Featured Book Blogger: Kristina Seleshanko

For this month’s Featured Book Blogger post,  I’d like to introduce you to Kristina Seleshanko, the mastermind of Christian Children’s Book Review and purveyor of KristinaSeleshanko.com. Kristina was kind enough to answer a few questions about her life, blog, and favorite books…

First of all, tell us a little bit about yourself.

I live with my hubby and two kiddos, ages 5 and 2. Before we had kids, I was a full time writer, authoring 17 nonfiction books, but now I write only a few hours a day and mostly write for websites. We love the Lord, love working together in the yard, love reading, and love doing all the typical family things.

When and why did you start your blog, Christian Children’s Book Review?

I started the blog in 2007 when I discovered there appeared to be no one reviewing Christian kids’ books. I soon asked other Christian moms to help me out; Tanya Dennis, now a managing editor as well as a reviewer, was first. We both had young kids, had a passion for books, and really wanted to help our children learn about God  in part, through books.

What qualities do you look for in a children’s book that would prompt you to give it a positive review?

At Christian Children’s Book Review, above all the book must be biblically accurate.It should express some sort of biblical truth in a way that kids respond to. And, like any other book, it should be well written and have interesting illustrations. We test the books on our own children. Sometimes they love something when we think it’s blah, and vice versa. We always note that in our reviews.

What’s your favorite comfort food?

Macaroni and cheese. And not the home made kind. It has to be the terrible-for-you creamy Velveta boxed kind. My husband and I lived off that stuff when our firstborn was in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit as an infant.

What are some of the best children’s books you’ve reviewed within the last year?

Andi’s Pony Trouble is a sweet read-to-me chapter book both my daughter and I loved. The ABCs of Handling Money God’s Way is a neat book for young children to learning basic money skills. Dinosaurs for Kids does a great job of explaining a creationist view of the world in general and dinosaurs in particular. And while I didn’t review it this year, probably my all time top pick for kids’ Christian books is The Jesus Storybook Bible; simply head and shoulders above other kids’ Bibles.

If you had to choose three [adult] books that you think everyone should read, what would they be?

The Bible, of course. C.S. Lewis’ Screwtape Letters. And Les Miserables by Victor Hugo.

Be sure to check out Christian Children’s Book Review and leave a comment!