This Is the Day! - Review and Book Giveaway

"Let all creation lift its voice. This is the day the Lord has made. Rejoice! Rejoice!" - This Is the Day by Nancy White Carlstrom, illustrated by Richard Cowdrey

How often do you step outside and wonder at the beauty of nature surrounding you? Some days when I am busy or struggling with life, I hardly take notice of God's creation - the wildlife, the plants and trees, the sky, the lakes, the seas. Earth Day helps remind us to take a look at the natural world and take steps to protect it. Nancy White Carlstrom's newest children's book titled This Is the Day! also serves as a reminder and calls readers to rejoice, give thanks, and celebrate the beauty of God's creation every day of the week.

Inspired by the beautiful San Juan Islands and the Bible verse Psalm 118:24, Carlstrom, using poetic text, rejoices in the many beautiful animals and places found in the great outdoors. Each page features a different day of the week from Monday to Sunday and asks readers to rejoice and sing along with all God's creatures. The marvelous page-spread nature illustrations by Richard Cowdrey, full of color and life, make you feel as if you are standing outside viewing the sights instead of just reading a book. See one of my favorites, a deer reaching for an apple pictured below.



My daughter enjoys trying to identify all the animals including eagles, a red fox, birds, and orca whales and she especially likes the page with animal cloud shapes in the sky. Some reviewers argue the book may take Psalm 118:24 out of context, but I doubt the book was written to explain the Psalm. The book emphasizes creation care by introducing children to the beauty of God's creation and encouraging them to appreciate nature. The only part of the book that disappointed me was the meager text about a lighthouse that accompanied the "Sunday" page spread. After reading This Is the Day!, you can't help but notice all of God's splendid creations and offer a thanks to Him for such blessings.

This Is the Day! by Nancy White Carlstrom, illustrated by Richard Cowdrey. Zonderkidz (February 2009); 32 pages; ISBN 9780310714286

Related Links:
Nancy White Carlstrom - Author Website
San Juan Islands Visitors Bureau
BibleGateway - Psalm 118

Win a copy! Zondervan has kindly provided me with (2) copies of This Is the Day! to give to Brimful Curiosities readers. 2 WINNERS!

To enter, browse Zonderkidz (Zondervan.com) and let me know the title of another book that appeals to you.

BONUS ENTRY: Just for fun, leave a separate comment telling me your favorite Psalm or children's book based on a Bible passage.

• For contact purposes, if you are a non-blogger or your email is not accessible in your blog profile, please leave a valid email address within the comment section.
• Contest is open to US only
• Contest ends on Monday, May 4th, 2009 at 11:59 PM CST.
• Winner will be chosen at random

Three more ways to gain extra entries (Maximum total entries is 5):
1st extra entry: Follow Me! or subscribe by email or RSS reader
2nd extra entry: Blog about this contest then post your link in the comment section.
3rd extra entry: Follow me on twitter (iambrimful) and tweet about the contest.