Dad's Christmas Stories

Dad’s Christmas Stories, written by Robert Martin Boerner and illustrated by Trilby Boerner Wallace, is a picture book that contains seven short stories about Christmas. The illustrations hold simple charm and seemed well planned to fit the text. The fictional tales range from those about Santa Claus to those containing portions of the real account of the birth of Christ. Some of the stories resemble familiar folktales. For example, The Miracle of the Christmas Flower is reminiscent of the legend of the Poinsettia. All of the stories carry a clearly stated moral element.

What I Like: The author started a family tradition of creating and telling a new Christmas story for his family each year… and I find that whole idea heart-warming. I can envision the delight of his family as he shares this book he wrote for them.

What I Dislike: The book is geared for kids 9-12, yet I felt the pictures seemed more suitable to a younger audience while the vocabulary—with words like distraught, contemporaries, and subsequently—seemed better suited for an older audience. At times, the writing felt stilted and preachy. Plus, in one story the children discover that Santa Claus is real. Most 9-12 year olds have figured out that he isn’t.

I was also disappointed that the book did not reference what Bible passage or translation was used in the stories that contained portions of Scripture, especially since at least one passage is quoted almost word for word from the New American Standard Bible. (The difference in text was the assertion of “he announced to them”.)

However, perhaps the thing that bothered me most was the way the book made me feel like the story of Christ’s birth was little more than a legend. Even stories that were based on Scripture held just enough fiction (an angel with a broken wing riding piggy-back on Gabriel when he greets the shepherds and a wise man who overcame drug and stimulant abuse) to make me shake my head.

Overall Rating: Ho-hum.

Age Appeal: The publisher lists it as 9-12, but I feel the stories (minus complex vocabulary) and pictures would appeal more to kids ages 4-8.

Publisher Info: Grateful Steps, 2008; ISBN:978-0978954895; Hardback, 72 PGS., $21.95.

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The Story of Christmas

Christmas is an exciting time for kids. Having a chance to slow down and reflect on the real meaning behind the holiday is just as important as the family, food, and presents. With The Story of Christmas by Gwen Ellis, you and your child get that chance.

Through ten bite-sized stories, your child will learn the essentials of the Christmas story: from Zechariah and Elizabeth being told they will have John, to Joseph's uncertainty over Mary's pregnancy, then to Mary, Joseph, and Jesus being sent to Egypt to be protected from Jesus from King Herod.

The book is cartoonishly illustrated by Steve Smallman.

What I Like: The stories share the essentials without going too in depth with certain details (like what it meant to be pregnant and unmarried.) They're the perfect length for bedtime.

Also, each story has the appropriate Scripture reference at the beginning so you can go to the Bible, if desired. At the end of each story, a question is asked for your child to reflect on. There's a game at the end of the book with the appropriate pictures from each tale that your child can use to retell the story to you.

What I Dislike: This is so minor I almost hesitate to mention it. Overall, I liked the the story and the illustrations, but there's just one part of the pictures that distracted me: the noses. I couldn't help but think of a carrot on a snowman's face every time I looked at the faces of the people.

Overall Rating: Excellent.

Age Appeal: 4 - 8.

Publisher Info: Thomas Nelson, Inc., 2007; ISBN: 978-1-4003-1468-3; Hardback, 24 PGS., $7.99

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Special Info: This book is part of the Read and Share series, and was originally part of the Read and Share Bible, published in 2007. Also, some parents will want to know the face of baby Jesus is shown in many images.

We've also reviewed other books by Ms. Ellis, including others in the Read and Share series. You can find those reviews here.

Little Star

"'Dad, which one is the Christmas star?' the boy asked, straining his eyes as he looked out at the clear, dark sky."

Little Star, written by bestselling author Anthony DeStefano, and beautifully illustrated by Mark Elliot, is the story of the small but brave Christmas star who shone so brightly the night of Jesus' birth.

The boy in this story asked his father to tell him the story of the Christmas star. Little Star was the smallest and seemingly insignificant of the stars in the sky. No one noticed him enough to even be mean to him. What a lonely life he led!

When the stars began to talk about the fact that a king would be born, the stars found out that the star who could shine the brightest during his birth would win a prize. All the stars were cleaned and dusted except for Little Star, who was once again forgotten. He felt that he would never get the chance to be the brightest star.

On the night of Jesus' birth, Little Star looked down to earth and felt sad for a woman on a donkey, and a man who was leading her. It seemed that no one wanted them. He knew too well how that felt. When he saw them settle for the night in the stable, he felt confused because it seemed like a strange place for a king to be born.

The other stars were disappointed. They didn't think that kings could be born poor. But Little Star suddenly knew.

"I think I understand," Little Star cried out.
"The baby Jesus IS a king!
He's just little."

Little Star understood the whole purpose behind Jesus' coming to earth as a humble baby, born in a stable. He felt the love of Jesus, and wanted so badly to reach out and touch Him. He used all the strength he had, and shone as brightly as he could.

The other stars, finally noticed Little Star, and were afraid that he would shine so brightly that he would burn himself out. Little Star paid no attention to their warnings. He shone brighter and brighter, warming the baby Jesus all night long. He shone until he was tiny and gray.

The little boy was sad when his father finished the story. His father told him not to be sad because Little Star gave his life to warm the baby Jesus. God gave Little Star the reward of being remembered forever, each time someone puts a star on top of their Christmas tree.

What I Like: This book is beautifully written and illustrated. Each page is truly heartwarming, and it could easily become a Christmas classic. Perfect for gift giving or just buying to add to your family collection, it won't disappoint. As I read it for the first time, the story touched me even as it delighted my girls.

What I Dislike: I don't dislike anything about this book. Our entire family loved it, and will enjoy for years to come!

Overall Rating: Excellent

Age Appeal: 4-8

Publisher Info: WaterBrook Press, 2010; ISBN:0307458059 ; Hardcover, 40 PGS., $12.99.

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Special Info: We have reviewed another book by this author/illustrator combination. Read it here.

Ryan's Almost Impossible Wish

A lost puppy on the day Gramma comes to visit provides an opening for Ryan to learn about Jesus in Ryan's Almost Impossible Wish, written by Sonia Gibson and illustrated by Denise Sager.

After telling his mother he wants a big brother, Ryan's puppy, Bubby, runs away. Ryan is very upset, to the point he can't eat. When Gramma arrives, she brings hope: Bubby has been found by a neighbor, and shortly, Bubby is back home.

Gramma has brought her Book (the Bible) with her, and she and Ryan sit down to read. Using the day's adventures as a springboard, Gramma teaches Ryan that everyone is lost, like Bubby had been. Ryan states he doesn't feel lost. Gramma explains further: everyone is lost until they have Jesus as their friend. Using Proverbs 18:24, "There is a friend who sticks closer than a brother," Gramma tells Ryan Jesus is the ultimate big brother. Excited, Ryan says he wants to have Jesus as his big brother. After Gramma explains about prayer, Ryan prays for Jesus to come into his life.

What I Like: I love the fact this book uses a real-life situation kids can relate to in order to share the gift of Salvation. The message is straightforward, even if it takes a bit to get to.

At the end of the book, there's a short epilogue that helps kids apply what they've learned in the book. And, there's a quiz inside the back cover about the story.

What I Dislike: There are inconsistencies in the book's grammar. For instance, when referring to God, sometimes "Him" is capitalized, sometimes it's not.

The illustrations by Ms. Sager had a bit of a surreal quality to them. Faces weren't consistent, and there were some images where proportions were skewed. One image where Ryan is eating breakfast has Momma leaning over what appears to be a counter. Her position appears completely unnatural, as does the coloring on her face.

Overall Rating: Very Good, despite the problems noted above.

Age Appeal: 4 - 7.

Publisher Info: Amazing Grace Publishers, LLC, 2010; ISBN: 978-0-9631988-2-2; Hardback, 32 pages, $15.99

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Asking for Trouble

The first in a new series by bestselling author Sandra Byrd, Asking for Trouble introduces readers to Savannah Smith, a.k.a. "Savvy." This fifteen-year-old Seattle girl dreams of being an ace reporter, but having just been transplanted to the UK, she's got a few bigger worries to manage first. Like learning to live without her best friends and youth group back home. She also needs to learn the British lingo if she hopes to survive at Wexburg Academy, a school that has not exactly sent out the Welcome Wagon.

When Savvy applies for position with the school paper, she doesn't get the journalist job she had hoped for. Instead she gets a stinky newspaper satchel and a gig delivering papers. The Wexburg Academy Times is in bad shape, too. The school intends to pull funding if they can't increase their readership. That's when Savvy has a great idea: to start an advice column. But even though it's her idea, she may not get to write it. The staff doesn't feel she has enough experience and she certainly isn't British enough. Can she prove herself in time?

Meanwhile, Savvy and her family (mom, dad, and little sister) struggle to find their place in this new country. Will they ever fit in? Will they ever find a church that makes this place feel like home?

What I Like: I love that Savvy continually redirects her focus on God. Even though she doesn't have a youth group or friends pointing her in that direction, even though she doesn't always do or say the right things, she consistently knows where to go to find the answers. She uses Scripture as her source of wisdom and truth. I really like that her prayers are natural, a wonderful example for teen readers who struggle to have a personal relationship with God. The author has done a fabulous job making this easy to read and relate to. Readers won't find any stuffy, cookie-cutter characters here. Savvy is into boys and fashion and culture, all while still loving God. Her parents try to do what's right, but they have "off" days, too. All around, this is a great book.

What I Dislike: The author spends too much time translating stuff for Americans. While a degree of this nicely relates Savvy's fish-out-of-water experience, the frequency feels a little redundant and even condescending at points. Most readers will have seen movies that take place in England (What a Girl Wants, Princess Diaries, etc.) and won't necessarily need the constant reminder of how things are said by Brits.

Overall Rating: Very Good.

Age Appeal: Teens

Publisher Info: Tyndale, 2010; ISBN: 1414325975; Paperback, 265 pages, $6.99

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You can also purchase the entire "London Confidential" series (four books in all) at Christianbook.com for just $22.96.

Special Info: Learn more about the author and her other books at her website: www.SandraByrd.com. Sign up for her newsletter and be entered in monthly contests. The next prize is a collection of London-themed goodies!

The Berenstain Bears Do Their Best

In The Berenstain Bears Do Their Best, written by Stan and Jan Berenstain, and illustrated by Mike Berenstain, Brother and Sister Bear want to enter the local kite flying contest. Problem is, they don’t have a kite. Papa Bear tells them not to worry, he’ll make them one using the special talents God gave him.

Papa Bear then proceeds to construct a kite for the cubs with some paper and sticks, using glue to hold it together. He paints the kite red and adds a tail to make it fly. Then the trio head off for the contest.

When they get there, they see that theirs is the only homemade kite. All the others are fancy, store-bought ones. Everyone makes fun of the Bear’s kite, saying it will never fly. But, Papa has faith that it will, and it does. Not only does it fly, but when the winds blow hard and strong, all the other kites fall apart; the one Papa made holds together and wins the contest.

This Bible verse is given as a reference for the story: “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plan will succeed.” [Proverbs 16:3]

The text is written in rhyme, which is a departure from the usual Berenstain Bear book. The illustrations are typical of other books in the series, though, with bright, cartoon-like pictures throughout.

What I Like: This is a good story about using our talents, committing what we do to the Lord, and having faith we will prevail.

What I Dislike: Although I am a Berenstain Bear fan (as many of you know), this book doesn’t stand out as one of the best ones in the series as the storyline is weak. If the Bear cubs wanted to enter a kite-flying contest, they should have planned ahead to do so. I don’t think they should have waited until the day of the contest to have Papa make a kite for them. Also, Papa did all the work. He didn’t have the cubs help him at all even though they were the ones that were supposed to be entering the contest.

Overall Rating: Good.

Age Appeal: 4-8.

Publisher Info: Zonderkidz, 2010; ISBN: 9780310719373; Hardcover, $6.99

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Special Info: This book is part of the publisher’s Living Lights series. Read our reviews of other books in the series. Read our reviews of other books by Stan and Jan Berenstain. Visit the Berenstain Bears website.

Mainstream Author Highlight: Mike Lupica

Here at CCBR, we haven't covered many sports books for boys. As I was looking for sports titles, I kept running into the name Mike Lupica. A sports columnist for thirty years, Lupica started as a columnist at the New York Daily News, and still writes a syndicated column. He also reports on ESPN, and writes for several major sports publications. Lupica has written twenty-seven books, primarily chapter books for the 8 and up set. He draws on his own experience as a youth soccer, Little League, and basketball coach, in addition to his years of covering pro sports.

In Lupica's Comeback Kids series, the heroes are 8-12 year-old athletes who have to overcome their circumstances. In Hot Hand and Two-Minute Drill, they deal with parents divorcing, moving to a new town, and learning disabilities. In each of the books, the heroes love sports, and learn important life lessons by being part of a team.

Lupica's longer books are designed for slightly older readers, and have more complex plot lines. Still, his main characters are realistic but positive role models for readers. While Lupica often writes about conflict between parents and children or coaches and athletes, he always includes at least one healthy, caring adult influence. Both The Big Field and Miracle on 49th Street have satisfying endings with a great message.

What I Like: I really like Lupica's commitment to providing positive heroes readers will relate to, as well as the fact there is always a supportive adult in the picture somewhere. Lupica's main characters overcome some type of struggle, and are better people by the end of the book.

Lupica's years of sports writing make him a pleasure to read. There isn't a confusing or redundant sentence anywhere, and the dialogue is just as well written as his (detailed) game scenes. I even found myself interested in a recent televised baseball game, simply because I understand it so much better after reading The Big Field.

What I Dislike: Nothing. While not specifically Christian, Lupica's books value hard work, fair play, and family.

Overall Rating: Excellent

Age Appeal: 8-16

Seek and Find Bible Stories

If your kids enjoy the mainstream Where's Waldo books, they are sure to love Seek and Find Bible Stories by Carl Anker Mortensen, also. This is a superb, over sized (about 12 by 9 1/2 inches) book using settings from the Bible to "hide" a boy named Mike. Each two page spread features a highly detailed scene that takes up most of the pages, in addition to text that speaks briefly about the scene, offers questions and things to look for, plus one biblical quotation. And, naturally, readers are encouraged to find Mike somewhere in the illustration.

For example, for the two page spread on the Tower of Babel, one paragraph explains the basics of the biblical story. Then there are 5 questions, including "Can you find the missing horseshoe?" and "What game do you think the children are playing with the camel?" Then Genesis 11:1 - 9 is quoted.

Other Bible stories included are:

* Creation
* Noah's ark
* Israeli slaves in Egypt
* The parting of the Red Sea
* The war against the Amalekites
* Eating manna
* Jericho
* Daily life in Isreal
* Samson
* David and Goliath
* The Ark of the Covenant
* Building the temple
* Jesus' birth
* Young Jesus in the temple
* The wedding in Cana
* Jesus clearing the temple
* Jesus healing the man who can't walk
* The Beatitudes
* The sick woman who touched Jesus
* Jesus feeding 5,000
* Zacchaeus
* Jesus' entry into Jerusalem
* Pentecost
* The apostles healing many
* Stephen
* Angels praising Jesus

What I Like: This book offers a nice mix of biblical passages that tend to get little attention when it comes to children's literature and Bible stories that are found in nearly every children's book. The illustrations by Jose Perez Montero are excellent; they remind me of Peter Spier's illustrations. They are full of fun details, and are the sort of thing many children will enjoy pouring over for hours.

What I Dislike: Nothing.

Overall Rating: Excellent.

Age Appeal: 4 - 8.

Publishing Info: Zonderkidz, 2008; ISBN: 978-0310717591; hardback, 64 pgs., $9.99

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William Carey: Obliged to Go (Christian Heroes: Then & Now)

William Carey: Obliged to Go is a part of the Christian Heroes: Then and Now series. You may know William Carey as the "Father of Modern Missions," but Janet and Geoff Benge will give you more insight on the intriguing life of this missionary to India.

As a boy, William was apprenticed to a codwainer (shoemaker) who taught him his trade. While he was an apprentice, he began to attend dissenter meetings. When his master died, William moved two miles away to finish his apprenticeship with another codwainer. He ended up marrying Dolly, one of the daughters of the dissenter minister in that town.

William and Dolly faced many hardships in their young married life: poverty, the death of two daughters, and the slow descent of Dolly into depression and emotional illness. William wrote a book, Enquiry, which was meant to aid in Christian missions.

William felt that God was urging him to preach the gospel in foreign lands, but he had one problem. Dolly, who was expecting another child, refused to go along. William felt that he had no recourse but to leave her behind. Dolly did agree to allow him to take their oldest son Felix, but she was firm in her intention to stay behind. In God's Providence, William, Felix, and their companion, Dr. Thomas were not allowed to board the ship because of some outstanding debts that the doctor had. During the interim, Dr. Thomas helped William to convince Dolly to bring the children and her sister, and travel with them to India.

On their way to India at last, William had no idea of the troubles he would encounter in his quest to preach Christ to those who needed to know Him. Through poverty, death of loved ones, opposition from the missionary society, and sickness, God sustained William. He was able to minister to those he had a burden for, and he didn't let any of these things stop him. He truly sacrificed his life for the sake of the gospel.

What I Like: This biography pleasantly surprised me as an exciting and compelling read. Many of the events in Carey's life were heartbreaking, but his faith in God stood firm through it all. I like it that the authors do not candy coat or sensationalize the story, but present it in a clear and honest way.

What I Dislike: Many of the events detailed when William Carey was an older man are not developed as well as the events in the beginning of the story.

Overall Rating: Very good

Age Appeal: 9-12, but I believe that younger children could easily enjoy having this book read to them.

Publisher Info:YWAM Pub, 1998; ISBN:1576581470 ; Paperback, 211 pages; $8.99.

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Special Info: We have reviewed other books in the Christian Heroes: Then and Now Series. Read those reviews here.

Time for Bed Bible Stories

From Noah to Jesus, Time for Bed Bible Stories shares bite-sized stories just the right length for bedtime.

Stories include:

• Noah Builds an Ark
• Daniel and the Lions
• Jonah and the Gigantic Man-Swallowing Fish
• Jesus Calms a Storm
• Jesus and the Tiny Taxman
• Jesus is Alive!

All of the stories have bright and cheerful illustrations to accompany them, many showing smiling people and animals.

Time for Bed Bible Stories is written by Juliet David and illustrated by Sarah Pitt.

What I Like: The stories are short, maybe a couple paragraphs at the longest, so they're quick to get through. You could easily read three or four stories to your youngster before shutting off the light at night.

What I Dislike: Several stories feel unfinished. In many cases, adding one more finishing sentence probably would have strengthened the stories, and left me (or my kids) without questions. For instance, in "Joseph and His Special Coat," the end of the story states that "one day Joseph's father and brothers came to live in Egypt too." There's no mention of how the father and brothers were reconciled to Joseph. A one or two sentence addition could have fixed this.

None of the stories had references, which I would have liked in case my child wanted to know more about a particular story.

From a writer's point of view, the book doesn't feel like it was edited well. The first story, Noah Builds an Ark, is written in present tense, while every other story is in past tense.

Overall Rating: Ho-hum

Age Appeal: 4 - 8, but I feel the way the stories are written, older children may get bored. My personal feel is Baby - 5.

Publisher Info: Candle Books, 2010; ISBN: 978-1-85985-778-6; Hardback, 93 pages, $12.99

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Special Info: We've also reviewed other books by Juliet David. You can find them here. Also, some parents may wish to know that all of the stories that feature Jesus show His face.

The Trouble with Max

The first book in the Max and Me Mysteries series, The Trouble With Max was written by Patricia H. Rushford, a registered nurse with a Masters degree in counseling.

When Jessie Miller finds an unexpected best friend in newcomer Max Hunter, the two become a pair of unlikely heroes. Jessie is small, skinny and bald, thanks to an ongoing battle with leukemia. Max is loud, confident and more unpredictable than this small, lakeside community is accustomed to. When the girls stumble over a possible drug deal, a string of trouble attaches to their heels.

Before long Jessie discovers that Max’s aunt and uncle are abusing her and that they moved here after a previous run-in with child protective services. The friendship, Max's safety and Jessie's health are all put to the test as the two girls attempt to solve separate mysteries. Believing it will keep her out of foster care, Max wants to cut off the drug supply that feeds her aunt and uncle’s habits, but Jessie wants to find a way to get Max away from her aunt and uncle without losing her only friend.

What I Like: This was a great read! I really enjoyed it. I like that it features uncommon characters. Not everyone wants to read about the beautiful, talented cheerleader all the time. The author depicts the characters' struggles and triumphs with believable details which had my emotions run the gamut between heartbroken, joyful and anxious with suspense.

What I Dislike: Nothing, really. A few strings were left loose, but I'm okay with that. I trust the author handles them in the subsequent books of this series.

Overall Rating: Excellent.

Age Appeal: 9-12

Publisher Info: Moody Publishers, 2007; ISBN: 0802462537; Paperback; 140 pages; $6.99

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Special Info: You can read the first chapter of this book online. There you can also learn more about the author and her other books, including two more in this series: Danger at Lakeside Farm and The Secret of Ghost Island.

Little Things Make Big Differences: A Story about Malaria

Little Things Make Big Differences: A Story about Malaria, written by Rev. John Nunes and Monique Nunes, is based on a true story about Rehema, a girl who lives in Tanzania.

When Rehema was just a baby, she was bitten by a mosquito and contracted malaria. Her parents walked many miles to a hospital to get treatment for her. Because of this, she survived and her parents learned how to protect themselves and others from mosquito bites.

Most of the book is devoted to Rehema’s story. The last few pages give readers ways they can help those in countries like Tanzania.

The illustrations by Mark Schroder are detailed and expressive, but they are also done in darker, muted colors that fit the tone of the story.

What I Like: This is a good book for children to learn about malaria and how it is spread. The story is an interesting one and is well-written.

What I Dislike: The layout of the book is a bit awkward in regards to the binding. One of the two-page spreads has a person’s face partially obscured, catching half the person's mouth and chin in the folds of the binding, which looks rather odd. On another page, a person’s elbow looks like it has been cut in half.

Overall Rating: Very good.

Age Appeal: 9-12.

Publisher Info: Concordia Publishing House, 2010; ISBN: 9780758616654; Paperback, $6.99.

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Amrach and the Paraclete

Amrach and the Paraclete gives readers a clear picture of who the Holy Spirit is and how he operates in our lives today. Pentecostal church superintendent John Glass writes in a manner reminiscent of Pilgrim's Progress but in a fantasy setting, with a Narnia-style lion as the Christ-figure.

In this powerful allegory, Amrach is a keeper of "the remnant legend," and secretly teaches others about the Lion. However, when the evil princes of Harag discover him teaching, they kill his wife, capture his children, and leave him for dead. When Amrach wakes up, he decides to seek an audience with the Lion. There, the Lion commissions Amrach to travel throughout the land and raise an army to fight against the princes of Harag.

Although Amrach has always served the Lion, he never knew the Paraclete was available to help him. As he travels, he learns to rely on the Paraclete for his every decision, instead of making decisions based on his own will or best guess. From time to time, Amrach forgets to consult him and suffers consequences, but he never loses sight of his service to the Lion. At the end, Amrach leads the army to victory and is reunited with his sons, and his resurrected wife.

What I Like: This is an engaging, fast-paced fantasy, but I like the reminder to pay attention to the Holy Spirit the best. I found myself realizing I often make decisions without asking for God's guidance, and I found myself wanting to pray more and listen better.

I also like the study section at the end. Glass includes many Scripture references for each chapter, with an invitation to "Look them up and see if you can discover the part of Amrach's story to which they refer."

What I Dislike: I thought Amrach got over the death of his wife rather quickly, but this is just a petty complaint. (Probably because I am a wife.)

Overall Rating: Very Good

Age Appeal: 8-12, but teens and adults would like it as well

Publisher Info: Authentic Lifestyle, 2004; ISBN: 1-85078-556-2; Paperback, 177 pages, $9.99

Buy it at Amazon.com for $9.99.

Special Info: There are a few subtle points that may seem specifically Pentecostal, but I think Christians of all belief systems can gain valuable insight into who the Holy Spirit is through this book.

Betty Greene: Wings to Serve

“The twin-engine Lockheed B-34 bomber stood illuminated in pools of white floodlight on a corner of the tarmac. Betty Greene strolled toward it, her parachute strapped securely to her back and her fur-lined flying jacket buttoned tight against the crisp fall air. Her heart beat wildly as she approached the airplane…”

Once again, authors Janet and Geoff Benge hook the reader straight off with an action-packed slice of life. Their book, Betty Greene: Wings to Serve, another biography in the Christian Heroes: Then & Now series, focuses on the life and adventures of Betty Greene.

Betty Greene served her country during World War II as a WASP pilot, a select group of females trained to fly military aircraft. The book details many close calls, dangers, challenges, and obstacles faced by Betty during this time. But it doesn’t stop there, because Betty had a dream—to use her skills as a pilot to serve God. As the war drew to a close, Betty worked with other Christians to help found the Mission Aviation Fellowship. Today, MAF is a global ministry that helps support missionary efforts. It operates over eighty aircrafts in nineteen countries.

What I Like: I said this before with another book I reviewed by the same authors, so this will sound repetitive (but it's still true). I avoid reading biographies because the bore me. However, I LIKED THIS BOOK. The strong writing made it an easy read. Betty’s perseverance, determination, faithfulness, and passion shone brightly throughout the book. The story is engaging, inspiring, and well-written. I believe this book—and likely all the books in this series—would be a great addition to any homeschool curriculum or church library.

What I Dislike: I didn't think the book had an eye-catching cover. However, I liked everything else about it.

Overall Rating: Excellent

Age Appeal: 9-12, but I think it is appropriate for people of all ages.

Publisher Info: YWAM Publishing, 1999; ISBN: 978-1576581520; Paperback, 195 pages, $8.99

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

Five-Minute Bible Stories

Five-Minute Bible Stories, written by Lois Rock and illustrated by Richard Johnson, is filled with stories retold from the Bible. There are 20 stories all together: the first 12 from the Old Testament and the rest from the New Testament. The topics covered range chronologically from the Creation to Jesus’ Resurrection. Each story begins with a short paragraph or two of background information leading into the story’s action.

The pages are illustrated with paintings mostly in shades of brown, greens and blues, like the one on the cover. Each page contains at least one illustration as all the pages have a small picture in either the upper left- or right-hand corner. Most of the pages also contain an additional illustration, most of which cover half a page or less. There are only a few full-page illustrations.

What I Like: I like the range of stories. This is a nice collection of Bible stories that those already familiar with will enjoy; it is also a well-rounded collection of stories for those unfamiliar with the characters and concepts of the Bible.

I also like the length of the stories, as young children’s attention spans tend to be quite short.

And, I think the length of the book – 20 short stories in 96 pages – in a hardcover book is a great value for the price.

What I Dislike: Because the stories are so short (even though I like the concept of the short-story format) much gets left out of the retelling. For instance, in the story of Daniel, we are told that Daniel is thrown into a pit of lions, and that he survived the night. But, there is no mention of how he survived and of why the lions didn’t kill him. I think those are important concepts, too.

Overall Rating: Very good.

Age Appeal: The publisher suggests 4 to 8 as the appropriate ages for this book. That might be true if these were read-aloud stories only. This age group can easily sit and enjoy these stories, as they are short enough to be read in five minutes or less. However, older children, 9 and up, will be able to sit down and read the stories themselves.

Publisher Info: Augsburg Books, 2005; ISBN: 0806651253; Hardcover: $17.99.

Buy now at Amazon: $12.91.

Special Info: Read our reviews of other books written by Lois Rock.

Eric Liddell: Something Greater Than Gold

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

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

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

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

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

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

Overall Rating: Excellent

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

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

Buy it Now at Christianbook.com for $6.99

OR Buy it at Amazon.com for $8.99.

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

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

Purity Reigns

“Brittany had always told me that Branson needed more than I was willing to offer, and if I didn’t give it to him, someone else would. I just didn’t know that someone else would be her.”

That short paragraph sums up most of the conflict in Purity Reigns, the first book in the Laurel Shadrach series, written by Stephanie Perry Moore. High school senior Laurel Shadrach is beautiful, athletic, popular, and comes from a strong Christian family. Plus she is dating the hottest boy in school, Branson. However, Branson is pressuring her to be more intimate than Laurel knows she should be. The reader sees this tension right from the beginning of the book. “He tilted my head toward his and kissed me passionately. I melted in his arms. Then his hand went back to my leg and started moving to an area that was definitely off limits. Without interrupting the kiss, I grabbed his wrist and kept him from going any farther.”

Added to the struggle to stay pure is Laurel’s desire to compete in the National Gymnastics Championship and win a gymnastic scholarship for college.

With a realistic taste of the challenges faced by today’s high school teenagers, the story follows Laurel’s life. Yet while Laurel grapples with betrayal, an injured ankle, strained friendships, conflicting emotions, and the pressure to succeed, the main focus of the book remains on one of the biggest tests of all: staying sexually pure.

As the story draws to a close, Laurel makes a hard choice. She ends up losing her boyfriend, who hooks up with her best friend. However, Laurel soon recognizes that another boy from her youth group is a much more godly (and healthy) love interest for her.

What I Like: I appreciate how Laurel turns to prayer when she struggles. I also like that the book shows how easy it is for ANYONE to get carried away in the sexual arena. In addition, it shows some of the consequences of poor decisions. It portrays the emotional and moral dilemmas teens face when it comes to setting boundaries… and then keeping them. The overall message of the book is valuable. Stay pure. It’s worth it.

What I Dislike: The gymnastics practice schedule seems unrealistic to me. Gymnasts I know train for at least four hours a day. Serious contenders have a more rigorous schedule. Plus it’s a bit of a stretch (no pun intended) to think a high school senior could make the Olympic team (as Laurel desires to do), without a more intense and elite training program. Moreover, such focus usually dictates the athlete does not attend a public school, but must instead hire a private tutor.

Overall Rating: Very good. I told my daughter she should read it when she was fourteen. (Right now, I believe the scenes give details she’s not mature enough to read just yet.)

Age Appeal: Young adult (but better suited for ages fourteen plus)

Publisher Info: Moody Publishers, 2002; ISBN: 978-0-8024-4035-8; Paperback, 239 pages, $7.99

Buy it Now at Christianbook.com for $5.99

OR Buy it at Amazon.com for $7.19.

OR Buy a kindle copy for $4.19.

Special Info: Read other CCBR reviews of books by this author. Also, parents should note that this book contains under-age drinking and premarital sex (resulting in HIV and unwanted pregnancy). Sex is not described in the book, but is discussed by the characters.