Long Ago and Far Away

 Long ago and far away

Was a baby born in a special way.

The Son of Mary, so meek and mild,

Was also God’s holy, beloved child.

This humble birth in a cattle stall

Was a gift of love for one and all.

Not just for the rich, not only for some,

But for the whole world did this baby come.

God’s love like a bright and shining star

Is for everyone, whoever you are.

Jesus was born so this love we could see,

The greatest gift for you and for me. 

© Connie Arnold

Magical Matthew

Children are fascinated by things that seem magical, and Matthew certainly fits into this category in this delightful book by Penelope Anne Cole. Matthew has a special talent that many people would love to have. When something is broken, he just thinks about it being fixed and it is.

But although Matthew has the magical power to fix objects, he discovers he can't fix everything. His young friend Lily is in a wheelchair and can't walk. He wants very much to make that happen, but he can't. He soon learns a valuable lesson about what can be accomplished without resorting to magic and in spite of handicaps as friends work together for a common goal of helping others and making things better.

The bold and colorful illustrations by Kevin Collier add to the attraction of the story for children, who will likely be asking for this book over and over, enjoying Matthew's gift, thoughtfulness and the surprise at the end.

Be Thankful for Your Senses

Shout for joy, sing and rejoice,

be thankful for the gift of a voice.

Open your eyes, appreciate the light,

be thankful for the gift of sight.

Listen to others, lend them an ear,

be thankful for the gift to hear.

Give praise that you can feel so much,

be thankful for the gift of touch.

Smell the aroma of a rose,

be thankful for the gift of a nose.

Enjoy the blessings that come from above,

be thankful for the gift of God’s love.

© Connie Arnold, 2012

Wishing you a happy Thanksgiving, and don't forget to be thankful for the good things in life, including your senses!

A Raccoon in a Rocket and Birthday Wishes

 This poem was written in honor of my blogging friend Lenny's birthday on October 20. Happy birthday, Lenny! Of course, I began it with a raccoon. Hope you enjoy the poem and have a terrific birthday!

Hope all who can will take a moment to pop by Lenny's World to wish Lenny a happy birthday and enjoy his great blog. Some things I like about Lenny and his blog are the sunshine he shares, enjoyable, fun posts, his knowledge about writing, his enthusiasm and willingness to share, and his sense of humor.

A raccoon and a mouse went for a ride

  with an alligator by their side.

They flew in a rocket to outer space,

and each of them had a grin on his face.

They watched the earth far below,

higher and higher they seemed to go.

They rocketed upward, mile after mile,

and each of them continued to smile.

The raccoon was obviously in command,

and only he knew what was planned.

Mouse and alligator waited to see,

and the whole adventure filled them with glee.

If you happen to see that rocket go by

with the raccoon flying way up high, 

you can be sure their adventure's not done.

Alligator and mouse are still having fun! 

Hope you are having fun too, Lenny! Blessings to you always!

Kindness, Love and Encouragment

Do you realize how important it is to provide inspiration and positive messages for children? During their formative young years, they absorb such a vast amount of information. It makes such a difference in the characters they develop, their personalities and self confidence if they receive encouragement and are taught to respect and be kind to others.

"Today is a gift, that's why we call it the present." We each could learn to do a better job of making the most of each day in a positive way, spending time with loved ones and showing our love and appreciation for them in our lives.
 

Anything we do

Or whatever we may say

May touch others too

And affect them in some way.

When we are feeling sad

And our words are rather cross,

They may make someone mad

And leave them at a loss.

To bring some peace of mind

And show how much you care,

Add a little sunshine

That you each can share.

With a kind and gentle word

And with love and joy to give,

You can help to make this world

A better place in which to live.

© Connie Arnold

Fantastic Flight

What's a grandparent to do when watching a child who is homesick and missing her parents? Read Barbara Bockman's book, Fantastic Flight, for an imaginative idea!

Jessica has no clue about the adventures awaiting her when she visits her grandparents at their beach house and is tearfully missing her Mommy and Daddy. Grandpa knows just how to entertain his granddaughter on a fantastic outing. Taking a balloon ride provides an exciting visit to the clouds and some interesting creatures along the way. But oh, no! An unfriendly bird pops their balloon, but what could have been a catastrophe leads to more fun. Children's imaginations can soar along with Grandpa and Jessica as they enjoy the unique and expressive illustrations by Jack Foster along the way.

Fantastic Flight is available from Guardian Angel Publishing and Amazon. Visit Barbara at her blog, Stories a la Mode, and enjoy more of Jack Foster's fun art at Jacktoon's.

My Tooth is Loose

 

 Can you remember when you were little and had a loose tooth, just waiting for it to come out? If, like me, you can't remember that long ago (although I'm sure it's not so long for you!), perhaps you can think about your children's experiences.

Bill Kirk's new book, My Tooth is Loose, follows a young boy with a loose tooth as each member of his family tries something to get his tooth to come out. I love books that rhyme, and Bill does rhyming very well! Kids will surely relate to the antics and suggestions for getting the tooth out and enjoy the beautiful illustrations by Eugene Ruble while anticipating the outcome.

Also included are fun activities and facts about teeth at the end of the book. This is the newest book of Bill's "The Sum of Our Parts" series. You can find it at Guardian Angel Publishing or Amazon.

Learn more about Bill Kirk and his writing at his website, Bill Kirk Writes