The Ultimate Travel Time Bible

With family in eight different states, coast to coast, my kids have been forced to endure long road trips since birth. This is why I'm so excited about The Ultimate Travel Time Bible. It was designed for parents like me and kids like mine. Whether you're taking a cross-country drive or simply surviving a traffic jam on the way home from soccer, this book is a must-have for every minivan.
Created by Stephen Elkins and illustrated by Jim Conaway, this book offers an inviting format. The colorful illustrations are done in a friendly cartoon style. Memory verse sidebars and practical applications of Scripture are encouraged throughout. Additional features include:

• 40 Bible stories from Creation to Paul's letters from prison
• 40 games - some similar to boardgames are done in the book, others are just fun ideas to pass the time
• 40 coloring pages - These may be removed from the book for easy sharing.
• 70-minute praise CD performed by a quality children's choir - Many are familiar favorites. Lesser known songs are taken directly from Scripture providing an easy tool for memorization.
• 4 sticker pages, including one for each state, if you want to play the license plate game
• a 100-page activity book filled with crosswords, mazes, puzzles and more

What I Like:Everything! Each Bible story is more than a retelling; it's a "why are we telling." In other words, they are told with a relevant purpose of application for kids. I like the new twists taken on familiar games. Instead of "Slug Bug", this book encourages "Hug Bug" - giving each other hugs when you see a VW beetle. Normally kids' choirs annoy me, but this one doesn't. It's really nice! I like that the book includes lyrics to all the songs on the CD along with matching memory verses. The included activity book is great, too. This author seriously thought of everything. He even reminds kids to keep their seat belts on while playing!
What I Dislike: I wish the CD envelope were attached to the hardcover rather than to the first page; I'm worried it might tear. But, considering the price, this is an extremely minor detail not detracting from the book's exceptional value.
Overall Rating: Excellent!
Age Appeal: 4-8, but I think kids through 10 will enjoy it.
Publisher Info: B&H Publishing, 2007; ISBN: 0805426477; Spiral-bound inside Hardback; $14.99
Buy it Now at Christianbook.com for $11.99! Or buy it at Amazon for $11.69.
Special Info: See our reviews of other books by Stephen Elkins.

God's Great Big Love For Me

Mac Lucado's God's Great Big Love For Me tries to impress John 3:16 ("For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whosoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.") in the minds of young children, through vivid illustrations, color memory, and persuasive text.
Lucado begins by telling children that "God loves you" - even when you "make bad choices" or do "something you KNOW is wrong...There is NOTHING you can do to make God stop loving you." In fact, God loves us so much, he gave us the most precious thing he could: Jesus. The author then explains that Jesus came from Heaven to earth as a baby; when he grew up, he taught people about God and performed many miracles. How do we thank Jesus for being our "best friend?" Lucado asks. By trusting in him all our lives and becoming his child. Lucado then explains that Jesus will save a spot for us in heaven - a place where there is no fear, anger, or hunger.
On the top of every two page spread are a few words from of John 3:16, and on the opposite side are colored beads on a metal stick secured inside the last page of the book. Each of the beads corresponds with a sidebar found on every two page spread. These sidebars and beads are supposed to make understanding Jesus easier. The black bead, for example, is supposed to remind us that God loves us even when we sin. The red bead reminds us Jesus gave his life for us. The white bead, that Jesus "never did anything wrong." The blue bead, that God is a royal king; the green bead, that God wants us to grow in him; and the yellow bead, that heaven is a joyful place.
What I Like: Laura Logan's illustrations are cute and entertaining. For example, on the page where the author tells us that God loves us even when we do wrong, a full page illustration shows a preschool boy and girl climbing onto the kitchen counter to grab some cookies...and of course, many other items are falling out of the cupboard, too. I also really like the concept of this book; a picture book based on John 3:16 is an excellent idea, and the author offers children many important truths in his text.
What I Dislike: There is just too much going on here. Because John 3:16 is never written out in full (it's just given a few words at a time, every other page), it's really tough to follow. Beginning (and perhaps ending) the book with the full biblical quote would have helped tremendously. And while the beads are a neat idea, I doubt they will really help this book's young target audience. How many preschoolers or toddlers understand that black symbolizes death or sadness, or that blue symbolizes royalty. (Actually, isn't purple the traditional color for royalty?)
Overall Rating: Ho-hum.
Age Appeal: 7 and under.
Publishing Info: Thomas Nelson, 2008; ISBN: 1400311063; board book, $9.99.
Buy Now at ChristianBook.com for $7.99
OR buy at Amazon.com for $9.99
Special Info: The beads make this book unsuitable for children under 3 who are not supervised by an adult. Also, some Christians may object that one illustration shows what is apparently supposed to be Jesus' face.