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{Holiday Gift Guide} Gifts from the Heart Children’s Book Review and Giveaway {CLOSED}

By Nicole Anderson, on November 7th, 2010
Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing
I have worked with Simon & Schuster before on a review and when I was asked to review another book I was thrilled to have the opportunity.  Gifts from the Heart is a children’s book that has great meaning to the story in my opinion.
 
Written by Victoria Osteen
Illustrated by Diane Palmisciano
A little about the author
“Reading brings families together. I’ve always loved reading to my children because it’s such as a precious time of interaction and closeness. We should savor every moment with our children and reading is a wonderful way to do that.”
— Victoria Osteen
“Victoria Osteen serves with her husband, Joel, as co-pastor of Lakewood Church—America’s largest church. She has a passion and energy for life that is contagious. Her passion for helping people has led her to devote her time to missions work in some of the most impoverished places on Earth. Today, as a nationally recognized Christian leader and the mother of two children, she is an inspiration and mentor to women everywhere. She is committed to helping women, children and families discover their purpose and reach their highest potential. This summer, she founded the Victoria Osteen Literacy Program, with the hopes of promoting summer reading and encouraging kids to pick up a book and read with their families on hazy, lazy summer days—and throughout the rest of the year.” You can find out more about her at VictoriaOsteen.com
About the Book
The first pages of the book (title pages), you will see an illustration of Sue and Jon dressing up as Princess Sue and Sir Jon alongside there dog (their horse, the strong and fearless Lou) and heading off to their imaginative world with castles and kings.  Princess Sue and Sir Jon head off to the awaiting kingdom to see how they can help the other children that are waiting around the castle walls.  The first of the kids that they spoke to was Mary Anne and she was crying.  Today was the King’s birthday and a new law that was passed by the King’s assistant told everyone who did not bring a gift, to stay away.  The kids wanted to be part of the King’s celebration because they loved their king but Mary Anne didn’t have a crown and didn’t have anything to give the King.
Princess Sue and Sir Jon help the kids learn how to find the gifts that God put inside them as they are the best gifts of all.  They don’t need a crown to give their gifts that come from inside them or come from the heart.  They help all the other kids find thier gifts and what makes them special while they are outside the kingdom walls.  As they were planning thier talent show outside, the King’s assistant tried to make them go away but they asked him to please not make them go away as they were planning all day.  They were allowed to stay but not to disturb the King.  Some of the kids juggled and some danced.  Mary Anne couldn’t do those things so she began to sing and discovered her gift.  The King heard Mary Anne’s song and came out to see what was going on.  He asked who sand the song while the King’s assistant told him that he tried to make them go away.
But when Mary Anne told the King that she and her friends worked all day to do this for him, the King was very happy and told each of them that they made his day complete.  
I really like this story because it reminds kids that you don’t need to have a crown to get the best gifts in the world.  What makes them special inside is the gift that always counts.  It teaches them to look inside themselves to find those gifts and to share them with the world.  Gifts from the Heart are the ones that mean the most.  We teach our kids this and always have.  I think it’s important that our kids know what makes them special and this story is a great reminder – to kids and adults alike.  It’s a wonderful story to read together and it’s also a great book for older kids to read themselves.  I think it’s a book that a first ir second grader can read on their own.  Another thing I like about it is that it rhymes and it’s a lot of fun to read.
The illustrations look similar to the cover of the book (pictured) above and they are all really beautiful as much as the story is.  At the end of the book, there are 5 questions about the book that you can ask your kids after reading to them.  I like this about the book because it helps them understand the book better and of course it’s always fun to learn what your kids think about a story.  Overall, my family loves this book and as a mom, I think it’s a must have for any child’s book collection.  It’s also a great book to have getting ready for the Holiday Season!  Cuddle up on the couch or in the chair in the evening and enjoy reading to your kids!
Buy It:  Visit Simon & Schuster to buy your copy of Gifts from the Heart (hardcover) for $16.99.  You can also check your local book stores to see if you can find it there.
Win It!  Simon & Schuster is giving my readers a chance to win!  5 of my lucky DustinNikki Mommy of Three readers will win a copy of Gift from the Heart children’s book!  Be sure to enter for your chance to win this wonderful book!  
Before entering, you must be a follower of my blog or become a follower of my blog via Google Friend Connect publicly

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{Holiday Gift Guide} Gifts from the Heart Children’s Book Review and Giveaway http://goo.gl/fb/s29vL @dustinnikki

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Giveaway is open to US and Canada.  Giveaway will end November 28 @ 11:59 PM (EST). Winner will be chosen using random.org. Winner will have 48 hours to respond after I contact via email. If winner does not respond, a new winner will be chosen. Good Luck!

The product was sent to me for free by the company for my use and review. I was not paid to write my review and my opinions are 100% my own.

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