Our First Giveaway!

(This giveaway is now closed. The winner is...Susan, with comment number 10!

I will be contacting you momentarily to get your address. Congratulations Susan! 

Thanks to everyone who participated. 

Be looking out for future giveaways from The Book Guardians!)

We are having our first giveaway! I hope you are as excited as I am! 

We are giving away two wonderful classics...

 

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott 

"Family Life, Family Love! The warmhearted story of the four March sisters: Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy growing up in 19th century America. Their happy family life is disturbed when their father leaves for the Civil War, and shaken further when mother must leave to nurse their wounded father back to health. But family love and loyalty keeps them together. As the years pass the girls become women and learn more about life and love. Louisa May Alcott's timeless classic shows the joys of growing up in a warm and loving family." AND...

Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery. 

"Spunk and Spirit! The farm couple wanted to take in an orphan boy - someone they could raise who will help with the chores. But by mistake, they were sent a girl, the lively independent red-headed Anne, who soon turned their lives and their world topsy-turvy with her way of doing things. . .ways very different than anyone in the sleepy country town had ever thought of! But as Anne goes from escapade to achievement, from problem to promise, everyone around her comes to realize what a very special girl they have in their midst. Come delight in Anne's story as friendship and duty turn to love."


These books are brand new, hard cover editions.
Any girl, young or old would love to have these in their collection!!!

So, how do you win these wonderful books?

Simple, just leave us a comment on this post, and you will be automatically entered in the giveaway.

If you would like more than one entry, there will be two optional entries, for a total of three entries.
The two optional entries are...

1. Follow our blog and leave us a comment letting us know you are following. If you are already following, just let us know.

2. Post about this giveaway on your blog, and leave us a comment with a link to your post about this giveaway, letting us know that you posted about it.

Rules of this giveaway...

All entries must be entered by Monday, October 4th at 12:00 noon.
The winner will be announced Monday, Oct. 4th!
The winner will be chosen randomly. 

This giveaway is open to U.S. residents only.
No participants of The Book Guardians may participate.

Good luck, and I hope you enjoy our first giveaway!( Let us know!)

The ABC Bunny

by Wanda Ga'g
hand lettered by Howard Ga'g

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Religious/Secular Content	:	- Secular
Adult Content	:	- None
Mature Topics	:	- None
Strong/Inappropriate Language	:	- None
Magic/Witchcraft	:	- None
Disrespect/Rebellion	:	- None
Drug/Alcohol Use	:	- None
Violence/Abuse	:	- None
Educational Value	:	- A lot!  ABC, Rhyming
Positive/Negative Message	:	- Positive

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DS2 and I read this book today and thought is was absolutely wonderful!  It is a very quick read (GREAT for his short attention span) and actually...the words are a song...the song (with notes) are in the very beginning and the very end of the book.  After the song in the beginning of the book, each page takes you thru the song (and the alphabet).  The letters are large and red while the pictures and words are black - so it is very eye catching.  Many of the words rhyme so again, this just adds to the quick, fun of this book.

Each letter and page introduces you to a different animal in the woods so this book offers many items for learning for little ones.  Although ds2 and I were reading this in prep for ds2 starting Before Five in a Row (which we'll start as soon as our new book arrives from Rainbow Resources) this book is recommended for ages 4 - 7.

As a side note: we checked this book out from the library and the copy we received was hardback.

Mere Christianity

by C. S. Lewis
illustrated by NA

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Religious/Secular Content	: Christian	-
Adult Content	: Yes- the younger ones will not understand the ideals and concepts in this book, as well as the wording; and there are mature topics- see below	-
Mature Topics	: Yes, this is pertaining to some topics that are inappropriate for younger ages (there is mention more than once of infidelity); in the beginning chapters he states that "All we mean is that the occasions on which the fighting instinct or sexual desire need to be restrained..."; at least one chapter is on Sexual Morality and another on Christian Marriage	-
Strong/Inappropriate Language	: No, although the word 'hell' is used more than once in a slang way (in reference to what someone else might say)	-
Magic/Witchcraft	: No	-
Disrespect/Rebellion	: Yes, but it is respect to what not to do and it isn't strongly talked about in a way to be promoted; example- Lewis talks about men living only for themselves and not caring for the rules or lives of others and the havoc it can cause	-
Drug/Alcohol Use	: Vaguely mentioned- Temperance is discussed and therefore the mention of alcohol is also but not in depth (words used are 'drinking', 'drink', 'drunkenness', 'drunk', 'beer'), rather the idea of temperance.	-
Violence/Abuse	: Vaguely	-
Educational Value	: Yes, morals and values as a Christian	-
Positive/Negative Message	: Positive	-

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We love this book in our house. It really makes you think. My dd is 14 and we are using this as a devotional this year (and will with my ds when he is older). There are a few spots that I feel I must censor while reading (it is a read-aloud).

The style is not vulgar at all and it would be easy to be so when dealing with morals and values, in my opinion. Very much a Christian perspective yet it does not attack other views in a way that one feels defensive.

Would recommend for mature individuals ages 13+ up, but possibly even upwards of 15+.

Soldier Fritz and The Enemies He Fought

by Emma Leslie
illustrated by C.A. Ferrier

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Religious/Secular Content	:	- Christian
Adult Content	:	- No
Mature Topics	:	- No
Strong/Inappropriate Language	:	- No
Magic/Witchcraft	:	- No
Disrespect/Rebellion	:	- Fritz struggles with obedience, but after he learns of the bible, he starts learning to control his temper.
Drug/Alcohol Use	:	- No, but beer was mentioned once, but not as in anyone actually drinking it.
Violence/Abuse	:	- Yes, Fritz hit his sister, and she fell down the stairs, and was really injured. This really turned hi life around however, and he never mistreated his sister again.
Educational Value	:	- Yes
Positive/Negative Message	:	- Yes, really builds your faith, and teaches your children how to learn self- control

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The reformation is my favorite time period in history, and this book was a very exciting to read.  
This book is about a family that all they have ever known is what the preists have taught them. 
One day a peddler comes to visit, and he has a bag of gifts, and Fritz chooses the Bible. 
He starts to read the Bible, and he hears of Luther and all that he is doing, and he want to be a good soldier like Luther. 
He learns from the scriptures, and what it takes to be a soldier of God. 
His mother notices a difference in Fritz's behavior, and she starts to read the Bible herself. She realizes that what the priests are teaching does not line up with Scripture, and vows, never to pray to anyone but the Lord himself again, and to put her faith in Christ only, and not a man.
As they learn more about Jesus, and how He died for them, they begin to separate themselves from the church. 
The priest is very upset about this, and actually tries to take them prisoner for their beliefs, so they have to flee to the forest to live. 
While there, they are able to teach the "Charcoal Burners" all about Jesus, and how He died for their sins too. 
This book is so amazing in the fact that it teaches the Gospel, and is not afraid to teach against the Roman Church. 
It is an inspiring book, that builds your faith and gives you an understanding of what others had to go through for their faith. 
This is now a household favorite in our home.

In Search of the Lost Mountains of Noah: The Discovery of the Real Mts. of Ararat

by Robert Cornuke and David Halbrook

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Overall Rating: 4.5 Stars

While not a cultural icon of classical literature, this book now ranks among the must reads in our house for historical, cultural and biblical studies.

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Religious/Secular Content	:	By its very subject matter it is religious throughout.  Though the lead author is a devout Christian in search of the biblical Noah's ark, legends and myths surrounding the great flood and its boat of survivors hail from every ancient civilization known to man. The search in this book spans a great swath of the Near East including Russia, Turkey, Iran and Iraq, and there is much in this book about Muslim/Islamic tradition and culture.
Adult Content	:	There are discussions of gender roles in Islamic culture.
Mature Topics	:	There is considerable discussion of politics, clashing cultures, and wars, including the Iran hostage crisis and continuing anti-American sentiments, and the Columbine shootings. There is a vivid (though reverent) description of a goat sacrifice.
Strong/Inappropriate Language	:	There is one chapter in particular where the phrase "Oh my God" is repeated excessively.
Magic/Witchcraft	:	There are multiple mentions, though no actual descriptions, of one of the team members using slight-of-hand magic to gain rapport with the natives.
Disrespect/Rebellion	:	There are many examples of thwarting international rules, though it is balanced with the consequences of such actions and the obvious difference when the rules are followed. There are vivid descriptions of deep emotional reactions to circumstances and differing personalities among the team members, some of which struck me as "not very polite"
Drug/Alcohol Use	:	There is a scene where the team coming off the mountain is in a state of severe dehydration and the only thing there is to drink is hot, flat beer.  One of the men is a recovering alcoholic and refuses to drink the beer, choosing instead to risk his life in the wait for water; another team member out of compassion chooses to wait with him.
Violence/Abuse	:	This book touches on several violent instances throughout history, some of them quite descriptively.  There is a very vivid scene of a goat being killed for dinner.
Educational Value	:	This book has strong education value in several areas.  From an archeological standpoint, it tells a compelling story and leaves one with a sense of wanting to pick up where the author left off. From a historical standpoint, it lays out many facts and historical forays that help show why the search for all things ancient can be so convoluted and confusing, yet shows that perseverance, patience, and a non-biased approach to the evidence can often reveal obscured truths. It touches on political issues in a stark and truthful, yet compassionate and somehow gentle manner.  It reveals the human side of a culture so far removed from our own, causing one to assess preconceived notions, and fosters understanding between cultures.
Positive/Negative Message	:	Overall, this book has a positive message of truth, hope, and inner spiritual growth.

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Of the many books I have read on this subject, this volume stands alone and definitely ranks among the most compelling.  The book begins with such compelling prose that one questions its non-fictional status.  It draws you in from the first page and holds your attention throughout.


Bob Cornuke, founder of the The Bible Archeology Search & Exploration Institute (BASE), is a real life Indiana Jones. After many years of successfully searching for and finding biblical artifacts, he centers his sights on finding Noah's Ark.  He begins with a broad but detailed scoping of the traditional landing site...  Mt. Ararat in Turkey.  However, sensing that tradition is apparently failing the cause, he is drawn to reexamine assumptions long held and look at source evidence with new openness and reverent prayer.  The result is a vivid, page-turner account of the emotional search for one of the most prized biblical relics of all time.  The author not only recounts old evidence in a new light, but discovers much new evidence -- older evidence -- to support a new theory.  In the end, he still does not find Noah's ark, but presents a very compelling case for why the centuries old massive search for Noah's ark should shift to a new location... Mt. Sabalon in Iran.  I highly recommend this book.

Listen to Jesus! (God Rocks! Bibletoons)

by Bruce W. Stacey

illustrated by Phillip Williams

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Religious/Secular Content	:	Religious
Adult Content	:	No
Mature Topics	:	No
Strong/Inappropriate Language	:	No
Magic/Witchcraft	:	No
Disrespect/Rebellion	:	No
Drug/Alcohol Use	:	No
Violence/Abuse	:	No
Educational Value	:	Yes your child will get educated in the Word of God
Positive/Negative Messages	:	Positive

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This book is based on the series that comes on Smile of A Child Network. Reading level for this book is ages 4-8. This book helps teach your children to walk in love at all times. Even when someone is not treating them right to always respond in love. My children love watching this show and now since I purchased the books they're enjoying reading the books as well!!

Little Scraggly Hair: A Dog on Noah's Ark

by Lynn Cullen

illustrated by Jacqueline Rogers

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Religious/Secular Content	:	Yes. The Noah's Ark theme is common to nearly all cultures on earth including Christianity, Judaism and Moslem. However, this is a fantastical, fictional tale with little regard for historical accuracy.
Adult Content	:	No; unless you count the implied reference to all life drowning in the flood waters.
Mature Topics	:	Rejection. The dog is an outcast among outcasts. Noah's neighbors ridicule him for building a boat and for keeping a dog.
Strong/Inappropriate Language	:	No
Magic/Witchcraft	:	No
Disrespect/Rebellion	:	Noah's children are ashamed of him and lazy, refusing to do the work assigned to them. Noah's wife is angry with him. All of them are disrespectful complainers. Even Noah guiltily takes the dog in the house when he knows his wife will not like it and pacifies her objections with a false promise.
Drug/Alcohol Use	:	No
Violence/Abuse	:	Reference to people being mean to each other, but no specifics. And again, the implied notion that all people on earth parish by the flood.
Educational Value	:	An excellent example of a tall tale; would fit well into a literary study of this genre. The hick accent in which it is told is quite well written.  There are many opportunities for discussing the fruits of the spirit, how they are violated and how they could be applied.
Positive/Negative Messages	:	The lonely, rejected dog endears itself to Noah and eventually to his daughter, where he finds a family to love him and a forever home.

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In the spirit of Rudyard Kipling's Just So Stories comes this delightful, fantastical tale of how dogs got wet noses.

If you can stand the melding of a true story with the inaccuracies of a tall tale, this is a darling story that I would recommend for all ages. If you are sensitive to your children getting inaccurate ideas in their heads about biblical stories, this is one to avoid, for there are many biblical inaccuracies.

BIBLICAL INACCURACIES

1. The bible says Noah had three sons and no daughters who board the ark as adults who are already married. In this book, Noah has two sons and two daughters who board the ark as children.
   
   
2. The bible says Noah took 2 or 7 pairs of each kind of animal, depending on the type of animal. The book says Noah took two of every critter, plus the dog, who did not have a mate when he got on the ark.
   
   
3. The bible says that when the ark was completely loaded and Noah was on board, the LORD shut the door and THEN it began to rain. In the book, it starts to rain before everyone is on the ark and the dog keeps working in the rain.
   
   
4. In the biblical account, the ark is well prepared to meet the needs of its inhabitants. In this book, there is insufficient space and insufficient food.
   
   
5. In the biblical account, Noah sends the dove out after 150 days and watches for its return. In this story, Noah's daughter discovers the dove on the dog's nose on the 40th day.

Ginger Pye

Written and Illustrated by Eleanor Estes

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Religious/Secular Content	:	Secular
Adult Content	:	No
Mature Topics	:	No
Strong/Inappropriate Language	:	No
Magic/Witchcraft	:	No
Disrespect/Rebellion	:	No
Drug/Alcohol Use	:	No
Violence/Abuse	:	No
Educational Value	:	Great read aloud for all ages, great mystery that creates many opportunities for critical thinking.
Positive/Negative Message	:	No

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Can I tell you that we have been reading this book FOREVER!! I think it's because of the author's writing style. Let me explain.

This is a very child friendly book. A great read-aloud for all ages. All three of my older children ages 5, 6 and 8 have enjoyed this book. Even hubby enjoyed it when he sat in on it a few times. The author is funny and engaging. However, she does seem to go off on rabbit trails all the time.

The story is about a young boy named Jerry who works hard to earn the money to purchase a dog (Ginger) of his own only to have him stolen on Thanksgiving Day. He and his sister Rachel work tirelessly to try and find the dog and the "Unsavory Character" whom they believe to have stolen Ginger.I will leave it at that so as not to ruin the climax but I feel that Mrs. Estes could've said in maybe 150 pages what she actually said in over 300. Yeah, it's a big book.

One of our favorite characters was Rachel and Jerry's 3 year old uncle, Uncle Benny. So cute and funny! The Pye parents are sweet but the father is quite absent from the story and the Mom appears, but in short instances here and there.


The children enjoyed this book greatly and there was nothing that I was alarmed at while reading it and I'm pretty picky about what we read over here. However she is very wordy as I stated above so that might make it harder for the reader to want to keep up with this book. I know that I wanted to just stop a few times but the children wouldn't let me-they really, really liked it.

A Porcupine Named Fluffy

by Helen Lester

illustrated by Lynn Munsinger

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Religious/Secular Content	:	Not applicable
Adult Content	:	No
Mature Topics	:	No
Strong/Inappropriate Language	:	No
Magic/Witchcraft	:	No
Disrespect/Rebellion	:	No
Drug/Alcohol Use	:	No
Violence/Abuse	:	Threat of bullying. One character threatens to "rough up" another.
Educational Value	:	Preschool Read-Aloud or Elementary Reader; an entertaining tale with a subtle, moral message; opportunity to discuss bullying, defensiveness and judging others on superficial means.
Positive/Negative Messages	:	The two main characters struggle with identity issues and making friends, but conquer both in the end.

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Early Reader

Mr. and Mrs. Porcupine, upon having their first child, know that a name has meaning and want to give their son the best advantage, so they shun names about being, well... prickly.  They name their son Fluffy, which he obviously isn't, without thinking this might cause him embarrassment or difficulties.  As Fluffy grows, he tries in vain to make himself into what his name suggests.  Upon failing in this endeavor, he goes for a depressed walk where he meets a rhinoceros who, unbeknownst to him, is having the very same identity crisis, only he deals with it by defensively pushing people away... bullying them.  When the two discover their joint plight, they realize the ridiculousness of their individual efforts to change what is unchangeable, accept themselves and become fast friends.

The Usborne Internet-Linked Encyclopedia of World History

by Jane Bingham, Fiona Chandler, Sam Taplin, Jane Chisholm
illustrated by Giacinto Gaudenzi, Ian Jackson, Jeremy Gower, N. J. Hewetson, Lorenzo Cecchi, Justine Torode, David Cuzik, Gary Bines, David Wright

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Religious/Secular Content	:	Secular
Adult Content	:	No
Mature Topics	:	No
Strong/Inappropriate Language	:	No
Magic/Witchcraft	:	No
Disrespect/Rebellion	:	No
Drug/Alcohol Use	:	No
Violence/Abuse	:	No
Educational Value	:	Yes
Positive/Negative Message	:	Neutral

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I've marked everything "NO" but this is a history book and there are instances of all of the above mentioned. This book is 'politically correct' however and watches it's word usage. It does have the secular viewpoint of the "Big Bang" theory and is heavy on evolution. 

Being a history text it does talk about the various wars and skirmishes that have taken place through the years but all is done tastefully. This is a very useful book for history. In some parts of the book, the earlier civilizations, there are drawings of statues and idols that may be questionable for some people. On page 109 a clay figure from Catal Huyuk that is thought to be of the Mother Goddess and she is nude but the drawing is a modest one compared to the real life artifacts.

This content guide isn't meant in reference to the links that you can access through Usborne's site because many of those are outside links and may have questionable content.