Whitney Stows Away on Noah's Ark and learns how to deal with peer pressure

Whitney Stows Away on Noah's Ark and learns how to deal with peer pressure is written by Therese Johnson Borchard and illustrated by Wendy VanNest. This book is a part of the Emerald Bible collection.

I've never read any of the other books in this collection, but the Prologue nicely explains what has happened in Whitney's life before the book begins. Whitney is in fifth grade, and she has recently moved from Michigan to Illinois. She has also just dealt with the death of her beloved Nana, whom she was very close to. Before Nana died, she left Whitney her very special Emerald Bible. This Bible allows Whitney to experience Bible stories firsthand.

Whitney succumbs to the peer pressure of her classmates in making fun of Pat Chan, a student who is very conscientious about his note taking in class. Although she feels a twinge of guilt when she joins in, she doesn't want to publicly take a stand in defense of Pat. Worse yet, her own notes are barely legible, and she could really use Pat's help. She realizes a little too late that she should have stuck up for Pat when she knew it was the right thing to do.

Turning to Nana's Bible, Whitney travels back in time and gets to meet Noah. She hears Noah being ridiculed and misunderstood by those around him. She even gets to board the ark with Noah, his family and the animals. She realizes that it is hurtful to be the subject of ridicule.

When Whitney travels back to present day through Nana's Bible, she does the right thing and calls Pat to apologize for not standing up for him and for what was right. He surprises her by offering to share his notes with her and help her study.

What I Like: This is a really imaginative way to tell a Bible story. I like Whitney's point of view, and the lessons she learns throughout the story are brought out clearly. The drawings rendered by Wendy VanNest add a lot of interest to the story. There are just so many books about Noah's Ark that it was so nice to read one that approached the story from a different angle.

What I Dislike: There isn't too much to dislike about this sweet book, but I must confess that I am bothered by the concept of a "magical" Bible.

Overall Rating: Very good

Age Appeal: 9-12

Publisher Info: Paulist Press, 2000; ISBN:0809166747 ; Paperback, 77 pages; $5.95.

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Special Info: We've reviewed other books in the Emerald Bible series. You can read those reviews here.

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.

Whitney Climbs the Tower of Babel and Learns What Happens to Snobs

In Whitney Climbs the Tower of Babel and Learns What Happens to Snobs, written by Therese Johnson Borchard, Whitney Bickham and her soccer team mates are on a winning streak. They are supposed to be preparing for the next game, but because they have done so well this year, they feel like they don’t need to practice any more.

When the team shows up for practice after their latest win, the coach gives them a lecture about their lack of effort during practice. Even though they have done well during the games, he’s fed up with their boasting and thinking they can slack off after each game. Instead of having practice, the coach sends the team home to think things over. His parting words to them are, “If any of you think you don’t need practice, I don’t want you on the team. I’d rather have a couple of struggling kids who work hard at this game than some gifted players who think they know everything.”

Whitney goes home and gets out her grandmother’s Emerald Bible. The Bible transports her back in time to the land of Shinar where the Tower or Babel is being built. Whitney gets to hear all the workers bragging about their tower – how big it is, how wonderful it is, how much better it is than any tower ever built. Whitney is around to witness God’s wrath when he turns the workers against each other by making them speak in tongues they don’t understand. She realizes how destructive an arrogant attitude can be and resolves to change her ways (and hopefully convince her teammates to do the same).

Detailed line drawings by Wendy VanNest liven up nearly every page. And, all the pages, those with text and those with just pictures, are highlighted with a green background.

What I Like: I like time-travel books where modern-day people get to travel back in time and witness historic events as they are happening.

What I Dislike: Whitney must open a magic Bible, her “Emerald Bible,” in order to get sent back in time. The Bible was a gift from her grandmother who shared many Bible stories with her, and Whitney travels back to Biblical times where she learns valuable lessons she can apply to her present situation. However, I’m a bit uncomfortable with the idea of a Bible having “magical” properties. The premise works well with this series, but I just don’t like the Bible being used for magic, no matter how good the intentions are. However, having said that, I’m sure this type of story is popular, and if it makes kids want to read, and learn about, the Bible, then it has its good side.

Overall Rating: Very good.

Age Appeal: 9-12.

Publisher Info: Paulist Press, 2001; ISBN: 0809166755; Paperback, $5.95.

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