Book Club: Book Review of Meeting Her Match

 

I received a COMPLIMENTARY copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion. I was not required to write a positive review or be compensated in any other way. This post contains affiliate links. Please see my Terms of Use and Disclosure Policy page for more information. Thank you.

Reading historical fiction can be so much fun (especially reading a good one on vacation)! I was lucky enough to start reading Meeting Her Match by Jen Turano while on vacation. It was the perfect book to read while soaking up the sun. So, while Meeting Her Match, the third book in The Matchmaker Series, is set in West Virginia, I was introduced to Owen and Camilla down the shore.

About the Book 

The story opens with a chase through the Hudson River Valley in the Spring of 1889. Our heroine, Miss Camilla Pierpont, is riding with her companion, Lottie, when unknown assailants attempt to kidnap her. It's during this escapade that Camilla meets Owen who is there to meet her.

Owen Chesterfield is seeking help to make a refined lady out of his sister, Luella. There have been some pretty disastrous run-ins between the Chesterfield and the Murchendorfer families of Wheeling, West Virginia. Eventually, Camilla agrees to help and travels to West Virginia. 

Of course, helping Luella isn't the only plot point of Meeting Her Match. Camilla herself is facing potential matchmaking as is Lottie, Owen's grandmother, and others.

My Thoughts 

This is a really fun book. From Camilla's pets to a surly pig named Esmerelda, there are quite a few humorous and well-written moments. The family and friends of the main characters, while not at the center of the story, jump off the page and invite the reader to learn more about them. 

The description of the homes, furniture, and clothing also brings the novel to life. While reading Meeting Her Match, I could feel myself sitting on the yellow sofa and hearing the swish of period dresses. 

I would recommend Meeting Her Match for those who enjoy historical fiction.

Learning to Draw in Nature: A Review of The Nature Explorers Drawing Guide for Kids

I received a COMPLIMENTARY copy of this product from the Timberdoodle in exchange for my honest opinion. I was not required to write a positive review or be compensated in any other way. This post contains affiliate links. Please see my Terms of Use and Disclosure Policy page for more information. Thank you.

Would your children like to learn about drawing? Do you want to include nature journals in your homeschool routine? The Nature Explorers Drawing Guide for Kids is a great tool to help your children learn to draw most of the animals they will see during nature walks, and it presents fun and interesting facts about the animals, too. This paperback book is part of the 2024 Third-Grade Curriculum Kit from Timberdoodle. 

About the Book 

The Nature Explorers Drawing Guide for Kids presents step-by-step instructions for each animal presented to help your children get started. It provides: 

• An introduction to nature exploration 
• 40 step-by-step drawing instructions 
• Drawing techniques and tips
• 15 2-page nature journal pages 

This 128-page paperback book includes such animals and plants as: 

• Fox
• Moose
• Robin
• Seagull
• Maple leaf
• Saguaro Cactus
• Bumble bee 

Each animal and plant featured has a one-page drawing instruction page and one page dedicated to a critter profile, observations you can make, and a tip.

What Do We Think? 

I love the fact that the book does not start with two or three simple steps and then jumps to finishing up with a very complicated final drawing. The artist presents realistic expectations for the children (and parents who are drawing along with their children). 

I found the steps very simple to follow as did our 11-year-old son. Our 9-year-old daughter was a bit more picky because her drawings did not turn out the way she wanted them to. But the more nature walks we take, the better her drawings will be with practice. 

It is a great size! You can easily stow it away in a backpack or bag to take with you on your nature walks. We even took it with us on vacation.

I would highly recommend The Nature Explorers Drawing Guide for Kids to parents of children ages 6+ whether you homeschool or not!

Note to Christian Parents: There is a brief introduction to Charles Darwin as a naturalist. Nothing is mentioned about evolution in this description. 

Looking To Study More Art? 

Please check out my review of another great art-themed product from Timberdoodle: 

• Art History for All Ages: A Review of Have I Got a Story For You! Downloadable Art History Video Series (Renaissance)

Dice, Decks and Boards: A Review of Once a Pawn a Time

I received a COMPLIMENTARY copy of this product from the Timberdoodle in exchange for my honest opinion. I was not required to write a positive review or be compensated in any other way. This post contains affiliate links. Please see my Terms of Use and Disclosure Policy page for more information. Thank you.

Would your children like to learn chess? What if they could learn chess in a fun way that was offline? Once a Pawn a Time is part of the 2024 3rd Grade Curriculum Kit from Timberdoodle and allows you to teach even the youngest children to play chess with its fun and whimsical approach. 

What Do You Get? 

Once a Pawn a Time includes two fully-colored, illustrated books written by chess teacher, Patzi Stewart. Book I presents chess in a fun and fanciful way. If you are working through the book as intended, it will take you one to two hours to complete it. Book II is designed to be read in 20-minute increments to learn about the chess pieces before playing an actual game. 

The illustrations in the book match the chess pieces. The thirty pieces have amusing faces on them to match the story in the book. Each chess piece has a round circle of felt on the bottom of it. They are also pretty hefty feeling so they won't just fall over.

The board folds up by bending each quadrant into itself. This makes it compact for putting away. The chessboard is also erasable so you can use whiteboard pens on it. And the board is gridded to help you move the pieces according to the books and rules.  

Everything comes in a great box for storage. The pieces have their own bags, and the two books and the board fit perfectly with them into a box that can stand on your bookshelf. 

What Do We Think? 

I think Once a Pawn a Time is best introduced before your children know any chess. If your children have a basic knowledge of the game, like ours do, they will want to skip ahead and get playing. Since I hadn't played chess in quite a while, it wasn't too difficult to convince them to sit with me as I read through Book I.

I really loved the illustrations in the book. The text was easy to read aloud. The directions as to how to set up the board and how the chess pieces move were easy to understand. My only complaint with the books was that the text was small (there is a lot of information to share) and difficult to read on the darker pages (which are color-coded for the chess pieces). A favorite part of Book II for me was the section on opening moves. I must admit to usually starting each of my chess games the same way. 

Our children were excited to start playing. Having Once a Pawn a Time on our game shelf means I can incorporate something new into our homeschool day to strengthen critical thinking skills and emotional intelligence. And with the design of the box, we can easily take it with us to the park, library, etc. 

Would You Like To Play More Games? 

Games are a great way to boost critical thinking skills. Here a few more that I reviewed courtesy of Timberdoodle: 

• Dice, Decks, and Boards: Challenge Your Mind With Horse Academy
• Dice, Decks, and Boards: Navigate the High Seas through Critical Thinking
• Dice, Decks, and Boards: Penguins Huddle Up™ Game

Review of Speeches and Writings in American History from CursiveLogic

I received a COMPLIMENTARY copy of this product from Timberdoodle in exchange for my honest opinion. I was not required to write a positive review or be compensated in any other way. This post contains affiliate links. Please see my Terms of Use and Disclosure Policy page for more information. Thank you. 

Do you plan on teaching cursive in your homeschool? Have you included cursive in your homeschool in previous years, but you are looking for a new approach? We were pleased to use and review Speeches and Writings in American History from CursiveLogic this summer in preparation for our sixth-grade year. 

Please note this workbook is actually part of the 2024 Fifth-Grade Curriculum Kit from Timberdoodle, but we will be using it during sixth grade. I love the flexibility of homeschooling! 

Our younger son learned how to write cursive using a different style, but I wanted to offer him the choice to learn a different approach. The goal is to let him find what style of cursive works best for him. Enter CursiveLogic! 

About Speeches and Writings in American History

We have not used any other materials from CursiveLogic prior to Speeches and Writings in American History. I do not feel that was a detriment because there were several pages of practice and review before jumping into the speeches and writings. It starts out with reviewing orange ovals to form the first stroke and moves through connecting the letters, forming loops, and finally, capital letters. 

Before the student moves on to the speeches and writings, they check their posture, paper, pencil, and grip. And finally, "check your form" includes five more sets of questions to ask: 

• Questions about the shape of the letters,
• Questions about the size of the letters,
• Questions about linking,
• Question about spacing, and
• A question about slant

The front of the book (which is laminated) has an alphabet reference chart with all 26 letters (lower and upper case), numbers 1-9, and the four types of connected letters. The back of the book has a vocabulary list from the speeches and writings.

Whose Speeches and Writings in American History Will Your Child Be Writing? 

There are 18 individuals chosen to represent American History from Patrick Henry to Ronald Reagan. Speeches such as George Washington's Farewell Address and Martin Luther King's I Have a Dream are included. Witticisms from Poor Richard's Almanac and Helen Keller's essay on Optimism are also included. There is a wide range of people and periods in Speeches and Writings in American History. 

 A few other individuals are: 

• Sojourner Truth 
• Geronimo 
• Susan B. Anthony 
• John F. Kennedy 

How We Used Speeches and Writings in American History in Our Homeschool 

When our 11-year-old started the book, I assigned one page of the review sheets daily. I went over them and checked to see if he needed to make any corrections to his form. After he had completed those review pages, I started to assign the speeches and writings. One day was set aside for reading about the individuals and their writing. Some days, that first day also included the warm-up and vocabulary exercises. Other times, I saved that for a second day. In general, the lessons are designed to take place over four days. 

While each writing section has a spot for the student to check off the following items, I haven't yet used that with our son. 

• Shape
• Size
• Linking
• Spacing
• Slant 
• 3 P's
• Relaxed Hand
• Light Pressure 

"Explore American history through cursive writing! Delve into the lives of 18 notable figures, from presidents to activists, honing handwriting skills." 

My Thoughts 

I really appreciate having a different way to teach cursive to our son. And the fact that this book can connect to American History is fantastic. We can connect his handwriting lessons to both history and language arts by using these lessons. We could even pull in spelling by using some of the vocabulary words for those lessons, too. 

How did we connect this to our other homeschool lessons? I printed out a copy of the entire poem "Paul Revere's Ride" by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow to read. I have been having him read parts of the poem aloud. Eventually, I might ask him to copy the entire thing in cursive, too. 

There are a few other things in Speeches and Writings in American History that I really like. There is a midline review and a section on flourishes and signatures. One of the things we were talking about before we started the book was the fact that he would be able to pull from his experience with both styles to create his own signature. So, having this information presented in the book itself is wonderful. 

Finally, I like the inclusion of the Gettysburg Address in Lincoln's handwriting. I love primary documents, so we will be looking for more examples of the speeches and writings in this book to incorporate into our homeschool lessons. 

Are You Looking For More Homeschooling Products? 

I have several reviews of products from Timberdoodle. Check them out using the following links. 

• Supplementing Fifth Grade with a Geography Workbook 
• Develop Critical Thinking with Discover! Science 3
• History in Your Homeschool: A Review of Discover! Social Studies 6

Book Club: Book Review of The Beginner's Bible Craft and Activity Book

I received a COMPLIMENTARY copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion. I was not required to write a positive review or be compensated in any other way. This post contains affiliate links. Please see my Terms of Use and Disclosure Policy page for more information. Thank you.

The Beginner's Bible Craft and Activity Book is a good resource for families, Christian schools, and Sunday Schools. It is full of 30 fun projects based on Bible stories. The paperback book published by Zonderkidz features color photographs and illustrations. 

About the Book 

Everyday objects can be easily made to help bring your Bible time to life. There are 30 projects that align with stories in both the Old and New Testaments found in The Beginner's Bible. However, I do not think you need to have The Beginner's Bible in order to use this book in your home. You can easily seek out the stories referenced in the Bible translation of your choice. 

Some of the crafts include: 

• Snake sock puppet
• Decorating a t-shirt 
• Friendship bracelet 
• Paper plate crown 

Some of the activities include: 

• Making a banana boat dessert
• Baking bread 
• Creating a blanket tent 

Some of the Bible stories include: 

• Creation 
• Joseph 
• David and Goliath 
• Jonah
• John the Baptist 
• Jesus' entrance into Jerusalem (Palm Sunday) 

Our Thoughts 

This is a great resource for homeschooling families and children's church leaders who need help making connections to the Bible fun and relatable. I found quite a few crafts and activities that would I like to do with our children. For example, I would like to make the three crafts connected with the flood and Noah, the Ten Commandments, and Psalm 23. Our son and daughter are looking forward to building a tent under our dining room table. And our daughter is eager to help me bake bread.

We made one craft so far (the handprint dove) and read through a few of the stories shared before the craft instructions. The only recommendation I would have for the book is to include step-by-step instructions for parents (and children) who need extra help to complete projects. If that can't be included in the book, perhaps a website could have the images as additional content. 

Looking for More Crafts? 

• Crafts: Noah's Ark Paper Plate Craft 
• Crafts: Purposeful Living – Bring a Light into Your Home
• Crafts: Wisdom Keepsake

Book Club: Book Review of The Berenstain Bears Let's Go Play Collection

I received a COMPLIMENTARY copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion. I was not required to write a positive review or compensated in any other way. This post contains affiliate links. Please see my Terms of Use and Disclosure Policy page for more information. Thank you.

The Berenstain Bears series has always been a favorite in our house. So, I was delighted to read and review The Berenstain Bears Let's Go Play Collection. The Let's Go Play Collection contains six books in one and includes ten outdoor activities. It is published by Zonderkidz and is part of The Berenstain Bears Living Lights series.

About the Collection 

Each story presents a problem or event that upsets Brother and Sister. We see how they or others react to it and resolve it. The stories include: 

• The Berenstain Bears Faithful Friends
• Sister makes a new friend—a new cub in town. Eventually all the girls become friends. 
• The Berenstain Bears God Made You Special
• Brother and Sister knew God loved them. They could see it in the sunshine and the world around them. When the Bruins visit, they bring Tommy, who is special. The cubs all learn how to play together. 
• The Berenstain Bears Why Do Good Bears Have Bad Days?
• While trying to spend a pleasant day fishing, Brother and Sister have a very bad day. The story helps children see how God watches over them but does not stop rain storms or broken fishing rods.  
• The Berenstain Bears Honesty Counts 
• At the yearly Chapel in the Woods' cub campout, the cubs prepare to win the race down the rapids. 
• The Berenstain Bears Play a Good Game
• Papa Bear coaches Brother and Sister in a difficult soccer game. Both teams learn the importance of fair play. 
• The Berenstain Bears God's Wonderful Game (previously titled All Things Bright and Beautiful) 
• Missus Ursula takes the children on a nature walk to see the beauty of God's world. 

Favorite Return and New Characters Join the Stories 

• The entire Bear Family including Papa, Mama, Brother, Sister, and Honey 
• The Bruin Family, including Lizzy 
• Suzy MacGrizzie 
• Cousin Fred
• Preacher Brown
• Too-Tall Grizzly
• Missus Ursula
• And other bears

My Thoughts 

The stories are easy to read aloud, which make them easy for bedtime stories. Each page is beautifully illustrated. One could flip through the pages and look for new details each time. A blue bird, a purple butterfly, or new bears in the soccer stands are all waiting to be spied. 

My favorite story of the six is Faithful Friends. My daughter's favorite two are Honesty Counts and Play a Good Game. 

I like that reading these stories is like returning to a simpler time. Brother and Sister are friends from my own childhood, so it is nice to share them with my own children. 

Looking for Some Fun Crafts 

• Crafts: Bear Figure 
• Crafts: Bear Collage
• Crafts: Bear Painting

Book Club: Book Review of The Sisters of Corinth

I received a COMPLIMENTARY copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion. I was not required to write a positive review or be compensated in any other way. This post contains affiliate links. Please see my Terms of Use and Disclosure Policy page for more information. Thank you.

Without knowing it, I picked book 2 in The Emissaries Series to review. While it would have been nice to have read the first book, I did not find it necessary to my enjoyment of The Sisters of Corinth by Angela Hunt. 

About the Book 

This work of Biblical fiction is set in Corinth during the early days of the Christian Church. Paul is in Rome and Aquilla and Priscilla visit our main character in the opening pages of the novel. The story revolves around two sisters—Mariana and Prima. The interactions with religions and the politics of the day surround the sisters and their family. 

Mariana and her mother, Hester, worship Adonai and trust in Yeshua. Prima, Mariana's stepsister, worships the Roman gods and goddesses (using the Greek name for some, as they live in the Greek city of Corinth). Prima visits the temple of Aphrodite throughout the novel and calls upon the goddess to help her. Narkis—the paterfamilias—worships the Roman gods but is not upset about his wife and stepdaughter worshiping Adonai. Prima is the one who sees this as an affront to the Roman empire.  

While Mariana merely seeks to honor Adonai, Prima is interested in wealth and social status. With the arrival of a new provincial governor in Corinth, Narkis, as chief magistrate, sees an opportunity to secure his power and fortune. And since Memmius—the provincial governor—has a young son who is an eligible bachelor, this provides the perfect opportunity to secure a betrothal for Prima. 

Much to Prima's dismay, things do not turn out to her liking, and she seeks the favor and assistance of Aphrodite. This leads to many visits to the temple and the gladiatorial arena. 

My Thoughts 

I enjoyed reading The Sisters of Corinth. It was definitely a page-turner. With chapters going back and forth between the viewpoints of the sisters, it was easy to keep reading.

The historical description was also very accurate. It is clear that Hunt does extensive research to help bring her novels to life. 

My only complaint is in regard to the character choices of Prima. She went to the arena to have relations with a gladiator, allowed the high priestess of Aphrodite to influence her morals, and frequented taverns. I would have preferred the author to share fewer details about the prostitute-like actions of Prima. 

If you enjoy Biblical historical fiction, I would recommend The Sisters of Corinth. 

Looking For More Book Reviews? 

• Book Club: Book Review of Up from Dust
• Book Club: Book Review of These Tangled Threads

Book Club: Book Review of Girls of the World

I received a COMPLIMENTARY copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion. I was not required to write a positive review or be compensated in any other way. This post contains affiliate links. Please see my Terms of Use and Disclosure Policy page for more information. Thank you. 

I am always looking for ways to encourage both of our children. I think it is wonderful to share books that highlight different jobs available to girls and boys. Girls of the World: Doing More Than Ever Before, written by Linsey Davis and Michael Tyler and illustrated by Lucy Fleming, celebrates "equality and fairness and encourages all children to use their voices, talents, and intelligence to spread the word that it's time to recognize just how powerful girls are and can be in this challenging world." 

About Girls of the World 

This is a 32-page hardcover book written for children ages 4 to 8 years old. The opening page has a spot to write the child's name along with who presented the gift and when. The story is told in an easy-to-read rhyme: 

"The sun will shine and the moon will glow. The birds will fly and the wind will blow. There's another great truth all people should know. The girls of the world are ready to go!" 

Many of the pages are illustrated with one large picture, such as a classroom or car mechanic shop, while others don't spread across both pages. For example, there is one page depicting two girls running for class president and on the opposite side are two girls in a science lab with a microscope. 

Davis is an Emmy Award-winning journalist and anchors World News Tonight on Sunday, as well as other news programs. At the end of the book, Davis mentions Simone Biles, Mo'ne Davis, Carole Simpson, and Oprah Winfrey as women who succeeded despite being girls.

My Thoughts 

Unfortunately, I do not think it is the right book for our family. One of the lines of the book implies that we—girls—are not equal. And I don't believe that. Girls and women are an important part of God's plan for the world. While we may do different things, hold different jobs, or perform different tasks, we are loved equally by God. That is what is important to me. 

My other concern is that there is a page about pollution with the text: "It's time we all work to care for our Earth. Let's guard our great planet and honor its worth." As a former zoo educator, I found the text and illustration to not be completely age-appropriate. It has been many years since a workshop where we discussed at what age we could share about pollution, deforestation, introduced species, etc. But I remember that younger children are not able to process heavy tasks. An ocean with lots of trash would not have been my choice for the illustration or concept. Picking up trash in one's backyard or park would be more age-appropriate. 

Are You Looking for a Book For Your Children? 

• Book Club: Book Review of I'm So Glad You Were Born
• Book Club: Book Review of Operation: Happy
• Book Club: Book Review of Kit and the Missing Notebook

  

Book Club: Book Review of Kit and the Missing Notebook

I received a COMPLIMENTARY copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion. I was not required to write a positive review or be compensated in any other way. This post contains affiliate links. Please see my Terms of Use and Disclosure Policy page for more information. Thank you. 

Do you have a child who gets worried? Feels anxious? Kit and the Missing Notebook: A Book About Calming Anxiety by Chris and Lindsey Wheeler and illustrated by Carmen Saldaña is a children's book that teaches how to calm worries. It can help kids discover, through a charming story, how they can deal with their own fears and anxieties. 

About the Book 

Kit and the Missing Notebook is a 32-page hardcover book for ages 4-8. Kit is a young kangaroo who just moved to a new town with her family. The story starts with Kit wondering where her belongings are, as she is surrounded by boxes. She goes through the boxes, looking for her notebook. As she takes things out, like bubble gum and an extra pair of socks, she puts them in her pouch. 

After she finally finds it, she goes outside and makes a list of the pros and cons of her new home. She meets two bouncing hamsters—Buddy and Bella—and promptly loses her notebook. If your children look closely while you are reading the story, they will even see when the notebook bounces out of her pouch. 

Kit discovers the missing notebook and begins to panic. Buddy and Bella help her look, but they can't find it. Mrs. G, her neighbor, arrives and suggests soup. Mrs. G asks Buddy, Bella, and Kit to help make the soup. Kit hears the rice, feels a squishy tomato, smells the yummy aroma of the soup, and tastes its deliciousness. By the time she has had a bowl, she doesn't feel so anxious anymore. 

Our Thoughts 

I love the illustrations in Kit and the Missing Notebook. The colors are just bright enough to make the story pop. The text was easy to read, and the story was easy to read aloud. One of my favorite pages was where Kit is holding the tomato and cloud bubbles surround Kit with "chop chop chop" and "sizzle sizzle." 

At first, I was concerned that the story would put the idea of anxiety into our children's heads. There are some children who hear of a problem and then suffer from it themselves. But the story is told in a way that really puts the anxiety on the character of Kit and not the reader or listener. But yet, a child could relate to Kit if the parent brings the idea to them. 

I would have preferred to see both Kit's mom and dad. The book says she moved with her family, but it is not clear who that family is. I think it is very important to share with children stories where mom and dad are the parents, when so many stories, television shows, and movies depict single-parent homes. I understand single-parent homes exist, I came from one myself, but I also want my children to see families that look like their own. 

I liked the authors' note at the back that explained how preparing Mrs. G's soup was actually one that helps those with anxiety. It's a great sensory activity that allows Kit to identify a sound, scent, tight, taste, and touch combined with a breathing exercise. And there is even a recipe for Mrs. G's Magic Soup! 

I would recommend this book to families with children ages 6-9 who suffer from worry or anxiety. The only thing that would make this book perfect would be the inclusion of asking God for help when dealing with the worry. 

Read More Reviews 

• Book Club: Book Review of Fiona and the Easter Egg Hunt
• Book Club: Book Review of Operation: Happy
• Book Club: Book Review of I'm So Glad You Were Born

Book Club: Book Review of I'm So Glad You Were Born

I received a COMPLIMENTARY copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion. I was not required to write a positive review or be compensated in any other way. This post contains affiliate links. Please see my Terms of Use and Disclosure Policy page for more information. Thank you.

Buying books for baby showers and young children's birthdays can be difficult if you wish to purchase ones that direct the children (and parents) towards God. I'm So Glad You Were Born: Celebrating Who You Are, written by Ainsley Earhardt and illustrated by Kim Barnes, provides us with an excellent choice for those occasions. This lovely hardcover book experiences the love of a child and ties in our connection with the Lord.

About I'm So Glad You Were Born 

The hardcover book starts and ends with the story. If you are looking for publication information, that is discreetly provided on the back of the book. The start of the story shows a celebration. Boys and girls of varying ages, ethnicities, and abilities are shown in a party atmosphere. As we progress through the book, readers are reminded of how celebrated they were when they were born. 

"The world JUMPED FOR JOY at God's big plans for you." 

While direct Bible quotes are not shared, we can see the Word of God in the text here: "God made you SPECTACULAR—one of a kind—Creatively crafted. Divinely designed." This reminds me of Psalm 139:14. 

As we continue to read I'm So Glad You Were Born, we see children completing fun activities and tasks such as dancing with their mom, building dragon wings, and star gazing. Careers and jobs are mentioned as "you can be anything you want to be," such as an electric car maker, a loving caretaker, a preacher, or a mom or dad. 

Character traits that we want to see displayed in our children are shared, such as compassion and honesty, as well as feelings that our children may have, such as anger. These are handled in a simple way, emphasizing that parents (and others) are always so glad their children were born. 

And finally, the book comes full circle, back to the celebration of our children's special day. 

"Celebrate all the wonderful, incredible things that make your little one so spectacular and one of a kind—and share all the reasons you were so glad they were born." 

My Thoughts 

I really appreciate the fact that God is woven lightly throughout the book. If you are seeking to purchase a book for a family new to the faith or even one that does not practice Christianity, this is a good choice. It is not an overly religious book, where God's hand in creating our children is mentioned on every page. Instead, it is a natural way to include his relationship with our families and children. 

In addition to the inclusion of God as our Father, I am also happy that a variety of jobs are included in the text. The emphasis placed on a mom or dad is also particularly important. With changes in society, the position of a mom or dad is not always seen as a calling so I love the pages devoted to this choice. 

Finally, I also appreciate that the book isn't focusing on a birthday as a celebration. This makes the book perfect for gifting and reading at any time of the year. The child is being celebrated because they were made. They are part of God's creation and should be celebrated. 

While there are a few parts that Christian parents may object to (such as "you can be anything you want to be"), I would recommend this book for young children ages 0 to six for parents to read. And children six to nine would probably enjoy reading it on their own. Our nine-year-old daughter enjoyed my reading it to her. 

Interested in More Book Reviews? 

• Book Club: Book Review of Tiny Truths Little Lights Devotional
• Book Club: Book Review of The Berenstain Bears Storybook Bible Search and Find
• Book Club: Book Review of Easter Love Letters from God, Updated Edition

Book Club: Book Review of Operation: Happy

I received a COMPLIMENTARY copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion. I was not required to write a positive review or be compensated in any other way. This post contains affiliate links. Please see my Terms of Use and Disclosure Policy page for more information. Thank you.

Finding good, clean books for children ages 8-12 has become a real struggle. We have some favorite authors, but I am always looking to add more books to our shelves because our children love to read. I was pleased to have the opportunity to read and review Operation: Happy by Jenni L. Walsh. 

Operation: Happy is a hardcover, 230-page book geared towards children ages 8-12 published by Zonderkiz. It is "a World War II story of courage, resilience, and an unbreakable bond" between a young girl and her dog, Happy. Over the course of 40 chapters, we see the main characters move from one difficult situation to another and persevere. 

About Operation: Happy 

The main characters of this historical fiction are Jody, her dog Happy (who is a fictional addition), her sister Peggy, her mom, and her dad (who all play prominent parts in the book). Jody is inspired by a real-life Pearl Harbor survivor named Joan Zuber Earle. Jody also has several friends in the different locations in which she lives. And while the work is fiction, Walsh borrowed from real people, places, and events. This helps bring the book to life.

We start the novel in 1938 at Christmas when Jody receives Happy as a gift. He is a retired sentry dog for a military base whose eyesight is going and is aging. Happy is quite content to be back on duty as he 'shares' in one of the chapters told partially from his perspective. He loves Jody and his new family and sets out to take care of her and – in turn – them.

The plot starts to take shape when Jody's father is sent a telegram to report to Ford Island at Pearl to assume command of the Marine Barracks. Her mother is not very happy. She does not want to go, but they are "Team Zuber" and always move together. Her mom's feeling of unease continues after the move and through the rest of the book in varying degrees. 

While on the island, Jody and her sister Peggy make friends, enjoy their new school, and push through their relationship as sisters. Air raid drills and blackouts on the island become another big part of their lives. Eventually, the drills stopped because December 7, 1941 occurred: Pearl Harbor and their small island were attacked. That leads to more changes in which Mom, Jody, and Peggy leave Ford Island and end up in San Francisco.

The events in San Francisco demonstrate the courage and resiliency of Jody in a different way. Jody's mom is very distraught and depressed about being away from her husband. So, while Jody does her best to lead Team Zuber at the request of her father, things start to fall apart. Jody's mom stays on the couch most days, sleeping. Jody and Peggy have to fend for themselves in regards to laundering their clothes, reheating meals that their mom cooks once or twice a week, and getting to and from school. 

In the end, everything works out, but there are some bumps on the road to happiness for Team Zuber. Jody must find a way to trick others into believing her mom is well and taking care of them. And Peggy suffers a trauma that changes her. Through it all, Happy remains a constant and loyal companion to the entire family. 

My Thoughts 

One of the things I enjoyed about Operation: Happy is the lists that Jody creates when they move to a new place. As a military family, they move often. So, in each new location, Jody makes a top ten list of the best things. For example, on Ford Island, she adds: 

4. It's still 80 degrees in January. 

5. The other kids here are nifty. 

I think this is a wonderful thing to encourage in children. Have them look for the positive things in life, especially during difficult times such as moving. 

Even in the midst of danger and tension, there are funny moments. One such event occurs when Jody, Peggy, and their friends have a mango war. And while the children have fun in this adventure, we see consequences happen for the main characters. A valuable lesson is learned in some respect (they continue to lie to their mom about what happened).

While I really enjoyed this book, I do have a few concerns before handing it off to our children. The trauma that changes Peggy is quite dramatic. She is cornered by a strange man in their first apartment building lobby in San Francisco. Happy knows something is up and gets Jody to bring him downstairs, where he rescues Peggy. As a mom, I do not think this exact situation was necessary to demonstrate Happy's courage and bond with the family or change Peggy. I would much rather have seen Peggy facing bullies or something that would fit into the normal scope of an 8- to 12-year-old rather than a potential assault of this type. 

And of course, parents would need to consider the fact that this book is providing a first-hand account of the events at Pearl Harbor. If your children enjoy learning about history, and in particular, World War II, this might not cause any problems for you. As long as you are there to talk about the events and your children's feelings, then it should be okay.

Even with my reservations, I would recommend this book. Every parent can make their own decisions about the book. If one has concerns, then read it aloud together. Then, you can edit what you feel is necessary until a time when your children are older.

I am looking forward to seeking more books by Jenni L. Walsh. I enjoyed her writing style. The characters really come to life through the actions and dialogue. Overall, Operation: Happy is a good book. 

Other Reviews of Zonderkidz and Zondervan Books 

• Book Club: Book Review of Sunny Days Ahead
• Book Club: Book Review of 'Twas the Season of Lent
• Book Club: Book Review of Kiki Finds Her Voice

Dice, Decks, and Boards: Dungeon Drop

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Adventurers! Are you ready to explore an ever-changing dungeon? Then you'll love the game Dungeon Drop from designer Scott R. Smith and Artist Marília Nascimento. This game allows you to create the dungeon as you go using small cubes of varying sizes which serve as pillars to form rooms, the monsters guarding the rooms and treasure, as well as treasure of various value. 

What Is the Game Dungeon Drop? 

The game itself is self-contained in a small box, but the playing field will encompass your entire table as you drop the dungeon. One to four players will enjoy three rounds of dropping the dungeon and looting the dungeon over the course of about twenty minutes.

"Venture into an ever-shifting labyrinth teeming with untold treasure. Colorful cubes represent gold, gems, goblins, and more. Raid the rooms that best suit your hero's quest, but stay alert – the dungeon changes with every drop. Grab the most loot and become the Dungeon Drop Master!" (from the box) 

During Dungeon Drop, you assume the role of a brave hero who takes turns with the other players to explore the dungeon. You select your hero by choosing one random Race card and one random Class card. Race cards include humans, Boblins, high elves, dwarves, and others. Classes available include mage, cleric, bard, beastmaster, and more. These cards give you different choices of actions you can make, as well as your initiative score.

One player sets up the game by dropping all of the small cubes (plus the large dragon cube) on the table from about 6 to 12 inches in height. Be careful you don't lose any cubes! This is the dungeon where players will add additional cubes on their turn and then create rooms to loot.

What Do You Get? 

Dungeon Drop includes everything you need to play the game. The box contains the following: 

• Four player aids
• Four turn order markers 
• One score tracker
• Four Meeples
• Four solo tokens
• Four teamwork tokens
• 87 cubes
• Six custom dice 
• Fifteen Race cards
• Fifteen Class cards
• Ten quest cards

How Do You Play Dungeon Drop? 

After the dungeon is set up, initiative (that is, which player goes first) is first determined based on the initiative number on the Race card. In the next round, it will be determined based on the weight carried (how many cubes you have collected during the previous rounds).

During a player's turn, there are three things to do:

1. Explore: Draw cubes from the box without looking at them and drop them into the Dungeon.
2. Act: Use either their Race or Class ability. 
3. Loot: Form a room using the gray, shiny cubes as pillars and collect the cubes. 

The quest card selected helps players determine which cubes they want to try and collect. If they have a quest card where the clear cubes are worth more for scoring, they might want to focus on only collecting those particular cubes. Or perhaps they want to have the fewest number of cubes because they receive extra points for having the lightest weight. 

Players play three rounds and then everyone counts up their score based on their quest card and the scoring information in the ruler booklet. The player with the most points wins. 

What Do We Think? 

This is an easy game to set up (as long as you don't lose any cubes off the table) and clean up. As long as you have a large, flat surface, you can play this game almost anywhere. The box itself is rather small, which means it can fit in between your larger game boxes and tuck neatly in a bag to take with you. 

We haven't played the Heroic "Teamwork" Game Mode or Solo Spelunker versions yet, so I can only speak to the basic game. In general, I think this is an enjoyable game. There is competition, but it is not "in your face" and the points can fluctuate depending on which new cubes are adding to the dungeon or if any of the pillars are moved.

Our daughter who does not enjoy competitive games played this one rather readily without any tears. She and I played as a team (there were five of us at the table), and even though we went last, she was very patient. Each players' turn can take a while as they try to line up the pillars to create rooms in the form of triangles. Everyone definitely wants to see if they can collect the cubes most important to their quest. Sometimes, players get to flick cubes around the table in attempts to better their loot scoring!

Overall, I think this is a very fun game and I would recommend it. Is it educational? Well, any game helps you work on compassion, teamwork, and good sportsmanship. This one definitely helps you think about triangles as that is how you form rooms with the pillars. There is also some arithmetic involved on a few of the quest cards due to varying gem cube bonuses and values. Beyond that...I think it is just a fun game to bring families and friends together.

Interested in More Game Reviews? 

We play a lot of games in our family. Some are ones that I have reviewed in the past for Timberdoodle such as Penguins Huddle Up™ or for HomeschoolingFinds.com such as Math Sprint while others are ones we have picked up over the years. Here are a few favorites:

• Dice, Decks, and Boards: Mermaid Island
• Dice, Decks, and Boards: The Oregon Trail ®
• Dice, Decks, and Boards: Raccoon Rumpus
• Dice, Decks, and Boards: Tenzi Game and Tenzi Card Deck