Theo has been worried about his good friend Woody Lambert. Woody is struggling at school and making bad choices. But when Woody is arrested—an unwitting accomplice to armed robbery—Theo knows he is innocent. Racing the clock while Woody sits in jail, Theo will do everything in his power to help his friend and save Woody from an unforgiving system where justice is not equal for all.

Brimming with the intrigue and suspense that made John Grisham a #1 international bestseller and undisputed master of the modern legal thriller, Theodore Boone’s trials and triumphs will keep readers hooked until the very last page.

My Thoughts:

I don’t usually write reviews until I’m done with a book completely. I have read the majority of it to feel good about handing it over to my 13 year old son to read. The book will appeal to young readers in late elementary and up. 

This is book seven in this series. However I didn’t have any problems as this is a standalone book in the series.

An easy read to follow the plot. Theo is an impressive kid that would be great to have more young teens like him in today’s world. I like that the story is an eye opener to some kids who may not realize that who you hang around with can have consciences. If you’re with someone who shoplifts or in this case robbery there are consciences even if you didn’t know that the individual did something. 

The book is clean as it doesn’t have any bad language, s*x, or violence. That is a winner in my book. The characters are interesting and have a lot of depth to them. You will get sucked into this story easily.

Overall this is a great book for tweens and teens. I look forward to finishing up the last few chapters.

I received a free copy of this product from Penguin Random House in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. All opinions I have expressed are my own or those of my family. I am disclosing this information accordance with the FTC Regulations

About the Books

 

WhiteSpark Publishing is thrilled to bring readers young and old two delightful stories all about color!

Isaac’s Ice Cream Tree

Isaac loves the sugar maple in his yard, and he can’t help but feel bad for it when its branches are winter-bare. He decides to give it a gift…and is surprised when the tree returns the favor in the new morning snow, presenting him with balls of…ice cream!

But how long can this magic last with spring on the horizon? A magical exploration through the colors of the rainbow, the days of the week, and some of our favorite fruits that is sure to delight.

When God Made Color

The wonders of creation spread out before us in all the glories of the rainbow…the deep purples and blues of night, the bright yellows of day, the pinks and oranges of flowers. And of course, the colors of all the creatures…including us! These sumptuous fine art illustrations will thrill parent and child alike!

Click here to purchase Isaac’s Ice Cream Tree.

Click here to purchase When God Made Color

My Reviews 

Isaac’s Ice Cream Tree
 

Isaac has a favorite tree in his yard. He’s worried that the sugar maple tree will be lonely without its leaves this winter. He promises to climb and visit it daily. 

He leaves a strawberry on one of its branches. To his surprise the nice day there is a scoop of strawberry ice cream. He tries other fruits like orange, banana, lime, blueberry, and other fruits. Each time a wonderful surprise greets him each day. He’s a bit worried that his tree will be discovered.

When spring comes around it melts and his saddened that the magic is gone or so it thinks when it suddenly starts raining sprinkles and ends with a beautiful colored rainbow.

What a delightful story that will bring much delight to the imagination. Kids will learn days of the weeks, fruits, and even colors throughout this adorable book.

The illustrations are charming and will give young eyes a lot to explore. This was an adorable and fun books.

When God Made Color

The first thing that caught my eyes is the colors in the book. Wow, the colors are bold and the illustrations just pop on each page.

This is a story of Creation told in the way of colors, there is certainly some creative liberty with the story but, the for the most part the Creation story is kept in tack. I wish it was worded the way the word speaks it and then the color part more as a side note.

One particular part that makes me cringe is when the story says that God created his children in all sorts of colors. It doesn’t mention Adam and Eve-it would have been nice if the story mentioned that and maybe then say that His Creation now has children of many colors. That part just bugs me.

The words ring like a song and the pages are beautiful. You will have to judge for yourself with this story.

 I received a free copy of this product from Celebrate Lit Bloggers in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. All opinions I have expressed are my own or those of my family. I am disclosing this information accordance with the FTC Regulations. 

 

About the Authors

 

Angela Henderson resides in Dallas, Texas, where she teaches middle school English Language Arts & Reading and is a mother of three. Exploring children’s books for twelve years with her own children during numerous “story times” at the local library and reading hundreds of books to her children, her passion for quality children’s literature led her to write her own work. After creating her blog and Facebook page, Kidsbook Friends, and her Instagram, Instabooks, she’s been able to share her love of literature with over a thousand followers by featuring authors and books. She’s thrilled to introduce her own creative story where magical moments lead to positive perspectives.

 

Sheri Carmon seeks to incorporate the beauty of the Lord’s heart, His ways and His love in her writing for children. As an author, her goal is to shine His light through stories. In the past she has published poetry and inspirational compositions with both Blue Mountain Arts and The Group Publishing. Sheri has always cared for the individual needs of families and spent fifteen marvelous, fast-paced years in real estate, specializing in family friendly homes. She and her husband have helped facilitate whole church Bible-reading programs in Colorado, Nebraska and South Dakota. They make their home in Colorado, on the front range of the Rocky Mountains, where they’re surrounded by the beauty of God’s creation every day.

More from Angela

Why children’s books? After all, I teach young teens. Well, my reasons:

1. I love art, and reading children’s books is like looking at an artist’s showcase of creativity! * Shout out to my amazing illustrator, Rachael Koppendrayer!
2. I love to dream up the impossible, and you can make anything happen in a children’s book!
3. I love togetherness and nothing brings a family together like a good book.

As I read picture books with my kiddos, the teacher in me wanted to instruct too. I created a blog (www.kidsbookfriends.com) so teachers, librarians and parents could have little lessons to help them “make friends” with the characters in the stories I featured. Surrounded by such inspiration from these books and my kiddos, I started writing my own manuscripts when my kids were all under age five, mainly sketches of thoughts until I had segments of time where I could construct stories. After several years of attending SCBWI conferences; connecting with writers; creating manuscripts & editing and revising, editing and revising (you see a pattern?!); and submitting them to publishers, Isaac’s Ice Cream Tree was accepted for publication and was released January 15, 2019, by Whitefire Publishing! (It’s a process!!!) The message embedded in this colorful, magical story expresses a very real part of my heart as it’s our family motto: “Always remember to look for the rainbow.” My kids and I both literally and figuratively practice this principle, rushing out after every rain to see if the sky is painted with a bow as well as trying to find the good that comes through the storms of life. Through my journey, I’ve experienced much loss through moving many times, caring for my mother during her dying days, and losing my husband through divorce. Yet in it all, God redeems and uses each pain and joy like brush strokes on a canvass, reminding us of His unfailing promises while creating a masterpiece. Creativity, imagination, inspiration . . . make magical moments. Gather together. Dream the impossible. Embrace the colors. . . as I introduce you to a new friend, Isaac! Excited to share this story with you. . . and my next one . . . and the one after that. . . until we have many new kindred spirits . . .together.

Click here for a fee printable coloring page.

Click here to learn the story behind the story.

More from Sheri

A child asks, “Who am I?” Creation Vs. Evolution – The big battle. Many public schools are presenting Evolution as fact and not theory. They leave no room for the concept of Creation. Our little ones are not creatures descended from animals, they are Children of God, created in His image. This is our identity and our children’s Identity and it makes all the difference in how we see ourselves, how we see others and how we engage in the world. Our identity is made clear in Genesis, the first book of the Bible. Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground. So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them, male and female he created them.” Genesis 1:26-27 NIV. As Christian parents and grandparents, we are charged with teaching, encouraging and bringing forth our family line for the LORD. The new picture book When God Made Color, with its awe inspiring illustrations, is about our true identity and about the joyful, loving God who created us and the whole universe – a universe that is still expanding – Isn’t He just amazing?

Click here to view a special video

Blog Stops

A Baker's Perspective, May 2

By The Book, May 2

Among the Reads, May 3

cultivating us, May 3

Because I said so -- and other adventures in Parenting, May 4

Reflections From My Bookshelves, May 4

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, May 5

Mary Hake, May 5

For Him and My Family, May 6

Stephanie's Life of Determination, May 6

Library Lady's Kid Lit, May 7

Blogging With Carol, May 7

Lighthouse Academy, May 8

God's Peculiar Treasure Rae, May 8

Pause for Tales, May 9

Book Bites, Bee Stings, & Butterfly Kisses, May 9

Inspiration Clothesline, May 10

Reading Themes, May 10

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, May 11

Texas Book-aholic, May 11

Have A Wonderful Day, May 12

janicesbookreviews, May 12

A Reader's Brain, May 13

Debbie's Dusty Deliberations, May 13

Older & Smarter?, May 14

Creating Romance, May 14

Inklings and notions, May 14

Aryn, the Libraryan, May 15

Little Homeschool on the Prairie, May 15

Giveaway

To celebrate their tour, Angela and Sheri is giving away a grand prize of The Great Color Giveaway Package that includes a$25 gift card from Amazon, Rainbow ice-cream cups with colored spoons, a paperback copy of Issacs’s Ice Cream Tree, a $25 gift card from Barnes and Noble, Crayola Washable Kids’ Paint – 12 count original and glitter paint (see attached image), and a paperback copy of When God Made Color!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter. https://promosimple.com/ps/e2a9/the-great-color-celebration-tour-giveaway

Mary Hershberger lives a happy life in an Amish community in Indiana with her parents and sister. Levi Shetler lives forty miles away in a crowded and unorganized home that is part of a much stricter community. When the two met as children, Mary learned a secret about Levi: he is a musical prodigy, but his talent must remain unused and unheard in his community.

Eight years later, circumstances and a mutual love of music bring Mary and Levi together. Mary loves to sing, and Levi’s abilities on the piano are astounding. But the Amish rule states that the use of instruments and songs not approved in their songbook is forbidden. The pair must determine whether their talents are God-given gifts to be embraced or temptations luring them into the Englisch world.

All the while, Mary and Levi are falling in love, but their love struggles to withstand their very different upbringings. Their love of music brings them together, but it could also be what tears them apart. As they face a compromise or a parting of the ways, a tragic accident shakes their decision. Both Mary and Levi must reconcile what they love with what their hearts say is right.

My Thoughts:

This is the first book in the “An Amish Journey Series” This was a beautiful story and I loved seeing a story of youth coming together to help out an elderly person. It made a unique plot and a lot of interesting characters. 

It was interesting read with how two different Amish communities and their views on things-like music. The music brings Levi Shetler and Mary Hershberger together. It was fun reading the differencing between both of their families. 

The characters are all well developed and have a lot of depth to them. I really enjoyed Mary’s and Levi’s character. 

The story was interesting and had a good pace to it overall. Some parts were a bit slow but it wasn’t too bad. Grab a box of Kleenex as you’ll need it at the end.

I received a free copy of this product from BookLook Bloggers in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. All opinions I have expressed are my own or those of my family. I am disclosing this information accordance with the FTC Regulations.