Local LoneStar – The Legend of LoneStar Bear

   

The Legend of Lonestar Bear by Remi Kramer

Former hollywood director, Remi Kramer wrote and illustrated the trilogy of Lonestar Bear after moving to Idaho.  The illustrations are beautiful and the stories are enjoyable for kids and parents alike.

Mom: Tell me about Lonestar Bear

Captain Obvious: Those are AWESOME. He fishes.

Mom: What else do you like about the books?

Captain Obvious:  It is a bear that talks.

Mom: Does he have lots of adventures.

Captain Obvious: Yes, he flies on a plane.

Mom: Anything else?

Captain Obvious: Oh and one more thing. I like it because Aliens come to him.

These books are great for boys.  A hometown bear is an unlikely hero.  He resides in the Idaho mountians and has many great adventures at home and while traveling.  These three books are some of my Thinglets favorites and thankfully a favorite of mine as well.

Find what books other kids have enjoyed (and don’t forget to link up) at 5 Minutes for Books  Kids’ Picks carnival the 3rd Tuesday of each month.

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Legend of the Three Trees

Please join me at my new web home JessieGunderson.com and don’t forget to like the Blog Schmog Facebook community HERE.

Some of you were wondering what this mosaic on my kitchen floor is all about.

The Legend of the Three Trees is a folklore story of unknown origin. My favorite picture book version is HERE.

The story is retold by Angela Elwell Hunt and beautifully illustrated by Tim Jonke. It is a Christmas classic but we keep it out year round.

Below is Thing One’s retelling of the legend un-edited.

A long time ago there was three trees. The first tree wanted to be a treasure chest and hold the greatest treasure. The second tree wanted to be a ship and made for just kings. And the third tree wanted to stay on the top of the hill and point up to God.

Many years had passed by. Then after a few days three woodcutters came and the first woodcutter cut down the first little tree. The second woodcutter cut down the second tree. The thrid woodcutter said, “I will cut down whatever tree I want to. This is the one I’m going to cut.”

The first tree got tooken to a carpenter. The carpenter turned the tree into a manger for animals to eat out of.

The second tree was tooken to a ship yard and no big ships were getting made that day. Instead tiny fishing boats. Every day he brought in loads of dead smelly fish across the lake.

The third tree was confused when she got cut into straight square logs. She stayed there for a very long time. Then she got carried by a man and she felt ugly when they nailed his  hands to her.

The first tree got to be a manger and hold the greatest treasure of all. That was Jesus.

The second tree got to be a sailboat and hold the greatest king of all that was powerful. He got to see Jesus stop the storm when he woke up.

The third tree got to be carried by Jesus and forever remind people of God. That was better than staying on the mountain.

THE END

Spare Oom

Who hasn’t climbed in behind the clothes in the closet of a “spare oom”, held her breath and waited for a friend or a sibling as they counted, “twenty eight, twenty nine, thirty. Ready or not here I come!”

So many childhood memories as well as childhood fantasies are wrapped up and delivered in my favorite book series by C.S. Lewis, The Chronicles of Narnia.

Entertaining?  Yes.  Imaginative?  Yes.  But beyond that the books are chock full of God’s promised and incredibly deep introspective concepts.  C.S. Lewis was in short brilliant and an amazing man of God.  His faith was a deep challenging faith that even in these childrens books an adult can find peace and restoration, struggle and triumph.

Entertaining. Yes, but the Narnia series is ageless.

If you have seen the movies but not read the books, you are really missing out!

I’ve just discovered the Children’s Classics carnival over at 5 Minutes for Books, and it has been a great way to get to know other moms. I’ve also discovered a bunch of new books I need in my bookcase! 😉

Word of the day-onomatopoeia-and my book pick of the day.

We recommend this book.  It is a fun read aloud that captures the feel of a lazy country night shattered by a passing train.  It is well written and the kids and I enjoy the way the author, Jim Aylesworth allows you to experience the sounds through his sing song use of onomatopoeia. 

Thing 2 went up to bed this evening singing CLANG CLANG CLANG, RED ON, red off….

I’ve found that I am quite picky about the quality of illustrating and this book did not disappoint, Ted Rand brings the pictures to life beautifully! 

Country Crossing was a great find for us at the local Goodwill but hardcover copies are available for around $2.50 at Amazon

Find what books other kids have enjoyed (and don’t forget to link up) at 5 Minutes for Books  Kids’ Picks carnival the 3rd Tuesday of each month.

R.I.P. Frederick

I’m sorry Leo but I’m not buying it!  Today I did the unpardonable.  I threw a book away.  The illustrations are cute, the theme is a good idea but I couldn’t stand this book!

It’s a cute little book about a family of mice who store up food for the winter.  The family works hard, all except Frederick.  Instead he sits around and soaks up sounds, sights, colors, words.

As expected the mice run low on food before the winter is over so they call on Frederick to bring out his supplies.  He tells great stories and paints wonderful pictures in their minds that make them feel like they are back in the middle of summer.

Great right? Cute story about the value of art right?  Well my problem is this: Those poor mice WONT MAKE IT through the winter on a memory of the sun or a poem about the four seasons no matter how beautiful or convincing!

My boys said this book is about a family of mice who saves food for the winter and the one mouse who didn’t. 

R.I.P. Frederick

Window on the World

The boys and I absolutely love this missions minded textbook.  It was recommended by a blogger friend and is a must have! Thanks Karen!

Each two page spread gives you a thorough look into a different people group of the world, mostly through the eyes of a child in that nation.  It details struggles and successes in reaching that group for Christ and has a section on how you can pray.  My boys practically fight over the prayer requests each day.  They love to hear the stories about boys and girls in other countries and even my two year old is learning.

When Matt came home from work the other day, a good 5hrs after we read about how God healed Niki in Albania and learned to say hello in Albanian, Bubba hollered “Tungjatjeta (toon-jat-yeta) Dad!”

Window on the World: When We Pray God Works