The World of the First Christians -- Kids Book Review

 

Disclosure: I was sent a digital review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

When you read the Bible do you ever wonder about life during the times it is telling us? What were houses like? What was travel like? As Christians today our world is so different. We are accepted and often leaders in the US at least. We have luxuries such as indoor plumbing and private bathrooms as well as electricity. Plus many families take vacations all over the world. As a Sunday School teacher and mother I know kids wonder often about what the world was like during Biblical times. Today's book is a book to help them understand more about the Biblical world. The book is The World of the First Christians: A Curious Kid's Guide to the Early Church by Marc Olson and illustrated by Jemima Maybank. 

This book is very kid friendly. It is full of illustrations and bits of information. It is organized not to overwhelm but to educate. It is recommended for ages 8 to 12 and I would say that is the perfect age to go with this book. The book deals with who the first Christians were and what they did. It also shares about life in Rome and other Roman cities. The details are very interesting and explain a bit about life and yes there is bathroom talk in parts of it!

The illustrations are clear and add to the information shared. This book is more of a guide to educate than a picture book. It goes through many different things as well as relating them to the different parts of the Bible. The Gospel is explained as well as the Apostles and the letters. It even goes into how the letters were delivered. 

Modes of transportation are addressed as well as people like the Egyptian Monks and Paul. The words are also described as well as where they come from. It is such an interesting book full of facts you do not see every day. If you have a kid who is curious and asking questions about the Bible, take a look at this book and the Bible will come even more alive for you and that kid. 

A Book to Help Teens Relate to a Loved One with Dementia

 

Disclosure: I was sent a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Does someone in your life have dementia? My father has Alzheimer's disease. This year has been even harder because of it. When the pandemic hit and everything shut down our lives all changed but especially my father's. His schedule was gone. The bus didn't come to pick him up for his day program three times a week. He didn't have his volunteer job at the Alzheimer's center anymore. He and my mother were home alone basically all the time. They are both 80 or older now. It was too dangerous to let them run their errands. My sister went to see them every weekend to run errands and give my mom a break. This summer while staying at the family house near them my family experienced the first time we knew my father had no idea who we were. He was spending the day with us and woke up from a nap and kept talking about wanting to see my mother by her first name. I couldn't calm him until I called my mother to come get him. It was heartbreaking for me. I was use to being called by one of my sisters' name--he has been doing that my whole life--but this time it was obvious he had no idea I was his daughter or that Hazel was his granddaughter. It is so hard to deal with for me and I can only imagine what it is like for Hazel. Today's book is to help teens and even tweens understand dementia and find ways to relate to the loved one with dementia. It is A Loved One with Dementia by Jean Rawitt. It is part of the Empowering You series. 

Never After -- Review of a New Fantasy Middle Grades Novel

 

Disclosure: I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Hazel's favorite genre is fantasy or magical and fairy tale and today's book fits right in. It asks what if fairy tales were real and goes from there. I'll be honest I was excited to get this book because I know it is one Hazel will want. It is written by Melissa de la Cruz who also wrote The Descendants Series which is one of Hazel's favorites (both books and movies) right now. The truth is I thought Hazel would review this one for me except she received so many books for Christmas and her birthday and she has not had the time to check it out yet, but wants to. The book is the first in a new series. It is Never After: The Thirteenth Fairy. 

It's All Love -- A book of reflections for teens about love for selves, others, life and more

 

Disclosure: I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

February is the month for love! It has Valentine's Day (14th) and Random Acts of Kindness Day (17th) in it. Yet in this world of ours love can be hard and hurtful. How do we teach our kids about love? Who should they love? Well for one thing they need to love themselves. Today I am sharing a book by teen actress Jenna Ortega. The book is It's All Love: Reflections for Your Heart & Soul. It is a book written for teens and will also be good for people in their 20's.

Facts about Simone Biles and Review of Flying High

 

Disclosure: I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Want are your favorite events to watch during the Olympics? I fell in love with gymnastics at a young age. One of my sisters was very good at gymnastics when she was young and really loved watching them. It drives me crazy that they put the gymnastic competitions on so late so it has been hard to watch them with Hazel. Of course relatively new to the scene but with amazing success is Simone Biles. Today we are going to focus on Simone Biles and her life and success as well as share a new picture book about her.