 1 copy of this book in either print or ebook. To enter, follow these simple rules:

1) One Entry if you’re a follower [You can follow through Google Friend connect to the right, you can also sign up to follow through Twitter or Facebook].
2) An Additonal Entry if you blog about this contest.
3) An Additonal Entry if you’re a new follower.
4) One entry each for posting on facebook and/or twitter.
5) Must leave a comment letting me know how you follow me, blog link to this post, facebook/twitter link, etc.
6) Contest will continue until 11/14/2013.
7) This giveaway is open to residents of US and Canada. No PO Box addresses (street mailing only).

See our review here.