Tell Me the Secrets

When their ball goes sailing through a window, three teenagers - Landon, Eric and Shannon - are forced to meet their new neighbors. Josh and Melva are a couple who have just bought the Shadow House, a spooky-looking house in town. It turns out the couple are retired missionaries and they are finally settling down in town.

The kids and the couple become very good friends. The husband has a book he calls his book of secrets - the secrets of life - which is a collection of stories he has gathered over the years. Whenever one of the kids has a question about a problem in their life, Josh digs out his book and finds a story that is appropriate for the occasion. The stories use parables to teach lessons or offer guidance when needed in the areas of forgiveness, peace, victory, etc.

Tell Me the Secrets, by Max Lucado, incorporates the collection of stories into the story line of the book’s characters. The title of the book comes from Josh’s explanation of the stories.

The book is divided into chapters. Each chapter is referenced by a Bible verse. All the chapters incorporate some type of extra story into the book’s story line although not all of the stories come directly from Josh’s “book of secrets.”

The illustrations by Ron DiCianni have a spiritual quality about them as they are all use light to create the appearance of a spiritual being in the midst of illustrations of earthly beings.

What I Like: I like how the author incorporates the extra short stories into the storyline.

What I Dislike: However, having said that, I think I should point out that once again he has re-used some stories from previous books in this collection of stories. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, I just thought I’d mention it for those readers who are familiar with Max Lucado’s work.

Overall Rating: Very good.

Age Appeal: 9-12.

Publisher Info: Crossway Books, 2004; ISBN: 1581345224; Hardcover, $16.99.

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Special Info: Visit the author’s website. Visit the illustrator’s website. Read our reviews of other books written by Max Lucado. Read our reviews of other books illustrated by Ron DiCianni.

Tell Me the Story

Tell Me the Story, written by well-known Christian author Max Lucado, is a collection of short stories that illustrate the truths of the Bible. There are six stories in all, each preceded by a Bible verse. The first story, titled “In the Beginning,” takes its quote from Genesis 1:1 (NIV). Other stories use quotes from various parts of the Bible.

According to the blurb on the book jacket, the stories are “tiny slices of the larger story of God and His people.” The first story is about the Creation as told by the angel Michael. It offers a unique perspective on how and why the universe was created. “Morning” is about the Crucifixion, and “Warfare” is a story that illustrates how the angels protect us in our everyday lives.

The illustrations, done by award-winning artist Ron DiCianni, are few but they are masterpieces of exquisite detail, full of color and light.

What I Like: I like the variety of the stories in the book. I also like the nuggets of wisdom imbedded in each story and the beautiful illustrations in the book.

What I Dislike: This book is not promoted as a collection of previously published stories, so readers might feel short-changed when they realize they’ve read a story before - or at least a version of it.

There are at least three previously published stories in this edition. One of them, titled “Too Late,” is basically a rewrite of the author’s Coming Home. The version in this collection is somewhat different from the original, though, as the author changed the ending. However, he didn’t change the characters’ names, the location, or the basic premise of the original story.

This book's “The Fall” was previously published as Because I Love You. “Into His Presence” was previously published as Just the Way You Are. However, I don’t know if either of these has been rewritten, since I have not personally read the original versions.

Overall Rating: Excellent.

Age Appeal: 9-12 is the suggested reading level for this book. But in the introduction, Max Lucado says, “These stories and paintings are for children from six to sixty who desire to see God.” I don’t think children as young as 6 would find much of interest in this book. I’d say you’d have to be at least 9 or 10 to even begin understand most of it. This book is geared more for the older set, teenagers through adults.

Publisher Info: Books, 2005; ISBN: 1581345232; Hardcover, $16.99.

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Special Info: Visit the author’s website. Visit the illustrator’s website. Read our reviews of other books written by Max Lucado. Read our reviews of other books illustrated by Ron DiCianni.

Tell Me About Heaven

Tell Me About Heaven, by Randy Alcorn, is a positive and uplifting story about a 10-year-old boy who visits his grandpa for the first time after his grandma has died. Jake and his grandpa spend fun summer days hiking, picking berries, going to church, and reminiscing about Jake's grandma. Jake's grandpa answers lots of questions about Heaven and shows Jake how to find out more in the Bible.

The chapters begin by describing Jake's loss, and go on to discuss what the Bible says about the Garden of Eden and the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Jake and his grandpa then imagine what life in Heaven might be like, based on the Scriptures.

The story is primarily an account of various conversations Jake and his grandpa have in different settings. It is a bit slow-moving, but includes lots of cute snapshots of Moses (their puppy), as well as descriptions of Jake and his grandpa engaged in everyday activities like star-gazing, making hot chocolate, and reading the Narnia books.

Tell Me About Heaven is vibrantly illustrated by Ron DiCianni. There are vivid, colorful paintings at the beginning of each chapter that add life to the story. Angels and children of all different races are shown, and Jesus' love is evident in His facial expressions. One of my favorite paintings shows angels carrying a joyful man home to Heaven.

What I Like: I love how positive Jake's grandpa is. Even though he misses his wife, he is thrilled to think of her in Heaven with Jesus. Hearing him describe Heaven makes us excited to go there as well. I also really like Jake. He is a sweet boy who has a lot of questions. He is a realistic mix of energy and sadness, and his relationship with his grandpa feels very genuine.

Randy Alcorn's depiction of Heaven is quite detailed, and I love the clear, thorough way he addresses even controversial issues. He rarely speaks in absolutes, but answers Jake's questions by saying, "I wouldn't be surprised." This is Jake's grandpa's response when Jake asks if pets will go to Heaven: "God's touched many people's lives through animals. God can do anything - it'd be simple for Him to recreate a pet in Heaven if He wants to." Alcorn takes a similar approach to Jake's questions about whether dinosaurs, computers, and cars may be in Heaven.

Alcorn does a good job explaining that people we love in Heaven may be able to see us sometimes, but that it's still important to pray only to Jesus.

The best part of the book is the way Alcorn always brings the discussion back to Jesus and His saving grace. There is even a beautiful Certificate of Commitment in the back of the book to commemorate a reader's salvation.

What I Dislike: Although this is a fabulous book, there is almost too much in every chapter. Because of the many theological issues Alcorn addresses, I found myself wanting to read the chapter myself before I read it aloud to my children. I did selectively edit a section in Chapter 1 and another section in Chapter 9 that talked about a 6-year-old dying and an 8-year-old dying of leukemia. Although Alcorn handled it very sensitively, my children haven't specifically dealt with children their age dying.

Alcorn has done a lengthy, fairly intellectual adult book called Heaven and a children's version called Heaven for Kids , which explain his theology, but I wish Tell Me About Heaven included endnotes or at least a list of Scripture references at the back.

The chapters are a bit long, with only one painting at the beginning of each chapter. The book reads more like a chapter book, even though it is a picture book.

Overall Rating: Very Good

Age Appeal: 8-12

Publisher Info: Crossway Books, 2007; ISBN13: 978-1-58134-853-8; Hardcover, $19.99

Special Notes: Some of the paintings depict Jesus as both an infant and an adult, hugging people, rising from the dead, and walking with children and animals in Heaven.

Read our other reviews of Randy Alcorn's books.

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