Rendezvous on the Runway

Ah, Paris, the heart of the fashion world! What better on-location place to film for Paige and Erin Forrester, the faces in front of and behind the camera of a fashion-based reality television show?

Rendezvous on the Runway, written by Melody Carlson, is the third book in a series for young adults. The story opens just before the girls leave for France, and gives the reader a glimpse into the lives of its two heroines. Both are beautiful (dubbed Grace Kelly and Audrey Hepburn look-alikes). Both respect Christian values. Beyond that, the differences are striking. Off camera, Paige is vain, manipulative, impulsive, jealous, petulant…and in charge. On camera, Paige is flirty, witty, charming, dazzling…and in charge. On the other hand, Erin is consistently thoughtful, prayerful, modest, encouraging, and self-sacrificing. Even so, the two girls support each other and work together as a team to make the show successful.

The story then follows the girls across the glamorous streets of France and to a countryside castle. The reader gets to experience the fashion world up-close and personal. Conflict rises between the two sisters (over a purse, no less!), between Paige and a rival model, and between Erin and various love interests. Plus, the sisters must deal with the trappings of fame. As the tension builds, Erin turns to prayer and reflection for answers.

In the end, the sisters realize they need sort things out. And so … “here we sit, just two slightly confused sisters in Paris, talking about guys and life and even God, while we wait for room service to arrive with our dinner. And I think, this is good—this is how it should be. Although we still have a couple of things left to do in Paris, I think that the most important part of this trip is right here in this room. And I thank God for that.”

Throughout the story, the author makes several references to events and characters from the previous two books. It would be well worth it to read these two volumes before reading this installment.

What I Like: The characters were likable and realistically portrayed. The writing was crisp and the storyline drew the reader in. The Christian aspect was lightly done, but heartfelt and honest. The book should hold strong appeal to anyone interested in the fashion world. Also, the author quoted one of my favorite poems—The Cremation of Sam McGee. While it seemed slightly out of place in the story, I was thrilled TO PIECES when it came up in the campfire scene.

What I Dislike: To me, the story seemed to end too abruptly. While that gives me the reader freedom to speculate, I prefer a clear closing. Also, alcohol abuse is brought up, both in reference to past events and present temptations. At first, I appreciated that, when pressed by her friends to drink, Erin refused. (She doesn’t drink, but she has friends with a history of alcohol problems.) However, one pestering peer finally strikes a deal with Erin. She will contribute money to help African orphans if Erin will taste the wine. So, for the sake of the orphan fund, Erin takes a sip. And then she takes another for someone else willing to contribute. Luckily, another friend (one who has gone through alcohol rehab) steps in and says, “And if you stop drinking it, I will match Eliza’s contribution to the orphan fund.” I just wish Erin would have stuck to her guns and poured out the wine.

Overall Rating: Good

Age Appeal: Young adult (I believe better suited for older teens)

Publisher Info: Zondervan, 2010; ISBN: 978-0310717881; Paperback, 202 pages, $9.99

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Danika's Totally Terrible Toss

Part of The Secret Keeper Girl series, Danika's Totally Terrible Toss: The Legend of the Purple Flurp, written by Dannah Gresh, introduces readers to twelve-year-old Danika. Though adopted from China (along with her foster mom-now-grandma) when she was four, Danika now lives in Ohio. She really wants to be popular, but she also wants to be a good friend -- two desires that don't always mesh well. Something else she wants: to be crowned Miss Teeny Pop. Unfortunately, on the day of the pageant, all three of these desires collide.

While sitting at the "popular" table she intentionally snubs her best friend and then accidentally tosses her mom's famous "Purple Flurp" (Danika's favorite dessert) all over the lunch aid. This lands her in three days of detention and possibly out of the pageant.

In detention, Danika revives an old friendship and builds some new ones. The four girls start a "Secret Keeper Girls Club" and set off on a journey of discovering what true friendship is all about. Following the advice of Proverbs 13:20, the girls, led by Danika and a favorite teacher, take walks with some wise people to learn what their club rules should be. These set the stage for some learning experiences and the foundation of healthy, lasting relationships.

Bonus features include sidebar "bubbles" throughout the text that invite readers online for extras (like the recipe for Mrs. McAllister's famous Purple Flurp or a craft to make "sweet pens") and discussion questions with space for journaling at the back.

What I Like: The pages are all printed in purple! While this is not my favorite color, it definitely sparked my daughter's interest. The book is an easy read; it's fun and entertaining. This book wisely handles trials common to all middle school girls without sounding preachy. It opens avenues of conversation by showing kids that adults do understand, that we've been there and gone through the same things.

I really like the bonus material -- especially the additional resources available on the web. The website (www.secretkeepergirls.com) is packed with fun stuff, including SKG (Secret Keeper Girl) events and tips for starting your own friendship club. It also offers excellent resources for moms who want to protect purity, promote modesty and help girls to not grow up too fast.

What I Dislike: No one gives credit to the Bible for the Proverb upon which the club is based. It isn't until readers reach the questions at the back of the book that they realize this is more than just good advice -- It's actually God's Word. The dialog was trite in some places and dated in others. The overuse of exclamation points annoyed me. Also, I found Danika's wealth off-putting. Maybe many 12-year-olds can relate to someone whose parents have housekeepers, personal assistants, private dress designers, BMWs, and marble-columned mansions, but I wouldn't have been one of those. I struggled to believe that someone that materially rich would have difficulty being popular.

Overall Rating: Very Good.

Age Appeal: 8-12

Publisher Info: Moody Publishers, 2008; ISBN: 0802487025; Paperback; 110 pages; $7.99

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Special Info: See our review of another book in this series: Just Call Me Kate. The author of both books is a forerunner in the fight to protect girls' purity in our less-than-modest society. Learn more about her, her other books (which include novels, devotionals, and nonfiction books), events and what she's doing toward this effort at www.purefreedom.org.

David Cornerstone: A Story of Faith

David Cornerstone: A Story of Faith is a story about a boy named David who learns about faith and trust in God in the midst of trial.

David Cornerstone lives in the South in 1961, and is the youngest of seven children. David finds out that his father has been diagnosed with cancer. Although he can barely understand what this disease is, he knows that the situation applies to the verse he learned in school.

He tells his dad over and over, "Phillip, Phillip 4:6, Phillip 4:6!" His father realizes that he is talking about Philippians 4:6, which tells Christians not to worry or fear, even over a serious disease like cancer.

When David tells his friends at school about his dad's illness, the children think that David might need sorcery or black magic to heal his father. As David goes home to contemplate these things, he has a dream. He dreams that he is a commanding general, charging into battle with the army of the Lord. The enemy is employing all sorts of pestilence and sorcery, but the army of the Lord is surrounded by angels. The Lord sends confusion to the enemy, and they begin to slaughter one another. All the enemy troops are destroyed, but not one of the warriors from the army of the Lord is lost.

When David wakes, he realizes it is just a dream, but then the belt and sash that the archangel Gabriel was wearing falls into his lap. He realizes that all he and his family need is Jesus. He rushes into the house to tell his father the good news, but his father has his own news to share. There is no trace of cancer in his father's body, and the Lord has healed him.

What I Like: The author wrote this book because of the controversy surrounding the Harry Potter books in churches. She wanted to show children that all they need is Jesus, not wizardry or sorcery. I appreciate the Scripture references sprinkled throughout the story.

What I Dislike: I would be careful to explain to my children that just because they have faith in God, He isn't always going to miraculously heal someone who is sick. The story reads a little awkwardly at times, and the illustrations are stiff in some spots.

Overall Rating: Good

Age Appeal: The publisher doesn't specify but I would say ages 6-12 would benefit most from this book.

Publisher Info: Outskirts Press, 2010; ISBN:1432758225 ; Paperback, 62 pages; $23.95.
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Three Young Pilgrims

Every family with young children ought to have a copy of Cheryl Harness' Three Young Pilgrims.

The first thing you'll probably notice when you open up this book is the detailed illustrations. For example, the first two page spread looks like an old world map, complete with the human-like faces of the four winds, mermaids, sea monsters - and, naturally, the Mayflower moving toward the New World. On another page, there's a cross cut of the Mayflower, showing all the rooms below deck and how people moved about in them. And throughout, Harness does a superb job of relating details about Pilgrim and Indian life through complex illustrations your kids will study over and over again.

The text is strong, too. It tells the novelized story of three real-life Pilgrim children: Mary, Remember, and Bartholomew Allerton. We see them on the Mayflower and witness the general excitement when the sailors call "Land ho!" We learn about the special agreement the Pilgrims wrote out (the Mayflower Compact, although the book does not tell us this is the document's name):

"They were there to build a colony 'for the glory of God' and in 'honor of our King and country.' Together they would be a 'civil body politic' making and obeying laws for the common good."

We learn the Pilgrims lived aboard the Mayflower while they built their homes, and that many on board the ship were ill and died - including Mrs. Allerton and her new baby. In the spring, when they finally move into their new homes, Mary witnesses her first Indian: a man named Samoset, who speaks broken English. He soon brings his friend Squanto, who speaks perfect English and helps the Pilgrims plant New World crops.

That summer, the harvest is bountiful and in the fall the Pilgrims decide to have a celebration to give thanks to God. "We will invite our Indian brothers to feast with us and offer prayers of thanksgiving to the Maker for a bountiful harvest," says governor William Bradford. During one evening of the celebration, while sitting around a large fire, Bartholomew asks, "Papa, are you happy we came to America?" After a moment, Mr. Allerton answers, "Your mother and I wanted to bring up our children where no king could tell us how to live and pray....We didn't know it would be so hard, but yes, I am happy." And although the children miss their mother, they acknowledge they will be fine, too.

The last few pages of the book help kids put this story into context. There's an illustration of the entire Plymouth village, a timeline of events surrounding the New World, a list of interesting things going on in the world at the same time the Pilgrims moved to North America, a two page spread about the "Saints" (Puritans), with a complete illustrated list of each one, an explanation of who the "Strangers" were, with a complete illustrated list of each one that crossed on the Mayflower, and an illustrated guide to notable Indians who worked with the Pilgrims.

What I Like: When my 5 year old opened this book, she gasped and was instantly drawn into the images (done in watercolor, gouache, and colored pencil). She's spent hours studying the pictures and asking me about the details in them. This book is just loaded with historical information! I also think it's the most thorough, interesting, and detailed book about Pilgrims for this age group.
What I Dislike: Nothing.
Overall Rating: Excellent.

Age Appeal: 4 - 8, although even as an adult I get engrossed in the illustrations in this book.

Publishing Info: Simon and Schuster, 1995; ISBN: 978-0689802089; paperback, 40 pages, $7.99

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Special Info: Visit the author's website for information about author visits and more.

Tournaments, Cocoa and One Wrong Move

As a former high school English teacher, I am a big fan of books that show teens how to think critically and evaluate the consequences of their actions. Nancy Rue's Tournaments, Cocoa and One Wrong Move does just that.

When star basketball player, Cassidy, blows her ACL in the last game of the season, she is determined to make a comeback in time for the end of the postseason games. However, her drive to recover causes her to push herself too hard and compromise her integrity. Her soon-to-be sister-in-law offers her a "supplement" to speed her recovery, but makes Cassidy promise not to tell her parents about it. When a random drug test shows Cassidy has taken illegal steroids, everyone believes she did it on purpose. She is kicked off the team and assigned to a study hall, with "delinquents."

No longer part of a team, or the "star" of her family, Cassidy's new roles teach her about herself, but her only true comfort comes from Real Life (RL), a mysterious book she found at a coffee shop. RL turns out to be a Bible, styled after Eugene Peterson's paraphrase, The Message. In the end, Cassidy learns how to be true to herself, and a true friend.

Rue includes a personal note about the RL book at the end, and lists Scriptures used.

What I Like: Cassidy is a believable heroine, in a believable situation. Faced with tremendous pressure, she justifies poor decisions. Unfortunately, her superficial relationships with her family don't help much. However, God meets her, in the words of RL and through her Christian physical therapist. Although Cassidy's mom begins to relate to Cassidy again, we see how teens can have faith even without a strong Christian family behind them. We also see how being open-minded can lead to new friendships.

The sports culture is authentically represented. This book would appeal to female athletes in many sports, and would work well for Christian or non-Christian readers.

What I Dislike: The only thing I dislike is Cassidy ends up dating one of the rough guys from study hall. While I think it is neat she learns who he really is, and quits seeing him as a stereotypical delinquent, it seems a bit like "missionary dating." I am sure he has good intentions, but I am not sure he would know how to have a healthy relationship.

Overall Rating: Excellent, but I would recommend discussing the dating issue at the end of the book.

Age Appeal: 13-16

Publisher Info: Zondervan, 2010; ISBN: 978-0-310-71486-6; Paperback, 252 pages, $9.99

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Click here to read our reviews of other books by Nancy Rue for children and teens.

Thanksgiving: A Harvest Celebration

Offering the basic history behind Thanksgiving, then explaining how the holiday still has meaning for us today, Julie Stiegemeyer's Thanksgiving: A Harvest Celebration is a good teaching tool.

When the book opens, Ellen Chilton, a Pilgrim girl, is complaining about having salted beef for dinner - again. That's all she's eaten for weeks on board the Mayflower, and she's sick of it. Even so, her father thanks God for the food and her mother says they should be thankful they aren't starving.

Soon the Mayflower finds land and the Pilgrim's life in the New World begins. The winter is hard, however, and many Pilgrims grow ill. Ellen's mother is sick in bed, but God answers Ellen's prayers and her mother survives - unlike many of Ellen's friends.

When spring comes, Ellen nearly bumps into an Indian. He tells Ellen and her father his name is Samoset and he and his friends help the colony plant corn, grow squash and beans, learn to catch fish and eel, and more. In the fall, the harvest is bountiful, so a "celebration to thank God for the harvest" is prepared. During the three day celebration, Ellen works hard to feed everyone, but she says "a little prayer thanking God for helping her mother to get well and for all good things He gives - even salted beef."

The next page shows a modern day family celebrating Thanksgiving, and the author tells us we still use this holiday to

"thank God for the many blessings He gives...we thank God for food and drink, shelter and clothing, our minds, our bodies, our health. All that we have comes from our heavenly Father's bountiful hand. Even better than all these blessings is the gift of Jesus, whose love and promise of salvation fill every day of our lives. And that is the best reason for giving thanks on Thanksgiving Day and every day!"

What I Like: I really like how this book ties together the historical Thanksgiving Day with the modern celebration. I think it gives children a foundational understanding of why the holiday is important, both in the 17th century and now. The illustrations by Renne Benoit are also attractive, with a slightly old fashioned, wood cut feel.

What I Dislike: It seems strange not to mention why the Pilgrims came to the New World, but this book doesn't. Readers should also not expect a thorough overview of the Mayflower trip or the Pilgrim's first year in North America from this title. However, the book does a nice job, overall, of giving the basics.

Overall Rating: Very good.

Age Appeal: 4 - 8.

Publishing Info: Concordia, 2006; ISBN: 978-0758609168; hardback, 25 pgs., $7.49

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Special Info: Visit the author's website for information about author visits and more. Read our reviews of other books by this author.

Nate Saint: Heavenbound

As a child, Nate Saint longed to learn to fly. His wish came true, and he eventually flew supplies to missionaries in Ecuador. In Nate Saint: Heavenbound, you learn of the life of Mr. Saint, who was killed in 1956 by natives he was trying to reach with the Gospel. This book is written by Renee Taft Meloche and illustrated by Bryan Pollard.

"When Nate grew up he learned to fly
and thought how he could be
a pilot and still serve the Lord
our God wholeheartedly."

With this, Nate and his family set off to Ecuador and begin flying in supplies to missionaries. It's when he decides to try to make contact with the Auca (which means "savage") that things go awry for Nate and he and some of his fellow missionaries are killed.

What I Like: The illustrations are especially eye-catching and give you a good feel for the jungle and its inhabitants Nate might have encountered.

What I Dislike: In a few spots, the rhyme didn't quite work. I would have liked to know who Nate flew with on his fateful final mission, too.

For younger readers, there's a section towards the end where the Auca Indian man tells a lie about spending the night with an Auca woman; this is the inciting incident that leads to the death of Nate and his friends. While I realize this is factual, I wonder if it could have been handled more delicately for the younger crowd.

Also, this book lacks a bibliography, which I would have liked to see for additional reference.

Overall Rating: Very Good

Age Appeal: 6 and up.

Publisher Info: YWAM Publishing, 2001; ISBN: 978-157658229-9; Hardback $8.99

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We've reviewed other books in the "Heroes for Young Readers" series by Renee Taft Melochee. You can find them here.

Almost Home

Adventure. Persecution. Danger. Death. Victory. The true story of the Pilgrims, as fictionalized in Wendy Lawton's Almost Home, was all this and more. Mary Chilton (who was a really Puritan who came over on the Mayflower) takes the long journey to the New World with her parents, leaving behind several of her siblings and friends. She's not pleased to leave Holland, despite the fact that her father is stoned and injured by young Dutch boys. She hates being ripped away from home, yet she follows her parents obediently.

Lawton's novel covers all the important aspects of the Mayflower's crossing, from the leaky Speedwell, to a desperate attempt to keep the Mayflower afloat, to the rife, illness, and death that accompanied the Puritans on their Mayflower voyage. Mary Chilton witnesses all these things, and her parents are among the losses on board the ship.

Mary's journey continues to parallel the familiar Pilgrim tale. She eventually moves off the Mayflower and into a widow's home. She experiences both the cold, hungry winter and the prosperous summer. She witnesses her first Indians: Samoset and Squanto. She recognizes Squanto as an instrument of God - an Indian who experienced slavery only to learn about God in Spain - and learn English in England.

But what makes Almost Home better than a history book is the personal history Lawton imagines for her. Mary learns that home is not a place. Home is resting quietly in the hand of God. Through Mary's trials and triumphs she learns God is the "great weaver" of life, and there is nothing so wonderful as trusting in him.

What I Like: This book is an excellent way to teach children the basics of the Pilgrims, their perilous journey on the Mayflower, and their difficult life in the New World. I also appreciate that Lawton covers some of the newly-controversial topics regarding the Pilgrims. For example, she shows Mary and her friends fearful of the Indians, thinking they must be violent barbarians - but at the same time wondering if the could be "simple and pure." One friend concludes the truth about the Indians must be somewhere in the middle. Later, when a group of exploring Pilgrims take corn seeds from a vacant Indian camp, the author shows how some of the Puritans were troubled by the stealing and how some rationalized the theft as a provision from God. Most of all, I enjoyed Mary's journey from an infant-like Christian to a more mature Christian.

What I Dislike: My only complaint is that throughout the book some words are placed in italics. This makes me want to emphasize them as I read, but really the italics are only an indication the word is in a glossary in the back of the book. The glossary is a great idea, but I find the italics annoying.

Overall Rating: Excellent.

Age Appeal: 8 - 12.

Publishing Info: Moody, 2003; ISBN: 9978-0802436375; paperback, 160 pgs., $6.99

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Special Info: Read our reviews of other books by this author. Also, you might like to visit the author's website for free bookmarks and for information about dolls that go along with the author's books.

My Basket of Blessings

Counting our blessings is what Dr. Mary Manz Simon's My Basket of Blessings (and many reasons to thank God) is all about. This book is die cut to look like a basket, and each page has die cut images of items in the basket, giving a fun layered look. Adding to the attractive appearance are many sparkly images.

The text is well written rhyme and explains how the items in the basket remind us of God. For example, the juicy apples "will never match the sweetness of God's love for me" and the kitten "reminds me of God's caring and of his gentle touch." There's also a scarecrow to remind that God made us, a pumpkin pie, with it's wafting scent, to remind us God's gifts are everywhere, a squirrel whose "chatter now reminds me to share God's love with you," and a teddy bear, who reminds us bears sleep in deep caves and that God is with us day and night. The book ends:

"My basket overflows now the blessings from above.
These precious gifts around me remind me of God's love!"

What I Like: My 2 year old adores this book. He was instantly attracted to the sparkles and the die cast images in this book. The message is simple and the book keeps his attention over and over again.

What I Dislike: Nothing.

Overall Rating: Excellent.

Age Appeal: According to the publisher, 4 - 8, but I'd say infant to preschool.

Publishing Info: Standard Publishing, 2010; ISBN: 0784728796; board book, 14 pgs., $12.99

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Special Info: Read our reviews of other books by this author.

Bertie's War

Written by Barbara Tifft Blakely, Bertie's War presents a twelve-year-old's struggle with fear, insecurity and a potential nuclear war. Roberta (Bertie) tries to follow all the rules and always do the right things, but her imagination often sends her tumbling into embarrassing or even dangerous situations. If she just knew exactly what to do in all situations, she'd never make a mistake and then everyone would love her. But she doesn't know all the rules. There's no way she possibly could! Fear perpetually paralyzes her. She's afraid of failure, of her father, of what others might think. Above all, she's afraid no one is doing anything about the "dirty commies" who want to drop a bomb and destroy them all.

Throughout the book Bertie juggles her fears with learning the ropes of adolescence. Is she too old for playing? Too young for Charlotte Bronte and Jane Austen? Is she too silly for her own good? Will she ever gain her father's approval? How can she protect herself? Her family? Will she ever learn to speak her mind without crumbling into a mess of tears and frustration?

Her family offers a solid, Christian backdrop. While they rarely teach her faith in formal ways, they provide consistent examples that spur her on in her personal journey toward knowing and trusting God.

What I Like: This is a clean book. Too many YA titles these days involve sex, drugs, witchcraft, vampires and foul language. This one contains none of that. It is a simple coming-of-age book that promotes a virtuous, honorable lifestyle. I like that Bertie's family clearly values strong work ethics while encouraging a healthy childhood.

The last twenty pages were great. I like the way Bertie's father pushed her to think through to the root of her fear and actions. He put the responsibility solely on her shoulders, which is necessary for someone of her age. The conclusion offers hope and direction for readers struggling with the same issues of fear and insecurity.

What I Dislike: I really struggled to get through this book. The pace was slow and, for most of the book, the characters lacked dimension. Bertie seemed a spineless, whiney girl far too old to be so entrenched in her fantasy worlds.

I feel the tagline was misleading. It reads "In the fall of 1962 the world went crazy and took a young girl with it." That sounds like an exciting, dramatic read, a promise that wasn't fulfilled. The text offered too little about the world crisis and too much about mundane internal struggles. Back-story fills the first two-thirds of the book, all of which takes place before the fall of 1962.

Also, this less of a "dislike" and more of a caveat: kids who don't know their history may find this book confusing. The author leaves out many details, assuming her readers already possess a level of understanding about the time period and, more specifically, the Cuban nuclear crisis.

Overall Rating: Good.

Age Appeal: Teen -- However, since most kids don't like reading about characters younger than themselves, I suggest 9-12.

Publisher Info: Kregel Publications, 2009; ISBN: 0825424321; Paperback; 192 pages; $7.99

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The Pumpkin Gospel

If you're looking for a way to explain what Jesus does for us, The Pumpkin Gospel by Mary Manz Simon is a great place to start. In well-written rhyme, Simon uses a carved pumpkin to illustrate how God gives us a "clean heart," forgiving "our mess-ups" and offering us "a new start."

The illustrations my Matt Whitlock show a father and two children carving a pumpkin. First the kids notice the slimey, stringy goo inside the pumpkin. It reminds them of "my insides before God makes me new." Then they scoop out the glop and clean the inside of the pumpkin - just like God cleans them of sin. The kids carve a smiling pumpkin, then put a candle inside it.

"God's love is like a candle
that shines from inside out.
It's beaming deep within me,
and so I now can shout.
To glow like my big pumpkin
and have a nice clean heart,
ask God to please forgive you.
You'll have a brand new start."

What I Like: Both my toddler and my kindergartner like this book a lot, and so do I. Using a carved pumpkin to illustrate how God "cleans" us is a simple and effective way to make the concept really stick with kids. This is an ideal book to read before, after, or while you carve a pumpkin. In addition, I really appreciate that each page features an appropriate Bible verse at the bottom of the page. For example, the first page, which talks about how pumpkins can show us about God giving us clean hearts quotes Psalm 51:7: "Wash me...until I am clean and whiter than snow."

What I Dislike: This isn't really a dislike, but it's tough not to compare this book to Crystal Bowman's My Happy Pumpkin (read our review of that book here). As it happens, The Pumpkin Gospel was published first. I think Simon's book also explains the concept more clearly. The Pumpkin Gospel's illustrations aren't quite as nice, in my opinion, but while My Happy Pumpkin is really designed for kids under 4, The Pumpkin Gospel is best for kids 4 and up.

My only real complaints about The Pumpkin Gospel is that it never mentions Jesus ("just" God) and that the glow-in-the-dark features don't work well. To be able to actually read the book with the lights out, you have to charge each two page spread with a bright light, turn off the light, read, turn the page, turn on a bright light to charge the next two page spread, turn off the light, read, and so on. Rather than do this, I suggest parents read the book through with the lights on, then turn off the lights and give their child a flashlight to play with the glow-in-the-dark feature.

Overall Rating: Excellent.

Age Appeal: 4 - 8.

Publishing Info: Standard Publishing, 2005; ISBN: 978-0784717585; board book, 12 pgs., $10.99

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Special Info: Read our reviews of other books by this author.

Amy Carmichael: Rescuing the Children

In Amy Carmichael: Rescuing the Children, kids learn how this big-hearted woman served others in India. Written by Renee Taft Meloche and illustrated by Bryan Pollard, this book charmingly describes how young Amy Carmichael came to care for the poor and hungry.

"Her name was Amy Carmichael
and she was having fun
enjoying tea and tiny cakes
so tasty on her tongue,
when through the tearoom windowpane
she noticed, in surprise,
a homeless girl was gazing in
with hollow, hungry eyes."

After this inciting incident, Amy makes a vow to help people like this girl when she grows up. In her home in Ireland, she invites the poor into church, despite what members of the church think. She eventually builds a larger church to house everyone.

Then God takes Amy abroad: Japan, Ceylon (now Sri Lanka), and finally India, sharing the Gospel. In India, she becomes so well known, orphans break out of Hindu temples to find her. Amy welcomed every one.

What I Like: Sharing someone's life story in rhyme is a unique. In my opinion, it makes it easy to follow. The illustrations did a good job of evoking images of Ms. Carmichael's life.

What I Dislike: There were a few spots where the rhyme didn't quite work. Also, there were several pages that focused exclusively on the orphans that found Amy, and while their stories are impressive and I would like to know more about them, I felt they took up too much of the story.

I would like to have a bibliography in the back where I could learn more about Ms. Carmichael, as well as see what sources were used for reference.

Overall Rating: Good

Age Appeal: 6 and up.

Publisher Info: YWAM Publishing, 2002; ISBN: 978-157658233-6; Hardback $8.99

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We've reviewed other books in the "Heroes for Young Readers" series by Renee Taft Melochee. You can find them here.

That is So Me: Flip-flops, Faith and Friends

Nancy Rue has done it again. The author of the popular Sophie books beautifully enters the world of pre-teen girls in her new devotional, That Is So Me: Flip-flops, Faith and Friends. Rue addresses young girls' concerns, nurtures their faith and speaks to their heart. This 365-day devotional can be started any time, but it would be perfect to give at Christmas, so girls could start it January 1st.

At a time when girls may be pulling away from their families and seeking independence, Rue's daily devotions can offer a godly perspective on life's issues. Her year-long devotional will also give girls an excellent overview of the Bible. She begins in Genesis, and spends the first thirteen weeks discovering who God is. Then, she moves on to explore, "Who does God say I am?" Next, she teaches girls "How to be a holy child of God," and last, she addresses "How can I be the 'God-Made-Me' in a world that's so mixed up?" The book moves mostly chronologically, from Genesis to major Old Testament characters, and on to the Gospels, Acts, and several of the New Testament letters. Each devotion relates a Bible story to girls' present-day lives.

The "Do That Little Thing" section at the end of every day asks readers to take a quiz on Sundays, "Find Out" something by asking grown-up Christians on Mondays, "Just Think" on Tuesdays, talk to God on Wednesdays, listen to God on Thursdays, take action on Fridays, and share what God had done in your life on Saturdays. This progression is logical and consistent from week to week.

What I Like: First of all, I love Rue's voice. She is a cross between a cool, encouraging friend and a wise and compassionate big sister. I couldn't wait to read what she had to say, and I am not even a pre-teen! Second, I love the way she's placed Bible stories chronologically. This is a great overview of the Bible as a whole, and she makes a point to mention Jesus' connection to Old Testament events. Third, I love the "Do That Little Thing" section. I am not a fan of busy work, and there isn't one boring or meaningless activity in all 365 days.

What I Dislike: Nothing, really, but I should point out sometimes biblical stories are abbreviated to fit into the space of a week. For example, when Rue tells about Esther, she doesn't mention it took Esther two dinner invitations to gain enough courage to tell the king she was Jewish. This isn't a big deal, but sometimes you may have to go back to the Bible to get all the details.

Overall Rating: Excellent!

Age Appeal: 9-12

Publisher Info: Zonderkidz, 2010; ISBN: 978-0-310-71475-0; Paperback, 463 pages, $12.99

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Special Info: Check out our reviews of other books by Nancy Rue here.

Lily's in London?!

In this episode of the Lily series, Lily’s in London?!, written by Nancy Rue, Lily’s father is taking his family to Oxford, England for a year so he can teach at the university there. Lily, like her siblings Joe and Tessa, has to leave her school and friends. Their older brother, Sam, stays behind in the States.

Lily goes to England with an attitude. She doesn’t want to leave everything behind and she doesn’t like her new home. The house in Oxford has only three bedrooms so she has to share a room with younger sis Tessa who can be a pest; her mother is home schooling the kids; and Lily doesn’t have any friends in England. What is she supposed to do?

In addition to being out of sorts about her new life situation, she finds herself having difficulty feeling close to God. Over the course of a few days she starts exploring her new surroundings. In the process she meets several people - a nun at the Church of England, a girl who lives down the street, the son of a college professor – who teach her that God can be found in all the little details of life as well as the big ones.

What I Like: I liked reading the story because the author included lots of description about places in England that really exist. I’ve been to England and the author’s voice was authentic in terms of making the places seem real, because they really are!

Also, as always, the author weaves important lessons into the storyline.

What I Dislike: Maybe it’s just me, but I think it a bit pretentious for Lily’s family to stay at Claridge’s in London. Claridge’s is a five-star hotel that caters to the wealthy. With rooms that cost about 250 pounds per night (that translates to almost $500 per night), it’s not some place most people can afford to stay. Most readers just can’t relate to that.

Also, the title is a bit misleading. Lily does make a trip to London, but it’s at the end of the book. Most of the story is centered around her new life in Oxford.

Overall Rating: Very good.

Age Appeal: 9-12.

Publisher Info: Zonderkidz, 2003; ISBN: 9780310705543; Paperback, 169 pages, $6.99.

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Special Info: This book is part of the publisher’s popular Lily series. Read our reviews of other books in the series as well as other books by Nancy Rue. Visit the author’s website.

Waiting for a Bubble: Hickory Woods Adventures

My children and I just finished reading Waiting for a Bubble: A Hickory Woods Adventure aloud in the evenings. We thoroughly enjoyed Jim Dober's whimsical animal fantasy, with it's gentle lessons about patience and friendship.

Bumble, a "squwat" (a cross between a squirrel and a cat) and his friend Snap Jaw (a dragon) live in Hickory Woods, a medieval forest. Bumble spends his days helping Snap Jaw (Snappy) cook at the local inn, and studying the Good Book with Jindo, a wise ex-wizard. When Snappy asks Bumble to take over the creation of his famous bubble soup, Bumble has the perfect opportunity to put into practice the verses about patience he has been learning from the book of James.

Snappy, too, has a chance to practice patience. He and Bumble have long promised each other they would see a famous juggling act together for the first time. However, when Snappy is out shopping for meal ingredients, he gives in to the temptation to see the juggling act's pre-show. Snappy's decision disappoints Bumble and the bubble soup is almost ruined because he stayed out so long. Dober redeems the situation by showing us the power of forgiveness and the strength of true friendship. The friends also demonstrate hospitality by giving the leftover soup to the poor.

Dober's pencil sketches of the characters are fantastic. Warm and full of life, they capture the creatures' personalities and were the highlight of our reading sessions.

What I Like: Dober creates a believable fantasy world, within an unequivocally Christian framework. The chapters are short and action-packed, which made it great for reading aloud. The characters are appealing, funny, sweet and adventurous, and children will relate to the situations Bumble and Snappy find themselves in. There are ample opportunities for discussion as you read, but there are also "Parent and Child Thought Questions" in the back of the book.

I also like the way Dober uses the Bible. It is called the "Good Book," but Jindo reads actual verses from the biblical book of James.

What I Dislike: The book needed one more round of editing before going to print. Many of the sentences are wordy or redundant, and some of the dialogue is not punctuated correctly. However, my children didn't notice. I don't want to discourage our readers from buying the book--just don't use it as a model of creative writing.

Overall Rating: Very good due to editing issues, excellent otherwise

Age Appeal: Publisher lists 8-12, but I would say as young as 5

Publisher Info: Xulon Press, 2010; ISBN: 978-1-61579-688-5; Paperback, 136 pages, $14.99

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My Daddy the King is Very Busy

My Daddy the King is Very Busy was written and illustrated by Carol Weshenfelder. Written in free verse, the text rejoices over a Father's love.

Told from a first-person perspective, the book begins by detailing how God made many things. "He's very busy, but He makes time for me because He made me, too!" The story gives several examples of God's love and protection for the earth and its creatures. Each stanza ends with a personal affirmation that "He's very busy, but ..." He makes time for His children, He loves His children and His children are important to Him.

The full-color illustrations fill the large pages. A scroll design serves as the background to each page's text.

What I Like: This book teaches readers that God is personal and He always has time for them. Too often children think of God as distant and out of reach. The author has done a nice job emphasizing the opposite.

What I Dislike: Unfortunately, self-published books are often more expensive by necessity. This is one of those instances. I feel $15 is simply too high for the content and quality of this book. Even the sale price of $12 seems too much to me. There are punctuation errors and capitalization issues. My biggest concern, however, relates to the illustrations. They are below par and, frankly, disconcerting. The style is inconsistent; the characters are either unequally proportioned or deformed. Designed for a much smaller format, the computer-generated images appear pixelated and blurry.

Overall Rating: Ho-hum.

Age Appeal: 3-6

Publisher Info: CreateSpace, 2009; ISBN: 1438204280; Paperback; 42 pages; $12.00

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The Goat of Many Colors

At first glance, you may think this is another book about Joseph. But really it's a completely different story, one of a multi-colored, fancy-diving goat, as told by the comedic duo of Flamingo and Anteater.

Written and illustrated by Cuyler Black, The Goat of Many Colors begins with a wealthy landowner named Jacob who owns a lot of goats. Most of them do nothing but eat grass and bump heads, but one of them is special. Gus discovers by accident that he really likes diving. The other goats, however, think he's strange for repeatedly jumping off a cliff into water.

Meanwhile Jacob asks a servant to go get a coat of many colors for this favorite son. The servant misunderstands and thinks Jacob said GOAT instead of coat. Not finding a multi-colored goat, he decides to make one. As the servant attempts to slap paint all over him, Gus runs away into the wilderness where he wakes the next morning surrounded by a herd of wild goats.

Seeing his strange colors the wild goats believe Gus is a special goat sent by God to rule over them. Gus loves being king of the goats! They do everything he tells them to -- that is, until he tries to teach them to dive. The frightened goats huddle close to the water until a young goat accidentally falls in. He can't swim. Neither can any of the other goats! Gus has no choice but to dive into the water and save little Junior. When he does, though, all of his colors wash off.

At first the other goats are angry that Gus tricked them. Gus apologizes for trying to be someone he's not. "I thought you only liked me because of my special colors ... I wanted to be accepted." The goats forgive him and assure Gus that he can just be himself. "We love you just the way you are! And part of who you are is a fancy diving goat! That's a gift from God! And God gave you that talent for a reason." Soon the goats discover they all have special gifts from God. They just need to look for those talents and share them.

What I Like: Everything! This story is witty and funny. The kids love it! The illustrations are inviting, full of character and color. The text is clear and relatively simple, perfect for emerging readers. There's nothing not to like about this book.

What I Dislike: Nothing.

Overall Rating: Excellent.

Age Appeal: 4-7

Publisher Info: Zonderkidz, 2010; ISBN: 9780310716341; Paperback; 32 pages; $4.99

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