God's Special Forces: A Manual for Becoming a Young Woman of Quality

Gods Special Forces: A Manual for Becoming a Young Woman of Quality by Darlene Laney is a workbook for teaching preteens the basics of hygiene, self care, and etiquette is a way that reminds them they have been created by God for a purpose.

Each chapter gives a brief Bible stud/ devotion and then dives into the specifics of practical advice. The chapters are titled:

• A New Look
• The Beginning
• Face Facts
• Value of a Woman
• Standing, Sitting & Walking
• Care of Self
• Skin Care
• Body Care
• Etiquette 101
• Accentuate the Positive
• Putting It All Together
• Last Word
• I'm Committed

At the end of the workbook, girls are encouraged to sign a commitment that they are going to apply the lessons and principles they have learned in this book.

What I Like: Growing up, I had a little book that I read and reread about character and beauty. This book has the possibility of being that for my daughter. It teaches girls how to beautiful from the inside out. After teaching girls that God has created them for a special purpose, it shows them what hairstyle suits their facial structure best, how to eat specific foods when in a group setting, and how to greet people they are meeting for the first time.

What I Dislike: I loved everything about this book.

Overall Rating: Excellent

Age Appeal: 8-14-year-olds

Publisher Info: Halo Publishing International, 2013; ISBN: 978-1-61244-126-9 ; paperback, 120 pgs., $16.95

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101 Things Every Girl Should Know: Expert Advice on Stuff Big and Small

The editors of Faithgirlz and Girls’ Life magazine do it again with another installment in the hit Faithgirlz series. 101 Things Every Girl Should Know is chock full of advice for girls in their tweens. It offers a collection of suggestions on everything from success in the classroom (how to write an essay, ace a test, handle stress, remember anything, read aloud in class) to relationships (how to keep a secret, talk to any guy, be the star at the party) to health issues (busting a bad habit, curing acne, tasty recipes, boosting energy) and more!

The book has a magazine layout and appeal—tons of brightly colored photographs, concise “articles” ranging in length from a single paragraph to two pages, and relevant topics.  There is variety in the entries too. Some are quizzes, recipes, or even directions for how to do something. It is completely readable in small chunks or huge blocks of time! This book would make a great gift for any young teen/tween in your life.

If you like this book, you might want to check out other books in the Faithgirlz series, including Faithgirlz Handbook, Updated and Expanded: How to Let Your Faith Shine Through, Best Hair Book Ever!: Cute Cuts, Sweet Styles and Tons of Tress Tips (Faithgirlz), and Big Book of Quizzes: Fun, Quirky Questions for You and Your Friends (Faithgirlz).

What I Like: Everything. I wish I had a book like this when I was growing up. The tips are helpful and easy to use. I can see how reading this would help boost a girl’s confidence about handling the challenges they face daily. This book would even be appreciated by mainstream readers.

What I Dislike: Nothing.

Overall Rating: Excellent.

Age Appeal: 8-12 (Although I think it could go a bit older).

Publisher Info: Zonderkidz, 2015; ISBN: 978-0310746195; Paperback, 128 pgs., $14.99.

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Christine Gives Thanks for 66 Books One Story: A Guide to Every Book of the Bible in 2015

As always, I am thankful for another year, another month, another week, another day, another hour, and even just another minute of being alive. We have lost so many family members and friends in the past few years, it’s just wonderful being able to say we’re still doing okay. God is good.

There are so many books to be thankful for, that is was simply hard to choose one for this review. However, I chose 66 Books One Story: A Guide to Every Book of the Bible for two reasons: First, because it deals with the Bible, God’s book of life’s instructions. The second reason is because the Bible has 66 books, sometimes it’s hard to keep track of all of them. Despite the few things I point out I don't like about the book, it is still a handy reference guide to have beside you if you have a question about a particular book of the Bible.

66 Books, One Story: A Guide to Every Book of the Bible, written by Paul Reynolds, is a study-guide for the Bible. The title refers to the idea that although there are a total of 66 books in the Bible, they all tell “one story”, that of God’s love and power. Also, the author shows many examples of the cohesion of the books where the Old Testament prophets predict events that happen in the New Testament.

There are 67 chapters in this book. Genesis and Psalms are each discussed in two consecutive chapters, and John II & III are combined into one. Each chapter consists of a title, a short subtitle that relates to the content of Biblical book; an Introduction that gives a brief synopsis of the book; an Overview that lists anywhere from four to 17 points of interest in that book; a section called “Learning from ________ [the blank is filled in with the book’s title] with three ideas from the book; a section called “Salvation Thread” telling why the book is important; and ends with a Key Verse.

What I Like: I like the way the author has summed up each chapter. You can easily find a quick review of any of the books of the Bible.

What I Dislike: The author makes liberal improper use of commas, periods and apostrophes throughout the text. Also, the writing itself could use a bit of editing. The book called the Song of Solomon is referred to as the Song of Songs. And, rather than discuss the book of Psalms as a whole, the author cites only two individual Psalms from that book, that of Psalms 69 and 103, each requiring its own chapter.

Overall Rating: Good.

Age Appeal: Tweens and teens.

Publisher Info: Christian Focus Publications, 2013; ISBN: 9781845508197; Paperback, 235 Pages, $18.99.

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Paul, Tarsus to Redemption

For kids who love manga, check out the book Paul, Tarsus to Redemption. This visually entertaining book by Matthew Salisbury and Gabrielle Gniewek follows the life of Saul in his early persecution of the church, his blinding encounter with Christ on the road to the Damascus (and name change), and all the way to his death in Rome. 

Classic manga illustrations by Sean Lam help the reader visualize every step of Paul’s journey. With the binding on the right instead of the left and panels read from right to left in Japanese style, readers can fully immerse themselves in the comic-style experience. The book helpfully provides directions on how to read the text. Ironically, this information is located at the end of the book, making it the first page readers unfamiliar with the genre see! The author also provides an annotated map of Paul’s excursions.

The book is divided into three chapters. Each chapter quotes a verse of Scripture.

What I Like:This is a book that would appeal to my son and kids who enjoy comic books. The artwork is visually spectacular. It’s a thick book, but a fast read, making it particularly appealing to reluctant readers.

What I Dislike: I felt like the text left a few gaps in the story that the pictures were not able to fully clarify. Therefore, I think kids must have a good grasp on Paul’s life from Scripture prior to reading the book. Without that background knowledge I think the tale would be hard to follow. There were also a few places where the writer/artist took some creative liberties which surprised me, but, in general, those served to make the story come to life.

Overall Rating: Very Good, though the artwork is Excellent. So VG with a nod toward EXCELLENT.

Age Appeal: None is suggested. I think it works for ages 8 and older.

Publisher Info: Magna Hero, 2012; ISBN: 978-0983639749 ; Paperback, 312 pgs., $9.99
This book is not currently available at Christianbook.com.
Buy it at Amazon.com for $9.99.

Special Info: This author or illustrator has other books that might interest your manga reader, including: Pope Francis: I Believe in Mercy, Many Are Called, and Judith: Captive to Conqueror.

Project Inspired: Review and Interview

Nicole Weider is on a mission: to help young girls avoid the traps that culture sets. The trap that baits you into thinking you must sacrifice your self-worth in order to be beautiful and popular. Nicole launched Project Inspired in 2010 (www.projectinspired.com), a website for teen girls that analyzes pop culture and explores ways girls can live in their authentic beauty.

In Project Inspired, Nicole shares tips for you to stay true to yourself—to how you were created to be—as well as how to dress modestly yet fashionably, how to make a positive difference in the world, and how to enjoy your teen years while standing firm in your faith. With photographs, real behind-the-scenes stories from inside the fashion world, and an honest look at living a life that looks great on the outside and feels great on the inside, Project Inspired is a book you’ll turn to time and time again.


What I Like: From the very beginning of the book Nicole Weider, tells her testimony of being a young model in Hollywood and the pitfalls she faced in the "glamour" of being famous. So from the start she lets us know that she can actually relate to young girls trying to fit a mold, be liked by her peers and the desire to pursue a life she wanted.

I was a little weary about a book that focused on appearance but the book delves into feeling good about yourself within in a simple and easy for girls to understand. Nicole offers scripture, fashion tips, and everything a teen girl talks about with her friends and thinks about when she is alone, but with a faith filled heart. It reminds me of a teen magazine with depth and scripture.

I teach high school bible studies and a recent lesson was all about personal appearance, so I took Nicole's book into class. The girls went wild for the book and I was pleasantly surprised.

I had the pleasure of conductin an interview with author Nicole Weider and you can read it below!

What I Dislike: Nothing

Overall Rating: Very Good

Age Appeal: 12-18

Publisher Info: Zondervan; 2015; ISBN:978-0310749394; Paperback, 168 pgs., $17.99

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Nicole Weider Interview 

CCBR: Hi Nicole! Congratulations on your new book, Project Inspired! I had the pleasure of reading it and was pleasantly surprised. In the beginning of the book you give us your testimony. Could you tell the moms out there a very condensed version of who you are?

Nicole: My testimony is pretty crazy to say the least! I wasn't raised in a Christian home, and I didn't have faith in my life. My family and I lived in Salem, Oregon but I always wanted to move down to LA to pursue modeling more full time. I moved when I was 16, and my agency bluntly told me no matter how thin I got, my body type wasn't made for high fashion- but it was great for lingerie and swimsuit work. I was a lingerie model for several years, and I thought it would be a glamorous experience, however it was the opposite- it was destroying my self esteem and my self worth. After a series of coincidences and bad circumstances, I fell into depression and wanted to get out of the modeling industry. Thankfully, my best friend Christina is an on-fire Christian and she was the one who encouraged me to go to church with her. She prayed for me continually, and told me how God could use my experiences for His glory. I gave my life to Jesus when I was 23, and it was the best decision I've ever made. After I became a Christian, I knew I wanted to share my testimony with people to warn them about the dangers of Hollywood and the destruction it can be, along with the hope of Jesus Christ and how He saved my life.

CCBR: I also had the opportunity to visit your website (www.ProjectInspired.com) and really liked it. Could you tell us a little about the site and how the book and site differ?

My book is different from the site because I share my best fashion secrets and skin care advice, how I knew my husband was the one, and so much more. I also answered the top questions I get from girls on everything from depression, to bullying.

CCBR: Here at CCBR we love books that are not just "clean" books but also spiritually filled. While reading Project Inspired, you talk about turning to self help books when you were in need of comfort but never really find it that way. How important was it that you include scripture and biblical principles in your book? 

Before I became a Christian, I didn't know where to turn to find hope and inspiration. I thought turning to self help books would be what I needed, when in reality nothing I could read would satisfy my soul unless I turned to God. After I made the commitment to Jesus and I saw firsthand how he transformed my life, I knew only God could save people from their doubts of self-worth. It was incredibly important to me that the book was based on Biblical principles and scriptures, along with covering all of the issues that teen girls want to know about.

CCBR: You are also a contributor for the NIV Bible For Teen Girls (Read our review HERE). Tell us how that came about.

Nicole: It was an incredible honor and privilege that Zondervan wanted to use excerpts from my new book in the teen Bible. It was completely unexpected, and it is such a blessing! I also consider it a God-incidence (what I like to call a coincidence, but not really because God orchestrates everything) that a page from my book is across from my favorite scripture which is Matthew 7:7 "ask, seek, knock." God is so loving, and He amazes me every day.

CCBR: So I know you are busy and I am sure somewhere one of our reader's kid is yelling for Mom, so I have just one more question. Why is Project Inspired good for our teen girls?

Nicole: My book is a great resource for teen girls, because I feature almost every topic that the girls ask me. My book is unique, because it's a Christian book while still encompassing things not usually talked about in the Christian genre such as what everyday wardrobe basics, how to combat acne, finding the perfect jeans, and so much more. I also weave in my personal story, along with sharing the Biblical stories and how they relate to our modern day world.

CCBR: Thank you so much for spending some time with CCBR. 

NIV Bible For Teen Girls

The NIV Bible for Teen Girls, designed specifically for girls ages 13 to 18, is for real teenage girls with real lives. Packed with daily readings, highlighted promises of God, challenging insights, smart advice, and open discussion about the realities of life, this Bible is designed to help teen girls grow in faith, hope, and love. The NIV Bible for Teen Girls is as sincere about your walk with God as you are, helping you discover his will for all areas of your life, including relating to your family, dealing with friends, work, sports, guys, and so much more.

Features include:
Daily readings for teen girls by popular Christian female authors (Annie Downs, Bekah Hamrick Martin, Christine Caine, Crystal Kirgiss, Bethany Hamilton, Nicole Weider, Elsa Kok Colopy, Denise Van Eck and more)
Character profiles of women in the Bible
Book introductions for each book of the Bible
Highlighted promises of God: verses worth remembering
A concordance for help in finding verses
The complete text of the bestselling New International Version (NIV) of the Bible

What I Like: Everything. This a great bible for teen girls. While this study bible is packed with lots of great features I loved the highlighted promises of God (highlighted in pink) and the character profiles of women of the bible. My absolute favorite feature is the Daily Reading by influential Christian authors.  It's unique to teen bibles, but more than that, its like these influential women are talking directly to teen girls and offering them wisdom that's easy for them to comprehend when scripture may be unclear to them.

For example, Bethany Hamilton (Soul Surfer Movie, Rise Above Book) sheds some light on Psalm 19:14 where she asks if we speak differently depending upon the crowd we are with (pastors, parents, friends). She goes on to say how God is always listening and that a mouth check-up may be in order. This teen bible is filled with these Growing in Faith, Hope and Love readings.

What I Dislike: The concordance text is very, very small.

Overall Rating: Excellent

Age Appeal: 14-18

Publisher Info: Zondervan, 2015; ISBN: 978-0310749691; Hardcover, 1728 pgs., $29.99

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Building Blocks in Life Science

If you homeschool or supplement your child's education at home, you might be tired of science books being filled with evolutionary theory taught as fact. It's difficult to get away from. But Building Blocks in Life Science by Gary Parker (Ed.D) is different; it's filled with information about creation science.

Parker, a former atheist, does a good job of explaining the basics of biology in this book.You'll find information on DNA, patterns and structure, classification, living cells, molecules, and other basic biological science. The first chapter hits evolution head on, challenging it and poking holes in the theory. The rest of the book doesn't let up, continuing to link science to God and the Bible.

For anyone not familiar with the creationist viewpoint, Building Blocks is a great place to start. At a time when Richard Dawkins, possibly the most respected scientist in the world today, admits evolution makes no sense without a creator or creators - creators he thinks were aliens, not God - giving creation theory a hard look is vital to a good education.

What I Like: Overall, I think this book is a good introduction to creation theory. It's a textbook, complete with a few work pages, but could be read by anyone with curiosity about creation and biology.

What I Dislike: Building Blocks book is marred a bit by the author's tone. There are too many exclamation points (which aren't very scholarly) and sometimes rather snide comments about evolution or other topics contrary to the author's view. A textbook is no place for an author to express opinions.

Overall Rating: Very Good.

Age Appeal: The publisher doesn't give an age or grade recommendation, but I'd say 8th grade and up.

Publishing Info: New Leaf Publishing/Master Books, 2011; ISBN 978-0890515891; paperback, 159 pgs., $15.99

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Prayers that Changed History

George Muller had no food for the hungry orphans in his care, but he sat them at the table, anyway, and they prayed, thanking God for the food He would provide. When the prayer was over, there was a knock on the door. It was the baker - with enough bread for everyone. Soon after, the milk man delivered fresh milk because his cart had broken down in front of the orphanage. This is just one of my children's favorite stories from Prayers that Changed History by Tricia Goyer, a book showcasing how real prayers were not only answered, but changed the world.

24 people (plus one group of people: the British) are featured in this book; some, you and your children may be familiar with, like Constantine, St. Patrick, Christopher Columbus, Martin Luther, William Bradford, Sojourner Truth, David Livingstone, Florence Nightingale, Helen Keller, Mother Teresa, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, and Corrie ten Boom. Others may be less familiar, like Polycarp, Oswald (King of Northumbira), John Eliot, Susana Wesley, John Newton, Robert Raikes, Mary Jones, Catherine Booth, George Muller, Billy Sunday, Amy Carmichael, and John Hyde.

Each chapter in Prayers that Changed History focuses on one of these people and their prayer (sometimes prayers), which God answered in a big way. Each chapter also offers a related Bible story, and prompts readers to think about what we can learn from the individual and how we can apply that to our own lives.

What I Like: This is a superb book to add to your family's library, since both parents and kids will enjoy and benefit from it. My children and I learned some bits of history we hadn't known before, and were moved by many stories in the book; some will stick with us for the rest of our lives. I also appreciate the discussion questions; these lead to some deeper thinking on my kids' part. And as an added bonus, my 9 year old now wants to read some primary sources, like Corrie ten Booms' books.

What I Dislike: Overall, this is a wonderful book, but sometimes I wished the author had set aside her commentary because it was a little obvious or repetitive. In addition, the author states that "If you seek him [God] and listen, God will speak to you - not in a voice you can hear with your ears, but in a stirring deep in your heart." Yet in the Bible, people heard God's voice with their ears - including in a story the author cites: Samuel as a boy.

Finally, parents should be aware that "the red light district" and suicide (Hitler's) are mentioned.

Overall Rating: Very Good.

Age Appeal: 8 and up.

Publishing Info: Zonderkidz, 2015; ISBN 978-0310748014; paperback, 240 pgs., $12.99

Buy at Amazon for just $9.67 (or buy the Kindle version for $7.99)

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Weird & Gross Bible Stuff

Weird & Gross Bible Stuff by Rick Osborne and Quentin Guy is a completely different take on what most people think of when they think of a Bible based book for late elementary through middle school aged boys.

Let's face it. Boys like things that are gross and generally unappealing to most others. Rick Osborne and Quentin Guy have taken the time to go through the Bible to find all of the gross and weird things that would completely interest a boy.

So many times we try to explain to our children that the Bible is relevant to them and where they are in life right now, but this book goes even farther to show boys from 4th grade- 8th grade that the Bible does hold all types of adventures that will hold their interest. As a mom, that is exactly what I want! I want my son (who is almost 4) to look forward to what new weird little tidbit he will learn. The more he reads, the more he will be interested to follow the Bible reference added to give the completed background to each account he is being exposed to.

I read this book with both of my children (girl: 7 and boy: 3.5). I was fascinated with all of the stories, some of which I had forgotten because as we "grow up" we steer away from those accounts to more character building passages. I loved being reminded of stories like Ehud and the "fall" of Jezebel. My daughter found this book to be gross- which is exactly what the title says it will be. My son thought it was cool- total boy!

The book is put together in chapters and puts accounts with similarities together. As you read each subsection within each chapter, Scripture is given to correspond with the weird or gross part that was pulled out (which would make for a great devotional for boys to make their way through the Bible). At the end of each chapter is a two page focus on a Bible hero and something amazing that was done for the glory of God.

What I Like: I love Rick Osborne's writing. This is my second Rick Osborne book, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Rick Osborne takes one right to Scripture to show what God's Word says about any subject.

What I Dislike: You definitely have to have a stomach for the gross part of the book.

Overall Rating: Excellent.

Age Appeal: Late elementary through middle school aged, 8-14 years old

Publisher Info: Zonderkidz, 2002; ISBN: 0310704847; paperback, 128 pgs., $7.99
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The Nature Girl, A Guide to Going Green: A Guide to Caring for God's Creation

How green are you? Authors Karen Whitling and Rebecca White encourage everyone to go green. Their book, The Nature Girl, A Guide to Going Green: A Guide to Caring for God’s Creation, is packed with information about what it means to be green and how to do the best you can to help save our planet.

The 10 chapters in the book cover such topics as food, recycling, and being good to the earth, among others. Each chapter has applicable Bible verses sprinkled throughout the text, suggested activities and/or recipes relating to the chapter topic, a list of Eco-Careers that relate to the chapter topic, as well as a short quiz about the chapter. The end matter of the books contains an extensive list of resources the authors used when writing the book.

What I Like: Everything.

What I Dislike: Nothing.

Overall Rating: Excellent.

Age Appeal: 8-teens.

Publisher Info: Zonderkidz, 2014; ISBN: 9780310725008; paperback, 170 pages, $7.99.

  

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The Kindle edition is available for $4.99.

Special Info: Read our reviews of other books illustrated by Rebecca White .

The Battle Begins: The Story of Creation

Introducing a brand new series of Action Bible graphic novels featuring vivid new artwork from Sergio Cariello.

Even as God walked through the beauty of His new creation, and breathed life into Adam, His masterpiece ... a warrior-angel gives into his pride—and commits the ultimate betrayal. Witness Adam and Eve falling into Lucifer's trap, as the battle for eternity begins in this brilliantly presented retelling of Creation, the Fall, and God's promise of redemption.

What I Like: The Battle Begins by Caleb Seeling is a more detailed story of creation than I have become accustomed to. It includes what is going on in heaven before and after creation giving an insight into why the serpent tempted Eve and how fallen angels became fallen angels. I really liked that the book included much more than I usually read.

The book is also created a comic or graphic novel as they refer to it so my 8 year old son was immediately drawn to the "superhero" like illustrations and the layouts of the pages.

What I Dislike:  The layout of the graphic novel includes the wording in speech balloons just like traditional comics. I am not a comic book reader and found the dialogue in balloons slightly distracting. I had to make sure I was reading it correctly which took away from just simply enjoying the book. It was a very minor issue for me, but my son had no issues with that whatsoever.

Overall Rating: Very Good.

Age Appeal: The recommended age group is 9-12, but I would say 8-14 is more appropriate.

Publisher Info: David C. Cook, 2014; ISBN: 978-0781411424; Paperback, 104 pgs., $12.99

Special Info: Since the story is about creation, the book does include Adam and Eve being nude. The illustrations use shadows, scenery and "headshots" as a way to keep the story clean and appropriate for children.

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Undaunted: Daring to Do What God Calls You to Do - Student Edition

Have you ever felt that God has called you to do something special?  Have you answered the call? Or have

you held yourself back because you don’t feel you’re qualified to do the job? You can answer God’s call, whether you feel like you can do it or not. Author Christine Caine says, “God doesn’t call the qualified. He qualifies the called.”

In Undaunted: Daring to Do What God Calls You to Do – Student Edition, Caine uses the incredible events in her life to illustrate her belief that God has called everyone to live an “undaunted” life. She was abused and abandoned, unnamed and unwanted, but God showed her how be undaunted, even in the face of great adversity. You may not be called to be a missionary in some foreign land, but God can give you the courage to face whatever He wants you to do, so you can be “undaunted,” too.

The book is divided into four sections, each with multiple chapters. Each section ends with a list of discussion questions.

This is a great book for teenagers to read on their own. I think it would also be a good book to be or used for study and discussion with youth groups.

Christine Caine is the director of Equip & Empower Ministries and co-founder of the anti-human trafficking organization, The A21 Campaign.

What I Like: Almost everything.

What I Dislike: The one thing that I didn’t like were the typos I found in the text. There were several of them.

Overall Rating: Excellent.

Age Appeal: Teens and up.

Publisher Info: Zondervan, 2013; ISBN: 9780310743101; Paperback, 202 pages, $9.99.

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Special Info: Visit the author’s website.

On the Scene

On the Scene, written by Robin Caroll, is the second book of the Samantha Sanderson series. Samantha’s (Sam’s) curious nature leads her to search for the truth behind who is bullying her fellow classmate, Nikki. Sam learns from her police officer father that bullying is a serious crime. She suggests writing a series of articles for her middle school newspaper and she gets assigned the job.

Nikki and Sam are not really friends, as Nikki is known as a “mean girl.” But Sam feels bad for Nikki when she finds out Nikki is being bullied. Nikki has a lot on her plate already, as her father has moved out of the house and her parents are threatening to divorce. Sam wouldn’t want her parents to go through a divorce and she doesn’t want to see Nikki’s do that either.

Sam does a lot of digging to get to the bottom of the mystery of who the bully really is. In the process of doing so, she learns a lot about the issue of bullying, discovers the meaning of friendship, and learns how to judge people for herself regardless of popular opinion.

The author has included some discussion questions at the end of the book about events that take place in the text. There is also a blank page for notes for each of the twenty chapters in the book.

What I Like: Bullying is a serious issue. It’s something school administrators no longer take lightly. There is a lot of good information in the story about bullying.

What I Dislike: Nothing.

Overall Rating: Very good.

Age Appeal: Middle school students.

Publisher Info: Zonderkidz, 2014; ISBN: 9780310742470; Paperback, 264 pages, $8.99.

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Amazon Kindle Edition - $5.12.

 

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

Power Bible

It can be tough to find a Bible or Bible storybook for a reluctant reader. But comic books are often something reluctant readers love - and that's why Green Egg Media created the Power Bible series. This 10 book series covers the entire Bible in comic book format with illustrations by Shin-joong Kim. Today, I'll be reviewing volume 1 in this series.

The book begins with an introduction to the people kids will learn about later in the book. There is a full color image of the person, and a few sentences about him or her. Then the book plunges straight into the story of creation. Every page is full color, comic book style with anime characters. When the book switches to a new Bible story, it offers a biblical reference, so parents or kids can consult and compare with the Bible. The book ends with the story of Old Testament Joseph, hinting at trouble to come in book 2 of the series.

What I Like: My children really enjoyed the comic book aspect of this book and were eager to start reading book 2 as soon as possible.I found book 1 in this series quite accurate - and that means it's a fantastic way to get kids who aren't interested in reading the Bible more knowledgeable about God's word.

What I Dislike: Nothing.

Overall Rating: Excellent.

Age Appeal: 8 and up

Publishing Info: Green Egg Media, 2011; ISBN 978-1937212001; paperback, 208 pgs.,$13.49

Buy book 1 at Amazon for $13.49 or at ChristianBook.com for $10.99
Buy the complete series at Amazon for $86.46 or at ChristianBook.com for $89.99
Find other, individual books in the series on Amazon or here, at ChristianBook.com 

Special Info: To see kids talk about the Power Bible, and to see samples of the pages, click here.

At the Movies

Sam is an ambitious reporter on her middle school newspaper, hoping to someday become the editor. She then wants to go on to become a journalist for her career, like her mom. Her dad is a cop.

One night, when she is At the Movies with her dad, she accidentally finds a bomb hidden in the movie theater. She stumbles upon it when she makes a trip to the ladies’ room.

Now she has the inside scoop on a story, one that looks to be really big and really important. Her school newspaper publishes news not only about the school and the students in it, but also about things that happen in the community. Sam wants to write a lead story about the bomb for the school newspaper. She gets assigned the story, but the school editor doesn’t like her and looks for ways to take the story away from her. Her dad doesn’t want her working on the story since he is assigned to the case and he thinks it’s a conflict of interest. Her mother stays neutral on the subject, but she always encourages her daughter to pursue her dreams and do the right thing.

Sam can’t resist the temptation of writing a really juicy story. Although she tries to stay within the parameters of both the legal and moral issues, she finds herself in a tough spot when she crosses over the line.

What I Like: Author Robin Caroll has written a compelling story that illustrates the close ties between what’s legal and what’s moral. That’s an issue many people deal with on a daily basis. I think she does a good job of making the story believable for middle school kids.

What I Dislike: Nothing.

Overall Rating: Very good.

Age Appeal: Middle school readers.

Publisher Info: Zonderkidz, 2014; ISBN: 9780310742456; Paperback, 272 pages, $8.99.

  

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

NIV Teen Study Bible

This NIV version of the Bible is more than just Scripture. The NIV Teen Study Bible includes features meant to aid teens in understanding and applying Biblical truth. Those features and/or sections, edited by Lawrence O. and Sue W. Richards, include the following:

• A copy of the Apostles' Creed, plus a follow up page that explains the history of this creed.
• We Believe- a verse-by-verse breakdown of the meaning of the Apostles' Creed.
• A table of Contents
• A two page spread explaining how to use the bible
• Panorama- short sidebars included in each book of the Bible designed to remind readers of the main theme of that book
• To the Point- snippets that deal with a key idea (such as, God Keeps His Promises) and its proof  (list of ways God kept his promise to Abraham). 
• Dear Jordan- full page "letter" from an everyday Joe teen asking advice on a certain topic with the aim to make lessons Biblical characters learned relevant for today.
• Instant Access- short sidebars included throughout the Bible which describe a potential teen problem scenario and highlights Scripture that helps the reader see what God has to say about that issue
• Bible Promises- green circle-shaped images with text; they focus on verses with a promise
• Q & A- shaped like game cards, these show a trivia question (and bonus question) usually on the left hand pages and a similar-looking answer on the right hand side
• Book Introductions- each book of the Bible provides a short (about half page) summary/overview of the book, a preview list of key events, and an outline with big ideas for headings and verses. For example: God Creates Something Really Special (big idea) Story in Genesis 2:3-4 (verses).
• Following Revelations, this Bible provides a section called Study Helps. Those include a page with a list of weights and measures from Biblical times and today's equivalent, "What Do I Read Today?" which lists every book and chapter of the Bible with boxes that can be check off upon completion, a Bible Truth Index, and a Teen Life Index. There are also 8 pages of full color maps.

What I Like:

• The added features help highlight some really key ideas in the Bible, so that they are more likely to be noticed and digested by the reader.
• I appreciate the book introductions. They provide some background information and give teens  a preview of what they will find when they read.
• The short Q & A inserts are fun.
• I find colored maps very helpful.
• There are numerous Instant Access points inserted throughout the Bible. Although not every one will be relevant to every teen, there are enough of them with for most to find useful wisdom.

What I Dislike:

• Sometimes the Dear Jordan letter answers sound a little bit like a Sunday School lesson instead of a conversation with a teen, which may not appeal to all readers.
• The words of Jesus are not in red letters. I wish they were!
• I don't care for the green color that dominates this book.
• Some of the sidebars may lean slightly toward a particular denominational point of view, so the buyer may want to skim through it to see if they are comfortable with them.
• There are not a lot of footnotes or non-fiction support resources or even a glossary, so to me it's more like a life application Bible than a study Bible.

Overall Rating: Excellent

Age Appeal: Teens

Publisher Info: Zonderkidz, 2014; ISBN:978-0310745686; Paperback, Kindle and Hardback, 1632 pgs., $24.99/ $13.00/$29.99

Buy it Now at Christianbook.com for $17.99 and the hardcover for $17.99.
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Special Info: This Bible is also available in Italian Duo-Tone, Black Licorice/Hot Pink for $31.99, Graphite/Mediterranean Blue for $25.99, or Chocolate (brown) for $22.99.

Whatever: A 90-Day Devotional for Livin' the True, Noble, and Totally Excellent Life

Whatever: A 90-Day Devotional for Livin’ the True, Noble,and Totally Excellent Life, written by Allia Zobel Nolan, is as the title implies, a devotional with 90 days worth of readings. Also, you can probably tell by the title that it is written for teens, and in this case, specifically for girls.

The devotions are divided into 10 separate headings: eight of them relate to the eight virtues mentioned in Philippians 4:8 – “Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right,” etc. The first one is entitled “You and Your Thoughts” and the last one is called “Perfect Peace.” Each devotion starts with a Bible verse and includes sections called  “Food for Thought,” “Second Thoughts” and “Divine Thoughts”. By the time the reader has gone through all 90 devotions, they will have a clear idea of how to direct their thoughts to make themselves, true, noble, right, etc., and end with a life of “perfect peace”.

What I Like: Just about everything.

What I Dislike: Although the devotions are easy-to-follow and relevant to a teen girls’ life, I thought it was a bit unusual that the author did not include any type of introduction about the book. There is a short blurb on the back cover that says all 90 of the devotionals will show girls how to fill their heads and hearts with “virtues taken straight from Philippians 4:8.” They will then become more “…lovely, praiseworthy and excellent…”

Overall Rating: Very good.

Age Appeal: I didn’t find an age rating, but I’d say ages 12 and up.

Publisher Info: Zonderkidz, 2012; ISBN: 9780310725343; Paperback, 294 pages, $9.99.

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

Bob Hartman's More Bible Tales: The Unauthorized Version

Bob Hartman's More Bible Tales: The Unauthorized Version, written and illustrated by Bob Hartman is the third book in the author’s series of Bible tales. This one is a collection of Bible stories told from unusual perspectives. For instance, the story of Noah’s ark is told from the perspective of Noah’s dog, and the story of Judas is told by his nephew.

The word “unauthorized” in the title refers to the opposite of the word “authorized” or “official”. These are stories that are told from the point of view of someone (or something) that is not mentioned in the Bible.

As can be expected from such a collection of stories, there is humor involved. As the author says in the Introduction to the book, “I tried to tell the stories in a way that would be true to the original, but also in a way that would bring out the humour in them.”

The pencil sketched illustrations are cartoonish in nature, but they are very expressive and work well with the text.

What I Like: I like reading stories like this, being able to hear a well-known story from a different character’s point of view. It provides a whole new perspective to the story

What I Dislike: Having said that, some readers might see these stories as being irreverent. I don’t believe that is the author’s intention, but you might feel otherwise.

I had read one of Hartman’s earlier books in the series, Bob Hartman’s Old Testament Tales, which I thoroughly enjoyed. I liked most of the stories in this edition, too, but not all of them. The one about Noah was told from the point of view of Noah’s dog. That’s not a problem. But, according to the dog, the ark hadn’t even been built yet (the story took place before the building began), but at the end of the story, the dog gets on the boat. How could he do that if the boat hadn’t been built yet? Little inconsistencies like that in a story bother me.

Overall Rating: Very good.

Age Appeal: Ages 8 and up.

Publisher Info: Lion Children’s Books, 2013; ISBN: 9780745964355; Paperback, 95 pages, $8.99.

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Special Info: The book was published in England so the text reflects the British way of spelling and speaking. For instance, “humor” is spelled “humour” and “Mom” is known as “Mum.”

Read our reviews of other books written and illustrated by Bob Hartman.