Sunday, October 27, 2013

Two Brothers Movie Review

Two Brothers Movie Review
Image Credit:  HanSolo - CCO Public Domain Image via Pixabay

 Two Brothers

The Plot 

Two Brothers takes place in the jungles of Africa and opens with a lurking sense of danger. As the sense of danger fades into peacefulness, viewers are introduced to a tiger family, including two adorable tiger cubs, enjoying their blissful lives amongst the ruins of an ancient temple. After a few moments of watching the happy tiger family, viewers become very aware of the tiger family bond, especially the brother cubs. The cub’s play session develops into a feud with another jungle foe, ending with one brother up a tree and the other on the ground with the enemy.

Finally at peace again, the cubs hear human voices and return to their parents. As the mother attempts to move the first cub to safety, the father tiger is killed.  Before the mother can return for the second cub, he is taken by one of the human intruders. Eventually both cubs find themselves in the hands of human intruders. One cub ends up in the hands of heartless circus trainers where his youthful spirit is crushed. The other becomes a loved pet until the family passes him on to another owner who turns him into a fighter. After viewers are entertained through a series of scenes which surface emotions ranging from sorrow to joy and then back to sorrow again, the cubs are forced to fight one another in a stadium for the purpose of barbaric entertainment. After the fight begins and proceeds for a short time, the tigers begin to recognize one another. Instead of fighting, they end up in a heartwarming reunion and resume the play session that had begun one year earlier before the family was tragically separated.

Although the film does entertain viewers with dialogue between humans, the filmmakers accomplished the difficult task of communicating to viewers the thoughts and expressions of the animals without the use of captions.

The tiger cubs remain the focus of the film while human characters serve in adequate and needed supporting roles.

The film teaches viewers the value of the family bond, the importance of keeping the faith, holding on to hope no matter how hopeless a situation might seem, and leaves the viewer with a sense of respect for animals and their environment.

The movie is directed by Jean-Jacques Annaud and stars Guy Pierce and Freddie Highmore.

This movie is highly recommended.

The Director

Frenchman, Jean-Jacques Annaud, was born on October 1, 1943. He studied at the Vaugirard Film Technical School. He made his first educational film for the French Army while serving in Africa. During the 1960s and 1970s, Jean-Jacques Annaud directed over 500 television commercials. His other works include: Black and White in Color, Coupe de Tete/Hot Head, Quest for Fire, The Name of the Rose, The Bear, Wings of Courage, and Seven Years in Tibet.

The Human Actors

At the tender age of eleven, Guy Pierce appeared in theater production of The King and I, Alice in Wonderland, and The Wizard of Oz. Later he appeared in Australian films such as Neighbours, Home and Away, and Snowy River, The McGregor Saga.  More of Guy Pierce’s films include: The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Dessert, L.A. Confidential, and Hunting.

Child actor, Freddie Highmore, starred with Johnny Depp in the 2005 version of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.  His other films include Jack and the Beanstalk:  The Real Story, and Finding 
Neverland.


Two Brothers Movie Review
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Read with your kids!

The Troublesome Tiger

Two Brothers Movie Review
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Zoe can’t wait to meet Tindu, the magnificent tiger who’s just arrived at Tanglewood! But Tindu’s having problems settling into his new home and refuses to leave his den. With the Terrific Tigers weekend just two weeks away, the pressure is on! Can Zoe and Oliver help Tindu’s keepers come up with a way to get this troublesome tiger to trust them? 

Two Brothers Movie Review
Letters to God Movie Review


Thursday, October 24, 2013

Fall in Washington, DC: Things to do With the Family

Fall in Washington, DC
Image Credit:  12019 - CCO Public Domain Image via Pixabay

Fall in Washington, DC


Fall is a beautiful time to visit the Washington, DC area. Fall foliage is gorgeous and the summer heat concedes to cooler temperatures, making outdoor events more enjoyable. The average temperatures in Washington, DC during the month of October range between 50 and 70 degrees. With school back in session, tourists traffic slows to comfortable levels so traveling around the city is less hectic and monument lines drastically shorten.

Fall foliage in Washington, DC and surrounding areas peak in mid to late October. One place to enjoy October weather and fall foliage near Washington, DC is Rock Creek Park. The park stretches 12 miles from the Potomac River to the Maryland state line. Within the park, visitors can enjoy pic-nics, hike trails, and ride bikes. Visitors will also enjoy tennis, fishing, and horse-back riding. Rock Creek Park hosts music concerts and offers educational programs for children.

Another place to enjoy beautiful Washington, DC in October is the C&O Canal National and Historic Park, otherwise known as the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal. The canal runs 184 miles beginning in Georgetown and ending in Cumberland, Maryland. Visitors enjoy boat rides, hiking, fishing, biking, and horse-back riding. Swimming is not allowed, but most visitors do not plan to swim in the cool October temperatures.

In addition to visiting parks and enjoying the beautiful fall foliage and weather in Washington, DC, visitors can also enjoy choosing from several community events.

Oktoberfests

 

Washington, DC and nearby communities in Virginia and Maryland hosts festivals known as Oktoberfests. At these festive events, visitors enjoy shopping craft booths, eating funnel cakes, playing festival games, going on pony rides, face-painting, and attending concert events of various bands and musically talented artists.

Maryland Renaissance Festival

 

The Maryland Renaissance Festival attracts visitors interested in food, music, and dancing. The official Renaissance Festival website informs potential visitors of scheduled artists and performances. Those interested in performing at the festival can click on the “Audition” link to begin the process of securing a spot.

A specific story line is chosen for each year as well as themed special events such as a children’s weekend, senior’s day, a pirate weekend, and a Celtic celebration.

Taste of Georgetown

 

Visitors to the Taste of Georgetown are privileged with the opportunity to sample foods from around 30 of Washington, DC’s best restaurants. In addition to savoring the taste of Georgetown’s finest foods, visitors will enjoy live Jazz music, artists, and children’s activities.

The Taste of Georgetown is sometimes held at other times during the year. Interested guests should check the Taste of Georgetown official website for specific information about tickets, dates, participating restaurants, and entertainment.

Taste of DC

 

The Taste of DC is much like the taste of Georgetown. The Taste of DC Official Website advertises more than 50 restaurant participants. Visitors enjoy food, music, life performance, a family-friendly activity zone and an Annual World Chili Eating Championship Contest.

The Taste of DC is a “Rain or Shine” event and takes place on Pennsylvania Avenue. Tickets usually run an inexpensive $10.00 per person and admission for children 12 and under is free.
 

The Washington International Horse Show

 

The Washington International Horse Show is the leading indoor metropolitan horse show in the United States. Every year, at least 500 of the best national and international riders and horses compete in the event which lasts 6 days. Since the first show in 1958, this event has been graced with the presence of US Presidents, celebrities, and a whole lot of people who love horses.

Washington International Horse Show features include:

The President’s Cup Grand Prix
The Puissance High Jump
The Equitation Finals
Kid’s Day
Barn Night
Last, but not least – Shopping

Those interested in attending the Washington International Horse Show should check the official website for specific information about dates, events and ticketing.

The Wounded Warrior Experience

 

The Wounded Warrior Experience features veterans of various wars spanning several generations. Visitors learn about the challenges wounded warriors face and resources made available to help them. This event is held at the United States Navy Memorial’s Arleigh Burke Theater in mid to late October.

Space for this event is limited. Make reservations early by sending an email to wsmith@americanveteranscenter.org.

The Wounded Warrior Experience is free, but please go with the intention of making a donation. Your donation helps United States wounded veterans get the help they need to live their lives after fighting to protect yours.

As with all Washington DC October events, check The Wounded Warrior Experience website for specific details.



Traveling with Kids?  Take these great books on the road with you.

First Sticker Book - Travel

Fall in Washington, D.C:  Things to do with the Family
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Children can create their own busy travel scenes with this fun sticker book.   

Travel Pocket Puzzle Book

Fall in Washington, D.C:  Things to do with the Family
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There are over 100 pages packed full of travel-themed activities in this pocket-sized puzzle book - the ultimate boredom buster. Contains mazes, picture puzzles, word searches, number problems and much more (with all of the answers at the back of the book). Great for tossing into a backpack or suitcase. 

Travel Activity Pad

Fall in Washington, D.C:  Things to do with the Family
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Whether you’re in a car, train, boat or plane, long journeys will pass by in a flash with this fun-packed pad. Includes over 200 tear-out pages packed with pen-and-paper puzzles to keep the whole family entertained, wherever you happen to be! Includes picture puzzles, word puzzles, simple logic puzzles, odd ones out, spot the difference and lots, lots more. Perfect for slipping into your hand luggage. 

 Travel Crosswords

Fall in Washington, D.C:  Things to do with the Family
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With four sections of increasing difficulty, children can puzzle their way to the top. There are over 150 themes of crosswords to conquer so the puzzles never get boring, and kids might even learn a new word or two. 

Travel Doodles

Fall in Washington, D.C:  Things to do with the Family
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There are over a hundred doodling opportunities in this pack, and the cards are wipe-clean so you can doodle over them again and again. 

Travel Games Pad

Fall in Washington, D.C:  Things to do with the Family
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This tear-off pad is packed full of ideas inspiring children to get busy during a journey - all you need is a pen or pencil (no special equipment required). With 200 activity sheets included, this is the perfect antidote to rainy days or long journeys - or just tear off a sheet at a time for some quick on-the-go games! 

Fall in Washington, D.C:  Things to do with the Family
Family Friendly Things to Do in Atlanta, Georgia


Wednesday, October 23, 2013

Treasury Collection of Christmas Pop Up Books

Treasury Collection of Christmas Pop Up Books
Image Credit:  Abundant Family Living (Tina Truelove)

The Treasury Collection of Christmas Pop Up Books


The Treasury Collection of Christmas Pop-Up Books includes four stories:

Silent Night by Joseph Mohr and Franz GruberSilent Night is illustrated by Peter Church.

Santa’s Toy Shop by Michelle Andrews.  Santa’s Toy Shop is illustrated by Bob Lynch.

The Shepherd’s Christmas by Michelle Andrews.  The Shepherd’s Christmas is illustrated by John Gurney.

The First Christmas Tree by Mary Tchir.  The First Christmas Tree is illustrated by Loretta Lustig.

Silent Night
Treasury Collection of Christmas Pop Up Books
Image Credit:  Abundant Family Living (Tina Truelove)
Silent Night is simply the song. On each page, the reader reads a verse to the song, Silent Night, while looking at the pop up illustrations.

Santa's Toy Shop
Treasury Collection of Christmas Pop Up Books
Image Credit:  Abundant Family Living (Tina Truelove)
Santa’s Toy Shop opens with Santa waiting for the last letters from the children. Snow is falling and an elf enters the room with the letters. The next page explains the toys Santa and the elves make for the children. The book ends as Santa and the elves load the sleigh. Santa takes off to deliver the toys.

The Shepherd's Christmas
Treasury Collection of Christmas Pop Up Books
Image Credit:  Abundant Family Living (Tina Truelove)
The Shepherd’s Christmas opens with a little shepherd boy looking for a lost sheep. As he spots the sheep, an angel appears and informs him of a Savior who has just been born. The angel tells the boy to follow the star to find the baby. The boy tells other shepherds and they all head out to find the baby. The boy, still carrying the sheep, and the other shepherds find the baby and rejoice.

The First Christmas Tree
Treasury Collection of Christmas Pop Up Books
Image Credit:  Abundant Family Living (Tina Truelove)
The First Christmas Tree opens with chipmunks playing in a forest. They come upon a sad tree. The tree is sad because he has no one to celebrate Christmas with. The chipmunks and other animals gather berries, nuts, pine cones, and other objects from the forest with which to decorate the lonely tree. The animals explain that they have never had a Christmas tree and this tree will be their first one. The tree turns out beautiful. The animals and the tree celebrate Christmas together.
The stories are short and sweet. The authors successfully complete a full story within just a few pages which makes sense to little children. The stories easily fit within the boundaries of little attention spans.

Each book is only six pages long. The pop out illustrations are very good, but the books are poorly constructed. The pages will easily tear. Adults will need to supervise the use of these books if they wish to enjoy them for more than a few days.






Here are several other Christmas books your child will enjoy.

Nativity Flap Book

Treasury Collection of Christmas Pop Up Books
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Discover the magic of the very first Christmas by lifting the big flaps in this simple story of the Nativity. 

The Nativity (A Touchy-Feely Book)

Treasury Collection of Christmas Pop Up Books
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A gorgeous Christmas addition to the popular Usborne Touchy-Feely series! Charming illustrations by Rachel Wells accompany a delightful, tactile retelling of the Christmas story, complete with fluffy donkeys, woolly sheep, a glittering angel and, of course, the baby Jesus, sleeping in his soft blanket. This appealing large-format book makes the perfect present for young children experiencing Christmas for the very first time. 

The Story of Baby Jesus Picture Book

Treasury Collection of Christmas Pop Up Books
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This is a delightful retelling of the story of the birth of Jesus. Follow Mary and Joseph on their journey to Bethlehem and celebrate the magic of the very first Christmas. 

Treasury Collection of Christmas Pop Up Books
The Story of Christmas by Vivian French

Are you looking for a dessert idea for your Christmas table?  How about adding a chocolate cobbler?

Chocolate Cobbler Recipe
Chocolate Cobbler


Tuesday, October 22, 2013

The Story of Christmas by Vivian French

The Story of Christmas
Image Credit:  Abundant Family Living (Tina Truelove)

The Story of Christmas by Vivian French


The Story of Christmas was written by Vivian French and illustrated by Jane Chapman. It is a Scholastic book first published in 1999.

The story opens with an illustration of the angel, Gabriel. God tells Gabriel to go to a place called Nazareth to deliver a special message to a woman named Mary. The angel tells Mary that God has chosen her to be the mother of His baby, Jesus.

Mary is supposed to marry a man named Joseph. Joseph doesn’t know what to do because Mary is already going to have a baby. God tells Joseph not to worry.

When it is almost time for the baby to be born, an emperor tells everyone to go to the place where their families live and pay him money. Mary and Joseph travel to Bethlehem. When they arrive, Bethlehem is very crowded. Mary and Joseph cannot find a place to stay. Finally, they find a stable. The baby is born that night in the stable.

Shepherds are not far away. An angel tells them about the baby. The shepherds go to see the baby. They find Baby Jesus just like the angel told them.

Wise men follow a star to the stable to see Jesus. They give Jesus gifts fit for a king. Angels in Heaven rejoice.

The Story of Christmas by Vivian French is well written. It closely follows the story found in the Bible. It includes important elements such as:

the angel Gabriel’s message to mary.

the message that the baby is God’s Son and that God chose His name to be Jesus.

Joseph’s thoughts about Mary's pregnancy but without details that children would not understand.

the angel’s message to Joseph that he should not worry about Mary.

the reason for the trip to Bethlehem and the crowded city.

Jesus’ birth in the stable.

the angel’s message to the shepherds.

the visits from the shepherds and the wise men.

the gifts the wise men brought to Jesus.

the angels in Heaven rejoiced that the Son of God is born.

Even with so many important key elements in this story, Vivian French is able to condense the story to a length suitable for children. She also manages to make the story easy for children to understand.
The illustrations are simple, yet bright and colorful.  This book is highly recommended!


Here are several other Christmas books your child will enjoy.

Nativity Flap Book

Nativity Flap Book
This item is available here.

Discover the magic of the very first Christmas by lifting the big flaps in this simple story of the Nativity. 

The Nativity (A Touchy-Feely Book)

The Nativity (A Touchy-Feely Book)
This item is available here.

A gorgeous Christmas addition to the popular Usborne Touchy-Feely series! Charming illustrations by Rachel Wells accompany a delightful, tactile retelling of the Christmas story, complete with fluffy donkeys, woolly sheep, a glittering angel and, of course, the baby Jesus, sleeping in his soft blanket. This appealing large-format book makes the perfect present for young children experiencing Christmas for the very first time. 

The Story of Baby Jesus Picture Book

The Story of Baby Jesus Picture Book
This item is available here.

This is a delightful retelling of the story of the birth of Jesus. Follow Mary and Joseph on their journey to Bethlehem and celebrate the magic of the very first Christmas. 

You might also like to check out the Dayspring Christmas Gift Guide here!

Creepy Crawlies: Questions and Answers About Bugs

Creepy Crawlies:  Questions and Answers About Bugs
Image Credit:  Abundant Family Living (Tina Truelove)

Creepy Crawlies

Little Minds Want to Know

Adults may not be the biggest fans of bugs, but children love them. One of the most popular books in my preschool class is Creepy Crawlies by John Stidworthy. Creepy Crawlies answers many questions kids have about all sorts of . . . well, creepy crawlies. The book holds the interest of very young toddlers who are just learning to love books to school age children. The pages are informative and the illustrations are pretty realistic, almost like looking at photographs. Creepy Crawlies is illustrated by Michael Posen. It is a Dempsey Parr Book first published in 2000.

Creepy Crawlies:  Questions and Answers About Bugs
Image Credit:  Abundant Family Living (Tina Truelove)
 Children learn the answers to questions such as:

Which spiders make the biggest webs?
How many eyes does a spider have?
Which spiders are human killers?
Can spiders fly?
Where do the biggest scorpions live?
Why do ticks drink blood?
How can you tell a millipede from a centipede?
Why are some termites magnetic?
How do ants know each other?
Why are bees hairy?
How many kinds of wasps are there?
What is the biggest dragonfly?
How do cicadas sing?
Which bugs stink?
Do grasshoppers have ears?
Which flies are helpful to police?
Which beetles shoot their enemies?
How are the colors of butterflies made?
Which worm sucks blood?
How do snails make shells?

Creepy Crawlie chapters include:

Spiders
Scorpions, Ticks, Mites, and Millipedes
Termites
Ants
Bees and Wasps
Dragonflies, Mantids, and Stick Insects
Bugs
Locusts and Grasshoppers
Fleas and Lice
Flies
Beetles
Butterflies and Moths
Worms
Slugs and Snails

Creepy Crawlies is also great for young children because you don’t necessarily need to read the book from cover to cover. Many children will want to read it all because it is full of information and colorful pictures, but if time is limited or a child is interested in a particular bug, you can choose to read only certain pages or chapters.

Who knows? You might even develop a surprising interest in a bug or two . . . or maybe not.
Creepy Crawlies:  Questions and Answers About Bugs
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Supplemental Activities and Resources

Make a Worm Hotel:   Mix alternating layers of sand and potting soil into a large glass jar, like a Mason canning jar. Put in 3 or 4 healthy earthworms. Add enough water for moisture but don’t flood the contents. Earthworms prefer the dark, so cover the jar with dark construction paper or tightly woven cloth. Secure the paper with a rubber band or yarn, but do not seal the jar with a lid. If you do, the worms will suffocate. After a few days, take a look. If the worms have been busy, as they should be, the layers of sand and soil will be all mixed up.

Plaster of Paris Beetles:  You can purchase Plaster of Paris here and at most craft stores. Mix it up according to the directions and pour the mixture into a plastic spoon. Rub petroleum jelly on the spoon first.  It will make it easier to remove the hardened plaster later.  Allow the mixture to dry for 24 hours. Then, slide the plaster from the spoon. It should resemble a beetle when turned with the rounded side up. Show the children photographs of beetles and supply them with paints and brushes. Instruct the children to paint their own beetle.

Create a Bug:  Supply the children with paper plates, toilet paper tubes and paper towel tubes, construction paper, beads, beans, pom-poms, glue, and anything else you want to add. Instruct the children to create their own bug.   Let them create!

Usborne Books offers several great books about bugs too!

1001 Bugs to Spot

Creepy Crawlies:  Questions and Answers About Bugs
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Crawling with bugs to find, count and talk about, this fascinating picture book provides hours of puzzle-solving fun. Spot beetles scurrying across desert dunes, butterflies flitting through the jungle, caterpillars munching on leaves, and many, many more bugs!  

1001 Bugs to Spot Sticker Book

Creepy Crawlies:  Questions and Answers About Bugs
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Spot beetles scurrying across desert dunes, butterflies flitting through the jungle, caterpillars munching on cabbage leaves, and many, many more bugs. Little spotters can keep track of all their finds using the stickers in the middle of the book. 

Big Book of Big Bugs

Creepy Crawlies:  Questions and Answers About Bugs
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From an amazing stick insect longer than your arm to gigantic spiders as big as a dinner plate, this book's huge fold-out pages let readers discover how big some of the biggest bugs in the world really are.   

Bugs

Creepy Crawlies:  Questions and Answers About Bugs
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There are thousands and thousands of different types of bugs in the world. Find out all kinds of creepy-crawly things about them in this fascinating book.  


Creepy Crawlies:  Questions and Answers About Bugs
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Bugs is part of an exciting reading series for young children with lots of pictures and very simple text about the fascinating world of bugs. Your child can progress through the Young Beginners series to the Beginners series, followed by the Discovery Adventure series for older readers.  

Busy Bug Book

Creepy Crawlies:  Questions and Answers About Bugs
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Watch as the bug whizzes around the tracks in this delightful interactive book. Wind up the bug by pulling it backward, place it on the tracks and watch it wiggle around the garden. 

First Sticker Book - Bugs

Creepy Crawlies:  Questions and Answers About Bugs
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Butterflies, dragonflies, caterpillars, spiders – the world is full of amazing bugs. Find out which ones live in jungles, deserts, swamps, and gardens by adding 170 stickers to the pictures in this book. 

Bug Hotel

Creepy Crawlies:  Questions and Answers About Bugs
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Lift the flaps to find out facts about your favorite creepy crawlies! Then learn how to create your own sustainable environment for garden insects. 

Creepy Crawlies:  Questions and Answers About Bugs
Volcanoes by Stephanie Turnbull


Friday, October 18, 2013

A is for Adam: The Gospel from Genesis by Ken and Mally Ham

A is for Adam: The Gospel from Genesis by Ken and Mally Ham
Image Credit:  Abundant Family Living (Tina Truelove)

A is for Adam: The Gospel from Genesis by Ken and Mally Ham 


We have read lots of books that teach letters and phonics.  They teach that A is for apple, B is for bat, C is for cat, and so forth. A is for Adam by Ken and Mally Ham is a great spin off of this old idea.

A is for Adam is illustrated by Dan Lietha.  It was pub;ished in 1995 by Creation-Life Publishers, Inc.

Ken Ham is well known for his teachings on creationism. His book, A is for Adam, is a rhyming book that teaches children letters and rhyming while instilling into them a love for reading. While doing so, it also teaches them about God’s creation and how He created it.

The first page reads:

A is for Adam; God made him from dust. He wasn’t a monkey, he looked just like us. Although some scientists don’t think it was so, it was God who was there, and he ought to know.

The opposite page shows a man talking to a monkey. The man, Adam, says to the monkey, “I can think, compose music, build bridges, fly airplanes, and make computers!!!! What can you do?”
The book continues, B is for Bible, C is for creatures . . . F is for fruit . . . L is for Lord . . . P is for plan . . . and so forth.

A is for Adam: The Gospel from Genesis by Ken and Mally Ham
Image Credit:  Abundant Family Living (Tina Truelove)
A Genesis Commentary

The next part of the book is a Genesis Commentary for Parents and Children. This section takes each letter section of the rhyming book and adds a commentary with suggestions for student exercises. This section helps parents and children, or in some cases teachers and students, better understand the concepts behind the letter words. The commentary provides supporting scriptures with expert explanations.

A is for Adam: The Gospel from Genesis by Ken and Mally Ham
Image Credit:  Abundant Family Living (Tina Truelove)
 A Coloring Book

The third and last section of the book is a black and white version of the first rhyming book section. Each page can be reproduced so that children can color the pages. As a parent or teacher reads the rhyming book and provides a lesson with each letter, children can color each page. Then, the parent or teacher can staple the pages together so that each child can have his own copy of the A is for Adam book.

A is for Adam: The Gospel from Genesis by Ken and Mally Ham
Image Credit:  Abundant Family Living (Tina Truelove)


The Answers Book for Kids Complete Set
Noah: Man of Destiny
How Many Animals Were on the Ark?
A Flood of Evidence
The Building of the Ark Encounter

A is for Adam
God Made You Nose to Toes by Leslie Parrott


Scripture Printable for Wedding

Scripture Printable for Wedding
It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him. Genesis 2:18.

Scripture Printable for Kitchen

Scripture Printable for Kitchen
As long as the earth endures, seedtime & harvest, cold & heat, summer & winter, day & night will never cease. Genesis 8:22

Verse of the Day from Bible Gateway