Read on for a giveaway and review of Kregel Children's Books' new Bible Babies cloth book featuring the lyrics to the Sunday School classic song, "Jesus Loves Me" that is just right for the littles in your life!

Welcome to the Blog Tour for Jesus Loves Me, This I Know, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

Title: Jesus Loves Me, This I Know
Editor: Catherine DeVries
Published: 2025 by Kregel Children's Books

About the Book:

"The words of a favorite childhood song in a crinkly cloth book for babies. 

A cuddly way to introduce babies and toddler to Jesus through the beloved song many parents and grandparents learned as children. 

This soft book features crinkle cloth fabric for sensory development and hours of baby fun. Charming illustrations teach infants and toddlers about Jesus as they see children holding hands with him and sitting on his lap! Jesus Loves Me, This I Know includes a shiny mirror on the last page, placing the baby at the heart of God's love. 

A Velcro closure and a hanging loop can attach the book to a stroller, purse, or toy so it can go wherever they do."

The Artist Librarian Review:

Kregel Children's Books has just released a cloth book with the lyrics to the classic Sunday School song, "Jesus Loves Me" that is just right for the littlest ones in your life! It arrives inside a thin plastic cellophane packaging with a cardboard hang card, keeping it clean and new until it is given to a special young one.

Colorful digitally illustrated art is printed on durable polyester-like fabric that looks like it will be easy to clean or wipe down. There is a fabric loop for kids to hold on to or hang their book and a velcro fastener. The front cover is the only page that contains crinkle cloth fabric but it makes a soothing, satisfying crinkle sound. The rest of the pages are softly colored in various pastel shades and the final spread contains a baby-safe mirror for little ones to (literally) see themselves in their book. This book would make a nice baby shower gift or present for holidays, birthdays, or other special occasions. 

Do you have a favorite baby board book or cloth book?

[Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the publisher for review purposes only. A positive review was not required.]

About the Publisher

Connect with Kregel Publications by visiting kregel.com to follow them on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.

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Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a copy of Jesus Loves Me, This I Know and a $25 Amazon gift card!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight February 25, 2025 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on March 4, 2025. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

Enter Giveaway

Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

Since the month of February is Black History Month in America, take a look at these board books that introduce two of the most well-known figures from the U.S. Civil Rights movement in the mid-20th century!

© 2016 Worthy Publishing Group

Title: The Story of Martin Luther King Jr.
Author: Johnny Ray Moore
Illustrator: Amy Wummer
Published: 2016 by Worthy Publishing Group

About the Book:

This little book tells the story of Martin Luther King Jr. and how he excelled in school, became a minister; and worked to end segregation in America.  Parents can use this book to introduce Dr. King to the very young child.
 

About the Author: 

Johnny Ray Moore is a poet and children's author. His other books include Meet Martin Luther King Jr. and But Still, We Dream (a novel in verse). Johnny is a graduate of the Institute of Children's Literature and a member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators. He lives in Raleigh, North Carolina, with his wife and three daughters. 

© 2016 Worthy Publishing Group

Title: The Story of Rosa Parks
Author: Patricia A. Pingry
Illustrator: Steven Walker
Published: 2016 by Worthy Publishing Group

About the Book:

This little book introduces Rosa Parks, who is called the "mother of the civil rights movement."  Here is the story of her courageous decision to remain on a bus in Montgomery, Alabama, an action that resulted in arrest and, ultimately, a victory for civil rights.

About the Author: 

Patricia A. Pingry has written dozens of children's books and edited hundreds more. Among her best-known titles are the previous edition of this book and its companion, The Story of Christmas. Together thee two titles have sold more than 2 million copies. 

The Artist Librarian Review:
The Story of Martin Luther King Jr. and The Story of Rosa Parks are succinct introductions to these well-known figures for young children and toddlers.  Each double page spread is limited to 1-3 brief sentences.  The text covers basic information such as their birth, parents, early life, racial segregation, and their contribution to the Civil Rights movement.  If I had any criticism it would be that perhaps it is too simple to fully capture the complexities, issues, and challenges African-Americans faced in the mid-20th century, but it is appropriate for the target age group for board books (i.e. birth to five years).  I doubt that a child that young would be able to comprehend such things completely, so these books are good starting-off points, with more information and concepts to be introduced when the child is older (e.g. Dr. King's story ends at his "I Have a Dream" speech, but assassination probably isn't something a parent or teacher wants to explain to a toddler).

The illustrations also lend well to the stories.  Amy Wummer's loose watercolor illustrations are outlined with graphite which detail Martin Luther King Jr.'s transition from a young, round faced boy to a leader of the Civil Rights movement.  Meanwhile, Steven Walker's canvas paintings have a softness reminiscent of pastel work, which lovingly illustrate Rosa Parks' life from a young child to a married working woman.

Finally, though the size of these books were a bit smaller than I expected (about 4"x7.5"), they are a nice size for a young child to read and are comparable to other board books.  A nice addition for board book fans and collections.

[Disclosure: I received complimentary copies of these books from the publisher for review purposes.]

Do you have any favorite children's book recommendations for Black History Month?

I feel like every post I start off by apologizing for not blogging recently!  I just finished a week of nearly 100 elementary school students visiting our library branch, so it was a busy month prepping and arranging class visits.  I have a giveaway in celebration of Labor Day weekend, so be sure to check it out below!

Title: Night Night, Farm
Author: Amy Parker
Illustrator: Virginia Allyn
Published: 2016 by Tommy Nelson

© 2016 Tommy Nelson

About the Book:

Moo moo, cows! Baa baa, sheep!

When the sun sinks low down on the farm, the animals are all tuckered out from the day’s adventures. Join these adorable farm animals in pajamas as they say night night to the farm, to their mommies and daddies, and to God. Your little ones will sleep until the rooster crows knowing that the God who made them loves them too.

Night night, farm!

The Artist Librarian's Review:
This is a sweet and simple story perfect for modeling bedtime routines (or becoming part of one) for a young child.  Night Night, Farm features a slightly puffed cover and stiff, glossy pages that should easily wipe clean if need be.  At eight inches square, it's also a good size for read-alouds:  It's not small like many board books are. 

The text uses rhyming and a repetitive format to frame each double page spread that features different types of animals getting ready for bed.  Each farm animal and their corresponding sound is featured (pigs, cows, horses, cats, sheep, chickens, owls, mice, etc.)  The illustrations are charming and appealing.  My best guess is that they're digitally rendered paintings or at the very least, they were cleaned up digitally.  However, there is a softness that mimics pastel or watercolors, especially in the shading and highlights.

To me, the only thing that sets this book apart from general market board books are the final lines "Oh, the animals God has made! / And, hey, He made me too! / Night night, God."  I'll leave that to the reader to decide if that is a positive or negative point.  But overall, I think this book is worth a look for anyone with young children in their lives.  

Did you have a favorite childhood board book (or a title that a child in your life enjoys)?  Let me know in the comments!

[Disclosure: I received a copy of this book via FlyBy Promotions for review purposes.]

About the Author:

Amy Parker’s children’s books have sold more than 800,000 copies including two Christian Retailing’s Best award-winning books and the bestselling A Night Night Prayer. She lives outside Nashville with her husband and two children.

I'm happy to host a chance for you to win a copy of Night Night, Farm for yourself!  Open to residents of the USA and Canada only, 18 years and older. The winner will be notified on September 8, 2016 through the email they submitted on Rafflecopter and will have 24 hours to respond.  If there is no response by then, I will draw another winner via Rafflecopter.  Please be sure to read the complete terms and conditions in the Rafflecopter widget (just click on an entry option to read them)!

Note: Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway. Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post. Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway. If you have won a prize from our sponsor Propeller / FlyBy Promotions in the last 30 days, you are not eligible to win. Or if you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.