Discover the love of books with A Simply Enchanted Life. We review a variety of books, typically family friendly though not always in the Christian Genre. Book content will be thoroughly outlined and teen friendly books will be marked with an easy to find seal of approval.
In edition to books you will also find product reviews, recipes, occasional posts about my life, and information on my handmade shops.
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
★: Didn't Like it
★★: It was Ok
★★★: Liked it ★★★★: Really liked it
★★★★★: It was amazing
Suggested Age:4-8 Genre:Children's Fiction
This was a very cute little book with a great moral. My four,
seven and nine year old all enjoyed reading this book.As usual, the Veggie Tales stories always
make a great effort to teach the children a lesson a valuable lesson.The colorful illustrations kept the
attention of my four year old. She especially loved the “moustache.”
I would happily review any Veggie Tale book from Zondervan in the future.Per personal preferences, I would rather see
King James references given, even in children’s books. Thus, I feel it is
important to note this for other parents.Otherwise, this was a great read for the little ones!
This book is really cute and I’m so glad that I’ve had the privilege
of reviewing it for Litfuse.I have six
girls, ranging in age from thirteen, down to the baby at age one.
All of my girls have really enjoyed this book. My oldest daughter
has been reading to her siblings and the littlest girls enjoy looking at the
pictures as well as reading.
When I first took this book, I was thinking it would be more
appropriate for my four year old but in fact, it’s a thick book with beautiful
artwork and fantastically written rhythmical stories.
The thing I loved about this book is that each story was prefaced with where to
find each story in the Bible and I think that is so important.I can read them the story from the Bible and
then back it up with the children’s story book to make it a little easier for
them to understand.
I would definitely love to see more Bible story books from
this publisher and author.
These books are really cute and I thought that my two youngest daughters would enjoy them.
With six girls living in this home—I’m sure you can imagine that MLP is pretty popular around these parts. Of course, we had to get the baby something to show our MLP pride—plus, she loves books!
The artwork is super cute and the books come in a very handy box with a handle, making it easy to carry these books with us.
Ink has faded on her cheeks!
Each book is filled with glossy artwork, and bright colors that grabs the little one’s attention.
To be honest, I would love everything about these books except for one reason—the ink fades! After a few minutes of playing—my baby’s hands and face have ink on them.
Now, granted she’s only going on seven months and the box does claim to be for 10+months. The problem is, even a 10 month old will mouth their board books.
This is a unique problem that I have never encountered with other board books. It’s a given that board books and baby books will be chewed on at times. The ink should not be coming off on her face and hands. View all my reviews
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Super cute! I enjoyed the little devotions presented in this book and my daughter really enjoys it as a bedtime story. Colorful illustrations will keep your little one interested. It is more appropriate for toddlers than for older children but it introduces them to the idea of a devotion time. Simple and cute.
Crystal Bowman is a former preschool teacher, author, and speaker. She graduated from Calvin College with a degree in elementary education and studied early childhood development at the University of Michigan. Her writing career began in 1990 as a lyricist for children's piano music. She began writing children's books in 1993 and has since written more than 70 books for children and 3 for women. She has written books for many popular children's series, such as Little Blessings, BOZ the Bear, MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers), and I Can Read!
Crystal and her husband, Bob, have enjoyed 38 years of marriage and are the parents of 3 grown children and 1 grandchild. They live in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and Palm Beach Gardens, Florida
I received this book free from Tyndale Publishers in exchange for an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
This is one of the cutest little Bible storybooks that I've seen in a long time.
The padded hardcover just feels perfect for a bedtime story book.
The illustrations are absolutely beautiful and there were many stories to choose from both the Old and New Testament.
My toddler is enjoying this book. It is on that note that I have to go back to bragging on the illustrations because they're just so stunning that they keep my little one engaged in the story. I would definitely recommend this for Christian parents to read to their toddler and preschoolers.
You can get this little book in pink or blue for a little girl or for a little boy.
I received this book free from Kregel Publications in exchange for an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
This little book has provided hours of fun for my children; especially during church when my three year old becomes antsy.
This spiral bound booklet comes with a black felt tip pen but I bought additional colored dry erase markers so that she could color the pictures. Always make sure that the dry erase markers you buy will wipe off easily. There is a tester block on the back of the book for testing purposes which I really appreciated.
This little book has activities that are appropriate for toddlers such as pages they can color and then there are activities older children will enjoy as well such as dot to dot, mazes, spot the mistake and word puzzles. Fun, educational and biblical makes this book a win win for parents with young children! View all my reviews
I received this book free from Kregel Publications in exchange for an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
I had been looking forward to reading this little story for some time. My daughters have gotten interested in the Amish and this story will be perfect to read for bedtime stories to the little ones and the older ones will enjoy reading it themselves. I got this book for them for Christmas and couldn't resist reading it before I wrapped it up for them. At some point in the future I will update this review with their thoughts. This story is co-authored by Mary Ann Kinsinger and Suzanne Woods Fisher. Mary Ann Kinsinger was raised Old Order Amish and The Adventures of Lily Lapp series is a way for her to capture childhood memories of being raised Amish.
Lily Lapp is a sweet little Amish girl who is learning the joys and hardships of life such as dealing with a new baby brother, starting school and learning to make new friends. Lily lives on a small farm in upstate New York—she has a cranky English neighbor, a miniature horse, chickens, a dog and a horse named Jim that pulls the family's buggy. Along the way we'll see Lily learn that not all adults are nice and sometimes a trusted parent or adult should be told—this storyline will open dialogue about the difference in tattling and being honest about someone hurting you or your friends. Each chapter in this story is a short story about the different things going on in Lily's life. There are stories about change, moving to a new home and also about choosing our friends wisely. There are a lot of laughs but also a lot of more serious lessons to be learned as well. I loved that about this little book. The children can read it on their own as a fun fictional story or an adult can read it with them to open up conversation about how we can apply Lily's lessons to their own life.
Coming February 2013!!! A New Home for Lily-Lily Lapp is moving with her family to Pennsylvania to join a new Amish community. In this small town where changes--and newcomers--are greeted with suspicion, Lily must adjust to a new school, new friends, and Aaron Yoder, an annoying boy who teases her relentlessly. Still, there are exciting new developments, including an attic full of adventure and a new baby brother. But why, Lily wonders, can't God bring her just one sister?
Mary Ann Kinsinger was raised Old Order Amish in Somerset County, Pennsylvania. She met and married her husband, whom she knew from school days and started a family. After they chose to leave the Amish church, Mary Ann began a blog, A Joyful Chaos, as a way to capture her warm memories of her childhood for her own children. From the start, this blog found a ready audience and even captured the attention of key media players, such as the influential blog AmishAmerica and the New York Times. She lives in Pennsylvania.
In no particular order, Suzanne Woods Fisher is a wife, mother, writer, lifelong student of the Bible, raiser of puppies for Guide Dogs for the Blind, a gardener and a cook...the latter two with sporadic results.
Suzanne has loved to write since she was a young teen. After college, she started to write for magazines and became a contributing editor for Christian Parenting Today magazine. Her family moved to Hong Kong for four years, just as the internet was developing, and she continued to write articles in a 44-story high-rise apartment, sending manuscripts 7,000 miles away with a click of a key.
After returning from Hong Kong, Suzanne decided to give her first novel a try. For four and a half months, she worked on an antediluvian computer in a cramped laundry room. She didn't even tell her husband what she was up to. When the novel was completed, she told her family at dinner one night that she had written a book. "That's why there's no food in this house!" said her slightly insensitive sons.
Undaunted...Suzanne found a small royalty publisher for that book and wrote three more (all earned multiple). With help from an agent, she has five books currently under contract with Revell. On September 1st, Amish Peace: Simple Wisdom for a Complicated World, a non-fiction book of stories and examples about the Old Order Amish, will be released by Revell. The Choice, a novel about the Amish, will follow on January 1st.
Writing, for Suzanne, is a way to express a love of God and His word. With every book or article, she hopes readers get a sense of what faith really looks like in the daily grind. She hopes they realize that life can be hard, but God is good, and never to confuse the two.
Suzanne can be found on-line at: www.suzannewoodsfisher.com
The author has graciously provided me with bookmarks and post cards to share with my readers! I have (no) bookmarks and 7 postcards left. If you would like one please comment below with your preference of a bookmark or postcard and then contact me at apmamakristin@yahoo.com to let me know where I can mail them to you! Do not post your address in the comments below.
Morris is an advertising column in a small town. Once he was one of the most important features of the village. Standing tall and proud with advertisements for events and activities going on in the community. Unfortunately, people have abused Morris. They have torn down his advertisements and covered him with graffiti. As a result, no one gathers around the town center anymore. No more smiling children or local artists and entertainment. The city council wishes to replace Morris with a flashy neon sign. Finally Morris has had enough. He asks for help from two village children. He asks that they restore him and clean him up. A big flashy neon sign can't be the center of joy and entertainment!
This was a cute little book that teaches children the value of respecting your community and respecting community property. The author, Ms Doris Rueger is also an artist that uses illustrated the book with colorful crayon drawings and collages. It's a fantastic way to discuss the arts and the importance of your community.
About the Author:
Dor Rueger emigrated to America and having had to adjust to a new country and culture gave her great insight into the challenges that so many youngsters from diverse backgrounds face daily. A wife, mother and grandmother, Reuger has worked with people from all over the world for over thirty years.
I received a complementary copy of this book from the Author. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
Poppy and the Stranger by Eli Jay
My rating: 3 of 5 stars About the Book
Poppy is a little wandering balloon that is out on an adventure. However, Poppy sees his shadow and is afraid. He thinks a stranger is following him! With the help of his friends and a very wise bear, Poppy learns that we all have a shadow and that we shouldn't be afraid.
My thoughts
I thought this was a cute little book. My four year old had some thoughts though, "If he thought a stranger was following him why didn't he find an adult or a police officer?" It made me realize that maybe the topic of a shadow shouldn't have been called a stranger as this might make children think they shouldn't be alarmed by strangers. I know it made my daughter ask! Otherwise, cute little book and the illustrations are simple but appealing to my little ones.
A picture my daughter drew of Poppy!
About the Author
Eli Jay is the author of Poppy, The Wandering Balloon and Poppy and the Stranger. She is also a physician and a native of Washington, DC. It is here Eli lives with her family and continues to write, produce, and illustrate several Poppy adventures. Many of these adventures will live on through a delightful and intriguing children's series for decades to come. Poppy is not only an adorable little green balloon, but he has also been described by many reviewers as the ultimate inner child within each one of us. Poppy is a character who happens to be a source of inspiration, hope and comfort to those big and small. And that is just what he will be to you and your family as you enter his world.
I received this book free from the author in exchange for an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own
