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Sam’s Christmas Wish Blog Tour

November 21, 2014 By Heather Leave a Comment

I received this book for free from Shadow Mountain in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Sam’s Christmas Wish Blog TourSam's Christmas Wish by Dan Burr, George Durrant
Published by Shadow Mountain on September 30, 2014
Genres: Children's, Picture book
Pages: 36
Format: Hardcover
Source: Shadow Mountain
Buy the Book • Goodreads
five-stars
Sam Edwards isn't looking forward to Christmas, at least not this year. Since losing his job six months before, he hasn't had any luck in finding a new one. He isn't sure how he can give his family a merry Christmas, and the last thing he wants is charity from his neighbors. But when he falls asleep in his living room with his shotgun across his lap just to make sure no one attempts to visit him he wakes up to find out who left the presents, the freshly fallen snow reveals no footprints.
Years later, Sam's wife has passed away and his children are grown. Old and sick, Sam remembers the kindness of the anonymous stranger from long ago and wishes for an opportunity to bless another's life. So on Christmas Eve, when he sees his neighbor's house on fire, he hopes that he can be the means for another anonymous miracle.

Sam's Christmas Wish is a story of love, service, and sacrifice. It is one man's realization that Christmas is not just an event, but a spirit that can transform the lives of many.

little red reads reviewWe’ve received a lot of Christmas books over the past few weeks and this was the one my nine year old picked up first. She read all the way though and loved the story. “Sam got his Christmas wish!” With beautiful life like illustrations and a tender story of selfless service, Sam’s Christmas Wish is also a tear jerker.  Sam is a grumpy dad and gruff neighbor who will call the Sheriff if you try to serve him with “charity.” But his heart softens over the years and he is given an opportunity to extend a hand of love. We loved Sam’s Christmas Wish and will read it year after year!

little red reads rating

 

About the Authors

GEORGE D. DURRANT was born and raised in American Fork, Utah. He graduated from Brigham Young University and became a full-time educator. He is a master storyteller and loves telling stories to his eight children, thirty-four grandchildren, and fifteen great-grandchildren. He and his wife, Susan Easton Black Durrant, live in the Rocky Mountains.

DAN BURR, an award-winning illustrator, earned a bachelor of fine arts degree from Utah State University and a master’s degree in illustration from Syracuse University. He and his wife, Patti, are the parents of two children and live in Tetonia, Idaho. Dan has illustrated many children’s books, including The Miracle of the Wooden Shoes, I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day, The Mansion, and The Christmas Train.

One Little Match by Thomas S. Monson Blog Tour

March 7, 2014 By Heather Leave a Comment

I received this book for free from Shadow Mountain in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

One Little Match by Thomas S. Monson Blog TourOne Little Match by Dan Burr, Thomas S. Monson
Published by Shadow Mountain on March 4, 2014
Genres: Children's, Non-Fiction, Picture book
Pages: 32
Format: Hardcover
Source: Shadow Mountain
Buy the Book • Goodreads
five-stars
A new, illustrated picture book with an invaluable lesson for children. In his April 2013 general conference address, President Thomas S. Monson told the story about his time as a young boy spending the summer at his family's cabin in Vivian Park. He and his best friend, Danny, decided to clear a field so they could gather with their friends and have a campfire. The tall, stubborn weeds would not pull out easily. So Tommy had the idea of using one little match to burn the weeds. He knew he should not use matches without permission from his parents. But he ignored the prompting warning him of the danger and set the parched June grass ablaze. The consequence of his disobedience nearly endangered the entire forest and almost burned down neighboring cabins. Soon all the men and women at Vivian Park were dashing back and forth with wet burlap bags, beating at the flames in an attempt to extinguish them. After several hours, the last remaining embers were finally smothered. Danny and I were exhausted and humbled. We felt terrible about what had happened. If only I had acted differently in that one little second and never picked up even one little match. I learned several difficult but important lessons that day. Perhaps the biggest lesson was the need for obedience. Rules and laws are created to keep us safe. When we obey those rules, we can avoid the dangers that can come from something as small as one little match.

I read this book aloud to my children last night, only to find out they had already picked it off my bookshelf and read it on their own…drawn by the idea of a match no doubt! They quickly learned why playing with matches is a bad idea and that even a Prophet of the Lord was drawn to play with matches as a little boy. But more importantly they caught the message to listen to the warnings, the whisperings in your heart that try to stop us from making a choice with grave consequences.
One_Little_Match_spread_1_detail
Filled with beautiful, vivid and life like illustrations, One Little Match has a great moral message and a happy ending. Dan Burr crafted some beautiful masterpieces, escpeially with the faces on little Tommy and his friend Dan! Short, sweet, to the point…this a great family lesson tool.

About the AuthorThomasSMonsonprint
PRESIDENT THOMAS S. MONSON has served as the sixteenth President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints since 2008. He was called as an Apostle in 1963 at the age of thirty-six. After serving as second counselor to President Ezra Taft Benson and then President Howard W. Hunter, he served as first counselor to President Gordon B. Hinckley from 1995 to 2008.

Thomas Spencer Monson was born to G. Spencer and Gladys Condie Monson on August 21, 1927, in Salt Lake City. Following his service in the U.S. Navy near the close of World War II, he graduated cum laude from the University of Utah and earned an MBA from Brigham Young University. He had a distinguished career in the publishing industry.

He served as president of the Canadian Mission from 1959 to 1962 and was a member of several general Church committees before becoming an Apostle.

He married Frances Beverly Johnson in the Salt Lake Temple in 1948. They are the parents of two sons and one daughter. They have eight grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

About the Illustrator
DAN BURR earned his bachelor of fine arts degree from Utah State University and a master’s degree in illustration from Syracuse University. He and his wife, Patti, are raising their two children and numerous farm animals on twelve acres of river-bottom land in Tetonia, Idaho. Dan is a well-known Christian illustrator who also specializes in wildlife renderings. A few of the books Dan has illustrated are The Miracle of the Wooden Shoes, I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day, and The Mansion.

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We are the children's division of Fire and Ice. We review baby board books to middle-grade titles. We also review products and toys for the family. For inquiries on reviews, blog tours, and author interviews contact FireandIce.Heather@gmail.com
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