The Berenstain Bears God Shows the Way by Stan and Jan Berenstain

How could you not give a Berenstain Bears book a 5-heart rating? I have loved these books since both of our girls were little. I think I've collected the majority of them. This I Can Read! book has 3 stories in one nicely bound hardback book.

Faith Gets Us Through finds the Bear Scouts exploring a cave. Of course with Papa Bear along there are always a few mishaps.

Have No Fear, God is Near tells about Sister Bear being afraid of shadows

Piggy Bank Blessings has Brother and Sister learning the value of saving money for a special occasion.

All three books have faith lessons that the Bears learn along the way as well as being an easy read for those first-time readers. All three of my grandchildren are now enjoying The Berenstain Bear collection and were thrilled when I sat down to read them this new addition. If you've never read a Berenstain Bear book I highly recommend them as they are all filled with important life lessons.

Thanks to BookLook Bloggers for my copy for review. All opinions are my own.

 

Cliques, Hicks, and Ugly Sticks Confessions of April Grace by K.D. McCrite

Eleven-year-old April Grace Reilly is starting Jr. High. She thinks that all will be the same. She is mistaken. One of her best friends is now the leader of a Clique of girls and won't even speak to April Grace.

At home April Grace notices that her mother is not looking the same. She instantly starts worrying about her. But all of the adults in her life tell her that there is nothing to worry about.

Circumstances prevent April Grace's mother from directing the church pageant this year. So April Grace recommends Isabel to be the director. Isabel is not a church member and she also has a demanding spirit about her that concerns the pastor. But April Grace and her sister volunteer to help Isabel direct so that she won't go too overboard.

The story is being told by April Grace who happens to be a hoot! I love the way April Grace just tells it like it is. She is outspoken as only an 11 year old can be. Yet her character has a love for family and friends and a diplomacy about her that seems mature beyond her years. I really enjoyed this story.

Don't Know Where Don't Know When by Annette Laing

Hannah, Alex and Brandon find themselves back in time in war-torn England. It is World War II and the children are being sent to live with families in the country to escape bombs falling on the cities. Shortly after arriving in 1940 Brandon disappears to England 1915! This time the setting of World War I.

The young people are sent back in time to find whatever happened to George Braithwaite. Hannah and Alex find themselves living with Mrs. Devenish, her grand-daughter Verity and Mrs. D's evacuee Eric. Brandon becomes apprenticed to a dentist named Mr. Gordon in 1915.

Hannah has the most difficult time adjusting to the time period and what their purpose for being there is. She has a huge attitude that needs adjusting!

Throughout the story the kids learn some history about WWI and WWII but mostly they learn about George Braithwaite and what happened to him and why they were sent to the past to help.

I enjoyed the story very much. I became attached to the characters. I think that Hannah still ended up being self-centered and selfish. But I also think that she learned a lot about herself and how to love other people. I will look forward to the next installment of the Snipesville Chronicles to see if she matures as she travels to different centuries and learns that there are other people with problems bigger than hers.