7 Days of Awesome

7 Days of Awesome by Shawn Byous is a picture book written in rhyme about Creation. The story's Dr. Seuss-like narrative and whimsical illustrations take children through the 7 days of Creation.  The book stays in rhyme throughout the entire book.  The scripture references in the book are taken from the New International Version (NIV) of the Bible.

What I Like: I liked that the book was based on the Biblical story of Creation that was written in Genesis.  The book is accurate in referring to what was created on each day according to the Bible. 

What I Dislike: I am not a fan of books in rhyme.  I feel like the wording is forced more often than not in order to make the rhyme work.  I also did not find the drawings to be appealing.  The style of artwork looked old fashioned to me. 

Overall Rating: Ho-Hum.

Age Appeal: Ages 4-8.

Publisher Info: Zonderkidz, 2016; ISBN: 03010743494; Hardcover, $16.9.

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Up Down All Around

Up Down All Around by first time author Kevin M. Kelley is a beautiful retelling of the Creation account.

This book is different from any other book written about the Creation account that I have read. I love how the author speaks of God, calling Him Elohim, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, introducing children to the concept of the Trinity in a beautiful way and God's name in Hebrew.

The idea of Up Down All Around comes after the explanation of Creation. Up Down All Around has to do with the harmony that God intended between Himself and us (up), between us and his creation (down), and between us and those around us (all around).

The illustrations align beautifully to each page of story. God's hands and body are outlined in white in the illustrations showing that he is present during the Creation of the world.

What I Like: One aspect of the book which is love is how God is continuously show as one God in three Persons. The Trinity can be hard to explain to children, but I think this book is a great starting point. As children hear this book read to them over and over again, it will give them the pieces for one day understanding one of the foundations of our Christian beliefs.

With the purchase of this book, there is a code included in the back of the book. This code enables the purchaser to access the audio book file, allowing this book to be heard by children at times when the parents are unable to read to them.

What I Dislike: I liked this book very much.

Overall Rating: Excellent.

Age Appeal: 5-12 years.

Publisher Info: Tate Publishing, 2014; ISBN: 978-1631220487; paperback, 28 pgs., $9.99

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The Battle Begins: The Story of Creation

Introducing a brand new series of Action Bible graphic novels featuring vivid new artwork from Sergio Cariello.

Even as God walked through the beauty of His new creation, and breathed life into Adam, His masterpiece ... a warrior-angel gives into his pride—and commits the ultimate betrayal. Witness Adam and Eve falling into Lucifer's trap, as the battle for eternity begins in this brilliantly presented retelling of Creation, the Fall, and God's promise of redemption.

What I Like: The Battle Begins by Caleb Seeling is a more detailed story of creation than I have become accustomed to. It includes what is going on in heaven before and after creation giving an insight into why the serpent tempted Eve and how fallen angels became fallen angels. I really liked that the book included much more than I usually read.

The book is also created a comic or graphic novel as they refer to it so my 8 year old son was immediately drawn to the "superhero" like illustrations and the layouts of the pages.

What I Dislike:  The layout of the graphic novel includes the wording in speech balloons just like traditional comics. I am not a comic book reader and found the dialogue in balloons slightly distracting. I had to make sure I was reading it correctly which took away from just simply enjoying the book. It was a very minor issue for me, but my son had no issues with that whatsoever.

Overall Rating: Very Good.

Age Appeal: The recommended age group is 9-12, but I would say 8-14 is more appropriate.

Publisher Info: David C. Cook, 2014; ISBN: 978-0781411424; Paperback, 104 pgs., $12.99

Special Info: Since the story is about creation, the book does include Adam and Eve being nude. The illustrations use shadows, scenery and "headshots" as a way to keep the story clean and appropriate for children.

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Lucy's God

Lucy is a child being tucked into bed by her father. Her dad tells her the story of how the universe was created. However, in Lucy’s God, author David Stephen Lahm relates the events in a rather unusual way. He depicts God as a man with a beard who is wearing a suit. In this version, God creates the universe in one step. Then he adds people.

The author references Job 38:4, 7 for the creation part of the story and cites Psalm 145:3-4 as his basis for why parents should tell their children about God and his creations.

What I Like: I like the idea for the book. The author is showing the great joy and love God displayed when he created the universe. Also, I like the creative way the story is told.

What I Dislike: However, having said that, I must add that there are many things I don’t like about the story. For starters, I don’t like the omission of so much of the story. There is no mention of the creation taking six days, with God resting on the seventh day. There is no mention of how Adam and Eve were created.

Also, the story is told in rhyme. Anyone who is familiar with my reviews knows I am not a big fan of stories told in rhyme. This book is an example of why I’m not a big fan. The rhyme scheme is way off and so is the rhythm. The author tries too hard to make words rhyme when they shouldn’t – and they don’t.

And, although the illustrations by Andrew Frazer are colorful and are done in a creative way, Lucy doesn’t look like a child. When I first saw the cover of the book, I thought the person pictured there was Lucy’s mother, not Lucy herself.

Overall Rating: As you might imagine, I give this book a Ho Hum rating.

Age Appeal: 4-8.

Publisher Info: CreateSpace, 2014; ISBN: 9781499176759; paperback, $12.99.

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God's Great Creation

As your child learns to read, it's a fantastic thing for them to start learning the habit of Bible reading. You can make this happen by offering your child reading level appropriate books of Bible stories. God's Great Creation is such a book (level 2), and worth considering as an addition to your library.

The book, which is based upon the Adventure Bible for children, tells the story of creation and of the fall. It covers the days of creation, then the creation of Adam and Eve. God gives Eden to Adam and Eve, but tells them not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. But Satan, in the form of a snake, convinces Eve to eat exactly the fruit God has warned them not to. Adam partakes, as well. God punishes the snake, then sends Adam and Eve from the garden.

What I Like: I love it when my kids can read Bible stories! I also like David Miles' illustrations (although they seem a bit dark in my copy of the book). And overall, I think the interpretation of the biblical account is just right for early readers. Best of all, the book hints at God's grace; at the end of the book, after God takes Adam and Eve out of Eden, the book reads: "As they left the garden God was planning how to help his people."

What I Dislike: There is one thing I dislike about this book - something parents should be aware of before giving God's Great Creation to their kids. In this book, after God creates Eve, he says: "Use all you see with respect. And follow my one rule: do not eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil."

But the Bible does not say God told Adam and Eve to "use all you see with respect." It says (in Gen. 2:15, before Eve is even created) "The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. And the Lord God commanded the man, 'You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.'" So, God's Great Creation is not only a bit inaccurate, but also politically correct, which may bother some parents.

Overall Rating: I struggled with how to rate this book, given the "dislike" above. Ultimately, I think it's a good opportunity for parents to dig out the real Bible and compare the text with this book. Therefore, I'm giving this book a "Good" rating.

Age Appeal: about 4 - 8.


Publishing Info: Zondervan, 2014; ISBN:  978-0310732389; paperback, 32 pgs., $3.99

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The Adventures of Danny the Dinosaur

Children who love dinosaurs may be interested in checking out Dr. Kent Hovind’s series The Adventures of Danny the Dinosaur. A young Brachiosaurus narrates the books. This review looks at books numbers one and two in the series. Both books are illustrated by Brent Giles. The kid-friendly, cartoonish pictures have bright, bold colors and are crowded with details.

Book One: In the Garden of Eden. Danny opens the book by introducing himself. Then he talks about his great grandfather, Big D, and the Garden of Eden. Danny sums up most of the creation story by stating “God made everything we see in just six days,” and that God made Big D “just to show how awesome He was.”

We then see the world through Big D’s eyes. We see Adam and Eve in the garden with only one direction: They could eat the fruit from all of the trees there, except for one tree in the middle of the garden.

Adam and Eve play with Big D, climbing on his neck and taking rides around the garden. And then the snake comes and tempts Eve to disobey God. She eats the forbidden fruit, and so does Adam. Then they cover themselves with fig leaves until a fateful conversation with God, which results in their banishment from the garden.

The book closes with a quick explanation of God’s plan to fix the problem of sin by sending his son to pay the price for all of man’s sins. In addition, Danny gives the reader a glimpse into book two.

Book Two: The Big Boat This story picks up years after the first book, where mankind has multiplied but are wicked and sinful. Danny’s great grandfather, Big D, spots Noah building a big boat and wonders why. He soon learns from an owl that mankind has followed the way of Cain, and that because of this, God plans on destroying them in a flood. The book then takes a side trip to tell about the story of Cain and Abel. (This also entails a quick reference to the Garden of Eden.)

Big D helps Noah build the ark, then watches as animals board it. Once the door is shut on leering spectators, the rains come. Everyone on the boat is safe. The story ends with Noah and his family still on the boat. The remaining pages provide a short plan of salvation for the reader and a sneak peek at book three… where we find out what happens after the flood.

What I Like: Although somewhat heavy-handed (and at the same time perhaps underdeveloped), I appreciate the author addressing faith in Christ. It is evident he has a heart to reach children with the message of salvation.

What I Dislike: Yes, I know this is a fictional tale, but it mixes the Biblical account into it. In so doing, the author takes some liberties with Scripture. For example, he speculates on what Adam and Eve saw and which animals they interacted with (including the dinosaur). When Noah builds his boat, Big D helps him pull trees and lift wood. The animals are also given human-like qualities and thought processes.

One annoying feature of the text is the way the author stretches out some of the words. Words like long, great, so, tall, and amazing become l-o-o-o-n-g, g-r-e-a-a-a-t, s-o-o-o-o, t-a-a-a-l-l-l and a-m-a-a-a-z-i-n-g.

Finally, I wish the author had picked a different name for the dinosaur. “Danny”, for me, is too reminiscent of Sid Hoff’s classic children’s book Danny and the Dinosaur.

Overall Rating: Good

Age Appeal: It's listed for ages 3 and up, but I think the text is too long and mature for 3 year olds. I suggest ages 4-8.

Publisher Info: Bridge Logos Pub, 2010 (book one) 2011 (book two); ISBN:978-0882709116(book one), 9781584680741 (book two); Paperback, 25 pgs., $5.95
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Special Info: God is depicted in the first book. Although his face is not shown (a burst of light beams stemming from where a face should be cloaks His features), a humanoid-shaped body is visible. Also, the book provides a website at www.drdino.com. However, when I went to this site, I didn’t find anything geared for children. Instead, it has products, articles and videos for adults interested in creation. If children expect to see something related to Danny, they will be disappointed.

Boby and Larry's Creation Vacation

If your kids like Veggie Tales, they are sure to enjoy learning about each day of creation in Bob and Larry's Creation Vacation. In this "I Can Read" level 1 book written by Karen Poth, Larry is planning a special vacation. "We're going to see all of God's creation!" he says. "We don't have enough time," says Bob. But Larry says all they need is 7 days.

"On the first day, God made the light," Larry says. So on this, their first vacation day, Bob and Larry bask in the sun at the beach, enjoying the light. "It was a good day!" Later, Larry says "God made the night" and he turns out the lights. Because Larry snores, "It was a better night for Larry than for Bob." "On the second day," Larry says, "God made the sky!" So the two friends fly on gliders.

And so on goes the vacation, each day citing a day of creation, as presented in the first two chapters of Genesis. At the end of the book, Bob and Larry are worn out from their vacation. It is the seventh day "so just like God, they decided to rest." The last page reads:

"And God saw everything that he had made, and, behold, it was very good."

What I Like: I like this fun approach to teaching kids about the days of creation. Few books on this topic hold my kids' attention, but this one does. It's a great way to introduce the topic - and follow it up with a reading about creation direct from the Bible.

What I Dislike: Nothing.

Overall Rating: Excellent.

Age Appeal: 4 to 8, but kids as young as 2 will enjoy having this book read to them, too.

Publishing Info: Zonderkidz; 2011; ISBN: 978-0310727316; paperback, 32 pgs., $3.99.

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Special Info: Read our other reviews of Veggie Tale books.

The Creation Story for Children

I’ve read lots of children’s books about the Creation story, but none quite like this one. The Creation Story for Children, written by Helen Haidle, tells the story of Creation, with passages from the Bible, and so much more.

The first part of the book starts with a Bible passage, such as Genesis 1:1-2. That is followed, on the same page, with an explanation of what happened in the Bible and how it relates to us, and a question (or questions) about the text. As in: “Try to imagine what it must have been like before God made the world. Nothing else existed, except God. WHO is God? The Almighty, All-knowing and All-powerful One who made everything we know and see. In the beginning, this God - the giver of all life – now began to work in the darkness.” Each text section is accompanied by outstanding, eye-catching illustrations. The book continues in this manner throughout the Bible’s story, from Genesis 1:1 through Genesis 2:3.

Then, there’s a section telling about some of God’s wonderful animal creations, such as the mouth-brooder fish, the hummingbird, and the hedgehog. An illustration of each featured creature is followed by a paragraph or two of description.

The last part of the book is about how God relates to children. This section gives assurances with a related Bible verse, all taken from Psalm 139. A couple of examples are “God Thinks of Me” referenced by Psalm 139:17-18 and “God Is with Me,” from Psalm 139:5, 9, 10.

The illustrations by David Haidle and Cheri Bladholm are vivid and vibrant and alive and exciting and just plain wonderful. The text is beautifully written and the illustrations complement the writing beautifully.

What I Like: Everything, especially the illustrations.

What I Dislike: Nothing.

Overall Rating: Excellent.

Age Appeal: The publisher doesn’t give an age group for the book, but Amazon says it’s for ages 4-8. I think this book appeals to a much larger audience than that, more like 4-12. The younger ones would certainly enjoy the illustrations, even if they don’t understand all of the text. The older ones will understand the text as well as the illustrations.

Publisher Info: Master Books, 2009; ISBN: 9780890515655; Hardcover, $14.99.

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Special Info: Read our reviews of other books illustrated by Cheri Bladholm.

The Grandchildren's Bible Journeys: The Creation Story

The Grandchildren’s Bible Journeys: The Creation Story, written and illustrated by Brenda Ricchi, combines a Bible story and modern-day children in an adventure from the book of Genesis.

Bryce and Ella are transported back through time with the aid of a Solar System Game Box they find in the playroom at Grandmama’s house. When Bryce drops the box on the floor, they hear a voice telling them to step on the box. They do so and are then taken to the time of creation. The children are able to witness the creation of the universe as it happens.

They watch light entering the universe (day one), the creation of the heavens (day two), the creation of earth (day three), etc. through day six. Although what they see is very exciting, it is also rather scary. They are frightened by everything that’s going on around them until they hear God telling them that they need not be afraid as he will take care of them. On day seven they are returned to Grandmama’s house.

Scripture is incorporated into the story line as dialogue from God. Also, the author provides a reference page at the back of the book with scripture references for the seven days of Creation.

The illustrations are computer-generated digitized images, most of which combine actual photos with artificial backgrounds.

What I Like: This is the first in a series of books by the author. The books will feature her grandchildren (six of them in all) in various adventures as they travel through time to witness events from the Bible. I think it’s a great way to honor your grandchildren and tell a Bible story at the same time. And, the pictures of real children enhance the storyline.

What I Dislike: Unfortunately, I felt the writing was a bit weak and stilted, especially the dialogue. The text is broken down into headings, such as “Day One of Creation,” “Day Two of Creation,” etc. However, the text of each individual section isn’t broken down properly into paragraphs, making the storyline, especially the dialogue parts, more difficult to follow.

Overall Rating: Good.

Age Appeal: 4-8

Publisher Info: Lulu Press, 2009; ISBN: 9780557149032; Paperback, $17.00.

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The Day the World Went Wacky

The Day the World Went Wacky, by Janine Suter, is a retelling of the Garden of Eden and the Fall. The story is told in first person rhyme, with the storyteller wondering if God made pain? The illustrations by Ruchard Gunther are detailed and cartoonlike.

After the young boy in the book wonders why bad things happen, he says:

"That night at my house, I had quite enough.
I reached for my Bible to find out some stuff.
I opened the cover to search for a clue,
And there was the answer. I'll tell it to you."

The book goes on to relate how sin came into the world, and hints at the end of the coming of a Savior. I like this paragraph:

"Then out of that skin and that animal hair
God made the two of them something to wear.
(Animals can't really pay for our sin,
But Jesus' blood can, and this pointed to Him)."

The end of the book points young people to Christ, and tells them that we need to trust Jesus to have our sins forgiven.

What I Like: When I first looked at this book, I expected that it would take liberties with the Bible story. But it is Biblically accurate. I commend the author for staying true to the story. I also like the strong and clear gospel message.

What I Dislike: The opening of this book is a little scary. It portrays a very frightening trip to the dentist, depicted in words and pictures. I'm a little reluctant to show it to my three year old daughter, who hasn't had her first trip yet! The illustrations may be a little "too much" for some, but they are very imaginative. If you are not into cartoons and humor with Bible stories, this book may not be for you. For example, to cover his nakedness on one of the pages, Adam holds a tennis racket in front of him.

Overall Rating: Good

Age Appeal: 4-8

Publisher Info: New Leaf Publishing Group/Master Books, 2009; ISBN:0890515751 ; Hardcover $9.99.

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Special Info: Click here to see our review of another of Janine Suter's books.

Seven Special Days

Seven Special Days, written by Henrietta D. Gambil, is a short picture book about the creation of the universe. Like most books about creation, this one starts with the beginning, when there was nothing at all, and ends with the seventh day, when God rested. Then, the author adds this paragraph:

I’m glad that God created
Everything we can see.
But most of all I’m glad
That he loves even me!

Thank you, God.

As you can see, the text is in rhyme. Parts of it are fine (like this verse), but there are many parts where the rhyme scheme is forced or the rhythm is off. Although this is true, the text also includes repetition at the end of most of the verses, making it more readable and enjoyable for kids.

The mostly bright illustrations by Hallie Gillett are cute, cartoon-like and very kid-friendly.

What I Like: The illustrations are my favorite part, especially the depiction of the creation of Eve!

What I Dislike: I’ve said it before, and I’ll probably say it again, books written in rhyme are very difficult to do well. Unfortunately, this is another example of the when the rhyme just doesn’t work well.

Overall Rating: Good.

Age Appeal: 3-7.

Publisher Info: Standard Publishing, 2005; ISBN: 9780784717172; Paperback, $2.29.

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Special Info: This book is part of Standard Publishing’s Happy Day Bible Stories series of books. Read our reviews of other Happy Day Books. Read our reviews of other books illustrated by Hallie Gillett.

Journey to the Ice

Journey to the Ice was a fitting book to read while cozy on my couch in the snowy Midwest! Jennifer Slattery tells the story of Makir, an eight-year-old boy living at the time the tower of Babylon was built. Although the rest of the townspeople are excited when Nimrod announces he plans to build a giant tower reaching towards the gods, Makir is uneasy. He senses there is something evil about Nimrod and his plans to build the tower, but can't put his finger on what. As work on the temple progresses, Makir overhears Nimrod gloating about the way the people are beginning to worship him.

Makir wants to help his father and older brothers, but he is strangely drawn to crazy old Shem, who tells stories of a flood covering the earth. Makir is also confused, but comforted, by a still, small voice which seems to answer his questions about Shem's God, Yahweh. Suddenly, one day, the men working on the tower can only hear gibberish. No one can communicate with anyone who is not in their family and work on the temple grinds to a halt. Makir recognizes this event as the hand of God, and wishes his own family would turn to Yahweh. When he tries to tell his family about Yahweh, his mother is furious and refuses to speak to him.

As resources become more and more scarce, Makir's father decides they must move. Their journey leads them to colder and colder regions, and they finally are forced to take shelter in caves and hunt woolly mammoths for food and skins. Makir and his brothers spend the long winter painting pictures on the wall of the cave, and staying away from the huge walls of ice.

Makir learns to trust in God and recognize his voice, and he tells his younger cousins about God as well. He teaches them the stories he learned from Shem, and he tells them about God's answers to his prayers. As the book ends, Makir prays for his mother to love him again, and his heart is overjoyed when she reaches down and hugs him.

What I Like: Slattery writes a compelling novel chronicling one boy's journey of faith, but she also attempts to answer many questions about the ice age, dinosaurs, cave men and the flood. Regardless of your opinions about evolution, creation, young earth theory or intelligent design, this novel provides lots of food for thought and discussion. Slattery explains, at the end of the book, 500 flood stories exist in various cultures around the world. She includes several examples for our consideration. She also proposes perhaps early man walked hunched over as a result of a vitamin deficiency, rather than evolutionary process. Dinosaurs are known as "great lizards" and Makir's people are careful to avoid their territories.

Slattery also provides a simple, biblically accurate salvation message, with Scripture references, at the end of the last chapter.

What I Dislike: Sometimes it is hard to write authentic dialogue when the setting is so far removed from modern-day life. At one point, Makir says he feels like he may "puke," which sounds forced.

Also, when Makir hears God's voice, it is comforting and biblically accurate, but it may be frustrating for readers who wish God would speak to them as clearly. If your reader doesn't feel God speaks to them in the same way, you may want to remind them of the importance of reading the Bible and and the counsel of other believers as well.

Overall Rating: Good/very good depending on your views of creation, evolution, young earth theory, etc. . .

Age Appeal: 8-12

Publisher Info: Myth Slayers Ministries, 2008; ISBN: 978-0578004600; Paperback, $8.95

Buy it at Amazon.com for $8.95.

The Work of His Fingers

The Work of His Fingers was written and illustrated by Alison Brown. As the subtitle suggests, it is "an illustrated rhyme in praise of creation."

The text explains that our world was not created by some big explosion, but rather by a God of vast understanding and power. He used His infinite wisdom to place the earth in just the right spot so that we could live with water and air, day and night, all the things we need to be comfortable and happy. His intricate design goes even to the depths of fruits and vegetables. The author emphasizes that all things follow their own kind and that life comes only from life. It ends by asserting:

"There's no need to debate or question or doubt
what God has so wonderfully done...
for the evidence all around us agrees
with Genesis chapter one!"

The illustrations, done mostly in colored pencils, are quite detailed. They alternate between full-color and black and white, but always offer realistic images and high contrast.

What I Like: I love the content of this book. It's doesn't push specific creation theories (such as the length of a day of creation or what happened to the dinosaurs), but rather confronts evolutionary theories by elevating the power and creativity of God. It's beautifully written, wonderful poetry of true praise. My kids really like the illustrations, as do I. They're very well done!

What I Dislike: I feel the text would have been stronger if written in prose. The poetry flows nicely, but it detracts from the content. Toward the end of the book, one illustration shows a monkey. My five-year-old exclaimed "Oh! This book is about monkeys!" While my kids really enjoy this book, this reaction shows me they didn't get it. It's not at all about monkeys, but this was the conclusion they reached. The sing-songy rhythm led them to rely on the illustrations more than the text for comprehension.

Overall Rating: Very Good.

Age Appeal: 4-8, though I think kids up to age 10 might enjoy it.

Publisher Info: Banner of Truth, 2007; ISBN: 0851519652; Paperback; $8.00

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Who Made the World?

Teaching our children Who Made the World is a basic lesson all Christian parents can begin instilling from infancy. Simply mentioning that God made the pet cat, the apples we eat, the flowers in the garden, etc. is an excellent first step. So is reading the biblical creation story. So is there a place for a book like Who Made the World? by Kathleen Long Bostrom?

This book follows the same format as all the other "Little Blessings" titles. First, there are questions (in rhyme) written as though a small child were asking them:

"So who made the world?
God, I think it was you.
Did you have a helper?
If so, tell me who.

What was the first thing
you made, and the last?
Did you snap your fingers
to make it go fast?"

The next section of the book (also written in rhyme) answers the child's questions. In this particular title, the answers are written as though God is speaking. He tells us that even in the beginning, before the earth was formed, Jesus and the Holy Spirit were with him. He also says he spoke "Let there be light!" to begin forming things. Next came the sky, seas, plants, and so on (as detailed in Genesis). He tells us people are special because they are made in God's image, and that when he finished making them, he took a rest. He also says some day "all of creation will sparkle like new./My home will be earth,/and I'll live there, with you!" In the meantime, He tells us to be kind and to care for the earth.

What I Like: I like that this book mentions end times in a simple way and that the author backs up all her claims with Bible references in the back of the book. I also appreciate Elina Kucharik's illustrations of children with many skin colors exploring God's world.

What I Dislike: I'm not sure why you need this book if you have a decent children's Bible. I'm also uncomfortable with the way "God" speaks in this book. For example, "God" says that in the beginning, he "had an indea-/just a glimmer, a spark./ I took a deep breath/and said, 'Let there be light!'" This mixture of biblical quotations and made up thinking behind God's actions doesn't suit me.

That said, overall, I have no strong feelings of like or dislike for this book - and neither does my 4 year old.

Overall Rating: Good.

Age Appeal: 3 - 6.

Publishing Info: Tyndale, 2009; ISBN: 978-1414320113; hardback, $9.99

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Special Info: Read our other reviews of "Little Blessings" books. Read our reviews of other books by Kathleen Long Bostrom and Elena Kucharik.

Books We Wish Were In Print: The Creation Story

The text of The Creation Story is taken entirely from the New Living Translation Bible with illustrations provided by Norman Messenger. Simple in concept and rich in execution, each of the major divisions of the days of creation are illustrated with sumptuous, 8 1/2" x 11" illustrations.

I'm so thankful that I was able to purchase this title when ChristianBook.com was clearing out their stock. I can't believe it's no longer in print!

What I Like: The illustrations are absolutely astounding! I've never read a creation account with such detailed pictures. God's majesty and power are clear when He creates the basic features of the Earth. The complexity of God's creation is emphasized through the large selection of species and types presented as He creates plant and animal life. I could not name all of the mammals, fish, birds, fruits and seed-bearing plants that were included in the illustrations, many uncommon. Adam and Eve are presented nude which is biblically accurate, while being modestly veiled by landscaping features.

What I Dislike: While I appreciate the concept of using scripture alone to accompany the illustrations, the New Living Translation is not a Bible our family uses. We would have preferred King James Version text.

Overall Rating: Excellent.

Age Appeal: The publisher recommends ages 4 - 8, but I think it is excellent for all ages. After all, it is one of my own favourites as an adult.

Publishing Info: Tyndale Kids, 2001; ISBN: 0842331980; hardback

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At Break of Day

At Break of Day, written by Nikki Grimes and illustrated by Paul Morin, is a fictionalized version of the Creation story, written like a conversation between two people, a father and his son. It begins, “Once upon a time there was no time. There was no earth, or sky, or sea. There was only darkness and the waters of the deep and a father and son who watched over them.”

The story continues: “The son, knowing exactly what was in his father’s heart, asked, ”Now, Father?” And the father said, “Yes, Son. Now.” Then the son leaned over the darkness and softly blew over the waters. The darkness swirled as though a giant finger had dipped into it and given it a stir. And that’s how the universe began.”

In this version, the universe is being created by the son while the father watches and approves. The story continues as the universe is created according to the Bible story: The father and son use six days to create the universe and then, on the seventh day, they rest.

The story references the Scripture, but not the book of Genesis, as expected. Instead, the Biblical reference is from Hebrews 1:1-2, which reads: “Long ago God spoke to our ancestors in many and various ways by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom he also created the worlds.” [New Revised Standard Version]

The illustrations are a mixed bag of media forms, with some of the pages looking like they were painted and some looking like they were fashioned from bits of fabric. The artist uses bold colors and an assortment of textures to illustrate the text on double-page spreads throughout the book.

What I Like: I like the artwork; it’s vibrant and original. I also like the idea of a traditional Bible story being told from a different perspective.

What I Dislike: However, having said that, I don’t like the story beginning with the words “Once upon a time,” as that invokes images of a fairy tale, not a story depicting the Creation of the universe. I am also uncomfortable with the idea of both the father and the son creating the universe together. This is in conflict with the traditional Biblical version of Creation. One reviewer of this book, whose review I read elsewhere, insisted that the Bible verse, John 1:3, states the Son (Jesus) was present at the time of Creation. I don’t agree with that view, and I haven’t found any evidence to back it up, so that perspective bothers me, and it will probably bother other people who hold traditional Christian views on Biblical topics.

Overall Rating: Because of the things I don’t like about the book, I will give it a “Ho- Hum” rating.

Age Appeal: 4-8.

Publisher Info: Eerdman’s Books for Young Readers, 1999; ISBN: 0802851045; Hardcover: $17.00.

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Creation Song

Creation Song is the debut children's book by Anna Scott-Brown. This book depicts God's act of creation as more than just spoken words, but rather a dance and a song poured forth from love.
At the beginning of the story, God is all alone. He imagines a world filled with friendship and laughter, love and beautiful creatures. God starts to sing. His song picks up the corners of nothing and folds it into a ball. God breathes on it sending the sphere to its location within the universe. Then God begins to dance. His steps result in pricks of light which join together to make the sun. The sun runs to the waters, created by God's tears of joy, and sees reflected in it the moon. The tears of God water the earth. When the earth laughs, plants and colors fill its surface. The laughter and song continue until all the earth is filled with beautiful creatures. When God begins to sing again, man and woman are the result. When creation is done...
"... at the centre was God with the two beings he had made in his own likeness. They combined within themselves all the music of his soul and all the love of his heart and all the joy of creation. All creation danced with him."
The stylistic illustrations by Elena Gomez fill the pages with color. They're imaginative and bold. The faces of Adam and Eve are quite realistic.
What I Like: It's beautiful! Poetic in its description, it reminds me of African fables. While it's not biblically accurate, it does encourage kids to imagine the wonder of creation. It takes them to a new level of understand how nothing became everything because of God's design and love. The illustrations are wonderful! My kids really like the pictures of the animals.
What I Dislike: It's not biblically accurate. Also, it took a few readings before my kids liked this book. They were bored by the beginning because the pictures show what the story describes: nothing.
Overall Rating: Very Good. (If I were not judging it as a "Christian" book, I would definitely give it an Excellent rating. Because this site is dedicated to teaching our children biblical truths through literature, the artistic liberties taken require me to rate it lower.)
Age Appeal: 4-8
Publisher Info: Lion Hudson, 2007; ISBN: 0745960499; Hardback; $12.95
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The Story of Creation

The Story of Creation by Patricia A. Pingry, with illustrations by Stacy Venturi-Pickett, is an excellent first look at who created the universe.
"Before there was anything, there was God," the author says. Then she details what God made on each of the seven days of creation: Light, sky, oceans and dry land and plants, the sun and moon, fish, birds, land animals, and humankind. Then, we learn, God looked around and called all he had made "good." God rested.
The author ends by emphasizing: "God made one more thing. God made you!"
What I Like: I really like that the illustrations, which are bold and bright, don't try to depict biblical times. Instead, the illustrator shows modern children appreciating God's creation. For example, when the author says God created man and woman, the illustrator shows a child going with his mother and father to the playground, and when the author mentions that God created land animals, we see children playing with cats and dogs. I think this makes it easier for young children to relate to what's being read to them...and it helps them to understand that what God created isn't just something from long ago. It still applies today.
I also appreciate that the author, while keeping her text simple, does more than merely list the basic categories of things God made. For example, when she says God made the plants, she writes: "He made kiwi fruit, persimmons, watermelon, rutabagas, bamboo, and every plant that grows."
This book is a terrific way to introduce the biblical idea of creation - and a great way to teach young children what God created on each of the seven days of creation.
What I Dislike: Nothing.
Overall Rating: Excellent.
Age Appeal: According to the publisher, 4 - 8, but younger children will enjoy this book, too.
Publishing Info: Candy Cane Press, 2003; ISBN: 0824965043; board book, $7.95.
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