Christine Gives Thanks for 66 Books One Story: A Guide to Every Book of the Bible in 2015

As always, I am thankful for another year, another month, another week, another day, another hour, and even just another minute of being alive. We have lost so many family members and friends in the past few years, it’s just wonderful being able to say we’re still doing okay. God is good.

There are so many books to be thankful for, that is was simply hard to choose one for this review. However, I chose 66 Books One Story: A Guide to Every Book of the Bible for two reasons: First, because it deals with the Bible, God’s book of life’s instructions. The second reason is because the Bible has 66 books, sometimes it’s hard to keep track of all of them. Despite the few things I point out I don't like about the book, it is still a handy reference guide to have beside you if you have a question about a particular book of the Bible.

66 Books, One Story: A Guide to Every Book of the Bible, written by Paul Reynolds, is a study-guide for the Bible. The title refers to the idea that although there are a total of 66 books in the Bible, they all tell “one story”, that of God’s love and power. Also, the author shows many examples of the cohesion of the books where the Old Testament prophets predict events that happen in the New Testament.

There are 67 chapters in this book. Genesis and Psalms are each discussed in two consecutive chapters, and John II & III are combined into one. Each chapter consists of a title, a short subtitle that relates to the content of Biblical book; an Introduction that gives a brief synopsis of the book; an Overview that lists anywhere from four to 17 points of interest in that book; a section called “Learning from ________ [the blank is filled in with the book’s title] with three ideas from the book; a section called “Salvation Thread” telling why the book is important; and ends with a Key Verse.

What I Like: I like the way the author has summed up each chapter. You can easily find a quick review of any of the books of the Bible.

What I Dislike: The author makes liberal improper use of commas, periods and apostrophes throughout the text. Also, the writing itself could use a bit of editing. The book called the Song of Solomon is referred to as the Song of Songs. And, rather than discuss the book of Psalms as a whole, the author cites only two individual Psalms from that book, that of Psalms 69 and 103, each requiring its own chapter.

Overall Rating: Good.

Age Appeal: Tweens and teens.

Publisher Info: Christian Focus Publications, 2013; ISBN: 9781845508197; Paperback, 235 Pages, $18.99.

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Ephesians 6: 10 -18 Review Plus Giveaway!

Children learn about the protective armor of God, and how they can apply this Biblical principle. Relatable illustrations help clarify the verses and applications presented, while historical facts support the concept of the armor.

What I Like:  In Ephesians 6:10-18, each piece of armor is described with scripture and an easy to understand explanation of the scripture. The author, Agnes de Bezenac - who is also the illustrator, used a Roman soldier's armor as a visual to help a child understand the meaning of the Armor of God. Each piece of armor is highlighted on a separate page.

The illustrations in the book are awesome. I really love them. They are all so full of detail and add an element to the story beyond just seeing a picture. My eight year old son read this with me and the illustrations invoked conversations about how he thought the images related to what he read.

What I Dislike: The title of the book is a little unimaginative and I would have much preferred Armor of God as opposed to Ephesians 6. Although I know the book is based on Ephesians 6,  the scripture on each page didn't include the book name, chapter or verse. I found it a little bothersome because I didn't know which verse I was reading. I also prefer that it be included to help children memorize it.

Overall Rating: Very Good!

Age Appeal: 7 and under, but my 8 year old liked it.

Publisher Info: iCharacter, 2014; ISBN: 978-1623870119; Paperback, 32 pgs., $8.45
Buy it Now at Amazon.com for $8.45
Also available is the Ephesians 6 Activity & Coloring Book

Additional Info: Author Page www.iCharacter.org

CCBR - Ephesians (Armor of God) Paperback & Activity Book

The Story of King Jesus

People of God pass their faith to the next generation by telling the story of how God rescues his children. This richly illustrated book continues to tell that story—from the creation of the world to Jesus’ victory over death. Designed for children ages 4 to 8, The Story of King Jesus is the gospel told in a single story—a story meant to be read from start to finish in one sitting.

 The Story of King Jesus will captivate your child’s imagination, nurture their spiritual curiosity, and draw them into the full Bible story as they embark on a lifetime of following Jesus the King.

What I Like: It is a rarity for me to find a book for children where Jesus is referred to as King Jesus. It opens up the door for children to understand the divinity, majesty and greatness of Jesus before and after his life here.

The illustrations in this book are absolutely gorgeous and full of so much detail. The bright colors and details are captivating and add so much to the story.

The story covers Creation, Abrahamic Covenant, the creation of the Nation of Israel, Jesus' birth, ministry, death, resurrection and return and a few other stories in a very condensed version.

The story is sure to invoke lots of questions and create opportunities to discuss Jesus as he relates to stories of the Old Testament like the Abrahamic Covenant and the prophecy being fulfilled as well as his return.

What I Dislike: Nothing


Overall Rating: Very Good

Age Appeal: 4-8 but I would say its better suited for 6-8.

Publisher Info: David C. Cook, 2015; ISBN: 978-1434707727; Hardcover, 48 pgs., $14.99

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Special Info: The book mentions Jesus being stripped of clothing.

Candle Bible Handbook

I've often thought it would be nice to have a simple, kid-friendly resource book I could use to give me background information about a particular book of the Bible before I read it.  The Candle Bible Handbook serves that purpose. It covers every book of the Bible, in order of its presentation.

The Candle Bible Handbook  starts with a note about how to use the book and a helpful graphic showing how the Bible is organized. Both the Old and the New Testaments are introduced prior to examining the first book in each section. At the end, the book provides pages that define the big ideas in the Bible (such as Beatitudes or Justification), a list of promises made to believers (with references), a list of fifty very important passages (with references), a "Who's Who in the Bible" section (with references), and an index.

Each introduction to a book from the Bible ranges anywhere from 2 to 4 page section provides the following:

• A half-page summary of the book (This gives the reader a general overview of its contents.)
• An outline (It's not highly detailed, but has a one or two sentence summary of a portion of Scripture. For example, for Genesis, it says "Abraham and Sarah (12:1-25:18): God chooses Abraham and Sarah to be the ancestors of his own people. God promises to bless the whole earth through this new people of God.")
• Frequently Asked Questions (With succinct and Scriptural backed answers.)
• Look out for... (Ideas for readers to look for as they read the book. For example, one of the looking points for Nehemiah: Confessions. When the people read the Law, they are reminded of their sin. Then they confess their sins to God so they can ask him to forgive them.)
• Study Questions (Usually three questions are presented, along with a section in Scripture where the answer can be found. For example, a question for Philippians is: What are Christians supposed to think about and do? 4:8-9)

Sections also contain some or all of the following:

• Maps
• Photographs of places and artifacts (such as inscribed stones in the ruins of the Forum, Rome or replica musical instruments of Biblical times)
• Time lines
• Lifelike drawings of characters or places
• Large scale images of major cities (such as Jerusalem)
• Sidebars with historical background information
• Lists and charts (such as the one highlighting the parables in the New Testament)

What I Like: With everything that's packed into this handbook, it could have felt cumbersome. It doesn't! The design is very well thought out, with a mixture of a multitude of bright and interesting graphics and thought-provoking text. The book doesn't get bogged down in every minute detail; instead if gives a snapshot of the book with just enough meat to prepare the reader to dive into the Bible with confidence. I found it pleasant and fascinating, and I learned a few things about history I didn't know before. I know it's created for kids, but I liked it so much, I think I'll keep it handy for me as well.

What I Dislike: There were a few very minor technicalities I noticed that don't detract from the overall usefulness and quality of the book. In describing Esther, the author says that "Mordecai enters [Esther] in the contest for queen..." But Esther 2:8 says that the king sent out an order and young women were brought to the citadel and put under the care of Hegai, who was in charge of the harem.  Later, the book says that Jonah was "rescued" by a large fish, but Jonah 1:17 says the Lord sent a big fish to swallow him....although it's true that it does end up being a rescue operation. In the section on 2 Timothy, the author says that Paul "told Timothy that the Bible was inspired by God". However, at that point in history, the Bible was still being written. In fact, that very letter written to Timothy by Paul ends up being included in the Bible! Instead, it should indicate in 2 Timothy 3:16 that all SCRIPTURE is inspired by God. On the other hand, one could argue that the two are interchangeable, so I understand the author's word choice. It just stood out to me.

Overall Rating: Excellent

Age Appeal: 8-12 years

Publisher Info: Candle Books, 2014; ISBN: 978-1859855867; Paperback, 256 pgs., $17.99

Buy it Now at Christianbook.com for $13.99
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Special Info: You can read CCBR reviews of other Candle products, including a Toddler edition Bible for kids.

The Gift of Values: A Resource for Family Devotions, Volume Two

The Gift of Values: A Resource for Family Devotions, Volume Two, is as the title suggests, a great resource for family devotions. And, as it suggests, this is the second title in the series. The first one was so popular author Rosie Boom decided to write another one.

The values addressed in this volume are: generosity, encouragement, self-control, compassion, patience and forgiveness, with one chapter devoted to each value. Each chapter consists of a brief introduction, several stories relating to the topic – some fiction and some nonfiction - and sections called “Boom Clip”, “Something to Do”, “Think About It”, “Words to Live By”, “So Said”, and “Dig Deeper”. Most of those section titles are self-explanatory, but “Boom Clip” refers to a short story about a member of the Boom family and “So Said” is a list of quotes applicable to the topic.

What I Like: Just about everything. The book is packed with good stories that illustrate the chapter’s topic. There are also tons of ideas for things to do and ways to explore the topic further to reinforce it.

What I Dislike: The only thing I saw that I didn’t like were a couple of layout issues. That’s it.

Overall Rating: Excellent.

Age Appeal: For the whole family.

Publisher Info: HSM Publishing, 2008; ISBN: 9781921161162; Hardcover, 197 Pages, $20.00.

Buy now at Amazon.com $17.18!

Special Info: Read our reviews of other books by Rosie Boom. Read about the author at SmashWords .

66 Books, One Story: A Guide to Every Book of the Bible

66 Books, One Story: A Guide to Every Book of the Bible, written by Paul Reynolds, is a study-guide for the Bible. The title refers to the idea that although there are a total of 66 books in the Bible, they all tell “one story”, that of God’s love and power. Also, the author shows many examples of the cohesion of the books where the Old Testament prophets predict events that happen in the New Testament.

There are 67 chapters in this book. Genesis and Psalms are each discussed in two consecutive chapters, and John II & III are combined into one. Each chapter consists of a title, a short subtitle that relates to the content of Biblical book; an Introduction that gives a brief synopsis of the book; an Overview that lists anywhere from four to 17 points of interest in that book; a section called “Learning from ________ [the blank is filled in with the book’s title] with three ideas from the book; a section called “Salvation Thread” telling why the book is important; and ends with a Key Verse.

What I Like: I like the way the author has summed up each chapter. You can easily find a quick review of any of the books of the Bible.

What I Dislike: The author makes liberal improper use of commas, periods and apostrophes throughout the text. Also, the writing itself could use a bit of editing. The book called the Song of Solomon is referred to as the Song of Songs. And, rather than discuss the book of Psalms as a whole, the author cites only two individual Psalms from that book, that of Psalms 69 and 103, each requiring its own chapter.

Overall Rating: Good.

Age Appeal: Tweens and Teens.

Publisher Info: Christian Focus Publications, 2013; ISBN: 9781845508197; Paperback, 235 Pages, $18.99.

Buy now at ChristianBook $12.99!

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Tough Questions About the Bible

Tough Questions about the Bible, written by Joel R. Beeke, is, as the name implies, a book of questions people might ask about the Bible.

There are 68 questions total. The author divides up into nine different sections. With one exception, the author provides at least one Bible reference for each answer given.

Some of the questions were: How do we know that God is alive?; What is the Fall of Man?; and What does it mean to fear the Lord?

What I Like: I think this book would make a good study guide for someone interested in learning more about the Bible.

What I Dislike: One of the questions (which is actually a two-part question) that was included was: Do ministers have another job during the week? If not, what do they do with their time?  This is not really about the Bible and its truths; it seemed out of place in this book.

Overall Rating: Good.

Age Appeal: Ages 12 and up.

Publisher Info: Christian Focus Publications, Ltd., 2013; ISBN: 9781781912300; Paperback, 125 pages, $8.99.

Buy now at  ChristianBook $7.19!

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Proverbs for Kids

Proverbs for Kids: Biblical Wisdom for Children (Bible Chapters for Kids) (Volume 9) by Agnes and Salem de Bezenac is a beautiful book of wisdom taken right from the book of Proverbs.

Each two page layout is beautifully illustrated with full color pictures that are delightful for children (and parents) to look at.

The illustration on each layout perfectly depicts the Proverb chosen for the page. A beautifully written paraphrase of each chosen Proverb is accompanied by the actual Scripture. Each paraphrase in personalized (using personal pronouns) so that children can picture himself applying the Proverb in his own life. This is great, in my opinion, because as a mother, I naturally find myself doing the same thing when reading Scripture to my children.

What I Like: I love illustrations! They are so colorful and beautifully depict children in real life situations which apply to the Proverb. What a great way to give children an example of how to apply Scripture!

I also love how child friendly and approachable this book is. Some books are not visually appealing even though the content is great. From the title page alone, this book has an "approachable" feel. I had to look through each page before actually reading it because it was visually so endearing.
 
What I Dislike: I liked everything about this book.
 
Overall Rating: Excellent
 
Age Appeal: 8 years and younger (by the author's recommendation)

 
Publisher Info: iCharacter.org, 2014; ISBN: 978-1623870874 ; paperback, 32 pgs., $8.49


OR Buy it at Amazon.com for $6.48.

The Lion Bible in its Time

Written by Lois Rock and illustrated by Steve Noon, The Lion Bible in its Time seeks to teach and show readers the Bible in historical and cultural context.

Formatted similar to encyclopedias, it features main text, a plethora of sidebars and tons of illustrations and images. Readers will be drawn in by the abundance of diagrams, maps and photographs. Presented in chronological fashion, this book covers select topics from Creation through to Christianity in the Roman Empire.

What I Like: This is a high quality book with full-color glossy pages and skilled illustrations. It presents a ton of uncommon cultural information. I like the bits on architecture and especially appreciate the cross-sections of structures, like the Tabernacle and the Temples. The book includes several two-page illustrations, busy and labeled for life at that time; my kids loved these with a "Where's Waldo?" like exploration.

What I Dislike: What concerns me most about this book is that it presents the Bible as a collection of stories (fictitious tales, myths and traditions) rather than the true, inerrant Word of God. It repeatedly, from the introduction through to the last chapter, promotes skepticism and doubt. Sometimes this is done with subtlety, but other times it boldly holds an air of condescension toward believers.

Also, I have a Bachelor of Science in Bible and have never seen some of the things presented in this book. This is not to say that they're wrong, only that elements of the content are neither mainstream nor commonly accepted. I recommend parental guidance and discretion with this book.

Overall Rating: Ho-Hum

Age Appeal: 7 and up

Publisher Info: Lion Children's, 2012; ISBN: 0745960154; Hardback; 64 pages; $16.99

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Special Info: This book employs British spellings.

The Christian Alphabet Book: Teaching Children about Jesus, Prayer and the Bible

The Christian Alphabet Book: Teaching Children about Jesus, Prayer, and the Bible, written and illustrated by Tracy Sands, presents a whole new take on both the alphabet and the Bible.

The author uses each letter of the alphabet to illustrate a word from the Bible. Each word relates to a Bible sentence that either uses the actual word or is related to that word. For instance, the letter “A” is for “always”. The word “always” appears in this Bible verse: “And behold, I am with you always.” (Matthew 28:20)

The author says, “This book is designed to help all teachers of children… With this book you delve deeper into the inspiring letters of the Christian Alphabet, providing children a fun, instructive way to grow in their Christian faith. Each letter is educational and has spiritual significance. In these 26 unique letters, you will find close to 100 ancient and modern images used in the past 2000 years to express Christianity.”

Each letter is a two-page spread. On the left-hand page you will find a basic lesson (highlighted in red ink) and a fun activity for that letter. Each alphabet lesson ends with a prayer.

On the right-hand page you will see the letter, a Bible verse associated with the letter (as mentioned above), and an activity called “Seek and you shall find.” The activity is designed to “encourage children to find the different Christian symbols within each letter.”

Each of the symbols used in the text is explained in the back of the book. Also, there are four songs in the book. You can listen to the recordings of these songs on the book’s website.

The illustrations are unique and expressive. Each letter is used not only in the Roman alphabet but also each letter is made up of symbols that relate to that word. For example, the symbols for “wheat,” “loaf of bread,” “grapes,” “chalice,” “rock,” and “lamb” are incorporated into the graphic representation of the letter “L”. Each letter includes at least two symbols.

In addition to the creative and expressive symbolic letters, the page layouts are bold, bright and colorful, and are sure to keep a child’s attention.

What I Like: Everything.

What I Dislike: Nothing.

Overall Rating: Excellent.

Age Appeal: 6-12.

Publisher Info: Love the Dove Publishing, 2012; ISBN: 9780985792800; Hardcover, $19.95.

Buy now at Amazon.com $14.36!

Special Info: As mentioned, readers can listen to recorded songs, from the text, on the book’s website.

The Bible Book By Book

The Bible can be a difficult book to bring to life, especially for teens. In The Bible Book By Book by Cris Rogers, you may not get all of the answers, but you definitely have the tools at your fingertips to start the discussion.

The Bible Book By Book is a comprehensive field guide, appropriate for the curious teen, the youth group leader, or the parent leading a small group. Every book of the Bible has its own essay, usually 2 - 4 pages in length, with the following information:

• Author
• Date written (approximate)
• Type of book (is it history, poetry, gospel, prophecy, etc.?)
• Key characters (who are the significant players in the book)
• Major themes
• Title and Style (which gives insight to how the book got its name)
• Background (historical context)
• GPS (locations in the book, as well as some religious components to the region)
• The Detail (tidbits about specific parts of the particular book. For instance, in the section on 1 Chronicles, the writer points out differences in the accounts of Solomon's crowning as king here and in 2 Kings, then goes into a bit of supposition on why the variance may have happened.)
• Other books to read 

While this book isn't suitable for everyday reading, or for reading straight through, it is appropriate as a reference, giving historical context for every book of the Bible in an easy-to-understand way. It's not a substitute for a good concordance, but an aid to understanding the Bible's culture and backstory.

What I Like: I love the fact this book is so well organized. I knew what to expect, and it was easy to find information on whatever I was looking for, although it does lack an index. I frequently learned something new, and many things are surprising, especially about the culture of Rome and the gods/goddesses worshiped during New Testament times.

References between the New and Old Testament books provide substance to parables, as well as the nature of God, among other things. The explanations are always fascinating, and I frequently found myself reading tidbits to my husband, like how there are two versions of Jeremiah, depending on what Bible you use. The Hebrew version is in the Jewish Bibles, and is the basis for the version in the Protestant Bible. The Greek Septuagint version of Jeremiah is used in the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Bibles, which is about an eighth shorter and presented in a slightly different order.

The writer doesn't assume that the reader has read the previous entries. Frequently, information is repeated, maybe not exactly, but enough that I noticed it, especially in Paul's letters to different churches (Ephesians, Colossians, Philippians, etc.)

Photographs of the Holy Land appear nearly on every page, from its people, to the scenery, even a few maps done by the author. I really feel that it gave some significance to the Bible, not that I'd be reading about some vague idea, but a real place, with real people.

What I Dislike: First, you need to know I believe the Bible is God's Word to us and every word is true. So, when, for instance, in the part on Esther, the type of book is labeled as "comic, fictional history," I cringe. Other examples that caused me to pause included:

• Ruth: the writer describes the book as "more like a 'soap opera' than a pure history book." 
• 1 Chronicles is described as an "inspiring propaganda account of David" mostly because of what is missing from the book (absence of the civil wars, Bathsheba, or David murdering Bathsheba's husband.) 
• For Jonah, it's suggested that some scholars believe Jonah didn't happen, although I got the impression the author doesn't agree with that idea. 
• The story of Samson is believed to be folklore, rather than precise history. 

However, I think an astute reader can glean the important information, and disregard what may or may not be complete truth. Much of this may be one man's opinion, but then again, it may be backed up by scholars much more learned than me.

A novel was referenced for further reading with Judges, although there may have been others which I failed to note as I read. While the novel may be perfectly good, and filled with accurate info, I would hesitate to recommend a fictional account for someone who is shaky in their knowledge or faith since it could give them wrong impressions.

I would have liked it if, in the GPS sections, the writer would have indicated where places are now. In the New Testament sections, Mr. Rogers was a bit better about it, but it would've been nice to have it consistently done for areas that are now known by other names. More maps would've been good to assist as well.

Overall Rating: Despite everything mentioned above, I found this book to be very good. The good aspects definitely outweighed the bad.

Age Appeal: 12 and up

Publisher Info: Monarch Books, 2011; ISBN: 978-0-85721-016-6; Paperback, 204 pgs., $19.99

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Special Info: The author, Cris Rogers, is a minister for the Church of England, and as such, there are frequent British spellings throughout the book.

Unveiling the Kings of Israel: Revealing the Bible's Archaeological History

For those of you with non-fiction readers, Unveiling the Kings of Israel: Revealing the Bible's Archaeological History is a fascinating look at how the archaeology of the Middle East supports Biblical accounts of the kings of Israel and Judah.

David Down, editor of "Archaeological Diggings" magazine, has spent over forty years excavating in the Middle East. Unveiling the Kings of Israel compares generally-accepted archaeological timelines to biblical chronology. Down maintains common timelines used to date Egypt and Palestine need to be adjusted by up to 600 years. When these adjustments are made, the archaeology of the region supports biblical records with remarkable accuracy.

Down begins with Noah and the flood, and the location of Ararat. Then, he progresses throughout the entire Old Testament, detailing finds supporting the existence of the patriarchs, judges, and kings of Israel. The book ends with a chapter on the life of Jesus. Unveiling the Kings of Israel is full of detailed photographs of archaeological relics and famous sites. Down also includes maps, charts and diagrams, to help explain the significance of major archaeological discoveries.

What I Like: I found Down's arguments about how archaeology supports biblical passages enlightening. His work adds to biblical reliability, and explains the context of the Bible. I appreciate the multiple Bible references he uses in each chapter.

I also like the abundance of photographs. They allow readers to visualize many Old Testament settings. The detailed captions Down includes with each picture tell us why the item or location is important, and make browsing through the book worthwhile, even if you don't read the entire text.

What I Dislike: I wish some of Down's charts and explanations would have been placed earlier in the book. He assumes we are comfortable with archaeological time periods (such as the Iron Age, Middle Bronze era, etc. . . ). Down writes a very helpful explanation of "How Archaeology Works," but we don't find it until chapter nine. For novices, like myself and my family, this would have been helpful to read earlier in the book.

Also, in Chapter 11, Down mentions a physical affliction specific to men when aroused. He gives a rather blunt description of statues found portraying this affliction.

Overall Rating: Very Good for content, but only Good for organization

Age Appeal: There isn't a clear age range given. I would say 8 and up for browsing, but 14 and up to actually read.

Publisher Info: MasterBooks, 2011; ISBN: 13-978-0-89051-609-6; Hardcover, 170 pages, $29.99

Buy it Now at Christianbook.com for $19.49

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The Amazing Word of God

Similar to The Message by Eugene Petersen, The Amazing Word of God presents paraphrased Scripture. Only this volume does it entirely in rhyming verse. The publisher calls it:
"a refreshing, uncomplicated reading of the most popular books of the Bible, including prophecy."

Author Penny Zee labored for seven years over the project, motivated by the conviction that children and adults absorb more and learn faster through poetry than prose. It begins:

In the beginning God created the heavens
And then He created the world
And as His Spirit hovered over the waters
His magnificent plan unfurled

The book includes 50 Bible stories. These are listed in the Table of Contents along with their main character(s) and corresponding book(s) of the Bible. The Life of Jesus includes over 100 sub-stories.

At well over 500 pages, this book touches on nearly every book of the Bible. Some obvious exclusions are Psalms, Proverbs, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Colossians, several minor prophets and some of the smaller epistles. Catholic readers will also notice the absence of books such as Judith, Maccabees and Baruch.

As this is not intended to be an exhaustive account of Scripture, some sections offer abridged accounts. For example, the book of Judges is represented only by the life of Samson. This portion comes immediately after Joshua and the battle of Jericho, thereby skipping centuries of history and several other leaders of Israel. This is just one example of how the book proves selective in its portrayals.

What I Like: Poetry is exceedingly difficult to write fluidly; the hurdles magnify when one seeks to relay Scripture accurately. The author's hard work is evident in the pages. She clearly consulted several versions of Scripture (as evidenced by the bibliography at the back of the book) and some commentaries. This book could prove a helpful reference tool, offering fresh perspectives on certain parts of Scripture.

What I Dislike: The rhythm and flow of text is inconsistent. Some parts are wonderful, but others can be frustrating to read. The author has employed a coded system of punctuation to help readers pace the lines "properly" (detailed in the book's Introduction), but the reading is still cumbersome in many places. Unfortunately, I often focused so much on how to read that I missed what I was reading.

The book's endorsements are sensational and, I feel, misleading. My greatest concern with this book is that many people will mistake it for an actual Bible rather than a paraphrase. Considering the title and the publisher's claims all over the book jacket, this would be easy to do. Such a mistake is dangerous because (1) the text includes the author's interpretation of Scripture rather than a translation of Scripture and (2) several parts of the Bible are not represented here. As long as readers clearly understand what it is and what it is not, however, this book could prove a wonderful resource.

Finally, the most minor of concerns, the top of every page includes the author's name and this book's title, but not the applicable book of the Bible or even the story re-told. With a book this size, it would be easier to find desired sections, if they were labeled more specifically. Also, I would love to have direct Bible references (book and chapter) listed with each story. This would more easily facilitate further study.

Overall Rating: Good -- Noting the clarifications made above.

Age Appeal: All ages, though I recommend 8 and above.

Publisher Info: Creation House, 2010; ISBN: 1616381612; Hardback; 560 pages; $21.99

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This title is also available in Kindle format for $13.19.

Big Book of History

It's a book. It's a time line. It's both. Big Book of History by Laura Welch, Ken Ham and Bodie Hodge is not your ordinary book with a timeline, however. The time line is the book, and the timeline doesn't ignore Christian history.

You can view the full color timeline in book fashion, in which case there are 21 highly readable pages. Or you can unfold the timeline (keeping the tail end attached to the book) and display it on a long table. Either way, your kids will learn about history from the beginning with Adam and Eve to the modern era when the 10 Commandments were removed from all public buildings in the U.S.

Each section of the timeline features colorful drawings and photographs, interesting text in a readable size, and fun factoids. For example, the first page features a literal 6 day creation, a paragraph about Adam and Eve, a question ("Was the fruit really an apple? Hint: look up Genesis 3."), a paragraph about Cain and Abel, and more.

Other pages feature events such as the Trojan horse, the 7 wonders of the ancient world, the first use of the yo-yo, the first batteries and lighthouses, the first military submarine, Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show, the invention of television, and all the major biblical events.

The slant here is definitely toward a literal Bible, creationism, and a Christian America.

What I Like: This is a fun, engaging way to get kids interested in history. There are so many fun facts, lists, and questions to ponder or research; I spent a lot of time pouring over this one.

What I Dislike: Nothing.
Overall Rating: Excellent.

Age Appeal: According to the publisher, 7 - 12, but many younger children will enjoy having this book read to them, or will enjoy just looking at the pictures. And plenty of older kids - and adults! - will like this book, too.
Publishing Info: New Leaf Publishing Group, 2011; ISBN: 978-0890516232; hardback, 21 pgs., $19.99.

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Special Info: Watch a video trailer for this book. Purchase the Big Book of History Teacher's Guide for $5.99 at ChristianBook.com or for $6.99 at Amazon.com. Or buy just the unbound timeline (ideal for hanging on a wall) for $12.99 for ChristianBook.com or $13.25 from Amazon.com.

My Big Book of Bible People, Places and Things: Almost Everything in the Bible from A to Z

My Big Book of Bible People, Places and Things: Almost Everything in the Bible from A to Z , written and illustrated by Phil A. Smouse is a great Bible reference dictionary for kids with over 750 definitions of Biblical words and phrases. Each word or phrase is used in one sentence and defined in another to give the reader a clearer understanding of the term. A Biblical reference is also given for each word or phrase.

For instance, the word “blind” is defined as follows:

Bartimaeus is blind. Bartimaeus is not able to see at all. The Biblical reference of Mark 10:46-52 is given for this entry.

The word “blind” is in bold-face type in the first sentence and then is defined in the second sentence with the definition also in bold-face type. This is so the reader can see the word being used in the first sentence and see its meaning clearly in the second. Depending on the complexity of the word or phrase, more sentences are used to convey meaning to the reader.

The illustrations are bright and colorful and very kid-friendly like the ones shown on the cover.

What I Like: Everything.

What I Dislike: Nothing.

Overall Rating: Excellent.

Age Appeal: 4-8

Publisher Info: Barbour Publishing, 2011; ISBN: 9781602608924; 256 pages, Paperback, $14.99.

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Special Info: Read our reviews of other books written and/or illustrated by Phil A. Smouse.

I Want to Know About the Bible

I Want to Know About the Bible, written by Christina Goodings, is a reference book about the Bible for kids.

The book is divided into 20 chapters. Each chapter deals with a particular event (such as the Great Flood), a group of people (like the first Christians), or a particular person (such as Abraham) from the Bible. Each chapter covers a two-page spread with varying amounts of text and illustrations per chapter. And, each chapter includes at least one fact or definition that is set apart from the rest of the text in its own “text box.” For instance, in Chapter 5 (“Moses and the Covenant”), the word “covenant” is defined in a text box. The chapters run chronologically from the story of Creation in the book of Genesis to how the Bible was put together from various writings.

An Index is provided at the end of the book for easy location of key words and phrases used in the text.

The illustrations by Jan Lewis are bright, colorful, cartoon-like, and very kid-friendly. All the illustrations are captioned.

What I Like: The chapters are short and full of good information about the people and times of the Bible. I also like the layout as each chapter is a bit different with varying amounts of text and illustration per chapter. The good use of color also makes the pages more appealing.

What I Dislike: The blurb on the back cover of the book reads: “This book takes you back in time to some of the most ancient stories about how the world began. It retells wise and treasured stories from the great history of the Jewish people. It gives an account of a person known as Jesus Christ, whose teaching is loved and respected by millions all over the world.” The reader gets the sense that the book wasn’t intended for a Christian audience although the book is quite informative and contains reference to the Scriptures as well as bits of Bible verses throughout. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, I just thought I should point that out.

Overall Rating: Very good.

Age Appeal: The publisher doesn’t give a suggested age group for the book, but I’d say it would be around 7-9.

Publisher Info: Lion Children’s Books, 2010; ISBN: 9780825478963; Hardcover, $14.99.

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Living in Bible Times

Living in Bible Times employs colorful, detailed, architectural-style drawings to teach children about life during various biblical eras. Tim Dowley, who has a PhD in church history from the University of Manchester, begins by describing the Egyptian pyramids, (before the time of Moses), and goes on to describe the Israelite Tabernacle described in Exodus. We also learn what New Testament houses and ships would have looked like, as well as Herod's Temple, and the Theatre and Stadium in Ephesus.

The book uses short paragraphs next to pictures, paintings and drawings, in a style reminiscent of National Geographic magazines. These are interesting, but the most engaging aspect of the book is its remarkable, full-page, ink sketches on the right hand of every page. These pages are really sleeves containing more detailed, color pictures with labels. The color pictures appear as you pull the page out of the sleeve. It looks like magic, and my children and I had a hard time figuring out how the sleeves work.

The information in the text is interesting, appropriately captioned, and includes definitions (for example, when they mention cherubim, they use parentheses to explain they are "angel-like creatures"), and biblical references. There are several modern-day photographs included to give context to the ancient area described.

What I Like: The ink sketches that give way to color drawings are definitely my favorite part of this book. They include lots of fun detail, and shed new light on familiar Bible stories. I was particularly interested in the "Houses of Bible Times." I can picture many stories about Jesus better after reading about the roof structure and where families would have had their meals. My children also loved the "magical" drawings, but we had to take turns pulling the pages out of the sleeves!

I also liked the way Dowley included Scripture references within the text. Readers would need to look up the verses on their own, but Dowley cites many stories specifically.

The book is bright and each page includes four or five small pictures or photographs. These pictures are captioned, and kept my children interested.

What I Dislike: The only complaint I have is the book is a bit long and wordy. It takes a long time to read through all the information, even though there are only six pages of text. (The book is 9"x 11.")

Overall Rating: Very Good

Age Appeal: 9-12

Publisher Info: Candle Books, 2008; ISBN: 978-1-85985-664-2; Hardcover, $14.99

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The Lion Encyclopedia of the Bible

For Christians who believe the Bible is the infallible word of God, Peter Atkinson's The Lion Encyclopedia of the Bible is too flawed to recommend, even though it has many fine qualities.

This beautifully illustrated volume walks readers through every chapter of the Bible, while also explaining such things as how we got the Bible, how it was preserved over the years, how the Bible fits in with other historical sources and archeological finds, and similar information. Throughout, color photographs of locales, artifacts, and artwork, alongside modern color illustrations and maps, make a feast for the eyes. An illustrated timeline completes the guide.

But the trouble for many Christians will begin in the first few pages of the book, when Atkinson writes: "In the Bible, Christians believe they discover the truth about God..." (emphasis mine).

From this moment on, many Christians will find this book not an account written for believers - especially those who think the Bible is accurate. While the book takes a respectful tone, it seems to be written by someone who isn't a Christian or who prefers to pick and choose which parts of the Bible to believe.

For example, Atkinson states that Genesis 1 and Genesis 2 tell different creation stories. While this isn't an uncommon view outside of Christianity, most Christians believe the two chapters just focus on different aspects of creation. He questions whether God wiped out the earth in a world-wide flood. "It is likely," Atkinson writes, "that it was the memory of such [regional] floods that gave rise to the story of the great flood." He tells us the idea of Jonah being swallowed and spat out by a fish wasn't meant to be literal, but just a way to make us laugh.

All through the Old and New Testaments, Atkinson continues with these thoughts, until we reach Revelation and he writes that the book isn't really about the end of the world as we know it, but about encouraging Christians to "stand firm in their face pf persecution."

What I Like: The book is beautiful to look at, and I appreciate the attempts to not only walk us through the Bible, but to put it into historical context.

What I Dislike: Unfortunately, for me there are just too many instances of the author not accepting the Bible as accurate.

Overall Rating: Poor.

Age Appeal: 9 - 12

Publishing Info: Lion, 2010; ISBN: 978-0745960104; hard back, $19.99

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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.