The Real Story of the Flood

The Real Story of the Flood by Paul L. Maier is a mix of rich illustrations, realism, theology - along with some theory presented as fact.

As in all Maier's "The Real Story" volumes, this picture book gives a modern narrative account of a well known Bible story: This time, Noah and the ark. But unlike most other children's books on this topic, Maier's story is mature and detailed.

Noah and his family are the only righteous people on earth. God tells Noah to build an ark, and he does, despite the mocking of his neighbors. Soon, pairs of animals enter and the ark and God shuts the big boat's door. Then the storm begins. Noah's neighbors suddenly don't feel like mocking him. Instead, they pound on the ark begging to be let in.

When the storm subsides, Noah lets a dove out until it first comes back with an olive branch, then doesn't return at all. Noah and his family start a new life, and God sends his promise rainbow. Then Maier explains how each of Noah's sons supplied the earth with different peoples. Shem, he writes, was the father of the Semitic people "who would ionhabit lands to the east of the Mediterranean Sea." Ham's offspring were the "Hamitic" people of Egypt and North Africa, and Japheth's descendants became the ancestors of "people who trace their roots to Europe."

The last page of the book is for skeptics. Maier addresses the idea that the story of the biblical flood is too incredible to be true, concluding "It is history."

What I Like: The illustrations by Robert T. Barrett are in the style of classic painters, full of rich details and realistic renderings. I also appreciate that Maier gives a thorough retelling of this biblical story, covering far more than any other children's book on the topic that I've read.

What I Dislike: My major gripe with this book is that Maier presents some theory as fact. For example, he writes: "The aging Noah now turned to agriculture, planted vineyards, and invented wine making." The Bible says nothing about Noah inventing wine-making, and it's just as reasonable to assume people before the flood knew how to make wine.

On the last page, Maier also tries to answer skeptics questions, including "Wouldn't dinosaurs crush Noah's ark iof they tried to board it?" He answers: "Mr. and Mrs. Tyrannosaurus Red missed the boat. They were not around at the time. Nor were their brontosaurus, triceratops, or stegosaurus relatives. All the gigantic citizens of Jurassic Park lived and died long before the floor. Indeed, they roamed the earth during that early era described in the first half of Genesis, chapter one." This is all assumption on Maier's part, but he presents it as fact.

In addition, although I do like Barrett's illustrations, they sometimes appear a bit washed out.

Overall Rating: Good.

Age Appeal: According to the publisher, 4 to 8. However, when I read this to my 4 year old, I could tell by her comments and questions it was the first time she really realized everyone on earth died except Noah, his family, and the land animals aboard the ark. The illustrations also show people outside the ark weeping and pounding on the ark, trying to get in. This is mature stuff, so I'd say the book is more appropriate for kids 8 - 12.

Publishing Info: Concordia, 2008; ISBN: 978-0758612670; hardback, $16.99

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Special Info: Read all of our reviews of Paul L. Maier's books.

Dinosaurs for Kids

Do you want to teach your children that God's word, the Bible, is flawless and dependable? Then you know it's difficult to find science books for your kids. But with Ken Ham's impressive book Dinosaurs for Kids, your children will get a fantastic look at the world of dinosaurs that not only isn't contrary to the Bible, but also teaches kids about the alternative, secular view.

Ham is the president of Answers in Genesis, a creationist organization promoting science that isn't contradictory to the Bible. He's written a number of dinosaur books for children, but Dinosaurs for Kids is my favorite. With realistic, stunning illustrations by Bill Looney, this book is a great primer on dinosaurs and creation science.

In addition to teaching about various types of dinosaurs, Ham covers such topics as the infallibility of the Bible and it's possible mention of dinosaurs (reminding us the word "dinosaurs" is relatively new and wasn't around during the writing of the Bible - or when it was finally translated into English). He reminds us the Bible says all animals were made on the sixth day of creation and that they were all plant eaters until after the fall. One two page spread maps out evolutionary theory, so children will be aware of the predominant view, then another two page spread explains what the Bible has to say about the creation of people and animals.

One of my favorite sections discusses dinosaur teeth. Ham explains that scientists draw conclusions about what dinosaurs ate by looking at their teeth, and the general view is that large, sharp teeth indicate the animal ate meat. But then he discusses and pictures the musk deer, the fruit bat (who, yes, eats only fruit), and bears (who are primarily vegetarians). All have impressive, sharp teeth. So if living herbivores with meat-eating style teeth exist today, how can we look at dinosaur teeth and presume to know what they ate? In fact, Ham writes, you would need very sharp teeth to eat certain plants or branches. (Just imagine trying to eat a pumpkin without large, sharp teeth.)

Ham also explains how scientists use the fossil record, and how incomplete most fossils are. He explains the creationist view that the reason we have so many dinosaur fossils is the biblical flood. He also offers his ideas on how dinosaurs entered the ark. And why did dinosaurs die out? Ham offers several theories, including the idea that the earth after the flood wasn't ideal for dinosaurs. He also touches upon the idea that legends of dragons - prevalent in many cultures - may be based upon actual living dinosaurs.

Throughout, Ham explains much of what we "know" about dinosaurs is actually theory, and that not infrequently, scientists' ideas about dinosaurs change. For example, Ham also tells this story:

"The Oviraptor ('egg-robber')...was once thought by secular scientists to have robbed the nests of other dianosaurs. This assumption was made becauise the fossilized bones of an Oviraptor were found very close to a grouping of eggs. After modern technology and other fossil finds showed the eggs were probably those of the Oviraptor found with them, secular scientists then began considering Oviraptors to be caring parents. That concliusion just created more unproven ideas."

Interestingly, Ham also writes that most creation scientists think there were only around 50 different types of dinosaurs. He wrote this in 1990 - yet a 2010 issue of Smithsonian magazine says more and more scientists are thinking there were fewer types of dinosaurs than previously believed. The variations among many fossils, they think, showcases the difference between young and old dinosaurs.

What I Like: Everything. This is a well-written, well-presented book that helps teach children the creationist view of dinosaurs while explaining that many people have a different view. Ham often presents ideas for politely speaking with evolutionists about dinos, and does a terrific job of making the case for creationism. The illustrations by Bill Looney really make this a stunning book, sure to please any young dinosaur lover.

What I Dislike: Nothing,

Overall Rating: I'd like to say "Superb," but that's not an official Christian Children's Book Review rating. So instead I'll say "Excellent."

Age Appeal: 8 - 12.

Publishing Info: Master Books, 2009; ISBN: 978-0890515556; hardback, $14.99

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Son of Samson and the Heroes of God

Son of Samson and the Heroes of God is Volume 6 out of the eight graphic novels in the series written by Gary Martin.

Samson’s son, Branan, continues his family legacy by battling the Philistines. God is always with him throughout his trials and battles and often sends unusual allies. This story begins as Branan travels through the desert, on his way to return the Serpent Staff of Moses to the Tabernacle at Shiloh.

He meets two seemingly friendly men who warn him of dangerous lions in the area. They make camp for the night and when Branan awakens, he is alone and all of his belongings have been stolen, including the Serpent Staff! He stumbles across the desert with no food or water, but bravely frees a lion from a trap after asking for God’s protection. He survives a dust storm and is on the brink of collapse when the freed lion comes back and drags him to water.

Thus restored, he quietly enters the camp of the Philistine army. After finding food, he eavesdrops on Lord Pathrus and discovers a plot to steal the Ark of the Covenant. Before he can reclaim his camel and the Serpent Staff, he is caught by the Philistine guards. Once again, the lion returns to create a distraction, and Branan escapes.

When he reaches the priests at Shiloh, they’re ecstatic to receive the Serpent Staff. However, the Shechem raid diverted all the warriors so there is no one left to defend the Tabernacle but Branan. The priests give Branan the honor of entering the Tent of the Holy Tabernacle to replace the staff. Branan praises God for strength and protection and asks for help in the coming battle. When he rises, two mighty warriors stand before him. They are Raphael and Uriel, and they outfit him with armor and provide him with the Ark’s carrying pole as a weapon.

The Philistines begin the battle by asking for immediate surrender. Branan refuses and as the army attacks, they are thwarted by what can only be divine intervention. There are many close-up illustrations of the clashing battle, and thousands of soldiers are scattered like chaff in the wind. Lord Pathrus must conclude that God has won. Branan is surprised when the priests tell him he defeated 3000 men single-handedly.

What I Like: The story by Gary Martin and the art by Sergio Cariello are well-done. The author and illustrator know how to make a good graphic novel; they’ve both worked for the major comic book companies. The artwork is in black and white, and there’s no gore, just lots of action! The book contains many historical facts, including a map of Palestine in 1060 B.C. and there is additional information about the Ark of the Covenant.

What I Dislike: Nothing.

Overall Rating: Very Good.

Age Appeal: Age 11 to 13, although my younger boys enjoyed the macho, heroic illustrations.

Publisher Info:Zondervan, 2009; ISBN: 978-0310712848 ; Paperback $6.99

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A Girl After God's Own Heart: A Tween Adventure with Jesus

A Girl After God's Own Heart, by Elizabeth George, is an engaging Bible study, perfect for tween girls to use as a personal devotion, or to study with friends or even their mom. George aptly captures the personality of tween girls--sweet and eager to please, but beginning to test authority and their faith. We follow Emma, a fictional tween, throughout the ten devotions in the book. We learn how to relate to others in chapters on parents, family, school, friends, and church. In the other chapters, we work on growing within ourselves. These chapters deal with readers' hearts, space, selves and time. The book ends with an invitation to embark on an adventure with Jesus. George uses the "Romans Road" to explain how to have a relationship with Jesus.

Each chapter begins with a short snapshot of Emma's life, related to the topic for the chapter. Then George uses the title of the chapter in an acrostic, illustrating principles to remember. Each principle includes a Bible verse and a question asking readers to apply the verse to the topic or their lives. The chapters conclude with a summary message, lines to rewrite the acrostic, and space to write "one thing you liked, learned, or want to do about [the topic.]"

What I Like: This study would perfectly introduce the concept of having a personal quiet time to tweens. Emma's story is interesting, funny and authentic, and George does a great job transitioning from the story to biblical principles. The principles are soundly backed up by Scripture, showing readers God does have a lot to say about their lives.

I also like the mix of chapters about girls' personal development and girls' relationships with others. Tween girls love to learn about themselves, but it is nice to have a balance between introspection and thinking of others.

George carefully includes tweens who are in public school, private school, or home-schooled.

What I Dislike: The only thing I would change is the way George writes about parents. She is extremely positive, which is nice, but this book wouldn't work well for girls who are being raised by grandparents or other relatives, or parents who are less than model Christians. In the chapter on parents, readers are told to "Never criticize your parents to others," and to ". . .trust God that He is leading and growing you through your parents. No matter what happens, you can always trust God." I appreciate George's sentiment, but I wish she would have included a caveat for girls who are in less ideal situations, or who deal with abuse or neglect.

Also, George refers to talking to your mom a lot, and this would be sad for girls whose moms are absent or deceased. I would caution adults to know their audience before giving the book to girls (for example, in a church or youth group setting).

Overall Rating: Very Good

Age Appeal: 8-12

Publisher Info: Harvest House Publishers, 2010; ISBN:978-0-7369-1768-1 ; Paperback, $9.99

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The Virtuous Woman

The Virtuous Woman: A Short Study on Proverbs 31 for Mothers and Daughters, written and illustrated by Pam Foster, is as the name implies, a short study-guide about what it means to be a “virtuous woman.” The author uses Proverbs 31 as her main focal point, but brings in verses from other chapters of Proverbs, as well as from other books of the Bible, to illustrate her points.
The book consists of 4 sections, each called a “study,” as in Study no. 1, Study no. 2, etc. With the exception of Study no. 1, each has several parts. And, each section is filled with activities, such as copying appropriate Bible verses, making charts to visualize concepts, and answering short essay-type questions. Space is provided in the book for each activity. There are “Notes” at the ends of some of the sections giving extra insight into the concepts explored in those sections.

What I Like: This is a good, easy-to-follow guidebook studying Proverbs 31. And, there is good reason to do so. As the author says: “You can become a virtuous young lady! Your life can be a picture to others of God’s righteousness. What is the godly woman like? What does she do? How does she think? Let’s find out!”

What I Dislike: I really like the whole book except for the fact that there is no end material in the book. There is nothing else after Study no. 4, Part C. I was expecting some type of summary or an index or an appendix of some kind.

Overall Rating: Good.

Age Appeal: No suggested age group is given, but I would say this book is appropriate for ages young adult and up.

Publisher Info: Doorposts, 1995; ISBN: 1891206125; Spiral Bound, $6.00.

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Special Info: This book is primarily for girls, but as the author says in the intro, “The Bible paints a very colorful and detailed picture of a virtuous woman. Young men can study this picture as the description of the woman they seek to marry.”

Crazy In Love

Crazy In Love, written by Dandi Daley Mackall, is a fabulous read for teen girls and parents of teen girls. This novel is about a seventeen-year-old girl’s first real boyfriend and her decision to not have sex with him. If you are a very conservative parent and you’re uncomfortable with this subject matter, you might want to read it first. The author is typically a Christian writer, but has crossed into mainstream teen fiction with Crazy In Love.

Mary Jane Ettermeyer thinks of herself in two ways: Plain Jane when she wants to do the right thing, and M.J. when she wants to make selfish, carefree choices. Mary Jane somehow manages a good compromise.

Mary Jane and her two best friends, Red and Alicia, made a pledge of abstinence during freshman year, becoming charter members of AIA (Abstinence In Action.) So far, Mary Jane’s pledge hasn’t been challenged. Then, she and gorgeous Jackson House make a four-minute trip to replenish pop at a group study date. Jackson dates the most popular and beautiful girl at Attila High, Star Simons, and suddenly the girls in Mary Jane’s social group take sides. When jealous Star spreads accusing rumors, boys begin calling Mary Jane in droves hoping for a hot date. As Mary Jane puts it, “How could seventeen years of my reputation get tossed out for a mythical missing four minutes?”

Ironically, Star’s controlling actions push Mary Jane and Jackson together. Mary Jane is strong-minded and lets Jackson know that she won’t date him on the side; he better have feelings for her and he must break up with Star. He’s a decent guy and really cares for Mary Jane, so they begin dating. He doesn’t pressure her to get into a physical relationship at first. Star’s friends warn her that if she doesn’t give Jackson what he wants, he’ll run back to Star, who will be waiting with open arms.

Jackson eventually plans a date night at his house where there will be no parents home, and Mary Jane is torn, although she does make a shopping trip to Victoria’s Secret. She could use advice from Red and Alicia, but they’ve gone off to college and are both busy with new boyfriends. When she sees them during Thanksgiving break, Alicia has broken her AIA vow and is heartbroken. Red is keeping her pledge, and when she discusses this with Mary Jane, she says, “You know how much (my) boy believes in God.” Red explains that God created sex and knows the situation where we’ll get the most out of it. She also tells Mary Jane that aside from the risks of STDs and pregnancy, sex is emotionally intense and changes a relationship.

When Jackson picks Mary Jane up for the date, she honestly explains her feelings. He’s a little angry at first. She stays strong and says, “What- so sex is a thank you? I owe it to you because you’ve been good to me?” She explains how much she wants to have sex with him, but nurturing the relationship is more important to her. She wants to consider her future. As she talks, she can see Jackson struggling with being disappointed, being relieved, and finally understanding the way she feels. They don’t break up and Mary Jane hopes he’ll still want to date her, but if he doesn’t, she knows she’ll be fine.

The sexuality in the book consists of kissing and one scene where Jackson rolls on top of Mary Jane.

The Christian elements of this book are the church-going Ettermeyers and Mary Jane’s friend, Red. Mary Jane also has a mentally handicapped sister. Mary Jane is supportive of her, never ashamed of her, and involves her sister with her own friends.

What I Like: This is a great conversation-starting book. It’s a page-turner and the story is a realistic interpretation of how students treat each other in high school. Ms. Mackall really nails the drama and rivalry among girls, or as some call it, The Queen Bee Syndrome. Despite the devious things the girls do, the author doesn’t use a bit of foul language. Her writing is funny, upbeat, and hopeful. It’s fun to see the two sides of Mary Jane. Don’t we all waver on our choices like she does?

What I Don't Like: I’d like to see more overt Christianity displayed by Mary Jane’s parents, particularly when they have “the talk.” That being said, keeping this book more mainstream has the advantage of reaching a teen who normally does not read Christian fiction. Although the reader knows the Ettermeyer family is Christian, Mary Jane never specifically states faith as being the reason for her abstinence.

Overall Rating: Excellent

Age Appeal: Young Adult

Publisher Info: Speak 2007; ISBN: 978-0-14-241157-5 ; Paperback $7.50.

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Special Info: See reviews of other Dandi Daley Mackall books here.

Easter is Nearly Here!

Easter will soon be upon us, and while we'll be reviewing some new Easter books for your kids, don't forget we have an archive of terrific Easter books you don't want to miss! To check it out, visit posts with the "Easter" label.

The Minions of Time

The Minions of Time (The Wormling Book IV), is the fourth novel in the Wormling series and continues the fantasy saga of Owen Reeder. The authors, Chris Fabry and Jerry B. Jenkins, have written other notable Christian fiction series.


Owen, the son of a bookstore owner, had found the Book of the King and in reading it, discovered that he was chosen to be the Wormling. He’d been entrusted with the book and a worm named Mucker, the transport between the Highlands (Earth) and the Lowlands. Owen’s quest to find the King’s Son, who would lead forces to battle the Dragon and reunite the Highlands and the Lowlands, led him to discover that he is, in fact, the Son of the King.

The Dragon plans to kill the Son and his betrothed bride, after which he will cleanse the earth with fire. He’s eagerly awaiting his minions to hatch. They are dragon-type creatures that will round up Owen’s followers and age them with one poisonous bite. The Dragon has the Son’s sword and a missing chapter of The Book of the King in his possession.


The action begins on page one as Owen is flying over the Lowlands in a cage full of prisoners. The cage is shot down into the sea and he narrowly escapes being eaten by a giant sea monster. Erol and his clan aid in the rescue, and Owen reveals to them and his former teacher, Mordecai, what he has discovered about himself.

Meanwhile, Watcher has been left with a copy of The Book of the King and the promise that the Wormling will return. She's nearly tricked into the Dragon’s lair by a Wormling look-alike until Rotag, Batwing, and Tusin pull her into an underground cavern.

As Owen travels toward the White Mountain, he recruits many followers to his cause, although he faces skepticism over his royal lineage. He must also find his mother, sister, bride, and also Watcher. Throughout the story, Owen remains courageous and loyal to his cause, while bringing together the Lowlanders to fight the evil Dragon. He relies on words from The Book of the King for strength and hope.

The plot moves toward fulfilling a prophecy: when the two worlds collide and the four portals between worlds are breached, the end of the evil one is near. The Dragon uses his gemstones to destroy White Mountain, an important signal of the coming of the Son. During the battle at White Mountain, Owen plays on the Dragon’s anger to retrieve his sword before escaping to the Highlands with the help of the dirt-munching Mucker.

Once there, Owen faces many people from his Highland past who play an important role in the battle between good and evil. Connie finds the minion eggs and hatches them before they are at a full level of potency. Clara and Mr. Page join Owen in defending the attack of the minions. He does find his sister, Father, and bride. The story closes as his Father sacrifices himself to destroy the Minion nest and as his Lowland friends are being destroyed in battle.

What I Like: The many Biblical parallels are creatively wrapped into a fantasy world. The setting and characters are engaging, and despite fantasy not being my favorite genre, I found it to be an inspiring page turner.

What I Dislike: This novel is not a stand-alone. For full understanding, it's best to have read previous novels. The chapters can be very short and this builds suspense, but the plot can be somewhat predictable for older readers. The book ends abruptly, and to find out what happens to Owen, you'll have to read book five!

Overall Rating: Very Good

Age Appeal: Ages 10 to 14

Publisher Info: Tyndale House, 2008; ISBN: 978-1-4143-0158-7 ; Paperback $7.99

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The Resurrection

The Resurrection, written by Cynda Strong, is the story of Jesus from the time he was an adult up to the resurrection. It includes his triumphant entrance into Jerusalem, Judas’ betrayal, the Last Supper, his “trial” before Pilate, and the Crucifixion. There’s no mention of his praying in the Garden of Gethsemane or of Peter’s denial of Christ.

Bible verses from both the books of Isaiah and Matthew are given as reference for the text.

The illustrations, by Helen Cann, are true-to-life and expressive.

What I Like: I like short Bible stories for kids.

What I Dislike: This book is part of Concordia Publishing’s Arch series of books. Like the others, it is written in rhyme. For the most part, the rhyming is done very well; there are only a couple of places where it felt forced.

Overall Rating: Good.

Age Appeal: 5-9.

Publisher Info: Concordia Publishing House, 2010; ISBN: 9780758618597; Paperback, $2.49.

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Special Info: Visit the author’s website. Visit the illustrator’s website. This book is part of the publisher’s Arch Books series. Read our reviews of other books in the series.