Here’s a look at some new books from Zondervan this month for your family:

*Note: This post may contain affiliate links. Read our disclosure policy here.

*A Prayer for Our Country

Author: Senate Chaplain Barry Black
Illustrator: Kim Holt
Released: June 7, 2022
Publisher: Zonderkidz
Page Count: 32 pages
Ages: 4 – 8 years

“Senate Chaplain Barry Black believes words matter and that healing and unity are possible in America if we see the image of God in others. In this prayer for children based on wisdom from his almost two decades of daily praying over the US Senate, Black offers needed and inspiring text to help the next generation grow stronger in faith.”

Get your own copy *HERE.

*Fiona Goes to School

Illustrator: Richard Cowdrey
Illustrator: Donald Wu
Released: May 3, 2022
Publisher: Zonderkidz
Page Count: 32 pages
Ages: 4-8 years

This is a very cute book. Fiona sees a group of children on a field trip. When she learns what school is, she wants to go to school too. Fun ensues as the animals create their own version of school – Zoo School!

Get your own copy *HERE.

*Fiona’s Train Ride

Illustrator: Richard Cowdrey
Illustrators: Donald Wu
Released: May 3, 2022
Publisher: Zonderkidz
Page Count: 32 pages
Ages: 4 – 8 years

There is a new baby red panda at the zoo. All the animals want to go see the baby. They decided that an easy way for them to go to where the red pandas are is to take the train. After the zoo closes, that’s exactly what they do.

Get your own copy *HERE.

*The Silence Between Us

Author: Alison Gervais
Released: March 1, 2022
Publisher: Blink YA
Page Count: 320 pages
Ages: 13+ years

Review by M, age 15: This book is about Maya, who is deaf. She hasn’t been deaf her whole life-she got sick when she was thirteen and this caused her to lose hearing in her eardrums. But now Maya knows both worlds-the world of hearing, and what it’s like to hear just silence. Void of sound. What surprises most people about her is that she can talk, but then she also has to remind them that she used to be hearing. She used to be able to hear things, and she didn’t have to sign everything that came to her mind. In the middle of the book, her brother gets sick/badly injured and they have to go to the hospital, and she doesn’t know what to do, so she stays in the ER to help him out. They say later on that it was diagnosed as a collapsed ribcage. I think what that represents was Maya’s show of support for her brother, and how she’d always stand in support of him. Another noteworthy part of this book is when she was working with Nina on the midterm project, and then some people thought, “well, why are you doing it on your disability?” But she knew better than that. Maya knew that it was important to speak out against deaf people because she hadn’t been deaf her whole life. So to bring awareness about that type of feeling – that’s what was really important to her, and that was her overall cause and what she was guided by in the end. Also, throughout the story, she gains more bravery and confidence, which helps her in both her relationships and life in general. Not all of us know that kind of feeling. What it’s like to be entrapped in that type of world, but by reading other people’s stories, we can figure out what it could be like. “Just because you didn’t understand something doesn’t make it less significant.” “Who was I? That was not a question I could answer very easily anymore.” “Nina was determined to hit the dance floor, and that was my cue to go to the bathroom.” “You okay? Was the first thing she signed to me. Fine, I signed even though I didn’t mean it one bit. I was stiff all over and my head was throbbing painfully. You show up when? Early morning, Mom answered. Let’s talk at 5:30.”

 

Get your own copy *HERE.

*The Memory Thief

Author: Lauren Mansy
Released: May 31, 2022
Publisher: Blink YA
Page Count: 320 pages
Ages: 13+ years

Review by M, age 15: Disclosure: There are themes of violence and romance. This book is about Etta, a seventeen-year-old girl. She has the ability to steal memories, although, at the beginning of the story, she swears that she never wanted it to be this way, that she could be Ungifted, which is what she begged to be. She’s a Gifted person (someone who can steal memories). Her mother is currently in a coma, and she has to do something about it before she gets put up for auction. So what Etta decides to do is to rejoin the Shadows, where she hasn’t been in over four years, and there she meets a surprising and unexpected friend. This leads up to a scene of both romance and help, even though they are both in differing situations. Although Etta doesn’t like to keep secrets, she’s hiding something from him, but doesn’t want to tell it out loud- and he would never see her in the same light if she told him the truth. This is a contemplating, difficult situation for her to ponder over as Etta makes her many decisions throughout the book, and as it is so fast-paced and the characters are intriguing. What she knows she has to do is to save the Maze. She doesn’t know why somehow, now she’s unreadable, and nobody can read her, but if she can decipher the truth about her past, maybe everything will work out. Maybe if it wasn’t a whole map of mazes, she can finally break free of the many memories that are filling her head, waiting to break free from the silence… Just like that same day so many years ago. “I’m not really gifted at anything,” I say. “Just making things up.” “He touches his heart. No, nothing left of them, of who they once were…they’ve lost themselves to become someone else.” “when you’re doing what you’re supposed to do, the universe will help you out. It may throw you a few curveballs, but they’re all in the name of a good cause.”

Get your own copy *HERE.

*Baptized in the Water

Author: Glenys Nellist
Released: April 19, 2022
Publisher: Zonderkidz
Page Count: 32 pages
Ages: 4-7 years

A sweet book to help us all understand baptism a little better.

Get your own copy *HERE.

OTHER REVIEWS

– A Pray for Our Country – Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Christianbook | Goodreads
– Fiona Goes to School – Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Christianbook | Goodreads
– Fiona’s Train Ride – Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Christianbook | Goodreads
– The Silence Between Us – Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Christianbook | Goodreads
– The Memory Thief – Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Christianbook | Goodreads
– Baptized in the Water – Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Christianbook | Goodreads

*Note: This post may contain affiliate links, which means we’ll receive a tiny percentage if you make a purchase through our link at no extra cost to you. We received one or more items for review. Read our disclosure policy here.

“Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”): Many thanks to Zonderkidz for providing this product/product information for review. 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.