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God Made the Sun (September) God Made the Moon (September) The Pumpkin Gospel (revised edition, August) March to the Manager (revised edition, October) |
spotlight
God Made the Sun
God Made the Sun is a celebration of God’s gift of daytime.
Beginning with the first rays of sunlight and moving through the day, this new board book reminds 2-5 year olds that God’s love shines on us just as the sun shines on the earth.
Mary says: "A young child can turn the page by poking a finger into the layered die-cut of the sun. This happy book makes a fun read!"
Click here to see a sample page.
God Made the Moon
God Made the Moon celebrates God’s gift of night.
Beginning with the first hints of dusk and ending with a bedtime prayer, this book reminds young children that God’s love shines on us just as the moon shines on the earth.
A layered die-cut of the moon provides a novelty element for young children.
Mary says:"The whimsical illustrations by veteran greeting card illustrator Lizzie Walkley add a light touch. A fun read at the end of a busy day!"
Click here to see a sample page.
Faith Footprints with My Grandchild
Faith Footprints with My Grandchild offers devotions and guided journaling for grandmothers with corresponding faith-based activities for children.
“Leaving a legacy is on the mind of every grandmother,” says Mary. “Through our faith footprints, we leave values long before we leave valuables.” Devotions and reflections reflect real-time issues faced by grandmothers including competition with the “other grandma,” long-distance grandmothering and relating to a daughter-in-law. Ideal for gifting at a grandmother shower or for a grandmother-to-be, this book invites women to not only grow spiritually, but to share Christian lifestyle activities with a grandchild.
Listen to Audio interview about Fath Footprints
First Virtues
First Virtues highlights adorable animals who showcase core beliefs in child-friendly situations.
This new edition features 12 complete stories written in a light, rhythmic text. Playful illustrations show how a child might experience virtues in everyday situations. Parent pages, which provide practical suggestions to help a young child remember and practice the virtues, follow each story.
Mary says:
"We make the mistake of thinking that children will simply 'catch' a virtue when they see us opening a door for someone or sharing with a friend. Virtues are caught but they are also taught. Because so much cultural clutter floats around children today, we must be intentional, not just incidental about teaching core beliefs."
After all, a young child has an easier time learning about forgiveness or obedience when he's looking at a cute, colorful animal, not seeing himself in a mirror. However, virtues modeled by these non-threatening little creatures are great conversation starters.
Thank you, God, for Puppies
Skippy was the best of friends. And as a child, I needed a friend.
The kids in my Chicago neighborhood weren’t interested in hearing abou my mom’s battle with cancer, but Skippy would always listen. After I poured out my heart, our big black dog would lift his head off my lamp and jump up. He almost seemed to say, “Crying time is over. Move on.”
Today, more than 56 million families in the United States have a dog. Children in those households know what it’s like to experience the unconditional love of a puppy.
Thank you, God, for Kittens
Our neighbor’s cat had kittens. They were the cutest little furry things! We had three children, so guess who came to live at our house?
Our daughter, Angie, was quick to name them. And so for nearly twenty years, Blackie and Tiger (you can imagine what they looked like) were beloved companions. They even moved halfway across the country with us, because of course, they were family!
More than 30 million households in the United States know what it’s like to be calmed by a purring motor in a fur ball.
The Hear Me Read Bible
With more than one million copies sold in English, thousands of children have learned to read with the Hear Me Read Bible stories.
Using less than 25 words to tell a complete Bible lesson, the eighteen Level One stories feature natural language, repetition and prediction. These best-selling stories have been compiled in a single volume, The Hear Me Read Bible. Parent notes and vocabulary lists are included for every story. Level Two stories are available as eight individual titles.
"Learning to read is a lengthy, challenging process," says educator and author Dr. Mary Manz Simon. "Many elements need to come together before a child actually can de-code the scribbles on a page."
"Although we appropriately emphasize skill development, confidence in those abilities is also important," she says. "With less than 25 different words in each Level One story, a child's confidence soars as he successfully moves from page to page."
"Of course, a huge bonus is that a child not only learns to read, but learns to read about Jesus," says the early childhood educator. "What a joy when a child says, 'Hear me read.'"
Click here to see sample pages.
My First Read and Learn Book of Prayers
"Fold your hands, bow your head and close your eyes." With these simple actions, a young child can begin a lifelong conversation with God.
That's the purpose of My First Read and Learn Book of Prayers: to help a child experience God in new ways. The tone is conversational, so that a child learns to talk with God like he talks with a best friend. The content is concrete, not abstract, because a young child thinks about what he can touch and feel. And the prayers reflect the real world: because a child waiting to eat is hungry, one mealtime prayer has only eight words!
My First Read and Learn Book of Prayers will help your child learn to talk with God anytime, anywhere.
With a soft, padded cover and stiff board pages, this is an ideal volume to keep handy on a bedroom dresser or child's book shelf.
Click here to see sample pages.
My First Read and Learn Book of Bible Verses
My First Read and Learn Favorite Bible Verses offers timeless truths which focus on God, our Father. The verses, including some with as few as five words, are developmentally appropriate for young children to repeat, learn and embrace.
"God tells us to imprint His words on the heart of a child," says Dr. Mary Manz Simon. "That might sound difficult for parents and boring for kids, but this book makes it easy and fun."
Verses reflect ways in which a young child experiences God in daily life. A child is reminded of God's loving care in the section on fears and His blessings in the verses about friends. Parent notes throughout the book suggest ways to incorporate Scripture into everyday activities.
With a soft-padded cover and stiff board pages, it makes an excellent companion to My First Read and Learn Book of Prayers.
Click here to see sample pages.
The Anytime Bible
"Anytime" is a good time to connect with God. That's the message of The Anytime Bible.
"Today's fast track families need a resource to remind them that God goes where we go," says parenting expert Dr. Mary Manz Simon. "Because families are so busy, it's easy to lock God into a Sunday morning box. Our God is bigger than that!"
"'Anytime'" is a good time to connect with God," she emphasizes. Designed as a flexible, lifestyle product, families can use The Anytime Bible for two minutes or twenty.
Fast facts and reader responses trigger family discussion based on more than 50 Bible stories. A parent note for each story connects the Biblical truth to real-time situations. Content is written on various levels of knowledge, from clear-cut facts (Adam lived to be an old man: 930 years) to practical application ("How do you feel when someone says, 'Don't touch?'") These multiple layers connect with family members of all ages.
Simon says, "Research consistently shows that children, even teens, want to spend time with their family. The Anytime Bible promises and delivers God's truths in a format that's fun and flexible for family togethering, anytime."
Click here to see sample pages.
Countdown to Christmas
Fly through the days of December with My First Read and Learn Countdown to Christmas.
Parents will appreciate the creative ways in which children's energy is re-directed into simple activities that focus on the true meaning of the holiday. And children will delight in the daily fun as they come ever closer to December 25. Each day, family members can join in the Countdown rhyme:
I'm ready and I'm waiting, to shout "It's Christmas Day!"
It's almost Jesus' birthday. I'm counting down each day.
Click here to see sample pages.
My Easter Basket
This sparkling award winning, best seller, uses the holiday colors to help children learn the real meaning of Easter.
Mary says,
"This book is a personal favorite. Adults are challenged to understand the miracle of Jesus' Resurrection. Sharing the meaning of Easter with children is even more difficult. My Easter Basket tells the Bible story using a child-friendly approach. Children love the glittery sparkles on every page and adults enjoy sharing the rhythmic text. This is a book you'll read again and again, long beyond the Easter season."
Noah Builds a Boat
Noah Builds a Boat offers a fresh-retelling of the beloved Bible story. Highlighting three important virtues, readers focus on obedience, patience and gratitude as they read about the old man and the ark.
“We often focus on learning facts about familiar Bible stories but forget to take away valuable lessons,” says author Dr. Mary Manz Simon. “Noah models three virtues that contribute to building strong character.”
With flowing illustrations and limited text from the Golden Books imprint of Random House, it is an ideal lap book to share with a child.
Click here to see sample pages.
Mary connected with thousands of people every year through speaking and media appearances, but even more people know her through her books. She's always working on something new, so check this section for updates.
