Hide and Goat Seek

Hide and Goat Seek is a preschool puzzle game found in Timberdoodle's Preschool Curriculum Kit. The game comes with a puzzle board, a wolf, seven sheep, four hiding pieces, a challenge book, and a wordless story book. The game is targeted at ages three to seven and intended for one player. With that said, the game would be entertaining for children over seven. The game is based on a Grimm's fairytale from the 1800's. Warning, the wordless book is somewhat dark and may scare young children. For each challenge, the child sets up the board according to the challenge chosen. There are four levels of challenge. There are forty eight challenges. Once your board is set up according to the challenge your child then has to use the hiding pieces to cover up the sheep so that the wolf cannot find them. The goats are shaped differently and not all hiding pieces will fit each goats shape. In the lower level challenges not all sheep or hiding pieces will be used. As the level of difficulty increases, more sheep and hiding pieces will be used. Only certain hiding pieces will fit atop the various sheep. There is only one solution for each challenge. This brain-boosting game helps develop spatial insight, concentration, language, problem solving, and logic.

I took the game along when visiting my grandchildren. My three-year-old grandson was excited to play. In the beginning I had to give him direction on how to play. After a few challenges he caught on and spent a long time playing through the various levels. He successfully completed the challenges at the highest level which is Master. He loved the wordless book and I read it to him about eight times. My two-year-old granddaughter had fun placing sheep and various hiding pieces on the board for fun. She also liked the book but certain pages scared her a bit.

Hide and Goat Seek is a fun puzzle game. I would definitely recommend it to parents and caregivers. While having fun children will sharpen their thinking skills without realizing they are doing so. 

 

The Bible

The Bible, a children's book, written by Devon Provencher is part of the Big Theology For Little Hearts series. In this book children will learn that the Bible is inspired. Every book is exactly how He wanted it to be. They will learn that the Bible is perfect without any mistakes. God is not a liar; therefore the entire Bible is true. His Word is sufficient for us all. The Bible is universal. It is meant for all people throughout time. The Word of God is enduring. Through the telling of real life events children learn that it is an important part of our history. The book explains how both the Old Testament as well as the New Testament tell one story. Children will learn that God is above all things. He has total authority. The purpose of the book is to teach children about the divine inspiration and truth of the Bible, emphasizing its timeless and universal relevance. It aims to instill an understanding of the Bible's role in history and its significance as God's authoritative Word. Introducing theology to children is important because it helps them develop a foundation for their beliefs and values. It encourages critical thinking and provides them with a framework for understanding the world around them. Additionally, it fosters a sense of community and belonging as they learn about shared beliefs and traditions. The illustrations in the book play a crucial role in capturing children's attention and making complex theological concepts more accessible. By using vibrant colors and engaging imagery, the illustrations help to bring the stories and messages of the Bible to life. This visual element not only enhances comprehension but also stimulates children's imagination, encouraging them to explore and connect with the teachings on a deeper level.

We Sing!

We Sing! by Kristyn Getty is an uplifting book about singing our praises to the Lord. In the book children will learn that God created us to sing. The book is written in upbeat rhyming verses. The author explains how singing is a gift and with this gift we can bring God praise and honor. Words of biblically based songs can help teach children about God's promises, His love, and His plan for the world. Teaching children biblical principles through music is important because it helps embed these values in their hearts and minds in an engaging and memorable way. Songs can simplify complex concepts, making them accessible and enjoyable for young learners. Additionally, music fosters a sense of community and shared belief, reinforcing the teachings and encouraging children to live out these principles in their daily lives. God not only wants His children to read His Word, pray His Word, but to sing His Word. The importance of singing can be found throughout Scripture. Ephesians 5:18 talks about being filled with the spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, and singing and making melody to the Lord with our heart. Music has a unique ability to touch the hearts of children, making spiritual truths more memorable and impactful. Through song, children can internalize the messages of God's love and promises in a way that is engaging and joyful. This musical engagement helps to foster a deeper connection with their faith, encouraging them to express their spirituality in a personal and meaningful way.

God Loves Me

"God Loves Me" by Kristen Wetherell explores the doctrine of the Trinity and how there are three distinct persons in one. Themes of divine love, faith, and personal spirituality weave through the pages. The book emphasizes the unwavering and unconditional nature of God's love for individuals. Taking events from Scripture, readers see the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit at work. For example, creation showcases the Trinity, with God the Father speaking from heaven, the Holy Spirit hovering over the earth, and Jesus making all that we see. This event vividly illustrates the unity and distinct roles of the three persons in One. For The Bible Tells Me So, a board book series by Kristen Wetherell is just right for children ages 0-4 years old. 

Grace Habib has produced incredible artwork that perfectly compliments Wetherell's books. Besides being colorful and engaging, her artwork is also age-appropriate. Upon reaching the final page, little ones will be delighted with what they discover. Rhyme and the rhythmic style of the text appeal to young children. Rhythmic patterns such as those found in this book can help young children learn to repeat and memorize what they hear. At the end of the book, there is a Note to Parents. God Loves Me discusses the doctrine of the Trinity. Her book is based on scripture. Kristen Wetherell based God Loves Me on the following scripture references: 2 Corinthians 13:14, Genesis 1, Luke 1:26-38, Matthew 3:13-17, Galatians 4:4-7, Titus 3:4-7, and John 17:20-26

These books will become part of my ever-growing collection of books as a mother of six children and grandmother of two. It is difficult to find children's books that are based on sound doctrines of Scripture. It's clear that the author hits the mark with the For The Bible Tells Me So series. Visit the Crossway website to view all books in the series. Check out all of Kristin Wetherell's books on Crossway's website. 

Floats McGoats

Floats McGoats is a strategy game for 2-4 players. One of the unique aspects of Floats McGoats is its whimsical theme featuring seafaring goats, which adds a fun and imaginative element to the game. To set the scene, help! A seafaring goat crew is navigating treacherous waters. Their boat capsized leaving wood floating all over. Mama and baby goats are holding on for dear life. It is up to you the players to build a raft out of floating wood to save the goats. Using the game board team players will add boards to the raft to secure their goats. Players will choose one of the four colors of goats to play with. Players take turns building a raft out of sticks and securing their goats in triangles. On your given turn you will either place a goat on any open spot on the raft or roll the dice and take the action as shown. Some of the choices on the dice are: add a stick, flip a stick, add or move a stick, move two sticks, goat love, shark attack, and goat fight. Play continues until one player gets five total points. Play continues until one player gets five total points. 

The combination of strategic gameplay with the physical aspect of building a raft creates a dynamic experience that keeps players engaged. Additionally, the variety of actions available on the dice, such as "goat love" and "shark attack," introduces unexpected twists, ensuring that no two games are ever the same.

One potential improvement could be clarifying the rules with more detailed examples and illustrations to help new players understand the mechanics more quickly. Additionally, incorporating optional advanced rules could provide a greater challenge for experienced players seeking a deeper strategic experience. Lastly, including a timer feature for each turn might enhance the pace of the game, keeping it engaging and exciting for all players.

Overall, I think Floats McGoats is an excellent game for families. It took me a bit of time to read and reread the instructions before I thoroughly understood the game in its entirety. 

While the game is fun to play it is also educational in that players have to think about their moves and strategize to keep their opponents from gaining points. The game can be played in around 15 minutes. As players get more experience game play may be longer. 

The ESV Holy Bible Dyslexia-Friendly Edition

Crossway's ESV Holy Bible Dyslexia-Friendly Edition was published to make reading the Bible easier for those with dyslexia. Some of the features of this Bible include a specialized font and specific typesetting to aid readers with dyslexia. With bottom-weighted letters and a few distinctive characteristics, it enables readers to differentiate from similar letterforms. Typesetting allows for generous spacing between letters, words, lines, and paragraphs. For letters that look similar distinct characteristics help set them apart from each other. Long paragraphs are broken down into smaller sections. Ten color overlays help with visual stress. Overlays can be combined to offer an additional nine distinct colors. All of the special features within the Bible as well as the overlays help make reading God's word significantly easier for dyslexics. This Bible is available in hardcover and bonded leather.

While my daughter does not have dyslexia she does have a reading disability which makes reading much more challenging. She struggles to read her regular Bible. This has hampered her ability to spend time reading God's word. Since using the dyslexic-friendly edition she has been able to read the Bible with much less difficulty. As a parent I am thrilled that Crossway has added this Bible to their extensive Bible selection.

Accessibility to religious texts is crucial because it ensures that everyone, regardless of their reading abilities, can engage with and understand their faith. By providing editions like the dyslexia-friendly Bible, publishers like Crossway are making it possible for more people to connect with spiritual teachings without the barrier of reading difficulties. This inclusivity not only enriches individuals' spiritual lives but also fosters a more welcoming and understanding religious community.

When religious texts are made accessible to all, it encourages greater participation in community activities and discussions. Individuals who might have felt isolated or left out due to reading challenges now have the opportunity to engage fully and contribute their perspectives. This inclusivity strengthens the bonds within the community, allowing everyone to share in the collective spiritual journey.