This cute little board book by Kathleen Long Bostrom introduces us to a little boy named Ryan and his stuffed friend, a little monkey named Rufus. We watch as Rufus and Ryan attend church together learning a bit about the "do's" and the "don'ts" of sitting in a worship service. They learn to be quiet and reverent. They learn to close their eyes during the prayer and to say "amen." Afterward they have a snack with the other children and head for home. The illustrations by Rebecca Thronburgh are colorful and adorable. The characters are also very real in their "wiggles and giggles" while sitting in the pew.
While this book is a board book and recommended for (about) ages 2 to 5, this book is perfect for any family who will be taking their children to church with them for the first time. In the past I attended churches that didn't have children in the sanctuary or chapel at all. Our church is not like that, we actually keep our kids with us through the entire chapel meeting. This could be a difficult transition for families who are accustomed to dismissing their children to "children's church" while the adults worship together.
My daughter Maggie thought this book was fun but she was quick to point out that it was not allowed to have a big toy like Rufus in church. (Which is not true...it's one of our family rules, it makes us a little less than reverent). It made it a great opportunity to explain to her that some children, especially when coming to church for the very first time, might feel more comfortable or safe with a special friend from home. This made perfect sense to her!
Rufus and Ryan retail for $7.99 but you have an opportunity to win a copy for free right here on Swinging on Small Hinges! Enter using the Rafflecopter below and thanks so much for stopping by!
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I had a doll I named Sassy and I thought was a real baby!
ReplyDeleteI tried and failed to have a special stuffed animal. I suppose I had my living dog, Chevis.
ReplyDeleteI don't remember anything specific. Thanks for the opportunity.
ReplyDeleteI had several stuffed animals, but I don't remember naming them. My favorite was the puppy surprise though!
ReplyDeletei still have my stuffed winnie the pooh!
ReplyDeleteI had a stuffed giraffe named Ugga
ReplyDeletei had a stuffed rabbit in overalls named Peter
ReplyDeleteI had a doll named "baby". I did not have any fluffy stuffed animals. :(
ReplyDeleteI had a hard (not plush) teddy bear with jointed arms and legs. I think he once had a working "growler" inside because there is a "clunk" you hear when you turn him over. I either got him for my first Christmas or about a month later for my first birthday. I just called him Teddy. I still have him!
ReplyDeleteNot a stuffed animal, but I had my pillow my grandma made me - it went everywhere with me - even to college when the time came!
ReplyDelete~liz N
I didn't have a stuffed animal but a blankie.
ReplyDeleteI had a stuff Snoopy that I loved.
ReplyDeletesorry, no stuffed animals when I was little. I got a toy once a year if i was lucky. i played with other kids' toys.
ReplyDeleteA monkey named monkey lol
ReplyDeleteI had a Cabbage Patch Kid named Sigmund but he ran away. I'm still traumatized. Sigh. kristiedonelson(at)gmail(dot)com Thank you.
ReplyDeleteI had a doll named Shaylee ;)
ReplyDeleteI had a heart to heart bear that I named Teddy. I have passed it down to my kiddies now.
ReplyDeleteI had a doll named Holly
ReplyDeletehrddiana556@gmail.com
I had a bunch of stuffed animals. And they all slept in bed with me, because I would feel bad if one got left out.
ReplyDeleteI had a pink poodle stuffed dog. didn't give it a name.
ReplyDeletebeth clark
bclark103@yahoo.com
I had a pooh bear I canned him pooh :)
ReplyDeleteluckyladybug67@hotmail.com
I had a stuffed monkey, but cant remember the name.
ReplyDeleteI had a purple doll I called Violet
ReplyDeletei had Dino the Dinosaur, a stegasauraus.
ReplyDeleteI had a Shirley Temple doll that I loved.
ReplyDeleteI had a stuffed bunny named elsie she wore a a pink easter hat , i loved and had and sleep with for years..oh the thought of the elsie takes me so far back :) thank you for the childhood memorys :)
ReplyDeletei had a stuffed cow that i got for my first valentine's day and now i've passed it down to my daughter :)
ReplyDeletehollyngunter@gmail.com
I had a few different stuffed animals, but I don't ever remember naming them. My favorite was a really large polar bear that was as big as me.
ReplyDeleteI had a teddy bear named Teddy. I loved him until one day he went missing. I realize now that he was so dirty my mom probably tossed him.
ReplyDeleteI had a small koala bear that I won at a Church festival. I did not give him a name but he went most places with me. My parents saved some of my toys that I passed on to my daughters but he was not in the box and I do not remember what happened to him
ReplyDeleteI had a stuffed Winnie the pooh bear!
ReplyDeleteI had a doll named crissy that went everywhere with me
ReplyDeleteI had a stuffed dachshund dog named Oscar! My Mom still has it :)
ReplyDeleteI had a stuffed poodle that was red and white. I named him Pierre.
ReplyDeleteI had Pooh Bear and Snoopy. Still do, as a matter of fact :)
ReplyDeletei had a bear named carter and a blankie named ralph
ReplyDeletelemonzest12 at hotmail dot com
I had an octopus named Ollie.
ReplyDeleteglindathegood@bellsouth.net
My stuff animal was a monkey his name was monkey hes special because he was my grandmas and when she was alive we would take turns and keeping him and when I was 7 she passed away so I got to keep him. Im 30 and I still have him
ReplyDeleteI had a big stuffed lepard don't remember if it had a name or not but I still have it at my grandparents house.
ReplyDeleteI had a hand me down doll named Mrs. Beasley.
ReplyDeleteI had a stuffed animal that was a beaver, that I named Bucky.
ReplyDeleteNo but I had a Cabbage Patch doll named Olive that went everywhere with me!
ReplyDeleteJenny Stanek
orangestar17(at)hotmail(dot)com
I had a bunny that my uncle gave me as a newborn. I called it bunny.
ReplyDelete