2 Book Reviews, Giveaway winners & another giveaway

I’ve got a giveaway for you, giveaway winners & two book reviews just in time for “Mistmas” as Rhysie likes to call the wonderful Advent season upon us.

The first is a wonderful book sent to me by Frank Robinson, Jr. called Letters to a Mixed Race Son.  The book is just as it sounds: a group of wonderful letters written over the years to Frank’s biracial children.  I found it to be lovely & inspiring.  And of course, it made me want to write brief letters to my boys everyday, and of course I haven’t yet.

What you may love about it: Frank is full of faith and the way he explains it to the boys is beautiful.  I love the stories of things the kids said that reveals their child-like vulnerability.  I love the way the book displays all the beauty and hardship of parenting and everything in between…the helplessness, the times of so much joy and thankfulness you can barely contain it.  I really appreciated this book.  It’s definitely one to make you squeeze those babies of yours a little bit tighter.

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The second is a kid’s book called, The Strikerz: Bring it on by Randall James.  I “met” Randy on Twitter when he said “hey, you’ve got a little boy, does he like soccer?”  And so he sent me his lovely little soccer novel.

Ran & I have been reading a chapter or two about every night and he’s really enjoyed it.  What I love?  The story follows a diverse group of soccer loving, multi-ethnic kids in Nova Scotia, Canada living in some sort of poverty or dysfunction who all dream of going pro someday.  The book follows the kids as they deal with drunk parents and all manner of trouble when a wealthy business man offers to give the kids a team, uniforms & even a arena to play in.

What I personally love about the book for my little Ranny-Panzinator is both the simplicity of the writing style but also the gritty story line that deals with real issues many kids face.  As a launching pad, it gave me the opportunity to explain a lot of real life scenario’s for him that have helped him to be grateful for the simple things in life that many kids just don’t have.  Also, it promotes team work, working hard towards goals, looking out for one another & making good choices.  Can’t beat that, eh?

Randall was also kind of enough to send me The Strikerz card game which is a compliment to the book.  Ransom absolutely loves the game and has asked to play it several times.  Both the book & the game have served to get him all geeked up again on soccer which makes us happy because Ran is the little boy who would be content to sit inside all day and play quietly by himself.  He needs all the extra oompf he can get! =)

If you’ve got a little boy or girl in the 7-12 age range with any soccer interests, this is a great little book & game to give for Christmas.  You can buy them here.

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GIVEAWAY WINNERS:

Winner of the Does This Church Make Me Look Fat? book giveaway is…

Winner of the Making All Things New: God’s Dream For Global Justice book giveaway is…

CONGRATS, ladies & I hope you enjoy your books!

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AND NOW FOR ANOTHER GIVEAWAY…because I’m feeling mighty generous…

I’m giving away brand spankin’ new copies of…

Letters to a Mixed Race Son by: Frank Robinson, Jr. (signed copy bearing the unfortunate teeth marks of my cat, Little Jerri Seinfeld. DOH!)

Real Life by: James Choung

God Loves Ugly by: Christa Black

More Than Enchanting: Breaking Through Barriers to Influence Your World by: Jo Saxton

Just leave me a comment below, tweet it out for an extra entry & leave your tweet in a separate comment by December 12am EST on December 11.

Hoping some of these books will offer you some enjoyable reading during your Christmas break or great books to giveaway as gifts for the readers in your life.

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