Thanks to those who enjoyed that last BookNotes — including pre-ordering everything from the (now just released) new Wendell Berry novel or the latest Jan Karon “Mitford” book to the eagerly awaited Art Is by Mako Fujimura (coming from Yale University Press in a week or so) to the very popular, forthcoming set of reflections by Diana Butler Bass. A Beautiful Year. Lots more to consider — if you missed that good one, please click HERE.

an ANNOUNCEMENT:

I’ll tell you more soon but please mark on your calendars two upcoming dates when Beth and I would like you to join us for two free webinars, opportunities to join me live as I host two conversations with two extraordinary authors, each telling about their amazing new books. October 20th and October 27th

On Monday evening October 20th at 8:00 PM EST I will host an evening with Jeff Crosby, talking about his brand new, must-read World of Wonders: A Spirituality of Reading.  Jeff has long been a hero to us, and a friend, (and our bookstore is even mentioned in the book) — we know you’re going to want to join us for this dialogue. We are grateful for Paraclete Publishers for setting that up for us. Watch the next BookNotes for a bit more, but please save the date (and help us spread the word.)

Then, one week later, on Monday October 27th (at a time we’ll announce soon) I have the exceedingly great privilege of chatting with the world-class poet and best-selling author of several spiritual memoirs, Kathleen Norris, as we explore her recent book, Rebecca Sue: A Sister’s Reflections on Disability, Faith, and Love, nicely published by InterVarsity Press.

Next week we’ll give you the free links to these two online gatherings and we hope you’ll be able to, as they say, log on. Both events will be really interesting, I promise, not so much because of me, but because these generous authors have a lot to discuss about their recent books. I’m a little nervous and hope you’ll be able to sign on and join in.  Stay tuned for more info.

So, speaking of authors and those who care about words and paragraphs and publishing, a prominent book editor recently sent me this amazing review of and conversation about the recent, exquisite, deep, memoir Children of the Book: A Memoir of Reading Together by the brilliant Jewish author and book-loving mom, Ilana Kushan (St. Martin’s Press; $28.00.)

That reminded me a bit of another brainy collection I’ve recently been taken with, Readers for Life: How Reading and Listening in Childhood Shapes Us, edited by Sander L. Gilman & Heta Pyrhönen (Reaktion Books; $26.00.)

Perhaps you recall our little rave review of the marvelous recent memoir Gather Me: A Memoir in Praise of the Books That Saved Me by Glory Edim, founder of the “Well-Read Black Girl” project (Ballentine; $28.00.) There are so many great ones in this genre. I would be you have some thoughts about your memory with books and what you loved when you were a child. Or, if a parent, what you’ve read to your own children.

I know a few customers were very excited to learn about the release of The Redeemed Reader: Cultivating a Child’s Discernment and Imagination Through Truth and Story a companion book to the website, put together by Janie Cheaney, Betsy Farquhar, Hayley Morell & Megan Sabin (Moody Publishers; $17.99 // OUR SALE PRICE = $14.39.) What a joy this is; we’re eager to sell this to those who might need reminding that — as it says on the back cover:  “God loves stories. We understand the world and ourselves in light of His great story.”

They are very discerning and wise about all sorts of books for all sorts of ages. It sits alongside others in this genre, including our all time favorite, the essential Wild Things and Castles in the Sky: A Guide to Choosing the Best Books for Children, edited by Leslie Bustard, Cary Bustard, and Théa Rosenburg (Square Halo Books; $29.99 // OUR SALE PRICE = $23.99.)

“A book, too, can be a star, a living fire to lighten the darkness, leading out into an expanding universe.” — Madeleine L’Engle

Let’s start the habit of finding beauty and story and truth and goodness in books by reading picture books to our little ones. Let’s make sure they have them around to see and select. Church community rooms, office waiting rooms, local libraries, of course the coffee tables in living rooms and little bookshelves in the children’s rooms should have plenty of these kinds of books.

Here are thirteen (mostly) recent ones that seem useful, helping you shape your children or grandchildren in healthy ways.

 ALL ARE 20% OFF. Order by tapping the link at the very end.

Bud Finds Her Gift Robin Wall Kimmerer; illustrated by Naoko Stoop (Allida) $19.99 // OUR SALE PRICE = $15.99

Kimmerer might be one of the most famous indigenous writers in North America these days, a biologist and storyteller and ecologist, author of the famous Braiding Sweetgrass and the recent The Serviceberry. Lovely, thoughtful, wise, informative, charming, even if profound. We are glad many of our best customers are fans.

This is a children’s picture book which reminds us that “everyone, from the day of their birth, was given a gift to share with the Earth.”  Bud is an eager young girl who wants to be included in the bustle of important activities but a wise grandmother shows her “a different way to find belonging, one that relies on stillness and observing the natural world.” It’s a handsome, gentle book, as you might imagine from Kimmerer and Stoop.

Abigail and the Waterfall: Loving God’s Earth Sandra L. Richter; illustrated by Michael Corsini (IVP Kids) $18.00 // OUR SALE PRICE = $14.40

I could fill up a page telling why I think this author — known as a professional and sophisticated Old Testament scholar — is important for us all to know about. She has published a huge and readable introduction to the Old Testament and has a great video series on the Psalms. Her teaching about the Bible is second to none. And, she has a particular, Biblically-influenced passion about creation care; she even wrote an excellent book published by IVP with Bible and science and ecology themes, a perfect primer on the topic, called Stewards of Eden: What Scripture Says about the Environment and Why It Matters.

Now her avocation as Christian ecologist and naturalist has found its way into this fantastic kids book. I can’t say enough about it, except there is a painting of a beautiful salamander on the back cover, with this invitation: “This Saturday we are going on my favorite hike to our special place!”

To whom is this offered? What is this special place? What will kids find as they travel along with this family going on a rigorous outdoor hike? One of the nice touches is at least one critter that is named in each spread, with a bit of extra info (a lot, actually) in the back. Perfect for ages 4 to 8 or 9, I’d say. The dreamy, colorful illustrator is from Pennsylvania, too.

We Sing! Teaching Kids to Praise God with Heart and Voice Kristyn Getty; illustrated by Laura K. Sayers (Crossway) $17.99 // OUR SALE PRICE = $14.39

Maybe as young as three or so we can start to read this book to show children why singing at church (or other places) is part of what Christians do to express our devotion and adoration to God. As churches shift their worship styles and singing together seems less vibrant in some circles, the insights of the famous contemporary hymn writer Kristyn Getty, is as important as ever. What does Ephesians 5: 18-19 mean for us?

This really is about singing throughout the day, and advises having Biblical truths in our songs. The contemporary design of the pages, a bit minimalist but surely engaging (done with expert paper art) is very, very cool, and the smooth rhyming is good. (Some children’s books insist on sing-song rhymes that are just too forced, even cheesy, sometimes.) I’m not sure I’d say this is sophisticated, but it is loaded with wisdom and insight and the art is creative to warrant repeated viewings. Hallelujah!

Sound!!! Discovering the Vibrations We Hear Olga Fadeeva (Eerdmans Books for Young Readers) $18.99 // OUR SALE PRICE = $15.19

This may be the most lush, wild, informative, weird, and amazing book on the list (and, therefore, is maybe for older kids 8 to even to 14, maybe. Booklist gave it a coveted starred review, calling it “dynamic.” It is European (and many European children’s books are especially imaginative and eccentric, even.) This one is remarkable, stunning, even, as it invites readers (despite the art some might find a tad busy, if not bizarre) into the big question of what sound is. How does it work, where does it come from? The phenomenon of sound is fascinating — there are sounds we humans can’t hear, of course. It isn’t theological, as such, but I bet you could bring spiritual insights into this engaging book about mystery and science and music and the joy of being alive.

From animal sounds to the technology of recording music, Fadeeva (as one writer put it) “explores sound’s vital role on our planet with this playful, wide-ranging tour through science and history

Go Tell It: How James Baldwin Became a Writer Quartez Harris; illustrated by Gordon C. James (Little Brown) $18.99 // OUR SALE PRICE = $15.19

When I heard the lush oil painter and Caldecott Award honoree Gordon James had done art to illustrate a children’s book on James Baldwin, we jumped on it, and we’ve been happy to have this on our shelves since it came out a few months ago.  We admire James for his vivid art that just seems to carry movement and motion. Quartez Harris is a teacher and award-winning poet (he was the Ohio Poet of the Year) and this energetic book is so great. Here’s just a line or two, which are so wonderfully enhanced by the art…

“Jimmy took out his pencil and scribbled words into his notebook. They flew off the pages and drifted across the Harlem sky as he felt his anger fade away. He realized that writing words could heal. After that, he scribbled stories everywhere.”

 

“The first time Jimmy read a book the words stuck to him like glitter.”

This really is a celebration of the power of reading and writing, of language and story, of a boy falling in love with books. Highly recommended.

Kaylee Prays for the Children of the World Helen Lee; illustrated by Shin Maeng (IVP Kids) $18.00 // OUR SALE PRICE = $14.40

We have highlighted this before when it first came out a few months ago and we want to honor it again and recommend it strongly. Helen Lee is a super smart editor in the publishing world and a very fine non-fiction writer. Years ago she gave voice to the unique concerns of Asian American young adults, wrote a great book called The Missional Mom, and recently has offered good insight to evangelical readers (and others) about being a racially-aware parent.

This wonderful picture book — replete with vivid images done by Shin Maeng — both reminds children (and their adult caregivers) that they can pray, and pray about important things, and it shows a variety of cultures and contexts of children around the globe. As Kaylee leads the way praying for the world-wide body of Christ, readers learn a bit about other places, about immigration and refugees and family genealogies, cross-cultural stuff and a Kingdom that includes folks (young and old) from all over the world. What a great resource!

Every Nation: Seeing God Around the World Sarah Nunnally (David C. Cook) $16.99 // OUR SALE PRICE = $13.59

Sarah Nunnally serves as a missionary in Southeast Asia and has started a book series called “God Everywhere” and this is just a beautiful, creative, contemporary exploration of that. As the publisher puts it, “Through beautiful landscapes and words, join us on a journey to countries near and far to experience God’s presence in every nation and know His love for every child.”

Something most adults might need to be reminded of, too, eh?

The very cool, contemporary designs of the illustration matches the upbeat majestic themes, where on each page spread there is a statement about some attribute or characteristic of God, which is, in a way, linked to something seen on Earth — mountains, say, or a river that seems endless, or the many grains of sand in the desert.  I love this simple way of reminding kids about God and just a few of the world’s many nations, from Norway to Thailand, Costa Rica to Chad, from the USA to Nepal and more. Very handsomely done.

All Will Be Well: Learning to Trust God’s Love Lacy Finn Borgo; illustrated by Rebecca Evans (IVP Kids) $18.00 // OUR SALE PRICE = $14.40

If there is anybody writing today about the faith formation of children and a spirituality of childhood that we really trust it is Lacy Borgo (author of, among others, Spiritual Conversations with Children.) As one who works with kids (including at a respite home for unhoused families) Borgo knows her stuff. And as you can tell from the title of this, she knows her medieval mystics, too. Who doesn’t want a children’s book with a line from Julian of Norwich in the title! And, yes, the famous hazelnut figures into the story.

This really is about the hope that God’s love prevails, that God works out things in ways that can be finally hopeful and healing. A elderly and ill grandmother tells young Julian who was angry and despondent about her grandmother’s health, about the famous saint and her trust in God. It shows the girl, Mimi, going back to school with a bit less anger and carrying the hazelnut.

There is a wise note to parents and adult readers in the back about processing loss and grief with children. It’s short, but very, very useful.

Every Breath, Every Blessing: Finding Hope on Tough Days Dorena Williamson; illustrated by Paran Kim (Zonderkidz) $18.99 // OUR SALE PRICE = $15.19

Speaking of kids coping with complicated matters, finding hope in hard times, the themes of All Shall Be Well are expressed similarly here in these colorful, exuberant scenes. What a fun and yet tender book this is, advising troubled littles to

• Breath In — Your life is a blessing
• Breath Out — You are more valuable than even the creatures in the sky
• Together, we are going to live one day at a time.

Whether a young child is worried about storms or news about natural disasters or social unrest or just  feels the feels of passionate emotions in ordinary life, this can help. “No matter what happens, you are loved and never alone.” This is a soothing message for every precious child so this moment together reading these words can be perfect for bonding time or addressing worries. Dorena Williamson is an esteemed children’s picture book writer who we love — we have her ColorFull and Crowned with Glory.

Keep Us This Day: A Morning Prayer for All of God’s Children / Keep Us This Night: An Evening Prayer for All of God’s Children  Todd R. Hains; illustrated by Natasha Kennedy (Lexham Press) $18.99 // OUR SALE PRICE = $15.19

This is one of these great flip books that can be read first one way, and then you turn it over and upside down and the second half is read, also front to back. A delight, no matter which end you start with!

This is one of the handful of FatCat books that we regularly promote and we’re glad for this gently liturgical resource, offering the rhythms of morning prayer and evening prayer for the child, her energetic family, siblings and, of course, the hidden cat on every page spread.

One need not be Lutheran to appreciate this, but the twin prayers in this book are drawn from his Small Catechism, published in 1529. The simple phrases are drawn from Psalm 31:5, Psalm 91:11 and Psalm 121.  Hooray.

Another neat part of this book is that the family is Korean, so there is some Korean language print besides the English type, and you will notice it in the home-life scenes. A fabulous book in so many ways, mature, if simple! Kudos.

Love Your Neighbor Chris Singleton; illustrated by Jayri Gómez (Bushel & Peck Books) $18.99 // OUR SALE PRICE = $15.19

We love this inspirational (but not overtly Christian) book by the award winning author Chris Singleton. Yep, the former professional baseball player. It simply encourages kids and adults to love (!) everyone. Every one.

Those we know well and those we’ve not met. Those who see the world through different eyes. Even those who are far, far away. Everyone means everyone. So get loving — and watch how the tiniest actions can change your community forever.

I guess this is somewhat about diversity and acceptance of everybody, and it does a fun, playful job of showing various sorts of people to love. It’s simple, but not simplistic. And there is a scene of a bookstore. Hooray.

⊗ Bushel & Peck Books give free books to those in need as part of their literacy mission among those who are not fortunate to have books. On the book you can nominate a school or organization to receive free books!

God, Right Here Kara Lawler; illustrated by Jennie Poh (IVP Kids) $18.00 // OUR SALE PRICE = $14.40

This is a charming book, with great cadence and vocabulary, provocative for younger ones and sweet even for those you might not think would settle in with such a poetic read. On the back it says, “God, right here. God, right there. God’s handiwork is everywhere.” (In a little afterword the author tells about her own love for nature and appreciation for God’s creation — citing Job 12, no less — as a child. Nice.)

The book is arranged by the seasons, so there is a lovely bit about apples and crisp weather and fall, and another has a picture of a Christmas tree (even though this is not a holiday book, as such.) I love the depiction of the changing of the seasons as a part of the Divine plan… really profound and lovely.

The art is a unique, edgy style, maybe a bit too Tim Burton for some at points, but it really works.

Sparking Peace Teresa Kim Pecinovsky and Hannah Rose Martin, illustrated by Gabhor Utomo (Herald Press) $17.99 // OUR SALE PRICE = $14.39

You know that children you care about have heard about recent shootings, even school shootings.

Most know that some adults think we must do something about this, while others seem to think there is not much to be done. I hate to say it, but this book is needed now more than ever. We highlighted it when it came out this past Spring and here is what I wrote — I want to share it again. I hope you’ll consider who might need it in your circle of acquaintances.

Ooooh, I could say more about this brand new poetic tale which shows how weapons are turned into tools of peace. People can come together, the back cover promises, “to create lasting friendships and positive change.” What an interesting inspiring book.

Sparking Peace is a very redemptive story of a boy who helps his older neighbor clean up her yard and start a new garden. Later, the boy goes with his father to a community event that doesn’t only commemorate the sadness of gun violence but turns weapons into gardening tools just like the Bible predicts. The art is so vivid and moving — and at times exciting as community members (who are bearing grief, it seems) each take a moving swing at the forge under the supervision of their peacemaking blacksmith. You’ll love the ending, and the conversation starters at the end are really helpful. What a beautiful, beautiful book.

Check out RAWtools.org which inspired the story. 

+++

BookNotes

SPECIAL
DISCOUNT

20% OFF