The Berenstain Bears: God Bless Our Country / The Day is Waiting

Title: THE BERENSTAIN BEARS: GOD BLESS OUR COUNTRY

Author: Mike Berenstain                        

Publisher: Zonderkidz

April 2015

ISBN:  978-0310734857

Genre:  Children’s book

“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.”

Matthew 5:14

In the newest Berenstain Bear Living Lights 8x8 title, the glorious fourth has arrived and the Bear family is busy decorating with flags and bunting. Brother, Sister and Honey are anticipating the big parade and all the fireworks but aren’t really thinking about the true meaning of the day.

But Mama and Papa make sure the cubs know just how much Bear Country is blessed with a quick lesson about the first Fourth of July.

Features 12 full-color stickers.

THE BERENSTAIN BEARS: GOD BLESS OUR COUNTRY is a real cute children’s book that both my young girls (and my older son) devoured. Papa Bear is a veteran (I think Army) and was marching in a parade. Brother and Sister Bear were riding their bikes. Mama Bear was designing flags to fly up and down the parade route. The whole bear community was involved—with floats, gymnasts, marching bands and more!

Who doesn’t love the Fourth of July? It is one of our favorite holidays, celebrating the birth of our nation. And the Berenstain Bears go all out, celebrating with all the stops, from parade to fireworks at the end of the day. There is also a small patter of our nation’s history included and stickers!

This will be sure to help your favorite little one to prepare for the Independence Day celebrations your community participates in. Don’t miss THE BERENSTAIN BEARS: GOD BLESS OUR COUNTRY.

5 stars. Available in ebook and paperback. 24 pages. 

I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. 

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Title: THE DAY IS WAITING

Author: Linda Zuckerman

Illustrator: Don Freeman

Publisher: Zonderkidz

April 2015

ISBN: 978-0310740544

Genre: Children’s picture book

Don Freeman, the creator of Corduroy, was one of the most beloved and popular author/illustrators of picture books for children. After Freeman’s death in 1978, colleagues and his wife decided to use his never before published artwork and make a commemorative book using his wonderful illustrations. Paired with Linda Zuckerman's thoughtful rhyming text, The Day Is Waiting takes readers on a tour of our big, wide world and reminds us that no matter how far we roam, we always have home to come back to.

This classic tale is imbued with Freeman’s gentle humor, spontaneity, and his appreciation of the variety and complexity of human experiences, creating a book that children will enjoy reading again and again.

THE DAY IS WAITING is a new picture book for children—ages 4 – 8. My daughter read it through easily enough. I enjoyed the pictures, especially those of London, of Big Ben (love Big Ben), the double deck buses, and London Bridge. There are others that would grab a child’s interest, people and animals, a regular zoo. Storekeepers, vegetables, fruits and flowers. Boats and planes and giant turtles.  This book is not only for little ones but for grownups, too.  

I know this is a picture book for young children, an early reader book for those not up to chapter books, but this is also an adorable book for the older set who happens to love well done art-work. Even the mouse peeking from the knight’s helmet is too cute.

5 stars. Available in ebook and hardcover. 32 pages.

This book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.