Cynthia Gives Thanks for Its Great To Be A Girl

Another Thanksgiving is upon us and I am always in awe of how God blesses my family and I every year. Every year brings new challenges and experiences and God is always right there blessing me with opportunities to live and learn. I am thankful for my position here at CCBR and being a part of a group of women who care about feeding our children's spirits through literature. I am especially grateful for It's Great To Be A Girl by Dannah Gresh. My 11-year-old daughter and I love this book. It's a resource that continues to help my daughter through the challenges of adolescence in a practical and spiritual way. It also encourages her to share her journey with me as an ally.

Everywhere your daughter goes--online or in real life--our culture tells her lies about her body. That's why bestselling author Dannah Gresh, creator of the Secret Keeper Girl events has developed this resource that points tween girls like yours to the truth about God's design.

With stories and examples your daughter can relate to, this Girl's Guide takes her to the Bible as her resource, helping her meditate on its message and have fun while she does it. She'll explore questions such as What if my body is different from everyone else's? What does the Bible mean by "Honor God with your body"? What about makeup--should I wear it? If so, how much? Should I be afraid to grow up? What's the big deal with nutrition and exercise?

Here's solid guidance with biblical grounding that will help your daughter grow spiritually as she's maturing physically.

About this series: The Girl's Guide books in the Secret Keeper Girl Series have been created for tween girls to help them explore topics important to them and give them the opportunity to travel deeper into "God's diary"--the Bible--for truth and instruction. 

What I Like: This in-depth book for young girls about to or who are already experiencing puberty goes into what is happening to their bodies, the importance of the changes and why God is the author of the changes. From the very beginning, authors Dannah Gresh and Suzy Weibel offer opportunities for the young readers to take this journey with their parents and friends as a bible study and learning experience. They are teaching the readers prayers, the importance of meditating on God's word and confidence that puberty is positive and necessary. I found it refreshing that Dannah & Suzy made puberty a journey of growth to be proud of, not scary or disgusting. I love that they encourage bonding with moms and friends during the journey.

It is an interactive book where girls can do crossword puzzles, fill-in-the-blanks, doodling, prayers, word search and journaling. The book is meant to be a resource, not just a one time read. The book includes sections of bible study.

The book also includes practical information like photos of the female womb and its purpose, menstrual cycle info, along with hair style ideas, hygiene practices, staying active while having fun, the importance of healthy eating and even bra shopping.


What I Dislike: Nothing

Overall Rating: Excellent

Age Appeal: 8-12 Years but I would say 10-14 due to reproduction discussion.

Publisher Info: Harvest House Publisher, 2015; ISBN: 978-0736960076; Paperback, 128 pgs., $11.99

Buy it Now at Christianbook.com for $8.99

OR Buy it at Amazon.com for $9.21

Project Inspired: Review and Interview

Nicole Weider is on a mission: to help young girls avoid the traps that culture sets. The trap that baits you into thinking you must sacrifice your self-worth in order to be beautiful and popular. Nicole launched Project Inspired in 2010 (www.projectinspired.com), a website for teen girls that analyzes pop culture and explores ways girls can live in their authentic beauty.

In Project Inspired, Nicole shares tips for you to stay true to yourself—to how you were created to be—as well as how to dress modestly yet fashionably, how to make a positive difference in the world, and how to enjoy your teen years while standing firm in your faith. With photographs, real behind-the-scenes stories from inside the fashion world, and an honest look at living a life that looks great on the outside and feels great on the inside, Project Inspired is a book you’ll turn to time and time again.


What I Like: From the very beginning of the book Nicole Weider, tells her testimony of being a young model in Hollywood and the pitfalls she faced in the "glamour" of being famous. So from the start she lets us know that she can actually relate to young girls trying to fit a mold, be liked by her peers and the desire to pursue a life she wanted.

I was a little weary about a book that focused on appearance but the book delves into feeling good about yourself within in a simple and easy for girls to understand. Nicole offers scripture, fashion tips, and everything a teen girl talks about with her friends and thinks about when she is alone, but with a faith filled heart. It reminds me of a teen magazine with depth and scripture.

I teach high school bible studies and a recent lesson was all about personal appearance, so I took Nicole's book into class. The girls went wild for the book and I was pleasantly surprised.

I had the pleasure of conductin an interview with author Nicole Weider and you can read it below!

What I Dislike: Nothing

Overall Rating: Very Good

Age Appeal: 12-18

Publisher Info: Zondervan; 2015; ISBN:978-0310749394; Paperback, 168 pgs., $17.99

Buy it Now at Christianbook.com for $11.49

OR Buy it at Amazon.com for $11.99.

Nicole Weider Interview 

CCBR: Hi Nicole! Congratulations on your new book, Project Inspired! I had the pleasure of reading it and was pleasantly surprised. In the beginning of the book you give us your testimony. Could you tell the moms out there a very condensed version of who you are?

Nicole: My testimony is pretty crazy to say the least! I wasn't raised in a Christian home, and I didn't have faith in my life. My family and I lived in Salem, Oregon but I always wanted to move down to LA to pursue modeling more full time. I moved when I was 16, and my agency bluntly told me no matter how thin I got, my body type wasn't made for high fashion- but it was great for lingerie and swimsuit work. I was a lingerie model for several years, and I thought it would be a glamorous experience, however it was the opposite- it was destroying my self esteem and my self worth. After a series of coincidences and bad circumstances, I fell into depression and wanted to get out of the modeling industry. Thankfully, my best friend Christina is an on-fire Christian and she was the one who encouraged me to go to church with her. She prayed for me continually, and told me how God could use my experiences for His glory. I gave my life to Jesus when I was 23, and it was the best decision I've ever made. After I became a Christian, I knew I wanted to share my testimony with people to warn them about the dangers of Hollywood and the destruction it can be, along with the hope of Jesus Christ and how He saved my life.

CCBR: I also had the opportunity to visit your website (www.ProjectInspired.com) and really liked it. Could you tell us a little about the site and how the book and site differ?

My book is different from the site because I share my best fashion secrets and skin care advice, how I knew my husband was the one, and so much more. I also answered the top questions I get from girls on everything from depression, to bullying.

CCBR: Here at CCBR we love books that are not just "clean" books but also spiritually filled. While reading Project Inspired, you talk about turning to self help books when you were in need of comfort but never really find it that way. How important was it that you include scripture and biblical principles in your book? 

Before I became a Christian, I didn't know where to turn to find hope and inspiration. I thought turning to self help books would be what I needed, when in reality nothing I could read would satisfy my soul unless I turned to God. After I made the commitment to Jesus and I saw firsthand how he transformed my life, I knew only God could save people from their doubts of self-worth. It was incredibly important to me that the book was based on Biblical principles and scriptures, along with covering all of the issues that teen girls want to know about.

CCBR: You are also a contributor for the NIV Bible For Teen Girls (Read our review HERE). Tell us how that came about.

Nicole: It was an incredible honor and privilege that Zondervan wanted to use excerpts from my new book in the teen Bible. It was completely unexpected, and it is such a blessing! I also consider it a God-incidence (what I like to call a coincidence, but not really because God orchestrates everything) that a page from my book is across from my favorite scripture which is Matthew 7:7 "ask, seek, knock." God is so loving, and He amazes me every day.

CCBR: So I know you are busy and I am sure somewhere one of our reader's kid is yelling for Mom, so I have just one more question. Why is Project Inspired good for our teen girls?

Nicole: My book is a great resource for teen girls, because I feature almost every topic that the girls ask me. My book is unique, because it's a Christian book while still encompassing things not usually talked about in the Christian genre such as what everyday wardrobe basics, how to combat acne, finding the perfect jeans, and so much more. I also weave in my personal story, along with sharing the Biblical stories and how they relate to our modern day world.

CCBR: Thank you so much for spending some time with CCBR. 

Dare U 2 Open This Book

DareU 2 Open This Book, by Carol McAdams Moore, is a devotion book for guys. There are 90 two-page devotions. Each devotion includes a topic, quote, Scripture summary, plus some type of activity – doodles, journal prompts, quizzes, etc – that relate to that day’s devotion.

Topics include things like how to listen for God’s instructions, ways to praise God, ways to forgive people who hurt you, and ways to share your faith with others. As the book blurb says, this isn’t your typical devotion guide. “It’s an open space for you to explore and learn more about yourself and your faith. Prompts get your mind thinking and ideas flowing, helping turn your thoughts and emotions into dynamic doodles and more.”

What I Like: Just about everything.

What I Dislike: This is a great book for devotions and for generating ideas on how to implement the days’ lessons. However, the book is set up so you can not only write or doodle in it, but you’re supposed to be able to paint on the pages or glue things to them. This is just a paperback book. I think any painting or gluing would make the pages thick and make the book difficult to close.

Overall Rating: Very good.

Age Appeal: Teens.

Publisher Info: Zonderkidz, 2014; ISBN: 9780310742975; paperback, 192 pages, $9.99.

Buy now at ChristianBook $7.49!

Or buy at Amazon $7.50.

Special Info: This book is intended for boys, but I think some girls would like it, too, if they can get past the “guy” language (words like “dude”). Visit the author’s website. Read our review of the girls’ companion book called Just Sayin.

Riley Mae and the Sole Fire Safari

Riley Mae and the Sole Fire Safari is the third book in the Good News Shoes series written by Jill Osborne. Geared toward pre-teen girls. The story follows shoe model Riley Mae on an African trip. Besides posing for photo-shoots, Riley learns a lot about life and her faith. For life, she discovers some of the challenges faced by people in Africa, including clean water issues, safety in the face of wild animals, orphans, education, and hardship. For faith, Riley learns she can pray for others, listen to God’s voice, and share the gospel. Though at the beginning of the story, Riley is very reluctant to be in Africa away from her dad, brother, friends, and comforts of home, she comes to appreciate the strong sense of faith and community she discovers in the African village. More importantly, she realizes she can be a missionary right now, no matter where she lives.

What I Like: This book is a good, clean read for pre-teen girls. Riley is spunky and athletic, which I love. She also often turns to God in prayer, which is a great behavior model for this particular age group. I also appreciated seeing the change in attitude Riley underwent.  In addition, there was a wonderful scene where Riley reaches out to an orphan and helps her accept Christ into her heart. Reading this may help kids realize that they too can plant seeds of faith.

Finally, I enjoyed the glimpse into African life. From the strange-sounding food to running miles to get to school to avoiding elephants, the accurate details helped paint a picture of the village.

What I Dislike: There were numerous references to events and characters in the previous two books. I strongly recommend readers read the previous two books in order to understand the relationship between the characters (or who are even some of the people they are hiding from) and ultimate dangers they face. Without that background knowledge, I don’t think I would have enjoyed the book as much as I did.

There was also a point early in the book that bothered me a little, where Riley lies to and tricks her mom in order to run in a race. In the midst of her scheming, she tries to witness to another person about her Christian faith. While I understand that’s part of the adventure and excitement, I would have preferred a different approach.

Overall Rating: Very Good (as a stand alone-- Excellent as a series)

Age Appeal: 8-12 years.

Publisher Info: Zonderkidz, 2014; ISBN: 978-0310742838; Paperback and Kindle, 256 pgs., $7.99.

There was also a point early in the book that bothered me a little, where Riley lies to and tricks her mom in order to run in a race. In the midst of her scheming, she tries to witness to another about her Christian faith. While I understand that’s part of the adventure and excitement, I would have preferred a different approach.
Buy it Now at Christianbook.com for $6.29

or the ebook for $4.99

OR Buy it at Amazon.com for $7.19 or the  Kindle version for $4.99.

Special Info: Click here to read other CCBR reviews of Riley Mae books. Purchase the first two books in the series too: Riley Mae and the Rock Shocker Trek and Riley Mae and the Ready Eddy Rapids.

You Have Been Invited

You Have Been Invited! by Brian Howell is a beautifully simple book which teaches children what God has invited them to through Scripture.

Each two-page layout features one passage of Scripture and a complementary illustration with and invitation to the child. For example, the page I am opened to right now features Proverbs 3:5-6 and invites the child to trust God's promises.

At the end of the book, the author offers one final invitation- the invitation to accept Jesus as their personal Savior. It is truly the perfect way to end this book!

What I Like: I loved that the author chose so many verses to feature in such a child friendly way.

I am thrilled that this is a book that can go into my daughter's library, and when she pulls it out, I know that she will be reading God's Word.

I was excited as I read this to my children that it reminded me of Scripture songs that I had learned growing up, and I was able to share those songs with my children because of this book.
 
What I Dislike: I liked everything about this book.


Overall Rating: Excellent

Age Appeal: 4-10 years old

Publisher Info: Wheat State Media LLC, 2013; ISBN: 978-0988289208; hardcover, 38 pgs., $18.99

Buy it at Amazon.com for 5.94

The Love Story

The story of Jesus is one of love and obedience. This idea is the main focus of Stenetta Anthony's book The Love Story.

The book starts with Jesus standing in heaven. God says to him, "I must show my people on earth how much I love them."
Jesus tells God that he will be the one to show them, and then "off Jesus went on his journey."

The next image is the familiar scene of Bethlehem and three wise men greeting a couple with a baby, followed by a page with a crowd of children and adults. From there, the pages progress through some well known events in Jesus life-- a man riding on a donkey, reaching out to another, praying, and the cross.

The story ends with children looking up at Jesus' pierced feet (the rest of Jesus is not visible, so we know he is hanging on the cross).

One final page provides Scripture references. The same verses are given, but from two different versions of the Bible (NKJV and NIRV).  Each two page spread holds a picture on one side of the page and 3 to 6 lines of text on the other. The illustrations are done by Eric Gonzales. They appear to be ink and watercolor images--- simple yet realistic and done in soft pastel colors.  Also notable is that this book comes with a free audio book download.

What I Like:  You can tell the the author loves Jesus, and that it is her best intention to share that love with others. I always appreciate that in a book. One of the biggest selling points for this book is the free audio book download. Everyone loves a freebie! I also appreciate how the smaller, bite-sized chunks of text make it a fast read for young children. Finally, if you are familiar with the New Testament stories of Jesus' life, it could be used as a review of it.

What I Dislike: Please note the emphasis of my last like--- "If you are familiar with the New Testament stories of Jesus' life..."

The book assumes that the reader has a good familiarity with the events in Jesus' life. Otherwise, when Christ goes from a grown man in the opening pages to a baby in Bethlehem, the reader might mistake Joseph for Jesus.  Not only that, many events are referred to, but the author doesn't provide details on what actually took place, to whom, and why. If the reader doesn't know the Bible stories, there isn't enough substance in the book to clarify what happened. (Also, although every other page pictures Jesus, I don't believe the crowd scene after Bethlehem does. So I found that page somewhat confusing.)

Another place where familiarity with the Bible is crucial is when Jesus is praying in the garden. After showing people God's love on the previous pages through miracles and bringing hope and joy (although what the hope and joy was wasn't mentioned), here God tells Jesus again that he must show everyone how much God loves people.

And the way to do that is to die. There is no explanation for why Jesus had to die though, or why it had to be on a cross. (If it were me, I'd pick a less painful option.) There is also no follow up.  We don't learn the connection between how Jesus' death made atonement for sin and repaired our relationship with God. (Within context of the Bible, we know that, and understand why Jesus' death shows God's love. But in this book, Jesus' sacrificial death is not shown as a sacrifice; death is just presented as a way of showing love. To me, that's a dangerous message for kids who might not know their Bible.)

One final note; the last illustration bothered me. Two of the children that are looking up from under Christ's bloody feet hold big smiles on their faces, which to me... especially without explanation... seems confusing.  (Children don't typically react to death that way.)

Overall Rating: Ho-hum.

Age Appeal: No age is suggested, but I recommend the Kindergarten and first grade crowd.

Publisher Info: Tate Publishing, 2014; ISBN:978-1629025087; Paperback, 28 pgs., $9.99
This book is not available at Christianbook.com.
Buy it at Amazon.com for $8.99.

The God Squad in an Episode of Mission Him-Possible: The Distorted Mirror

The book The God Squad in an Episode of Mission Him-Possible the Distorted Mirror by Darlene Laney features six teenage girls (ages 12-15) of varying ethnic backgrounds that all attend  Carver Preparatory School. These once rough-edged girls have all bonded together as friends through their faith and desire to share their faith with others. They even came up with a name for their group: the God Squad. (The God Squad gives a nod to the inspiration for its name, The Mod Squad, a 1960-70s iconic counter culture television series about hippie undercover cops.)

As the girls' mentor, Ms. Foster not only counsels and guides them, she also gives them missions. In this book, the mission is to befriend a new student named Kelsey who has two issues to deal with. First, she is obsessively focused on looks and struggling with her self image. Second, she is making poor choices in order to fit in with the "popular" crowd. The girls aim to help her accept who she is in Christ.

The book begins with a short introduction from one of the characters, a girl named Mia, who says she will be the narrator for this episode. (Note: In actuality, she only narrates between chapters of the books, and not the actual story itself, which is told in third person.) In between chapters, Mia "converses" with you, the reader. On the about three-quarter length page, Mia invites you to reflect on times you have faced a similar situation, how you felt about it, and encourages you to visit the website and post your thoughts. These short interludes are very much like the commentary from a character following an Adventures in Odyssey program.

After that brief introduction, the reader meets all the six main characters-- seven if you count Ms. Foster-- and is given a glimpse at their meeting place (called the sanctuary) and their mission. We then meet Kelsey and see some of her inner struggle. From then on, the story follows the girls attempts to welcome Kelsey. Kelsey finds herself drawn to the friendship they offer, but at the same time not wanting to associate with them because she wants to hang with the "popular" crowd.

Things come to a crisis in the middle of the night, with Kelsey feeling cornered at a drunken Frat party and wanting a way out. In desperation, she calls Mia.

Mia and her friends come to the rescue, putting on their armor to go to battle for their lost pal. Each God Squad member goes into action. Mia uses the Sword of the Spirit to cut through the darkness (the frat halls) to get to Kelsey. Eve puts on the Shield of Faith to put out fiery darts of doubt and despair. Jade puts on the Hemet of Salvation to block their minds from fear and lies. Angel, Chris, and Sadie wear the Shoes of Peace, the Belt of Truth, and the Breastplate of Righteousness to go with Mia into the frat house to retrieve Kelsey.

After that incident, Kelsey realizes the follies of her choices and finally takes her life in the right direction.

What I Like: I appreciate how this book is supported by outside perks. First, readers are encouraged to become members of the God Squad. They can write via snail mail (an address is provided in the book). It also has a website. Finally, readers can visit the Facebook page to get daily G.E.M.S (God's Empowering Moments). I think that's a great way to connect with the reader and encourage them in their faith.

I also thought some of the questions Mia asked at the end of each chapter would make great talking points for a small group of readers or thinking points for a single reader to reflect on. The author seemed to have a good understanding of some of the conflicts and issues teen girls face. Plus, the overall idea of finding our worth in God and accepting ourselves for the way He made us is clear.

Finally, I appreciated how often the girls cooperated, supported each other, encouraged each other, and turned to the power of prayer. What great messages for teens!

What I Dislike: For me, there are a few minor dislikes I feel I should mention. First, the pictures are cute, but cartoonish, and a bit like a clean version of the Bratz dolls. I feel like they are a little immature for the teen target audience.

It's a little pricey for a paperback.

There are also at least Four catch-phrases in the book. Mission Impossible. SGF (Special God Force). God Squad. Prayer Power. I would have preferred the author pick one and stick with it.

Technically, I found several punctuation errors in the second half of the book.

UPDATE: Since publishing this review, CCBR heard from the author, who stated that the punctuation errors had been corrected in the latest version of the book. Yay!

Finally, much of the story structure is spent in a tedious cycle:  An event would happen that involved one or a few of the main six girls... and then all the girls would get together, and the event would be retold again. So you get a little bit of action and then a rehashing of all the action you just read about. Sometimes during these discussion sessions, a verbal response was given from each character. Here is a sample of what I am talking about from the epilogue (in response to a question from Ms. Foster asking how the girls were doing):
"Great," Mia chirped. /"Good," Eva added. /"Fine," Sadie supplied. /"Fantastic," Angel replied./ "Okay," Chris supplied. /"So-so," Jade replied.)

For me, that made the story stagnate.

Overall Rating: Good.  However, to be fair, I can envision some readers giving it a "very good" rating because of the opportunity to interact with the characters and the author online. That's a big bonus!

Age Appeal: None listed, but I recommend ages 8-12.

Publisher Info: Halo Publishing International, 2014; ISBN: 978-1612442976; Paperback and Kindle, 134 pgs., $13.95

This book is not available at Christianbook.com.
Buy the paperback from Amazon.com for $12.56 or the Kindle version for $6.95.

Special Info:  Laney also offers a book called God's Special Forces: A Manuel for Becoming a Young Woman of Quality.

Divine Obsession

Rob Hensser has become one of my favorite authors over the last few weeks. Last Thursday, I introduced you to his book Be the Wave, a great devotional for preteens and teens. Today, I am happy to share with you his book Divine Obsession: God's Illogical Insane Incomprehensible Impassioned Love for You.


We have all heard the phrase "God loves you," but after a while, the phrase loses its depth of meaning. Kids growing up in church hear it said as the catch all phrase that will make everything better. Rob Hensser ventures to have kids realize that God actually likes them- He created them and looks forward to spending time with them.

Through the stories of Mephibosheth, the Prodigal son, Adam, Hosea, Moses, the adulteress, Peter, the leper, and Noah, students are shown the depth of God's genuine love for them. They are reminded through Biblical accounts, modern day twists on parables, and pop culture that God can and does love us beyond what we can imagine and think. He loves us despite our mistakes and short comings.
 
What I Like: One of my favorite things about Rob Hensser's writing is how real he is. Through his writing, you can "hear" how passionate he is in his effort to reach students with the Gospel of Christ. He is not only entertaining, but engaging.

What I Dislike: This is not necessarily something I dislike, but something of note. The chapters might be considered a bit long depending on the age or attention span of the reader. I read one chapter to my 6 year old daughter just to get a feel for the reception it would get. Halfway through the chapter, I offered to stop. She was so wrapped up in the author's retelling of the story of Mephibosheth that stopping was not an option.

Overall Rating: Excellent

Age Appeal: 8-18 years old

Publisher Info: Standard Publishing, 2006; ISBN: 0-7847-1839-3 ; paperback, 208 pgs., $14.99

Buy Now at Christianbook.com for $11.99
or Buy it at Amazon.com for $6.00 

Perfect Christmas

For many people, Christmas is a stressful time of year - a time when we should do a lot of things, and do them perfectly. But in Gary Bower's Perfect Christmas, we are reminded of the real reason Christmas is perfect:: Jesus.

Perfect Christmas focuses on a family who's struggling this Christmas. The tree is crooked and the star on the tree isn't working. The roof on the gingerbread house caves in. Dad hurts his back shoveling snow. The family's carols - with missing words - cause the neighborhood dogs to howl. The power goes out while the kids are watching their favorite Christmas show. (The electric bill didn't get paid.) The oldest child forgets his one line in the Christmas play.

But there are bright spots. Someone at the church gives the family cash to pay their bills. And while there is a hole in the eldest child's stocking, he's happy as long as the little kids get candy in theirs. But the brightest spot of all is Christ.

The books ends:

"Christmas is more than these [material things].
I'm convinced beyond doubt,
a perfect Christmas is about Jesus."

What I Like: Jan Bower's illustrations are stunning. Many look like photographs - but offer the rich storytelling of good picture book illustrations. Both my children commented on how much they liked them.
My kids and I also found ourselves chuckling as we read this book; we could relate to a lot of the troubles this family was having, including "someone" rearranging the nativity scene and gingerbread houses falling apart. And while there's a good amount of humor in this book, it also pulls at the heartstrings, as it's clear this family is struggling financially. Thankfully, we see generous people helping them - something I really appreciate. And, of course, who can argue with a Christmas book that reminds us repeatedly Jesus is the reason for the season - and he's all we need to make our Christmas perfect?

What I Dislike: The book is written in rhyme, and sometimes I found the writing a wee bit awkward. Overall, however, I think the text works.

Overall Rating: Very Good.

Age Appeal: About 5 to 8.

Publishing Info: Kregel; 2013; ISBN: 978-0825443329; hardback, 32 pgs., $11.15

Buy Now at Amazon for $11.15

OR buy at ChristianBook.com for $8.49

Junior Battles to Be His Best

For children who are too afraid to try, Junior Battles to Be His Best is a Veggie Tales book that could help. Written by Karen Poth as a Level 1 "I Can Read!" book, the story begins when Junior learns his town is hosting a "battle of the bands." Although his mother and his friends are excited by the idea of Junior entering, Junior isn't. "I don't want to play my tuba," he says. "Everyone will laugh at me." He tries to practice, but concludes, "It's too hard...I'm not going to do it."

Junior sees many other local bands practicing, including Ma Mushroom's band. She asks if Junior is going to compete. When he says no, she replies, "Good...then we'll win for sure! It sounds like you already beat yourself!" When Junior asks what she means, she says, "Well, if you don't try, then you've already lost."

Spurred by the thought that he should at least try, Junior goes home to practice. But still, he doesn't feel good enough to compete. At his mother's prompting, Junior prays that God will give him courage to play in front of others...some day.

The day of the competition arrives, and two bands tie: Ma Mushroom's and Junior's squash friends. The two bands will play one more song to break the tie. Junior's friends beg him to play with them. He does - and "it was just what the...band needed." They win! "Thank you for your help, God," Junior prays.

What I Like: Performing in front of others - or even just trying something new - can paralyze some kids, but this story shows how, with God's help, kids can overcome their fears.

What I Dislike: Nothing.

Overall Rating: Very Good.

Age Appeal: About 4 to 8.

Publishing Info: Zonderkidz; 2011; ISBN: 978-0310727323; paperback, 32 pgs., $3.59

Buy Now at Amazon for $3.59
OR buy the Kindle edition for just $1.99 

OR buy at ChristianBook.com for $3.49

Special Info: See our reviews of other Veggie Tale's "I Can Read Books," as well our reviews of other Veggie Tale's books in general.

A Travel Guide to Heaven for Kids

"'Mom, where do people go when they die?' Joey asked one day. 'They go to heaven to be with Jesus,' his mother answered." So begins Anthony DeStefano's A Travel Guide to Heaven for Kids, based upon his book for adults, A Travel Guide to Heaven.

When Joey lies down in his bed that night, his thoughts about heaven are interrupted by a tap on the window - from a little girl with wings...Gabby, his guardian angel, who says she can take Joey to heaven for a little while if he'll just wear a gold "visitor's" pin. Before Joey can count to 10, the two are at heaven's "golden gate."

The first thing they see are family's greeting and hugging each other. "They're celebrating," Gabby explains. "That's what happens when people die and go to heaven. They're greeted with love by all their friends and family..." Then Gabby takes Joey soaring over a wondrous landscape, filled with rich hues, countryside, and cities. There's even an amusement park with roller coasters, Ferris wheels, and cotton candy.

Next they go into outer space. Gabby says, "All this is part of heaven...Anyone who lives here can explore the entire galaxy." When they fly back to an earth-like location, Joey notices all the animals - even tigers and zebras, dogs and cats, playing and getting along. Gabby tells him, "They never fight. They all get along." Joey even sees beautiful brontosauruses, who let him pet them.

Finally, Gabby shows Joey "the best part of heaven." She points to a bright light in the distance: God. "One day when you live here, you'll be able to go over the hill and meet Him face-to-face," Gabby says. She also says that God created all of the things they've seen so far, expressly so humans could be happy in heaven forever.

By then, it's time for Joey to go back home. As soon as Gabby disappears, in walks Joey's mom, telling him it's time to get ready for school. Joey bursts with news about heaven, informing her it wasn't merely a dream - his guardian angel really did take him to visit heaven. Joey's mother shakes her head, but doesn't want to argue - yet when she makes his bed, she finds a small gold "visitor's" pin.

"Joey just smiled at her as he rushed out the door to school."
 
What I Like: Erwin Madrid has done a fine job of illustrating this book. His images are vivid, beautiful, and sometimes fun. He makes heaven look like kid-paradise, complete with friendly dinosaurs.

What I Dislike: I'm disturbed by the addition of fantasy and extra-biblical content in this book. For example, while it's true the Bible talks about angels looking out for humans, it never once uses the words "guardian angel," even though Gabby insists, "Everyone has a guardian angel." Another example is the description of the gates of heaven being gold. The Bible says there are twelve gates and they are pearly (Rev. 21:21). I know of nowhere in the Bible where it says our relatives will greet us as we enter heaven, and while I agree that heaven will be a beautiful new earth, I'm not certain it will have amusement parks or cotton candy. There is even a non-biblical error: There is no such dinosaur as a brontosaurus.

As we read this book, my 5 year old kept asking, "Is that true, Mommy?" Sadly, often I had to answer, "no."

I also wish that, like many other children's books about heaven, the author gave Bible references for the things he is teaching.

Overall Rating: Ho-hum, due to inaccuracies and lack of biblical documentation.

Age Appeal: The publisher doesn't offer an age range, but I'd say 4 to 8 or so.

Publishing Info: Harvest House; 2013; ISBN: 978-0736955096; hardback, 32 pgs., $11.19

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Special Info: You can watch a video trailer for this book at the author's website. Also, you might read our reviews of other books by Anthony DeStefano - and check out our reviews of other kids' books about heaven.

The Lion Children's Bible

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

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

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

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

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

Overall Rating: Good.

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

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

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

Humble Heart: A Book of Virtues

Amy Meyer Allen's colorful, simple Humble Heart is a book of virtues for very young children. It covers the topics of humbleness, love, thoughtfulness, faithfulness, mercy, encouragement, comfort, courage, and joy, all in short, easy chapters.

Each chapter begins with the name of a virtue, and an easy-to-understand definition. For example: "Humility: having a gentle and mild spirit; not being proud." The next page tells the name of the chapter: "Humble Honeybee Learns about Humility." Then a short, simple story follows. For example, in the chapter on humbleness, we learn that Humble Honeybee lives in a beehive on the farm of Babo Bear. Her job is to collect nectar - and she works hard. But she never wants anyone to help her. In fact, one day she decides life would be easier if she just made the honey all by herself. But in this attempt, her wings get stuck together and she has no choice but to call for help. At last, Babo rescues her. "It's better to work together," he says. Humble learns not to be so proud; she can ask for help - and give it.

Allen ends each story with a question. (For example, "Have you ever been too proud to ask for help?") Then she offers an applicable Bible verse.
 
What I Like: Both my children (4 and 7) were immediately attracted to this book's bright, friendly illustrations. The length of each story is quite short, so there's little chance to get wiggly. My children could mostly relate to the problems of each character, and my youngest seemed to enjoy learning some new words (like "humble" and "mercy"). This is a book we'll read again and again.

What I Dislike: Occasionally a chapter is so short, I feel the author rushed - but my kids didn't seem to notice.

Overall Rating: Good.

Age Appeal: toddler to preschool

Publishing Info: Tyndale; 2013; ISBN: 978-1414380698; hardback, 192 pgs. total, $14.99

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