The Sheep That No One Could Find

The Sheep That No One Could Find by Anthony DeStefano is a charming recreation of the biblical parable of the Good Shepherd and the lost sheep.

The story follows the little lamb as he makes one wrong choice to leave the Shepherd and the consequences that follow.

The book is written as a lyrical poem, but is quite easy for children to understand and take to heart. As I read the lines, "But one of the sheep decided one day the words of the Shepherd were hard to obey. Instead he decided to do things his way," my six year old looked at me and thoughtfully said, "This book sounds like it is for me."

I realize that the Bible does not actually tell us what happened to the little lamb as he wandered away from the Shepherd. The parable is designed to show us the love that Jesus has for each and everyone of us individually. This book, however, does a fantastic job of showing children that when we choose to disobey or runaway from our authority, we will find ourselves in situations that could lead to sorrow, injury, and danger.


What I Like: Illustrations are so important in books designed for little eyes. Smaller children cannot read, so to keep them engaged, these books need great illustrations. Illustrator Richard Cowdrey, a New York Times Bestselling Artist, does a fantastic job filling the pages with color and pictures to bring the story to life for little (and big) eyes. My two and a half year old stayed engaged with the story the entire time because he was so mesmerized by the illustrations and talked about them throughout my reading of the story.

What I Dislike: I loved this book.

Overall Rating: Excellent

Age Appeal: 2-8-year-olds

Publisher Info: Harvest House Publishers, 2014; ISBN: 978-0-7369-5611-6 ; hardcover, 32 pgs., $14.99


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A Horse to Love

A Horse to Love by Marsha Hubler is a moving story about the power of a pet to affect a child's life for good. Thirteen-year-old Skye Nicholson has been in and out of foster homes ever since she can remember. Now that she finds herself at Keystone Ranch with her latest foster parents, Tom and Eileen Chambers, Skye wants nothing more than to get out. Keystone is like every other foster home she's been in, except for one thing: Champ, the beautiful Sorrel Quarter Horse who has captured Skye's heart. As Skye's love for Champ grows, Skye learns about the power of God's love to change her own broken, rebellious heart. This book is the first in the eight-book Keystone Stables series.

What I Like: Marsha Hubler writes with a keen understanding of her target audience. Her characterization, dialogue, and plot are realistic and resonate with a deep understanding of her age group. An educator, evaluator, and home school consultant, Ms. Hubler writes from more than eleven years of experience as a foster parent to numerous children.  Her writing displays the authenticity of personal experience coupled with the ability to convey that experience in a way that will draw readers into her story. Of special note is the fact that the faith element of the story is not simply tagged on but is an integral part of Skye's character arc.

What I Dislike: There is nothing I disliked about the story, but I would alert parents to the author's inclusion of a scene where Skye looks to obtain drugs from former classmates. This section of the book would, I believe, be more suitable to readers in the older end of the target age range, readers who may be more aware of drug use than younger children. Regardless of the age of their children, however, parents could use the scene as an opportunity for discussing from a Biblical perspective the dangers and consequences of using drugs.
 
Overall Rating: Excellent

Age Appeal: Middle-grade to junior high, ages 9-13.
 
Publisher Info: Zonderkidz, 2009; 978-0-310-71792-8; Paperback, 144 pgs., $4.99

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The Adventurous Lamb

Jonathan is a happy little lamb who lives in a meadow where his shepherd cares for him and the other sheep in his flock. But in The Adventurous Lamb by Cathie Denney, Jonathan learns it can be very dangerous to leave the meadow and disobey the Shepherd.

Being a boisterous little lamb, Jonathan is full of energy. When he runs into the shepherd and nearly knocks him down, Jonathan is afraid he will be mad, but the shepherd smiles and urges the little lamb to be careful. A little while later, Jonathan spies a cautious bunny near the long grass. Jonathan wants to play, but the bunny says he has to go hide so he can stay safe, and runs away. Our little lamb tries to find his new friend but the grass entangles him. The shepherd has been watching and extracts Jonathan with a mild reprimand to stay in the meadow where he can see the lamb.

Another misadventure lands Jonathan in the middle of a pond, unable to swim back to shore. Again, the shepherd rescues him, scolding the lamb gently. Jonathan decides leaving the meadow could be dangerous, so he lays down in the sun to dry off and rest. When he wakes up, a bright blue butterfly named Felicity is nearby and wants to be friends with Jonathan. Felicity urges the lamb to follow her as they explore flowers, stones, leaves, and more. Before he knows it, Felicity has led Jonathan away from the safety of the meadow and to a rocky area with little grass. Then, as he's trying to find his way back to the meadow, Jonathan slips and tumbles down the hill, hurting his leg. Frightened, he wonders if he'll ever get back to the meadow and the shepherd.

Darkness closes in and Jonathan has almost given up hope of returning to the meadow when he hears the comforting voice of the shepherd calling his name. He bleats out and the shepherd rescues him one last time. Jonathan vows to never stray from the Shepherd and meadow again.

What I Like: Where to start? There's so much I love! While it's a slim book, it's very word heavy and a great book for a kiddo who needs a bit meatier story, but isn't ready to give up pictures. There are so many opportunities to stop and talk about what's going on in the story, too, where you can discuss whether Jonathan makes good decisions.

The pictures are wonderful pastels that are appropriate for the Easter season (who can resist a story about a lamb at Easter-time?) While not an Easter story, this would be a great book to read around this time of year.

What I Dislike: Not so much a dislike as a caution. There is no "Christian" content per se in the book, however the story is written as a parable. The shepherd is referred to throughout with a little "s" until the last page, when it is pretty obvious the author is referring to Jesus as our Shepherd. I strongly urge any parent reading this with his or her child to discuss the similarities in obeying their parents as well as God.

Overall Rating: Excellent.

Age Appeal: No age listed, but I'd say 4 - 7.

Publisher Info: Tate Publishing, 2012; ISBN: 978-1-61862-326-3; Paperback, 24 pgs., $8.99

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Special Info: While the shepherd in the book is not referred to as Jesus, the characteristics in the images shown of his face are quite similar to popular images of Christ.

Dangerous Journey: The Story of Pilgrim's Progress

Once upon a time, in a dreary prison, a man named John Bunyan started seeing images. He wrote them down. His images became Pilgrim's Progress, one of the most famous English-language books ever written. Dangerous Journey: The Story of Pilgrim's Progress, is an abridged version, edited by Oliver Hunkin, complete with graphic illustrations by Alan Perry.

Christian lives in the City of Destruction, and he learned that the city is doomed to be destroyed with fire from heaven. His family and neighbors are concerned, feeling he's contracted an illness. Still troubled, Christian sets out on a quest, not knowing where he's headed. Immediately, he meets Evangelist, who instructs him to keep the "shining light in your eye" and he'll eventually reach a gate. Without a glance back, Christian heads off, despite the cries of his wife and children.

As Christian continues on his journey, he carries a burden, and meets many people, some who try to sway him off his path. He meets Evangelist again, who sets him back on the right road, and Christian remembers the words from the Book: "For narrow is the gate and few are they who find it."

Obstacles, detours, and new friends abound as Christian progresses to the Celestial City - but just as his eyes land on the city, he faces one last problem: the River of Death in the Valley of the Shadow. But God hadn't forsaken Christian, and he feels renewed strength when the sun becomes visible through the mist. He reaches the shore and climbs the hill to the City where he's greeted by the King's Own Trumpeters.

What I Like: First, an admission: I inwardly groaned when I received this book for review. I read a version of The Pilgrim's Progress when I was homeschooled, and hated it. So I had a hard time setting aside my preconceived notions about this book before even cracking it open. Happily, this version surprised me, and I was quickly drawn into the story.

As for what I like, I do have to say the artwork is brilliant. This version of the book was originally released in the 1980s, and it harkens back to some of the cartoons (like the animated "Lord of the Rings" or "The Hobbit') of the era. According to the copyright, this was done for Yorkshire Television Ltd., and a quick check of Amazon shows a DVD for $14.99 to accompany. I've not seen this, but it may be a good thing to have on hand for your kids, too.

The book itself is beautiful, a true classic that should be kept on your shelf for repeated enjoyment.

What I Dislike: The language is a bit old-fashioned, and more than once there are instances of British spellings. Not a huge deal, but I'd honestly like to see an updated version of the story that makes it easier for kids to understand. The dress and mindset of the 1600s can be difficult to relate to.

Also, some of the images are a little creepy, so for younger or more sensitive children, it may not be the best book to read right before bedtime.

Overall Rating: Very good.

Age Appeal: 7 - 12, though, as noted above, there are some frightening images which accompany the story. Use discretion.

Publisher Info: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1985; ISBN: 0-8028-3619-4; Hardback, 126 PGS., $25.00

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Troo's Big Climb

At one time or another, most young children feel their parents are holding them back from doing things they really could do. Like the little tree kangaroo in Troo's Big Climb, they believe their parents think they are incapable babies. If this sounds like your child, this level 2 "I Can Read" book by Cheryl Crouch is a great addition to your family bookshelf.

Troo brags to Rilla, the water rat, that he can climb the highest tree in the rainforest. Rilla doesn't believe him; she dares him to do it, even though Troo's parents have told him not to. Because Troo wants to prove his parents wrong, he takes Rilla up on her challenge.

The climb seems easy - although Troo stops a moment when he see his home from high up in the tree: Would his parents be happy if they knew? But when he reaches the top, he can't help but shout with glee.

Then a hawk tries to grab him. Troo jumps to a lower branch, but the branch breaks and sends Troo tumbling downward until he crashes to the ground.

"Rilla screamed, 'Are you dead?'
Troo moaned. 'Maybe.'"

Troo's parents come running. First, they ensure he's okay. Then Troo admits he disobeyed them. His parents say:

"God says you should obey us. You did not obey, and you got hurt. This tree...is not safe, even for a big, strong climber like you."

Oh! Trro's parents did not think he was a small, weak baby. They loved him. They wanted him to be safe."

And so, his loving parents carry him home.

What I Like: Both my children (ages 3 and 6) love this story. Both can well relate to the feelings Troo expresses - and both responded well to the reminder that parents are trying to protect their children when they say "no." The whimsical illustrations by Kevin Zimmer are also excellent.

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: 978-0310718086; paperback, 32 pgs., $3.99.

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Barney and the Runaway

If your kid has ever threatened to run away and join the circus, you may want to have them read Barney and the Runaway by Max Elliot Anderson.

Michael (Mike to his friends) Ellis has had it with his parents always telling him what to do, so he decides it's time to teach them a lesson. After one particular confrontation, Mike puts his plans into action, and decides to run away, along with his loyal dog, Barney.

His intention is simple: make his parents see they're wrong, then return after they've had a chance to miss him. But his plans are blown to smithereens when he falls asleep on a boxcar filled with hay and is transported from his home in Independence, Missouri, all the way to Georgia... with a traveling circus!

Once he's discovered, Mike is befriended by one of the lead clowns, Big Bob. The kind, older man lets Mike and Barney share his wagon, then eventually shares his own story: he was a runaway like Mike, only his story didn't end up very well. As a kid not much older than Mike, he joined another clown with the same circus, but the clown contacted Bob's parents. On the way to retrieve him, Bob's parents were killed in a car accident. Big Bob helps Mike see that his parents really do love him and are trying to look out for his best interest. Which is why Bob contacted Mike's parents, who are on their way to Georgia to retrieve him.

Mike and Barney are put to work while they wait, and Barney proves to be a great circus dog - so much so, they're asked to perform under the big top. But there's a problem with the circus: Sabotage has been happening, and unless it's stopped, the circus will be forced to close. Mike has spied two men in the circus who make him nervous, and they seem very interested in Barney's abilities. Then, the night before the first performance, Mike overhears the men making plans to steal Barney the next day. When Mike wakes up in the middle of the night, he discovers Barney is missing!

He races out and hears his little dog barking, buried in a crate in the back of a truck the two men are loading. Mike sneaks aboard just as the truck takes off, he releases his best friend, and when the truck slows down, the two jump off.

The next day, Mike tells Big Bob about the two men. He knows the men are trying to sabotage the circus, but no one knows how to stop them since they don't know where they are. The show must go on, and the first show of the day goes off without a hitch. During the second show - when Mike's parents are watching from the audience - the two men show up. Mike and Barney go outside and spot the men trying to set fire to the tent. All Mike can think about is that his parents are inside. The men must be stopped.

Big Bob and a bevy of clowns arrive just in time to help Mike stop the two men, and the security guard who had been assisting them. Finally Mike is reunited with his parents... and is invited to return to the circus anytime he wants.

What I Like: This is a very fast moving story, one I couldn't put down. I also liked the fact that Mike experienced natural consequences for his actions. As soon as the boxcar door was shut, he immediately regretted his decision to run away.

What I Dislike: There were several areas where the writing bothered me; for example, once the author stepped in and wrote:

"It was obvious that Mike hadn't paid much attention to the pictures of missing children on milk cartons. It was possible he didn't fully understand the seriousness of what he was doing."

Most of the story is shown entirely from Mike's perspective, so the brief instances like this threw me.

I also ran into many typos. This probably wouldn't bother a young reader like it bothers me, but if your kid struggles in English class, there are a lot of things here that won't reinforce accurate grammar and punctuation.

Overall Rating: Very Good, in spite of the technical glitches mentioned.

Age Appeal: 9 - 12

Publisher Info: Comfort Publishing, 2011; ISBN: 978-0984559848; Paperback, 130 pgs., $10.99

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Also available as a Kindle download for $6.99.

Our Kids Review: Andi's Lonely Little Foal

Anastasia is a kindergartener who loves books, ballet, and learning about new things. Here is her review of Susan K. Marlow's Andi's Lonely Little Foal.

Andi is worried about Taffy, her foal, because Taffy is away from her mother. She’s being weaned. Andi gets in trouble because she wants Taffy to be back with her mommy, Snowflake. Andi is sneaky and disobeys and sleeps in Taffy’s stall and takes Taffy back to her mommy.

But Andi learns not to do that again because she gets in trouble. She learns to trust God and her brother, Chad.

What I Like: I like horses. I like the name Taffy. I like Andi. She’s a nice girl. I like the part where she says she’s sorry to Chad and her mommy. I like cowboys. I like that she learns about trusting God. I like the pictures, too. And I like it because it’s more of a big kid book and I get to get user to seeing a book that doesn’t have very many pictures in it.

What I Dislike: I don’t like the part where Andi was naughty because she disobeyed. Because I don’t like that she disobeys.

Overall Rating: Excellent. Except for the part where she disobeys.


From Kristina:

Age Appeal: According to Amazon, 9 to 12, although many kids as young as 5 or so will like this book.


Publishing Info: Kregel Publications, 2011; ISBN: 978-0825441851; paperback, 80 pgs., $4.99.


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Special Info: Like all of Susan K. Marlow's Circle C Beginnings books, this one is light on what might be called Christian content. Andi does go to Sunday School and pray about her concern for Taffy, and her mother does tell her "...you should have trusted God to take care of Taffy."

Read our reviews of other Circle C Beginnings books by clicking here.

The Flight of Orville Wright Caterpillar

In The Flight of Orville Wright Caterpillar, Orville has a huge dream: he wants to fly.

His problem? He doesn't have wings, and his friends make fun of him for keeping his head in the clouds all the time.

That is until he makes a friend who tells him about Jesus. The little girl tells Orville that Jesus will take him to high places. After accepting Jesus, Orville continues to dream of flying, believing God will give him the ability. He hears the prompting of God to spin a web around himself, obeys, and later bursts forth as Orville Wright Butterfly, fully capable of flying to his little heart's content.

The Flight of Orville Wright Caterpillar is by Donna Perugini, with the eye-catching illustrations of Nancy Titolo.

What I Like: I'm a sucker for anything aeronautical, so my inclination is to like this story because of the name of the character and his dream.

The story was easy to follow, and the illustrations by Ms. Titolo gave a good feel to what was happening in the text on the opposite page. Orville's salvation experience was simple enough for a child to grasp. I liked the fact there was a page at the end to commemorate your child's acceptance of Jesus, if that's something they choose.

What I Dislike: I appreciate this book is a work of fiction, but I had a problem when the little girl in the story told Orville she's "been sent to preach the Gospel to every creature." Yes, we're to share the Gospel with every one we can, but not every creature. With this story being geared toward an impressionable age group, my fear is it could cause great confusion for a child - that kids may believe they need to share Jesus with the family dog or the spider in their garden.

I also didn't think the story emphasized everything necessary when accepting God. Believing God raised Jesus from the dead, confessing Him as Savior, and making Him Lord of your life are all important (of course), but admitting you're a sinner and confessing your sins isn't even mentioned.

Overall Rating: I really want to give this book a better rating, but because of the flaws in the salvation part of the story, I can only muster a Good rating.

Age Appeal: 4 - 8

Publisher Info: Donna Perugini Books, 1983; ISBN: 978-0-88144-535-0; Paperback, 40 PGS., $9.99

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Special Info: We've also reviewed other books by Donna Perugini. You can find them here.

Illumination Station

Illumination Station: The Big Adventure, is written by and illustrated by Jennifer Mauter. The story takes place in the town of Illumination Station, a place with only two streets: one named Commandment Drive and the other Temptation Highway. The first leads those who follow it to a life of peace and contentment while the second leads to bitterness and unhappiness.

All the inhabitants of Illumination Station are lightbulbs of varying designs and intensities. Their power of illumination comes from their being “plugged into” God’s word and following his commandments. Those that do shine brightly; those that don’t are darkened bulbs.

The story centers around two characters, Wally and Sam. Wally has been raised to love God and follow Him. His family attends church regularly and his parents are leaders in the community. Sam’s father yells a lot. His family goes to church, too, but their commitment isn’t as strong as Wally’s family and they don’t always shine as brightly.

Sam loves adventures and Wally loves to follow him. This is usually a good thing, but when Sam leads Wally down Temptation Highway, bad things happen and the boys must face the consequences of making poor choices.

The pencil sketch illustrations are both creative and expressive, and they enhance the text.

What I Like: The story teaches children valuable lessons about responsibility, family values, and the dangers of giving in to temptation and making wrong choices.

What I Dislike: There are some typos in the text. They’re not major issues, but they are distracting. And, the author has a habit of starting most of the chapters in the present tense, and then abruptly switching to past tense. Again, it’s not a major issue, but it was a bit disconcerting.

Overall Rating: Good.

Age Appeal: The suggested age group is 9-12. I think that the style of the book, and the way it is written, is geared more to a bit younger audience, more like 7-10.

Publisher Info: Tate Publishing and Enterprises, 2009; ISBN: 9781606960592; Paperback, 88 pages, $9.99.

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Can You Keep Your Faith In College

Abbie Smith’s Can You Keep Your Faith In College? addresses the transition from high school to college life...and the issues such independence brings. The book is a collection of stories written by students from fifty campuses. Each of its twelve chapters (The Transition, The Classroom, The Dorm, The Pressures, The Greeks, Dating, Outside the Classroom, Sports, Going Abroad, Barriers, Small Moments, and A Faith Worth More Than Gold) has a short introduction to the topic from Smith and includes a Scripture verse. Each testimony within the chapter ranges from a single page to three pages in length. Some read like a blog, others like an intimate conversation, and still others like a devotional. With such a wide offering of stories, readers are bound to find an experience that resonates with them.

What I Like: Besides talking about the temptations, pitfalls, fears, and pressures faced by college students, most writers also shared what s/he learned about life and faith from those experiences. And while not every question is answered, many perspectives and approaches to finding the answers are offered. I think students about to enter college would greatly benefit from reading the book… if only to know that they are certainly not alone in their struggles… and that they can find help and hope from a God who is very much interested in their lives. It’s an inspirational book with a healthy does of gritty reality. And it’s the authenticity of those gritty voices that give it power.

What I Dislike: Although I appreciated the brief snippets contributed by each writer, I felt like some of the stories needed to provide more details so the reader could understand the full impact of the situation and resolution (or lack thereof).

Overall Rating: I'm torn between Excellent and Very Good, but given the fact that there are few books like this out there, I'm going with Excellent.

Age Appeal: None given, but I suggest ages 16-20.

Publisher Info: Multnomah Publishers, 2006; ISBN:978-1-59052-669-9; Paperback, 208 PGS., $12.99

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Eric Liddell: Something Greater Than Gold

“Crack! The sound of the starter’s pistol echoed around Colombes Stadium. The final of the 400 meters had begun. Eric Liddell lunged forward. The spikes on his black leather running shoes gripped the rolled cinder surface of the track. Puffs of gray cinders burst from under his shoes with each stride...”

Right from the opening paragraph, Eric Liddell: Something Greater Than Gold, written by Janet and Geoff Benge, throws the reader into the action. With vivid and rousing storytelling, this well-written biography provides insights into life of Olympic gold champion Eric Liddell and the impact he had on others.

The book begins with one of Liddell’s most amazing triumphs—victory in an Olympic event he was not favored to win after being highly criticized by the media for refusing to run on Sunday. From there, the book backtracks to Liddell’s upbringing, chronicling first his childhood as an MK in china, then as a quiet, reserved boy in boarding school, and later as a rising sports star and national hero.

Interestingly enough, when Liddell proved to be a highly sought-after athlete, he was asked to speak about his faith. Though this was outside Eric’s comfort zone, he said, “I’ll do it. Tell me where you need me and when.” That one commitment opened many doors for Eric to reach hundreds of people with his testimony. Years later, he worked as a missionary in China. His self-sacrificing attitude, gentle character, and solid belief in God helped him endure the physical and mental challenges he faced.

What I Like: I’ll be blunt. I avoid reading biographies because the bore me. However, I LIKED THIS BOOK. The strong writing made it an easy read. Plus Eric Liddell’s story is incredibly powerful, inspiring, and humbling. What I found amazing was that Eric possessed all the qualities I look for in a fictional hero… but he was the real deal! I also appreciated how Eric used his prowess in athletics to build bridges between people. This is a great model of how to use our skills to serve God. I believe this book—and likely all the books in this series—would be a great addition to any homeschool curriculum or church library.

What I Dislike: The cover wasn't very eye-catching. But I liked everything else about the book.

Overall Rating: Excellent

Age Appeal: ages 4-8, but I believe it holds appeal to people ages eight to eighty!

Publisher Info: YWAM Publishing, 1998; ISBN: 978-1-57658-137-7 ; Paperback, 200 pages, $8.99

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Buy Christian Heroes: Then & Now--Eric Liddell Unity Study Curriculum Guide from Christianbook.com for $7.99.

Special info: Read other CCBR reviews of books by these authors.

Mystery of the Silver Coins

Bree and Lil have escaped their Viking captors in Mystery of the Silver Coins, and Mikkel and his fellow Vikings are after them. Written by Lois Walfrid Johnson, this book shares ideas about courage, forgiveness, as well as trusting--and doubting--God. This is the second book in the Viking Quest series.

What Bree doesn't know when they hatch their escape is Mikkel has discovered a bag of coins missing--and he wants them back. With Bree and Lil missing, he presumes they've stolen the coins, as does his crew. And the Vikings aren't going anywhere until the coins--and the girls--are back on board their boat.

With the Vikings searching for them, the girls manage to stay hidden in the wilderness of Norway, even hiding in plain sight (with the use of disguises) in order to search for food. Bree constantly talks to Jesus, searching for direction, and when she loses the connection, she eventually realizes she needs to forgive Mikkel. When she and Lil are recaptured by Mikkel, Bree helps him hatch a plan to discover the true thief of the silver coins.

What I Like: Bree is a spunky heroine. She feels God has a purpose for her, and at thirteen, that's something that really makes an impression on me. She also shows great selflessness when she takes the younger Lil with her in her escape from Mikkel.

I really like the values that are taught in this book. I found Bree's reliance on God, even in the face of her doubts about His purpose for her, genuine and a great model for young adults.

The mystery part is intriguing to me, a mystery writer. The writer did a good job on dropping the right clues along the way about who the thief was.

I'm intrigued by the carefully crafted characters in this book and would like to read the remainder of the series for myself.

What I Dislike: This book is part of a series, and the writer seems to think that if you're reading this one, you've read the first one. This wasn't true in my case, so I would have appreciated more of a recap.

Overall Rating: Very Good.

Age Appeal: Young adult

Publisher Info: Moody Publishers, 2003; ISBN: 978-0-8024-3113-4; Paperback $7.99

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Special Info: This is book two of the "Viking Quest" series. We've reviewed other books in the series here.

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The Incredible Discovery of Lindsey Renee

Teaching kids about giving is an important aspect of growing up. And 13-year-old Lindsey Renee is about to get the lesson of a lifetime in The Incredible Discovery of Lindsey Renee, written by Joni Eareckson Tada and illustrated by Irena Roman.

Lindsey is unhappy attending church with her family for a special missions night. Though she sits in the pew with her parents, her mind is at the mall where her friends are. In her pocket is a five-dollar bill from her allowance, which she's promised her parents will go to the missions, but she'd rather spend on a sweater at The GAP.

When the plates are passed, Lindsey abruptly gets up and leaves. As she wanders the church, she has an encounter with the intriguing Mr. Billingsley. He knows all about her, and shows Lindsey her Books of Life, surprising her with details she didn't know anyone else knew about her. At the end of their conversation, Mr. Billingsley shares how her decision on whether to give her five dollars could affect the ability of a missionary to fix an airplane, which the missionary uses to reach remote parts of the area he serves.

What I Like: I like how the book shows that even simple decisions can affect others we may not even know - even around the world.

What I Dislike: The ending of the book - where Lindsey gives her $5 and the missionary gets the spark plugs he needs - makes a good point, but it seems contrived from an adult's viewpoint, since the spark plugs were already being sent to the missionary. The missions people didn't have to have the $5 to send the parts since they were already on their way - however, that's the point kids are supposed to take away from this story.

Overall Rating: Very Good.

Age Appeal: 4 - 8, but due to the nature of the story, and the age of the main character, I'd say closer to 7 - 10.

Publisher Info: Crossway Books, 2001; ISBN: 1-58134-195-4; Hardback $15.99

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Special notes: This book was originally released under the title of "It's in God's Hands" in Tell Me the Truth in 1997. We've also reviewed other books by Joni Eareckson Tada. You can find them here.

A Summer Secret

A Summer Secret, written by Kathleen Fuller, is set in Amish Country, in Middlefield , Ohio. Mary Beth is Amish, as are her family, friends and those in the surrounding community. The Amish are Christians and believe in God's word.

Because she is the only girl who has three brothers, Mary Beth craves privacy. She finds some in an abandoned barn, close to the family’s property. However, her father has forbidden her to enter the barn; he says the barn’s not safe as it’s about to fall down. She doesn’t want to disobey her father, but the need to be by herself is so great at times she sneaks out to the barn anyway.

To make herself comfortable, she has taken a blanket from the house, and occasionally she sneaks out some food to eat. She also has two pads of paper in her secret hideout that she uses for both sketching and as a diary. She has never shared her drawings with anyone and she considers the things she writes in her diary to be extremely private and personal.

When she discovers that someone has been reading her diary and eating her snacks, she first suspects her brother. Johnny followed her and now knows the secret of her hideout, but he says he didn’t eat her food. The two of them learn that someone else is using the barn as a hide-out. They must then decide whether to keep it a secret or ask others for help.

What I Like: This is a modern-day story about people in the Amish community. Their life-style is much different from that of most of us, so it’s good for kids (and adults!) to learn about how other people live. A Glossary of Amish Terms is included in the beginning of the book, defining some words that are used throughout the text.

Also, this story teaches good lessons about the problem of disobeying parents and about honesty.

What I Dislike: Nothing.

Overall Rating: Excellent.

Age Appeal: 9-12.

Publisher Info: Tommy Nelson Publishers, 2010; ISBN: 9781400315932; Paperback, $9.99.

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Special Info: This book is part one of the publisher’s The Mysteries of Middlefield Series. Visit the author's website.

The Fruit of the Spirit

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

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

"LOVE! Oh, LOVE! The very word

Speaks all about your Christ.

Now LOVE is yours. Through you it pours

To others in your life.

By FAITHFULNESS you take to heart

What God says in His Word.

He shall stay true. You stay here, too,

Because of what you've heard."

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

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

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

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

Overall Rating: Very Good.

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

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

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