God and a Boy Named Joe

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Sometimes reading a story from a different perspective helps you to understand the Bible better.

Ethel Barrett is a wonderful storyteller. She has researched the traditions and culture of the Jews at the time of Christ, to tell the story of Joe (Joseph) a young boy, living with his grandmother in Jerusalem. Joe learns the lesson of needing his sins cleansed by the blood of a lamb. He also meets Jesus, the Lamb of God, who dies for his sins on the cross.

This is a great book for children who have grown up hearing Bible stories, who are familiar with the story of Jesus' death and resurrection. They can imagine themselves in the life of Joe and his encounter with Jesus.

Pollyanna

Many people have never read the original story of 

Pollyanna by Eleanor Porter (not the Disney version).

This story is filled with the Biblical theme 

of being thankful for everything in your life, 

whether it seems good or not. 

She changes the attitude of the whole town
with her cheerful attitude.

Pollyanna is easy enough for third grade, 

but has a lesson for all ages.

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This book changes your perception
 of how a picture book should act.

 By following simple directions, 

the reader can change the color, size,
 and even position of the dots.

See this short video 

(CLICK HERE)

to see the joy and surprise it brings to these children.

The Mitten

This beautifully illustrated book is a Ukranian story of a boy who loses his white mitten in the snow. One by one, the animals take shelter in its warmth. The Mitten will be sure to bring a smile your child's face.

Not Enough Beds for the Babies

One of our family's favorite books was Not Enough Beds for the Babies, written by Mary Ann Hoberman. We found it at a library sale, well-worn from much use and thus being discarded.

It is a lovely collection of poems about three friends, 2 girls and a boy, who pretend together. As children often do, the friends act out the roles of mothers and doctors and grocers. They have their quarrels, but end the day looking forward to playing again tomorrow.

We read it so much that some of our pages are ripped and there is tape along its spine and a blotch of nail polish on the back cover.

I love this book because it intermingles the world of imagination with reality - without it being a problem. Children pretend, but they KNOW they are pretending and can easily hop from one world to another.

A Christmas Book

One of my favorite Christmas books is

The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey

Jonathan Toomey is the best woodcarver in the village, but he is a lonely and bitter. "Christmas is pish posh." A widow woman and her son seek his skills in recreating a lost nativity set. Over the next few weeks, a heart-warming relationship forms between the them.

Little Thomas persists in explaining how the pieces should look. "My sheep were happy...They knew they were with the Baby Jesus, so they were happy." The cow needs to show pride, the angel appears important, and Mary must look at her child with love, while the newborn reaches up to her. Jonathan is forced to face his hidden fears and memories to carve each piece with its special characteristics.

The illustrations of P.J. Lynch are spectacular

and show a subtle romance in themselves.

Can You Find It?

What's more fun that looking for hidden things?

As children learn to identify more objects,

they begin to enjoy searching for them.

The I Spy Books

Where's Waldo Books

and other detailed searching books

are great for quiet time, waiting time activities.

They can go back over and over and find new things - or favorite objects on each page.