Media Matters

 Picture book by Josh and Sarah Sabey. I was impressed with the writing in this word-heavy picture book. It tells three stories (the garden, the cross, and the tomb) and ties them together beautifully.  Recommended age 7- adult

 Picture book by Candace Fleming. A funny original fairy tale with a strong message.

 Picture book by Beth Ferry. Adorable. A grumpy retired seaman becomes friends with his new noisy neighbors, with a bit of help from the sea.

 Board books by Abbey Wedgeworth. This series (eyes, ears, mouth, hands, and feet) is great! It teaches truths and connects them back to Jesus.

 Picture book by Trillia Newbell. A lovely message that when it comes to loving people, Jesus doesn’t play favorites, so neither should we. References parable in James.

 Picture book by Randall Goodgame. Could work as a Christmas or Easter book! Tells a parable from the NT, focuses on the surprising nature of Christ’s birth, life, death, and resurrection, and encourages the reader to be ready for the second coming by loving God and loving others.

 Board book by Janet Moreno. This was an ingenious idea for a board book! On the first page spread, it references the story of Noah, and teaches children two ASL signs: flood and rainbow (which use the same hand shape). Each subsequent spread pairs a color of the rainbow with one of God’s promises (each pair uses the same hand shape). I love the way this combines the academic (colors) and kinesthetic (ASL) with scriptural promises in such a memorable context!

 Picture book by Jane Werner Watson. I was shocked at how beautiful both the prose and illustrations are in this book! Really lovely for ages 5-10!

 Picture book by Sherri Duskey Rinker. I was pleasantly surprised by this bedtime story. Each construction vehicle works hard during the day, but then it’s equally important to clean up and rest at the end of the day. It’s a great message for an active toddler to internalize. Also, the rhythm and rhyme work.

 Picture book by Olivier Dunrea. Adorable board book for toddlers and preschoolers learning to make friends and share.

 Picture book by Mem Fox. This board book sends the beautiful message that regardless of differences in appearance or housing or nationality, people all over the world are the same, because they all have 10 fingers and 10 toes. I recognize this is not an entirely perfect symbol of our common humanity, as not all people are born with perfectly formed bodies, but I do think the message behind it is still worthwhile.

 Board book by Susie Ghahremani. Believe it or not, this board book teaches math skills (counting, grouping, subtraction), and does so in an entertaining way. I now know that cats can only be stacked three high if I want them to remain stable.

 Picture book by Karma Wilson. A sweet story about friends coming together and offering to share what they have and expecting nothing in return. A charming addition to my Thanksgiving book collection.

 Board book by Rosie Greening. Good rhymes combine with interesting textures to feel, making this a baby favorite. The message and storyline are cohesive (unlike many in this series), so I recommend this one over other similar titles.

 Board book by Bernadette Rossetti Shustak. A message of unconditional love shines through this sweet board book. Would be great as a Valentine’s gift to a baby or toddler!

 Board book by B&H kids and Pamela Kennedy. This is a small board book with chunky flaps, perfect for babies and toddlers. It would be great anytime, but especially for Thanksgiving, as it is essentially a gratitude prayer. I was pleasantly surprised by its charm!

 Picture book by Aaron Reynolds. The illustrations and text create a spooky atmosphere to what might otherwise seem silly. There is a message about the satisfaction of doing something yourself, even if it’s not done perfectly, that I really liked. This would be a great read aloud for Halloween for ages 8-12.

 Picture book by Rebecca Gunderson Thornley. Adorable lift the flap book that teaches you can know someone is there, even if you don’t see them.

 Picture book by Trace Moroney. Written for children but still accurate to the meaning. Illustrations are cute.

 Picture book by Sally Lloyd-Jones. A little bird wishes she had the gifts of other animals (fishing, climbing, swimming, strength, etc) until she learns she has her own gift: singing. The story itself is non-religious, but could easily prompt a discussion about gifts.