Most Popular Books by Kathleen Long Bostrom

Kathleen Long Bostrom and Peter Graystone provide the ultimate to do list: ninety-nine things that everyone should experience during their time on earth. From the sublime (watch the sun rise), to the wonderfully silly (ride a roller-coaster!), the activities presented will breathe new life into readers'' lives while opening them up to new spiritual experiences. Each entry provides a description of the activity, what the reader can expect to gain from it, and how much of a time commitment it will require. Blank space is included to record memories of and thoughts about the experience.

This charming, playful story-in-verse introduces children to a variety of different poetic forms while walking them through all the twists and turns of welcoming a new baby into the family. Mama is having a baby. Everything’s starting to change. God, can you tell me what happened? Life is becoming so strange. Since the Baby Came offers a unique take on a timeless topic. The heartfelt and humorous drama unfolds completely in verse, addressing the full range of emotions a young child experiences when a new baby joins the family—from surprise and confusion to feelings of neglect and jealousy to wholehearted tenderness and affection. The book also introduces young children to the playfulness and fun of various forms of poetry, from senryu to villanelle. Look out! It’s a diaper volcano! Forgive me for being abrupt. There isn’t much time to explain—OH! That thing is about to erupt!

In this humorous twist on a visit to the zoo, just who has the more interesting view? Find out in this board book edition of a much-loved title. As morning dawns, the zookeeper makes his rounds, exhorting animals to wake up, comb their hair, and stand up straight. When human visitors arrive, the observations begin to flow: "My, what silly things they do, all these creatures at the zoo. Walking on all kinds of feet, dancing to an inner beat. Babies riding on their backs, on their bellies, snug in sacks. Hear the silly sounds they speak, as they howl and squawk and shriek!" But just who is talking about whom? With a clever twist and a new, sturdy board book format, this book will have even the youngest children begging for a trip to the zoo.

Recounts in rhymes Moses''s struggle to persuade Pharaoh to let the Israelites leave Egypt, in the style of Seuss''s "Green Eggs and Ham."

Recounts the biblical story of Adam and Eve in rhyming verse and relates it to the reader''s own choices about honesty and accountability.

A rhyming text consisting of a child''s questions about heaven, the responses given, and scriptural references to support the answers.

Celebrate the real meaning of Easter with this special collection of four Little Blessings books.

Now that his family has moved to California, Matthew has doubts as the holiday season approaches. Palm trees? No snow? Its all wrong. Little sister Lucy thinks everything is wonderful, but Matthew knows better. And to top it off, the sudden disappearance of his beloved dog, Jasper, settles it. This will be the worst Christmas ever. Or will it? Surprising events on Christmas Eve just might change everythingand maybe this new place can feel like home to Matthew after all.

A rhyming text consisting of questions to Jesus about what he was like, his responses, and scriptural references to support the answers.

Illustrations and simple rhyming text teach young children about the importance of prayer in their daily lives.

Make bedtime memorable and meaningful with this special collection of four favorite Little Blessings stories. All the stories and prayers tell of God''s love, and help kids learn to thank God each day. As they drift off to sleep, they will be assured of God''s protection, and comforted by his love.

Little children throughout the world wait impatiently for Christmas to arrive. As parents know, it can seem as if the days just crawl by. Now your family can learn and put to use Advent traditions from the country of Germany during the Christmas season. No doubt mothers have long been inventing ways to keep young children occupied during the Advent season—like Gerhard Lang’s mother, who in the mid-1800s helped her young son count the days on a calendar of cookies. In 1908, the grownup Gerhard, a printer, created the first commercial Advent calendar, twenty-four tiny pictures in the form of a calendar, from his fond memories. Waiting for Christmas tells the story of the young Gerhard—a story children everywhere will recognize as their own—and teaches us that we must wait patiently as we prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus.

When ten-year-old Caleb’s Uncle Josh comes to town, he convinces the townspeople to build a church. Everyone is excited and eager to get the building done for Easter Sunday, but two weeks before Easter, disaster strikes and the new church is completely destroyed. All hope seems to be lost, but young Caleb helps everyone realize that the “real” church is not a building after all. It’s the people. Filled with warm, realistic illustrations, Sunrise Hill is a wonderful Easter story that shares an inspiring message of faith, hope, and courage that children ages four to eight can treasure for a lifetime.

A child''s introduction to God and creation.

Rhyming text and illustrations explain what angels are and how they watch over God''s children.

***NOW AVAILABLE IN PAPERBACK*** u200bFeasting on the Word is one of the most popular lectionary commentary series in use today. This is the first in a new series of daily devotionals that draws from the wealth of writing in the commentaries to present inspirational reflections, responses, and prayers for each day of the lectionary year. Each day of the week contains Scripture passages for the coming Sunday from the Revised Common Lectionary, excerpts from the commentaries for reflection, a response, and a prayer. Additional material is provided for each Sunday.

Bostrom, author of the popular books 99 Things to Do Between Here and Heaven and Making Space for the Spirit, offers fun, practical, and thought provoking ideas for nurturing the spiritual lives of children, parents, and families. Each of the 99 entries includes a Scripture passage, a theoretical or practical suggestion for weaving together faith and daily life, and a provocative challenge that encourages readers to spend some time contemplating the lessons learned.

The bestselling author of "God Loves You" now offers a book of devotions to help women create calm in the chaos of their busy lives. Comprised of 28 days of devotions for each month of the year, "Finding Calm in the Chaos" is the perfect gift for women who do too much.

A rhyming text consisting of questions which children ask God about himself, God''s responses, and scriptural references to support the answers.

An illustrated, rhyming conversation that provide answers to questions children ask about the Bible.

Having a bad day? Having a bad year? With this warm and thoughtful volume, Kathleen Long Bostrom offers one hundred simple exercises that will boost and strengthen your spirit--that essential part of you that connects you to God. These exercises will help readers nurture their souls, a practice too often ignored as we deal with the day to day minutia of our lives. Each imaginative entry contains a practical step to boost the spirit, a relevant Scripture passage and quotation for reflection, a fun fact related to the exercise, and ample space for journaling. More than simply cheering us up, Bostrom''s suggestions, thoughtfully undertaken, can create an enduring shift in how we choose to view the inevitable downsides of life.

Preschoolers are invited to enjoy pictures of God''s creation as they learn to thank him for all He has made. Full color.

These delightful new additions to the Little Blessings line help young children understand two more basic truths about God and Jesus. Why Is There a Cross? tackles the difficult subject of Christ''s death. This read-to-me book for children ages 3âe"6 explains both the how and the why of Christ''s death in simple words and pictures that communicate the wonder of his sacrifice. Is God Always with Me? introduces children ages 3âe"6 to the idea that God is a part of their everyday lives. This read-to-me book with beautiful illustrations and pleasant rhyming verses conveys the comforting truth that God is with us wherever we go, no matter what.

Shows parents, teachers, and group leaders how to work as a team to teach the values children need to lead happy, "value-able" lives. A full chapter on each value (cooperation, courage, friendship, honesty, kindness, loyalty, respect, self-control, sharing, and tolerance) helps teach children the meaning of each value and how to activate that value in their daily lives. There are finger-plays, open-ended stories, thought-provoking discussion questions and role-plays, fun activities with step-by-step directions, ongoing projects, reading lists, practical suggestions, and many other helpful tools to guide you in a school, home, or group setting. Teach your children to be "value-able" and give them a gift that will sustain them for life!

Verses explain religious topics including God, prayer, heaven and angels.

A poetic representation of the seven days of creation.

The Veggies know that it''s importantâ??and funâ??to thank God for everything that is good. This new board book, with its colorful illustrations and lively verse, is the perfect way to introduce children to the concept of gratitude to God. On each spread, the Veggies take turns naming things for which they are thankful, such as food, family, and friends. Little ones will identify with the Veggies and their list of blessings, and the conclusion of the book challenges children to thank God for the blessings in their own lives.

A colorful activity book featuring the Veggies in fun vacation settings.

Celebrate the differences that make life richer and more interesting with this inclusive board book about a budding friendship. Making friends is something all children do, but sometimes it can feel scary. They might worry that no one will like them or that they are too different to find a friend. In this sweet board book, the narrator lists all the ways children can be different from a prospective friend: "I wake early. You''re up late. My hair''s curly. Yours is straight. I can swim, but you can skate. Will you be friends with me?" Instead of worrying that these differences will make friendship impossible, the narrator decides that: "We are different. That''s okay! Life is much more fun that way." Perfect for children heading to school or any child in a new situation trying to make friends, this encouraging book reassures readers that diversity is what makes friendship--and life--so interesting.

A beautifully illustrated introduction to the Bible, Stories from the Bible is a retelling of 17 beloved stories from the Old and the New Testaments for very young children. With gorgeous full-color illustrations, each story can be read to a child but can also be enjoyed by children on their own as their reading skills develop. Featuring the stories: The Creation Adam and Eve Noah''s Ark A Son Named Laughter Joseph and his Amazing Coat The Baby in the Basket The Ten Plagues of Egypt David and Goliath Jonah and the Big Fish The Birth of Jesus The Sermon on the Mount Four Faithful Friends The Feeding of the Five Thousand The Good Samaritan The Last Supper The First Easter Breakfast on the Beach Perfect for Christmas, Easter, and other gifting occasions, Stories from the Bible will become a treasured keepsake for the whole family.

The Bible is full of important and meaningful stories and lessons. But it''s also home to some unusual and intriguing facts that kids may not discover in their normal Bible study activities. Geared to emerging readers and presented with a colorful and graphic feel, this book will introduce to children 100 fun and interesting facts about characters, places, and events in the Bible and will help children relate those facts to their own world. It''s sure to motivate even reluctant readers to dip into the Bible.

In this lively VeggieTales book, the Veggies are celebrating Easterâ??coloring eggs, enjoying baskets of candy, and dressing in their Easter Sunday best. There''s so much about Easter that is fun! But the Veggies know that the real joy of Easter is that Jesus rose from the dead on that first Easter Day. Children will love the colorful art featuring their favorite Veggie friends. Parents can use this book to introduce little ones to the reason we rejoice at Easter and all year longâ??Jesus is risen!

"What does it mean to let your light shine? This colorful, lively story reassures little ones that God''s guidance is like a light that''s always there to guide us, and we can let his light shine through us too."--Back cover.

A colorful activity book that helps children recognize the blessings in their lives.

Josie finds the joy she is seeking in the true meaning of Christmas when she tries to fill the emptiness of the first holiday since the death of her father in this depression era tale. 75,000 first printing.

Feasting on the Word has quickly become the most popular lectionary commentary series in use today. This is the first in a new series of daily devotionals that draws from the wealth of writing in the commentaries to present inspirational reflections, responses, and prayers for each day of the lectionary year. Each day of the week contains Scripture passages for the coming Sunday from the Revised Common Lectionary, excerpts from the commentaries for reflection, a response, and a prayer. Additional material is provided for each Sunday. These handsome volumes will be packaged in a soft leather-like cover with rounded corners, a stamped cover, and a sewn-in ribbon to help you keep your place. Feasting on the Word is a twelve-volume lectionary commentary series that presents brief essays on each of four perspectives--exegetical, theological, pastoral, and homiletical--for each of the four Sunday readings. The series is edited by Barbara Brown Taylor and David L. Bartlett with a distinguished editorial board, and has been produced in partnership with Columbia Theological Seminary. For more information about the series and other related projects, visit FeastingontheWord.net.