| 
Books
that Enhance Family Faith
By
Holly E. Newton
With
general conference just a day away, I have some outstanding books
to recommend for families. Later in this column, look for poetry
books to celebrate Poetry Month.
Click
to Buy
 First,
there is a new board book that showcases our Savior’s life in a
simple, yet powerful way. My First Story of the First Easter,
by Deanna Draper Buck, shouldn’t dissuade you purchasing
it because Easter is over. This is one of those books that families
should have on their bookshelves to read and read again. It presents
Christ’s life from birth to His resurrection in a wonderful way
that youngsters will grasp, understand and appreciate.
Click
to Buy
 Before
They Turn Twelve: Helping Children Gain a Testimony of the Lord’s
Standards, by Deborah
Pace Rowley, is filled with engaging and meaningful activities that
children can relate to and begin to comprehend. Building a testimony
is vitally important in the lives of young children and this book
not only helps build testimonies but will also help to build family
relationships, as families participate in the enriching activities.
This book is perfect for all ages, not just before they turn twelve!
Click
to Buy
 Who’s
Your Hero? Book of Mormon Stories Applied to Children, Vol. 3, by David
Bowman, retells the inspiring stories of Captain Moroni, Nephi,
Lehi and The Brother of Jared in a captivating and illustrated way
for children to relate to and understand. Scriptural references
are included, but it’s the way the author showcases these heroes
that helps navigate young children into understanding the nature
of these true heroes. Each hero teaches a fundamental principal
of righteousness, making this volume, along with the other two,
valuable for children ages 3 to 12.
Click
to Buy
 Here’s
a very small sized book. In fact, it’s so small that you could
easily carry it in your pocket which would be a good idea! The
Little Book of Book of Mormon Evidences, by
John Hilton III, is packed with inspiring evidences that this is
the true testament of Christ living in the Americas. You could easily
read it in one sitting, but it’s so interesting and valuable you
may find yourself referring to it again and again! This book is
for teens through adults.
Click
to Buy
And for the older reader looking for more inspiring books, Henry
J. Eyring has a new book out about his grandfather, the great and
noble chemist. Mormon Scientist: The Life and Faith of Henry
Eyring reads like an inspiring novel, but it’s a non-fictional
account of a man whose influence in the medical field of research
was great. He was a prolific writer of many medical articles, and
he never felt that science and religion were separate or against
each other, but rather worked in synchronized motion as the Lord
would want.
This
devout believer, whose intelligence surpasses many, never wavered
in disbelief. This was a humble man and a man who loved God with
all of this heart.
Click
to Buy
 Lastly,
here’s a book for the reader who loves a good fiction book. The
Wednesday Letters, by Jason F. Wright, is a compelling story
about a couple who were married for 39 years and have recently died.
Their children soon discover boxes of letters that their father
wrote to their mother every Wednesday. They also begin to learn
something new about their parents that they never knew before and
here lies the bulk of the story. This page-turner will most likely
have you sifting over your past and who knows what you’ll discover
in those memories? This is an excellent book full of imagery and
fascinating characters and great for young adult through adult.
__________________
April
is the month for celebrating the rhyming, patterning and placement
of words. It’s Poetry Month! Here are some of the best poetry
books geared for all ages of kids.
Click
to Buy
 Jack
Prelutsky has to be America’s best loved children’s poet. His ability
to place words in the most amazing and often humorous ways probably
placed him as the nation’s first Children’s Poet Laureate. For
fans of his wonderfully simple, yet profound, perfect poems, In
Aunt Giraffe’s Green Garden, will not disappoint.
Petra Mathers brightly painted the full page illustrations and provides
a perfect match with the poems. Each poem takes you to a perfectly
imagined location in this country as the season of warmth comes
into view. In the poem, “Above the Wide Potomac,” “majestic
eagles fly, they swoop and soar all morning in the clear Virginia
Sky.” Oh to write like Mr. Prelutsky!
Animal
Friends: A Collection of Poems for Children, illustrated by Michael
Hague, has a variety of standard poems about 20 animals which include
“The Cow” by Robert Louis Stevenson, “Hopping Frog”
by Christina Rossetti and “My Puppy” by Aileen Fisher. Hague’s
watercolors are beautiful and perfectly match the mood of each delightful
poem!
Click
to Buy
 You
just can’t be without the very familiar nursery rhymes during this
month. Mother Goose and Friends, selected and illustrated
by Ruth Sanderson, is the quintessential standard for youngsters
everywhere. All of your favorites, along with some unfamiliar poems,
are included in this book. If you don’t own a Mother Goose book,
this will soon become a favorite! Sanderson has captured the magic
of the rhyme in each oil painting. (There are miniature sprites,
leprechauns and fairies sprinkled throughout.) And if your little
one doesn’t know even one of these poems, shame on you!
Feel
like shouting? Shout! Little Poems that Roar, by
Brod Bagert, and illustrated by Sachiko Yoshikawa, has all of the
activities that younger children are engaged in when going to pre-school
or kindergarten. Included are “Snack Time”, “Taking Turns” and
“Finger Paints.” Every page spills over with effervescent color
and will surely have your little ones tapping their toes throughout!
Where
I Live,
by Eileen Spinelli, and illustrated by Matt Phelan, is a look at
life when young Diana has to move. This gentle story, told through
sweet poems, displays the difficulties, trepidations and finally
rewards of moving to a new neighborhood.
And
here’s some tapping. Tap Dancing on the Roof: Sijo (Poems),
by Linda Sue Park, and illustrated by Istvan Banyai, are
a collection of traditional Korean style poetry. These are similar
to haiku but the fifth and sixth lines have a surprise. Children
seem to really enjoy this style because the ending is usually funny
and this book doesn’t disappoint. In “Ocean Emotion,” the red
flag waves its stern warning: “DANGER — NO SWIMMING TODAY.
The ocean churns, foams, roars, dashes, hurls huge breakers at the
sand! The next day it’s all tired out and takes a long nap in the
sun.” This book makes one appreciate the usage of fewer words
but big impact!
This
is Just to Say: Poems of Apology and Forgiveness, by Joyce Sidman, and
illustrated by Pamela Zagarenski, is a series of classic poems inspired
by William Carlos Williams’ famous poem about stealing some plums.
One of the students gets the idea to make the poems into a book,
and included are responses from apologies that the students offered.
There are a variety of styles of poems and the topics are perfect
for open discussions.
One
of my very favorite poets rhymes new poems to familiar songs, making
the song hilarious and great fun for all. Alan Katz and David Catrow
have written other books in this same manner and if you aren’t familiar
with them check out all of their books. Are You Quite Polite?
Silly Dilly Manners Songs is another excellent addition
to their grow-ing fun and funny poetry books. For instance, “The
Dirty Song” is set to the music of “The Red River Valley.” This
amusing song will undoubtedly teach about the dirt and mud kids
track into the house and why it’s important to wipe your feet at
the door. The illustrations are a perfect match as they are just
as funny as the songs. Here’s one happy technique to teach some
etiquette to your family!
I’ve
included in this poetic semblance, the winner of this year’s Newbery
award. It reads like poetry with choice words selected with opposing
voices uttering opposing references. Good Masters! Sweet
Ladies! Voices From a Medieval Village, by Laura Amy Schlitz,
and illustrated by Robert Byrd, allows groups of kids to join in
the reading and learn all about British life in the year 1255, from
the perspective of the youth back then. The dialogues are not only
engaging, but there’s much to learn about the difficulties of life
in the thirteen century.
Return
to Top of Article
Click
here to sign up for Meridian's FREE email updates
© 2008
Meridian Magazine.
All Rights Reserved.
|
