Mrs. Noah's Vegetable Ark

I have read many children’s stories about Noah’s ark, some from Noah’s point-of-view, but Mrs. Noah’s Vegetable Ark is the first book I’ve read from Mrs. Noah’s point-of-view.

This delightful tale, written by Elena Pasquali, depicts Mrs. Noah as an avid gardener. When she learns her husband is building a giant ark to house the animals during the upcoming flood, she is concerned about what will happen to her garden. She devices clever ways to make her garden mobile, thus saving her plants from the flood and providing food for all on board the ark.
The illustrations by Steve Lavis are bright, colorful and expressive and go perfectly with the text.

What I Like: Everything.

What I Dislike: The only thing I can find that’s missing is a Bible reference for the story.

Overall Rating: Excellent.

Age Appeal: 4-8.

Publisher Info: Lion Hudson, 2011; ISBN: 9780745962535; Hardcover, $14.99.

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Adventure Bible Book of Devotions

The NIV Adventure Bible is a #1 choice for young boys. This companion title -- Adventure Bible Book of Devotions -- can be used with or without its bestselling namesake. Perfect for independent use by 9-12-year-olds, it is also a wonderful choice for whole-family devotions.

Written by Robin Schmitt, this book features 365 one-page devotions organized by date. (There is no inclusion for leap year.) Each devotion offers a title, a quoted Scripture passage (usually one to three verses taken from the New International Version), and a short story. Below the story readers find a one-paragraph application note followed by one of three special features:

• Words to Treasure - This offers an extra Scripture passage for easy memorization.
• People in Bible Times - Here you'll find additional insight into Bible stories or contextual or cultural details related to the lesson.
• Did You Know? - Get bonus Bible facts here.
  
• Live It! - This section provides practical ideas for kids to put their faith in action.
  

For easy reference, the back of the book includes both a Topic Index and a Scripture Index.

What I Like: Both my kids -- 8-year-old daughter and 6-year-old son -- really like this book. The stories are very well-written and they tackle topics widely applicable. I really like the "People in Bible Times" sidebars. These always spark great conversations with my kids. These parts help them remember that people in the Bible really lived. I also appreciate the options for searching and sorting, as provided through the Table of Contents (by date) and the two indexes (by topic or Scripture passage). Great inclusion.

What I Dislike: Nothing, really. The "adventure" part, I felt, was not utilized to it's full potential, but that's not a deal-breaker. My kids expected maps and outdoor activities. I would have enjoyed more "treasure hunt" type stuff that encouraged research of Bible lands, times, ancient geography and the like. The stories told of lots of adventure, but the book offered little to no hands-on adventure.

Overall Rating: Very Good

Age Appeal: 9-12 for independent use, but if you read it as a family, you could go as young as 5.

Publisher Info: Zonderkidz, 2008; ISBN: 0310714478; Paperback; 391 pages; $12.99

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Special Info: This title is now available as an e-book through Christianbook.com (released in 2010). You may also be interested in the "Early Readers" edition featuring the NIrV (New International Readers Version) Bible, available in paperback or as an e-book.

Devotions for Girls: God and Me 3

Devotions for Girls: God and Me 3 is another title in the "Devotions for Girls" series. This one, written by Lynn Klammer, specifically targets preschoolers ages 2-5.

The 106 devotions in this spiral-bound book are divided into four sections:

• Growing in God's Word
• Learning God's Way
• Doing My Best for God
• I Can Trust God

Each two-page lesson includes a purpose, Bible verse and a true story taken from the author's experiences with her children. These are followed by questions and space to write answers, then an activity. The activities range from crafts and drawing projects to simple puzzles.

What I Like: I like the format. This book is a great tool for helping young girls build a habit of seeking God every day and applying biblical truths to their own lives. I also like how the vast inclusion of topics. It's more than just sharing and telling the truth. This book also broaches such topics as the Lord's Supper, what makes a healthy church, not using the Lord's name in vain and public service. These are just a few of the topics included here, but rarely introduced at such young ages. Of course, these advanced topics are not discussed exhaustively, but they do serve as wonderful discussion starters for parents.

What I Dislike: Unless you have a very advanced preschooler, expect your child to need help with these. They're definitely not at a level for independent use. Not only are the reading sections written at a higher level (between first and second grade), but the font is small and each devotion requires the girls to write responses, a skill not common among this target age range. Even the activities, with few exceptions, cannot be done without adult guidance and supervision. I am all in favor of families doing devotions together, but this one is so specific for very young girls, it is not a good option for whole families, especially those with limited time and resources.

Overall Rating: Good.

Age Appeal: 2-5 according to the publisher, but if you want it for independent use, I recommend 4-7.

Publisher Info: Legacy Press, 2009; ISBN: 1584110910; Spiral-bound; 232 pages; $12.99

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When the Lights Go Out

When the Lights Go Out, by Max Elliot Anderson, is an adventure story geared specifically for reluctant readers. While their families are stationed at an army base, three boys—Peyton, Gill, and Dave—become friends. The boys discover an old obstacle course and decide to train to be Rangers, an elite group of combat soldiers. The idea comes from Peyton, whose hero (and dad) is the base commander and a Ranger. As Peyton leads the boys through exercise after exercise, they build camaraderie, skill, and trust.

Although done in good fun, the boys’ training soon turns earnest when they stumble across an odd phone conversation and suspicious-acting men. The boys begin to doubt the safety of the base. After more investigation, the boys are convinced they have uncovered a terrorist plot. Unable to communicate their concerns with Peyton’s dad, the boys try on their own to find a way to stop a secret weapon from falling into enemy hands. The tension spikes when the power is cut and all the lights on base go out.

The author ties the story to the tragic events that occurred on 9/11 in two places. In the beginning, Peyton’s dad explains that he joined the army after 9/11 because “somebody’s gotta help keep the country safe.” In the last chapter, Dave says that every year around 9/11, his dad (an army chaplain) preaches a sermon called Never Forget. However, Dave does not elaborate very much on what the sermon is about nor on how it impacts his life.

The book includes a helpful glossary of military terms.

What I Like: With an army base setting and Ranger training, the book has excellent "boy" appeal. I also liked how the boys worked together and encouraged each other. Plus, the author captured the action with almost movie-snippet pacing. Overall, it was a clean, age-appropriate adventure.

What I Dislike: I was distracted from the story by numerous punctuation (over two dozen) and spelling errors. I also felt the Christian aspect wasn't integrated into the story very well. There was no reference to God or faith (other than one character's dad being a chaplain) until a sermon is mentioned in last chapter. In the half page exchange, one of the boys ridicules the other over the sermon and then the topic is dropped. I also was disappointed that Peyton didn't notify an adult about the danger because he didn't want to get in trouble. Finally, I think it's a little pricey for a paperback. Most books this size sell for around five dollars.

Overall Rating: Despite the objections mentioned above, the story was actually an okay read. Very Good.

Age Appeal: 9-12

Publisher Info: Comfort Publishing, 2011; ISBN:978-1936695478; Paperback, 172 PGS., $13.99

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Special Info: Read another CCBR review of a book by Max Elliot Anderson.