I have really enjoyed reading T is for Tree: A Bible ABC published by Reformed Free Publishing Association with my kids. What a terrific book!
T is for Tree: A Bible ABC
T is for Tree
A Bible ABC
Hardback Book
32+/- Pages
Beautiful Full Color Illustrations
Bible Scriptures KJV
Recommended for ages 3-6
Retails $17.95
T is for Tree: A Bible ABC is a lovely book. It is an 9″ x 11″ hardback book made of quality materials. It contains approximately 32 pages. Each colorful page has a letter, a word, a poem, a brightly colored illustration, a detailed border, and an inspirational bible scripture (KJV) for each letter (A-Z) of the English Alphabet.
For example:
- “A is for ANTS” . “A” is the focus for the first letter. “ANTS” is the word focus. The “letter” and “word” are combined in a simple sentence, written in bold type, and located at the top of each page. Both the focus “letter” and focus “word” are capitalized. The focus “letter” is also set apart from the text by a different color and large format.
- The featured illustration shows the ants working to store up food. The page also has a border of ants. Both the illustration and the detailed border help to reinforce the “letter” and associated “word” being learned.
- The poem reads “Though weak and small in size, They gather food all summer. May God make us as wise”. The poem describes something about the “word” being learned.
- Next is a corresponding bible verse: “There be four things which are little upon the earth, but they are exceedingly wise; the ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer” Proverbs 30:24-25. The bible verses are from both the Old and New Testament. They always include the “word” being learned. The bible verse focuses on the character traits of Father God or the traits of those who have faith in him.
The book continues with beautiful illustrations, poems, and scriptures throughout the entire book for all 26 letters of the Alphabet. The author and illustrator, Connie L. Meyer, has done a wonderful job creating beautiful pages filled with interesting artwork for each letter and word.
Connie L. Meyer’s stated goal for this book (as listed on the back cover) is that it is “designed to teach young children of their heavenly Father’s almighty power and his faithfulness to fulfill his promises he makes to them as children of his covenant.” She has extensive experience creating art curriculum products, bible study curriculum products, magazine articles, and more for the Christian community and her experience, as well as her love for Father God, shines through in this book she designed for younger children.
Our Experience:
We received this book in exchange for writing an honest review and sharing our experience.
We used this book for read aloud time as a bible study devotional, and also for learning ABC’s with my youngest son. Though the book is intended for age 3-6, I also included my other kids too.
The kids enjoyed the illustrations. For those who were old enough, I encouraged them to read the book on their own as well as read a page aloud to the younger kids and to participate in the bible discussions and help out with various activities we did. We talked about the scripture passages together and this encouraged their walk with God.
To enhance the learning for everyone we added in lots more activities. In addition to reading the book and going over the ABC’s, poems, bible verses, and enjoying the lovely illustrations, we also used this book each week for some hands on activities to further the learning.
- Letter Recognition
- Phonics
- Matching
- Bible Memory Verse
- Bible Lookup
- Poetry
- Science
- Math
- Writing & Copywork
- Music
- Arts and Crafts
- Playtime (related toys, props, role play, etc)
- Nature Walks
This is a great book for young learners. I would encourage other families to include this book when doing letter recognition and phonics training. Younger kids learn best when play is combined with learning goals. So we found ways to play and have fun.
We took walks and looked outside in nature for things that correlated with the bible verses and illustrations. This was a fun tie in with the book. We found beautiful things in nature such as ants, birds in the yard, trees, clouds, moon, wild grape vines along the forest, and more.
The kids also did some science related experiments with simple household items we had on hand. For example, we took time to study the properties of “ice” for the letter “I”. We used a worksheet to chart how long it takes for water to freeze into ice in our freezer, and how long it took for an ice cube to melt on our kitchen table vs how long it takes in our cooler. I am planning another experiment for the next time we read through the letter “I” to put a few ice cubes in different cups and chart the temperatures of the control glass, a glass with only ice, and a glass with water and ice, and a glass with only water. I am waiting to do this experiment until I acquire a separate thermometer to monitor each glass.
Another example of how we are incorporating science and math with this book is teaching the kids to track the moon cycle for the letter “M”. The letter “M” page quotes the bible scripture from Jeremiah 31:35-36 about the “ordinances” of the moon, but most people do not understand what that means. Because Father God established it and mentions it in the scriptures, I want my kids to understand what the ordinances of the moon are. The moon means month. It has an established law. It was put in place to govern specific things such as to be a guide to keep track of time, for example each “day” begins in the evening and goes through until the start of the next evening. God established this on the first day “and evening and morning were the first “day”, and it has remained so ever since. The moon is the gauge to track not only when the day (evening and morning) begins, but also to track each month. The moon tracks when the month begins (at the first sighting of the moon), the middle of the month (full moon), and when the month ends (when there is complete darkness), it was established to keep track of Sabbaths (he established when he rested the 7th day, evening and morning, after he had worked for 6 days), as signs for future events in prophesy, and also to keep track of special feasts and appointed times with God. Father God established ordinances for the moon and stars that not only provide light, but also establish the start of the new year, govern the days and months, and govern the planting and harvest of crops. The moon ordinances even help regulate a healing chemical produced in our bodies called Melatonin that also helps us sleep, the moon cycle regulates fertility, and there is a lot more than I have time or space to share in this story here.
I want my kids to know these truths, and I would encourage every person on earth to seek out the truth, because Father God put it right in front of them so they will believe and rely on God to show them instead of believing and trusting in the lies (tel-lie-vision), theories (assumptions) and sorceries of men. We do not worship the sun, moon, stars, or anything on the earth or under the earth, however we must understand that God put them in their habitations for his reasons and for our benefit. These ordinances will never change, no matter how much kingdoms change, or church doctrines change, or books change, or technology changes, or cultures and man made traditions change. You can change the daily calendar as men have done, you can change the history books, you can write science books full of theories and fill them with lies and portray them as truths, but no one will ever be able to change the ordinances Father God has put into place and it stands as a witness of the eternal truth.
There are so many ways to build on what kids are learning in this book. For example, my kids created several arts and crafts projects they wanted to do. They used some art techniques they have been learning in their current Art course. For example they made 3D paper creatures with construction paper, scissors, and glue. They also made pictures with watercolor crayons which are special paint like crayons that you brush with water after coloring and it looks as if you painted the picture. Both of these are types of techniques they have been studying in our Art curriculum.
ABC’s
We did a “letter of the week” focus with my youngest son and included using hands on activities like matching with foam letters.
A is for ANTS:
We sounded out the letters, played matching games, and used an inexpensive ABC puzzle to help with letter recognition and association. For one of the games we played, after I read the page to him, he had to find the correct letter from a pile of scattered letters, and then match the letter to the story and finish by placing the letter into the ABC Puzzle.
B is for BOW:
C is for CLOUDS:
Below are a few more examples of the many activities we did. To save time and space, I am only sharing a few examples of what we did with the letters A, B, C, H, S, and T for the purpose of this review.
A is for ANTS:
For the letter “A” we did a few different activities. We did a science observation and went outside and investigated an ant hill. 
After observing the top of the ant mound, I let my son take a small stick and gently disturb the top of the mound one time. Then I had him stand back to see what the ants would do.
The stick barely lifted a small thin section of the top of the mound. The ants were at war instantly. I had my son stand back at a safe distance as it is no fun to get bit by red ants.
They moved so quickly it was hard for my camera to capture a picture of them.
They came out of lots of tiny holes with tunnels that had been just under the surface layer of dirt.
He was quite interested to observe the ants defend their home. Since these are red biting ants, I didn’t have him try to collect any for closer observation. 
I purchased a bug viewer for him to use, but he broke it while viewing a ladybug and before he had the chance to catch an ant. We will however keep our eyes open for more opportunities to catch black ants and perhaps put them in a mason jar to look at closely with a magnifying glass.
Next we did some arts and crafts and created 3D Ants with construction paper.
B is for BOW:
For the letter “B” the kids made a “Bow” for the rainbow. They created a bow with a creative craft called Super Beads.
After designing and assembling the beads to resemble a rainbow, they sprayed them with water, let them sit overnight, and had a toy rainbow to play with.
They also colored pictures of rainbows and colored in printables we found online.
We still have plans to learn more about the science of rainbows in the next few weeks with a science kit I purchased.
C is for CLOUDS:
To learn more about clouds, I found writing, science, math, and coloring worksheets on line that related to clouds. We also went outside and watched the clouds.
Then we did cloud related projects. For science we were able to learn about the different kinds of clouds and create a matching game.
We also watched a science video that taught us more about clouds.
For math we practiced counting clouds with cotton balls. For phonics and writing practice and art we used worksheets, pencils, and crayons.
H is for HORSE:
For the letter “H” the kids made construction paper 3D Horses:
You will see more pictures of their horses and other 3D animals they have been making in an upcoming story about their art curriculum.
They also played with toy horses.
We are hoping to visit a horse stable soon and learn about the care of horses. I found several printables online and am putting together a horse unit and lapbook for the kids.
S is for STARS:
The kids made their own firmament pictures with construction paper, crayons, glow in the dark stars, marbles, glass beads, and toys.
We also have a stars sensory bin that contains stars of different materials and colors, black pompoms, blue and clear glass beads, and more that my kids love to play with. Sometimes they pretend they are on a journey in space or that they have taken a journey to see the moon.
T is for TREE:
For the letter “T” the kids learned to draw and color trees. Some made their trees with watercolor paints, and others made theirs with watercolor crayons and used the techniques they learned in our art curriculum.
They also used toy trees, trees they made with Super Beads, built Lego trees, puzzle letters, and more:
We took a nature walk to look at trees. We love looking at the forest.
So many different trees are in the forest, and it is home to many different creatures and birds. We also enjoy the shade provided from the trees so we can cool off from the sun when playing in the yard.
We like to learn to identify the different leaves of different kinds of trees.
We also find the most beautiful treasures produced by these amazing trees.
Sometimes the kids just enjoy climbing up trees, pulling themselves up on branches to see how high they can go and what they can see, and sometimes they hang upside down in trees too.
Sometimes when we go barefoot, we get ouchies like splinters from walking and balancing on tree logs too.
Author:
T is for Tree: A Bible ABC is written and illustrated by Connie L. Meyer. She dedicated this book to “all the children of the Reformation, to the children who live by faith, faith in the promises of God.” Connie L. Meyer is a wife, mother, and grandmother. She has dedicated her life to serving the Christian community for many years as an author, artist, teacher, curriculum creator, tutor, speaker, magazine article writer, and has served students in all grade levels and adults too. She is well known in various Protestant Reformed churches, schools, and associations.
Be sure to check out more books Connie L. Meyer has authored including her Behold The Beauty Art Curriculum. I would really like to try this curriculum with my kids. There are three individual art curriculum books and the entire bundle listed at the link above, as well a other books she has had published through Reformed Free Publishing Association. Each art curriculum book has free sample lessons offered on the website. I downloaded all of the free samples and plan to use them soon with my kids.
Publisher:
The Reformed Free Publishing Association (RFPA) is an independent, non-profit organization founded in 1924. Their mission is to be a witness to the distinctive Reformed truth. They strive to publish works that are based on scripture and bring glory to God. They primarily publish the work of professors, ministers, and educators who are aligned with the Protestant Reformed Churches in America and stand firmly as a witness to the truth of bible scriptures. They offer books, biographies, church history, educational curriculum, bible commentaries, bible study guides, devotionals, theology, and more in print, audio, and digital formats. They offer discounted specials so be sure to check out what is on sale. They also offer 35% off regular price and free shipping to members of their monthly book club.
Final Thoughts:
T is for Tree: A Bible ABC is a wonderful book full of inspiration for you to talk with your kids about Father God and his love for his creation and then put it into action.
I would encourage other homeschool families to get this book. Read it for your bible study, or read aloud, or practice learning the letters and more for school. Then spend time doing something hands on related to each page and really connect the message to real life for your kids. Spend time teaching them God’s word and walk and talk it out.
Deuteronomy 11:19
“And ye shall teach them your children, speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.”
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Homeschool Review Crew
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