This is No Fairy Tale

Written by Dale Tolmasoff and beautifully illustrated in a cross-hatch style by Corbert Gauthier, This Is No Fairy Tale is the story of Jesus from birth to resurrection.

What's different about this story of Jesus is it contrasts common fairy tale happenings with what actually happened in Jesus' life. For instance, with Jesus' birth, it's shown how things might have happened had He been born a prince in a royal kingdom. This contrasts with the fact He was born in a stable and no one knew about His birth, other than His parents and a few shepherds.

What I Like: The comparisons made between fairy tales and Jesus' life are completely valid for young readers. Taking this approach to tell the story of Jesus is unique. In our culture where fairy tales are the norm, I think this book will help children understand the story of Jesus better.

What I Dislike: Nothing.

Overall Rating: Very Good.

Age Appeal: 4 - 8 years, though older and younger children may find the book interesting due to the familiar fairy tale aspect.

Publishing Info: Crossway Books, 2005; ISBN: 1-58134-644-1; Hardback $15.99

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Special Info: Jesus' face is shown on every page. It's also difficult to tell if He's portrayed as Caucasian or Hebrew.

The Sweetest Story Bible

With it's sparkly, pink cover and rich, lovely illustrations, The Sweetest Story Bible is sure to please young girls.

Offering short versions of the most well known Bible stories, Diane Stortz' text covers creation to the prediction of Jesus' second coming. The stories are sweetly told - and accurate, although sometimes many details are left out.

At the end of each story is a "sweet thought" for girls' to ponder, as well as an easy to remember Bible verse. For example, after the story of the fall, the "Sweet Thought" is "God's commands are always right." The Bible verse is Psalm 119:110: "Your word is like a lamp that shows me the way." In addition, each story begins with a question or thought. Some of them are light-hearted (for example, before the story of Noah and the ark, the text asks "What do you like to do on a rainy day?), while others have more depth ("Sheep never worry when their shepherd's nearby.").

Sheila Bailey's illustrations are full of beautiful color choices and the expressive people of the Bible, and at the end of each story, near the "Sweet Thought," she always shows a modern day little girl.

What I Like: My four year old daughter was drawn first to the sparkles on the cover of this book, and then to the lovely illustrations. In her words, it's a "super pretty" volume. I also appreciate that some stories that rarely make it into children's Bible storybooks are included, such as the stories of Deborah, Rahab, the woman who washed Jesus' feet, Lydia, and Eunice and Lois.

What I Dislike: Some of the questions or thoughts before each story are too silly for me. For example, before the story of the woman washing Jesus' feet we read: "Bubble baths and lotion keep us clean and sweet!"

Overall Rating: Very Good.

Age Appeal: According to the publisher, 4 - 7. However, if your child has been reading Bible storybooks for a while, these stories may be much to simple for her. My four year old, for example, while she loved the look of this book, really knew more about each story than the book covered (with a couple of exceptions). As a first Bible for this age group, however, this is a lovely choice.

Publishing Info: Zonderkidz, 2010; ISBN: 978-0310716730; hardback, $14.99

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Special Info: Read our reviews of other books by Diane Stortz. Visit Sheila Bailey's webpage for a peek at her illustrations.

Kids' Bible Facts

With the sub-title "amazing, funny, even gross Bible stuff from Genesis to Revelation," I was surprised to find Kids' Bible Facts by Ed Strauss is really more of a Bible dictionary than anything else.

With nearly 100, mostly full color illustrations, Strauss' book is, above all, exciting for the eyes. There are photos you might expect (like a model of the Arc of the Covenant and antique paintings of scenes from the Bible), and photos that may come as a surprise (like Miss Piggy and Kermit the Frog - because some Bible names do sound like they belong to Muppets).

I expected the text to focus on weird facts that would intrigue kids and send them to the Bible. And there is some of that:

"Ezekiel once had a vision of a valley filled with dry bones. There was a tremendous rattling and blanking when the skeletons suddenly reassembled! [See Ezekiel 37:1-10]"

"The Bible talks about an astonishing, fire-breathing swamp monster called leviathan. Read all about it in Job 41. Was it real or symbolic? No one knows for sure."

But most of the entries are much more like a Bible dictionary. For example, the first few entries are for "Aaron" and "Abednego" and offer pretty standard definitions.

What I Like: This book is fun to look at. The pictures are terrific and many are intriguing. (Why show a photo of a man looking miniature beneath a huge dinosaur skeleton? Because the Bible mentions a dinosaur-like creature called a behemoth. Why an image of Paul Revere's famous ride? Because Paul had a (somewhat) similar one.) The sidebars found on nearly every page ("Four War Songs That Women Sang," "Eight Weird War Weapons," "Eight Times the Israelites Vanquished Giants") are fun, too.

What I Dislike: As a sort of not-afraid-to-be-funny kids' Bible dictionary, I think this book is great. But if you're looking for a book that lives up to the "amazing...even gross Bible stuff," you may be disappointed.

Overall Rating: Very Good.

Age Appeal: 8 - 12.

Publishing Info: Barbour Books, 2009; ISBN: 978-1602604766; paperback, $9.97

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Special Info: Be sure to also check out our review of Barbour Books' Kids' Bible Dictionary.

Paul's Travels

Written by Tim Dowley, Paul's Travels shares the story of Paul from the New Testament: how he persecuted the new Christians, then had a revelation from Jesus and turned from his ways. Told from Paul's point of view, this book follows all four of Paul's journeys through Asia and southern Europe. It highlights all the major parts of Paul's story from the book of Acts, including getting locked in prison, writing to Philemon and Timothy, and requesting to be tried in Rome by Nero. It is definitely informative, though not always entertaining.

What I Like: There is a lot to like about this book. Not only does it share biblical history, but it has tidbits and pictures about what life was like during this time period.

The maps shown in the book also reference passages in Acts so your child can look up what the Bible has to say.

I found it unusual, but more personal, that the story was told from Paul's point of view. This lasted until the last page when a brief explanation was made that no one knows for sure what happened to Paul after his letters to Timothy.

What I Dislike: I found the enclosed letters difficult to remove and replace in the envelopes in the book. If it was difficult for an adult, I can only imagine how an eight-year-old will manage, and I would guess that the letters would quickly become torn and unreadable/unusable - and the information on them is valuable to the progression of the book. Also, the "handwriting" used on the letters was periodically difficult to read, more due to the font rather than the size.

Overall Rating: Good

Age Appeal: 8 - 12

Publishing Info: Candle Books (imprint of Lion Hudson plc), 2009; ISBN: 978-0-9254-7383-8; Hardback $14.99.

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Tell the Truth, Tyler (Happy Day Books, Level 3)

Tell the Truth, Tyler is part of the Happy Day Books series, and is written by Jodee McConnaughhay and illustrated by Jackie Urbanovic. This one is a Level 3 book, so it contains a more complex story with greater vocabulary and longer paragraphs than the previous levels.

When Tyler's dad asks him if he had a piece of chocolate cake, Tyler says no. Tyler's dad turns him around and shows him his chocolate covered face in the mirror, and Tyler knows that he's been caught in a lie. Tyler's dad tells him that he understands that it isn't always easy to tell the truth, but that God's Word tells us that it is the right thing to do. He says:

"The Bible says, 'Stop telling lies. Tell each other the truth.'"

Tyler tells his dad about a couple of instances when he hadn't spoken up when he probably should have. His teacher had found gum on the floor and wondered aloud who had dropped it. Tyler didn't say anything. He also had not been washing his hands with soap even though it was the rule, and still told his teacher that he had washed his hands.

Tyler's dad explains to him that not speaking up and telling half-truths is still lying in the eyes of God. At the end of the book, Tyler's little sister doesn't tell the truth, and Tyler is able to join his dad in telling her what the Bible says about lying in Ephesians 4:25.

What I Like: This story really hit home for my three year old. I could tell that she understood every word, and even recounted the story to my husband at dinner that night. I like how simply the story is told, and that it includes dishonesty by omission, which is often left out of children's books. I also like the repetition in the book, "Stop telling lies. Tell each other the truth," which is stated four times throughout the 15 page story.

What I Dislike: I don't dislike anything.

Overall Rating: Very Good

Age Appeal: The publisher says 3-7, but I think it is more appropriate for ages 3-5.

Publisher Info: Standard Publishing, 2005; ISBN: 0784717095 ;Paperback $2.29

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Special Info: We've reviewed other books in the Happy Day series. Read them here!

The Fruit of the Spirit

Written by Erik Rottmann and illustrated by Amy Huntington, The Fruit of the Spirit teaches Galatians 5:22-23 in language young children can understand and remember. The Fruit of the Spirit is part of the bestselling Arch Books Bible Story Series, which covers over 100 different themes from Genesis to Acts.

Each of the fruits of the spirit found in Galatians 5 are highlighted: patience, joy, love, faithfulness, gentleness, goodness, peace, self-control, kindness - all through the use of poetry. The following is a excerpt:

"LOVE! Oh, LOVE! The very word

Speaks all about your Christ.

Now LOVE is yours. Through you it pours

To others in your life.

By FAITHFULNESS you take to heart

What God says in His Word.

He shall stay true. You stay here, too,

Because of what you've heard."

The illustrations are bright and interesting to look at, emphasizing loving family relationships. They also include children and adults of various ethnicity. The rhymes are simple and lively.

Also included in The Fruit of the Spirit is a letter to parents encouraging them to walk in the Spirit along with their children. It is an uplifting letter charging parents to rejoice in their children, as they are gifts from the Lord.

What I Like: Jesus taught mostly in parables - simple stories that the average man could understand. This is what the author has done in The Fruit of the Spirit. The fruits are described as a seed planted within us by the Lord Jesus that the Holy Spirit causes to sprout, grow and bear more fruit through the Word, prayer and obedience to God.

What I Dislike: The book seems a little bit more flimsy than the average paperback, perhaps because it's very short. The cover and the pages themselves are sturdy, but the binding seems weak.

Overall Rating: Very Good.

Age Appeal: Children ages 5-9 are recommended by the publisher, but I believe children as young as 2 would be able to understand and enjoy this book.

Publisher Info: Concordia Publishing House; 2010; 978-0-7586-1860-3; Paperback $1.99.

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Andrea Carter and the Dangerous Decision

If you are looking for a spunky heroine, real-life conflicts and non-stop action, Andrea Carter and the Dangerous Decision, by Susan K. Marlow, is for you. Once I started reading Andrea Carter, I couldn't put it down. Andrea (Andi) is a spirited tomboy, living in California in 1880. She cringes at the thought of sitting inside in scratchy dresses when she could be outside playing ball or racing horses. When she and her friend Cory accidentally run down the new schoolmaster during an impromptu horse race, she knows it is going to be a long Fall. Fall gets even worse when the schoolmaster's model daughter, Virginia, takes a dislike to Andi as well. Andi can't do anything to please the schoolmaster, and Virginia uses deceit and trickery to get Andi into even more trouble.

Even though Andi is treated unfairly at school, Andi's mother expects her to follow Christ's example and respond with love and respect to both her teacher and his daughter. Although Andi has good intentions, she is unable to live up to her mother's expectations. . . until one day she faces the ultimate test. When Andi's brother, a well-known lawyer, is unable to gain an acquittal for a drifter accused of murder, the felon, Jed Hatton, escapes. He takes shelter in the schoolhouse, and decides to use Virginia as a hostage. Andi knows Virginia can't ride a horse and realizes she wouldn't survive on the trail, so she offers to take Virginia's place.

Andi and Jed ride hard and soon cross the Mexican border, but things take a turn for the worse when Andi tries to escape. Jed confesses to the murder, but then shoots at Andi, grazing her head. When she comes to, she is in her brother's arms, but has lost her memory. For three weeks she recovers, feeling like a stranger in her own home. Finally, her brothers catch Jed, and a confrontation with him brings Andi's memory back. Needless to say, Virginia and her father have a new appreciation for Andi, and she receives a hero's welcome when she returns to school.

What I Like: I love Andi. She is a fun, good-hearted girl, with an iron will. It is so nice to see Christian heroines who are strong-willed. Andi struggles with her temper and makes impulsive decisions, but she truly loves God and wants to please her mother. Although her strong will gets her in trouble, it also gives her the bravery and confidence to stand up for someone weaker than herself and do the right thing. I think this book will help lots of Christian girls realize being strong-willed doesn't have to be a bad thing.

I also like Andi's family. I always wanted big brothers, and Marlow did a great job showing us both great and annoying aspects of having big brothers. Andi's mother is caring and kind, but also demands the best from Andi. She provides a helpful example of administering loving consequences.

The book moves fast, with lots of action and surprising plot twists, up until the very end. This makes it impossible to put down. The action and the strong male characters (Andi's brothers and her friend Cory) would make this book appealing to boys as well as girls.

What I Dislike: Nothing

Overall Rating: Excellent

Age Appeal: 8-12

Publisher Info: Kregel Publications, 2007; ISBN: 978-0-8254-3357-3; Paperback, $7.99

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Special Info: This is book two of five books in the Circle C Adventure series.

Tower of Babel

Tower of Babel, written by A. S. Gadot and illustrated by Cecilia Rebora, re-tells the familiar Bible story with fresh humor and imagination.

The people who lived in the Valley of Shinar were just like us. They did jobs and had friends and enjoyed good food and conversation. Since they all spoke the same language, they had no trouble communicating. One day they decided to build a tower.

At first it was just something new and exciting to do. None of them had ever been to heaven before and they all wanted to see if they could get there. They immediately started building. They had parties at different milestones, like when they reached the 20th and 50th floors. When they finished the 100th floor, they congratulated themselves and decided they would rule the world! That's when lightning stuck and hail started to fall. When the storm ended, their languages were confused. "The architects spoke Dutch and the engineers, Chinese. The stone-cutters spoke French, the woodworkers, Japanese." They tried working together to finish the tower, but they simply couldn't understand one another. Soon everyone packed up and went different ways with the people they could understand. Only the old professor was left in the Valley of Shinar. "Years later, many, many years later, the tower became known as the Tower of Babel, because the building stopped when people couldn't talk to each other. They could only babble."

What I Like: It's funny and well-written! The author did a great job adding witty details to a rehearsed story. This book puts flesh on characters too often shown only in outline.

What I Dislike: The illustrations are not to my taste. They lack dimension and detail. Furthermore, the female characters have very pronounced breasts which I found unnecessary and my children found humorous.

More importantly, though, the story is inaccurate. It explains that people built the tower not because of specific motivation (though after they reached the 100th floor they planned to rule the earth) but simply because they were bored. Furthermore, God is never mentioned in this book. No Bible references are provided. The whole story is told more like a funny folk tale than an account from Scripture. As a result, my kids missed the point. In fact, my daughter felt sorry for the professor at the end because no one helped him finish the tower to Heaven.

Overall Rating: As a stand-alone children's book: Good. As a resource for teaching Biblical truths: Ho-hum.

Age Appeal: Amazon suggests 9-12, but I recommend 4-8.

Publisher Info: Kar-Ben Publishing, 2010; ISBN: 082259952X; Paperback; $7.95

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Let My People Go!

Let My People GO!, written by Tilda Balsley, offers Moses' familiar story with an interactive twist. It covers the burning bush, God's call to Moses, and all ten plagues.

Written as a Readers Theater script, the book is great for use in "family Seders, library story time, and classroom dramatizations." The text provides five roles -- Narrator, Moses, Pharaoh, Egyptians, and Chorus -- each designated by a specific colored type. The narrator, for example, read the black type while the Moses character reads the purple.

Full-page illustrations by Ilene Richard fill the book with bold colors and simple, outline characters.

What I Like: The interactive format is wonderful. My kids (ages 4 and 6) really like this book! They enjoy reading the repetitive lines and shouting out specific parts. It's a good choice for beginning readers. I like that the book actually describes each of the ten plagues and includes Pharaoh's lies as part of the story. Many children's books only include a few of the plagues and rarely mention Pharaoh's deceptive tricks.

What I Dislike: The illustrations are not to my liking, but my kids didn't seem to mind them. I wish the author or publisher had included biblical references for further study and fact verification.

More importantly, the rhyme and meter are inconsistent. As a result, readers must often compensate by altering emphasized syllables. For example, I had to read Phar-AOH instead of PHAR-aoh.

Finally, the book marketing is misleading. It is advertized as a tool for Passover, but the text barely mentions the Passover. It simply says "... sons of Israel, I will spare. So listen now, you must prepare." It doesn't detail what the preparations were and no other mention is made. Furthermore, the back cover says the "rhyming tale takes readers through the Ten Plagues and the Exodus of the Jews from Egypt." Unfortunately, the book ends before the Jews even pack their bags. The zenith of the Exodus is the parting of the Red Sea, but it's not included in this book.

Overall Rating: Good

Age Appeal: 4-8

Publisher Info: Kar-Ben Publishing, 2008; ISBN: 0822572419; Paperback; $7.95

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