Hiding in the Light by Rifqa Bary

This was a book that was hard to put down. Uplifting and challenging, Rifqa details her life as a child of a Muslim family called by God at an early age to follow Jesus.  I knew some of the story from when it hit the news, but much of it was new or made much clearer by her explanations. I also had no idea of the health challenges she faced following her freedom.

I was a little put off by some of her statements and behavior but then I realized that even though she was a Christian, she was also a typical teenager.  I was disappointed to see what was left out of the book and that left me with more questions than answers, especially about the senior pastor that lost his church because of the events surrounding this event. My hope is that she has a peaceful life now and has been able to reconcile with her family.

Princess charity Sticker & Activity Book

This is part 5 of a series of activity books for young children. Princesses Joy, Grace, Faith Hope, and Charity live in a castle on a high hill. This 16 page book comes with 2 full pages of stickers to place throughout the book. There is a word-find puzzle, a dot-to dot, color by numbers, a maze, what doesn’t belong puzzle, spot the differences, coloring, and drawing. The book is very nice with glossy print pages and colorful stickers. Your child or grandchild will love the adventures and activities featuring Princess Charity and her special animal friend Daisy the Horse.  A very nice activity book that tells each little girl that she, too, is a princess as a child of the King.

I received a copy of this book through the BookLook Blogger program in exchange for an honest review.

A Flag for The Flying Dragon by Carole P. Roman

Captain No Beard and his crew are back, but this time there is a new crew member, Zachary.  Zachary is eager to help, but what can he do when everyone thinks he is too young?

This is another fun story with all of our favorite characters acting out their imaginary pirate adventure. The story adds a new character, young child trying to fit in and play with the children. While the story is about creating a flag for the Flying Dragon, it is really about learning that everyone has talents and abilities. It emphasizes the importance of making the new member feel welcome in the group.

The Captain No Beard books never disappoint me or my granddaughter. They are fun and always have a subtle message of kindness and working together as a team.  One thing I especially like is the way the stories change from imagination to reality as their pretend journey comes to an end in Alexander’s room.