Hooked on the Book

Hooked On The Book: Patrick's Adventures Through the Books of the Bible (Morgan James Kids) by Liz and Jack Hagler is a chock full of great information put in a kid friendly way to give children a great overview of what is contained in each book of the Bible.

Each large comic strip styled page of this 96 page book gives a fantastic overview of each book of the Bible along with little tidbits and great connections to give kids not only a book by book view but the overall thread that starts in Genesis and ends in Revelation.

The book is broken into chapters to give logical places to stop to keep children (and adults) from being overwhelmed by all of the content

I do not usually like busy pages in kids books, but the busyness of the pages in this book works.  So much information is given concerning each book of the Bible, I think the authors chose the best format to present it.

What I Like: As a homeschool mom, I try to teach both of my children the same information as much as possible. I was able to read this book to both of my children (ages 4 and 8), and they were both equally engaged.

I also really liked the illustrations. They appear to be hand drawn but they really work with the style of this book. Some of the information has been cleverly inserted into the illustrations, which kept me looking at the pages long after I had read the actual words.

What I Dislike: I really liked this book.

Overall Rating: Excellent

Age Appeal: 6-12 years old

Publisher Info: Hagler Publishing, 2011; ISBN: 978-0-615-46549-4; hardcover, 96 pgs., $19.95


Buy it Now at Christianbook.com for $17.96

OR Buy it at Amazon.com for $14.14


 

My Big Book of Bible Stories

My Big Book of Bible Stories: Bible Stories! Rhyming Fun! Timeless Truth for Everyone! by Phil A. Smouse is a fun way to introduce your young ones to Bible stories.

The Bible stories are all written in a rhyming fashion which, as the back cover suggests, "sound a lot like Dr. Seuss!" By finding creative ways to rhyme words and with the use of nonsensical words, the author has brought a new way to teach these accounts to children.

What I Like: I really enjoyed the formation of the rhymes. It has been great to read these to my children and see them smile just as widely as me as the words used to make the rhymes complete.

The illustrations are simple, colorful, and cartoon-like which perfectly matches the Dr. Seuss style of writing.

What I Dislike: I wish the stories had been left in chronological order. While it starts out with "Creation" and "Adam and Eve", it then jumps to "Daniel and the Lions" and back to "David and Goliath."

One of my main goals in teaching my children God's Word is to develop a deep respect for the Bible and the Heroes of the Faith inside. I personally felt that some of the approaches to the characters were too light-hearted for my taste (I am not a super uptight person). I understand that some of this was due to the need to make the verse rhyme.

Overall Rating: Very good

Age Appeal: 3-8 years old

Publisher Info: Barbour Books, 2011; ISBN: 9781607428947; e-book, 256 pgs., $14.99


Buy it Now at Christianbook.com for $9.69

OR Buy it at Amazon.com for $14.99

The Play- Along Bible

My almost four-year-old daughter Ella loved the Play-Along Bible by Bob Hartman!  


Before we even had a chance to read it to her, my daughter loved looking at it on her own during her "nap" time in her bed. The colorful and kid-friendly illustrations by Susie Poole invited her into this hardcover storybook. There were 50 carefully chosen stories from both the Old and New Testament that each had a beautiful drawing to accompany it.

At bedtime, my husband always reads to my daughter. She has several different Bibles and devotionals that we have used. What was different about this book was the multi-sensory approach.  Each story had motions that the parent models as they are reading to encourage the child to participate with during the story. 

For example, while reading the story of Noah, in parentheses the book guides the parent by telling them when to encourage the child to make motions. They suggest the reader make animal noises, slap their hands on their legs to mimic the sound of the rain coming down, pretend they are hammering like Noah building the ark and more!
 
What I Like: I like how this Bible storybook will hit more than one of your child's senses when reading this book. Not all children learn the same. Some are visual learners and will learn best through looking at the pictures. Some are auditory learners and will learn best through hearing the story read to them. These two types of learners can have their needs met through most Bible storybooks. I liked how this Bible storybook meets the needs of the kinaesthetic learner who learns best through movement. These learners are often left out with traditional storybooks. This book would not disappoint. It is a great way to enhance a child's understanding of God's Word at a young age.
 
What I Dislike:  Nothing
 
Overall Rating: Excellent
 
Age Appeal: 3-6 years old
 
Publisher Info: Tyndale Kids,  2015;  ISBN: 978-1-4964-0864-8 ; Hardcover, 104 pgs.,  $12.99

Buy it Now at ChristianBook.com for $10.99
OR Buy it  at Amazon for $12.99

Enoch Walked With God

Enoch. No, that's not a punch line to a knock-knock joke... it's the name of a man who lived before the flood and Noah's ark. He was one of the few men in the Bible who did not see death. Instead, he was taken directly to heaven by God.

The book Enoch Walked With God by Larry Hunt speculates on the life of this man and the manner in which his devotion to God manifested itself.  The book begins by quoting the three lines of Scripture that mention Enoch. Then, though not described in the Bible, the book paints a picture of a gentle, peaceful Enoch who played with children, showed kindness, planted seeds and harvested a field for a widow, and spoke with wisdom.

 The book is written in rhyme and capped off with the title words as a refrain. The meter is even and well constructed, giving it a gentle, sing-song feel. The text is large-sized with only a few lines per page. Illustrations are done in a two page spread. These are quite simple in presentation, and slightly cartoonish in look for some of the characters. Though they hold few details, the colors are bright.

What I Like: The rhyme in this book works, which is refreshing. The repeated refrain will appeal to younger readers, who can anticipate (and recite!) the words. And, though plain, the illustrations work fairly well to complement the text.

What I Dislike: As I mentioned, much of what is described as Enoch's life in this book is speculative. However, because the book holds no historical background information or author explanation for how Enoch's actions were discerned, it reads as fact. In other words, one could easily believe that playing with children, plowing widow's fields, and so on came directly from Scripture... and they don't. So, while I liked the idea of the story and appreciated the construction of the poetic elements, I wish that the speculative aspect would have been made clear.

Overall Rating: Good. However, had the author clarified where his ideas came from, I probably would have ranked it as very good. In other words, if you are a parent willing to take a moment prior to reading the book to explain to your child how you think the author likely developed his ideas, I think it's worth looking at.

Age Appeal: None is given, but I recommend younger ages, likely the preschool- kindergarten crowd.

Publisher Info: Eastern Gate Press, 2014; ISBN: 978-0615850559; Paperback and Kindle, 38 pgs., $9.00

This book is not available at Christianbook.com.
Buy the paperback at Amazon.com for $10.79  or the Kindle version for $2.99.

Great Kings of the Bible: How Jesus is greater than Saul, David and Solomon

Author Deepak Reju succinctly reveals the purpose of his book through its title, Great Kings of the Bible: How Jesus is greater than Saul, David, and Solomon.

In fact, on page one, Reju gets straight to the heart of the matter... that while we can study and gain inspiration from the three greatest kings of Israel, their lives pale in comparison to the only one true king, Jesus Christ.

In the book, Reju  uses straightforward, kid-friendly language, but he doesn't skimp on the details. With uncompromising honesty, he highlights each kings' heroic deeds and their tragic flaws. In that way, the reader somehow experiences rich, full-bodied history in an almost Willie Wonka complete-meal-in-a-stick-of-gum manner (only without the dire consequence of turning into a blueberry at the end).

The book starts with a one page introduction followed by three major sections devoted, in order, to Saul, David, or Solomon. Each section is further divided into smaller, bite-sized chunks and ends with a summary that compares each to the perfection of Christ. In that way, Reju clearly demonstrates how, no matter how incredible these men where in the eyes of the world, Jesus surpassed them all.

The text is accompanied by lifelike, "old-school" illustrations that are simply packed with detail, from tiny weaving patterns in the clothing to pollen on the plants. (Note: I have a soft spot for this style of illustration since it's reminiscent of the 1970 Sunday School papers I read as a child.)

What I Like: I appreciated the way Reju provided a balanced look at the pros and cons of each man's life, and how, with laser focus, he redirected the readers to the book's theme: Christ is our ultimate king. The book lends itself well to family-style devotions. It also makes an easy Sunday School lesson. Best of all, it's got a great price point for a hardcover book!

What I Dislike: Although the author remained faithful to Scripture, I still would have appreciated Scripture references; there are none in the book.

Overall Rating: Excellent

Age Appeal: 5-9 years

Publisher Info: CF4Kids, 2014; ISBN: 978-1781912911; Hardcover, 48 pgs., $9.99

Buy it Now at Christianbook.com for $8.19
OR Buy it at Amazon.com for $8.65.

Bob Hartman's More Bible Tales: The Unauthorized Version

Bob Hartman's More Bible Tales: The Unauthorized Version, written and illustrated by Bob Hartman is the third book in the author’s series of Bible tales. This one is a collection of Bible stories told from unusual perspectives. For instance, the story of Noah’s ark is told from the perspective of Noah’s dog, and the story of Judas is told by his nephew.

The word “unauthorized” in the title refers to the opposite of the word “authorized” or “official”. These are stories that are told from the point of view of someone (or something) that is not mentioned in the Bible.

As can be expected from such a collection of stories, there is humor involved. As the author says in the Introduction to the book, “I tried to tell the stories in a way that would be true to the original, but also in a way that would bring out the humour in them.”

The pencil sketched illustrations are cartoonish in nature, but they are very expressive and work well with the text.

What I Like: I like reading stories like this, being able to hear a well-known story from a different character’s point of view. It provides a whole new perspective to the story

What I Dislike: Having said that, some readers might see these stories as being irreverent. I don’t believe that is the author’s intention, but you might feel otherwise.

I had read one of Hartman’s earlier books in the series, Bob Hartman’s Old Testament Tales, which I thoroughly enjoyed. I liked most of the stories in this edition, too, but not all of them. The one about Noah was told from the point of view of Noah’s dog. That’s not a problem. But, according to the dog, the ark hadn’t even been built yet (the story took place before the building began), but at the end of the story, the dog gets on the boat. How could he do that if the boat hadn’t been built yet? Little inconsistencies like that in a story bother me.

Overall Rating: Very good.

Age Appeal: Ages 8 and up.

Publisher Info: Lion Children’s Books, 2013; ISBN: 9780745964355; Paperback, 95 pages, $8.99.

Buy now at ChristianBook $7.19!

Or buy at Amazon.com $8.09.

Amazon Kindle Version - $6.83.

 

Special Info: The book was published in England so the text reflects the British way of spelling and speaking. For instance, “humor” is spelled “humour” and “Mom” is known as “Mum.”

Read our reviews of other books written and illustrated by Bob Hartman.

Thoughts to Make Your Heart Sing

Sally Lloyd-Jones is my favorite Christian children's author, and she has not let me down with her book Thoughts to Make Your Heart Sing.

In Thoughts to Make Your Heart Sing, Sally Lloyd-Jones takes Bible accounts and accounts from the lives of well known Christians, breaks them into small, bite-sized pieces that children can easily comprehend, and then ties in Scripture that shows God's great love, grace, and mercy towards us.

Each devotional page contains two to three small paragraphs that discuss a specific Bible account or a simplified biography of a well known Christian from history and relates the account to the particular biblical principle being focused on that day. The reading is followed up by a verse or paraphrase of a verse that completes the reading.

For instance, on page 186, the biblical principle is that faith in Christ brings light. The author briefly explains that most people believe faith is blind, but God's Word says the opposite. She goes on to show how John Newton, the author of the hymn "Amazing Grace,"  explained the change in his life with the words, "I once was blind... but now I see!" The selection ends with a reading of John 8:12.

At the end of the book, there is a "Bibliography and Sources- (or More Things to Think About)" section with a list of where the author sites direct quotes from others (C. S. Lewis, D. L. Moody, and Jonathan Edwards, to name a few) that were used throughout the book.

The presentation of this book makes it perfect to give as a gift. The leather bound edition comes in an illustrated box that matches the illustrations inside the book.

What I Like: Each devotional in Thoughts to Make Your Heart Sing is short (most being one page) but holds a lot for one to think about.

For me, one of the highlights of Sally Lloyd-Jones books has always been the illustrations. Once again, Sally Lloyd-Jones has teamed up with Jago (the illustrator of The Jesus Story-book Bible), who does not disappoint! The illustrations are a perfect match for the devotional of the day. Recalling the illustration brings to mind the passage for the day, and vice versa.

What I Dislike: I liked everything about this book. 

Overall Rating: Excellent.

Age Appeal: The publisher states the age range at juvenile. I think children 5-12 years old would enjoy this book.

Publisher Info: Zonderkids, 2012; ISBN: 978-0-310-74338-5; paperback (leather bound), 224 pgs., $22.99

Buy It Now at Christianbook.com for $16.49

OR Buy it at Amazon.com for $16.55

Special Info: You might want to read other reviews of books written by Sally Lloyd-Jones.

My Story Time Bible

My Story Time Bible, retold by Sophie Piper, features just twelve stories, six from the Old Testament and six from the New Testament. The ones for the Old Testament are: God Made the World; Noah and the Flood; Moses and the Princess; David and Goliath; Jonah and the Whale; and Daniel and the Lions. The ones for the New Testament are: The First Christmas; Jesus and the Fishermen; Jesus and Prayer; Jesus and the Miracle; The Lost Sheep; and the First Easter.

The book is 319 pages in length, so each story averages nearly 26 pages. These pages are filled with a mixture of illustrations and text.

The illustrations by Estelle Corke are colorful and expressive. Some cover a two-page spread complete with text, while other layouts have a full-sized illustration on one side, and a smaller illustration with the text on the other.

What I Like: I like the illustrations. I think they are especially suited for a book of this nature.

What I Dislike: I’m a bit uncertain as to the targeted age group for this book as none is stated. The stories are rather long and most of the vocabulary seems suited for older readers, but the format, i.e., a small book with pictures on every page, seems more suited to younger readers.

Also, no Bible references were given for any of the stories.

Overall Rating: Okay.

Age Appeal: 6-10?

Publisher Info: Lion Children’s Books, UK, 2012; ISBN: 9780745962146; Hardcover, 320 pages, $14.99

Buy now at ChristianBook$11.99!

Or buy at Amazon.com $12.78.

 

Special Info: Read our reviews of other books illustrated by Estelle Corke. Read our reviews of other books written by Sophie Piper. Visit the illustrator’s website.

The Lion Children's Bible

The Lion Children's Bible offers an extensive collection of paraphrased stories from both the Old and New Testaments.

The author, Pat Alexander, has labeled the two sections with subtitles: the Old Testament as "the story of God's people" and the New Testament as "the story of Jesus and his followers."

With over 70 chapters, most of the major stories of Scripture are included. Most just 2-4 pages. Some, like the life of Daniel, include sub-stories and extend to as many as seven pages. All contain full-color illustrations by Carolyn Cox.

What I Like: The watercolor drawings are quite attractive. The do offer some white space in speckled form, similar to what you'd find with block printing, but I really liked them. They were skillfully done. This is book parallels Scripture well. Over the years I've grown wary of this publisher, having seen too many inconsistencies, inaccuracies and condescending tones of atheist skepticism in their books. This one, however, surprised me with its level of reverence and biblical consistency. It even includes biblical references (book and chapter) at the beginning of each chapter.

What I Dislike: The writing lacked a smooth flow. It often felt stilted or clipped. Also, the book ended with Paul's shipwreck (Acts 27). While this provides a solid historical account of the Apostle's life, the remaining 22 books of the New Testament, most of which were written by him, are never mentioned. I understand the difficulties of translating epistles for children, but still consider this a grand omission. If you're looking for a first introduction to Scripture, this book will fit the bill nicely. If you want a full children's Bible, this isn't it.

Overall Rating: Good.

Age Appeal: The publisher says 7-12. I feel this refers more to the reading level than the age appeal. My kids are 7 and 9 and were not interested in this book at all. I would say 4-9, depending on your child's interest and existing Bible knowledge.

Publisher Info: Lion UK, 2012; ISBN: 0745919391; Hardback; 256 pgs.; $ 12.99

Buy it Now at Christianbook.com for $9.99!
OR Buy it at Amazon.com for $11.69.

Special Info: We have reviewed a number of books by this publisher including The Lion Graphic Bible and The Lion Book of Prayers to Read & Know (both of which received our highest rating), Baby's Little Bible, and The Lion Encyclopedia of the Bible.

Bob Hartman's Old Testament Tales: The Unauthorized Version

Bob Hartman’s Old Testament Tales: The Unauthorized Version, written and illustrated by Bob Hartman, is unlike any other Bible-story book I’ve ever read. That’s a good thing as it made me think about the Bible stories from a whole new perspective.

The author relates nine Bible stories, most of them well-known, but not from the usual point-of-view. For instance, in the story of Daniel in the lion’s den, the story is told from the point-of-view of one of the lions. And in the story of Joshua and the battle of Jericho, the story is told by one of the soldiers who marched around the walls of the city.

The pencil-sketched illustrations are cartoon-like and very complimentary to the text. The author includes a Table of Contents listing each story title along with its biblical text reference.

What I Like: These stories are short and are told with a wonderful sense of humor. I also liked reading them because they were written from a completely different and unexpected view point. It added a whole new dimension to the story. I think this would be a great book to use for discussing these Bible stories.

What I Dislike: This is not really a “dislike,” it’s more like a heads-up. The author included a couple of lesser-known Biblical stories: Balaam’s Donkey and Elijah’s Widow. Readers may not be familiar with these, but there are Biblical references included so they can look them up and compare the Bible version to the author’s.

Overall Rating: Excellent.

Age Appeal: 8-12.

Publisher Info: A Lion’s Children’s Book, 2012; ISBN: 9780745962832; Paperback, 95 pages, $8.99.

Buy now at ChristianBook $7.19!

Or buy at Amazon.com $8.99.

Buy the Kindle edition for $7.19.

 

Special Info: The book was published in England so the text reflects the British way of spelling and speaking. For instance, “humor” is spelled “humour” and “Mom” is known as “Mum.”

Read our reviews of other books by Bob Hartman.

Ravens' Mission (Animals of the Bible)

Ravens’ Mission is book number 2 in Marilyn Schuler’s Animals of the Bible series. This is the story from I Kings 17 about Elijah the prophet during a drought. Elijah had prayed for this drought as a dramatic demonstration of power over Baal, the pagan deity worshipped by the king. During this dry spell there was a shortage of food and drink, but Elijah received God’s provision in a miraculous way: On a daily basis, ravens carried food to Elijah.

However, Schuler does not provide the reader with this background, nor does she mention that the prophet in her story is Elijah. Instead, her story starts with a conversation between two raven brothers (Rob and Ray) and their father. The father raven, demonstrating great respect and faith in what he calls “Our Creator”, tells his sons that they have a mission to carry bread and meat to the prophet in the ravine. He sets up a schedule to deliver two meals a day, splitting the duty between the sons. Then dad leaves.

The raven boys are amazed that the meat and bread appear, just as their father had said. At this point, however, the older raven named Ray decides that he is not going to help on the mission and leaves Rob to do all the work. While Rob faithfully fulfills his task, he makes friends with the prophet.

Meanwhile, Ray starts to feel guilty for shirking his mission. He eventually returns to Rob and offers to help. From then on, the two brothers work together to deliver food.

Finally the food stops appearing, and the boys report to their father. He tells them, “Mission accomplished. Our Creator is pleased when we obey him.”

The story ends by citing the passage of Scripture where this story is found. Samantha Kickingbird created its delightful, realistic-looking illustrations.

What I Like: I appreciate the story being told from the raven’s point of view, and the inclusion of the Scripture passage so readers can fill in some of the gaps. Also, the illustrations are interesting and well drawn. While the ravens show a bit of human qualities in the way they talk to each other and in their body stances, they still look the way a raven outside your window might look. The book also comes with an audio book download, which is an added bonus!

What I Dislike: Although I liked the pictures, there is not much of a variety in color, which gives the book almost a cold, drab feel to it. Also, parts of the story are not well developed. We don’t have a clear idea why Ray would abandon his task, nor why he would start to feel guilty and return. Also, the reader is never told why there is a drought, why the prophet is hiding in the ravine, or why the drought ends. However, reading the Scripture passage would help clarify these missing parts of the story. Finally, the book is a little expensive for a paperback.

Overall Rating: Very Good

Age Appeal: No age group is cited, but I think it would work well for the K-1 crowd.

Publisher Info: Tate Publishing, 2012; ISBN: 978-1621475682; Paperback, 28 pgs., $9.99

Buy it Now at Christianbook.com for $8.19
OR Buy it at Amazon.com for $9.99
OR Buy the Kindle version for $6.39.

Candle Bible for Kids: Toddler Edition

If you’re looking for an engaging, sturdy Bible storybook for your toddler, consider Candle Bible for Kids: Toddler Edition.

The structure of this pint-sized Bible is kid-friendly. Though not a board book, it has a padded hardcover and thicker-than-normal pages that makes it quite durable. Inside it holds 14 Old Testament and 22 New Testament stories. The Old Testament stories include many familiar ones, such as the Creation story, Adam and Eve, and Noah’s Ark. The New Testament stories likewise include familiar tales, including the birth of Jesus and miracles and parables from Jesus’ ministry. A Scripture reference follows at the end each narrative.

Pages contain only a few lines of text and are accompanied by Jo Parry’s vivid, colorful, and affable illustrations. The average story runs about 4 pages in length…just long enough to hold an active toddler’s attention. Considering how few words are used per page to convey each story, you can imagine how well they had to be chosen by author Juliet David. Yet using simple but concise language, David hits all the main story points.

What I Like: I like the look, feel, and size of this Bible. Though geared for toddlers, it’s such a lovely book that I imagine preschoolers would enjoy it too. The illustrations have a “graphic art” look to them, which gives them a more modern appearance. Overall, this book would serve as a great introduction to popular Bible stories; however, because of the brevity of each story, parents may want to elaborate on details not included in this book.

What I Dislike: In some of the illustrations, the adult characters look a little young, almost childlike.

Overall Rating: Excellent

Age Appeal: Toddlers

Publisher Info: Candle Books, 2012; ISBN:978-1859859391; Hardcover, 160 pgs., $11.99

Buy it Now at Christianbook.com for $8.99
OR Buy it at Amazon.com for $8.99.

Cracking the Covenant Code for Kids

Kay Arthur and Janna Arndt have written Cracking the Covenant Code For Kids to give eight to twelve-year-old readers a chance to study the Bible inductively. Arthur explains, "That word inductive means you go straight to the Bible yourself to investigate what the Bible shows you about our awesome God, our amazing Savior, and the blessings of being in covenant with God through Jesus. In inductive Bible study, your 'discover 4 yourself' what the Bible says and means."

Arthur and Arndt use the backdrop of two children's visit with their uncle in Israel to guide readers through studying both Old Testament and New Testament covenants. Max and Molly have exciting adventures at various Israeli historical sites as they discover clues and crack codes meant to teach them about what the Bible says about covenant. Arthur and Arndt detail beliefs necessary to become a Christian, and emphasize the wonderful gift God's covenant is to Christians.

Each chapter contains multiple puzzles to be solved with codes, ciphers, diagrams, and symbolic alphabets.

What I Like: Arthur and Arndt are clearly excited about the good news of Christ. They want readers to enter into a life-changing, covenantal relationship with Jesus. They show readers how to read each word in a particular verse, and consider why individual words are important.

I loved learning more about Israeli life, customs and the Hebrew language.

The puzzles are clever and entertaining for readers of an analytical mindset.

What I Dislike:  Not being particularly analytical myself, I found the puzzles somewhat tedious and was often tempted to skip them, or guess at the correct answers.  If you enjoy crosswords, sudoku, word finds, and the like, you will probably enjoy this book.  However, if you like stories better, you may get frustrated with the constant interruptions to the narrative. 

Also, there is an elaborate system of  color-coding words in your Bible. (For example, draw a yellow box around the word "covenant" and color it red, double-underline the word "land" when it refers to the land of Canaan, with green and color it brown, and so on. . ..) I am sure adults who have completed Kay Arthur's Bible studies in the past would understand the rationale for all the color-coding, but the reason is never given in this book.

Third, I am concerned about the way Arthur and Arndt present salvation. In chapter three, they list thirteen items you must believe to be a Christian, but they emphasize the requirements more than the joy of being saved. Then, in the last chapter, they take readers through a list of the gifts of the Holy Spirit, (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, self-control) and ask readers to identify ways they fall short. One question reads, "Do you argue or get along with others? Do you lose your temper? Do you stir up trouble? If you do any of these things, write them down."  After a two-and-a-half page list of similar questions, Arthur concludes, "These characteristics show whether the Holy Spirit is living in you. Remember, in the New Covenant you have the power to do what God says is right because you have the Holy Spirit living in you! If there is no power, then you aren't saved."

Following this statement, Arthur tells readers to say their memory verse to an adult and the book ends two pages later. Arthur never reminds readers how to be saved, or reassures them salvation doesn't mean we will instantly be perfect. Certainly, our lives should show evidence of salvation, but I worry young people, who are much more black and white in their thinking than adults, would feel condemnation and guilt and would feel their own genuine commitments to Christ were not valid.

Overall Rating: Ho-hum.  Although I appreciate giving the 8-12 set a chance to do inductive Bible study, my concerns about the salvation message outweigh the positives. 
 
Age Appeal:  8-12

Publisher Info: Harvest House Publishers, 2012; ISBN: 978-0-7369-2595-2; Paperback, 222 pages, $12.99

Buy it Now at Christianbook.com for $9.99

Bedtime Bible Stories: More Than 180 Faith-Building Readings for Kids Ages 5-8

Bedtime Bible Stories: More Than 180 Faith-Building Readings for Kids Ages 5-8 was jointly authored by Jane Landreth, Daniel Partner, Renae Brumbaugh, and Linda Carlblom.

The book features, as the name suggests, more than 180 stories that relate to Bible verses. Some of the stories are simple re-tellings of Bible stories, but others are stories of how particular Bible verses relate to our lives.

Each story section is two pages long. The first page has an illustration along with a Bible verse. The second page contains the story that goes along with the verse as well as what the author calls a “Prayer Starter”. It’s actually a short prayer, only a sentence or two, that can be used by itself as a simple prayer or added to by the child if they feel comfortable doing so.

With the exception of the last verse/story, all are in chronological Biblical order, starting with Genesis 1 and ending with Revelations 22. The last story in the book talks about Jesus being the King of Kings. The Biblical reference for this entry comes from the book of Luke.

The illustrations are beautifully detailed, bright, expressive and very child-friendly.

What I Like: Just about everything. This is a Bible that should appeal to young children through its attention-getting images and its simple stories. I can see it as the type of Bible children will want to read (or have it read to them) over and over.

What I Dislike: Most Bibles that are geared to kids don’t include references to the book of Revelations. As far as I can recall, this is the first one I’ve read that does so. That doesn’t necessarily mean I dislike the reference to Revelation, but I think it is very difficult to explain verses from that particular book to adults, much less to children. I think the authors did a good job of referencing the three stories from Revelation, but Revelation itself does not lend itself well to further exploration beyond the very simplest explanations.

Also, I know I’m being picky here, but the introduction to the book, called “Welcome to the Wonderful World of Bible Stories!” says: “Here are more than 180 carefully-retold Bible stories presented in biblical order…” That’s not a completely accurate statement. Actually, most of the stories are simple retellings of Bible stories, but some of them are not; they are stories that illustrate how a particular Bible verse relates to our lives. I just thought I’d point that out to potential readers who might be surprised to find that not all the stories are actual Bible story “retellings” as indicated.

Overall Rating: Very good.

Age Appeal: 5-8 years.

Publisher Info: Barbour Publishing, 2012; ISBN: 9781616268435; Hardcover, 384 pages, $19.99.

Buy now at ChristianBook $14.99!

 

Or buy at Amazon.com $15.99.

 

Special Info: Read our reviews of other books written by Renae Brumbaugh and Linda Carlblom.

The Awesome Book of Unusual Bible Heroes

The Awesome Book of Unusual Bible Heroes for Kids, written by Sandy Silverthorne, features short chapters retelling twenty Bible stories of unexpected details. Some describe unique situations while others detail courage and leadership from unlikely characters.

Readers will get a glimpse into the lives and adventures of:

• The Egyptian Midwives (Exodus 1)
• Rahab (Joshua 2, 6)
• Ehud and Eglon (Judges 3)
• Deborah, Barak and Jael (Judges 4)
• Jonathan and his armor bearer (1 Samuel 14)
• David and Abigail (1 Samuel 25)
• Mephibosheth (2 Samuel 9)
• Ahimaaz and Jonathan (2 Samuel 15, 17)
• Naaman (2 Kings 5)
• Elisha and his servant (2 Kings 6)
• Jonah (Jonah 1-4)
• The Four Lepers (2 Kings 6-7)
• Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego (Daniel 3)
• Esther and Mordecai (Esther 3-5, 7-8)
• The Boy with the Lunch (John 6)
• Peter (Matthew 14)
• The Healed Lepers (Luke 17)
• Bartimaeus (Mark 10)
• Jesus (Matthew 20)

Each chapter begins with a short introduction and Bible references (for further study) then launches into a paraphrased re-telling of what happened. A short paragraph -- labeled "The Big Picture" -- offers questions for reflection and application.

Illustrations by the author may be found throughout the book. These are typically line drawings of a sketchy cartoon nature. They add a touch of whimsy to the already entertaining text.

What I Like: The storytelling quickly draws in readers. The book is funny and on a kids' level. The illustrations accentuate the humor, too. My kids really enjoyed them. I greatly appreciate the inclusion of Scripture references! These made it easy to validate the truth behind the stories by going straight to the Bible and reading them there. The author does take some creative liberties, especially with dialog and descriptions not specifically detailed in Scripture, but this book is quite accurate and, I felt, age-appropriate (even with the inclusion of Rahab). I like that this book features lesser-known stories of Scripture. Kids who have been in church their whole lives get tired of David vs. Goliath, Noah vs. the Flood and Daniel vs. the Lions. This book offers a way to reignite their wonder and excitement about God's Word.

What I Dislike: The story telling featured such animated details that I found myself questioning them. Referencing Scripture is a great thing, but not being able to fully trust what you're reading is not. I fear that, in many cases, the exaggerated tone might support doubters rather than reinforce the truths of God's supreme authority and divinity. I wish the author had better emphasized the truth behind each account.

Overall Rating: Very Good.

Age Appeal: 8-12, more likely to attract boys than girls, but my daughter (age 9) liked it

Publisher Info: Harvest House Publishers, 2012; ISBN: 0736929258; Paperback, 144 pages; $8.99

Buy it Now at Christianbook.com for $7.19!
OR Buy it at Amazon.com for $8.99.

Special Info: This title is also available in ebook format for $7.19 both from Christianbook.com or Amazon.com.

While I felt this book was age-appropriate for the target audience, some parents may take issue with included violence, particularly in Chapters 3 and 4. These accounts come from the book of Judges, a notoriously violent part of Scripture. The stories include battles and assassinations. I felt the author did a great job relaying the truths without offering gratuitous or excessively graphic details.

Martha & Mary: Friends of Jesus

Martha & Mary: Friends of Jesus, is one of the books in the Bibletime Series by Carine MacKenzie. This particular book deals with Mary, Martha, and Lazarus, from Luke 10, and John 11 and 12. The book is full of watercolor illustrations rendered by Duncan McLaren.

The book begins with Martha making preparations while Mary sits at Jesus' feet, listening to Him, and ends with Mary anointing Jesus' feet. At appropriate parts in the narrative, the author applies the Bible story to the heart of the child reading it.

For example, many children may wonder why Jesus did not rush to heal Lazarus when He received news that his friend was deathly ill. The author deals with this:

"Jesus knows everything. He had a far greater miracle to work in their lives. Lazarus died. Jesus had not come to heal him."

Everything in the retelling of this familiar Bible story will show the child reading that Jesus is truly the best Friend one can have.

What I Like: One of those most important things to me when picking Bible Story books for my children is Biblical accuracy. This book holds true to Scripture, yet artfully blends lessons within the text.

What I Dislike: I don't dislike anything about this book.

Overall Rating: Very Good

Age Appeal: 4-8, but I think younger children would profit from hearing this story read aloud.

Publisher Info: Christian Focus Publications, 2006; ISBN: 1845501675 ; Paperback, 32 pgs.,$3.99

Buy it Now at Christianbook.com for $3.49

OR Buy it at Amazon.com for $3.99

Additional Info: We have reviewed other books by Carine Mackenzie. Read those reviews here.

Psalms for Kids: Psalm 8

Psalm 8 is one of joy and praise: O Lord, our Lord, you majestic name fills the earth! Author Sherri Trudgian takes this beloved Psalm and sweetly retells it in her own words: Our God is awesome! His works are terrific. Look all around you—now let’s get specific…

Following the blueprint of the original Psalm, Trudgian highlights the planets and various animals, praising God’s handiwork throughout all creation in her book Psalms for Kidz: Psalm 8. Each page contains one or two quatrains of rhyming text and bright, kid-friendly watercolor artwork done by Melanie Moreland Krass. In addition, the inside cover contains a note to parents from the author and there is a page devoted to the original Psalm. The book concludes on the back cover with comments from both author and illustrator about planning stages in the book and ultimate product.

What I Like: I appreciate the inclusion of the original Psalm. I enjoyed comparing and contrasting it to the poem Trudgian created. The message is upbeat and has a repeating chorus young children will enjoy. The paintings, done by Krass, are whimsical and packed with curled, stripy, or zigzagging lines…and a nice accompaniment to the text.

What I Dislike: The rhyming meter is occasionally awkward. For example: God put sheep in flocks,/ Placed the cattle in herds,/ Fish in the ocean—/Filled the sky up with birds. Also, for the sake of the rhyme, the story contained empty “filler” words, making the story longer than it needed to be.

Overall Rating: Good. I enjoyed it, and I think young readers will too. It would also be a fun addition to a church library.

Age Appeal: None listed, but I suggest Preschool through first grade.

Publisher Info: Little Sprout Publishing House, 2011; ASIN: B00737WF9M ; Paperback, 32 pgs., $7.99

This book is NOT available at Christianbook.com.
Buy it at Amazon.com for $7.99.

Special info: Check out CCBR reviews of other books by Trudgian.

Losers Club: Lessons from the Least Likely Heroes of the Bible

Jeff Kinley's book Losers Club: Lessons From the Least Likely Heroes of the Bible invites teens to take a personal look at twelve characters from Scripture, recognizing how much we may have in common and what we can learn from their lives. The tone eliminates pretense and seems to set everyone on the same level. It asserts that God can (and wants to!) use everyone, even those who, from human perspective, appear to be losers.

The text is divided into three sections of four chapters, each detailing the life (or a few aspects of that person's life) and a specific question drawn from it.

Famous Doubters:

• Moses: Can God really use me?
• David: Is God really there?
• John the Baptist: Is Jesus really the Messiah?
• Thomas: Is Jesus really alive?

Faithful Failures:

• Solomon: Why do I feel so empty?
• Mary Magdalene: Can God use me after all I've been through?
• Samson: How can I stop messing up my life?
• John Mark: Will I always be a "Newb"?

Forgotten Heroes:

• Rahab: Does my life matter?
• Bartimaeus: Am I desperate for God?
• Aristarchus: What kind of friend am I?
• Stephen: Will God ever cheer for me?

The book tackles topics relevant to most teens (and most adults), issues such as insecurity, loneliness, forgiveness, redemption, sanctification and purpose.

What I Like: Nearly everything! This would be a great choice for a teen book club or youth group study. I especially like the inclusion of female and lesser-known characters. By the time kids reach high school, most can quote backwards the stories of Noah, Joseph, Daniel and and the other big Bible players. This book introduces them to some people they may not have met yet and offers a fresh perspective on some characters we thought we knew, like David, John the baptist and Moses.The tone is unpretentious and conversational, something definitely attractive to teens. Scripture references permeate the text grounding it fully in truth.

What I Dislike: The illustrations appear crude and juvenile. Teen boys probably think they're great, but I found them irritating, distracting even. Also, this isn't a complaint, but an observation that might deter some readers: the book targets both guys and gals, but the tone and language clearly lean toward a masculine style of communication. It includes lots of sports references, direct and pragmatic arguments whereas a female author would likely offer a gentler approach with longer descriptions and more emotion. I like the bold approach! I just think it appeals more to guys than girls.

Overall Rating: Excellent.

Age Appeal: Teens

Publisher Info: Zondervan, 2006; ISBN: 0310262623; Paperback; 208 pages; $9.99

Buy it Now at Christianbook.com for $8.99!
OR Buy it at Amazon.com for $9.99.

This title is also available as an ebook for $6.99 from Christianbook.com or $6.64 from Amazon.com. You can also get it as an audiobook for $9.99.

Special Info: Visit the author's website (www.jeffkinley.com) for more information about him, his ministry and his other books.