*****This contest is now closed. CONGRATS TO REVMINDY, CAELA, and LEANN!*****
My first giveaway!
Lately I’ve been getting some emails for requests to review books – everything from Asian American literature to religious fiction to small group studies to children’s books. It’s been really fun to check out what’s out there.
Kirk Jackson contacted me about his first book I Want You to Know. He wrote in an email to me:
I am proud father of a “Tex-Mex” 4 y.o. boy and 2 y.o. girl. We take pride in celebrating their diverse family background and making sure they get healthy doses of each – usually in edible and musical form. I am trying to instill a nature-loving, compassionate and aware upbringing in my children, and I just published my first children’s picture book called I Want You to Know: The Wonder of God (available on Amazon). I should clarify that this book is unique in 4 ways: it is for children/parents of all faiths, contains multi-racial characters, is printed on FSC certified paper/board, and is made in the USA (which I found most of my kids books not to be, to my surprise.) It is the first in the I Want You to Know series that will help parents address important or tricky subjects with their children. More are presently being developed including exploring such themes as enjoying nature [without an iPad in your hand] and the joy of sharing [some of your hundreds of toys with the less fortunate].
His warm email drew me in immediately, and I jumped on it. I’d always wanted to do a fun giveaway, and it makes sense to do a book for children – since I love books, and…I love children, especially mine. I just got it and read it almost immediately.
I love it. It’s doxological, basically sings, like a hymn for children or the young at heart. Here’s some wonderful lines:
And then, my favorite:
It’s creative. And the illustrations are simply precious – and perfectly diverse. The only small issues I had were on the God-language and general theology. There was the typical lack of neutral and inclusive language, but I do realize that dealing with gender and language is tricky with children. If it had been me I would have interchanged he/she in reference to God, but that’s just me. Likewise, though it claims to be a book for “parents of all faiths,” it seems to use mostly Christian language. But, in terms of the theology of God’s presence, while simple, it does what is necessary, which is to make space for a number of scenarios, both good and difficult. Ultimately, what Kirk does incredibly well is honestly address so many possible questions, and in many ways, affirms those questions as possibilities for discussion and connection between parents/guardians and their children. I am excited to read this to the twins, and eventually talk about so much with them. And the rest of the series, too.
OK! So. For the GIVEAWAY! Who doesn’t love a FREE hard-copy of a fun illustrated book that addresses those deeper questions with children?
Kirk wants to giveaway 3 copies that will be personalized (for your children by him. To enter…
- For 1 entry leave me a comment below entering the giveaway.
- For 2 entries leave me a comment and re-pin on your Pinterest (you’ll have to let me know on another comment).
- For 3 entries leave me a comment, do Pinterest, and like the book’s Facebook page here (you’ll have to let me know on 2 other comments).
This giveaway is open to US residents only (no PO boxes) and we will draw for the winners on LUCKY Friday, July 13, 2012. Come back then and I will do 3 random draws that morning and will ask you to email me your information for me to forward to Kirk.
Check out his blog and his Amazon author page for more information.
I would love to have this for my niece! Thanks for sharing!
I love free books! This one looks like a keeper. I liked it on FB, but haven’t gotten up to speed with a pinterest account.
Sounds like a great book. I would love to share it with my family.
What a lovely book! It is profound and poetic, which makes it perfect for children.
Me, me, me! Thanks!
I pinned it!
I liked the page on fb!
I would love to have this for my little girl due in August!
Lylah would love this. Thanks, Mihee!
Lovely book! I think my 7 yr old daughter and 3 mo old son would both enjoy it!
I pinned it under “Kid Stuff”
I would love to have this for both my 7 yr old daughter and 3 mo old son.
I liked the facebook page.
Ooh!!! Looks fantastic. Me please!!
I don’t have Pin and I don’t have kids of my own, but I think this is a great idea. I’m a children’s/youth minister with lots of kids who have lots of hard issues at home. Drug abuse, neglect, financial difficulties, lack of father/mother, death of a parent, self image issues, etc. I could see so many ways this could be of use to them.
This looks awesome! Thanks for including me and my kids in the drawing!
Count me in!
Would love a copy of this book!!
I’ve pinned on Pinterest
Liked on FB!
I don’t see my inital entry, so I’m trying again.
What a perfect gift for my grandchildren. I do not have a pininterest account yet.
Well, of course I’d like to win this book!!
and I pinned it to Pinterest, so I should obviously win, right?!
What a wonderful book! It’s pinned and liked on FB!
Sounds like a great one! I love that it has multi-racial characters & that it’s printed in the US. (The lack thereof is a pet peeve of mine.) I will admit that my husband and I often change the pronouns that refer to God in books we read to our boys, to either be neutral or to refer to the feminine as well. I know it will be harder to do as my older son is starting to recognize words, but I figured I’d rather plant some theological seeds at the same time we’re talking about reading. (Translation: since I’m bound to screw them up one way, I choose sound theology over phonetics in this case!)
I threw this on Pinterest too, so I’d actually remember to get it!
I would love to win a copy for my sweet little girl!
Also, I liked the book’s page on facebook.
I can’t wait to see more of this book! I love giving children’s books as gifts. This looks like a great one to add to my list!
I liked on Facebook!
I followed on Pinterest!
What great messages and a thoughtful review, Mihee! I would a personalized copy – hope I’m a lucky winner! Look forward to our next visit! Hugs, Bethan
This book looks wonderful!
And I also Pinned it over on Pinterest
This looks great! Please share more book ideas such as this! By the way, I “liked” on FB and also “Pinned” it.