God, I Need to Talk to You About Healthy Eating

The boy in God, I Need to Talk to You About Healthy Eating has a problem. He likes junk food a little too much. Rather than eating his healthy lunch, he trades his apple for fruit gummies, and his turkey sandwich for potato chips. He doesn't understand why his stomach hurts after lunch, or why he is sleepy during his classes. And a note is sent home to his mother because he couldn't pay attention.

Written by Susan K. Leigh and illustrated by Bill Clark, God, I Need to Talk to You About Healthy Eating, shares how important healthy eating is and how we hurt our bodies with too much junk food, which dishonors God.

What I Like: In this age of obese kids and an attitude that junk-food-is-normal, helping kids understand healthy eating is extremely important. Having a natural cause and effect in the story helps get the point across; if you eat bad stuff, you don't feel good, and you're too sleepy to do the things you need or want to do.

What I Dislike: Some of the quoted Bible verses seem to be a very loose interpretation, which may or may not apply to the situation; with some verses, I couldn't find any application to the story. Still, I am glad the idea of healthy eating is being talked about from a biblical perspective, using verses that are relevant for teaching to respect the body God gave us. For instance, when the boy trades his food and throws away his milk, the teaching verse associated with the story is Proverbs 23:3, "Do not desire his delicacies, for they are deceptive food."

Overall Rating: Very Good.

Age Appeal: 4 - 8

Publisher Info: Concordia Publishing House, 2011; ISBN: 978-0-7586-2660-8; Paperback, 14 PGS., $1.19

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Andi's Pony Trouble

Yes, I know I should never judge a book by it's cover. Still, I'm human. Sometimes I do. And it's the covers that kept me from picking up any books in the Circle C Beginnings series. They just seem so...cheesy. But after reading Andi's Pony Trouble, I know Susan K. Marlow's writing is anything but cheezy!

This story takes place over the course of two days. Five year old Andi wants nothing more for her birthday than a full-sized horse. She's tired of her hand-me-down, bumpy-riding pony. Living on a California ranch in the 1800s, all of Andi's siblings have horses of their own - and she's sure she's big enough to have one, too.

But when she makes up her mind to ask Mother for a horse, everything goes wrong. She's not tall enough to get on a horse without help. She doesn't always care for her pony well. Then she messes up an important chore by breaking almost every egg in the hen house.

So when her big brother wants to go riding with her, Andi jumps at the chance to improve the day. And when her brother let's her ride on his horse all the way home, thinking Andi's pony will follow behind, she's delighted. But then her pony disappears and Andi must try to find him on her own.

In the end, Andi learns to be thankful for and more caring toward her pony. She even gets a colt for her sixth birthday. Most importantly, Andi learns she can talk to God, anytime, anywhere.

What I Like: This is a charming little story. It's wholesome without being preachy or old fashioned, and my 5 year old kept begging me to read more. The book made her laugh frequently and she was satisfied by the ending. I appreciate the maturity Andi gained in the story, too.

The Christian content in this book is quite light, lasting less than a page. But the author does a nice job of making Andi's revelation about prayer not just being appropriate at church or at bedtime feel realistic. I also like the page and a half afterward, which asks kids to consider what it would have been like to use horses instead of cars or trucks.

Throughout, there are about 10 black and white drawings (about one per chapter) by Leslie Gammelgaard. They are much better than the cover image, and capture the innocence and humor of Andi very well.

What I Dislike: Some parents may dislike that Andi's friend, Riley (who assists the ranch cook) talks about disliking school. "Wait 'til you start school," he says. "You'll see what I mean." If your child isn't yet in school, this may not be the type of dialogue you appreciate.

Overall Rating: Excellent.

Age Appeal: 4 - 8

Publishing Info: Kregel, 2010; ISBN: 978-0825441813; paperback, 80 pgs., $4.99.

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Special Info: Read our reviews of other Susan K. Marlow novels here. Visit the series website for free coloring pages, free activity packs, and free online puzzles.

The ABCs of Handling Money God's Way

Looking for a way to introduce godly handling of money to young children? I highly recommend Howard and Bev Dayton's The ABCs of Handling Money God's Way. Offering a unique blend of interesting storyline and biblical fact, it's hard to imagine a better way to introduce your child to the world of money.

The book begins with a fully illustrated story of a group of young friends. They decide they want a puppy, but one child's mother mentions how expensive a puppy can be. This is a revelation to the children; they never realized puppies cost money. So the mother decides to teach the kids the basics of money.

As they go through the mother's lessons, the children decide to do extra chores at home to earn money for a puppy. They also pray that God will provide a way for them to get a dog. One child is tempted to spend the money on other things, but eventually decides to save for the puppy instead. All the kids are tempted to go into debt to buy a puppy, but instead help someone in need. In the end, the person they help gives them a puppy her dog gave birth to.

"'God has taught you a great lesson,' Mrs. Day said. 'You worked hard. You gave to someone who was poor. You saved some of your money. And you were honest. The Lord blessed you because you were faithful stewards.'

'Let's name the puppy Steward!' Elizabeth shouted. 'His name will help us remember to be faithful stewards with our money.'"

Each chapter teaches a lesson in a kid-friendly way. In one chapter, kids learn God owns everything. In another, that God wants everyone to be good stewards of the money and things he gives them. Later, children learn God wants them to work hard at whatever they do and that they should give away at least 10% of what they earn. Kid also learn about saving money, and about prioritizing wants and needs. They learn debt should be avoided and that, when needed, they should seek council from their parents about money. Along the way, kids also learn the importance of honesty, hard work, and having Jesus as your best friend.

Each chapter is about 3 pages and ends with 2 worksheet pages. One worksheet page contains questions on what the Bible says about money, while the opposite page asks kids to identify different kinds of coins or behavior related to money.

Throughout, biblical references are given.

What I Like: First and foremost, I'm delighted my 4 1/2 year old finds this book engaging. She enjoys the storyline about the puppy, and can relate to it. One read of this book also had her asking to do extra chores to earn money for a toy she's been wanting. I also really LOVE the fact that this book isn't merely about dollars and cents. It also teaches about good work ethic and generosity.

The illustrations, which feature children of many skin colors, are expressive and interesting, and the add-ons, like easy Bible verses to memorize and simple questions and activities to do, are also most appreciated. The concepts covered are all simple - with the exception of giving about 10% of what we earn. However, the authors do give young children a generally easy way to understand how much, minimally, they should give: "You give one penny out of every ten pennies you receive. You can give more if you want."

What I Dislike: Nothing, really, although I might prefer it if the kids weren't given a puppy. It's absolutely true God rewards us for faithfulness - but as adults know, he doesn't always do so in ways we expect.

Overall Rating: Excellent.

Age Appeal: 5 - 7.

Publishing Info: Moody, 2003; ISBN: 0802431526; paperback, $13.99

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Special Info: One page includes an illustration of Jesus. Also, read our reviews of books on money.

The Secret of Handling Money God's Way

The Secret of Handling Money God's Way is a Bible-based 12-week study written by Howard and Bev Dayton. It incorporates an interesting story (broken into chapters) with activities and homework -- all with the purpose of teaching wise stewardship.

Four friends -- Josh, Maria, Ruth and Andy -- play on the same baseball team and really want to attend baseball camp at the end of summer. The problem is they don't have the money to go. Josh's grandpa, a farmer and former Red Sox player, agrees to help them find ways to earn the money they need if they will let him teach them what God says about handling money. They're learning adventure lasts the summer and includes many adventures: building a new fence, the birth of new pigs, learning to take care of horses, and more.

Grandpa's lessons are well organized and founded on the Bible. He teaches the kids (and readers) about:

• Why we should care what God says about money
• What is a steward?
• Income vs. Expense
• Debt, Credit and Interest
  
• Budgeting: making a plan for giving, spending and saving
• Honesty and Restitution
• The importance of wise counsel
• Contentment
  

The workbook portions of this text offer Scripture verses to memorize, questions to answer, ideas to reflect upon, areas to work out plans for wise money management and prayer requests, all with plenty of space for journaling individual thoughts.

Andy Davenport served as illustrator. His full-color paintings offer realistic images throughout the book. Some are small accents to the text while others fill entire pages.

What I Like: I like the format of this. It feels less like "homework" and more like an interactive chapter book. I like that it offers real-life situations kids can relate to and solid advice. (My favorite piece of advice: "Don't confuse 'shopping' with 'fun'." Yes, shopping can be fun, but they are not synonymous terms.) I like that the homework sections uses open-ended questions. Rather than allowing simple yes or no answers, these force the kids to really think through the lesson and their responses to it. I like the illustrations and the writing, all very well done.

My favorite part, though, is the consistent biblical foundation. The authors start with God and don't let up! They've peppered the book with Scripture (both quotes and references for readers to look up) without sounding "preachy." It's done in a very matter-of-fact way that I truly appreciate.

What I Dislike: The characters didn't always react in realistic ways. Their stories seemed a bit too perfect in some spots. For example, when a piglet isn't where they expect, Grandpa weeps. He doesn't search for it until after he cries with the kids and then prays. After searching the fields and discussing all the horrible things that could have happened, they eventually find the missing piglet safe in a different corner of the barn. I can see this reaction from a child, but grown men, especially farmers familiar with animals, should know to do a little investigating before having an emotional collapse.

Overall Rating: Even with the character inconsistencies, this book is Excellent.

Age Appeal: 8-12, but kids as young as 5 will enjoy listening to the story portions of the book.

Publisher Info: Moody Publishers, 2003; ISBN: 0802431542; Paperback; $14.99

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Special Info: A teacher's guide is also available to accompany this workbook. Together they make a great curriculum for parents, homeschoolers, Sunday School or Christian school teachers.

Hero Tales: A Family Treasury of True Stories from the Lives of Christian Heroes

My children and I have just finished reading Hero Tales by Dave and Neta Jackson for our morning devotions. This inspiring book has prompted many meaningful discussions over breakfast and on the way to school. The book gives an overview of the lives of 45 Christian heroes, and highlights three character attributes exemplified by each hero. Each attribute is covered in a separate, brief story, followed by a description of the attribute, a corresponding Bible verse, and "Let's Talk About It," which lists three discussion questions.

The list of heroes is quite diverse, spanning centuries and continents, and includes missionaries, evangelists, preachers and Bible translators. We read lots of historical information, as well as interesting anecdotes about people such as Harriet Tubman, D.L. Moody, Amy Carmichael, Martin Luther, Hudson Taylor, and William Tyndale.

The Jacksons do a fabulous job integrating historical facts and lessons about character. We learn about trust, repentance, forgiveness, creativity, dedication, and mercy, to name a few. The last question in "Let's Talk About It" is always a personal question, asking children to apply what they are learning to their own lives and relationship with God.

Each chapter includes a brown and white sketch of the person featured.

What I Like: I love the way the Jacksons present historical information and set the stories in context, while still making them exciting and appealing to children. My kids would often remind me to do devotions or be disappointed if we ran out of time. They always wanted to know "what happens next?"

I also appreciate the skillful way the character attributes were worked into the stories. Reading about these heroes' lives was inspiring, but not heavy-handed or didactic. For example, in the story of African missionary, Samuel Morris, we read, "Encouragement helps others do more than they think they can do." The verse is Hebrews 10:25, "You should meet together and encourage each other. Do this even more as you see the day approaching." The last question in this story is "Tell about a time when someone encouraged you to do more than you thought you could do."

What I Dislike: The only complaint I have is the book is heavily slanted towards Protestant heroes. While state churches of several denominations are implicitly criticized, the Roman Catholic church is only mentioned in terms of reforms needed or abuses committed. I wish the Jacksons would have included a couple of Catholic heroes, such as Pope John Paul II or Mother Theresa, in an effort to be more well-rounded.

Overall Rating: Excellent

Age Appeal: 6-12

Publisher Info: Bethany House Publishers, 1996; ISBN: 978-0-7642-0078-6; Paperback, $14.99

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Let's Explore God's World

Whether or not you believe in man-made climate change, there's no doubt the Bible tells us to care for the world around us. With this in mind, author and illustrator Debby Anderson gives us Let's Explore God's World, a book about appreciating and caring for God's creation.

Here you'll find Anderson's familiar style of story telling. There are colorful, cute children on every page (with many different skin colors). There are lots of cuddly-looking animals. There are plenty of Bible verses. And there's interactive material.

Anderson begins by reminding us God made the earth and everything on it, from "bird eggs and bug legs...[to] rainbows and rhinos." He also gave us eyes, ears, noses, tongues, and fingers for enjoying his creation. Then Anderson takes us on a journey around creation - beaches, forests, cityscapes, jungles, deserts, mountains, the ocean, et cetera, giving us poem-like text about each. For example, for the rain forest she writes:

"We feel bushy vines and mushy moss.
We see God's creativity in bugs and beetles, frogs and polliwogs.
We hear macaws and monkeys, toucans and toads!
We smell and taste papaya and pineapple!
We wonder how a creepy-crawly caterpillar changes into a beautiful butterfly."

Periodically throughout the book, Anderson reminds us to care for our amazing world. She suggests we reduce our use of water, avoid wasting paper, respect and be gentle with animals, plant seeds for new plants, recycle, and similar things. She also encourages activities such as counting the butterflies in the book or asking what we can smell or hear in God's world.

What I Like: My daughter and I are big fans of Debby Anderson's books. They are colorful, cheerful, and kid-friendly, and this book is no exception. I also think she hits the mark perfectly, giving us a book that reminds us of the biblical principles of good stewardship while avoiding modern political rhetoric.

What I Dislike: Nothing.

Overall Rating: Excellent.

Age Appeal: 3 - 8.

Publisher Info: Crossway, 2009; ISBN: 1433507080; hardback; $10.99

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Kids' Money Book

When I saw Kids' Money Book: Learning what God Says about Spending, Saving, and Sharing in a book catalog, I couldn't wait to get my hands on it. Given the state of this country's finances, this is a perfect time for a children's book teaching biblical principles about money.
When the book arrived in the mail, I was a little taken aback. The book is thin - only 10 pages, including the covers. However, it's made from board book type paper, and there are cut outs throughout for children to insert coins inside.
A quick glance at the book shows vivid illustrations and lots of sidebars; some of the latter are just for fun. For example, there are hidden picture games and mazes. Others ask kids to consider difficult questions, like whether the children in the book are spending their money wisely, or whether they've ever thought what it might be like to not be able to afford toys and clothes. And every two page spread has holes for coins, to encourage kids to learn denominations and counting with money. (For example, when the children in the book spend 30 cents for food to feed a zoo animal, readers are asked to place three dimes in the slots. Elsewhere, a "piggy bank" is shown full of slots, and readers are asked math questions like "How much money is in the piggy bank when it's full?")
The heart of the book, however, is a series of short stories about Nick and Grace, two young children. In the first story, they go to the zoo, paying to get in, and paying to feed the giraffes. Nick also considers buying a game at the gift shop, but remembers the Bible verse "Choose the good." (Isaiah 7:16) and decides he'll decide later whether to buy it. Later, he asks Grace if she'll lend him the money to buy the game, and we learn that the Bible tells us:

"We must restore or pay back anything we borrow (Psalm 37:21)
We must share willingly and gladly (Matthew 5:42)
We must use wisely everything God has given to us (Luke 19:15 - 26"

Then readers are asked: "How would you answer Nick? If Grace lends Nick her money, what does Nick need to do?"
Next the kids visit a toy store; initially, they want to buy something for themselves, but then they see the store is gathering toys for needy children. They recall the Bible verse: "Remember the poor." (Galatians 2:10) Nick decides to buy a toy both for himself and for a needy child; Grace only buys for the needy child.
Now the children head to an amusement park; they are planning to ride the roller coaster when a girl next to them says she doesn't have enough money for the ride because she lost a dime. Nick and Grace remember the Golden Rule (Luke 6:31) and give her the dime she needs.
What I Like: I love the concept of this book! The format, while expensive to produce, does provide some nice opportunities for money counting. All the sidebars add lots of fun, too.
What I Dislike: This book just doesn't meet my expectations. Sometimes the Bible verses barely seem to support what's being taught in the story, and other times I think clearer Bible verses could have been implemented. Too, so many important biblical principles are left out. The most obvious is tithing, but what about the idea that God gives us our money? That we shouldn't seek money or material things? Or that love of money leads to bad things? Leaving these important principles out makes this book a bit wishy-washy.
Overall Rating: Despite this book's flaws, there is no other Christian children's money book this young-kid-friendly. With parental guidance, I think it's a good tool for an introduction to money. Therefore, I give it a "Very Good" rating.
Age Appeal: According to the publisher, 6 and up, but my 3 year old finds it interesting.
Publisher Info: Product Concept Manufacturing, 2008; ISBN: 6339572001; spiral bound board book, $12.99.
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