New Books I Love: Princesses, Cute Kids, and a Queenly Saint

There are books that are just too good not to share with you, and these four qualify. They're all appropriate for younger readers, and my seven-year-old has been waiting very patiently for me to review them so she could claim them for herself.

I Just Can't Take It Anymore! Encouragement When Life Gets You Down, by Anthony DeStefano

This is one of those books that you'll need to purchase in multiple quantities.

It's cute, yes, but not so sickeningly sweet that you'll roll your eyes as you toss it away from you. (Or am I the only cynical reader in the bunch?)

The photos for each page are all kids and the text speaks to everyone who's ever had a bad day, week, or month. In fact, when I got my copy, I knew immediately who it was perfect for (and then I thought of two other people).

Highly recommended not only that you read and share, but that you internalize the almost prayer that it is.

The Princess Twins Play in the Garden and The Princess Twins and the Puppy, by Mona Hodgson

My seven-year-old is becoming quite the little reader, and it's a joy for the bookworm in me to be able to curl up beside her as she reads aloud to me or as we both devour our own books. Seeing her read these books to my four-year-old, and hearing their commentary on them, was nothing short of delightful.

My mother-in-law got in on the action, too, and it amazes me that the covers aren't yet bent and crumpled from the "love" they've received at my house.

Besides all that, there's the fact that these stories have Christian values in them without being shoved down our little princess readers' throats.

The illustrations are particularly good, too, and I'm looking forward to seeing what other "I Can Read!" books has available.

The Queen and the Cats: A Story of Saint Helena, by Calee M. Lee

I have had this lovely little book sitting on my review shelf for far too long, and, in all honesty, I forgot about it.

I have my seven-year-old to thank for my finding it: she has caught wind of the fact that sometimes there are things on that shelf that will interest her, so she was looking around.

We sat down together to read it and her first question, after we finished it, was, "Was that a real story?"

And you know, I think it was. I told her so, and she was impressed.

Here is a book that makes a pretty queen--who also happens to be a saint--into someone who's not distant, but who's interesting and approachable. (She had an affinity for cats and little girls. What's NOT to love?) It's told well and the illustrations are good.

There's historical information in the back, which I read, though my kids weren't so interested in it (they will be later, I'm sure).

Highly recommended for you to enjoy with the kids in your life.