Learning to tie a bow can help children build confidence and self-esteem. 

 

I tied my first bow when I was a six-year-old in kindergarten class, where my classmates and I were learning how to tie shoestrings on big plastic shoes. At the time, I was used to wearing Velcro shoes, so I had a bit of trouble tying a shoelace bow. Well, that is until a fellow student, Andrea, taught me how to loop, swoop, and pull. From then on, I had no trouble tying shoestrings.

Gabby's not afraid of the dark! Well, maybe just a little. Join Gabby as she explores the deep, dark ocean. Told from Gabby's point of view, kids will relate to how scary the dark can feel but, like Gabby, will be assured that they, too, can conquer their fear and maybe even make a new friend in the process!

ZonderKidz; 30 pages; $16.99; Amazon

To kickoff this year's first "Spring Reads" post, I'm featuring a review for the picture book "I'm Going To Give You A Bear Hug!" by author Caroline B. Cooney with illustrations by Tim Warnes. The book was published at the end of 2016 by Zonderkids. I've had a review copy for about two months and I"m just now getting around to reviewing it.

It's difficult for me to write a decent review for the title as the book doesn't have a plot of any kind. As the title suggests, the picture book is about giving hugs through the eyes of a child. The child in the story uses his imagination to give different kinds of hugs, such as a cat hug, a big hug, a bear hug, etc..

ZonderKidz; 160 pages; $12.99; Amazon

During my early elementary days in the late 1980s, I was a big fan of The Berenstain Bears books by Stan and Jan Berenstain. I tried to collect every little picture book I could find in the series. Eventually, I got interested into other books and the Berenstain Bears titles just rested on a bookshelf collecting dust. Later, I let my aunt borrow the books for her kids to read, but I never saw the books again. Over the years, I have recollected several of those books; most of them I found at thrift stores.

Now available in bookstores from ZonderKidz is "The Berenstain Bears: Bedtime Devotional" by Mike Berenstain, the son of the late Stan and Jan Berenstain. It features 90 different devotions for young readers.

The small-size book kicks off with a one-page "Bedtime Prayer." The rest of the book is divided between nine chapters/sections - "God Loves You Very Much," "Be Kind and Helpful to Others," "Be Forgiving," "God's Gifts and Blessings," "Be Thankful," "Be Courageous," "Be a Good Friend," "Have Faith," and "Be Joyful."

Each devotion features one Bible verse, followed by a short story involving either Brother, Sister or Honey. Almost all the devotions have a "Carry, On Cub!" paragraph, which basically sums up the life lesson that was in the story. There is also a short rhyming prayer with every devotion.

Zonderkidz; 32 pages; $14.99; Barnes & Noble

I don't pay too much attention to new children book titles with a princess theme, but I have a little cousin who I thought would enjoy the picture book "A Royal Christmas to Remember," which is the only reason why I had signed up to review the title.

Published by Zonderkidz, A Royal Christmas to Remember is the 7th book in the "Princess Parables" series written by Jenna Young & Jacqueline Johnson. This entry is illustrated by Omar Aranda.

On Christmas Eve, Princesses Joy, Grace, Faith, Charity, and Hope are more excited about Christmas than anyone else in the kingdom

The princesses have decorated the grand castle with Christmas decorations, which they have so many that they will have to build a large storehouse to store all them next year. Inside the caste is a magnificent tree surrounded by dozens of gifts, all for the princesses.

Awaken from their sleep that night, the princesses learn there is an evil band of marauders who are raiding their village. As their father, the king, heads out to defend the village, the princesses are put in danger. In the end, the princesses will learn that Christmas is more about giving than receiving.