M Is for Manger

M is for Manger, written by Crystal Bowman and Teri McKinley, is a lovely hardback book, just in time for the upcoming Christmas season. This rhyming storybook travels through the alphabet, emphasizing the significance each letter has on the Christmas Story. Each page on the left illustrates a letter of the alphabet, a pertaining drawing, and a description. “A is for Angel.” The pages on the right contain a poem for the corresponding letter, and a verse (NLT.) An ANGEL said to Mary, “You are the favored one. You’re going to have a baby boy, And he will be God’s Son.” The angel told her... “You have found favor with God! You will conceive and give birth to a son.” Luke 1:30-31, NLT The short, rhyming phrases are rhythmic, entertaining, and scriptural. I’m impressed with how thorough the book is, with biblical references for every passage. Bonuses: • A presentation page, for offering the book as a gift, with printed lines where you fill in who the book is to, from, and the date. • A page that guides parents on how the book can assist them in having their children focus on the true meaning of Christmas. To put it simply, this book is adorable! The illustrations, by Claire Keay, are detailed and colorful, and the message is pure. This is a lovely gift for children, parents, grandparents, Sunday school teachers, and caregivers. This book is going on my keeper shelf. I received a complimentary copy and was not required a review.

M Is for Manger by Crystal Bowman is an amazingly wonderful children's book! In this beautifully written rhyming storybook by Crystal Bowman kids will learn the story of Jesus’ birth. Kids will also travel through the entire alphabet from A to Z. My girls absolutely love this book! The illustrations are beautiful and I often find my kids flipping through it just to look at the illustrations. M Is for Manger by Crystal Bowman is a wonderful way for kids to learn about Jesus' birth and would also make an awesome book to add to your child's library! Disclosure: I received product(s) for free, in exchange for my honest review. I only recommend products I've used personally, and believe will be good fit for consumers

M is for Manger — A Book Review Confession: We take a day off from school every year to decorate for Christmas. When everyone was small, it truly took all day. However, now that everyone is strong and competent, the boxes are out of the attic, and everything is festive in a matter of hours, and it’s a good thing because the boys all have places to be and things to do these days. One of the things I miss about those all-day decorating sessions is the slow unpacking of the box of Christmas books. Each one was treasured and lifted, one by one, out of the box and into the basket in the living room. “Let’s read this one first!” And then it was story time with every book connected in myriad ways to happy memories of Christmas. Crystal Bowman and Teri McKinley have created a Christmas book that is unlike any in our collection because it is also an alphabet book. M is for Manger illustrator Claire Keay has produced from-A-to-Z illustrations for each letter, featuring large and lively pastel monograms, traceable by little fingers and accompanied by sweet images that could easily be Joseph and Mary themselves . . . or maybe some small person in costume. Each two-page spread includes four lines of rhymed text — just right for Christmas-season attention spans. I’m looking forward to reading our copy to my (adorable) one-year old grandson. This Christmas, we may just cover the basics: “A is for Angel B is for Believed . . .” Next year when he is two (Did I mention that he is adorable?), I know that he will be ready for the whole story: “C is for Carpenter A carpenter named Joseph chose Mary for his wife. The news that Mary told him would soon change Joseph’s life.” By the time Raymond is three, he will be ready to read the memory verses (most of them lifted directly from the four Gospel accounts of Christmas story with one Isaiah prophecy thrown in) chosen by the authors to go with each part of the story, and then to match them with the alphabet word that corresponds: Gram: “Who said, ‘Why am I so honored that the mother of my Lord should visit me?'” Raymond: “Elisabeth!” (He’s also very bright.) Wise and thoughtful parents will remember to provide “big picture” continuity to the alphabetical list of words by tying them to the family’s Nativity scene. Tactile learners will have lots of fun and retain the story’s details if they can point to items in the crèche as they are mentioned. M is for Manger is a Christmas book that will grow up with a child, becoming a better memory every year. This book was provided by Tyndale Kids, a division of Tyndale House Publishers, in exchange for my review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”