Homeschool Friday - Facts About Sharks and Whales

Homeschool Friday is a feature here at Somewhere Only We Know that showcases books my family reads during homeschool and provides a mini-review for each.

Facts About Sharks and Whales

By: Sue Stuever

Publication: January 1, 2023 by The Good and the Beautiful

58 pages

Genre: Children's, Animals, Level-2, Early Reader, Non-fiction, Science

Source: Personal Library

( Goodreads | The Good and the Beautiful )

*Note: The above link to The Good and the Beautiful is NOT an affiliate link.

Goodreads description--Young readers will dive into the underwater world of fascinating sharks and wondrous whales in this high-interest book. Real photos of these ocean animals in their natural habitats will excite early readers as they discover new information about life in the sea.

The Good and the Beautiful ranks Facts About Sharks & Whales as a Level-2A. Level 2 starts to get into some longer books, but 58 pages is still longer than a lot of the other level-2 books that we own. I think stretching the child to longer books is a good idea. So I like that this isn't a 30-page book like the level-1s and early level-2 books we own.

As the name suggests, this book is all about various facts concerning sharks and whales. It also includes rays and dolphins. What they eat, how they breathe, their physical bodies, their teeth, whether they lay eggs or have live babies. All of these are facts that are presented in this book. If your child is reading, why not enjoy some books that will teach them some fun topics. I don't know anyone who isn't at least mildly fascinated by sharks and whales.

Facts About Sharks and Whales is a great addition to your level-2 library or reading list. The information is factual. The photographs are beautiful. It's a win-win to work on reading fluency and learn about some of God's amazing creatures at the same time. Facts About Sharks and Whales gets 4.5 Stars. Have you or your child read Facts About Sharks & Whales? What did you think? Let me know!

The Little Wild Library: Hawthorn - Review

The Little Wild Library: Hawthorn: Simple things to do with the plants around you.

By: Clare Gogerty

Expected Publication: September 16, 2025 by David & Charles

112 pages

Genre: Non-Fiction, Plants, Nature, Science

Source: Publisher via Edelweiss (Thank you!!)

( Goodreads | Amazon )

*Note: The above link to Amazon is an affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--Introducing The Little Wild Hawthorn – a captivating pocket-sized guide to the magical and practical hawthorn tree. Known for its frothy white blossoms in spring and vibrant red berries in autumn, the hawthorn is a beloved tree that provides shelter, food, and enchantment throughout the year. From the moment its blossoms appear in May, to the fall when its berries brighten the hedgerow, this book reveals how to forage, craft, and cook with this ancient tree, all while uncovering its deep roots in myth and folklore.
• Simple Foraging Guidance: Learn how to identify the hawthorn among its hedgerow companions, with easy-to-follow tips on when and where to forage its flowers and berries.
• Seasonal Recipes & Crafts: Explore beginner-friendly recipes and crafts, from hawthorn jelly to soothing tinctures, perfect for making use of this versatile tree all year round.
• Rich History & Folklore: Discover the fascinating myths surrounding the hawthorn, a tree considered sacred to the Celtic druids.

Whether you're new to foraging or looking to connect with the ancient plants of the hedgerow, The Little Wild Hawthorn is the perfect introduction to this magical tree. With its blend of practical foraging advice, seasonal projects, and enchanting folklore, this guide will inspire you to embrace the hawthorn’s many gifts and explore the natural world around you.

I read The Little Wild Library: Elder before and learned there are several uses for this plant that grows in our yard. I'm not sure what drew me to the hawthorn book other than being familiar with the name, but hawthorn doesn't grow anywhere I can think to harvest it, so that's one point away from this book being useful to me.

Another thing was that I didn't find the "recipes" or uses for hawthorn to be as fitting to any needs I could see myself needing it for. So apart from the plant not being readily available to me, it also doesn't have uses that I can see myself needing, according to this book.

One of the weirdest things to me was the inclusion of one brief sentence that threw me off. The author mentions in the elder book about referencing many old books to get her information and recipes from, but the sentence in this hawthorn book that completely threw me off was: "Hawthorn is one of the preferred woods for making dowsing rods (hazel is another) because of its associated magical properties and because it is easy to find." Magical properties had me going "huh, wait, what?" And then I noticed the bibliography references books called Folk Magic and Healing by Fez Inkwright and The Witch's Yearbook by Clare Gogerty. And this gave me the ick.

I don't have problems reading fiction that includes magical systems and worlds and fantasy. But touching on witchcraft in real life, even in the form of potential recipes shared "innocently," just doesn't sit right. I do believe that God gave us plants to be used for all sorts of purposes, but even touching anything "witchy" with a ten-foot pole is not for me.

The Little Wild Library: Hawthorn now feels like something I'd be wary of using any of the recipes from anyway, even if they are innocent or legit. I don't feel like I can recommend this book, and I probably would go back and update my ratings for the previous book as well. Outside of this issue, I would list The Little Wild Library: Hawthorn as 3 Stars. Have you read The Little Wild Library: Hawthorn? What did you think? Let me know!

P.S. There's a difference between folklore and witchcraft.

Homeschool Friday - The God Contest

Homeschool Friday is a feature here at Somewhere Only We Know that showcases books my family reads during homeschool and provides a mini-review for each.

The God Contest (Tales that Tell the Truth)

By: Carl Laferton

Illustrated By: Catalina Echeverri

Publication: January 1, 2021 by The Good Book Company

32 pages

Genre: Children's, Picture Books, Christian, Non-fiction

Source: Personal Library

( Goodreads | Amazon )

*Note: The above link to Amazon is an affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--Teach children about two extraordinary events in history when the God of the Bible proved himself to be the one true God.

Kids today are faced with a huge range of different views on who God is (or isn’t). How can they be sure who’s got it right?

This beautifully illustrated hardback storybook for children aged 3-6 is written by the team behind The Garden, the Curtain and the Cross. It retells two extraordinary events in history when the God of the Bible proved himself to be the one true God.

First it takes children back to Elijah’s time and the gripping “God contest” between the God of the Bible, Yahweh, and the false god Baal. Then it fast-forwards to a different mountain and another “God contest” at an empty tomb.

Once the evidence is examined, it invites kids, in a world of so many options, to decide with confidence to join Team Jesus.

The God Contest tells the story of 1 Kings 18:16-40, where Elijah challenged the priests of Baal to a "God contest" on Mount Carmel. It starts in a way that kids can relate to by showing various kinds of contests someone might participate in. Then we have a little backstory about Ahab and Jezebel who worshiped Baal. And then in contrast we have Elijah who knew that Yahweh was the real God. Then it goes into the details of the God Contest that Elijah set up.

If you aren't familiar with the story, Elijah set up an equal opportunity contest where the followers of Baal could chop some wood and build an altar to Baal. And he would do the same but for Yahweh. Then they would call on their God and see which one could set the altar on fire. Team Baal went first with 450 people shouting and crying out to Baal. They danced, and yet nothing happened. Elijah made jokes like "Maybe he's on the toilet." (My kids thought that was particularly funny.) "Maybe he's asleep." Nothing happened.

Then it was Elijah's turn. And he dug a trench and had water poured on the altar until the altar, the wood, and the trench were filled with water, and everything was wet. Then Elijah prayed to Yahweh and asked Him to make the answer clear to all the people that He is the only real God. And fire came down from heaven and consumed the bull, the wood, and the water. Yahweh had won the contest.

King Ahab and Queen Jezebel didn't like that and decided to keep on following Baal anyway. For hundreds of years, not many people followed Yahweh. And now the authors of The God Contest point out that it was time for another God contest. This time God did something even more amazing. He didn't send fire. He sent a human. Jesus. And they go on to show how Jesus claimed to be Yahweh. He showed he was Yahweh through His miracles. And yet people weren't sure. So Jesus explained the rules of a new God contest. He will come back to life after He has died. And so Jesus let people kill Him, bury Him, and for three days...nothing. But then Jesus rose back to life. The God contest was over. Now lots of people know Jesus as the real God, the only God. And everyone has to make up their minds. Will you join Team Jesus?

I absolutely love the way the authors break these stories into easy to understand concepts for kids. And more than anything, I love the connection back to Jesus, because it is all about Him anyway. I love the comparison and contrast between God answering Elijah with the fire and with Jesus's life. Those two pages were great. I love the note added in on page 4 about the name Yahweh. I love the Tales that Tell the Truth note at the end of the book that tells about where the facts of this story come from. So many wins for this book and this series. I can give The God Contest no less than 5 Stars. Have you or your child read The God Contest? What did you think? Let me know!

Homeschool Friday - The Garden, the Curtain and the Cross

Homeschool Friday is a feature here at Somewhere Only We Know that showcases books my family reads during homeschool and provides a mini-review for each.

The Garden, the Curtain and the Cross

By: Carl Laferton

Illustrated By: Catalina Echeverri

Publication: February 18, 2016 by The Good Book Company

33 pages

Genre: Children's, Picture Book, Christian, Nonfiction

Source: Personal Library

( Goodreads | Amazon )

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Goodreads description--This picture book takes children on a journey from the garden of Eden to God's prefect new creation.

Retelling the Easter story through a Bible overview, children will discover that 'because of our sin, we can't go in' but because of Jesus' victory on the cross, an even better garden awaits us...

The Garden, The Curtain, & The Cross is a Christian children's picture book that condenses the entire story of the Bible into 33 pages. It starts with the Garden of Eden where everything was perfect and wonderful. There was nothing bad and nothing sad. And better yet, God was also there. Then Adam and Eve sinned and decided they didn't want God to be in charge. And they were kicked out of the garden. To show people they had to stay outside of the garden, God put angels in front of the garden as a big keep out sign. Now things were sometimes bad and sometimes sad. People continued to sin because they didn't want God to be in charge. And God said, "Because of your sin, you can't come in." The book states that God wanted the people to remember the wonderfulness of living with Him, so He instructed them to build a special building called His temple, where He would reside. This isn't entirely true. David had the idea to build a temple for God, and God agreed. Regardless, in the middle of the temple was a wonderful place where God was with nothing bad and nothing sad. And God told the people to put a big curtain that had pictures of angels on it as a big keep out sign. For hundreds of years, the temple curtain reminded the people that God said, "Because of your sin, you can't come in." It goes through Jesus's birth and dedication at the temple. And then discusses that because people still didn't want God to be in charge, they put Jesus to death on the cross. But Jesus had a plan. On the cross, Jesus took our sins. All the bad things we do, and all the sad things they cause, and the curtain tore. The big keep out sign was ripped up. Because Jesus died, we can go in! The book also discusses Jesus's resurrection and His invitation to everyone to come and live with Him in heaven.

That's a shortened and simplified message of the gospel of Christ. It's written in a way that young kids can understand the message. I like that the positive pages are beautifully illustrated with vivid color. Whereas, the negative or sad pages are black, white, and sepia-toned. The contrast is visually striking.

I only had minimal issues with the content of the book. The overall message was spot on. And this is an easy way to get children to hear and see that gosepl of Christ and the entire Bible message in an understandable format for their ages. The Garden, The Curtain, and The Cross gets 5 Stars from me. Have you or your child read The Garden, The Curtain, and The Cross? What did you think? Let me know!

*Edit to add: I don't worry too much about whether or not this contains the entirety of the Biblical plan of salvation or that some details aren't entirely accurate because I will be continually teaching my children through the Bible and not children's books alone the gospel message. It's not like I will be consistently referencing The Garden, the Curtain, and the Cross for my children as the message of Jesus. This is intended (on my part anyway) to be an introduction to the gospel message. My teaching will not start or stop with this book. Thus, I don't care too much about the inaccuracies, and I will take the opportunity to discuss inaccuracies with them as I feel they are ready for them.

I Want to Trust You But I Don't - Review

I Want to Trust You, but I Don't: Moving Forward When You’re Skeptical of Others, Afraid of What God Will Allow, and Doubtful of Your Own Discernment

By: Lysa TerKeurst

Publication: October 8, 2024 by Thomas Nelson

256 pages

Genre: Non-Fiction, Self-Help, Christian

Source: Publisher via NetGalley (Thank you!!)

( Goodreads | Amazon )

*Note: The above link to Amazon is an affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--New York Times bestselling author Lysa TerKeurst shows you what to do with your skepticism and distrust so you can heal from past betrayals and move forward with strength and resilience.

Trust is the oxygen of all human relationships. But it's also what trips you up after you've been burned. Maybe a friend constantly lets you down. A leader or organization you respect turns out to be different than they portray themselves to be. A spouse cheats on you. A family member betrays you. You're exhausted by other people's choices and starting to question your own discernment. And you're wondering, If God let this happen, can he even be trusted?

How can you live well and step into the future when you keep stumbling over trust issues? Lysa TerKeurst says it's not simply about finding better people to walk with. It's about developing the stability you long for within yourself and with God, so you don't become cynical and carry a broken belief system into every new relationship.

In I Want to Trust You, But I Don't, Lysa shows you how to identify which of the eleven relational red flags are stirring up distrust, so you can pinpoint why you're feeling uneasy;stop having more faith in your fears coming true than God coming through for you by asking crucial "what if" questions to better process your doubts;recognize when a fractured relationship can be repaired by considering a reasonable list of characteristics necessary for rebuilding trust; andunderstand the physical, emotional, and neurological impact of the betrayals you've experienced and start healing from the inside out.

In a world where so many things feel alarming, this book will give you a peace that isn't dependent on unpredictable people, circumstances, and experiences. Instead, it offers practical and biblical ways to make real progress toward healthier perspectives, relationships, and a future you can authentically look forward to.

I've read several books by Lysa TerKeurst, but I've not read them all. The last one I read was Forgiving What You Can't Forget which was about the healing and restoration of her marriage. I don't follow her so I was surprised when I dove into this book to find out that her marriage didn't survive afterall. I hate it for her. This book was written from a place where her hurt and trauma could be felt. I felt so bad for her, while also being able to relate on some levels. Of course, none of us have experienced exactly the same hurts and betrayals.

I have to say that while I have come a long way from a lot of my own truama and personal betrayals, I still find myself struggling to trust at times. And I still find myself trying to control all the things I have no business trying to control. This book brought some of those experiences back to the forefront of my mind, which I didn't want. I do want to move forward, truly forgive fullly, and move on. So bringing some of these memories back to the surface was a painful experience for me. And I had to proceed slowly through this book. I couldn't just plow through it. I ended up putting it down for quite a long time before returning and finishing it.

If you have been betrayed and you hope to regain some of the trust that was lost, I would recommend this book as a resource for you. I think Lysa has some good tips. It's always helpful to know that we aren't alone and that we haven't experienced something that no one else in the world has experienced. So comisserating and seeing how someone else processed their pain can be helpful. I appreciate her attempts to always be learning from God during her life no matter if that's from pain or joy. I strive to do the same in my own.

I always appreciate that Lysa often narrates her own books. I switched back and forth between listening to this on audio and reading it. Both are equally good. I didn't find myself rating this as 5 Stars probably for a couple of reasons 1) my trauma and betrayal isn't new and these aren't feelings I'm actively working through, 2) I had to put this book down for a long time and having a big gap in the reading experience caused continuity issues for me. This is solely my fault and no fault of the book itself, but it does affect my experience reading it. Either way, I'm giving I Want to Trust You But I Don't 4.5 Stars. Have you read or listened to I Want to Trust You But I Don't? What did you think? Let me know!

Homeschool Friday - The Storm that Stopped

Homeschool Friday is a feature here at Somewhere Only We Know that showcases books my family reads during homeschool and provides a mini-review for each.

The Storm That Stopped

By: Alison Mitchell

Illustrated By: Catalina Echeverri

Publication: February 1, 2016 by The Good Book Company

32 pages

Genre: Children's, Non-fiction, Christian, History, Picture Book

Source: Personal Library

( Goodreads | Amazon )

*Note: The above link to Amazon is an affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--Third in the 'Tales that Tell the Truth' series comes The Storm that Stopped!

Based on the account of Jesus calming the storm from Mark chapter 4, this dramatic storybook will teach children about who Jesus really is, as they witness his power over nature.

Stunningly illustrated by Catalina Echeverri, author and illustrator of several bestselling children's books as well as the first two storybooks from the 'Tales that Tell the Truth' series: The Christmas Promise and The One O'Clock Miracle.

Written by Alison Mitchell, author of The Christmas Promise and several of our children's tracts.

The Storm that Stopped covers the New Testament story of when Jesus calmed the storm while in a boat on the Sea of Galilee. The story starts with Jesus teaching a multitude of people all day, and then he decides to go with his apostles across the sea. He fell asleep in the boat on the way, and suddenly a storm arose. The wind and the waves are so big and strong that the boat is taking on water, and the apostles fear they are going to drown. Jesus sleeps through this all until they wake him.

I appreciated the illustrations included. The beauty of contrast from the light pages to the darker, stormy pages was jarring in the perfect way. I liked the page with the wind o'meter, wave o'meter, sink o'meter, and panic o'meter. My children thought those were particularly funny.

I also liked that when Jesus calms the sea, the book focuses on what he doesn't do. He doesn't help bail the water out of the boat, he doesn't help row, he speaks, but not to the apostles. He speaks to the wind and the waves.

The book (as well as the Biblical story) then focuses on who Jesus is that he could possibly have control over the wind and the waves. He was teaching His disciples that He is God. Like Jesus and the Lions' Den, this book includes a "how do we know about the storm that stopped" section at the end. I love that they include this.

The Storm that Stopped is about as good as a children's picture book can get for me. The illustrations are striking. There's a little humor. The content is Biblical, which I appreciate. And the teaching goes beyond the surface. The Storm that Stopped is a great addition to any home library. The Storm that Stopped gets 5 Stars. Have you or your child read The Storm that Stopped? What did you think? Let me know!

Homeschool Friday - Courageous World Changers

Homeschool Friday is a feature here at Somewhere Only We Know that showcases books my family reads during homeschool and provides a mini-review/review for each.

Courageous World Changers: 50 True Stories of Daring Women of God

By: Shirley Raye Redmond

Publication: January 7, 2020 by Harvest Kids

112 pages

Genre: Children's, Biography, Non-fiction, Christian, History

Source: Personal Library

( Goodreads | Amazon )

*Note: The above link to Amazon is an affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--WINNER OF CHRISTIANITY TODAY'S 2021 BOOK AWARD FOR CHILDREN & YOUTH

Women of Fearless Faith

Meet women who have used their God-given talents to live out their faith to the fullest. They come from a variety of backgrounds, eras, and ethnicities, but each one has answered the Lord’s call on their life in bold and innovative ways.

Children of all ages will be inspired by the stories of These and the 45 other female spiritual role models featured in this book have made a profound impact on the world around them, and in many cases changed the course of history. Strong, smart, and sometimes outspoken, these women are tremendous examples of God’s love in action.

These inspiring profiles will captivate kids’ imaginations and encourage them to discover their own gifts and how they can use them to glorify God.

Courageous World Changers showcases 50 women throughout history (some still alive today) who have done amazing things in their lives, careers, missions, and the world for Christ. I liked that this list included historical figures that are quite well-known--a few of these people we've recently studied in school. But I also appreciate modern-day people still alive were featured because it reminds us that you don't have to be dead to be great. Or you might have the misconception that these important people only lived in the past. These stories remind us that anyone can be a world-changer.

Each person has a bio description of their past and their deeds for Christ and an illustrated portrait. I do wish for a photograph versus illustrations because that would have added to the idea that these were/are real people. But, some of these people may never have been photographed.

I don't remember needing to edit any theology, but I can't remember. I do have the most recently release: Courageous and Bold Bible Heroes: 50 True Stories of Daring Men and Women of God that we will read at the start of the next school year beginning in the fall.

Courageous World Changers is a great book to provide a summary of the lives of women who, throughout history, have made a big difference for Christ all over the world. This book will help inspire many that it's possible to make a difference for Christ today. Courageous World Changers gets 5 Stars. Have you read Courageous World Changers? What did you think? Let me know!

Homeschool Friday - How to Take the Grrrr Out of Anger

Homeschool Friday is a feature here at Somewhere Only We Know that showcases books my family reads during homeschool and provides a mini-review/review for each.

How to Take the Grrrr Out of Anger

By: Elizabeth Verdick and Marjorie Lisovskis

Publication: December 15, 2002 by Free Spirit Publishing

128 pages

Genre: Children, Parenting, Nonfiction, Emotion, Self-Help, Mental Health

Source: Publisher via Edelweiss (Thank you!!)

( Goodreads | Amazon )

*Note: The above link to Amazon is an affiliate link. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--Anger is a part of life. We can’t avoid it, we shouldn’t stuff it, and we can’t make it go away.

Kids need help learning how to manage their anger. This book speaks directly to them and offers strategies they can start using immediately.

Blending solid information and sound advice with jokes and funny cartoons, it guides kids to understand that anger is normal and can be expressed in many ways—some healthy, some not.

It teaches them how to recognize anger in themselves and others, how to handle situations and emotions (loneliness, guilt, frustration, fear) that lead to or mask anger, and how to deal with the anger they feel.

Young readers learn that violence is not acceptable and there are better, safer, more positive ways to resolve conflicts.

They also discover what to do when people around them are angry, how to get help, and how to locate other resources (books, hotlines, school groups) when they need more support.

How to Take the Grrrr Out of Anger was not really what I thought it was going to be. I was expecting a fictional story for some reason. That might be because it was so long between requesting this book and reading it that I forgot what it was supposed to be about. Also, I've tried to read quite a lot of fictional books about anger to my children--specifically my child who struggles with his emotions.

I quickly realized that this was more of an instructional manual for kids on how to help them with their anger. I highlighted a ton. I appreciated that actionable things were included. Anyone reading this book (adult or child) will be able to find something they can put into practice to help. The words a person uses to talk to themselves matter as much or more than words said to them by others. I love that this was addressed. I know my child can get frustrated with himself and gear towards the negative with his self-talk. Children are encouraged to find an adult they can talk to at certain times. The author tells them to find someone they can trust, but also, if they don't get the help they need from that person (for whatever reason), then find someone else to talk to. Not giving up after the first person doesn't help is so important. I like the positive messages given to kids: "you are stronger than your anger," and "you have the power to overcome your anger!"

Favorite quotes:

-Anger can stay with you for a very, very, very long time. This may be hard to believe, but some of the adults you know and talk to every day are still angry about stuff that happened when they were kids. Because they never dealt with their anger, it just stuck around like a bad smell. You probably don't want this to happen to you.

-Sure, other people may sometimes try to make you mad on purpose. But often they're just being themselves, or kidding around, or making mistakes. They may not even know they're angering you.

-Did you know that even just making an angry face may make you feel mad? ... So angry face, angry thoughts, and angry words often lead to more angry feelings. It's that simple.

-But you can't "smoosh" anger. What happens when you do? The anger won't stay down for long.

-That's the thing about angry or rude texts, emails, instant messages, and handwritten notes: you can't undo "send." Just remember: what goes on-screen stays on-screen. Forever.

-It's true that anger can really make you mad. But anger is never an excuse for being mean.

-Angry behavior doesn't solve problems. Most times, it makes things worse.

I also appreciate the resources (extra books to help on this topic) listed at the end for the parents. I will be checking out multiple of the books listed.

I haven't tried reading this book to my child or letting him read it himself, but I am trying to do the best job I possibly can with modeling the behavior I want to see. I would like to either read this to him or have him read it one day on his own. But from a parent perspective, I give How to Take the Grrrr Out of Anger 5 Stars. Have you or your child read How to Take the Grrrr Out of Anger? What did you think? Let me know!

The Little Wild Library: Elder - Review

The Little Wild Library: Elder: Simple things to do with the plants around you.

By: Clare Gogerty

Publication: September 16, 2025 by David & Charles

128 pages

Genre: Non-Fiction, Plants, Nature, Science

Source: Publisher via Edelweiss (Thank you!!)

( Goodreads | Amazon )

*Note: The above link to Amazon is an affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--A favourite of foragers, the Elder tree is the very essence of summer, with frothy blooms emerging in the late spring and filling the hedges and pathways with a glorious fragrance. As the seasons turn, the elderberry comes into its own, a delicious food for humans and animals alike, bursting with vitality and an excellent source of vitamin c.

In The Little Wild Elder, discover how to make the most of this beautiful tree, with recipes and makes to try throughout the year. Once you’ve found your favourite elder, come back as the seasons change and find new things to do with your foraged treasure – from edible treats to useful tinctures. Beginner-friendly, the elder is the perfect plant for those new to foraging to get to know – with easy-to-follow recipes for favourite makes such as the delicate and romantic elderflower champagne.

Learn how to identify the elder amidst its hedgerow friends from the comprehensive botanical information included, and take this pocket-sized book out on foraging adventures to help spot the elder blossom bursting forth in the spring sunshine – though you’ll be sure to catch its heavenly scent before you see it! As fall arrives, return to your favourite elder and gather the elderberries that shine brightly from its branches. Through the book, learn about the history of the elder, and discover some of the myths, legends, and folklore attached to this beautiful plant.

The perfect beginner's guide to foraging, in a handy pocket-sized format, The Little Wild Elder will reveal the secrets of the hedgerow and inspire those new to foraging to experiment and explore the beautiful plants around them.

I don't know exactly what I was expecting from this book. I was thrown off by the inclusion of folklore. I suppose it was interesting tidbits. Mostly, I'm interested in the elderberry cough syrup. This book didn't include a specific recipe labeled cough syrup. But there were two recipes listed with uses as cough remedies. I wasn't expecting to find elderberry facial balm or elder flower facial steam recipes. But I'm here for them.

I haven't had a chance to use any of these recipes yet, so I can't really include that in my review. We have elderberries planted on our property, and it is now September. Perhaps I will be able to harvest and make something soon. That's one of the reasons I wanted to get this book for review.

I will say that this wasn't formatted very well for my Kindle. It was probably the egalley version that I got. Hopefully, all of that will be cleaned up for the actual Kindle release.

The Little Wild Library: Elder was a quick read. It's easy to reference the recipes listed. I liked that the book wasn't overdone with recipes. Like, this isn't an extensive list of elderberry recipes. I'm giving this a 3.5 Star rating. My rating might increase after I try a recipe or two. The formatting wasn't great, and the folklore included threw me off. Have you read The Little Wild Library: Elder? If so, what did you think? Let me know!

Homeschool Friday - 180 Days of Spelling & Word Study for 2nd Grade

Homeschool Friday is a feature here at Somewhere Only We Know that showcases books my family reads during homeschool and provides a mini-review/review for each.

180 Days™: Spelling and Word Study for Second Grade

By: Shireen Pesez Rhoades

Publication: January 2, 2019 by Shell Education

240 pages

Genre: Education, Teaching, Subjects, Language Arts

Source: Publisher via Edelweiss (Thank you!!)

( Amazon )

*Note: The above link to Amazon is an affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Edelweiss Description--Help second grade students improve their spelling skills with fun and effective daily practice activities. Focusing on 10 words each week, students will learn spelling rules, patterns, and vocabulary.
Help second grade students improve their spelling skills with fun and effective daily practice activities.

180 Days™: Spelling and Word Study for Second Grade

Focuses on 10 words each week with memorable and repetitive daily activities
Builds students' confidence in spelling with independent learning activities focusing on spelling rules, patterns, and vocabulary
Makes at-home learning, whole class instruction, or small group support, quick and easy
Includes standards-based activities, easy to follow instructions, and an answer key to quickly assess student understanding
Parents appreciate the teacher-approved activity books that keep their child engaged and learning. Great for homeschooling, to reinforce learning at school, or prevent learning loss over summer.

Teachers rely on the daily practice workbooks to save them valuable time. The ready to implement activities are perfect for daily morning review or homework. The activities can also be used for intervention skill building to address learning gaps.

My 7-year-old son who is in 2nd grade struggles with spelling. The language arts curriculum we use includes spelling, but spelling is not a huge focus at this level. And when it is, the words are usually high-frequency words that do not always align with phonics principles. But I've learned through kindergarten and 1st grade that spelling isn't a strength of his. At this point, he tries to spell words without vowels a lot of the time. So I decided that to be effective, we needed to add some additional spelling resources. About the same time, I saw 180 Days of Spelling & Word Study for Second Grade available for review on Edelweiss. The only trouble with using this as an actual curriculum for him is that I can't print any of it for him to actually do the lessons. So I ended up purchasing a different curriculum to use. But in the process, I was able to compare the two. I won't divulge the other curriculum's name since that's not what this review is about.

First off, the difference I noticed between the two is that 180 Days of Spelling & Word Study for Second Grade is a 34-week program that has 10 words per day and is intended to be done 5 days a week. The other program I got was 30 weeks, 10 words per day, 5 days per week. These two curricula only share 47 words out of 340 & 300 words respectively. The difference in the level of words was obvious. 180 Days of Spelling & Word Study for Second Grade had harder words by far. The shortest word included in their list was three letters. The other curriculum had multiple 1-letter and 2-letter words. 180 Days of Spelling & Word Study for Second Grade also includes an entire week devoted to contractions, whereas the other curriculum included 1 contraction. I also noticed an increased level of words with phonics blends in this curriculum compared to the other. 

180 Days of Spelling & Word Study for Second Grade follows the same pattern for most weeks. Day 1 is using the spelling words in a sentence. Day 2 is synonyms and antonyms. Day 3 is to write a question, statement, and exclamation using one of the words. Day 4 is word endings/suffixes. Day 5 is analogies. There were a few variations, like word sorts, but mostly the weeks followed the same pattern. When compared to the other program I bought, 180 Days of Spelling & Word Study for Second Grade focused more on using the words correctly, grammar, verb tenses, and such. There wasn't as much emphasis on practicing spelling the words, except for using them within the worksheet page for that day. 180 Days of Spelling & Word Study for Second Grade also included a helpful hint for each week to help children. For example: The sc- blend shows up at the beginning of words but never at the end. Instead, use -sk at the end. 

Which is better for your child is going to depend on your child's needs. I haven't had the chance to use either curriculum with my child. But because of his struggles, I'm glad that I have the other curriculum to start with. I worry some of the spelling words in that one will be too easy, but I'd rather start off building confidence than immediately struggling. Although I do think most of the words in 180 Days of Spelling & Word Study for Second Grade could be spelled easily due to the phonetic principles used. Not many words would be confusing. Even still, I think if you have a child who is mid-level for this age range, this curriculum may be exactly what you need. And I like that it does work on grammar and thinking skills, and not just spelling. However, that's not exactly what I'm in the market for. 180 Days of Spelling & Word Study for Second Grade gets 4 Stars from me. Have you or your child used 180 Days of Spelling & Word Study for Second Grade? What did you think? Let me know!

Homeschool Friday - He Is Here

Homeschool Friday is a feature here at Somewhere Only We Know that showcases books my family reads during homeschool and provides a mini-review/review for each.

He is Here!: 25 Days Of Christmas Devotions

By: Browning Montgomery Wood

Publication: August 1, 2022 by Christian Faith Publishing, Inc

80 pages

Genre: Holiday, Christmas, Seasonal, Christian, Devotion

Source: Publisher via Edelweiss (Thank you!!)

( Goodreads | Amazon )

*Note: The above link to Amazon is an affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Description--This story would change the world like no other. An unknown woman, in an unknown village would give birth to a seemingly unknown and insignificant son, but this event would interrupt time like nothing has before it and nothing has since. After 21 centuries His name is still known around the world. His influence is unmatched, and the writings surrounding his birth, his life and his message fill libraries around the world! His birth and the message that came with it is a point of dispute to this day. This is certain though, prophets, priests, and kings for thousands of years and hundreds of generations have longed to see this day arrive. It is Christmas, and He is Here!

I've been reading devotions to my children at bedtime for a few years. But I've never done a Christmas-focused one and the timing looked like it was going to work out for me to be able to do He's Here! with my children during the Christmas season. Right off the bad, I knew we wouldn't finish the book within the 25 days because my husband puts them to bed every other night. At first, I thought I would double up and read two devotions a night to finish by Christmas, but I soon realized that would not work for my middle child who struggles with his attention span. 

The cover of He's Here! pulled me in, but I also immediately thought "children's devotion." Granted, I could have been projecting because that was what I was looking for. But I can't find anywhere that specifically states the target audience age for this devotion. That being said, I did think a few of the devotions were above my children's level. So maybe this is for older children or adults. I'm unsure since I haven't seen anything on Goodreads, Amazon, or Edelweiss that specifically states an age range.

I did enjoy He's Here! as a devotion. The introduction says the author, Browning Montgomery Wood, wants the reader to look at Christmas in a new way. I can't say that I did that. I can't say that there were any new revelations for me within this devotion. My children didn't have any questions, and no questions were included for me to prompt them. (I'm not great about asking questions to provoke thinking.) Although, I did highlight a few quotes that I particularly liked.

Favorite quote:

-She will nurse God at her breast--He who has always brought forth the bounty of earth's supply (Psalm 145). She will clothe God--He who is robed in the stars and the sun (Psalm 104). She will change God's linens--He who has cleaned up after the sin and filth of mankind and His people for ages past (2 Chronicles 7:14). She will sing to God--the Lord who sings over us, the song of salvation (Zephaniah 3:17). Yes, indeed, grace has come to Mary...she is about to be the mother of God.

My favorite devotions were: "He's Popping Up Everywhere!" and "Wonderful Counselor." 

Now, I did have one big issue with this devotion, and that's the last one "Be Born in Me!" Browning Montgomery Wood spends the entire day's devotion leading up to telling the reader how to be saved, how to be "born again". And she falls short. She does a great job laying things out. She explains Jesus's purpose: to save, not condemn (John 3:17). She lays out the problem: "We are all spiritually dead because of our sin and trespasses" (Ephesians 2:1). She includes passages. John 10:10 highlights that Jesus came to give abundant life. She rightly shows that Jesus told Nicodemus that he needed to be born again (John 3:3). She directs the reader to Romans to walk through the understanding of how to be born again. Romans 3:23 rightly shows us that everyone has sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Romans 6:23 rightly shows us that the price of sin is death--which is separation from God. Romans 5:8 shows that Christ paid the debt for us which we couldn't do for ourselves because we're sinners. And here's the problem. She skips over the rest of Romans chapter 6 which talks about being buried with Christ through baptism into His death and being raised from dead by the glory of the Father, so that we should also walk in newness of life. (Romans 6:4). She skipped all of that and jumped over to Romans 10:9-10 which talks about confessing Jesus. Scripture must harmonize. You can't pick and choose verses to apply and ones that do not. You can't skip verses like Mark 16:16, Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 2:38, Acts 22:16, 1 Peter 3:21 and say that all you have to do is believe and confess. The "accept Jesus into your heart as your personal savior"...the "just pray this prayer and you're saved" gospel falls short. It doesn't harmonize the entirety of Scripture to give someone a full understanding. Thus, I had to edit while reading this one to my kids--which wasn't too hard to do. But it breaks my heart that some readers out there don't know Scripture enough to know that. It's misleading. I'm not trying to judge her heart. At the same time, it's imperative to read Scripture for yourself and not trust the word of an individual. It's up to each person to work out their own salvation (Philippians 2:12) meaning each person is responsible for their own salvation and can't blame someone else for teaching them false doctrine. 

In the end He's Here wasn't exactly what I was looking for. I'd hoped to have a Christmas-focused devotion for my children ages 7-9. Some of the devotions were a little over their understanding. And I felt discouraged that the last day's devotion short-changed the truth of Scripture and excluded baptism from the steps necessary for salvation. Because of that, I'm giving He's Here!: 25 Days of Christmas Devotions 4 Stars. Have you read He's Here!? What did you think? Let me know! 

Homeschool Friday - Cool Down and Work Through Anger

Homeschool Friday is a feature here at Somewhere Only We Know that showcases books my family reads during homeschool and provides a mini-review for each.

Cool Down and Work Through Anger

By: Cheri J. Meiners M.Ed.

Publication: Free Spirit Publishing Inc.,U.S. (1 May 2010)

40 pages

Genre: Children's, Non-fiction, Teaching

Source: Publisher via Edelweiss (Thank you!!)

( Goodreads | Amazon )

*Note: The above link to Amazon is an affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--Help children understand and manage anger.

Everyone gets angry, so it’s never too early for children to learn to recognize feelings of anger, express them, and build skills for coping with anger in helpful, appropriate ways. Children learn that it is okay to feel angry—but not okay to hurt anyone with actions or words. They discover concrete skills for working through anger: self-calming, thinking, getting help from a trusted person, talking and listening, apologizing, being patient, and viewing others positively. Reassuring and supportive, the book helps preschool and primary-age children see that when they cool down and work through anger, they can feel peaceful again.

My 7-year-old has a temper. I can't imagine where he got it from. (Literally both sides of the family). So anytime I see children's books about anger, I get them so I can help him learn to process his emotions. 

Cool Down and Work Through Anger starts off by saying that we all like to control certain things. And when we don't get the things we want, we can feel frustrated and angry. This can also happen when we feel disrespected by others. And sometimes anger feels explosive. It gives a few steps that might help the child calm down, like breathing and counting. Then the child can think about their actions or what they want to say or do. Going somewhere to relax or drawing, reading, and singing might help. Playing outside and spending time with others is another option to relax. Then it highlights the benefits of feeling calm. We can all think more clearly when we're calm. We might actually be part of the problem. We can talk things out with an adult to help us understand and work through our anger. Making sure we show respect when we talk to an adult or the person who was there helps convey one's feelings. The importance of listening is highlighted. An important step is saying "I'm sorry" and taking responsibility for my actions without blaming others. Then it concludes with things the child can do like forgive, be patient, remember that everyone makes mistakes, and have a positive attitude when things are outside our control. We have the option of seeing the best in others and changing the way we think about others can change the way we feel. In the end, the conclusion of working through one's anger is that one gets to feel at peace again. 

Cool Down and Work Through Anger does a good job of showing lots of options and the whys behind them to continuing to feel the anger (not ignoring it), while also being productive with it to see if we can learn something. All of this is contingent on the child being receptive to improvement. In my experience, my child is resistant during times of anger. You have to teach these principles during times of calmness so that recall is easier in the moment of anger. Because resistance is more likely to occur if the child is already being controlled by his or her emotions. Cool Down and Work Through Anger gets 4.5 Stars. Have you or your child read Cool Down and Work Through Anger? What did you think? Let me know!

ADHD is Awesome - Review

ADHD is Awesome

By: Penn & Kim Holderness

Publication: April 30, 2024 by Harper Horizon

292 pages

Genre: Adult, Nonfiction, Parenting, Self-Help, Psychology, Mental Health

Source: Borrowed from the e-Library

( Goodreads | Amazon )

*Note: The above link to Amazon is an affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--Hi, friend! Welcome to the ADHD club.

You're here because, like me, you've been diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder—which, by the way, just might be the worst name for a condition ever—and you're trying to figure out how to make your life a little more manageable. Or because, like my wife, Kim, you love, teach, or work with someone who has ADHD, and you're trying to figure out how to best support them.

The world isn't built for ADHDers, and navigating it can wear us down. But we'll let you in on a little secret: having ADHD doesn't have to be a burden. It can actually be a superpower that propels you to creative heights and allows you to achieve more than you ever thought possible.

We want to give you a new perspective on ADHD, whether it's your own brain or a friend or family member's that you're trying to understand. We hope you come away with strategies you can employ to make things a little easier. (We also hope you laugh out loud, at least once or twice.)

Most of all, we want you to silence that voice that whispers that you're broken or a mess or a failure. None of that is true. You have ADHD—and that makes you awesome.

—Penn Holderness

My almost seven-year-old son has not been officially diagnosed with ADHD, but he has a lot of indications that he might have ADHD. He, more than my other two children, has prompted me to study and learn about child development. I just haven't figured out why he struggles so much in a few key areas. When his Pre-K4/MDO teacher suggested he might have ADHD at the age of 5, I immediately rejected the idea and thought he was just being a boy and boys having trouble sitting still and such. Well, fast forward about 2 years, and I've done a good bit more research, plus had more time to observe him, and I think she might be right. So much of  ADHD and what he's going through seems negative. When I came across a video by The Holderness Family about ADHD, Penn talked about the book they co-wrote called ADHD is Awesome. I immediately added it to my TBR list. Thankfully, the e-library got a copy of the audiobook, and I jumped on it to listen.

I am so thankful for Penn and Kim writing this book. Penn shares his experiences of having "a raging case of ADHD" with this book. Having an adult be able to describe what happens in his own brain helps me so much to relate to my son. I've never understood why he can never remember where his shoes are or why an item ceases to exist in his brain when he puts it down. How he can not remember so much has always baffled me. And I've often thought and even accused him of lying to me. And I can easily say that doing so has damaged our relationship. Penn's candor has provided me with some relief. Similar to the relief he felt after being diagnosed. I feel relief in learning more about and understanding more about things my child struggles with or deals with and how his brain works. I cried. Multiple times. From guilt over how I've handled things in the past, sadness over the struggles he has and why everything feels harder for him, hope for the future, and fear for the same. 

Penn and Kim do a wonderful job of presenting ADHD as it is. They don't sugarcoat things. Penn's struggles and the negative side of having ADHD are there in all its ugliness. But there are positives to having ADHD or being close to someone who has ADHD, and those positives are essentially never pointed out. They want everyone to know that it isn't all bad. And I can so appreciate that. As someone whose child is still very young, I feel like we have an uphill battle in front of us, but there is hope. They offer coping strategies. This was one of the most practically applicable books I've ever read on a similar topic (not ADHD specifically). I appreciate that so much. And I appreciate Penn and Kim Holderness for putting this book out there. I needed it. And I'm sure so many others do too.

The humor kept the topics light enough that this didn't feel like a heavy book even though I was quite emotional through portions of it. I suppose if it were heavy or dull the ADHD brain would abandon it, most likely. Penn definitely wrote with other ADHDers in mind. 

I also loved the discussion of the name ADHD, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. The name truly doesn't describe the condition. And that contributes to the condition being so highly misunderstood. Addressing the misconceptions around ADHD was really helpful for me, and it helped me see that I had a lot of unfounded preconceived ideas of what ADHD is that are completely false. 

I can tell you that I would have had way too many quotes highlighted if I'd read this on my Kindle, but since I listened to the audiobook, I don't have any to share. I will tell you that I will 100% get a physical or digital copy of this book to have for myself to read again and probably even more than once. The audiobook version is wonderful being narrated by Penn and Kim directly. I don't know how much sidebar-type stuff they added to the physical book. It almost seemed like some things were added in their audio narration that wouldn't be in a physical copy, but I couldn't tell you that for sure without comparing the two. But their narration made the audiobook fun and easy to listen to (the goal). The only reason I want a physical copy for myself and not the audio version to own is that finding a passage for reference would be much easier in a physical copy. 

If you have ADHD or have a loved one with ADHD, I think you should definitely check out ADHD is Awesome by Penn and Kim Holderness. If nothing else, you can commiserate with someone who understands your struggles. ADHD is Awesome gets 5 Stars from me. Have you read (or listened to) ADHD is Awesome? What did you think? Let me know!

P.S. I have purchased a digital copy for Kindle since writing this review.

Homeschool Friday - Know and Follow Rules

Homeschool Friday is a feature here at Somewhere Only We Know that showcases books my family reads during homeschool and provides a mini-review for each.

Know and Follow Rules

By: Cheri J. Meiners M.Ed.

Publication: March 31, 2005 by Free Spirit Publishing

40 pages

Genre: Children's, Non-fiction, Teaching

Source: Publisher via Edelweiss (Thank you!!)

( Goodreads | Amazon )

*Note: The above link to Amazon is an affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--A child who can’t follow rules is a child who’s always in trouble. This book starts with simple reasons why we have to help us stay safe, learn, be fair, and get along. Then it presents just four basic “Listen,” “Best Work,” “Hands and Body to Myself,” and “Please and Thank You.” The focus throughout is on the positive sense of pride that comes with learning to follow rules. Includes questions and activities adults can use to reinforce the ideas and skills being taught. The Learning to Get Along® Series

The Learning to Get Along series helps children learn, understand, and practice basic social and emotional skills. Real-life situations, lots of diversity, and concrete examples make these read-aloud books appropriate for home and childcare settings, schools, and special education settings. Each book ends with a section of discussion questions, games, and activities adults can use to reinforce what children have learned. All titles are available in English-Spanish bilingual editions.

On the one hand, Know and Follow Rules looks a little outdated to me. The colors and illustrations remind me a little of the 1980s. At the same time, I like that the illustrations are very clear and detailed--even down to the little girl with her tongue sticking out as she's coloring. What the characters are intending to do is obvious. Their thoughts and feelings are quite clear. I like the diversity of characters included. 

The content of the book is beautifully well done. What I mean by that is that the information is presented so clearly. There's a reason we have rules: to know what to do. Rules are different depending on the situation or location: work, play, school classroom, cafeteria, playground, gym, library, etc. There are benefits to having rules: we're all able to learn, help us show respect, remind us to be polite, help make things fair for everyone, help keep everyone safe, when we use the rules things go better for us, help us have personal responsibility, and when everyone follows the rules it helps us get along. Examples of some rules are: listening while others are speaking, asking questions when we need help, following instructions, doing things the first time we're told, trying our best, thinking carefully, taking time to do a good job, keeping our hands and feet to ourselves, asking permission to use something that doesn't belong to us, saying "please" and "thank you," help others, waiting our turn, let everyone participate, walking in the hallway, use things carefully, This subject is just spelled out in such a simplistic way that it helps the reader see the benefits of following the rules. 

I have been doing a study on manners in our homeschool, and Know and Follow Rules is a perfect choice to add to my study for my kids. Most of this information is stuff the older ones already know, but presented in this way, helps to solidify why we follow rules. Showing the benefits of following rules is a way to help children get on board. Know and Follow Rules gets 5 Stars from me. Have you read Know and Follow Rules? What did you think? Let me know!

Homeschool Friday - Brave Heroes and Bold Defenders

Homeschool Friday is a feature here at Somewhere Only We Know that showcases books my family reads during homeschool and provides a mini-review for each.

Brave Heroes and Bold Defenders: 50 True Stories of Daring Men of God

By: Shirley Raye Redmond

Publication: October 6, 2020 by Harvest Kids

112 pages

Genre: Children's, Biography, Non-fiction, Christian, History

Source: Personal Library

( Goodreads | Amazon )

*Note: The above link to Amazon is an affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--Men of Fearless Faith

Meet men who have used their God-given talents to live out their faith to the fullest. They come from a variety of backgrounds, eras, and ethnicities, but each one has answered the Lord’s call on their life in bold and innovative ways.

Children of all ages will be inspired by the stories of These and the 45 other defenders of the faith featured in this book have made a profound impact on the world around them, and in many cases changed the course of history. Strong, smart, and sometimes outspoken, these men are tremendous examples of God’s love in action.

These inspiring profiles will captivate kids’ imaginations and encourage them to discover their own gifts and how they can use them to glorify God.

Brave Heroes and Bold Defenders showcases 50 men throughout history (some still alive today) who have done amazing things in their lives, careers, missions, and the world for Christ. I liked that this list included historical figures that are quite well-known--a few of these people we studied about over this past school year. But I also liked that modern-day people still alive were featured as well because it reminds us all that you don't have to be dead to have been great. Or you might have the misconception that these things don't happen today. These stories remind us that anyone can be a hero. 

Each person has a bio description of their past and their deeds for Christ and an illustrated portrait. I do wish for a photograph versus illustrations because I think that would have added to the idea that these were/are real people. But I suppose photographs would have been more difficult to achieve a unified look for the overall book aesthetic. Also, some of these people may never have been photographed. 

I don't remember needing to edit any theology, but I really can't remember. We did finish this book months before writing this review. I only thought to review it after picking up the female version, Courageous World Changers. 

Brave Heroes and Bold Defenders is a great book to provide a summary of the lives of men who throughout history have made big differences for Christ all over the world. This book will help inspire many that it's possible to make a difference for Christ today. Brave Heroes and Bold Defenders gets 5 Stars. Have you read Brave Heroes and Bold Defenders? What did you think? Let me know!

How Great is Our God - Review

How Great Is Our God: 100 Indescribable Devotions about God and Science

By: Louie Giglio (Illustrator: Nicola Anderson)

Publication: November 5, 2019 by Tommy Nelson

206 pages

Genre: Nonfiction, Children, Religion, Devotion, Science

( Goodreads | Amazon )

*Note: The above link to Amazon is an affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--Invite children to embark on another adventure to discover more about God and His incredible creation. Based on Louie Giglio's popular messages about science and the Bible,?How Great Is Our God?shows kids the awe-inspiring connection between the natural world and the God who created it.

The bestselling children's devotional? 100 Devotions for Kids About God and Science?resonated with more than 500,000 kids, parents, and teachers. Now Louie Giglio offers 100 more devotions about God and science that will expand the curiosity of kids ages 6–10. Including amazing scientific facts, beautiful photography, and fun illustrations,?How Great Is Our God?covers numerous

Space and timeEarth and weatherThe human bodyAnimalsPlantsAnd more!John 8:12 says, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” This mind-bending, not-so-typical devotional will deepen your kids’ awe and appreciation for God's wild imagination and infinitely creative creation, from the pink lake in Senegal to the Earth's trip around the sun to the water-holding frog that can live up to five years without a drink (what?!).

Explore Louie Giglio's other books in the bestselling Indescribable Kids

I started a "daily" devotion with my kids last summer. We did I Am: 40 Reasons to Trust God, and I wanted to continue down the path of learning about who God is for my kids. Yes, the stories are important. What God did in the Bible and through history does show us who God is. But they're getting the basics through Bible class on Sundays. I wanted to take a different approach to my personal teaching with them. So we started with the names of God, and now with How Great is Our God, we're seeing God's character through His creation.

How Great is Our God has a Scripture, a scientific topic which is in turn related back to God, a short prayer, and a related fact concerning the topic. The topics are related to space and time, Earth and weather, the human body, animals, and plants.

My kids are ages 7, 5, and 2. The two year old didn't usually read this with us, but we typically read one of the topics every other night. And once we started homeschool, we incorporated these into our homeschool two days a week. Some days my kids were so excited to hear the topic, and other days they'd sigh and say "awe man." But when they saw I got the two other books, Indescribable and The Wonder of Creation, they were excited.

Theology is where I struggle with going to sources outside of the Bible to teach my children. I want to ensure I'm teaching truth to them. For the most part, How Great is Our God didn't dip into theological areas too much. I did find myself editing somewhere around 3 topics. But this wasn't anything too bad at all. As for theology, I highly recommend this book.

Sometimes when I'm reading a religious book I find that what I'm going through in life will directly relate to what I'm reading about. That didn't happen as much as I expected, but that's probably just the nature of the content. It did happen in one specific topic that stands out in my mind, and I did tear up reading that one. My child I'd been struggling with parenting that particular day did stare at me in wonder when the book addressed the exact thing we'd been discussing earlier that day. The last several topics I found to be the best in the book.

How Great is Our God is a great option for a regular devotion with your child(ren), especially if your children are interested in science at all. The topics are short enough not to lose a child's attention but filled with goodness through and through. How Great is Our God gets 5 Stars. Have you read How Great is Our God ? What did you think? Let me know!

My First Prayer and Gratitude Journal - Review

My First Prayer and Gratitude Journal: Daily Blessings and Bible Verses for Kids

By: Pia Imperial

Publication: January 9, 2024 by Grosset & Dunlap

80 pages

Genre: Juvenile Nonfiction, Religious, Christian, Devotional & Prayer

Source: Publisher via Edelweiss (Thank you!!)

( Goodreads | Amazon )

*Note: The above link to Amazon is an affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--The perfect first journal for young ones beginning their journey of faith.

Complete with devotional prayers and daily bible verses, this thoughtfully designed journal encourages kids to be grateful for all the blessings in their life.

I started homeschooling my two oldest children this year. And one of the things I want to work with them both on is being grateful. In our home, we are blessed far above what we deserve. We don't deserve all that much. And yet, because we don't lack much of what we need or want, we often take for granted the blessings of life that God has given us. I want my children to be mindful and aware of all they have. So when I saw My First Prayer and Gratitude Journal, I knew I wanted to grab it for my kids to try out. My daughter is 8, and my son is 6. He's only in kindergarten right now, so doing this gratitude journal is a lot of writing for him. I ultimately decided that he doesn't have to fill it in yet, but it will be something I want him to do in the future. My daughter has been doing it every day.

There's a place for the date, a range of smiley-frowny faces the child can choose from for their mood of the day, and a section that says "I'm thankful for _____ because ________________." The gratitude journal also has a section for three blessings the day has brought and a Bible verse for the day or a moment of reflection with a question to be answered.

My daughter doesn't always enjoy filling this in, but as with children, they don't always know what's best for them. And even adults don't always want to do the things that are good for us either. I require her to continue to fill it in even if she doesn't want to. But for the most part, she's learned that this is just a part of her day, and she doesn't fight it. I've been interested in seeing what she's thankful for. It's also allowed us to discuss doing a task to the best of our abilities versus just trying to complete it so we can mark it off the list of things to do. But again, even adults don't always do their tasks at level 100 every time. Some days she impresses me with what she writes that she's thankful for that particular day.

I do hesitate to call this a prayer journal. We certainly should make sure not only that we're noting the things we're grateful for, but that we're also thanking God for those things in prayer. Yet, I don't see much in the way of prompting the child to do so. There are prompts in the moments of reflection that ask the child questions to make them think, and sometimes it tells them to write about an experience or how we can show our love to God. I wish there was a little more prompting to pray and offer thanksgiving to God in the daily layout. But I also understand they have limited space to utilize.

My First Prayer and Gratitude Journal is a good starting place for creating a daily habit in your child's life of looking for things to be grateful for. I like Scripture included in every other day's format. Every day would be even better. I do wish there was a more directed approach to guiding the child in prayer prompts. But as I said, this is a good first step. I would love to see this company offer a step up in the process as a second book option which would be a little more detailed. I see big benefits from doing this, and I love starting the kids young. I would recommend My First Prayer and Gratitude Journal for others starting their kids in this habit. I give My First Prayer and Gratitude Journal 4 Stars. I would give it 5 if there was more prompting to pray or guidance for the children in that area. Have you read or used My First Prayer and Gratitude Journal? If so, what did you think? Let me know!

Homeschool Bravely - Review

Homeschool Bravely

By: Jamie Erikson

Publication: April 2, 2019

208 pages

Genre: Nonfiction, Parenting, Christian, Education

Source: Personal Kindle Library

( Goodreads | Amazon )

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Goodreads description--Quiet the voices of "not good enough" and step courageously into guilt-free homeschooling Many homeschool parents have a long-term relationship with self-doubt. "Did I make the right decision?" "Could someone else do this better?" "Am I robbing my kids of something by not sending them to ‘regular school’?" What if there’s a better way? Not a 3-step technique or a shiny, new curriculum, but a change in perspective that transforms the way you plan, teach, and homeschool? Homeschool Bravely teaches you to see homeschooling as a calling, helps you overthrow the tyranny of impossible expectations, and guides you through the common bumps in the road, including how Reclaim your hope, renew your purpose, and transform your homeschool. Because the truth God will use every part of your homeschool, even your fears, faults, and failures, to weave good plans for your kids.

I was inspired to homeschool when Little Girl was only 18 months old. I remember watching video after video on YouTube. There were so many pros and only a few cons. However, when she was two and a half, I realized we didn't have many other children her age around us. Our church is small, and at the time she was the only child under the age of ten years old. We enrolled her in a mother's day out program for three days a week from 8 am until noon. She loved it. And we came to realize how social she is. By the time she turned four, I was convinced she was smart enough to learn to read. And I still believe she could have. But I now understand that she wasn't interested at that time. And my pushing her resulted in frustration for her and for me. I started to feel like I wasn't capable of teaching her, or maybe she wasn't capable of learning from me. She seemed resistant all around. Her kindergarten year started when we were in the middle of our home renovation and were living with my parents. Baby Boy was also only 6 months old. Homeschooling her then would have saved me some drive time, but it also would have added extra stress on top of an already extremely stressful period in our lives. So we sent her to public school for kindergarten and first grade. And she had wonderful experiences there.

I started to move away from the idea of homeschooling because public school seemed to work out well for her. Yet I still had a couple of issues. I missed her terribly. I felt like she was missing on so much family time. When I picked her up from school, she was grumpy, irritable, and tired of being around other people. Yet Little Boy had been looking forward to playing with her all day. Nearly every day there were fights in the car before we even made it home from school. Add to that, Little Boy started getting into trouble in his K4 class. He was acting up, disobedient, and generally disruptive to the other students in class. His teacher suspected he may have ADHD. He has not been formally diagnosed, but I do think it's possible. I also think ADHD is overdiagnosed in our country. And so I began to explore options that might be better suited for him than being in a classroom for 6-8 hours a day. I came back to homeschool.

In all transparency guys, I am not a patient person. Parenting hasn't come easy to me in that area. So much of parenting feels like putting out fires in all directions all day long. Maybe I'm doing it wrong. Maybe I'm too reactive and not enough proactive. I'm constantly trying to improve myself as a person and parent. So this aspect of my personal struggles terrified me when I thought about homeschooling. Yet, I yearn for the opportunities to overcome my personal struggles, and teach my children how to overcome theirs. My reasons for homeschooling go beyond those I've mentioned here, but this is just setting up my journey and state of mind. I pretty much determined by January/February of this past year that we would try homeschooling. And so I set out to research in all the ways possible for resources, curriculum and help in any area possible. I saw this book recommended so frequently, that I knew I would have to check it out.

Jamie Erickson touched on it all. The fear. Other's people's reactions. Whether homeschooling feels like a calling for you or a convenient temporary thing. Dealing with the struggle of homeschooling a difficult child. The challenges of teaching a child that is struggling. The difference between schooling at home and homeschooling. And of course the entire point is pressing forward with bravery and handing your homeschool over to God to work in and through it and you.

Favorite quotes:

-"Fear will be a threat whenever you set out to pursue a desire that means something to you." Emily P Freeman A Million Little Ways

-And the work, when done faithfully, will always lead to worship. When I set aside my wants, my plan, my goals, and joyfully embrace the calling God has placed in my life to train my children in this short season, I am offering up worshipful praise to my King.

-Trouble will always brew when you allow your own narrative to speak louder than the whispers of God. But His voice is always there.

-Fortunately, hearing God's voice in the big things, such as a child's education, requires no more faith than it takes to find His voice in the everyday. He's not clutching it tightly just waiting to see if you can muster up enough strength and tenacity to peel it from His steely grasp. He's holding it out for you. He's inviting you to trust Him with it. Ambiguity is not in His nature. His plans are certain. His way is sure--especially for you, especially in this.

-God does not withhold His will from me, and He won't withhold it from you, friend. If you ask for wisdom for your child's education, He will give it abundantly--no secret codes or special security clearance required. Immerse yourself in Scripture, and it will become a compass, guiding you toward True North. His rhema will answer your heart cries and cast out your fears. What once looked like a coincidence will begin to show itself for what it's been all along, God's calling.

-My fear was not a sin, but my disobedience in my fear would have been.

-Since the very beginning, Satan has taken the self-doubt of humanity, coupled it with some truth, and slipped in an ittybitty lie when no one was looking in order to dupe entire generations into believing God will never give a Christian any more than she can handle on her own. In this case, he’d like you to believe that if you were called to homeschooling it was because God knew you could do it— and so you better come through. Satan wants nothing more than for you to pull yourself up by your bootstraps and try to get this thing done all on your own. ... God didn’t call you to homeschooling because you could handle it. He called you because He could handle it.

-When you finally hand Him the reins, step back, and let Him do His thing, you’ll watch your liabilities become your greatest assets. His power will be made perfect in your weakness (2 Cor. 12: 9). As you decrease, He will increase (John 3: 30). Knowing that, why in the world would you ever want to just sit silently in your fear?

-God is at work right now in the midst of your fear to break your bonds of self-sufficiency.

-God is in the business of calling foolish, simple people to do great and mighty things—not because they are able, but because He is. ... Your glaring inadequacies will only stand to prove His might.

-And when we came to the end of us, we saw God. Without the fear, we would have missed His presence entirely. We wouldn’t have been looking for it. We wouldn’t have been waiting expectantly for it.

-The key is to set your sights on who your child is becoming and not just how he is acting at this moment. God is writing a story in the life of your child. And stories, at least the good ones, always have a beginning, a middle, and an end. It would be so much easier to skip to the last page— to the completed work.

-The middle pages are what make the last page so captivating. They’re where all the action takes place. The pretty resolve is only pretty because of the struggle that happened just before it. To remove the struggle is to remove the story. That’s not to belittle the struggle or to dismiss it away but to realize that the struggle is a necessary plot point in the bigger narrative.

-Most people believe that conflict and sibling rivalry are to be avoided. But it’s in the conflict that basic heart issues and differences are brought to the surface and can be dealt with accordingly. Without the conflict, the sin issues fester and multiply.

-What you don’t know, or perhaps what you may need to be reminded of, is that a “struggle” shows that you are doing something right. Struggle is a verb. It implies action; effort; giving it all you’ve got. If you are teaching a struggling learner, it means that you are, right now, developing a learner. You’re not sitting idly by or watching from the sidelines. You’re not growing comfortable with good enough. You’ve gathered all your pluck and moxie and are moving forward, helping him do the same.

-Joshua 1: 9, and the promise that God would be with me ministered to my heart. I realized that God wasn’t saying, “There’s the path; go down it”; he was saying, “Here’s the path that I have prepared for you. Take my hand, let’s walk down it together.” So I held tightly to His hand and took the first step. And then the next and the next.

-You can’t always opt out of the struggle for you or your child.

-But don’t forget that Christ’s best moments of teaching were wrapped in chaos too. In crowded homes, along the lakeshore, and even in the house of God, Jesus was familiar with messy living. He had to teach stubborn people who refused to listen.

-...should you feel dead to homeschooling because of the struggle that surrounds you, remember that God can resurrect anything. Pray He resurrects your love for your children, your calling, your commitment, and remember that this moment doesn’t define your entire homeschool. You are more than your worst days. Nothing is ever too far gone for His redemptive power. He is always working even when it doesn’t seem like it (John 5: 17).

-In His kindness to me, God’s shown me that in trying to do everything perfectly, I end up doing a lot of things with mediocrity. In His kindness, He’s revealed the idol I’ve molded out of my mothering. In His kindness, He’s encouraged me to stop wondering if I’m doing enough and has given me the courage to ask, “Am I doing what’s mine to do?”

-Your identity cannot be found in your ability to meet someone else’s quota. You don’t have to set yourself on fire just to keep others warm. God constrained Himself when He took upon human flesh. He gave Himself physical limitations. If God recognized the need to do less for a time, then why shouldn’t you? Why shouldn’t I?

-But by prayerfully making a don’t-do list at the start of each school year, you are mentally preparing yourself to be able to give a hard and fast no to those things that deplete you and leave you with little to give to homeschooling. You’ll have more room for the yeses that matter most.

-We go in with guns blazing, touting homeschooling as the answer to everyone else’s problems. We see a friend’s public- schooled child falter socially, spiritually, or academically and pridefully announce that homeschooling is the answer— the quick fix that will right every wrong. We see our “perfect” curriculum and our “perfect” methods and our “perfect” well- ordered plan and begin to prescribe it to our friends and their obviously- in- need- of- change children. We place homeschooling on the throne of God and forget that change comes only through Him.

-That’s God’s way. He forecasts victory because He can see all the way to the very end. He called Abraham the “father of many nations” before he and his wife Sarah ever conceived one child. He called Gideon a “mighty warrior” before the man ever set foot on a battlefield. He dubbed David as king when the kid was nothing more than a shepherd. And Peter? Well even in the midst of Peter’s cowardly denial, Christ nicknamed him the “Rock,” and made him a leader of the fellowship of Christ- followers.

-you can’t always tack a pretty system onto spiritual transformation.

-You are like the farmer carefully planting seeds that won’t actually bear fruit until much later. The field might look fallow and dormant, but many things are happening just below the surface. Your task is to plant while the soil is rich and fertile and then have patience like the farmer, allowing the invisible, silent work to happen slowly over time.

-If you’re willing, God wants to travel some long roads with your kids. Every mile will mean something, even the wandering ways and the missteps. It will all matter.

-When your abilities seem small, when you’re surrounded by people who could do it better, when your time and finances and patience are depleted, bring your small offerings to Christ. Trust that He can take your simple loaves and fish and create a feast for you and your children. Your impossibilities will become twelve baskets full and overflowing in His hands.

-God does not require your success, my friend, only your surrender. You’re charged with simple obedience. God is in charge of the results. But you can’t have one without the other. Don’t believe me? Take a quick flip through Scripture, and you’ll find that obedience always precedes the miracle.

And the quote that made me cry...

-The best part about simply obeying in faith and trusting God’s good plans for your homeschool is that obedience and trust take the pressure off of you. You don’t have to be a math genius if you’re not. You don’t have to be impressively patient if you’re not. You don’t have to have lots of letters behind your name if you don’t. You just have to believe God can and will provide—that He will take whatever small offerings you hold out and multiply them. You don’t have to stand at the back of the line fearing the fish and bread will run out when you get to the front. They won’t. He’s got enough for you. He’s got enough for me. Trust Him and just obey. The obedience always has to come first, then the miracle. God’s in the business of turning all of our nothings into somethings. He’s good at it. After all, He’s had a lot of practice; He’s been doing it since the very beginning.

-Bravery, on the other hand, exists in the present tense. It happens right here, right now. It’s not a lack of fear, mind you. It’s just a decision to do the thing even in the midst of fear. Bravery is the courage it takes to say with boldness, “Here is my homeschool, God. Here, too, are my fears, faults, and failures. They’re Yours now to face, fix, and forgive.” In my bravery, I might never say farewell to all my fears, but I’ll face them.

Homeschool Bravely is my first 5-Star book of 2023. It will easily be a book that I come back to over and over and over again. As I'm writing this review, we are only 3 days into our homeschool journey. These three days have been challenging for sure. My commitment is still strong. But I know days will come when I waver and wonder. And I know that coming back to this book will be just what I need because Jamie Erikson addresses nearly every potential breaking point that I can imagine. There is truth to be gleaned about the Christian walk outside of homeschooling. Simply following the call God has placed in our lives and stepping out beyond fear. I will recommend this book a ton, I know. Have you read Homeschool Bravely? What did you think? Let me know!