Blessing of the Animals Books

I read this book while waiting for my daughter's Mother's Day Out class to begin. It was great! I am ordering a copy for my kids and my nieces. It never hurts to have another way to reinforce the good stuff.

The book is recommended for ages 2-4. I say buy it a little early and be prepared. It covers sharing, patience, etc., which many kids have to deal with before age 2, since they're in daycare and other programs with other kids, common toys and caregivers, etc.

This book is great for teaching kids why they should share, be kind, help others and obey their parents. The book gives specific examples of situations that kids find themselves in and how God wants them to be. It also gives scripture references so that you can look in the bible and read God's words for each situation.
I've found it goes a long way in presenting God's reasons for why they should behave instead of just your reasons. It's a really, really good book that my kids always request at bedtime.

This book is wonderful. The illustrations are beautiful and the poetry is a perfect bedtime book. This book has a different poem that is well known on each page and the pictures are the cutest we have seen. This book is the best!!

This enchanting Christmas picturebook for young readers, written by Deanna Luke entirely in rhyming verse, emphasizes the joys of sharing and celebration. Chris Mouse goes on an adventure through the Christmas House, and learns important lessons of love and holiday spirit to take home with him. Engagingly illustrated by JoAnn A. Woytek, the Christmas colors of red, green, and white abound on each page of this heartwarming journey.

This short board book, written by Allia Zobel-Nolan, is delightful in it's simplicity and it's illustrations by Trace Moroney. A young bear is counting his blessings, including a cat, his family members, his mother's cooking, his friends, his home and God's love. It also teaches a small child to count the stars, which start with ten and go down to one at the end of the book. All in all, a good gift choice for any Christian parent or family member for a child from 2 years old to grammar school age.

My cat, Shadow, is 19 years old and reaching the end of his life. He's on two medications a day and subcutaneous fluids three times a week. He loses his balance on occasion but still isn't in great pain. He has been the first face I see each morning and the last one I see at night. It's going to be heart wrenching when the inevitable takes place. I know this book will help me to face his inevitable loss with the beautiful prayers written just for animals. It is obvious that the authors love animals as much as I do.

it is for very young children. We just adopted an infant and purchased the book to eventually read to him, but also to show our nieces and nephews to explain adoption. My 5 year old niece asked why a kangaroo would adopt a baby bird instead of a baby kangaroo! LOL But, we still like the book and was a great way to initiate the conversation with the kids.

I was so happy to see that "Golden Books" has written a children's book about adoption, and I was not disappointed. In just a few pages, with easy to understand words and colorful, engaging pictures, this book discusses the love of two mothers for one child - a birth mother whose "nest" is too full, but wants her child to be safe and happy, and an adoptive mother searching for a child to love. It expertly crosses racial boundaries (a kangaroo adopting a bird!), and presents adoption as a positive, in which both sides are seeking the best life and home for this precious child. BRAVO!!

I loved this story. It sensitively deals with the emotions and choices of the birth and adoptive mother. A great story anyway, but definitely recommend to anyone who has adopted or been adopted.
The fact that the author herself has adopted 2 children, & the illustator is an adopted child is how I think they have been able to give that special touch to the story.
For Christians, this story also shows answers to prayers, thanks to God for His blessing, & a simple way to teach how we are adopted into God's family.

The Story of Baby Moses (Alice in Bibleland Storybooks)
One Starry Night: Stop and Smell the Roses Series (Stop and Smell the Roses)

This is a sweet story, and one that reinforces the positives of an adoptive family.

I loved this story! What a great way to explain to a child about a mother's true longing for a child and how adoption can be such a loving choice. I can't read this book without crying each and everytime. Luckily, my daughter is only 6 weeks old and I have lots of time to practice reading so I won't cry when she gets older!

My daugther has several of the Berenstain Bear books and she loves reading them. They have a positive message for children while keeping their attention. Even though she reads at a higher level, she still loves these books.

The story is good with a great moral. I read to my five year old with him squirming out of his seat. Why? I was defining way too many words for him that he lost interest and was not able to appreciate the story. I say this is appropriate for a starting age of at least 6 or 7, if not greater.

My four year old son has started collecting these books, and it's been a real treasure to read them to him because they bring back memories from my own childhood. He loves the stories just as much as I do. We especially love reading the little poems on the first page of each book! Each book teaches a different lesson. I love using them as examples of what not to do and also as positive reinforcement for my children.

I enjoyed these books as a child and now I can buy them for the child in my life. Each book teaches an important lesson without seeming preachy. My nephew loves them. Make sure you select a Berenstain Bears book that is age appropriate. Some of them deal with issues for all children, some are for school aged children. Think about the content before you select yours.

Sister and Brother Bear gripe and complain that all their friends have new toys and new things. Mamma gets sick of their whining and basically tells them to be grateful for what they DO have instead of what they DON'T.

A storm comes and soon the Bear family finds themselves together and the cubs find out that family and each other is more important than things and being grateful for what they have is wiser than being covetous.

An excellent book to help with the grieving process. Wonderful real life examples of others who have experienced the same overwhelming pain and how they were able to deal with their loss. I would recommend this book for anyone who has lost a pet and is experiencing on-going depression.

I have been waiting for Betty Carmack's book all of my life. My feelings have never before been so validated. Throughout childhood, I have had numerous little creatures: hamsters, birds, dogs, turtles, and mice. Now after 45 years, I can finally grieve the loss of those precious creatures without anyone calling me foolish or overly sentimental. No one will ever again tell me that "little boy's don't cry." Little boys cry--right along with the rest of humanity--at the loss of one of these precious companions.

Betty Carmack's decision to let the "experts" be those who have actually grieved the loss of a pet gives her book more validity than if she had quoted from a thousand researchers. We hear the stories of these people and their companion animals through all the stages of grief. Pets are not just "nice things to have a around." They are the truest and most steadfast listeners to all of life's pains and joys. When they die, they leave a hole in our hearts. For some people, their cats or dogs or lizards are their closest companions. Such companions are never too tired to listen. No matter what we look like, whether bathed or not, shaven or not, they hear all that we are and hope to be, uncluttered by "unfinished business" in human relationships. True, they cannot take the place of another human being. Likewise, no human can ever offer the degree of unconditional love that animals, fish, and birds can.

"Grieving the Death of a Pet" is a triumph. It is a gift, given by an expert who was humble enough to let the very people she comforts be our comforters, the very people who know best what we feel and why. How can I thank someone for giving me back my feelings and childhood memories? Thank you, Betty Carmack. Thank you for the gift of your book and the gift of you.

This book is a touching and insightful look at how people grieve when their beloved pet passes on. Many overlook how pets have helped people get through tough times, and given unconditional love to their owners. I've seen dogs that help heal (in the sense that they give lots of attention and love) people with acute and/or chronic illnesses.

By the same token, many people grieve over the loss of their pets, particularly those who have been in the family household for over five years. Why else would children want to place their animals' remains in a special place in the backyard? Ms. Carmack not only shares people's heartfelt stories, but also gives good insight on just what is needed to get through those tough times. I gave this book to one friend who had lost a cat that he owned for twelve years, and he said that reading it really made a difference to him on that struggle.

To complain that this book doesn't fit a certain person's view on Christianity doesn't do the book justice. Just because pets aren't mentioned in Scripture doesn't mean they aren't important to people and healing. And to discount pets as instruments of God is very sad and lacking insight.

Thankfully, this book doesn't recommend spending thousands of dollars in pet cemeteries. BUT, that's up to the owner and none of other people's business, no?

FOr the reviewer who does not beleive animals go to heaven. Well why not? Didnt God create animals as well? Why would He discriminate against the most innocent creatures on earth by not letting them into heaven. I just lost my cat whom I considered to be my child and I dearly hope that when I get to heaven that she is waiting there for me. It just shows how egotisitcal human beings can be. I hope others that lose a beloved pet do not share this persons view and look forward to reuniting with their special pet one day.

My nine-year-old Great Dane just died, and I am devastated. My sister sent me this book because she said that she knew the author and she thought it might help me cope with the loss of my lovely girl.

I am about halfway through this book, and it is actually making me feel worse. The reason that it is making me feel worse is that included in this book are stories where the pet owners -- out of their sheer stupidity, ignorance, and irresponsibility -- actually caused the death of the pets that they should have been protecting.

One pet owner caused their German Shepherd to get heat stroke. Another couple put their friendly Rottweiler to sleep because he had bitten other dogs, and they were afraid he would bite a child. There are numerous other alternatives to euthanasia in circumstances such as those. Even the author caused the death of her first dog by actually pulling her dog overboard into a fast-moving river and then let go of him, causing him to drown. The author never should have jumped in the river herself let alone pull her dog in.

I just can't finish this book because I can't read any more stories where pet owners caused the death of their pets. I am very sensitive in that regard, and I think other animal lovers are the same way. I would never put any of my pets in harm's way like the author did. I know accidents do happen, but many of these people could have and should have been better informed and made better decisions concerning the safety of their pets. Many of these people set the stage for an accident by making a series of bad decisions. This just angers me at a time when I already feel sad.

Furthermore, this book has not told me anything that I did not know already. The author spends a great deal of time letting the reader know that it is okay to grieve over the loss of a pet. It wouldn't have even occurred to me that it wasn't all right to grieve the loss of a pet. You would have to be heartless not to do so.

If you are grieving the loss of a pet, seek comfort in your friends and family and find a different book to comfort you.

I was pleasantly surprised by this book. I found the perfect poem for a friend who had to euthanize her best friend, a yellow lab. The selections are diverse, and seem to have been compiled by someone who understands the loss of an animal friend

There's an even MORE in-depth book entitled, "Blessing of the Animals" by Diana L. Guerrero (Sterling Publishing). Guerrero's book contains more than quotes -- it also has great ideas for activities to celebrate animals, such as birthdays, new pets, loss of a pet, religious ceremonies, and a lot more. You may want to check it out as well.

As a collector of poems, quotes, and tributes to beloved pets, I plan to keep this beautiful volume close at hand for browsing, comfort and inspiration. The author has done a wonderful job of compiling literature from many faiths and representing all animal species. As I am anticipating having to say goodbye to a much beloved dog, I found the passages suitable for memorials very meaningful and uplifting.

I wanted a book I could use to lead prayers for my dog, dogs that I volunteer with at the shelter, and the animal world at large. This book fits the bill perfectly. Poems, prayers, and blessings from many different faiths (buddhism, native american, protestant, jewish, many differnet ones. Deep and meaningful prose from a variety of authors. Beautiful!

I have collected an entire gardening library so besotted am I with this gender of reading and gardening. This book is a treasure! Clearly the best reflection on nature in your garden I have ever had the pleasure to read. Amusing and full of directions and advise this book should never be put away but left out to consult and muse over. Get it and give it! You cannot miss!! Susan

Lovejoy is a vessel of knowledge that gardeners of all ages will delight in with this book. She makes gardening fun and kids (and adults!) will like the projects and ideas for nuturing a special place of thier own.

Ms Lovejoy's collection of gardening essays presents a book of relaxing and delightful reading. It is sprinkled with a collection of gardening ideas that will be appealing to both the beginner and experienced gardener, especially if you are interested in living with nature. I have already borrowed some of her ideas for my backyard wildlife habitat.