Fun with Bob and Larry

I’ve always loved Veggie Tales. A year or two ago, we checked out a Veggies Tales board book from the library called Larry Learns to Listen, and I liked it so much that I tried to find our own copy. My search was unsuccessful, and I forgot about it.

Until last week when I discovered that it was included in the new Veggie Values: A Board Book Collection box o’ books, along with three other books. Joy!

Larry Learns to Listen by Karen Poth is still my favorite, as he learns a lesson when he breaks his new video game by not following directions or listening to the advice of his friends. The storyline is original, and the rhyming makes it flow well as a read-aloud. In Bob Lends a Helping…Hand? by Mike Nawrocki and Cindy Kenney, Bob, Larry, and Joe help out when Joe’s mom hurts her toe, and Larry and Joe learn in the process that they can be superheroes by serving someone in need in ordinary ways. Junior and Laura Share the Year Together by Lisa Vischer and Mary Murray takes readers month by month through the year, with a short rhyme about ways to share as they celebrate each month’s fun. And, finally, Peas and Thank You! by Mike Nawrocki tells the story of thankful peas and grumpy beans, asking readers which they would rather emulate.

I’m not sure I would have bought the last two on their own (maybe, but the price would have to be right), but the four together make a nice gift set in their little box. I’d recommend these to any Veggie Tales lovers!

And now, because I have learned to listen to friends, as well as authorities like the FTC, here’s my disclaimer: Zonderkidz provided this set for my review. While we are thankful for them, Zonderkidz asked nothing of us except for an honest review.

Sometimes

life is a blur.

Crazy Hair Day

I gave him a hair cut (his first, if you don't count the trim I gave the back six months ago to keep him from sporting a mullet) a few days after these were taken, so crazy hair isn't as omnipresent here as it used to be.

A Real Princess

Yesterday I introduced Princess with a Purpose by Kelly Chapman and reviewed the brother book, A Warrior Prince for God. Today I’ll wrap that up by reviewing the princess one. As I mentioned yesterday, both books are picture books but they have long pages of text, though this one isn’t organized into chapters like the other. Both are geared toward ages 3-8.

I have to start by saying that, to me, eschewing the idea of princesses in church because culture (and history in some, though not all, respects) has made that a self-centered concept is like the idea of dismissing a rainbow as a sign of God’s promise to Noah and us just because it has also become a politicized symbol. I call Jocelyn “my princess.” I also teach her what that really means.

A friend posted some concerns about these books on her blogs, one being that Christ was a servant and that members of royalty are usually not concerned with serving but rather are waited on by servants. However, both books by Chapman emphasize Christ the King as One who sacrifices. When one character claims that “a real princess…wears a pretty crown and lovely dresses. And she is beautiful – just like me!” and argues that “loving others can’t be more important than the pretty dresses I wear!” she is corrected. “‘You are beautiful,’ Princess Lily replied, ‘but the way you look and the dresses you wear don’t make you a real princess. Look at the pretty pink flowers on the table. In a few days, they won’t be beautiful anymore. Outside beauty fades away, but real beauty comes from inside your heart. A real princess has a heart full of love for her King and others. That’s what makes her truly beautiful.’”

When Caroline learns about and accepts the truth of Jesus, she gets a Truth Tiara and is told, “You became a real princess the moment you believe Jesus died on the cross for your sins and was raised to life again. And since He is the King of kings and you are His daughter, that make you His” princess. And they have a royal celebration.

Similar to the other book, this one ends with the Gospel laid out on a page titled “How do I become a daughter of the King?” using John 3:16, Romans 10:9, 2 Corinthians 6:18, and Romans 6:23. The next two pages has a prayer of salvation and a place to write your daughter’s name to declare her belief (beginning “Here ye! Hear ye! Let it be known throughout the land. Princess ______ is now a part of God’s royal plan.”)

Princesses? Yes, I’m raising one in our house. And I’m not embarrassed to say that!

(And, if your princess is anything like mine, she’ll like the other book too!)

Hear ye! Hear ye! Let it be known that Harvest House Publishers provided this royal title to His Majesty’s servant for an honest review.

Wordless Wednesday: Mmm, ice cream on a stick