Customer Reviews

Christmas Carols for Kid's Heart (Hymns for a Kid's Heart, Vol. 3)

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I have used this book throughout the Christmas season as our morning devotional with my four kids ages 8, 6, 4 & almost 3. We have all thoroughly enjoyed the stories that enhance the carols and singing the carols themselves. The kids continue to sing throughout the day with the CD. (I especially love listening to my almost 3 year old singing Glo-o-o-o-o-o-RIA! in excelsis deo!-it's a riot!) What a joy!

Not only do the authors cover the content of the carol in the reading, but also share a brief history of the composer/lyricist. We have used the other books in this series (and highly recommend them too) and were happy to revisit some favorite composers like Isaac Watts. In contrast to the other books in the series, this book has only one reading where Volumes 1 & 2 have two separate readings: one about the composer, the other a more personal application. I have found that these books are not only helpful in encouraging us in our faith, but they are also an excellent resource for music appreciation, and music history.

The length of the readings are just right for the ages of my children and the content is interesting and inspiring even to me as an adult. It's a great way to spend time as a family together growing to love these wonderful Christmas carols.

As a side note- this series is my kids' first introduction to co-author Joni Eareckson Tada, a quadriplegic, and they have been inspired by her own story as well!

My children and I have been going through the book in our homeschool and learning the Christmas carols. We have really enjoyed the little history and devotionals that go along with each one.
I do have to say though...I thought it was just a little odd that a children's book would use the phrase, "Mary hadn't slept with a man before"...to explain part of the virgin birth. I just skipped over that part and told my children she hadn't been married yet.

My kids love the CD and enjoyed the devotional stories that are written for each one. We have Vol. 1 of this series and really like the stories about the hymn authors. We expected more of that and would have liked it, but I do like the way the carols are ordered to explain the Christmas story and that the devotions flesh out the meaning of the carol. They were thought-provoking. The devotions were sometimes a bit long for my preschoolers, but they hung with them. It was a fun, organized way to learn multiple verses to Christmas carols and to think on their meanings. We will continue to use this book and learn more!

We bought this after my wife heard it highlighted on a Christian radio program. We now incorporate it into our Advent celebration routine. After we light the candles, do our advent calendar, and advent book, we have one of our kids choose a song, read the devotional from the book, then sing along to the song on the included CD, and end with the reading of the verse and prayer. The kids and parents really enjoy it. High quality songs.

The only downside for us is we wish each devotional included a history of each song. Some do, but we expected all of them would.

We are also going to look to purchase others in this series.

This is a beautiful book full of interesting stories that bring the Christmas story to life for all. Having a different focus for each story created a well-rounded picture of Christmas. We would read a story together and then focus on that song for a while before moving on to the next. The music is very nice. It is just what I wanted to add to our Christmas music collection. My children really enjoyed the blend of children's voices and orchestra. They loved being able to join in the singing of Christmas carols like never before. It made Christmas more meaningful and more fun for all of them. We have one other book in this series and love it as well.

We have enjoyed this series of music by Joni Tada. The songs are enjoyable to listen to and have a great message.

Hymns for a Kid's Heart, Volume One, by Bobbie Wolgemuth and Joni Eareckson Tada, Illustrations by Sergio Martinez, Includes music CD, Crossway Books, 2004, Hardcover,
Ages 4-8, 96 Pages, ISBN-13: 978-1581345827, $21.99

Bobbie Wolgemuth and Joni Eareckson Tada collaborated to write the two-volume series, Hymns for a Kid's Heart. The books are illustrated by Sergio Martinez. Each hymn includes a short story about the song's author, and a full rendition of lyrical verses and music notes for piano or guitar accompaniment. A twelve track full-length CD of inspirational hymns, sung by a children's choir with orchestra accompaniment, is included to sing-a-long with.

Each song segment includes "From My Heart to You" written by Joni Eareckson Tada. She shares how particular hymns and singing have impacted her life. Sections conclude with Scripture to memorize in, A Verse for my Heart, and prayer, A Prayer for my Heart.

Volume one features twelve classic hymns that teach tenets of Christian faith, unlike much of contemporary Christian music that focuses on feelings. Fascinating personal stories of hymns' authors will educate and delight readers, young and old alike.

Wolgemuth believes there is a strong correlation between stories, music, and memory-making--
particularly for children. She uses what she calls "teachable moments," to teach hymns to her children and grandchildren. Moments found when a child is bored, or when the family works together in the kitchen, or nearly anywhere, because sing-a-longs are memorable and fun.

Four sections feature hymns about God, biblical truth, Christian living, and hymns of prayer for our country. Songs about God include Holy, Holy, Holy, A Mighty Fortress Is Our God, and This Is My Father's World. Songs of biblical truth comprise O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing, How Firm a Foundation, and Amazing Grace. Hymns for Christian living consist of The Lord's My Shepherd, I'll Not Want, Rejoice, Ye Pure I Heart and Take My Life and Let it Be.

Children's joy-filled voices make each CD hymn my favorite. But, if I had to choose, the last part of the CD is what I played repeatedly. This segment includes hymns of prayer for our country and begins with America, the Beautiful, then Our God, Our Help in Ages Past, Eternal Father, Strong to Save, and Do You Know What it Means.

Wolgemuth, mother of two, and grandmother of five, joined with Eareckson, who she calls "soul sister," to write this two-volume series. Each author is passionate about hymns and they often encourage each other with hymn-singing by telephone. Since they live on the East and West coasts, they even carol together over the telephone lines at Christmas.

This musical CD and book will point little ones to the Lord and children will feel the love of parents and grandparents who read to and sing-a-long with them. Martinez' rich colorful illustrations enhance each hymn's depiction, and inspirational story. A glossary and pages for personal notes complete this classical offering. [..]

Kids love this book. We use it for our music at Christmas time and for a little music lesson in our homeschool. Love it!

I was pleased to find this book, and we are happy to include it as a part of our family holiday devotions. There are 12 songs, so we read and sing one a night. I especially like the section that explains the meaning of some of the phrases a child might have trouble understanding, such as "born to raise the sons of earth" from "Hark The Herald Angels Sing". In fact, a lot of adults could stand to read this book, too!

It loses stars on the CD. The kids sing well in tune (which is sadly refreshing for today's day and age), but quite frankly their tone quality, while also sadly better than most of today's CDs, is lacking and it's due in large part to their poor vowel pronuciation. Children can be taught to sing better than that. I get a little weary of people who market CDs with so-so children's choirs when there are better ones out there.

The adult women's voices are not really to my taste (which I understand is just a matter of personal preference), and the arrangements sometimes lean toward the goofily dramatic. My husband and I can't listen to the first cut on the CD with a straight face for that reason.

All told, I would have rather just bought the book and paid less. I prefer for my children to have better vocal models to listen to. We can sing the songs ourselves, anyway.