Gracie’s Garden by Lara Casey — Book Review

Kudos to illustrator Jon Davis, for making this children’s book lovely inside and out.  Sporting dainty flowers on the cover and charming drawings inside, it will delight the eyes of your youngster.

The author, Lara Casey, draws on gardening experiences with her own children–Gracie, Joshua and Sarah who love to dig, play, and plant, and even more to eat what they have grown themselves.  The children learn how God puts little miracles inside each seed, giving every one exactly what they need to grow into scrumptious fruits and vegetables.

The narrative, although not especially inspiring, leads children through the process of planting, growing and harvesting a garden.  Included with the book purchase is an activity book which can be downloaded for free.  It includes coloring pages and other activities to use while teaching about plants and gardening.

VERDICT:  3 STARS.  If you are a gardener and want to get your children involved, you will love it.  Otherwise, I found it attractive, but not particularly compelling.

If you would like to purchase this book follow the link below:

https://www.lifeway.com/en/product/gracie-s-garden-P005824890

The Lutheran Ladies received a free copy of this book in return for a fair and honest review. Disclaimer pursuant to FTC 16 CFR part 255.

For more books for children see these posts:

GraceFull by Dorena Williamson — Book Review

Where is Wisdom by Scott James — Book Review

The Promises of God Storybook Bible by Jennifer Lyell–Book Review

 

 

 

Big and Little Activity Devotional by Rachel Swanson–Review

This activity devotional written by Rachel Swanson and illustrated by Jacy Corral has a unique and creative format.  In the form of a pad, with the binding at the top, the book can be opened out flat and placed on a table so that a child and adult can each do an activity while facing one another.  When used in this way, one page has an activity geared toward the youngster, the other page has a similar, but more difficult version for the adult.  At the bottom of the child’s page, there is a Bible verse;  at the bottom of the adult’s there is a short reading and questions for both age groups.

It includes word searches, coloring pages, mazes, crosswords, scrambled words and more. There are stories from both Old and New Testaments.  Answers to the various puzzles are at the back of the book.

I can imagine this working well, especially with children who have difficulty simply sitting still and listening.  For some of us, busy hands quiet the mind and allow us to focus!  I think it would be best suited for older elementary age students.

VERDICT:  5 Stars.  Very original.

If you would like to purchase this product follow the link below:

https://www.lifeway.com/en/product/big-and-little-activity-devotional-P005815457

The Lutheran Ladies received a free copy of this book in return for a fair and honest review.  Disclaimer pursuant to FTC 16 CFR part 255.