I Believe in Jesus Too by Mark S. Nielsen

 Posted by  Book Reviews, Shanda's Reviews
Jul 092012
 

I Believe in Jesus Too

Author: Mark S. Nielsen

Illustrator: Craig Stapley

Publisher: Deseret Book

Published Date: February 2012

Hardcover; 32 pages

Genre: Children’s Religious Non-Fiction

ISBN# 978-1-60908-741-8

Reviewed by: Shanda

FTC FYI: free review copy in exchange for an honest review

Goodreads Summary

All around the world, Latter-day Saint children go to church, sing songs, pray, read scriptures, participate in family home evening, and get baptized. We may meet in different types of buildings or speak different languages, but we have a lot in common. Why? Because no matter where we live, we all love and believe in Jesus, and He loves each one of us just the same. Are you like Pablo, Dimitri, Bayani, Junpei, and Shamara? Do you believe in Jesus too?

My Review

I Believe in Jesus Too is beautifully illustrated and simply stated peek at how familiar aspects of the LDS religion are experienced by children all over the world. Primary-aged children as young as 3 years old will enjoy the glimpses into the lives of other LSD children around the world.

I’m happy to place I Believe in Jesus Too on my children’s bookshelf. At three and five years old, I know my two youngest will flip through it again and again, looking at pictures and asking me to read it to them. It’s perfect for a Sunday morning or afternoon, or as a bedtime story. It’s quick to read so when your child asks for one more story, I Believe in Jesus Too is a great option. :)

If you are looking for a good picture book for young children that will expand their world view of life and their religion, then I Believe in Jesus Too is one I am happy to recommend.

 

The Worth of a Soul by Ayse Hitchins and Kristen McKendry

 Posted by  Book Reviews, Shanda's Reviews
Jun 112012
 

The Worth of a Soul

Authors: Ayse Hitchins and Kristen McKendry

Published Date: February 2012

Publisher: Covenant Communications

Softcover; 200 pages

Genre: Religious Non-fiction

ISBN# 978-1-60861-859-0

Reviewed by: Shanda

FTC FYI: review copy in exchange for honest review

My Review

The Worth of a Soul is the story of Ayse Hitchins, a Turkish woman whose life has been full of one difficult struggle after another. After being left suddenly at a boarding school for girls by her beloved father at age six or so, life begins to change dramatically for Ayse. As she grows and spends time around other girls, she realizes that her life at home and her mother are not normal.

The abuses that Ayse and her family suffer at the hands of her mother spoke to me personally. The details of life in Turkey and the culture of its people were fascinating to read. The sudden changes that Ayse had to experience again and again throughout the younger years of her life made me appreciate the steadiness I’ve had even during my own struggles in life.

I haven’t read a lot of memoirs and after reading The Worth of a Soul I decided I need to change that. I found the difference in Ayse’s life between the city of Istanbul and the far poorer cities of her very early childhood an interesting contrast considering they exist within just a few hours from each other yet are so completely different. Life in Turkey in the 1970s was so very different from city to city. Some aspects of life were barely comparable to life in the United States, from those barely surviving day to day to the popular political views and climate at the time.

The first half of the book was told in a more distant and matter-of-fact tone, but that all changed once a certain meeting took place. I became aware of a change in the storytelling at that point. A warmth and feeling appeared that helped illustrate the turning point that those events were in Ayse’s life. While sudden change and struggle remained a constant in Ayse’s life, the determination, strength and faith that define her character carried her through circumstances that would have made many others give up in defeat.

While the story did slow from time to time, my interest in people in general and Ayse’s story in particular kept me reading. If you are one who enjoys memoirs and stories of conversion and faith, then you will enjoy The Worth of a Soul.

 

 

Guest Author Thursday: Angela Eschler

 Posted by  Guest Author Thursday, Special Features
Mar 292012
 

Today’s guest is Angela Eschler, co-author of Christ’s Gifts to Women with Heather Moore. Angela is the owner of Eschler Editing, and one of the coolest people I’ve ever met. She is funny, well-read and an amazingly talented editor. Some of you may have heard this before, but I want to be Angela when I grow up.

Connect with Angela: WEBSITE | TWITTER | FACEBOOK | GOOGLE+

Purchase Christ’s Gifts to Women: DESERET BOOK | SEAGULL BOOK

Watch Angela and Heather talk about Christ’s Gifts to Women HERE.

*  *  *  *  *

I’ve always loved reading and writing, and I was very fortunate to discover an Editing for Publication class in college the semester before I graduated or I might be on the street begging even now; I had no plans for a career before that point. I guess I just hoped I could find a job where I got paid to use my reading or writing skills. It sounds crazy, but I honestly had never even thought of what editors do or if I could get a job like that. I just wanted to read or write.

So far I’ve written nonfiction gift books, mostly for the women’s inspirational category for the LDS market. My current books on the market are Love Letters of Joseph and Emma, and Christ’s Gifts to Women. Both are coffee table art books with inspirational prose. The talented Heather Moore is my co-author on Christ’s Gifts to Women.

In it we look at the women who were friends and associates of Christ during the Meridian of time, and what He taught them personally about their worth and potential and of His love and mercy for them; and then it compares those experiences to the same personalized messages Christ is trying to give us today if we will slow down enough to listen. It’s a very meaningful book for me personally, as the study that went into the project really helped me work through some difficult and ever ongoing trials and helped me come to terms with some damaging lies I believed about myself and my mistakes and potential.

I never go anywhere without a book. I walked my dog, and now my dog and baby, with a book in hand (I tie the dog’s leash to my waist and try not to run into trees). When I can convince my husband to put something on the iPod for me (I’m technologically challenged), I’m less likely to come home with injuries.

I love zillions of topics and writing styles. I really do love speculative fiction though—that visiting-other-worlds thing. I’d be reading my own published novel if only agents were looking for a book on Wales and ancient Egypt by a fourth-grade debut novelist….

*  *  *  *  *

Thank you, Angela! And thank you to Julie Bellon who allowed her interview with Angela to serve double duty. To read the full interview with Angela, visit Julie’s blog HERE.

 

The Timeline History of Mormonism by Christopher Kimball Bigelow

 Posted by  Book Reviews, Shanda's Reviews
Jan 022012
 

The Timeline History of Mormonism

Author: Christopher Kimball Bigelow

Publisher: Covenant Communications, Inc.

Published Date: September 2011

Hardcover; 192 pages

Genre: Religious N0n-fiction

ISBN# 978-1-60861-495-0

Reviewed by: Shanda

FTC FYI: checked out from my local library

If you are interested in what was going on in the rest of the world during certain Book of Mormon events, this book is a great resource. Not only is there a timeline of events, but the remainder of the book contains great references to people, places, sites and events of significance.

As soon as I opened the book and started scanning the timeline, I knew I wanted my own copy. I was caught up in reading about specific people in the Book of Mormon, as well as historical figures in the restoration of the gospel. Each entry is informative and interesting without taking too long to read.

The large number of photos and artwork throughout the book surprised and delighted me. From depictions of biblical events to early photographs, painted portraits to professional photos, there is plenty to catch the reader’s eye and maintain interest.

The Timeline History of Mormonism is a useful reference addition to any Latter-Day Saint library. I’m looking forward to getting a copy for my own family. Right now, it’s on sale at Seagull Book for $14.99.*

Have you found other Book of Mormon timelines that you have enjoyed as well?

 

*LDSWBR is not affiliated with Seagull Book or Covenant Communications. I provide this link for the reader’s convenience only.

 

Choose the Right by Kimiko Hammari – Blog Tour

 Posted by  Book Reviews, Shanda's Reviews
Dec 082011
 

Choose the Right: A Year of Family Night Lessons to Help Your Children Choose the Right

Author: Kimiko Hammari

Publisher: Cedar Fort

Published Date: November 2011

Paperback; 160 pages

Genre: Religious Non-fiction

ISBN# 978-1-59955-941-4

Reviewed by: Shanda

FTC FYI: free review copy in exchange for an honest review

From Goodreads:

Crazy days mean no time to plan family nights. With Choose the Right, all your Family Home Evening lessons are done for a whole year, complete with activities, games, scriptures, songs, challenges, and a CD-Rom with printable handouts! Not only are the lessons fantastic but they correlate with the 2012 Primary topics and lessons. Spend quality time with your children as you make family night the best night!

Every Monday, our family rotates who is responsible for planning Family Home Evening. My husband, two oldest daughters and I take turns planning and presenting the lesson each week. I’m always on the lookout for FHE resources that are easy to prepare, applicable to our family, and engaging for a range of ages.

Choose the Right has a lesson plan for 4 weeks of each month that go right along with the Primary manual for 2012. Each lesson presents options for resources (scriptures, songs, Gospel Art kit pictures, etc), the lesson, a variety of activities, and a challenge. The book comes with a CD from which you can print lesson material and any printables needed so you don’t have to cut up or write in the book.

What I appreciate most about Choose the Right:

  • The complete lesson materials are only two or three pages long so my two youngest (four and almost three years old) are less likely to get bored
  • While many of the lesson activities are great for my two youngest, the weekly challenges are more applicable to my two oldest daughters so there is something for everyone
  • The FHE lessons are planned for the entire year, so my husband and I don’t have to stress about what the FHE lesson should be about from week to week
  • The lessons go along with the Primary manual so what my little ones are learning in Primary is automatically being reiterated in our home
  • The printables and graphics are cute!
Choose the Right would make a great Christmas gift for a family with Primary-age children. I look forward to our next year of Family Home Evenings.

 

Buy Choose the Right: DESERET BOOK | SEAGULL BOOK | AMAZON

 

Thank you to the author, Kimiko Hammari, and the publisher, Cedar Fort, for the opportunity to review Choose the Right.

 

300 Questions LDS Couples Should Ask for a More Vibrant Marriage by Shannon Alder

 Posted by  Book Reviews, Shanda's Reviews
Sep 172011
 

300 Questions LDS Couples Should Ask for a More Vibrant Marriage

Author: Shannon Alder

Publisher: Horizon Publishers/Cedar Fort

Published Date: January 2011

Softcover; 133 pages

Genre: Religious Non-fiction

ISBN# 978-0-88290-976-9

Reviewed by: Shanda

FTC FYI: free review copy in exchange for an honest review

I wanted to publish this review for my usual Monday post, but I was waiting in an incredibly long security line at the airport. My hubby and I were flying down to Long Beach, CA, for a few days to celebrate our 15th wedding anniversary. We made it onto the plane (just barely) and spent the rest of that day visiting The Aquarium of the Pacific, taking pictures of the Queen Mary, and eating dinner at Medieval Times, feeling only slightly silly wearing paper crowns and cheering on the cheesy yet highly entertaining antics of knights on horseback.

We spent the entirety of our anniversary on Tuesday at Disneyland sans kiddos. Going midweek in September was awesome–riding the rides WE wanted to ride, short lines, not too crowded, and the weather was perfect. I highly recommend it. Hubby was able to ride the new Star Tours seven times (four was my limit). We hit our favorite rides at least twice: Indiana Jones, Matterhorn, and Big Thunder (Pirates was closed, darn it).

We even made it onto the Finding Nemo subs (new ride for us) and the AstroBlasters (where hubby kicked my hiney–seriously, check out that score). After a full day at Disneyland, we drove down to Outback Steakhouse, got a couple of steaks to go, and ate our dinner in the hotel room without the TV because the satellite in the area was down. We ate and we talked. It was great.

Did you know?

  • 82 percent of all married couples will reach their fifth wedding anniversary, but only 52 percent will celebrate fifteen years of marriage. (page 2)

My parents were married 19 years before divorcing and are each on their 3rd marriages. My husband’s parents divorced after 19 years of marriage as well. My father-in-law had just divorced his 3rd wife when I met my husband. With divorce so fresh in our minds (my parents’ divorce finalized just after I met my hubby) we had several discussions about divorce during our engagement. We gave each other a lot of “outs,” chances to leave the relationship if we had any doubts. We decided early in our relationship that if we married, it was with the understanding that we were going to do everything possible to stay together. We spent our 9 month engagement talking about everything we could think of: our children’s education, how we felt about abortion, political views, toothpaste squeezing procedures, money, expectations, fears, worries, science, religion, TV shows–everything–and yet we only scratched the surface of getting to know each other.

Those who have met my hubby know he is a quiet man. Getting details from him is like a game of 20 (or 50) questions. He’s not being intentionally obtuse. He’s just very easy going. Luckily we’ve reached a place where I can say “Tell me what you know I want to know” and he’ll make a point to be more specific with details. :)

A book like 300 Questions LDS Couples Should Ask is perfect for jump-starting important conversation in marriage. I wish this book had been around early on in our relationship. We’ve answered several of the questions and have realized that we don’t go out on dates nearly enough, we both want to go on a couples’ mission when we get older, I have a lot more close friends than he does, and my hubby is interested in the Chinese culture (I never knew that before this book).

300 Questions LDS Couples Should Ask is divided into sections:

  • Rekindling the Romance and Intimacy in Your Marriage
  • Reexamining Your Views and Beliefs in Your Marriage
  • Strengthening Your Spiritual Path
  • Reaquainting Yourself with Your Spouse
  • Reconnecting with Your Spouse during Tough Times
  • Planning Your Goals and Future Together

My husband and I agree that open, honest and sincere communication is what has made our marriage work. Having a common goal and testimonies of Jesus Christ and the truthfulness of the gospel are also a huge part of marital success for us. We are not perfect and neither is our marriage, but respect for each other and focusing on the eternal aspect of our relationship has brought us closer together and made our marriage stronger.

I give 300 Questions LDS Couples Should Ask for a More Vibrant Marriage a solid 4 stars for encouraging couples to talk about the things that really matter in their relationship.

Learn more about Shannon Alder and her other 300 Questions books here: www.shannonalder.com

300 Questions LDS Couples Should Ask for a More Vibrant Marriage is available for purchase on Amazon.

What has helped you in your marriage?

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