* Mama Buzz, and reviewers, were provided with a complimentary copy of this book for blog tour purposes*

Big Thoughts for Little People by Kenneth N. Taylor

Ages 3-7

Hardcover retails for $14.99

I wasn’t quite sure what I was getting when I agreed to review Big Thoughts for Little People by Kenneth N. Taylor. But, when I received the book, I was delightfully surprised…and so were my children. Their faces lit up at the bright colors and beautiful illustrations. I ate up the rich Biblical text full of engaging discussion. And by engaging, I mean, for me and my two year old as well as my older children. The ladybugs, especially, were a big hit for the kids and served as a tool to hold their attention while I read. But, I’m getting ahead of myself.

Let’s start with an explanation of the product. Big Thoughts for Little People is an ABC book written by Kenneth N. Taylor. You probably don’t recognize the author, but you will recognize where he came from. He was the founder of Tyndale Publishing…a very large Christian publishing firm. Mr. Taylor wrote this book in the ’80s. This current version has been republished with new illustrations from Andrea Petrlik Huseinovic.

So, here’s how the book works: On the left side of the page a letter is introduced (great for beginning readers). The letter is introduced with a character trait, either good or bad with a four line rhyme that briefly introduces the trait. Then, in smaller print is more information about the trait…this information can include observing the picture on the right hand side or talking about how/who/why we need to have or not have that particular trait. Below the description of the trait is three questions pertaining to what was discussed or what is happening in the picture. And lastly, on the left side of the page, is a Scripture verse. And, as I just mentioned, the right hand side is a picture. There are children of all shapes, sizes, and colors doing all sorts of activities in each picture. Each of the pictures is just busy enough to keep my children gazing, observing, and coming back for more. In the pictures and on the pages are ladybugs. Lots of ladybugs in fact! So, part of the fun comes in finding all the ladybugs on the pages.

I’ve re-worked my schedule during the day to allow time for “school” for the younger children. This means, that we have time to sit and read, mostly. My first choice last week, was this book. The boys, Josiah and Liam, have loved cuddling on the couch, discussing what was in the book and then searching for ladybugs. Oftentimes, Liam would stop looking for ladybugs and want to discuss what the people in the picture were doing.

What a great opportunity to start introducing your young child to positive character traits and also to provide a way to talk to your child about them. This book would be ideal to help jumpstart devotionals/family worship with young children. The verses are short and would be great to start to “hide God’s Word” in a child’s heart. As a plus, the beautiful illustrations and rich text have drawn my children back to it time and again. I have a feeling this will be a go-to book for them!

And now, a funny from Liam.

Liam’s answer: “Mommy and Daddy punch us.”

Not to self: Make sure, when reading, that you pronounce words clearly!

*This book was given as a complimentary copy to Mama Buzz and reviewers, for blog tour purposes.*

The Tallest of Smalls by Max Lucado 

Ages 4-7

Retails for $16.99

Those who knew me as I was growing up already know that I really struggled with “fitting in” or relating to others.  I was too tall, had big feet, and liked to read.  Ugh…how do you fit in with people when you’re like that. When I accepted Christ in high school, I realized that trying to be like others and wanting that was not important.  Christ was all I needed and He loved me no matter how I looked and no matter what I did.

Max Lucado relays this message clearly and concisely to children in his latest book The Tallest of Smalls.  Zoe read the book to Liam when it first came in and I had to choke by tears.  Realizing, once again, that Christ loves me no matter what I look like or how much I do (or don’t do).  I just finished reading it again, to LIam and Ace.  While the tale is simplistic, that’s all that’s needed, to introduce a child to Christ’s undeserved love.  The book is written in prose and is very reminiscent of a certain children’s author who wrote about a cat in a certain piece of apparel.  So, the flow of the text is smooth and very inviting (especially to someone who adores the writings of that certain children’s author who wrote about a cat in a certain piece of apparel).

I guess when I thought I was getting a book by Lucado, I was picturing my much loved collection of Wemmicksville books.  The illustrations in it are very classic.  However, I was pleasantly surprise dby Maria Monescillo’s work!  The pictures have more of a modern feel and are very engaging.  I love the bright colors accented by the dark ones.  My description can not do the images justice as I’m not that much of an art conniseur.

In a nutshell, The Tallest of Smalls by Max Lucado and illustrated by Maria Monescillo continues with Lucado’s brilliant work in children’s books.  He (along with Monescillo) is able to capture the attention and imagination of children as well as speaking Biblical truths that Jesus’s love for you is not about what you can do or what you look like, but it is about you as His creation!

Here’s my disclosure (before I forget): This is a Mama Buzz review. The products was provided by Timberdoodle.

Now before I talk about this really neat product that they sent us, I just need to say that when I receive a Timberdoodle catalog, I feel like a kid looking for Christmas toys. In fact, I received a homeschool catalog with the review product and read it cover to cover getting excited about our curriculum choices for the new year (what can I say? I’m a nerd).

That being said, I knew I had to jump at a chance to review one of the products they sell when the offer came up.

And boy did we get some good stuff! Here’s the list of what we received:
One 4 oz. tub of Bubber
One Mirett
One Spoon-Knife
One set of Castle Molds

Now, let me tell you about this new product called “Bubber.” When the box arrived they all started making up little jingles about Bubber. Unfortunately, when it arrived we were extremely busy and it had to sit on the kitchen counter for a few days. I think Zoe read the package two to three times and they all enjoyed guessing at what exactly Bubber is.

And now, I’ll tell you what Bubber is, having experienced this fun squishy stuff first hand. Bubber is a moldable, bendable, tactile learner’s dream! Created in Sweden it resembles other moldable products…but only in the fun name and modability (is that a word?). It’s very light and a 4 ounce tub, although it sounds like very little, contains a lot of bubber. And, unlike some of the pliable kids’ products out there, does not leave your hands ooey gooey and sandy. All the Bubber stayed on the table or in the containers I put it in. It’s soft enough that even Josiah enjoyed it. Typically, with other products like this (can you tell I’m trying not to mention any names) he’ll lose interest or try to eat it because he can’t bend and shape it. Not so with Bubber, he enjoyed squishing and shaping and using the tools we received.

Joy from Timberdoodle warned me that the tools they were sending along were not put out by the same company as Bubber, but when they used the Bubber at conventions and other areas, children flocked to the tools. The mirett is a sculpting tool. I was a bit hesitant to hand it off to my three and four year old as it looked as if someone could poke their eye out. However, they wielded it just fine and used it for its intended purpose…to shape and cut the Bubber, which it did quite easily. The spoon-knife and castle molds were also a big hit. Especially the molds. Now I will put in this disclaimer that I received: Please note that the staircase and the brick wall mold, though included, are not designed to work with Bubber as Bubber is not heavy enough to release from the mold.

I will agree that using the molds with the Bubber did not make a sturdy stick straight product, however, my kids were able to nudge the Bubber out with no problem and Zoe even created a castle!

Even Liam,t he impatient one was able to get the Bubber out of the castle staircase mold.

The other tools included with the castle molds were fun and it was neat to see how creative the kids got with them! There was no need to force the Bubber with the tools…they were able to cut/slice/and push through the products with no problems.

The only problem I noted, and wish I had gotten a picture of, was the Bubber explosion on my kitchen floor. Now, you will note in the pictures that there are pie plates and bowls the kids were supposed to use to keep the Bubber in. However, that just didn’t happen too well. After clean up and a quick sweep with the vacuum (Bubber doesn’t stick to the floor or multiply into little pieces which makes clean up with the vac a cinch) I declared that Bubber would be a good outdoor toy from now on.

To learn more about Bubber, head over to Timberdoodle. Bubber sells for $10.50 for 4 ounces (plenty for my four little ones hands). And now for the tool prices: Mirett ($2.25); Spoon/Knife $.95; Castle Molds $4.95.

This is a review for Mama Buzz and the product, Draw, Write Through History, was provided by CPR Publishing.

The book, Draw and Write Through History written by Carylee Gressman and illustrated by Peggy Dick contains many jewels to help teach your child history, review what they are learning in the Bible, or give them a chance to see how far their artistic skills can take them! There are several sections in the book ranging form Creation all the way through Jonah. Each section contains step by step directions both written and illustrated. Illustrations, from my unartistic point of view range from very simple to very complex. So, this gives the young artist a chance to pick and choose what could be simple, challenging or extremely difficult. At the end of each section, there are two paragraphs written in cursive for the artist to copy. These are both historically and Biblically accurate. The writing exercise also provides great practice on handwriting skills. Professor Doodle is a cartoon character who takes the student step by step to draw anything from a pyramid to Moses.

After discussing our family worship time and what we had been studying, I gave Zoe the book and we flipped through and found a section on Joseph and Moses. We began looking at the figures, and Zoe decided she wanted to try her hand at Joseph. Now, Zoe can get pretty aggravated when she can’t do something right. Something we are constantly having to work with her on. So, I carved out an afternoon to sit with her and work with her. She did an amazing job with the drawing (if I do say so myself). I was quite worried that she would just lose it, but she was pretty patient and I did my best to keep the mood light and fun.

The directions are to the point. There even tips on shadowing, reflection, and other artistic techniques. It was a great chance to build confidence in Zoe as she worked on Joseph. I focused on the positive aspects and ignored the things that may have been harder.

The only problem we really ran into the with the book was that Zoe is not writing cursive yet. She can read some cursive but had to have some help with other words. We worked through that and she copied down the sentences in print.

Draw and Write Through History: Creation through Jonah by Carylee GRessman and illustrated by Peggy Dick is a great supplement to history curriculum (if you homeschool) or worship time. It reinforces Biblical truths, handwriting and history. This is a great opportunity for children who enjoy art to learn basic steps to drawing as well as all the other good things mentioned above! This book, along with three other Draw and Write books sales for $12. You can check out their books here. Not sure if your little one would enjoy it. Check out this sample lesson with them!