The Honey Bees Truth Be Told

The Honey Bees Truth Be Told, written and illustrated by Paula J. Giordano, is the second book in the Honey Bees series designed to teach children that God's Word can help them find a solution for any situation they find themselves in.

In The Honey Bees Truth Be Told, Bella has a problem- she lies about everything. She lies about having been to a theme park, and she lies about her abilities to do tricks on a balance beam. Bella's grandmother, Oomah, shares two Bible verses with her to show her what God thinks of lying. The next time she is confronted with a situation where she is tempted to lie, Bella remembers those verses and chooses to be truthful instead.

What I Like: As with the first book The Honey Bees Going to a New School, I love how the author teaches children to practically apply God's Word to their lives.

What I Dislike: As in my review of The Honey Bees Going to a New School, I felt that the use of a single paragraph per page made for difficulty in reading the story and not confusing which character was speaking which line.

In this book, the illustrations cover the entire page and the words are placed on top of the illustrations. This made for difficult reading what the letters printed in black were placed on top of very dark parts of the illustrations.

Overall Rating: Good

Age Appeal: 4-8 years old

Publisher Info: Xulon Press, 2012; ISBN: 978-1624193545; paperback, 34 pgs., $24.99

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Rosita Valdez and the Giant Sea Turtle

Rosita Valdez has always had a vivid imagination. Her mind has a tendency to wander to far-off places when she’s supposed to be doing other things like listening to her parents or working on her homework. Rosita has also been raised to tell the truth. So, when she starts telling her family and friends about riding a giant sea turtle in the cove, no one believes her.

Rosita loves to go to the cove to swim. She is not allowed to go by herself, and she is not supposed to swim by herself, but when she meets a giant sea turtle she breaks some rules by climbing on his back and swimming away from the cove. She tells her friends and her family that she has met this giant sea turtle who takes her on spectacular rides on the sea where she meets his family and goes on adventures. But, no one believes her as no one but she has seen the turtle. So, she gets in trouble for lying as well as for swimming by herself.

The author, Robin Densmore Fuson, has left the ending of Rosita Valdez and the Giant Sea Turtle somewhat up in the air. At the end of the story Rosita has to acknowledge that she has been lying about the sea turtle and take her punishment for it. But, at the end of the book the author writes an Epilogue in which she addresses the reader and asks some questions. She writes: “Dear reader, what do you think? Is Toby a real turtle? Did he and Rosie have a great adventure, or does she just have a great imagination? You, my friend, get to decide the end of this story…” The author not only leaves it up to the reader to decide what’s real and what isn’t, she also leaves the very real impression that there will be at least one sequel to the story.

Black and white pencil sketches are scattered throughout the book in between all but the first two chapters. The illustrations relate to specific things that happened in the chapters prior to them.

What I Like: This is a good story for teaching children about telling the truth.

What I Dislike: There is very little conversation in the book, making the text more of a narrative than anything else. I think that drags down the action. Also, the author overuses the word “winked”.

Overall Rating: Good

Age Appeal: 6-12.

Publisher Info: WestBow Press, 2012; ISBN: 9781449764869; Paperback, 108 pages, $11.99.

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Special Info: Visit the author’s website.

In Front of God and Everybody: Confessions of April Grace

It's summer vacation, 1986 style, and April Grace Reilly's biggest problem is choosing which book to read - or so she thinks in In Front of God and Everybody by KD McCrite. But when Ian and Isabel St. James of San Francisco, California, show up on her dusty road in the Ozarks of Arkansas, things change.

First, she has to put up with them both looking down their noses at the "hillbillies" who live in April's little corner of the world. When the shack the St. James' have bought is deemed unlivable by April's mother, the snooty folks move into April's home - which means she has to share a room with her unbearable older sister, Myra Sue.

Then, Mama Grace, the grandmother April Grace adores, starts dating Ole Mr. Rance, and April's sure the man is up to no good - but who will listen to a kid?

One way or another, April Grace will dig up the truth, learn she has to accept the faults of others... and very possibly both.

What I Like: I fell in love with this character before I even opened the book. The description on the back cover did full justice to the April Grace I met in the book's pages. She is a spunky eleven year old who loves her parents and her grandmother, and merely puts up with her fourteen year old sister, Myra Sue. Her opinions about others are varied and colorful, usually with an Ozark twist... like the OLD hippies Temple and Forest who live nearby and their lack of showering.

"I like Temple just fine. She's real nice, and so is Forest, but they are strange and weird and they don't believe in things like deodorant and toothpaste or having regular jobs." (pg. 51)

It's obvious the family isn't overly preachy in their ways. However, when it is more than appropriate, discussions of what the Bible says are woven in brilliantly. For instance, April and her grandmother, Mama Grace, talk of the way April's parents treat others - like Ian and Isabel St. James - when the new people in town have done nothing to deserve the Reilly's kindness. Mama Grace points to 1 Corinthians 13, or the Love Chapter ("love is patient, love is kind...") to illustrate how April's parents take things to heart - and how April should do the same.

What I Dislike: This is a very minor thing. The book is set in 1986, but really, it could've been set in the present day. Other than a few references to Murder, She Wrote and terry cloth shorts (who remembers THOSE?), you wouldn't really know it's supposed to happen 25 years ago.

Overall Rating: Excellent.

Age Appeal: 9 and up (and I'd highly encourage you borrow it from your daughter's library!)

Publisher Info: Thomas Nelson, 2011; ISBN: 978-1-4003-1722-6; Paperback, 288 PGS., $9.99

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Special Info: This is the first book in the "Confessions of April Grace" series by Ms. McCrite.

TJ and the Time Stumblers: AAAARGH!

AAAARGH! is the unusual title of book two in Bill Myers series, TJ and the Time Stumblers. Myers, author of the popular Eighties series, McGee and Me, still uses humor and creativity to teach character-building lessons.

TJ Finkelstein is having a hard time adjusting to life as a junior high student in Malibu, California. After her mother died, TJ, and her family move from small-town Missouri to Malibu. Life in Malibu is not at all the same, and to make matters worse, she is being shadowed by Herby and Tuna, two annoying, miniature boys from the future.

Herby and Tuna have come back in time to study TJ, since she is an important, historical figure in the 23rd century. However, they use faulty equipment, don't understand life in the 21st century, and generally make TJ's life more difficult. When pirates blast holes through TJ's bedroom walls, or get stuck in her locker at school, it is up to Herby and Tuna to reset time and fix the present. In the midst of many unusual events, TJ has an opportunity to cheat in her English class. She has no idea making one little wrong choice will lead to such dire consequences.

Unbeknownst to TJ, her cute neighbor, Chad, is faced with a similar dilemma. Even though he is a professional surfer, he may not win the next competition without the help of a mechanically enhanced surf board his friend made for him.

Herby and Tuna show TJ and Chad just how serious cheating can be. Plot Spoiler Ahead: Herby and Tuna provide powerful glimpses of a terrible future, and eventually, both TJ and Chad make the right choice.

What I Like: Although the topic is serious, Tuna and Herby's mischief leads to some hilarious mishaps for TJ. We used this as our family "read-aloud", and both my ten-year-old and seven-year-old laughed hysterically, more than once. My son (age seven) said he liked the glimpses of the future the best, and my daughter liked the "crazy zworkedness and torkedness." (Did I mention, Myers makes up words, writes words backwards, writes words up and down, and uses tons of sound effects?)

As a mom, I appreciate how clearly Myers shows long-term consequences of the choices we make. We see how choosing to do something you know is wrong can lead to poor character and a lifetime of regret.

What I Dislike: Even though my kids got a kick out of the sound effects and goofy use of text, I found it annoying to read, especially aloud.

Also, none of us liked the cliff-hanger ending. Although we know TJ is going to confess to cheating, we never see how her teacher handles her confession. We also don't know whether TJ and Chad actually become friends, and we don't see how TJ's rival, Elizabeth, handles knowing TJ won't write papers for her. I guess we will have to read book three!

Overall Rating: Very good

Age Appeal: 8 and up

Publisher Info: Tyndale; 2011; ISBN:978-1-4143-3454-7 ; Paperback, 188 pages, $6.99

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Do Angels Go Camping?

Angels are all around us. Teaching young children of this concept can be tricky, but in Do Angels Go Camping? by Donna Perugini, kids will see the evidence, even in the colorful pictures by Nancy Titolo.

Amelia Airheart Butterfly and Orville Wright Butterfly are going camping. Their tiny friend, Antrew Ant, wants to go, but Orville tells him he's not old enough. Despite this, Antrew sneaks into Orville's backpack and stows away.

As Orville and Amelia fly to their campsite, Antrew peeks out of the pack. The pack unbuckles and flies open, but an angel pushes Antrew back in and closes the flap.

When the butterflies reach their camp, they discover little Antrew, and chastise him for stowing away. Orville states they'll set up camp, but then he's taking Antrew back home.

Antrew has other plan and wanders into the forest. He nearly falls off a rock while crossing a river, but feels himself being pulled back onto the rock. Then he gets lost.

Amelia and Orville discover their friend is missing, and pray God will give them guidance to locate him in the vastness of the forest. They look around, and Amelia spots Antrew's "belly bear" across the river. They head that direction, then Orville hears the prompting of a messenger, sending them deeper into the forest.

They find their little friend and thank the Lord for the angels guiding them. And Antrew gets to spend the night camping.

What I Like: Angels can be a tough topic to explain to kids, but I felt this book did a good job showing how angels protect us. The illustrations show ghostly figures of angels doing various things--poking Antrew back into the backpack, putting him back on the rock, pointing Orville and Amelia in the right direction.

I also liked how the author let Antrew do things he knew were wrong--stowing away, wandering off--and showed how you could get into trouble by doing these things.

The fact the characters spent a lot of time in prayer throughout the day was also nice--it shows kids how to keep prayer a constant in their lives, even though it wasn't the heavy emphasis of the book.

What I Dislike: The only thing I really didn't like was how little Antrew's parents weren't shown. Surely, they would have been distressed when he didn't return home? Even though this is a young child's book, I think this could have added another layer to the story that would have shown a child how wandering off would affect others, and not just friends.

Overall Rating: Very good.

Age Appeal: 4 - 8

Publisher Info: Donna Perugini Books, 1987; ISBN: 978-0-88144-536-7; Paperback, 32 pgs., $9.99

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

London Confidential Series

The London Confidential series by Sandra Byrd is "where British fashion, friendships and guys collide, and where an all-American girl learns to love life and live out her faith."

I introduced this series months ago with the first book, Asking for Trouble, but quickly devoured the entire series of four books. If you want a faith-based series of pure chick-lit for your young teen, this is the best I've found. It's authentic and upbeat and never once resorts to dramatic plotlines of sex, substance abuse, depression or other nasties that too often permeate today's YA literature. The main character is fresh, stylish and firmly grounded in a solid Christian faith.

Book 1: Asking for Trouble
This book introduces readers to fifteen-year-old Savannah (Savvy) Smith, originally from Seattle but now living in the UK with her mom, dad, and ten-year-old sister. Savvy dreams of being a journalist, but lacks the experience her new school, Wexburg Academy, requires. She juggles learning British customs with a crush on Jack, the newspaper editor, and trying to save both the paper and her social life from simultaneously going out of existence. She pitches the idea for an advice column, but must prove herself worthy if she wants to get the job. Can her faith and integrity withstand the pressure?

Book 2: Through Thick and Thin
We pick up right where the first book left off. Savvy is now the undercover writer of the advice column for Wexburg Academy Times, but desiring something a little less anonymous, Savvy turns to other avenues to get her name in print. An upcoming fashion show seems the ideal opportunity. But before long her aspirations toward literary fame and popularity take over and cloud her judgment. Savvy stumbles through some poor decisions, including personal makeovers with very bad consequences, a few social faux pas and a forbidden trip behind her parents' backs. Eventually, though, our girl returns to what she knows works best: following God's guidelines for honest and compassionate living.

Book 3: Don't Kiss Him Goodbye
May Day (and the May Day Ball) is quickly approaching. As an American and still relatively new to the UK, Savvy hasn't a clue what a monumental event this is. Think prom on a bigger scale. Other students secured their dates months ago. Now here she is with very few available prospects. Soon, though, she meets Rhys, a nice fella with a reputation for trouble. But he seems nice and he's cute, so what's the harm? And what options does she have? Meanwhile, Jack had promised Savvy a byline, but when a less-than-friendly girl with more seniority resurfaces, he must pit the two against one another. Savvy also gets involved in a ministry that incorporates her love of fashion with a way to help single mums get good jobs and support their families.

Book 4: Flirting with Disaster
In the last book of the series, Savvy's faith is tested once again. The big question: does she really trust in God alone or is some of her faith in superstitions and luck? The newspaper staff needs to elect a new editor for next year. The race is split between Natalie, the competitive force in Book 3, and Hazelle, an honest, but prickly character with whom Savvy has contended since entering Wexburg Academy. Everyone has chosen sides and the winner depends on Savvy's vote. Meanwhile, in an effort to stay in good graces with the popular crowd, Savvy complies with an "if you're really my friend" email forward, but too late discovers that it contains a trojan virus, one that nearly destroys the shop ministry she supports. Throughout, Savvy must choose if she's going to do the right thing and trust God to work out the details or if she want to look out for herself and do it her own way.

The entire series is told in first person, from Savvy's perspective, and covers her first year in the U.K. The books also feature occasional images, mostly small sketches or journal entries.

What I Like: I love everything about this series! Each book offers fun, clean, chick-lit for Christian teens. They are quick-paced stories with authentic, likeable characters. Readers can easily relate to the Savvy's dilemmas while parents can be confident their girls aren't diving into dramas of questionable integrity. The Christian content is obvious, but not preachy. Savvy's advice and the lessons she learns grow from a solid foundation of biblical truth, usually supported with direct quotes from Scripture.

What I Dislike: Nothing.

Overall Rating: Excellent.

Age Appeal: 12-16

Publisher Info: Tyndale Publishers, 2010; ISBN: 1414325975 (Asking for Trouble); Paperback; 256-288 pages (depending on volume); $6.99

Buy the entire series (Vol. 1-4) Now at Christianbook.com for $24.99!

Buy Asking for Trouble at Christianbook.com for $5.99 or at Amazon.com for $6.99.

Buy Through Thick & Thin at Christianbook.com for $5.99 or at Amazon.com for $6.99.

Buy Don't Kiss Him Good-bye at Christianbook.com for $5.99 or at Amazon.com for $6.99.
This title is also available on Kindle for $4.79.

Buy Flirting with Disaster at Christianbook.com for $5.99 or at Amazon.com for $6.99.
This title is also available on Kindle for $4.61.

Special Info: Visit the author's website at www.SandraByrd.com.

Shattered: A Daughter's Regret

Even though it is the second book in the "Secrets" series, Shattered: A Daughter's Regret by prolific author Melody Carlson, reads very much like a stand-alone novel. It centers around Cleo, a high school senior who makes one seemingly innocent rebellion, the consequences of which change her life forever.

As an only child, Cleo is a bit spoiled by her over-protective mother, much in contrast to Lola, Cleo's best friend, who is the oldest of three raised by a single mom. When Lola wins tickets from a radio show to a Christian concert, it seems the perfect plan for their last night together before Lola moves to far away San Francisco with her family. Of course, Cleo's mom won't let her go; it's not safe for two teenagers to drive alone into the city at night. But Cleo can't accept this. After her mom leaves for a friend's bachelorette party, the girls take mass transit to get into the city and to the concert. Lola believes Cleo's mom "okay"ed it and Cleo's mom believes the girls are having a slumber party. Aside from a dead cell phone battery, everything seems to be fine until the next morning.

Lola wakes Cleo for an early morning "good-bye." Moments later policemen knock on Cleo's door with news that her mother's body had been found just blocks from the concert. When Cleo checks her cell phone messages, her suspicions are confirmed. Her mother was in the wrong place at the wrong time because of her. After discovering Cleo's deception, Cleo's mom drove into the city to protect her, but met the hands of a murderer instead.

Grief and guilt combine to send Cleo into a downward spiral. Seeking to dull the pain, she takes some of her mother's old prescription medications. It dulls the ache and so she takes more. Slowly her habit becomes an addiction and soon she finds herself at the park spending her college savings to get a baggie of unknown, colorful pills from a shady drug dealer.

In the meantime, Cleo's aunt Kellie moves in to help her and her dad manage. Cleo struggles to balance that new arrangement with her secret self-medication, maintaining the lead role in her ballet recital and a budding relationship with her long-time crush at school. All while knowing she can never reveal to anyone -- not even Lola -- what role she played in her mother's death.

How long can she keep her drug habit a secret? Will she be able to quit on her own? And what role does God play in all of this? Will her father ever forgive her? Will she ever forgive herself?

What I Like: This book covers really heavy topics without being preachy. It clearly emphasizes the value of honesty and friendship (including support groups), but also highlights a beautiful balance between personal responsibility and God's grace. Forgiveness, a topic not often covered in YA literature is a pervasive theme. I really liked that. I like that the characters are fully developed. The whole book is wonderfully realistic without going crazy with unsavory details. Nicely done.

What I Dislike: The text goes back and forth between first person present tense and first person past tense. I realize this is a storytelling tactic as old as the written word, but I found it annoying. More importantly, I wish the spiritual content had been stronger. It was there, but extremely subtle.

Overall Rating: Very Good

Age Appeal: Teen

Publisher Info: NavPress, 2011; ISBN: 1600069495; Paperback; 208 pages; $14.99

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Special Info: Parents should note that substance abuse is a main theme within this book. In addition to the illegal use of drugs, it also references the sale and purchase of illegal drugs. Themes discussed but not central include alcoholism, murder and suicide.

See our reviews of other books by this author.

I Cannot Tell a Lie

When seven-year-old Jody accidentally breaks the cookie jar while helping herself to a cookie, she’s afraid to tell the truth. She lies and says her sister did it.

But, her mother suspects the truth. She doesn't confront Jody. Rather, during the family's evening devotion time, Mom reads The Ten Commandments from the Bible and tells a story about Jacob lying to his father in an effort to make Jody realize she needs to confess.

It works. That night, Jody has trouble falling asleep and has a bad dream. The next morning she tells her mother she lied and asks for forgiveness. Then they both say a prayer asking God to forgive Jody.

I Cannot Tell a Lie, written and illustrated by Ruth Thompson, is a story for young children that illustrates the importance of telling the truth. It’s a story most youngsters can relate to.

The illustrations by Genevieve Stotler are bright, colorful and expressive.

What I Like: Everything.

What I Dislike: Nothing.

Overall Rating: Very Good.

Age Appeal: 4-8.

Publisher Info: Tate Publishing and Enterprises, 2010; ISBN: 9781616634360; Paperback, $8.99.

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Special Info: A free digital audio book download is included with the purchase of the printed book. The download code is located on the last page of the book.

Eleanor the Hippo Learns to Tell the Truth

Do you want a fresh and fun way to teach your kids about truthfulness and the power of words? Pick up a copy of Andy McGuire’s book Eleanor the Hippo Learns to Tell the Truth. This newest release from the Little Lessons from Our Animal Pal Series has a lot to offer. First, the story is told in a rollicking, musical rhyme that is sure to appeal to readers of all ages. Second, the illustrations (also done by McGuire) are beautifully crafted. And finally, even though the story has many amusing elements and aesthetically appealing aspects, it holds a poignant truth that will not be lost on the audience.

The storyline is simple: Eleanor the Hippo is a gossip. She either exaggerates or flat out makes things up, and then spreads these lies to anyone who will listen. The reader is shown how Eleanor uses her words to make herself look better…but how devastatingly hurtful her rumors can be to others. (She thought that she was having fun/ But lies can often hurt someone…) In the end, Eleanor learns a lesson (the hard way) about the value of truth and integrity.

What I Like: The book is gorgeous looking and the story well-told. I have little tolerance for poorly-written verse, but this tale sings. As a mother, I view it as a perfect tool to talk about honesty with my child since it provides a non-threatening venue for discussion.

What I Dislike: Nothing, except I would have appreciated it if the author had listed some Scripture verses that tied in with the moral of the story.

Overall Rating: Excellent

Age Appeal: Ages 3-8

Publisher Info: Harvest House, 2011; ISBN:9780736926652; Hardcover, PGS., $12.99.

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Special Info: Visit Andy McGuire's website.
Read CCBR reviews of other books by Andy McGuire.

Polished Cornerstones: Projects for Daughters on the Path to Womanhood

Pam Forster has written an comprehensive manual full of projects designed to help daughters grow in their faith and prepare for Christian marriage. At nearly 500 pages, Polished Cornerstones: Projects for Daughters on the Path to Womanhood, is an exhaustive guide to projects and activities fostering positive character attributes such as patience, humility, purity, and devotion. Chapters also cover topics such as finances, gardening, cooking, and childcare.

Forster begins with a four-page purpose statement which states the two main purposes of the book are to "lead girls to maturity" and "prepare girls to be godly young ladies." However, Forster sees girls' primary role as a wife and mother. She states, "For most women, God's will includes marriage." For this reason, she writes, "Rather than encouraging a daughter to seek employment outside the home, would it not be more preparatory for her future role to have her remain in the home provided for by her father?" She continues, "This is an area we need to consider more diligently before we just accept the cultural norm of sending a daughter out of the home for higher education and/or employment. The spirit of independence that inevitably develops in these circumstances seems contradictory to the helper's role for which we are preparing our daughters." Many of the projects focus on a girl's development in relation to her future husband.

Forster includes a fifteen-page section titled, "How to Use 'Polished Cornerstones.'" She specifically recommends the book be used over a period of several years. Projects are divided into "Beginner" (ages four-nine), "Intermediate" (ages ten-fourteen), and "Advanced" (ages fifteen and up), so sisters can work simultaneously on the same chapter, even if they are different ages.

Each chapter includes memory work, with easy and more difficult verses listed. Forster also includes reproducible graphic organizers for many of her projects. (For example, a chart detailing "Examples of Christ's Love" has girls list a biblical reference, the situation, what Jesus did, and what she learned.) A checklist is included to determine whether girls are maturing in each attribute.

What I Like: Forster is very organized, and should be commended for her thoroughness and attention to detail. She has many interesting projects, and the section explaining how to use the book could be quite helpful if you were setting up a homeschool or church curriculum.

The chapters on evangelism (telling people about Jesus), devotion (to grandparents, specifically), and reverence (keeping the Sabbath), are quite well done.

I also like the graphic organizers, and her focus on the Bible. She teaches girls to use a topical Bible as well as a concordance. These are valuable skills to learn at a young age.

What I Dislike: The book is very long, which could be overwhelming to some readers, and it is expensive. Also, many of the projects rely heavily on reading other books. Although the reading list seems interesting, it would be necessary to locate these books before starting nearly half of the projects in the book.

My main concern is Forster's assumption most girls will get married. I have known many lovely, committed, Christian women who have been unmarried, or gotten married much later in life. If they followed Forster's protocol, they would have missed out on rewarding careers and opportunities God had for them (e.g. journalism, microbial engineering, pastoral ministry). I don't believe women should be kept out of higher education or careers simply because they may develop "a spirit of independence." Also, Forster advocates training girls differently in the area of finances, (focusing on budgeting mostly) as they will not be the primary breadwinners. Even if this is true, not all men are wonderful accountants or best suited to managing money. Again, if women are not married, they need to know how to buy a house or car and how to invest for retirement.

I would prefer my daughters to submit to a husband or stay home with their children out of choice--not just because they weren't given the opportunity to do anything else.

Overall Rating: Ho-hum, with some good chapters.

Age Appeal: Parents, but with projects designed for 4-adult

Publisher Info: Doorposts, 2010; ISBN: 978-1-891206-27-6; Paperback, Spiral-bound, 495 pgs., $48.00

Buy it at Amazon.com for $48.00.

Walking with Jesus

Walking With Jesus is a sweet book that includes twenty true stories about people who have had evil done to them, but return it with good. Written by Mary Clemens Meyer and illustrated by Harriet Miller, this book stresses the importance of being a peacemaker.

The storylines covered in these short stories include the ideas of: refusing to fight with others when antagonized, being kind to strangers, forgiveness, courage and trust in God, honesty and self-control, selfless love, prejudice, generosity, bravery, faith, kindness, and patience.

What I Like: These stories are pointed, but simple. The message of the stories stand out because of their brevity. Reading this book will definitely teach children important character qualities.

What I Dislike: I don't dislike anything about this book. I would love to see more colorful illustrations, but my three and a half year old daughter didn't seem to mind!

Overall Rating: Very Good

Age Appeal: 4-10

Publisher Info: Herald Press, 1992; ISBN:0836135741 ; Paperback $11.99

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Special Info: Some of the characters in this book are Amish and Mennonite.

Whitney Sews Joseph's Many Colored Coat

Jealousy is a powerful emotion. Learning to deal with it in a God-honoring way can be difficult for children. But in Whitney Sews Joseph's Many-Colored Coat, written by Therese Johnson Borchard and illustrated by Wendy VanNest, kids get a powerful lesson.

Whitney and her classmates have had enough of teacher's pet Natalie, so they cook up a scheme to put her in her place, hiding a spider in her lunch. As the teacher seeks to find out who the pranksters are, the girls feel bad and try to decide what to do. It's then Whitney turns to her Nana's Bible to see what God says about jealousy. She "time travels" into the story of Old Testament Joseph and witnesses the jealousy Joseph's brothers had for him.

When Joseph's brothers sell him for twenty pieces of silver to Ishmaelites, then lie about it to their father, Whitney witnesses the anguish of the father who believes his favored son dead. Many years go by all in the 30 minutes it takes Whitney to read/experience the story. Due to a famine, the brothers travel to Egypt, where Joseph is, so they may purchase grain. Whitney accompanies them, and is surprised to realize the man whom the brothers bow to is Joseph.

She stays behind when the brothers are sent home to retrieve their youngest brother, Benjamin, who was the father's second-favorite son. Joseph confides in Whitney everything which happened to him and learns of the deceitful things his brothers told their father.

Upon the brothers' return, Joseph treats them to a feast, then hatches a plan to reveal his true identity by putting a silver goblet in Benjamin's pack. When he sends a servant after the brothers to locate the goblet, and it's discovered in the youngest brother's pack, Joseph demands Benjamin must stay with him as his slave. The other brothers beg for it to be anyone but Benjamin since he is their father's favorite son since Joseph was lost. It's then Joseph reveals his identity and tells Benjamin he must bring their father to Egypt where he is Pharaoh's chief officer and governor over all of Egypt.

Whitney returns to her present day world with a big lesson on jealousy, and with her friends, fesses up to the prank pulled on Natalie.

What I Like: The story teaches an important lesson for kids on the downward spiral jealousy can create. I especially liked the fact Whitney was involved first-hand in the story, rather than having it told to her. Her observations make the story much more powerful in my opinion.

What I Dislike: The jump from present-day to Biblical times seemed abrupt to me. One second, you were in Whitney's basement, the next, standing in Canaan with Joseph's father. The jump back wasn't quite as abrupt.

Also, as a writer, there were a few places where the wording in the book seemed vague or just plain wrong. This took me out of the story until I could rectify what was trying to be said.

Overall Rating: Very Good.

Age Appeal: 8 - 12, but there's one part of the story may need some parental guidance for younger readers. That's where Potiphar's wife tries to seduce Joseph, and when he refuses her, she "spread rumors that Joseph made forceful advances to her."

Publisher Info: Paulist Press, 1999; ISBN: 0-8091-6664-X; Paperback $5.95

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Special Info: We've reviewed other books in The Emerald Bible Collection. You can find them here.

Rainbow Garden

Rainbow Garden , by Patricia St. John, introduces Elaine, an only child. Elaine's father died and her mother's work, which involves extensive traveling and lavish parties, leaves Mother with little time to spend with Elaine. Then, when Mother's job send her out of London and into France, lonely and selfish Elaine is sent to live with a family in Wales. Now Elaine not only has six other children to contend with, she must also leave the only home she knows.

At first, Elaine hates her host family and living without her city comforts. But little by little, the kindness and camaraderie of the family unit draws her out of her ego-centric world. Plus the beauty of the countryside--in particular, a garden of flowers that Elaine secretly tends--wins her over. The best part of Elaine's whole experience with when she learns about faith in Jesus...and then reaches out to help a crippled child find peace. In so doing, this slow-moving but delightfully charming tale explores the change that comes over a once hardened heart when it experiences the fullness of joy in Christ.

A relatively small subplot which adds some suspense to the story involves a robbery at Elaine's garden house and a drunken man.

What I Like: The story is old-fashioned but quaint, beautifully written, and winsome. I loved the gentle wisdom shared by the parents. Instead of telling Elaine what to think, they told her stories and let her (and therefore the reader) draw her own conclusions. I especially appreciated how the author walked Elaine through confessing her sins and asking Jesus into her heart and then, rather than leaving Elaine in the very baby stages of faith, showed her grow and mature. Because of the simple and understandable explanation, I think this book would be an excellent tool to share with a child interested in knowing how to become a Christian.

What I Dislike: Nothing, really. I suspect the story will appeal more to girls than boys. In addition, this story may hold less appeal for those who enjoy mysteries, thrillers, or adventures. However, it is well worth reading. It's not surprising this story is considered a classic.

Overall Rating: Very Good

Age Appeal: Ages 9-12, although I feel it would be an appropriate read aloud for kids ages 6-8.

Publisher Info: Moody Publishers, 2002, ISBN: 978-0-8024-6578-8; Paperback $6.99.

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Tell the Truth, Tyler (Happy Day Books, Level 3)

Tell the Truth, Tyler is part of the Happy Day Books series, and is written by Jodee McConnaughhay and illustrated by Jackie Urbanovic. This one is a Level 3 book, so it contains a more complex story with greater vocabulary and longer paragraphs than the previous levels.

When Tyler's dad asks him if he had a piece of chocolate cake, Tyler says no. Tyler's dad turns him around and shows him his chocolate covered face in the mirror, and Tyler knows that he's been caught in a lie. Tyler's dad tells him that he understands that it isn't always easy to tell the truth, but that God's Word tells us that it is the right thing to do. He says:

"The Bible says, 'Stop telling lies. Tell each other the truth.'"

Tyler tells his dad about a couple of instances when he hadn't spoken up when he probably should have. His teacher had found gum on the floor and wondered aloud who had dropped it. Tyler didn't say anything. He also had not been washing his hands with soap even though it was the rule, and still told his teacher that he had washed his hands.

Tyler's dad explains to him that not speaking up and telling half-truths is still lying in the eyes of God. At the end of the book, Tyler's little sister doesn't tell the truth, and Tyler is able to join his dad in telling her what the Bible says about lying in Ephesians 4:25.

What I Like: This story really hit home for my three year old. I could tell that she understood every word, and even recounted the story to my husband at dinner that night. I like how simply the story is told, and that it includes dishonesty by omission, which is often left out of children's books. I also like the repetition in the book, "Stop telling lies. Tell each other the truth," which is stated four times throughout the 15 page story.

What I Dislike: I don't dislike anything.

Overall Rating: Very Good

Age Appeal: The publisher says 3-7, but I think it is more appropriate for ages 3-5.

Publisher Info: Standard Publishing, 2005; ISBN: 0784717095 ;Paperback $2.29

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Hero Tales: A Family Treasury of True Stories from the Lives of Christian Heroes

My children and I have just finished reading Hero Tales by Dave and Neta Jackson for our morning devotions. This inspiring book has prompted many meaningful discussions over breakfast and on the way to school. The book gives an overview of the lives of 45 Christian heroes, and highlights three character attributes exemplified by each hero. Each attribute is covered in a separate, brief story, followed by a description of the attribute, a corresponding Bible verse, and "Let's Talk About It," which lists three discussion questions.

The list of heroes is quite diverse, spanning centuries and continents, and includes missionaries, evangelists, preachers and Bible translators. We read lots of historical information, as well as interesting anecdotes about people such as Harriet Tubman, D.L. Moody, Amy Carmichael, Martin Luther, Hudson Taylor, and William Tyndale.

The Jacksons do a fabulous job integrating historical facts and lessons about character. We learn about trust, repentance, forgiveness, creativity, dedication, and mercy, to name a few. The last question in "Let's Talk About It" is always a personal question, asking children to apply what they are learning to their own lives and relationship with God.

Each chapter includes a brown and white sketch of the person featured.

What I Like: I love the way the Jacksons present historical information and set the stories in context, while still making them exciting and appealing to children. My kids would often remind me to do devotions or be disappointed if we ran out of time. They always wanted to know "what happens next?"

I also appreciate the skillful way the character attributes were worked into the stories. Reading about these heroes' lives was inspiring, but not heavy-handed or didactic. For example, in the story of African missionary, Samuel Morris, we read, "Encouragement helps others do more than they think they can do." The verse is Hebrews 10:25, "You should meet together and encourage each other. Do this even more as you see the day approaching." The last question in this story is "Tell about a time when someone encouraged you to do more than you thought you could do."

What I Dislike: The only complaint I have is the book is heavily slanted towards Protestant heroes. While state churches of several denominations are implicitly criticized, the Roman Catholic church is only mentioned in terms of reforms needed or abuses committed. I wish the Jacksons would have included a couple of Catholic heroes, such as Pope John Paul II or Mother Theresa, in an effort to be more well-rounded.

Overall Rating: Excellent

Age Appeal: 6-12

Publisher Info: Bethany House Publishers, 1996; ISBN: 978-0-7642-0078-6; Paperback, $14.99

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A Horse of a Different Color

A Horse of a Different Color, by Dandi Daley Mackall, is the fourth novel in the Horsefeathers Series.

Scoop Coop's stable, Horsefeathers, will soon be assessed for property taxes and a meeting with the bank manager leaves Scoop worried that her payments may have to increase substantially. Along comes Benson Thayer, riding his runaway Appaloosa, Diablo. Scoop rescues him from riding into the path of a train, and he asks her to help him tame his horse. Ben is cute and he flatters her when he says she’s known as the teenage horse whisperer. Turns out, Ben’s mother has a local TV show, Della’s Folks, where she showcases local points of interest. Ben will remove his horse from the competing stable next door and leave Diablo at Horsefeathers to be re-trained.

Scoop’s conscience begins bothering her: how much has Maggie, her best friend and stable employee, been over-exaggerating Scoop’s abilities? Maggie seems to be moving a little fast with Ben, though she claims she’s hanging out with him to help get Horsefeathers featured on TV. Ben is leading Maggie into his own bad habits, and she’s constantly cutting work. Scoop is in a dilemma; if she stands up to her friend, she risks losing her stable. Scoop also wants to keep Diablo from being auctioned. She relies on her faith and the support of her aunt Dotty to see her through.

What I Like: The writing is good, although the pace of the story is slow. Horse lovers may enjoy Scoop’s identification of the horse breed a person would be if they were in fact, a horse. There are many equestrian details of interest. Scoop is a very prayerful young lady who constantly questions if she's doing the right things.

What I Dislike: I didn’t like the way Aunt Dotty, Scoop’s guardian, was portrayed. She was the most influential adult character and a strong Christian who used prayer constantly, but she spoke with very poor grammar. Scoop wasn't a realistic teen to me. Her point of view and actions were far more adult-like than her peers and she had the responsibility of running a stable, even though she was in high school. Scoop believes Maggie is making poor choices when Maggie over-exaggerates her ability with horses. While I think it’s important for teens to realize there is a fine line between over-exaggerating and lying, it’s a common behavior and not something I would define as making bad choices. However, when Maggie helps Ben buy beer and cigarettes, she’s already been making poor choices in Scoop’s eyes, so there is no sharp contrast.

Maggie is popular, wants to be an actress, and shows off, so she calls herself Maggie 37 Brown. Apparently, the ending color changes with the color she’s wearing that day. This name seemed silly, unrealistic, and this girl would truly be a target for teasing in most schools.

Overall Rating: Ho Hum

Age Appeal: Young Adult

Publisher Info: Concordia Publishing House; 2000; ISBN: 0570070090; Paperback $5.99.

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