Parents and teachers looking to inspire children to read more – and have more fun while doing it – get a hand with Five Star Finger Puppets. Handmade in the U.S. with soft, durable, hand-washable yarn, they are child safe with no removable parts and come in packages of five that include owl, snake, child, dog and cat characters. Retail: $12.95. www.fivestarpuppets.com.

Put out by: Five Star Publications

I am a big fan of the no frills, no bells and whistles toys.  I love toys that foster creativity as opposed to toys that have the child turn off their brain  while it does everything for them (not to say we don’t have some of those toys but I prefer the other better).  These adorable finger puppets are a great resource to encourage imagination.

The finger puppets we received included an owl, snake, cat, dog, and pig.  They are adorable and soft.  I allowed Josiah and Liam to play with them on a recent long car ride (not the one we most recently took…although they all enjoyed playing with them then).  Liam was able to entertain Josiah with funny voices stories and lots of giggles as he put the puppets on each finger.  They are made of a high quality yarn that is durable enough to withstand my boys outrageous tales of animal adventures.

These puppets are great for imaginative stories of the children or to act out stories based on a book.  Five Star publishes several books that would work well the puppets including, “True Stories about Saving Animals by Sam Lopez and Rattlesnake Rules by Conrad Storad.

Big Thoughts for Little People by Kenneth N. Taylor

Ages 3-7

Hardcover retails for $14.99

I wasn’t quite sure what I was getting when I agreed to review Big Thoughts for Little People by Kenneth N. Taylor. But, when I received the book, I was delightfully surprised…and so were my children. Their faces lit up at the bright colors and beautiful illustrations. I ate up the rich Biblical text full of engaging discussion. And by engaging, I mean, for me and my two year old as well as my older children. The ladybugs, especially, were a big hit for the kids and served as a tool to hold their attention while I read. But, I’m getting ahead of myself.

Let’s start with an explanation of the product. Big Thoughts for Little People is an ABC book written by Kenneth N. Taylor. You probably don’t recognize the author, but you will recognize where he came from. He was the founder of Tyndale Publishing…a very large Christian publishing firm. Mr. Taylor wrote this book in the ’80s. This current version has been republished with new illustrations from Andrea Petrlik Huseinovic.

So, here’s how the book works: On the left side of the page a letter is introduced (great for beginning readers). The letter is introduced with a character trait, either good or bad with a four line rhyme that briefly introduces the trait. Then, in smaller print is more information about the trait…this information can include observing the picture on the right hand side or talking about how/who/why we need to have or not have that particular trait. Below the description of the trait is three questions pertaining to what was discussed or what is happening in the picture. And lastly, on the left side of the page, is a Scripture verse. And, as I just mentioned, the right hand side is a picture. There are children of all shapes, sizes, and colors doing all sorts of activities in each picture. Each of the pictures is just busy enough to keep my children gazing, observing, and coming back for more. In the pictures and on the pages are ladybugs. Lots of ladybugs in fact! So, part of the fun comes in finding all the ladybugs on the pages.

I’ve re-worked my schedule during the day to allow time for “school” for the younger children. This means, that we have time to sit and read, mostly. My first choice last week, was this book. The boys, Josiah and Liam, have loved cuddling on the couch, discussing what was in the book and then searching for ladybugs. Oftentimes, Liam would stop looking for ladybugs and want to discuss what the people in the picture were doing.

What a great opportunity to start introducing your young child to positive character traits and also to provide a way to talk to your child about them. This book would be ideal to help jumpstart devotionals/family worship with young children. The verses are short and would be great to start to “hide God’s Word” in a child’s heart. As a plus, the beautiful illustrations and rich text have drawn my children back to it time and again. I have a feeling this will be a go-to book for them!

And now, a funny from Liam.

Liam’s answer: “Mommy and Daddy punch us.”

Not to self: Make sure, when reading, that you pronounce words clearly!

The Tallest of Smalls by Max Lucado 

Ages 4-7

Retails for $16.99

Those who knew me as I was growing up already know that I really struggled with “fitting in” or relating to others.  I was too tall, had big feet, and liked to read.  Ugh…how do you fit in with people when you’re like that. When I accepted Christ in high school, I realized that trying to be like others and wanting that was not important.  Christ was all I needed and He loved me no matter how I looked and no matter what I did.

Max Lucado relays this message clearly and concisely to children in his latest book The Tallest of Smalls.  Zoe read the book to Liam when it first came in and I had to choke by tears.  Realizing, once again, that Christ loves me no matter what I look like or how much I do (or don’t do).  I just finished reading it again, to LIam and Ace.  While the tale is simplistic, that’s all that’s needed, to introduce a child to Christ’s undeserved love.  The book is written in prose and is very reminiscent of a certain children’s author who wrote about a cat in a certain piece of apparel.  So, the flow of the text is smooth and very inviting (especially to someone who adores the writings of that certain children’s author who wrote about a cat in a certain piece of apparel).

I guess when I thought I was getting a book by Lucado, I was picturing my much loved collection of Wemmicksville books.  The illustrations in it are very classic.  However, I was pleasantly surprise dby Maria Monescillo’s work!  The pictures have more of a modern feel and are very engaging.  I love the bright colors accented by the dark ones.  My description can not do the images justice as I’m not that much of an art conniseur.

In a nutshell, The Tallest of Smalls by Max Lucado and illustrated by Maria Monescillo continues with Lucado’s brilliant work in children’s books.  He (along with Monescillo) is able to capture the attention and imagination of children as well as speaking Biblical truths that Jesus’s love for you is not about what you can do or what you look like, but it is about you as His creation!