The Only One Club Review

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(More customer reviews)When six-year-old Jennifer Jacobs' first grade class begins working on Christmas decorations, she quickly informs her teacher that she doesn't celebrate Christmas, but rather Hanukkah, for she is Jewish. Soon, Jennifer realizes that she is the only Jewish child in her class, and decides to make The Only One Club, in which she is the only member. However, as word gets around about her club, Jennifer begins realizing that there are many other children in her class, and in the school, who are the only one of something, and quickly makes badges for everyone in her class, informing them that they too can be a member of The Only One Club.
While I am not Jewish myself, I find that there are so few books on the market for Jewish children around the holidays. So I was quite awed by the arrival of Jane Naliboff's THE ONLY ONE CLUB. The prose is wonderful, and teaches children that everyone is unique, whether it's the color of their hair, or eyes, or their religion, or beliefs, while the illustrations by Jeff Hopkins couldn't be cuter. This is a lovely children's book to pick up this holiday season, whether you're Jewish or not.
Erika Sorocco
Book Review Columnist for The Community Bugle Newspaper

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This heartwarming story explores the many ways in which children feel unique and special. Mrs. Matthews's first grade class begins making Christmas decorations, but because Jennifer is Jewish, Mrs. Matthews allows her to make Hanukkah decorations instead. Jennifer enjoys the attention and creates "The Only One Club," of which she is the sole member. When her classmates want to join, she is resistant until she realizes that each of her friends is also "the only one" at something. As she inducts them into her club she reveals the unique qualities that make each of her classmates extraordinary. Through this touching story, young children are encouraged to discover and treasure their own uniqueness and to actively look for special qualities in others beyond race or culture. A medley of pencil, watercolor, acrylic paint, and pastel illustrations bring this inspiring and humorous tale to life.

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You Are Mine (Max Lucado's Wemmicks) Review

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(More customer reviews)I've read through all the reviews and since the storyline hasn't been mentioned, I thought I'd do so. These books are quite the hit in our house with our little one.
In this adventure, two Wemmicks Nip and Tuck start a little competition in who has the neatest box. They then try to top each other by adding balls to their boxes. Pretty soon, the other townspeople decided that they have to have the prettiest boxes and balls as well, and they carry them around so that everyone can see just how many beautiful boxes and balls they have. Punchinello, at the consternation of his friends, buys into this scenario and eventually, winds up selling EVERYTHING that he has, including his house, to buy all the boxes and balls that he can. Finally, the mayor's wife decides that to be the best, you have to stand on the highest hillside and/or mountain to show off your "stuff." So, all the Wemmicks climb up the mountain, including Punch, to try to be the best of all.
However, Punchinello winds up going off the path since he can scarcely carry, let alone see where he's going, with all his boxes and balls. He therefore, stumbles into Eli's workshop where he drops all of his boxes and balls. Realizing just where he was, Punch is too embarassed to look at his maker and just initially lies on the floor, face down amongst all his "things." After Eli calls his name, he sheepishly looks up and a discussion begins after Eli asks Punch if all those things really makes him happy. Punch says they do not, only Eli makes him happy. Eli also asks Punch to look out the window to see all the Wemmicks climbing and falling up the hill, trying to be the best. He asks Punch if he thinks that Eli made Wemmicks to act like that (i.e., scurrying around, literally making fools out of themselves for material goods that mean nothing but "status" to them. They don't use the boxes and balls, they just carry them around. They discard their friends, family just for "things."). Punch says "no," because he knows that Eli made all Wemmicks to be with him and love him just as Punch does.
One of the neatest parts of this book is the very end when Punch turns to go but realizes that since he sold his bed and his house, that he has no place left to go. So, he asks his Maker, Eli, if he can spend the night there. Of course Eli says yes and the last page is little Punch, curled up all snug and warm sound asleep in his Maker's house. Wow... Is there any place safer that feels like home? Nope! That's just so neat. Lucado did an excellent job on painting the feeling behind the "warm fuzzies" in that last paragraph.
Here's another meaning for this story - no matter how far you stray, no matter what you do, the Maker is still there waiting for you to come home.
Highly recommend!

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Bigger allowances. Better clothes. More toys.

Bigger, better, more is how the world determines who's special and who's not. It's a message your kids are hearing every day. But it's not God's message.

His truth is simple and never-changing: It's not what you have, it's Whose you are. And it's a truth that the lovable Wemmick, Punchinello, hears again at the knee of his creator in this faithful, fully illustrated sequel to You Are Special.

Punchinello's lesson in love will help you speak God's heart to the heart of every child: You are special, not because of the things you have, but because you are Mine.

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The Boy Who Grew Flowers Review

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(More customer reviews)My 5 year old daughter and I love this book. It's one of our all-time favorites and our standard gift for friends' birthday parties. Appropriate for both boys and girls, this story is fun to read while beautifully demonstrating how to be a truly good friend. Our family is looking forward to the next offering from this talented author.

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