For the Bible Tells Me So Book Series by Kristin Wetherell

For the Bible Tells Me So  

Kristen Wetherell has a wonderful series of board books for children coming out soon. It has been an honor to get a sneak peek at three of the board books in the For The Bible Tells Me So series for young children ages 0-4 years old. One of the board books is God Cares For Me. 

God Cares For Me

Author Kristen Wetherell in her book God Cares for Me shares with children how the God of the universe loves and provides for all living things. God cares for the birds in the sky, as well as the creatures of the sea and the animals on the land. He cares for flowers that spread beauty wherever they grow. Our God cares for them, and he cares for me. This statement is repeated on every other page. What a great reminder for little ears to hear. 

But as much as he loves all that He created. In Luke we read that we (man) are more valuable than the rest of creation. I love that the author's list of names, lol. I love that the illustrator chose to display diversity in her art. Speaking of the illustrator, Grace Habib's has produced incredible artwork that perfectly complements Wetherell's books. Her artwork is colorful, engaging, and age-appropriate.

  

Upon reaching the final page, little ones will smile at what awaits them. Little ones will also enjoy the author's use of rhyme and rhythm in the text. Babies and young children often find rhythmic patterns such as those found in this book helpful in remembering and repeating what they hear. A Note to Parents is included at the end of the book. The doctrine's of God's creation and providence are covered in God Cares for Me. The author shares scripture references on which she based her book. One of those references is Luke 12:22-32: 

22 Then Jesus said to his disciples:“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, 

what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. 23 For life is more than food, 

and the body more than clothes. 24 Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, 

they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable 

you are than birds! 25 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life? 

26 Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?

27 “Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. 

Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 

28 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, 

and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you—

you of little faith! 29 And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; 

do not worry about it. 30 For the pagan world runs after all such things,

 and your Father knows that you need them. 31 But seek his kingdom, 

and these things will be given to you as well. 

32 “Do not be afraid, little flock, 

for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.

 

God Hears Me

Kristin's book God Hears Me illustrates to children that they can always go to God about anything. As well as praising the Lord through song, she teaches children the importance of prayer and how to pray. A wonderful surprise awaits your child at the end of the story too. Wetherell uses textual rhythm and rhyme in this book as well. In A Note to Parents the author again shares with parents the scriptures that are the basis for the book. According to Kristen Wetherell, God Hears Me focuses on the doctrine of prayer and expands on it. By referring to numerous scripture references throughout, she explains to parents that we want to teach our children that they can pray about anything, all the time, with humble hearts full of faith (Luke 18:1-8). A repeating phrase in this book is, So with a big smile or even though tears, I talk to my God, and I know that he hears. 

What an important TRUTH for little one to hear. And then such a simple reminder teaching children at an early age how to pray. 

I have enjoyed all of these books very much. It could be that I am just an emotional person, but I actually teared up as I read them. In spite of the fact that they are simple board books, these are packed with many important words that little ones need to learn. God Hears Me always. God Speaks To Me and upon His Word we are secure. God Cares for Me. Just look at His Son who died on a tree. 

God Speaks To Me 

How does God speak to us? Author Kristen Wetherell tells children that God reveals Himself through His creation. But does God speak through these alone? Or are his words more fully known? The author goes on to inform children that the Bible, God's Word, is true. A lamp, honey, and a sword are some of the comparisons she makes for God's Word. Kristen explains that Jesus is the Word. And there's so much more. Definitely a book to buy! Children will get a fun surprise at the end of the book. The author uses textual rhythm and rhyme which appeals to young children. Babies and young children often find rhythmic patterns such as those found in this book helpful in remembering and repeating them. A Note to Parents is included at the end of the book. The author shares with parents the scriptures that are the basis for the book.God Speaks to Me references the doctrine of Scripture, the amazing reality that the God of the universe speaks to us through a book (John 20:30-31). The author shares ways you can engage with your child by using scripture's many metaphors. Grace Habib's illustrations are colorful, engaging, and age-appropriate. 

I've talked a lot about the author and her books. I mentioned the illustrator, Grace Habib a bit earlier. In my opinion, the author could not have chosen a better illustrator for her books. It's remarkable how Grace's illustrations complement Wetherell's writing so perfectly. The books are incomplete without them. Color, imagery, shapes, diversity, and depth of meaning in the artwork appeal to children ages 0-4 years old.

As a mother of six children and now a grandmother, these books will be a permanent part of my ever-growing collection of books. I will purchase them for my grandchildren's bookshelf so they can enjoy them. The books would also make a wonderful baby shower gift. I couldn't wait to read each of these books to my one-year-old grandson after reading them through the first time. God's truths will be infused into his heart through his love of books! Biblically based children's books that teach sound doctrines of Scripture are hard to find. In the God Speaks to Me series, the author hits the mark. Check out all of the series on the Crossway website. 

The For the Bible Tells Me So series

is set to be released on 

September 26, 2023.

Mark your calendars!

The Biggest Story

Through scripture, The Biggest Story explains mankind's fallen state, the necessity of a Savior, and God's plan to redeem his rebellious people. Beginning with the snake crusher in the garden of Eden, children will read about key stories throughout the Old Testament and God's promise of a future deliverer. Through the birth of Jesus, the Son of God, children can see God's promise fulfilled. Using a short but concise style, Kevin DeYoung retells some of the Bible's most famous Bible stories in his book The Biggest Story. Each retelling of a story conveys both Biblical truths and messages in a way children can comprehend and connect the dots. Using bright colors and engaging illustrations, illustrator Don Clark brings The Biggest Story to life. Clark's illustrations could hold children and adults' attention for a long time. 

The Biggest Story is divided into ten chapters. 

The 1st chapter begins with Adam and Eve in the garden knowing no sin and ends with God casting them out because of their sin. Moreover, God promised the Devil would always be at war with Eve and her children. God did also promise that one day one of Eve's children would crush Satan's head. Cain kills Abel in the 2nd chapter and ends with the Tower of Babel. Chapter 3 begins with God calling Abraham to leave his home and move to a new country. It concludes with Jacob blessing his fourth son Judah. Several hundred years after God's promise to Abraham, the 4th chapter recounts Israel's plight in Egypt as slaves after being promised a new land. The chapter ends with God parting the Red Sea and saving Israel while killing the Egyptians upon their attempt to cross. 

Israel disobeyed God's Ten Commandments in chapter 5. As children read chapter 6, they learn about the evil King Saul. Parents may want to point out that within the Bible there is a long line of kings, priests, prophets, patriarchs, apostles. Some were righteous while others were evil but God uses them all as part of His ultimate plan. The chapter ends with the splitting of the two kingdoms, Israel and Judah. The 7th chapter is a period between the Old and New Testaments. The promise of a Deliverer remained, but God had had enough of man's evil ways and disobedience. No more warnings. No more direction. No more words from the Lord. For 400 years, there was nothing but silence!

 In chapter 8, children learn of Jesus' birth but also His suffering and death for our sins. 

Jesus is raised from the dead in chapter 9 and Christ crushes Satan at the end of the chapter. The Holy Spirit, the greatest gift of all, was given to us by God the Father and God the Son. At the start of the last chapter, chapter 10, children are reminded that this is a BIG STORY. As a matter of fact, it is THE BIGGEST STORY. We all are part of it. Jesus Christ is returning. Be ready! 

This book is wonderful and I would absolutely recommend purchasing it. Children and adults will love not only the illustrations but the way DeYoung creatively weaves together the GREATEST STORY of God's redemptive plan. God's plan that will take fallen man out of the garden, provide a Deliverer in Jesus Christ, and through the Holy Spirit guide man to salvation. DeYoung does an amazing job at getting this message across. 

Disclaimer - I received this book in exchange for my honest thoughts. 

Mose's Detective Agency ~ A Timberdoodle Review

Mose's Detective Agency

Mose's Detective Agency is a DIY miniature representation of what you 

might imagine a busy detective's office to look like. As part of the Mystic Archives Series, Mose's Detective Agency is one of many miniature kits. 

This assembly project is intended for ages 14 and up. Several projects 

ranging from building furniture to gluing wood to decorative paper to make books, to assembling detailed pinboards and even making a working lamp 

are just a few of the 24 mini projects. Give or take a few hours, this 

DIY miniature should take you around 20 hours. This kit is featured in Timberdoodle's 2023 Eleventh-Grade Curriculum Kit. 

When first opening the box it is a bit overwhelming. There is A LOT! 

The instruction booklet has pretty good directions. 

The tools that are included in the kit are

tweezers, sandpaper, and a screwdriver. 

The tools NOT included are: 

Ruler

Scissors

X-Acto Knife

Diagonal Cutting Pliers

Round Nose Pliers

Needle Nose Pliers

Black Pen

Push Pin

The detail on the paper that is used to cover books, place on the pinboard, 

etc. is very detailed and utilized vibrant colors. 

Some of the accessories are plastic, a few are metal, and the lamp 

utilizes wires a LED bulb, and material. 

I would highly suggest investing in a quality X-Acto Knife. 

My daughter kept herself company by listening to music.

Having tiny, slender fingers helps!

When some items needed cutting, my daughter used our 

Fiskars Multipurpose Utility Cutters to prevent 

damaging our scissors. 

Directions, directions, and more...

Assembly of the lamp. A failure on this task was her greatest concern.

Let me tell you...I ended up helping with the lamp assembly and it 

tried my ever lasting patience. When dealing with everything this 

small, my OttLite came in EXTREMELY handy. 
There are 2 AAA batteries required for the lamp, which are not included. 

LET THE ASSEMBLY BEGIN!

The finished DIY miniature!

There is a story behind Rolife miniatures, a scene they focus on, and an atmosphere they create for viewers. My daughter said that the detective seems disorganized, loves libations, and probably has too many cases underway at once.

The detail is amazing. The hat and pipe remind you of Sherlock Holmes.

One can surmise that possibly Mose's Detective Agency is in England and belongs

to an male English detective. 

An old typewriter, an ink stamp, a magnifying glass, a fancy pipe, 

an old rotary telephone, and pocket watch make the scene so nostalgic. 

My daughter decided to incorporate some left over paper into the final setting such as book covers, maps, newspaper clippings, etc. 

The battery pack to turn the light off and on is on the back of the agency.

My daughter said that she overall really enjoyed this project and

would be interested in assembling more kits. I would recommend 

Mose's Detective Agency. This would most definitely be a project adults

would enjoy. Check it out. 

 

Motivation

 

A quote I came across yesterday really struck me. When struggling to get motivated or having a bad day, it is all too easy to lose motivation and say the day is a loss. It can be extremely helpful if you think of your day in quarters: morning, midday, afternoon, and evening. Not only will this help you to organize your day better, it will also help you to realize that if your morning is rough, you still have three quarters to turn things around.

I was reminded of the saying, "How do you eat an elephant?" One bite at a time. When you tackle your entire day at once rather than prioritizing tasks, errands, etc., you will feel less overwhelmed and less behind schedule. A quote I came across yesterday really struck me. It is all too easy to lose motivation when you are struggling to get motivated or having a bad day. The elephant must be eaten one bite at a time .  To stay on track and reduce stress, focus on a single task at a time because it will give you a sense of accomplishment and motivation to keep striving.

The Rainbow

The Rainbow is a Biblical Symbol. 

The Rainbow is God's Covenant with Noah and his descendants. 

Genesis 9:8-17

8 Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him, 9 "Behold, I establish my covenant with you and your offspring after you, 10 and with every living creature that is with you, the birds, the livestock, and every beast of the earth with you, as many as came out of the ark; it is for every beast of the earth. 11 I establish my covenant with you, that never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of the flood, and never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth."12 And God said, "This is the sign of the covenant that I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all future generations: 13 I have set my rainbow in the cloud, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth. 14 When I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow is seen in the clouds, 15 I will remember my covenant that is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh. And the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh. 16 When the rainbow is in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth." 17 God said to Noah, "This is the sign of the covenant that I have established between me and all flesh that is on the earth."