Seed Sowers Book Review -TOS Crew #hsreviews

Recently through the TOS Crew Review team we got the chance to review a new book called Seed Sowers.  Seed Sowers is by Gwen Toliver and full of stories about going forth and planting the gospel.  You can find the book on the Seed Sowers website or for purchase on the Grace and Truth Books Site.  The book(softcover) retails for $13.95 normally but is currently on sale at the price of $12.50(this is current for this time and not for future reference, see original pricing).  You can also purchase a hardcover version($30.95) or ebook/kindle($3.99).

I first read this book to myself.  I wanted to know what I would be reading to my children.  Afterall, that is the reason of reviewing the book as a homeschool mom, to share with my children.  After reading it myself I decided that this would be the perfect new book for us to use as our evening reading.  We like to read a book while everyone is just finishing supper and before parting to do chores and start getting ready for bed.  I thought the topic of this book, going forth and spreading the seeds of the gospel so that all may know Christ, would be a good discussion one for this time.  We have previously read and discussed books such as the Chronicles of Narnia.

See above.  Isn't that an awesome picture!  Would you be able to cross a bridge like that?  The bridge being the only thing between you and that long drop to the waters below?  Oh my.  That might be very scary!  The fun thing though is that that bridge was not the only thing holding this man up as he spread the gospel.  I have a feeling there were angel wings right there with him the whole way and we're not just talking about his trip across this bridge!!

I should mention that while some of the stories tell you the true name of the missionaries it speaks of, others are false names to protect those still in service of the Lord.  So, you might want to read the entire chapter including the disclaimers at the end before you share.  I know I was reading one story and found it so wonderful and my children had thought to include them in our prayer time.  It said the names had been changed of course as they are still out there spreading the gospel.  So we prayed for them, not by name, but by location and that they may be protected as they continue their work.  It took a bit of explaining to get my kiddos to understand why we didn't have their real names and why we couldn't pray for them by name.  Now they understand how dangerous it can be to be a Christian in some countries.

These stories inspired me as to what people are willing to do for God and to what ends they will go to share His word so that no man may die in ignorance.  Of course, they also made me feel guilty.  Guilty that I don't do more to share the word.  Even here in our little piece of Midwest USA there are people who do not know God, people who need to know God!  We don't have to go to the ends of the Earth to share, we should start by sharing where we are.

We found this a great book and a great compilation of stories of the people who have gone to share.  My thanks to Gwen Toliver for writing and sharing these stories so that all may know.

This book can be enjoyed by the whole family as we have done.  It can be used for Bible credits for homeschooling, or for history/geography credits if you're finding and learning about the many places the missionaries went.  It can also just be used as a literature read alone for your 6th grade and up child.  We used it as a read aloud only.  Though I think once we get more into world geography we will use it again for that.

On an end note, please make sure you don't anger the wrong witch doctor, or run into a tribe of cannibals or race down the rapids, but if you do, know that God is with you and will see you through just as he did the Seed Sowers in this book.

Please stop by the main crew review page and read the reviews of other crew members.  I received a physical copy of this book for review but others also received ebooks as well.  Check out what everyone else got from the book as I'm sure we each picked up on something different.

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Baker Publishing Group -Lily Lapp Books Review #hsreviews TOSCrew

You might have noticed if you read my blog much that I love to read!  I read as much as I can in my "spare" time.  I hope and pray that all my children learn to love reading as much as I do!  That is why we were all excited at getting to review a set of books from Baker Publishing Group.  I love to read Christian Amish fiction and have enjoyed the chance to read aloud the Lily Lapp books to my children.

The two books we received to review are Life with Lily and A New Home for Lily.  They are the first two books in a series focused on the life of Lily Lapp.  So far, there are two more books that come after these two in the series.  The series is written by Mary Ann Kinsinger and Suzanne Woods Fisher.

This series of books is unique within Amish fiction in the fact that Mary Ann Kinsinger grew up Old Order Amish and left the church after she was married.  She knows first hand what growing up as an Amish girl is like and that gives a wonderful feel of reality to her books.  You really are learning what it is like to live as an Amish girl.  You really are getting a glimpse into the Amish world in these books!

The books are loosely based on parts of Mary Ann Kinsinger's life.  They are by no means an autobiography but do reflect what her childhood was like.  Mary Ann has also recorded events of her childhood on her blog titled A Joyful Chaos.

Life with Lily follows young Lily Lapp and her family as she turns school age, has a new baby brother, and begins to discover more about her life and what her role is. Set in upstate New York this story is charming!  Lily loves to have fun and tends to innocently get into trouble.  She loves school until a new teacher takes over who doesn't even seem to like teaching.  Available in paperback or ebook format this book sells $12.99 per book.  These books are geared towards ages 8-12 but my entire group of littles ones as well as myself loved them!

A New Home for Lily follows Lily and her family  as they move from New York to a new Amish community in Pennsylvania.  Lily is not excited for the move but enjoys new adventures and meeting new friends!  Also available in ebook or paperback for $12.99 and geared to ages 8-12.

I read these books to my children.  My oldest daughter who is 8 helped by reading a chapter at a time out loud to her siblings.  I would have had her read the entire books to them, but wanted her to have some fun listening too!  Plus I loved the books as well.  All of my children(well except for little Kierrah at 3 weeks now) were enthralled with the books and listened very well.  They now play as if they are Lily and her brothers plus friends(with 8 kids she doesn't have enough siblings)!  I enjoy seeing my children show me that they have comprehended and remember what they have read or listened too.  I think play acting is one of the best ways to show this in the littler children.

We loved these books and can't wait to purchase the next two in the series when they are available.  I love to read Amish fiction but had never thought that I would enjoy a children's book quite so much.  If you have children who are older than the 12 years I recommend that they still give this book a try.  Yes the language may be a bit more simple than they are used to, but I would say that they will still enjoy this story.

Read more reviews of the Lily Lapp books on our Main Blog for the TOS Crew reviews.  Fifty different homeschool families have been given the chance to read and review these books so I'm sure you'll find lots of information to help you decide if these books are something your family would like to read!

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Abraham's Journey Review #hsreview

We love to read in our house and were very excited to receive a new book to review from Inspiring the American Dream.  We received a paperback book titled Abraham's Journey.  A physical copy of the book costs $14.99.  It is written by coauthors Robert and Kathleen Basmajian.  This book is a "best fit" for ages 7-12.  I did read it to children younger than this who did understand and take away things from it, but they were not able to read it themselves.

Cover of the book we received.

Through the course of the book Abraham meets several different people.  He meets with Abraham Lincoln(called the Wise Old Man), Martin Luther King Jr, Amelia Earhart, Mark Zuckerberg, as well as Bill and Melinda Gates.  By meeting with and talking to these people, Abraham learns how to fulfill his dream.  His dream is synonymous with the American dream.  Abraham must focus and use his faith, compassion, and charity to help himself achieve his dream and that is what each person as an American must do to achieve the American Dream.

The book starts with Abraham learning that his parents have lost their jobs and there will be no presents for Christmas.  He sets out to find a way to make Christmas special and help everyone still get presents.  As I was reading this to my children they understood this and tried to brainstorm of ways to still have presents with no money.  They wanted to wrap up toys that were theirs to give to their siblings or make something for each member of the family.  Both great ideas but not what Abraham came up with.

Now comes a part that my kids weren't all that familiar with.  Abraham texts his friends on his smartphone to try to think of ideas for saving Christmas.  Neither my husband or I have a smartphone and our children haven't really been around them much(the oldest is 8) and do not have phones of their own.  I had to explain to them that some phones are like computers and that you can search for things and do things on them.  We've used computers for school so they were okay with that explanation.

Anyway through his phone Abraham meets his guide, The Wise Old Man, who is Abraham Lincoln who will guide him through cyberspace to meet the other characters and help him learn how to achieve his dreams and work for what he wants.  Through his journey Abraham learns about himself and others.  He learns how to help himself achieve dreams and how to help others.  He learns to be kind and give to others who have less as well.  The book ends with his family helping out some homeless by donating books, blankets, and money.

Pages from the book.

My children listened intently thorough the book and liked the ending.  They labeled it pretend but did say that they wanted to keep it and read it again.  I think as they get older they will get more from the book and understand more.

To read more reviews of Abraham's Journey make sure to head to the TOS Crew Review Post and click on all the different reviews.  We all reviewed the same book, but everyone takes something different away.

Disclaimer:  I was provided with  a copy of this curriculum for free in association with the TOS Schoolhouse Review Crew.  I was not compensated in any other way besides this curriculum.  All thoughts and opinions in this review are my own and not influenced in anyway.  I was not coerced to write a positive review but rather wrote my own thoughts(or those of my children) on the curriculum.  I am disclosing this to be in compliance with the FTC Regulations. Pin It Now!