Play and Learn Bible Stories: Noah's Ark Wipe-Clean Storybook

Play and Learn Bible Stories: Noah’s Ark Wipe-Clean Storybook by Shiloh Kidz, is an interactive storybook about Noah and the ark. Each text page includes some type of activity that goes along with the story segment on that page.

Most of the activities are sticker-related, with over 100 bright stickers to paste in various places throughout the book. The text pages are numbered, and the stickers are grouped according to corresponding page numbers, making them easy to locate. There are also some tracing activities scattered throughout the pages. The tracing can be done with any type of dry erase marker (not included). The activities can be repeated again and again, as the stickers are reusable and the pages can be wiped clean.

What I Like: Just about everything. The pages are bright and colorful, the activities are kid-friendly, and the activities can be repeated.

What I Dislike: The book is supposed to be for ages 3+. The activities will be fun for all, but the language used in the text is not what I would consider kid-friendly for this type of activity book. Youngsters will enjoy the bright pages and the activities, but most of them will have trouble with the language level used to tell the story.

Overall Rating: Very good.

Age Appeal: The book is listed for ages 3+, but I think an appropriate age group would be about 3-8.

Publisher Info: Shiloh Kidz, 2015; ISBN: 9781630588946; Paperback, $6.99.

Buy now at ChristianBook $5.99!

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Giraffes on a Cruise

Giraffes on a Cruise by Marilyn Schuler is one of four books in the Animals of the Bible series. This series looks at Bible accounts from the perspective of the animal that may have been a part of the event.  What a great concept!

Giraffes on a Cruise looks at the account of Noah's Ark from the perspective of the two giraffes, Jared and Pace, who "were on the ark." We are able to watch their story from the moment these two giraffes see the Ark until they come off the Ark.

I found it to be an entertaining way to approach Noah's Ark with my children. They have both heard the account of the Ark, so this was a fun way to look at the account again. My son loved the pictures, especially since giraffe was one of the first animal names for him to say. My daughter, an animal lover, was captivated because she wanted to know what the trip on the Ark was like for the animals.

The illustrations are beautifully done. On each two page layout, one page has a full page illustration, while the other page has a matching background color with minimal complimentary illustrations to keep the words as the focus.

One bonus of this book is the free audio download that it includes. By following the simple directions on the back of the page, you can download the audio file to your computer and then transfer it to the device of your choice. Perfect when you are on the go!

What I Like: As a mom, my favorite aspect of this book was the underlying lesson the author was conveying throughout the story- we need to listen to God. This is a lesson that as parents we are trying to teach our children daily, and this book is a great little supplement to those lessons.

The author signed the copy we were given and added Proverbs 1:33 to her message. "Whoever listens to God will live in safety." It is a perfect verse to share with children during the reading of this book.

What I Dislike: This is not something that I dislike, per say, but I thought you should be aware of. The book is rather small. However, the price also includes the audio download, so if you think about it, you are getting 2 books for the price of one.

Overall Rating: Excellent

Age Appeal: 3-8 years old

Publisher Info: Tate Publishing, 2014; ISBN: 978-1-62902-885-9 ; paperback, 24 pgs., $8.99


Buy it at Amazon.com for $6.39

The Enduring Ark

The Enduring Ark, written by Joydeb Chitrakar, is the “Indian version of the biblical tale of the great flood,” as the book’s blurb says. The text follows the biblical story of Noah and the Ark, with some notable exceptions: Noah’s wife is called Na’mah. Her name does not appear in the Bible, but according to Jewish tradition, her name was Naamah. Also, there is no mention of the rest of Noah’s family. And this account does not say anything about the rest of the people on earth who first taunted Noah for making the ark and then begged to be let in after the waters rose up in the flood.

This is one of the most unusual books I have ever read, not because of its contents but because of the way it is put together. It is somewhat like a cross between a board book and a pop-up book, but it’s really neither one. The pages are stiff, like a board book, and they fold out, somewhat like a pop-up book, but nothing actually pops up. Instead, you start reading at the beginning of the book and turn each “page” like you normally would, but when you get halfway through the story, the book appears to end. Then, you have to flip the page over and start reading the backside of all the pages you previously read, which takes you to the end of the book. The whole "page" section of the book will unfold, accordion-style, to create one long section of pages, printed on both front and back. 

The book comes with a slip-on cover that looks like a book jacket, only you must slide the book out in order to read it. The cover holds all the pages together so they don't unfold before you're ready to read them. Quite clever and different!

The illustrations are done in the Bengal Patua style of scroll painting. This makes them very vivid and colorful.

What I Like: I really like the layout of the book.

What I Dislike: The author says in the introduction this is just a retelling of an “great tale” so the reader knows from the beginning the author does not treat the Bible as non-fiction or as the Word of God, merely as a book of fiction or "great tales".

Overall Rating: Very good in terms of the layout of the writing and the uniqueness of the book’s design, but not good if you’re looking for a biblical account of the Great Flood.

Age Appeal: 6-12.

Publisher Info: Tara Books, 2013; ISBN; 9789380340180; Hardcover, $21.95.

Buy now at Amazon.com $17.79!

 

Special Info: Read more about the book at this website.

Come Inside the Ark

The familiar story of Noah’s Ark is revisited again in Judith A. Harrah’s book Come Inside the Ark. Harrah introduces the story by stating that all involved in producing the book believe “the events of the flood, the ark, and all who boarded the ark are truth as God wrote it.” She goes on to say that the book “contains animal facts and human activities mixed with whimsy and fantasy to challenge children’s curiosity…”

The story is written in rhyme—sometimes rhyming couplets, sometimes with a different rhyme scheme altogether. The amount of text varies per page. Some pages hold only two stanzas while others hold many. The illustrations, done by Jack Foster, are cartoonish and have a bright, modern look, almost like computer graphic images.

After the introduction, the book starts with God telling Noah to build a boat and load it with animals and supplies because rain is coming. Once all are on board, God closes the door.

From then on, the author describes a variety of animals on the ark. Interjected into these animal introductions are a few other events. At one point, the continuous rain is again mentioned. We also learn about the chores Noah’s sons and daughters performed, and of all the hard work Noah’s wife had to do.

The story ends with Noah and family still on the ark. The last line states, “But this is a short list of all that came. You wouldn’t believe, if they ALL were named!”

Following the ending, the author includes true facts about the animals featured in the story.

What I Like: I appreciate that the author included real animal facts. Animal lovers will enjoy this extra bit of information.

What I Dislike: First, $17.99 is a little pricey for a paperback. Also, there is no set rhyme scheme to this story, which, for me, made it awkward to read. In addition, we know God told Noah to build a boat because of rain, but we aren’t told why God chose Noah to do this, why Noah needed to stay in a boat, what happened to everyone and thing outside the ark, or why God was going to flood the earth in the first place. Also, at one point, Noah’s sons sit on the Ostriches backs and race through the ark. Though I suppose this could have happened, there is nothing in the Bible that mentions this… and, in the book, it is given equal credence as other events. Perhaps the most disappointing part for me was that this book doesn’t tell the complete story. We never see the rainbow in the sky nor learn about the rainbow’s significance. So while this is a “feel good” story, it leaves a lot of gaps. Reading the story of Noah’s Ark directly from the Bible or explaining the story in greater detail to your child will help fill in the missing facts.

Overall Rating: Good. It’s not the greatest book to introduce your children to the story of Noah. However, it might serve as a fun “additional” book that can help your child imagine what it might have been like to be on the ark.

Age Appeal: None indicated. I'd go with preschool age.

Publisher Info: ShadeTree Publishing, LLC, 2012; ISBN: 978-1937331122; Paperback, 66 pgs., $17.99
This book is not available at Christianbook.com.
Buy it at Amazon.com for $14.03.
Buy the Kindle version for $5.99.

Special Info: You can read CCBR reviews of other Noah's Ark books.  

The Adventures of Danny the Dinosaur

Children who love dinosaurs may be interested in checking out Dr. Kent Hovind’s series The Adventures of Danny the Dinosaur. A young Brachiosaurus narrates the books. This review looks at books numbers one and two in the series. Both books are illustrated by Brent Giles. The kid-friendly, cartoonish pictures have bright, bold colors and are crowded with details.

Book One: In the Garden of Eden. Danny opens the book by introducing himself. Then he talks about his great grandfather, Big D, and the Garden of Eden. Danny sums up most of the creation story by stating “God made everything we see in just six days,” and that God made Big D “just to show how awesome He was.”

We then see the world through Big D’s eyes. We see Adam and Eve in the garden with only one direction: They could eat the fruit from all of the trees there, except for one tree in the middle of the garden.

Adam and Eve play with Big D, climbing on his neck and taking rides around the garden. And then the snake comes and tempts Eve to disobey God. She eats the forbidden fruit, and so does Adam. Then they cover themselves with fig leaves until a fateful conversation with God, which results in their banishment from the garden.

The book closes with a quick explanation of God’s plan to fix the problem of sin by sending his son to pay the price for all of man’s sins. In addition, Danny gives the reader a glimpse into book two.

Book Two: The Big Boat This story picks up years after the first book, where mankind has multiplied but are wicked and sinful. Danny’s great grandfather, Big D, spots Noah building a big boat and wonders why. He soon learns from an owl that mankind has followed the way of Cain, and that because of this, God plans on destroying them in a flood. The book then takes a side trip to tell about the story of Cain and Abel. (This also entails a quick reference to the Garden of Eden.)

Big D helps Noah build the ark, then watches as animals board it. Once the door is shut on leering spectators, the rains come. Everyone on the boat is safe. The story ends with Noah and his family still on the boat. The remaining pages provide a short plan of salvation for the reader and a sneak peek at book three… where we find out what happens after the flood.

What I Like: Although somewhat heavy-handed (and at the same time perhaps underdeveloped), I appreciate the author addressing faith in Christ. It is evident he has a heart to reach children with the message of salvation.

What I Dislike: Yes, I know this is a fictional tale, but it mixes the Biblical account into it. In so doing, the author takes some liberties with Scripture. For example, he speculates on what Adam and Eve saw and which animals they interacted with (including the dinosaur). When Noah builds his boat, Big D helps him pull trees and lift wood. The animals are also given human-like qualities and thought processes.

One annoying feature of the text is the way the author stretches out some of the words. Words like long, great, so, tall, and amazing become l-o-o-o-n-g, g-r-e-a-a-a-t, s-o-o-o-o, t-a-a-a-l-l-l and a-m-a-a-a-z-i-n-g.

Finally, I wish the author had picked a different name for the dinosaur. “Danny”, for me, is too reminiscent of Sid Hoff’s classic children’s book Danny and the Dinosaur.

Overall Rating: Good

Age Appeal: It's listed for ages 3 and up, but I think the text is too long and mature for 3 year olds. I suggest ages 4-8.

Publisher Info: Bridge Logos Pub, 2010 (book one) 2011 (book two); ISBN:978-0882709116(book one), 9781584680741 (book two); Paperback, 25 pgs., $5.95
Buy Book One Now at Christianbook.com for $5.49
OR Buy Book Two at Christianbook.com for $54.49
OR Buy Book One at Amazon.com for $5.95.

Special Info: God is depicted in the first book. Although his face is not shown (a burst of light beams stemming from where a face should be cloaks His features), a humanoid-shaped body is visible. Also, the book provides a website at www.drdino.com. However, when I went to this site, I didn’t find anything geared for children. Instead, it has products, articles and videos for adults interested in creation. If children expect to see something related to Danny, they will be disappointed.

Noah and God's Great Promise: Biblical Values (I Can Read!)

If you’re looking for a Bible story your developing reader can read independently, check out Noah and God’s Great Promise. This level 2 I Can Read! book tells the story of Noah’s ark using sentences and words that are a little bit longer and more sophisticated than the simple, short sentences and easily decodable words found in a level 1 I Can Read! book.

Before the story begins, it sites Psalm 145:13 NIrV: The Lord is faithful and will keep all his promises. Readers then follow Noah as he builds the ark, deals with scornful neighbors, and collects animals. After that, the rains come… and come… and come, flooding the whole earth. Noah and the animals stay safe on the ark until finally the waters recede, and God places a rainbow in the sky.

The illustrations, done by Dennis G. Jones, are delightfully fun. Full of whimsical energy and interesting detail, these cartoon-like pictures make a fine accompaniment to the text. Most pages contain no more than four sentences, which allows ample room for the illustrations to work their magic.

What I Like: Jones is one of my favorite Christian artists. I’d buy just about any book he illustrated! My kids have always loved his work too. I also appreciate some of the engaging word choices. For example, the story uses words like FLASH! and pitter-patter to liven up the text.

What I Dislike: The story has a few gaps that parents might want to fill in. For example, Noah’s family is mentioned (once) but never shown. I think it would be important to note who was included in the family. Also, the story says, “God promised to never send a flood again.” Well… anyone familiar with Katrina or even smaller scale flooding might take issue with that statement. Parents would need to clarify that the story meant a worldwide flood.

Overall Rating: Very Good

Age Appeal: Ages 4 and up.

Publisher Info: ZonderKidz, 2010; ISBN:978-0310718840; Paperback, 32 pgs., $3.99

Buy it Now at Christianbook.com for $3.49
OR Buy it at Amazon.com for $3.99.

Special Info: Read CCBR reviews of other books illustrated by Dennis G. Jones. Other books in the I Can Read! series illustrated by Jones include Jesus, God's Great Gift, Daniel, God's Faithful Follower, David and God's Giant Victory, and more!

Noah's Ark: The Brick Bible for Kids

If your child loves building with Lego toys, he might enjoy Brendan Powell Smith’s Noah’s Ark: The Brick Bible for Kids. Each page has one or two lines of simple Scripture text and is illustrated (by Smith) with a photograph of a corresponding scene built entirely out of Lego bricks.

Before the story begins, however, Smith has an open letter to parents where he discusses not only the beauty of the story of Noah’s ark, but its harshness as well. He says, “It seems severe, but it also speaks of redemption.” He also argues that such a vivid portrayal of the story (his scenes show fighting and death) will potentially make it easier for children to understand complicated issues. He goes further by providing suggestions on how to address tough questions (such as “Why would God kill people?”), pointing out the significance of the rainbow, and encouraging parents to read the Bible together with their children.

The story itself is straightforward, as are the pictures. Readers see Lego people fighting, much to God’s displeasure. They witness Noah building the ark and collecting animals and food. The flood comes, and terrified Lego men drown in the waters. (Yes, there are a few floating heads detached from their little Lego bodies.) Finally, Noah is shown offering up a sacrifice and a beautiful brick rainbow is displayed in the sky.

As an added bonus at the end of the story, readers are given snapshots of certain bricks. Just like in the book Where’s Waldo, readers are encouraged to revisit the story and find the special items.

What I Like: Any young Lego lover will be drawn to the book. Smith’s scenes are very detailed. Smith is a skilled and creative artist. Also, this hardcover book is selling on Amazon at a remarkably low price right now...$2.87 (originally $12.95) plus they offer a kindle version for $2.73. The low price alone makes the book worth a second look.

What I Dislike (and also appreciate): I know it happened, but I felt uncomfortable seeing the drowning Lego people (especially the floating heads!) and a knife-wielding Noah ready to sacrifice the goat. When I first read the book, I had not read the author’s note to the parents and was rather disturbed by the images. However, after going back and reading the author’s thoughts, which preceded the story, I better understood and appreciated his approach. He made a valid point AND offered suggestions to the more squeamish people (like me) on how to address the harsher aspects of the story in a healthy manner.
Special Note: Smith used a Lego character to represent God in the pictures. The scowling divine being looks like an angry (or very grumpy) Gandalf from The Lord of the Rings.

Overall Rating: From my perspective, I'd rank it as Good. However, in all fairness, Lego lovers will no doubt disagree with me and give it a Very Good rating, while Lego lovers with no objection to the issues I raised above would likely rate it Excellent. So keep that in mind. :)

Age Appeal: None is given, but I suggest toddler through Kindergarten, possibly first grade.

Publisher Info: Sky Pony Press, 2012; ISBN:978-1616087371; Hardcover, 32 pgs., $12.95

This book is not available at Christianbook.com.
Buy it at Amazon.com for $2.87.
OR Buy the kindle version for $2.73

Special Info: You can visit the author's website or check out other brick books at Amazon:The Brick Bible: A New Spin on the Old Testament, The Brick Bible: The New Testament: A New Spin on the Story of Jesus, The Brick Testament: The Ten Commandments, and The Christmas Story: The Brick Bible for Kids.

My Very First Noah and the Ark Sticker Book

I don't know a young child who doesn't love sticker books. And a simple sticker book can not only offer some great craft time (working on fine motor skills and creativity), but can result in a book that's kept and read repeatedly. Such is the case with My Very First Noah and the Ark Sticker Book by Lois Rock.

This slim volume tells the popular biblical story in about 15 over-sized pages. Two pages of stickers are also included, and are designed to stick onto the "blanks" among the book's colorful pages. If desired, the stickers can be divided into 8 activities, each focusing on a specific part of the flood story, and each having questions to ponder or separate activities to do. (For example, one page asks "What kind of weather is it as Noah builds?", while another has a matching and counting fish activity.)

The last several pages of the book talk about the colors of the rainbow and the diversity of God's creation.

What I Like: Throughout, Alex Ayliffe's illustrations are bright and cartoonish, appealing strongly to the target age group. Also, the text is very simple, which is great for young children - or children who are eager to get to the "sticking."
 

What I Dislike: At the end of the book, the author writes, "'Look,' said God, 'there is my rainbow in the sky. It is a promise that I will keep the whole world safe forever.'" However, God never promised not to destroy the world again, but only to not destroy it with a flood (see Gen. 9:11).

Overall Rating: Very good, as long as you're willing to edit the above-mentioned error while reading to your child.

Age Appeal: I'd say 3 - 7

Publishing Info: Lion Books; 2012; ISBN: 978-0745961385; paperback, 16 pgs., $4.99.

Buy Now at Amazon for $4.99

OR buy from ChristianBook.com for $4.49

Secret of the Catacombs

If you’re looking for a Christian alternative to the Magic Tree House series then take a look at Secret of the Catacombs, the first book in the Catacombs Mysteries series.

Author Mary Litton says she was inspired by the popular aforementioned series. True to her word, there are numerous similarities between the two. Like Jack and Annie in the Magic Tree House, Secret of the Catacombs features two characters—a third grade boy named Will and a second grade girl named Molly. The storyline parallels the structure of a typical Magic Tree House story too, with a magic book (a Bible) that teleport the characters back in time, where they must complete a mission before it is too late. Likewise, Will and Molly are also given specific objects that will help them complete their task, and they (and therefore the reader) have access to vital information particular to the time period. In addition, the story is accented by black and white line illustrations, drawn by Aleksandra D. Chabros in a fashion reminiscent of Magic Tree House.

However, unlike the Magic Tree House series, Will and Molly are given their missions from an angel (as opposed to sorceress Morgan Le Fay) and they must recall Scripture passages and lessons learned in Sunday school class in order to complete their task. They are also teleported from the basement of their church instead of a tree house. Why the differences? As Litton puts it, “I wanted to write a fun mystery chapter book series for early readers to learn and explore the fundamental Bible stories and understand how those stories still apply to their modern lives.”

In this first book, Will and Molly are introduced to the reading audience. They then discover the secret time portal. Plus they get their first mission: to save horses from being swept away in the flood and get them back on board Noah’s ark.

What I Like: As always, I am an advocate for more Christian fiction chapter books for early readers, so I welcome this refreshing new series. The pdf file I read was attractive—clean in mechanics and well written. I also like how the book uses (as Litton puts it) “key memory verses and story references” to help children “become more familiar with the Bible’s books, chapters, and verses.” Some might object to how closely Litton follows the Magic Tree House formula, but I didn’t mind. After all, my own series was born out of a desire to write a Christian alternative to Junie B. Jones, and, eight books later, has taken on a life of its own. I suspect this series has the potential to do the same.

What I Dislike: The illustration of Mrs. Smotherly, Will's Sunday school teacher, was cartoonish compared the realistic nature of the rest of the pictures, and the inconsistency bothered me. Also, while the story was enjoyable, it did not hold enough tension (for me) to make it irresistible. (Ironically, I feel the same way about many of the Magic Tree House books... and it is a major bestselling series!)

Overall Rating: Very Good, although I believe Magic Tree House fans would rate it Excellent.

Age Appeal: None is listed, but it seems well suited for the K-2 grade level.

Publisher Info: Windy Knob Press, 2012; ISBN:978-0615615820; Paperback, 74pgs., $5.99

This book is not available at Christianbook.com.
Buy it at Amazon.com for $5.99.

The Berenstain Bears Follow God's Word

If there's anything my kids like more than a Berenstain Bear book, it's a collection of Berenstain bear stories all under one cover. Jan and Mike Berenstain's The Berenstain Bears Follow God's Word, then, is a treat, containing five books in one.

The first story in the collection is The Berenstain Bears God Loves You; Sister has hopes for a lead in the school musical, and Brother is sure he'll get on the school basketball team. But after doing their best during try-outs, they learn Sister is "just" the stage manager and brother is "just" the team manager. Depressed, both go home on a rainy day. But when the sun comes out, the Bear family heads outside to see a rainbow. Mama reminds: "The rainbow is a gift from God. It's a sign that the rain is past and the sun has come to warm the earth again. God puts the rainbow in the sky as a beautiful sign of his love for all the earth and all the creatures that he has made." Including the young bears. She also explains that while God wants us to behave well, he loves us even when we do wrong things. And Mama and Papa are proud of the cubs for taking on such responsible roles as stage manager and team manager.

Next up, is The Berenstain Bears and the Golden Rule. You can read Christine's review of this story here.

The Berenstain Bears Kindness Counts is next. In this story, Brother allows a younger cub to help him fly his prized model airplane, remembering how he felt when he was younger and Papa did the same. When the model plane crashes, Brother continues his kindness; he lets the cub know it wasn't his fault. He even lets the cub help him repair the plane. When the two go to the park to fly the plane again, Brother spots some older boys launching rockets. He asks if he can help and is at first turned down. But when they hear about how Brother let a younger cub help him, they decide he can participate in the rocket launch.

The Berenstain Bears Go to Sunday School comes next. The Bear family has been absent from church for a while because the cubs have been busy with soccer and ballet. But Mama decides it's time to start going again. They rise early - to no one's delight - and go to the little chapel. The family sings hymns together, then the children head off to Sunday School. Here, they recount the story of Noah's ark, and learn some funny things about their parents' childhoods. In the end, everyone enjoys the morning, and the cubs head off to soccer and ballet as usual.

The final story in the book is The Berenstain Bears Say Their Prayers. The cubs say their prayers every night before bed, asking God to bless those around them. But one day Brother and Sister head off to a baseball game, where they see Cousin Fred pray silently before a difficult play. Things go well for Fred and so Brother decides to pray that God will help him make a hit. Brother fails. He tells Fred, "I even tried praying like you did...But it didn't work for me." Fred confesses he only asked that God would help him stay calm and not get too scared. "Prayers are always answered," he says. "Sometimes, we just don't get the answer we expect." That night, when Sister teases Brother about his ball playing, Brother prays God will "help me out with my little sister." To his surprise, he finds he's not angry with her any more.

The book ends with questions and a few activities related to the stories.

What I Like: I read Berenstain bear books to my kids because they love them and they usually have a good moral they can apply to their lives. This collection of stories was no exception.
 

What I Dislike: It's strange to me that God Loves Us doesn't mention the biblical meaning of the rainbow. Kindness Counts is completely secular, although it has a good message. When I read this book to my children, I have to skip Go to Sunday School completely because my children go to "big church" with us; I also didn't like that the Bear family only dedicates the morning to God, going about their usual business the rest of the day instead of actually taking a day of rest. Finally, I wish the emphasis in Say Their Prayers was a little more on how to pray throughout the day.

Overall Rating: Very Good.

Age Appeal: preschool to first grade

Publishing Info: Zonderkidz; 2011; ISBN: 978-0310725916 ; hardback, 160 pgs., $10.99.
Buy Now at Amazon for $9.99; purchase the Kindle edition for $7.99

OR buy from ChristianBook.com for $7.99; purchase the ebook for $7.99

Our Kids Review: Bible Rhymes' Noah and the Ark

Selena Smith is almost five years old. She loves butterflies, books, and building fantastic creations with blocks. She reviewed BibleRhymes: Noah and the Ark, written by Ken McCardell and illustrated by Antonella Chirco.

This book is about God, and Noah and the ark. Noah was good, but everyone else was bad. That's why God had to send a flood.

Noah got to take his family into the ark and two of each animal. God made it rain and rain and rain and rain. Everything that wasn't in the ark, died. It was because they didn't obey God and He had to punish them.

God sent a beautiful rainbow because he was finished sending all that rain. He still makes it rain, but not as much as Noah had.

This book made me laugh because even though it is a Bible story, the pictures are funny, and the animals are really happy.

I like that the book rhymes, but there was one place where the book didn't rhyme. I still like it though.

What I Like: I like the way the lady drew the horse in the book with its mouth wide open. The pictures are so funny. I like the story of Noah.

What I Dislike: I like everything about the book, especially the funny pictures.

Overall Rating: I really like this book. (Very good)

Age Appeal: It is for kids like me, and little kids like Shana (sister, 2 1/2 years old), but not for babies. They wouldn't understand it. (Note from Beverly: I also felt that Selena had a little trouble understanding some of the vocabulary in the book).

Publisher Info: BibleRhymes Publishing, 2008; ISBN: 0979060516; Hardcover, 32 PGS., $17.95.

Buy it at Amazon.com for $17.95.

Special Info: We've reviewed another BibleRhymes book. Read that review here.

Bible Animals

Kids love animals. And small kids love hand-sized books. The Candle Library takes advantage of a small child's love of both animals and tiny books by offering Bible Animals - a boxed collection of 6 biblical stories featuring animals. Each book measures about 3.7 x 3.7 inches.

The Big Fish's Supper tells part of the tale of Jonah; a big fish hears a big fuss in the middle of a storm. The captain of a ship tells the sailors to throw Jonah overboard. The fish swallows him and Jonah says, "I'm running away from God." Later the fish spats Jonah out on the beach and Jonah says, "Goodbye, Big Fish! I have a message from God - and now I have to deliver it!"

In Little Sheep Gets Lost, a shepherd looses one sheep and goes on the hunt for it. "I'm so happy," the shepherd says at the end of the book. "I found my lost sheep!"

The Pig Who Shared features a boy who cares for the pig but can't buy food for himself. The pig feels sorry for him and offers him some muck. The boy eats it, but tells the pig that at home he always had plenty to eat. "I've been very stupid! I will go back to my father." He does, and the boy's father is happy to see him.

In Elephant Keeps Safe, Noah tells the elephant that God wants him to build a huge boat because a flood is coming. The elephant helps by carrying wood. Lots of animals, including the elephant, get on board once the boat is finished. The book ends: "God shut the door. Inside everyone was warm and dry. Elephant was safe from the flood!"

In Lion Misses Breakfast, a hungry lion sees Daniel thrown into his pit. Daniel prays for help from God and an angel closes the lion's mouth. The next morning, Daniel leaves the pit and there's "no breakfast for Lion today!"

In Donkey Helps a Stranger, a donkey who's been on a long trip and is tired doesn't really want to stop to help a stranger, but he does, anyway. Donkey helps carry the man back into town where the injured man can be cared for. "Thank you for helping me," the stranger tells Donkey.

What I Like: My 2 year old loves these books. He likes the size, to be sure, but he's also attracted to these short tales (each briefly told in 8 pages) with attractive illustrations. The collection is a nice introduction to a number of famous stories from the Bible - a real bonus when you have a child who's not yet interested in children's Bible storybooks.

What I Dislike: None of the stories is what I'd call complete. For example, we never know why Jonah is running from God, nor what his message is. However, each book does offer a biblical reference so parents can easily look up the story and offer more information for their children. As long as parents look at these books as an introduction to these famous stories, I think they will be satisfied.

Overall Rating: Very good.

Age Appeal: According to Amazon, 4 to 8, but I'd say baby to preschool.

Publishing Info: Candle Books, 2011; ISBN: 978-1859858868; 6 boardbooks in a cardboard storage box, 48 total pgs., $7.99.

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Special Info: The books in this boxed set are all condensed versions of other, previously published board books. Donkey Helps a Stranger, for example, is a condensed version of Donkey to the Rescue. (Click here to read our review of this book.)

Mrs. Noah's Vegetable Ark

I have read many children’s stories about Noah’s ark, some from Noah’s point-of-view, but Mrs. Noah’s Vegetable Ark is the first book I’ve read from Mrs. Noah’s point-of-view.

This delightful tale, written by Elena Pasquali, depicts Mrs. Noah as an avid gardener. When she learns her husband is building a giant ark to house the animals during the upcoming flood, she is concerned about what will happen to her garden. She devices clever ways to make her garden mobile, thus saving her plants from the flood and providing food for all on board the ark.
The illustrations by Steve Lavis are bright, colorful and expressive and go perfectly with the text.

What I Like: Everything.

What I Dislike: The only thing I can find that’s missing is a Bible reference for the story.

Overall Rating: Excellent.

Age Appeal: 4-8.

Publisher Info: Lion Hudson, 2011; ISBN: 9780745962535; Hardcover, $14.99.

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Dragons: Legends & Lore of Dinosaurs

Among creationists (scientists and laymen who believe in a literal biblical account of creation) there is the thought that stories of dragons actually refer to real dinosaurs. That's what Bill Looney's Dragons: Legends and Lore of Dinosaurs is all about.

In this interactive volume, kids explore what truth there might be behind old stories of dragons. First, the author introduces dragon legends from around the globe, including those from Greece, China, North America, the United Kingdom, and South America. Photographs of ancient art depicting creatures who can only be described as dinosaurs is also included. An attached mini book offers eyewitness accounts, including those from Marco Polo, John of Damascus, Alexander the Great, and the biblical book of Job. There is a two page spread on dragons in the Bible. (Did you know the King James version mentions them repeatedly - and not just in reference to Satan?) The authors even speculate on how dinosaurs fit in with Noah's ark. Another section deals with famous dragon slayers, including St. George and St. Margaret of Antioch. Toward the end of the book, the author questions whether accounts of such creatures as the Loch Ness Monster could really be stories of living dinosaurs.

What I Like: There are lift the flaps, attached envelopes with papers inside, attached mini books, and other interactive features all over this book, making it perfect for reluctant readers. The topic is also fascinating - even for adults. All in all, this is a beautifully put together book with engaging and often colorful illustrations and photographs.

What I Dislike: There are some delicate features in this volume. For example, it was tough for me to open the attached envelopes without tearing them. And the papers inside? I can see how they might easily get lost.
Overall Rating: Very good.
Age Appeal: According to the publisher, 9 to 12, although some younger kids will enjoy looking at this book and having it read to them.
Publishing Info: Master Books, 2011; ISBN: 978-0890515587; hardback, 24 pgs., $17.99.

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Noah's Ark: With Exciting Felt Characters to Act Out the Wonderful Story (A Felt Play Story)

Ducks and pigs and giraffes…oh my! Who will get on the boat first? You decide! Noah's Ark: With Exciting Felt Characters to Act Out the Wonderful Story (A Felt Play Story), written and illustrated by Cathie Shuttleworth, is an interactive board book that gives children the opportunity to reenact this favorite Old Testament story by sticking felt animal characters right on the pages. The book cover has a plastic storage pouch to hold the animals felt pieces. Each sturdy page spread features four lines of text, bright and colorful illustrations, and a large felt area for kids to decorate.

What I Like: The book is well-built with attractive, kid-friendly illustrations. The felt pieces make it irresistible to touch. As soon as I saw it, I wanted to pick it up and play with it! It provides an excellent platform to talk about Noah’s Ark.

What I Dislike: I wish the felt areas for animal placement were bigger. And while I realize the text was simplified for the baby-preschool audience, I wonder if parents will need to provide extra background. (For example, the book says, “A flood was coming and God wanted Noah and his family to be safe.” Why a flood? Why did God only save Noah?) For that reason, I was disappointed that no Scriptural reference was provided for the story.

Not a dislike but a note: Some of the felt pieces were small. They may pose a choking hazard.

Overall Rating: Good. Even so, I suspect kids who buy this book will love it as an exciting interactive novelty... and yell, "EXCELLENT!"

Age Appeal: Baby- preschool

Publisher Info: Standard Publishing, 2007; ISBN:978-0784711170; Novelty Board Book, 10 PGS., $15.99

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