Pennie the Piglet

In Pennie the Piglet, written and illustrated by Carole Lehr Johnson, Pennie makes friends with the new girl at school, Barbara. Barbara is beautiful but she is also rude and pushy. When Pennie tells her mom about Barbara, her mom tells her that maybe Barbara needs a friend. She encourages Pennie to try and be friends with Barbara.

So Pennie does just that. The next day, when Barbara walks by her house, Pennie invites her into the yard to smell the honeysuckle. Much to Pennie’s surprise, Barbara agrees and then says she and Pennie can walk to school together. Pennie considers this the start of a friendship. Because Pennie is so excited to have a new friend, she decides to let Barbara in on a secret, something she hasn’t told anyone about. Pennie has a secret place where she loves to go and spend quiet time reading her books. She not only tells Barbara about it, she invites Barbara to share her secret place.

Barbara seems happy to be let in on the secret and share time with Pennie in her hide-out. She promises not to tell anyone about Pennie’s secret place. But [spoiler alert] when she does, what will Pennie do? Pennie’s mom says she should forgive her friend. But can Pennie do that? Will things ever be the same between them?

A handful of blank-and-white pencil sketches are scattered throughout the text.

What I Like: The story provides a good lesson about friendship and what it means to be a real friend.

What I Dislike: When Barbara is first introduced as a character, she is described as being beautiful, but the students in her class don’t like her because her beauty is all on the outside. She acts snobbish and stuck-up. There’s never any mention of her making friends with anyone until Pennie befriends her. But, near the end of the story, when Barbara betrays Pennie’s trust in her, suddenly Barbara has a whole group of girl friends. Up until this point, the reader is given the impression that Pennie was Barbara’s only friend.

Also, I’m not sure why the author felt the need to call the story Pennie the Piglet when there’s very little in the storyline that relates to pigs at all. Pennie’s last name is Littleton and Barbara’s is Stranford. The only character in the story with a pig-sounding name is a neighbor called Mrs. Thigpen. It’s not a problem; I just think the story would have been just as good without making the characters into animals.

Overall Rating: Good.

Age Appeal: 6-12.

Publisher Info: PublishAmerica, LLLP, 2007; ISBN: 1424170192; Paperback, $9.95.

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God Loves You, Barnabas

Kids often have a hard time understanding why a friend succeeds at something when they themselves struggle to do well. They may even wonder if they’re good at anything! In God Loves You, Barnabas, little Barnabas bear feels the same way.

In the story, written and illustrated by Royden Lepp, Barnabas visits his friends. His friends are have special talents. One is an excellent builder. Another shines in soccer. Another paints beautifully. Even while Barnabas compliments and encourages his friends, he feels sad. He doesn’t think he has a special talent.

Just when he’s at his lowest point, Barnabas’ friends come to his rescue. One tells him, “God cares about what is in our hearts.” Another says, “You are good at being kind.”

The story ends with a simple prayer from Barnabas: “Thank you for making me a good friend.”

Lepp’s illustrations are playful and fun, sure to appeal to early readers. Also, at the front of the book, 1 Corinthians 12:4 is given as a reference for the story.

What I Like: This book is geared toward emergent readers. It has short sentences and simple, repetitive text. As a teacher, I appreciate a book like this because it appeals to young readers and, despite its simplicity, holds a great take-away value. The Scripture tie-in is an added plus. Keep in mind, however, that there is probably a small window of time in a child's life that he will enjoy this very age appropriate story structure. As a child grow in his reading skills, he will crave meatier tales.

What I Dislike: Nothing.

Overall Rating: Excellent

Age Appeal: Ages 4 and up. Best suited for ages 4-6 in my opinion.

Publisher Info: ZonderKidz, 2008; ISBN:978-0310715870; Paperback, 32 pgs., $3.99.

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Special Info: This book is one of many in the I Can Read/ Barnabas series. Other titles include Barnabas Helps a Friend and Happy Birthday, Barnabas, also available in Kindle version. You can also read a CCBR review of Barnabas Goes Swimming.

Don't Check Your Brains at the Door: Know What You Believe and Why

Don't Check Your Brains at the Door: Know What You Believe and Why is a logical, witty resource written by Josh McDowell and Bob Hostetler, to help teens defend their faith. The book uses a mix of intelligent argumentation, and humorous, slightly sarcastic narrative to expose myths underlying common worldviews. This would be a perfect gift for high school or college students! In fact, you may even want to give multiple copies--one to keep and a couple to give away.

The book is arranged in sections such as "Myths about God," "Myths about Jesus," "Myths about the Resurrection," as well as "Myths about Religion and Christianity," and "Myths about Life and Happiness." Although the book is organized sequentially, readers could read chapters in any order, as the topics interest them.

In each chapter, McDowell and Hostetler explain the biblical response to a secular view. For example, "Wimpy Jesus: The Meek and Mild Myth," dispels the notion Jesus was "soft, sentimental and effeminate." Rather, McDowell uses biblical support to show Jesus exhibited "strength under control." The chapters also include a short Bible study, titled "Brain Food," which asks readers to dig deeper into the Bible.

The book lists many references in the "End Notes."

What I Like: I love McDowell's personal and humorous writing. While always respectful of the opposing viewpoint, he understands teen perspectives and taps into their humor. With frequent references to pop culture and concerns, such as Star Wars, advertising and postmodern thought, Don't Check Your Faith at the Door is relevant and engaging. McDowell never belittles readers who have doubts, since he became a Christian while trying to disprove Christianity.

McDowell isn't afraid to tackle tough subjects, either. He discusses issues such as the biblical view of sex, why bad things happen to good people, and why a loving God would "send" people to Hell. This is a great resource to strengthen teens' faith and to give to non-Christian friends.

I also appreciate the short, easy-to-read chapters, and the inclusion of Bible studies that will make teens think, but aren't overwhelming. Chapters are rarely longer than three pages, and the Bible study would usually take between ten and twenty minutes.

What I Dislike: Nothing!

Overall Rating: Excellent!

Age Appeal: 12-21

Publisher Info: Thomas Nelson, 2011; ISBN: 978-1-4003-1720-2; Paperback, 183 pages, $12.99

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Unveiling the Kings of Israel: Revealing the Bible's Archaeological History

For those of you with non-fiction readers, Unveiling the Kings of Israel: Revealing the Bible's Archaeological History is a fascinating look at how the archaeology of the Middle East supports Biblical accounts of the kings of Israel and Judah.

David Down, editor of "Archaeological Diggings" magazine, has spent over forty years excavating in the Middle East. Unveiling the Kings of Israel compares generally-accepted archaeological timelines to biblical chronology. Down maintains common timelines used to date Egypt and Palestine need to be adjusted by up to 600 years. When these adjustments are made, the archaeology of the region supports biblical records with remarkable accuracy.

Down begins with Noah and the flood, and the location of Ararat. Then, he progresses throughout the entire Old Testament, detailing finds supporting the existence of the patriarchs, judges, and kings of Israel. The book ends with a chapter on the life of Jesus. Unveiling the Kings of Israel is full of detailed photographs of archaeological relics and famous sites. Down also includes maps, charts and diagrams, to help explain the significance of major archaeological discoveries.

What I Like: I found Down's arguments about how archaeology supports biblical passages enlightening. His work adds to biblical reliability, and explains the context of the Bible. I appreciate the multiple Bible references he uses in each chapter.

I also like the abundance of photographs. They allow readers to visualize many Old Testament settings. The detailed captions Down includes with each picture tell us why the item or location is important, and make browsing through the book worthwhile, even if you don't read the entire text.

What I Dislike: I wish some of Down's charts and explanations would have been placed earlier in the book. He assumes we are comfortable with archaeological time periods (such as the Iron Age, Middle Bronze era, etc. . . ). Down writes a very helpful explanation of "How Archaeology Works," but we don't find it until chapter nine. For novices, like myself and my family, this would have been helpful to read earlier in the book.

Also, in Chapter 11, Down mentions a physical affliction specific to men when aroused. He gives a rather blunt description of statues found portraying this affliction.

Overall Rating: Very Good for content, but only Good for organization

Age Appeal: There isn't a clear age range given. I would say 8 and up for browsing, but 14 and up to actually read.

Publisher Info: MasterBooks, 2011; ISBN: 13-978-0-89051-609-6; Hardcover, 170 pages, $29.99

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Gifts from the Heart

Kids use their imaginations to create and play in wonderful worlds. It’s no different in Victoria Osteen’s Gifts from the Heart. The story, written in rhyming verse, starts in a playroom with a brother and sister—Jon and Sue—dressing up in medieval clothes and pretending to be a prince and a princess. They “travel” to a town full of hustle and bustle. The people have been invited to a celebration for the king, and each wants to present the king with his or her best gift. Soon the children come across a sad young girl named Mary Anne. She has nothing to give the king, and neither do a handful of other children. The only thing the kids have to work with is their talents. Mary Anne can sing, another child can draw, another can juggle, and another works with puppets. Jon and Sue encourage the group to work together to build a stage and present the king with the gift of their talents—music, song, and so on.

The king’s herald scoffs at their efforts and tries to shoo them off. But then the king passes by and notices their efforts. The kids put on their show, and the king is pleased. Toward the end of the tale, the king talks to Mary Anne. “The king reached down and took her hand and said, “You’re very sweet./ Each one of you gave from your heart and made this day complete.”

Mary Anne replies with humility and joy: “We so wanted to honor you, she said bowing her head./ We could not buy you fancy gifts, so we did this instead!”

The story ends with a Kingdom Thoughts for the reader. These short quips are likewise written in rhyme, and meant to clarify lessons from the story. For example, “You may not wear a royal crown/ but you are royalty deep down.” Or “Always listen to what’s in your heart./ Then you’ll know just where to start.”

The author also includes a Bible verse (Proverbs 18:16), a personal note to the reader, and royal question and answers to help facilitate discussion on the theme of using our talents to honor God. (For example: What gifts do you have to share with the world? How can you share them?) The book is illustrated by Diane Palmisciano. She provides appealing, whimsical images full of motion.

What I Like: I think this story has a great lesson for kids: We can offer God the gift of our talents… whatever quirky thing that might be. I especially like the royal question and answer section because it provides a way for parents to discuss the story with their children on a whole different level. The author also included a fun suggestion. In the book, the kids start in a playroom. Several items from the playroom are then hidden in pictures throughout the story. Readers can hunt for those playthings on each page!

What I Dislike: The meter is off in several places, making it sometimes awkward to read aloud. I also thought the beginning of the story was too abrupt. At first I didn’t realize the kids were playing because Sue simply announced that she was a princess. I would have appreciated a longer set up before the shift to the imaginary world. Also, although I enjoyed the “find these items from the playroom” activity, I would have liked to have that direction before reading the story instead of finding out at the end.

Overall Rating: Excellent idea, excellent Q & A, good story execution. Overall rating of Very Good.

Age Appeal: None is given, but I'd recommend the K-1 crowd.

Publisher Info: Little Simon Inspirations; 2010; ISBN: 978-1416955511; Hardback, 32 pgs., $16.99

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Special Info: Visit Osteen’s website. Read a CCBR review of other books by Victoria Osteen.

The Story Bible

The Story Bible, edited by Edward A. Engelbrecht and Gail E. Pawlitz, presents "130 Stories of God's Love." The book includes representations from Genesis to Revelation, each in concise two- to three-page stories. Key words are highlighted in the sidebar and defined in the Glossary at the back of the book. Each story also includes application prompts.

• ASK: One to five questions encourage readers to interact with the text. These typically ensure comprehension.
• DO: Activities range from discussion starters to crafts, memorization and trying new foods.
• PRAY: This provides a short prayer related to the story, typically three sentences or less.

The illustrations showcase the talents of more than ten different artists. All feature bold colors, strong contrast and realistic details. Every story boasts at least one full-page, full-color illustration.

Additional features include a Preface and Introduction that detail the thought processes that went into the creation of this Bible as well as helpful tips for parents. The introduction includes guides for development and interest as well as reading strategies. This section is divided into three parts, based on age (Read to Me = 2 to 6; Read with Me = 5 to 8; Hear Me Read = 7 to 10). The Table of Contents sorts the stories chronologically and lists them by title and chapter. Bible references are provided both in the Table of Contents and the stories themselves.

What I Like: Most children's Bibles offer paraphrases and over-simplified texts, but this one is surprisingly reflective of Scripture! My husband and I (both holding Bible degrees) viewed it as an accurate contemporary translation, only abridged and illustrated. This makes sense since the text is derived from the ESV (English Standard Version) Bible. While paraphrases have their place and are quite helpful, especially with children, publications like this one offer an invaluable bridge between children's Bibles and regular Bibles. I like that it works for families whose children span various age ranges or developmental levels. We can read it together as a family and everyone gets something from it.

I also greatly appreciate the introductory matter. There parents learn that the text for this Bible was drafted while consulting both the Flesch-Kincaid Readability Formula and the Dolch and Fry Sight Word lists, both resources highly acclaimed by literacy teachers nationwide. This translates into an approachable text for early readers.

What I Dislike: Nothing.

Overall Rating: Excellent.

Age Appeal: According to the publisher, 3 and up. The introduction, however, offers instructions for children ages 2-10.

Publisher Info: Concordia Publishing House, 2011; ISBN: 0758619022; Hardback; 480 pages; $29.99

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Special Info: The face of Jesus is pictured several times in this volume, both as a child and an adult.

Thank You, God!: A Year of Blessings and Prayers For Little Ones

There is something delightful and irresistible about Thank You, God!: A Year of Blessings and Prayers for Little Ones. The book starts with the New Year, then goes on to spring and Easter, summer, fall and Thanksgiving, winter and Christmas.

Each two page spread in the book is done on heavy stock paper, and features a collection of famous quotes (such as Folliot S. Pierpoint’s “For the beauty of the earth, for the glory of the skies…”), lines from favorite hymns (“Joyful, joyful, we adore thee…”), Scripture verses, and poems.

The reader will also discover one or two tiny envelopes on each spread. The envelopes open at the top and hold mini thank you notes written to God in simple and kid-friendly terms. (The first card, for example, says “Thank you, God, for each new year. Thank you for the promise of new beginnings, of new hope, and new life. Amen.”) The very last page of the book holds the biggest envelope… and a surprise. The card is blank! The reader is encouraged to write his own thank you note on it.

The illustrations, done by Sophie Allsopp, are beautiful. The brightly colored scenes are filled with warm tones, friendly animals, and inviting landscapes. Allsopp depicts a variety of ethnic children as they enjoy each season and a few holidays. Each page seems to burst with life. In addition, the book has a padded cover, which gives it a cozy feel.

What I Like: The book is sturdy. And most children will find the envelopes enticing. Although there is no real story, it’s the kind of book that young kids will enjoy for the novelty of it. The concepts in the book are meaty enough that parents could take one two-page spread at a time and use it as a short family devotional centerpiece. Best of all, Amazon has a BARGAIN PRICE on this book. It would make a nice gift book.

What I Dislike: Nothing

Overall Rating: Excellent

Age Appeal: None is given. As a read aloud, younger kids would enjoy it, but it's probably best suited for the grade K-2 crowd.

Publisher Info: Little Simon Inspirations, 2009; ISBN:141694754X; Hardcover, 16 pgs., $12.99

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Special Info: Read a CCBR review of another book illustrated by Sophie Allsopp. You can also find a similarly structured book by Allsopp called Dear God: Letters For Little People. This book contains eleven mini envelopes with prayer cards. Another book of prayers by this author is Our Father: And Other Classic Prayers For Children.