As You Grow by Kirk Cameron and Brave Books (Children's Book Review)

As You Grow by Kirk Cameron and Brave Books

I don't write a whole lot about controversial topics on this blog.  I prefer to write more about the things we have in common regarding faith, family, food, and fun.  I like to think of my blog as my fun little place in cyberspace.  With a few exceptions, I try to save controversial topics for a place where discussions are much more constructive - in person with an open Bible in front of me.  When it comes to controversial topics, I'm less concerned about whether or not people share my opinion and more concerned about whether or not people know and understand Biblical truths.  It doesn't matter what I think.  What matters is what God says.  We know what God says about controversial topics by reading His Word.  When my children were growing up, we started them out on children's Bibles and Bible storybooks written for children so they could better understand the true historical events recorded in the Bible and what they mean.  We also read a lot of other children's books.  As a teacher, I knew the importance of reading and the positive impact that reading has on a child's life.  As our culture becomes more and more controversial, it becomes more challenging to write about abundant family living without addressing cultural concerns, especially those that negatively impact children.  One of my HUGE concerns is the direction our culture is going regarding children's books.  Children need to be children.  They don't need to be concerned about sexuality or any other adult topic.  They'll get there soon enough.  This brings me to today's post, a book review of As You Grow by Kirk Cameron.

You might have seen the videos on your social media feed, or perhaps you've seen a commercial on television about Kirk Cameron's book, As You Grow, and his affiliation with Brave Books.  When I saw Kirk's video, I became interested in Brave Books.  I used to promote another line of children's books, but I became concerned about some of the teachings in some of the books.  After considering the impact those books would likely have on a child's worldview, I decided to drop the company.  After looking into Brave Books, I decided that this is a book company I can support.  Brave Books are Pro-God and Pro-America.  Brave Books are faith-based children's books that teach traditional conservative values.  

About Brave Books

Meet Trent Talbot, founder of Brave Books.

I liked what I saw and what I learned about this publisher, so I ordered As You Grow by Kirk Cameron.

As You Grow by Kirk Cameron and Brave Books

When I ordered As You Grow, I didn't realize the book is actually book 8 in Saga 2 of a series.  I thought I might miss a lot in the story since I've not read the books in the series prior to this one.  I was happy to find out that this book can be read as a stand-alone book.  The story is about a tree called Sky Tree,  Sky Tree is located on Freedom Island.  Starting as a seed, Sky Tree grows into a big tree, a tree that grew through trials and triumphs.  Humans grow through trials and triumphs as well.  

As you read this book with your child, you will read words of wisdom about love, joy, and gentleness.  

As You Grow, Page Image 1

As You Grow teaches children that as seasons change, they will grow and change.  Through all these changes and growth, their fruit (the way they live their lives and point to Jesus) should be sweet.

As You Grow, Page Image 2

Children process emotional hurt differently than adults because they don't always understand what is happening.  They need to know that sometimes love does hurt but love is always worth it.  This might be challenging for kids to understand.  This is a good time for parents to discuss situations with their children when love hurt them, but it was worth it.  Obviously, children need to understand that some people have a different definition or view of what love is and sometimes those views are distorted.  Those views are not real love.  Help your children understand the difference.  Abuse is never OK.  

As You Grow, Page Image 3

I wish we could create a world for our kids where they know no sorrow, but this is not possible.  Sadly, kids experience sorrow.  Children don't have a good sense of the passage of time.  To a child who is experiencing sorrow, he or she might think their sadness will last forever.  Help your child realize that our greatest sorrows can lead to our greatest joys.  We have to trust God through the process.

As You Grow, Page Image 4

Strength and gentleness are not just for adults. Children can learn to radiate strength and gentleness, too, and realize that others will be drawn to them through their strength and gentleness.  

At the end of the book, Kirk offers a challenge.  In this particular challenge, the child's mission is to save Sky Tree from Black Heart, the evil Tiger.

As You Grow, Page Image 5

After the challenge, kids are offered three games.  The first game focuses on love.  The second game focuses on joy.  The third game focuses on gentleness.

As You Grow, Page Image 6

As You Grow is recommended for children between the ages of 4 and 12.  You might notice that some of the other reviews on Amazon point out that this book is better for older children.  They also point out that the illustrations are too busy for younger children.  On the one hand, I agree with those statements, but on the other hand, I don't.  Children grow, learn, and mature at different rates so it really depends on the child.  I suggest that parents read this book with their children, no matter their ages.  Parents can offer a wealth of insight about the truths on the pages of this book.  As far as the illustrations go, they are a little busy, but they are also beautiful.  As the book's author, Kirk Cameron demonstrates in the following two videos, the illustrations offer many things parents can discuss with their children as they read with them.

Kirk Cameron reads As You Grow at the Indianapolis Public Library (Part 1)

Kirk Cameron reads As You Grow at the Indianapolis Public Library (Part 2)

 

If you are a parent who is concerned about inappropriate topics your child might find in a children's book, you should check out Brave Books. After reading As You Grow, I subscribed to their Freedom Island Book Club. I look forward to reading these books with my granddaughter (and future grandchildren) and to sharing many more books from Brave Books with you. Be sure to subscribe here so you won't miss my next post.  

May you live abundantly in Him,

Tina

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As You Grow by Kirk Cameron and Brave Books

You may also like:

Elephants Are Not Birds by Ashley St. Clair and Brave Books

Elephants Are Not Birds by Ashley St. Clair

Elephants Are Not Birds by Ashley St. Clair and Brave Books

Elephants Are Not Birds

Our children are being sought after.  They are being chased down by the enemy.  If we are looking for him, we can find him.  We really don't have to look that hard.  The enemy is everywhere.  He's in our entertainment - television and radio.  He's in our school curricula.  He's in our children's television shows and even in some of their children's books.  It's a hard truth that needs to be heard and realized.  The devil is after our kids.  That's the horrifying news.  The good news is that we can protect our kids.  We don't have to keep them in a bubble.  We can't protect our kids from everything, but we can ground them in truth.  We can give them the tools they need to stand on their own when the enemy appears right in front of them.  I have found one tool to help you teach your children conservative Christian values and be entertained at the same time.  I've discovered Brave Books.  I love them so much that I became a Brave Books Ambassador.  I joined their Freedom Island Book Club, so I get a new book every month.  Today, I'm going to share the first book with you.  The Saga One:  Book 1 title is Elephants Are Not Birds by Ashley St. Clair.  

We don't have to go far to see that there is a whole population of people out there who are so unhappy with who they are that they choose a lifestyle of pretending to be someone else.  The transgender movement is worldwide.  It's worldwide, but it is also right here where we are.  He could be your restaurant waiter or . . . your child's teacher.  We can be horrified at the level of exposure of the transgender movement to our children, and we should be.  But there is something so sad about this movement as well.  Somewhere along the way, a child, a teen, or a young adult became dissatisfied with who they were.  They became someone with little or no self-worth.  This can happen to anyone.  Sometimes, this can happen in a well-grounded Christian home.  It can happen to you.

Christian parents or grandparents, once our kids are grown and making their own decisions, we can still have a powerful influence over their lives, but it will look much different from when they were children.  We must do our best to ground them in the gospel and give them the tools they need to navigate an increasingly dark world.  

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.  Ephesians 6L10-18

The first tool you should give your child is the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.  Give them a Bible.  Read it with them.  Study it with them.  Talk with them about the text.  Don't skip over the hard stuff.  The enemy won't skip it.  Have the hard conversations, and don't assume they get it because you are Christian parents raising your kids in a Christian home and taking your kids to church every Sunday.  Let me say it again.  Don't assume they are getting it.  Your kids' spiritual journey begins in the home.  Make it count.  You don't have as long as you think.

Here is a good Bible for your children if they don't have one they love already.

This children's Bible is available here.

Elephants Are Not Birds

Let's get to today's topic, Elephants Are Not Birds.  If your child is very young, he or she might not understand a whole lot about sexual sin, especially transgenderism.  Remember a few paragraphs above when I said that at some point in some people's lives, they became unhappy with who they were?  They didn't realize their true value and uniqueness in the person God made them.  Elephants Are Not Birds helps young children understand their worth and realize the value of who they are the way God made them. 

Elephants Are Not Birds by Ashley St. Clair

Look at that adorable cover.  Who doesn't love a dreamy little elephant?

Freedom Island

The stories from Brave Books occur in various cities on Freedom Island, which inhabits good and evil characters.  Story after story completes good-vs-evil sagas.  You can purchase books individually if you wish, but when you join the Freedom Island Book Club, you'll get a giant map of Freedom Island.  With each book, your child will get stickers to place on the map.  This keeps them physically engaged with the stories and helps them keep track of the good guys and the bad guys.

Elephants Are Not Birds - Story Page (Sneak a Peak 1)

This page shows an elephant hauling a load up a hill.  In the town of Toke-a-Toke, the elephant's job is to haul heavy loads up the hills.  Everyone has a job to do, and this is the elephant's job.

A vulture named Culture tells Kevin the Elephant a lie.

Kevin the elephant loves to sing.  One day, a vulture named Culture uses flattery to convince Kevin that he must not be an elephant.  Kevin must be a bird since he can sing like one. 

Culture, the vulture convinces Kevin, the elephant, that he is a bird.

Just like that, Culture, the vulture, had Kevin believing his lie, the lie that tells Kevin the elephant that he is really a bird.

Kevin, the elephant, wears a fake bird beak.

Since Kevin is a bird and not an elephant, as he was convinced by Culture, he needs a beak.  Kevin wears a fake bird's beak so he can be a bird - you know, because he's a bird and not an elephant.

Kevin the elephant sings while carrying his load up the hill.

Let's skip ahead a bit because I don't want to spoil the whole story for you, but eventually, Kevin realizes that Culture lied to him.  He is not a bird.  He is an elephant with a special purpose.  His life as an elephant has value and meaning - and he can still sing while he does his God-given work.

To Your Family and The Brave Challenge

At the end of each book is a Brave Challenge.  Kids get an objective and instructions on how to play a game.  This book has multiple games for your kids to play.  There are also questions for parents to discuss with their kids to help them apply the meaning of the story to their lives so that when "culture" lies to them about who they are, they will have the tools they need to fight back and win the battle over the enemy who is seeking them out to destroy them.

Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. So resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brothers and sisters who are in the world.  1 Peter 5:8-9

Here is a little bit more about Elephants Are Not Birds and Brave Books Saga 1 from the back cover.

Elephants Are Not Birds, Back Cover

Elephants Are Not Birds is now an important addition to my "Nonnie's Library."  My "grandmother name" is "Nonnie," and I plan to have a whole host of pro-God, pro-family, pro-America children's books for my grandchildren to read.  I hope you, too, will build a library in your home that encourages conservative Christian values for your children and grandchildren to read.  These books are good quality, so if they are cared for, they'll last a very long time.

Brave Books are pro-God, pro-family, and pro-America.  Will you join the Freedom Island Book Club today and build a conservative library for your kids?

Go live life abundantly . . . 

but before you go, don't forget to pin this post!

Elephants Are Not Birds by Ashley St. Clair

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7 Days of Awesome by Shaun Byous

7 Days of Awesome by Shaun Byous

That's not my . . . Taller and Shorter

That's not my . . . Taller and Shorter

That's not my . . . Taller and Shorter by Fiona Watt is a board book for younger children. This cute little book is illustrated by Rachel Wells and features adorable animals that kids love. Children will compare which animals are taller and which ones are shorter such as a giraffe and an elephant, a frog and a mouse, a meerkat and a duck, and so forth. That's not my . . . Taller and Shorter helps young children understand the concepts of big, little, and height comparisons. Children will enjoy watching a tiny little mouse appear on various pages throughout the book. They will also enjoy fireflies, butterflies, and birds. If you wish, you can help your child count daisies, stars, and clouds as you read together.

The pages are colorful, thick, and durable. If the pages become soiled, you can wipe them off with a damp cloth but don't soak them.

Get your copy here!

Activities to do with your child before or after reading That's not my . . . Taller and Shorter:

(The following activities cover a range of ability levels. Pick the ones that will benefit your child.)

Here is a live interactive taller and shorter worksheet from Live Worksheets. Do you have older children? Scroll down for worksheets about units of measurement for older children.

Kindergarten parents, here's one for you. It's 27 pages of taller and shorter measurements for Kindergarten aged children. It's only 95 cents at Teachers Pay Teachers.

This activity is another one that you can purchase at Teachers Pay Teachers. It's a Kindergarten measurement activity. Your child will compare more/less, shorter/taller, etc.

Read Marvin the Very Tall Bear by T.A. Unwin. This book is recommended for children between the ages of 2 and 7.

This item is available here.

Gather blocks, paper tubes, and other objects for your child. Ask him or her to build short buildings, tall buildings, and other structures. Identify the taller structures and shorter structures. Your collection might look something like this.

Visit Learning Playtime to get a whole bunch of ideas for helping your child understand the concepts of taller, shorter, and other measurements.

Provide your child with LEGO Blocks. Have her or him stack the blocks to see how tall they can stack a tower before it falls down. Build smaller towers as well. Build several towers. Then arrange them from shortest to tallest.

Scavenger hunts are so much fun. Send your child on a Taller/Shorter scavenger hunt. You don't have to make your own list unless you want to. Primary Playground has already created one for you. There are a lot of scavenger hunts listed so you'll need to scroll down a good ways to get to the Taller or Shorter scavenger hunt.

If you have multiple children in your home or classroom, arrange everyone according to height. Line everyone up from shortest to tallest.

Use nesting dolls to teach the concept of taller or shorter. This set is animal themed. Kids will love comparing the heights of a bear, a fox, an owl, a rabbit, and a raccoon.

This item is available here.

That's Not My . . . Taller and Shorter

You might also like That's not my bee . . . its stripes are too fluffy.

That's not my bee . . . its stripes are too fluffy.

That's not my bee . . . its stripes are too fluffy.

That's Not My Bee is an Usborne Touchy Feely Book, a board book actually.  It is intended for very young children.  It's bright colored pages keep babies and toddlers interested and the different textures on each page will keep them engaged in the book.  While reading That's Not My Bee with parents, young children will develop sensory and language awareness.  

That's not my bee . . . 

That's Not My Bee - Usborne Books; Photo Credit:  Tina Truelove 

 

There are only a few pages in this cute little board book so I'm only going to reveal the cover here, but when your child enjoys this book, he will enjoy searching for the bee that belongs with the little mouse.  On the cover, the little mouse hanging from the balloon says this bee is not his because its strips are too fluffy.  Your little baby or toddler can touch the fluffy black stripes on the bee's body.  

Throughout the rest of the book the mouse knows each bee is not his because the bee's feelers are too bumpy or its tummy is too fuzzy or its eyes are too shiny.  You get the idea.  Finally, the little mouse finds his bee.  

I read this book with a 4 year old and a 1 year old earlier today and they both loved it.  Even the four year old wanted me to read it over and over again while she enjoyed touching and feeling all the textures on the sturdy board-book pages.

That's Not My Bee is written by Fiona Watt and illustrated by Rachel Wells.  It was originally published in 2018.

 

 

Here are some things you can do with your child before or after the story to learn more about bees.

Sheryl at Teaching Two and Three Year Olds tells us how she taught her children about bees.  They learned the shape of honeycomb, created a honeycomb on paper, made a snack, and enjoyed bee themed activities.  Head over there right now.  She offers free printables too!

In the Kids Soup resource library, you'll find over 80 bee crafts, activities, and games.  There are so many things to do and learn about bees here!

Teaching Mama shares 15 activities about bees.  You can lean to make honey playdough!

The Bee Girl website offers a wealth of information about bees. They have started a new website specifically centered around teaching kids about bees.  Visit Kids and Bees to check out the handbook  and many more ideas for teaching children about bees.

Mr. Bonds Science Guys offers more cool ways to teach kids about bees.

You might also Like:  That's Not My Taller and Shorter by Fiona Watt.

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Jax's Tail Twitches by David Powlison

 Jax's Tail Twitches

Jax's Tail Twitches is part of the Good News for Little Hearts series.  Each story in the series focuses on a real-life issue while entertaining children with cute animal stories of hope.  Jax's Tail Twitches is written to help children deal with anger.  Jax's tail twitches when he gets angry.

Jax's family is a family of squirrels living in their own tree.  It's time to gather acorns for winter, so the whole family needs to help.  

The day begins with Jax and his brother, Caspian, racing to the kitchen for breakfast.  Jax becomes angry at Caspian for tripping him so that he can beat Jax to the kitchen.  

Later on, while the family gathers the acorns from their tree, another squirrel family, the McNuffles, shows up and begins gathering acorns from Jax's family's tree.  Papa Squirrel doesn't want to share his acorns with the McNuffles because the rule book says that each squirrel family must gather acorns from their own family tree.  

While Papa and Mr. McNuffle argue over sharing acorns, Jax and Caspian race about.  Baby Jolie takes a leap and lands in Papa Squirrel's acorn bag, scattering the acorns all around.  Then Mama Squirrel remembers that her dinner is burning.  

When Jax's family returns to their nest home, they are all angry for different reasons. Jax realizes that they are all angry because they didn't get what they wanted.  

Jax's Tail Twitches by David Powlison

Jax's family members agree that they are all angry over selfish reasons.  Papa Squirrel reminds his family that the Great Book says that anger does not produce the right and good life God wants us to have.  They all agree that they acted in ways that were not right and they need God to help them with their anger.  They need Jesus to forgive them and show them each where they were wrong.  Then, they bowed their heads to pray.

The story wraps up when both squirrel families meet again at the bottom of the tree to finish gathering food for the winter.  They admit to each other where they were wrong and they all ask for forgiveness.  Then, they share a meal and food for the winter.

Jax's Tail Twitches is a sweet story that teaches children that we all get angry from time to time, but when we do get angry, it is important to ask God to show us any place where we are wrong.  Then, we need to ask for forgiveness both from God and from the person we might have wronged in our anger.  

The back of the book offers two helpful resources for helping families help their children with anger.  There is a section called "Helping Your Child with Anger."  This section has 9 points of advice for parents to help them help their children with anger.  

Jax's Tail Twitches by David Powlison

At the very end of the book, there is a section of pocket Bible verse cards that children can cut out and carry in their pockets.  When they feel angry, they can pull the cards from their pocket and read them for encouragement through times of trouble when they might feel angry.

Jax's Tail Twitches by David Powlison

You can get your copy of Jax's Tail Twitches here.

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Jax's Tail Twitches by David Powlison

Zoe's Hiding Place by David Powlison

Zoe's Hiding Place by David Powlison

Tucked underneath her purple patchwork quilt, Zoe feels safe.  There she is in a place where she has no worries.  Zoe is safe and cozy under her patchwork quilt, Zoe's hiding place.  When Zoe jumps out of bed and is no longer under her quilt, she doesn't always feel so safe.

 The story opens up with a Bible verse:

God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble. - Psalm 46:1

On this particular day, Zoe learns that her class has been invited back to the Mulberry Meadow Art Museum.  The last time her class visited the museum, Zoe had a bad experience, so she was not excited about the upcoming field trip.  In fact, Zoe is afraid to go again.  On her way home that afternoon, Zoe's mind was filled with fear and worry.  As soon as Zoe returned home, she went immediately to her room to get into her hiding place underneath her cozy patchwork quilt.  

Zoe's mind was filled with fear and worry.

Zoe's mom explains to Zoe that worry wants her to believe that she is all alone and that God isn't with her to protect her.  Zoe's mom explains to Zoe that Jesus is always with her.  Jesus cares for her.  Zoe's mom shares a verse from the Great Book with Zoe that says God is your refuge, a safe place from trouble and fear.  Zoe decides that God reminds her of her cozy purple patchwork quilt.  Zoe's mom shares another verse from the Great Book and then tells Zoe to turn each fear into a prayer. 

The next morning, Zoe's dad gives her a handwritten note that says, "The Lord is near.  Do not be anxious."  He tells Zoe to pull out the note and read it when she feels afraid.

Zoe learns that God will keep her safe.

Zoe's second experience at the Mulberry Art Museum is not exactly uneventful, but this time around, Zoe's parents have shared the truth with her to help her navigate troublesome experiences that can result in fear and anxiety.  

At the end of the story, there is a section for parents.  In this section of the book, parents are given 10 points for helping children with anxiety.  Each point gives good advice for parents and children.  

Helping Your Child with Anxiety

At the very end of Zoe's Hiding Place, you'll find pocket Bible verses.  These pages can be cut out of the book so that your child can carry the pocket Bible verses with him or her wherever he or she goes.  Your child can carry the cards in a jacket pocket, pants pocket, or purse so that he or she can pull out the Bible verse cards to read them when he or she feel afraid or anxious.

Pocket Bible Verses

Now, let me tell you a few things about the illustrations.  This book is illustrated by Joe Hox.  The illustrations are so cute!  The pages are colorful and very appealing to the eye.  Your child might enjoy finding everyday objects that decorate Zoe's house. For example, I noticed a cola bottle cap and tabs were used to make a nightstand.  Zoe's bed frame is made from pencils and a comb.  There is a postage stamp on the wall for wall decor.  Buttons and game pieces adorn the kitchen, while the table is made from a jar lid and wooden clothespins. 

Zoe's Hiding Place is a well-illustrated, good Scripture-based story for helping children deal with fear and anxiety.  I think it will help adults too.

Zoe's Hiding Place is written by David Powlison.  It is part of the Good News for Little Hearts Series.

Get your copy here!

You might also like:  Jax's Tail Twitches 

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Zoe's Hiding Place

Halle Takes a Stand: When You Want to Fit In (Children's Book Review)

Peer Pressure.  It's something that, if we are honest with ourselves, we have all faced whether it was something as simple as pretending to like a movie you really hated or as complex as making a decision that was life altering for you or for someone else - perhaps in the most negative way - just to fit in.  We all want to be included.  No one really likes to be ignored or mocked.  Peer pressure is something we usually associate with kids but it is an adult issue too.  This book is written for children but adults could learn a lesson from it as well.  Halle Takes a Stand:  When You Want to Fit In is a good literary resource for your child's library.  Halle Takes a Stand is a story created by Jocelyn Flenders, a homeschool mom who is also a writer and editor in Philadelphia.  Jocelyn graduated from Lancaster Bible College.  Her background includes intercultural studies and counseling.  Halle Takes a Stand is part of her first published work for children, the Good News for Little Hearts series.

My review is based on the 2020 version of Halle Takes a Stand, edited by Paul David Tripp and illustrated by Joe Hox.  

The Good News for Little Hearts series is based on the Christian Counseling & Educational Foundation's model of help and hope.  Each story focuses on a real life issue with the goal of encouraging young readers to develop a deeper relationship with Jesus.  These stories connect the Bible to issues children often face, helping them to follow Jesus when faced with challenging circumstances.  The focal Bible verse for Halle Takes a Stand is Proverbs 29:25.

 If you are afraid of people, it will trap you.  But if you trust in the Lord, He will keep you safe.  Proverbs 29:25

Halle Takes a Stand:  When You Want to Fit In

This cute but important story is about a little hedghog named Halle.  Halle is faced with challenging circumstances at school where she makes a poor decision in order to fit in with her peer group.  Halle's decision hurts her friend, Freya the frog.  When Mr. Owl, the teacher, overhears the group at lunch, he confronts Halle about her choice and sends a note home to Halle's parents.  

Halle almost blames her poor choice on a classmate, but then decides to take responsibility for her own actions.  This is another lesson to be learned in this story.  

After dinner, Halle gives her parents the note from Mr. Owl and tells them what happened at school earlier that day.  Halle could have hidden the note or lied about what happened but she tells her Mama and Papa the truth.  

Halle's parents could have been angry with her.  They could have punished her harshly but instead, they discuss the situation with Halle in a way that helps her understand how her decision hurt her friend.  Her mom shares her own childhood story about a time when she was humiliated by the actions of another.  Papa shares with Halle that Jesus wants her (all of us) to walk in His example of friendship and love.

"Doing the right thing is not easy.  But the Great Book (the Bible) says that Jesus welcomes the friendless to His table.  He welcomes those who are different.  He wants us to walk in this same love." - Papa Hedgehog

Halle's parents help her see how her fear of her peer trapped her into a poor decision that hurt someone else.  They also remind her that Jesus forgives when we ask Him and then they pray with Halle.

The next day, Halle makes the right decision regarding her peer group and the friend she hurt.  Her wise choice results in a little bit of an unexpected ending.  

After the story, parents will find a section designed to help them help their children with peer pressure. There are 8 points of interest, one of which is a warning against placing our trust in the wrong person.  We should never put our peers in the place of God in our lives.  When Halle placed her peer in God's place in her life, she was trapped into making the wrong choice which resulted in hurt. This is a lesson for adults as well.  

In the back of the book, there are four perforated Back Pocket Bible Verse Cards.  Children can place these cards in their pockets so they'll have them available for encouragement when faced with challenging peer pressure type circumstances.

You might also like: Zoe's Hiding Place 

The Easter Story (Retold by Russell Punter)

The Easter Story as Retold by Russell Punter

I realize I'm late to get this review up but this COVID19 shelter-at-home order has me as busy as ever.  I think it's because all four of us are here all the time.  Everyone is chipping in and helping to take care of regular household chores but even though we are all adults here, it just seems like I'm still busy.  I guess the old saying is correct that a mother's work is never done.  As long as I have my husband and adult children around, quality time with them takes top priority and always will.  Today, we did something we've never done before.  We took part in a Good Friday Communion here at home.  This is something we usually do at church, but today we watched our pastor lead us in communion via video.  We are usually served unleavened bread and grape juice at church, but today we used regular bread and sparkling grape juice I had delivered to us from our local grocery store.  What we use isn't as important as the remembrance communion Jesus asked us to do.  If you would like to partake in your own communion at your home, you are invited to watch the same video we watched today.  Then, I want to tell you about a wonderful Easter story book for your children.

You are invited to partake in communion with us here.

The Easter Story as Retold by Russell Punter

The Easter story is one that I have read since early childhood.  I can still picture the little Sunday School room where I first learned who Jesus is.  I attend a large baptist church now, but my first memories of what we called Sunday School are from that little room in that little Methodist chapel that meant so much to my daddy's family.  My grandmother was the pianist there and some of my daddy's family sang in the choir.  It wasn't uncommon for me to step into the isle during church and prance my way up to the choir area so that I could sit near my grandmother as she played the piano.

Memories are precious, but back to the Easter story.  Many of us have been reading the story since childhood but it really isn't always the easiest story to tell to children.  As I sit here on this Good Friday, I'm reflecting back on the reality of what happened to Jesus.  It's a graphic story and one that is hard to explain to children in a way that they will understand and respect it without scaring them or leaving them with pictures in their minds that are too vivid and horrible for them to process at such a young age.  The Easter Story as retold by Russell Punter is a wonderful book that will help children understand the meaning of Jesus' betrayal, death, and resurrection in a child friendly story that they can read over and over again all year long.  Later on, parents or other caregivers can tell them more when they are old enough to understand all the details.

The Easter Story as Retold by Russell Punter

The Easter Story is illustrated by John Joven.  The cover depicts the day Jesus made his triumphal entry into Jerusalem.  Jesus arrives on a donkey while the people of Jerusalem cheer him on while waving palm branches.

Jesus' Triumphal Entry Into Jerusalem

I know The Easter Story is a story about Jesus' betrayal, death, and resurrection, but I wish Punter had told children more about who Jesus is.  He introduces Jesus as a man who lived a long time ago and that Jesus told people about God's kingdom.  Children need to know that Jesus is God's only Son, not just a regular man.

Jesus shares The Last Supper with His disciples.

The story tells children about what we have come to know as "The Last Supper."  Punter tells them that Jesus shared a meal with His friends and that Jesus asked them to remember Him. 

The Soldiers take Jesus away. / Jesus caries His cross.

Jesus' betrayal, scourging, and crucifixion are parts of the Easter story that can be troubling and even horrifying for some children.  Punter tells this part of the story in the most child friendly way possible.  Very young children don't need to know the most difficult and brutal details just yet.  They need to know what happened.  They need to know the reason Jesus suffered for you and for them.  The more brutal details can wait until they are old enough to handle them.

The stone is rolled away.

Now we get to the good part.  Children will read that Jesus' body was sealed into a tomb with a big stone.  Then comes Sunday!  The stone has been rolled away and Jesus' body is gone. 

Jesus lives forever!

The last page of the book tells children that Jesus is alive and He appeared to His friends several times before He rose up to Heaven.  The story tells children that Jesus will live forever.  I wish the story went on for one more page to tell children that this means they can live forever in Heaven with Jesus too.  This would lay a foundation for understanding salvation.

Although I feel like this book left out a few meaningful parts of the story, I do think it is a good Easter book that children will love.  Parents can fill in more details as the child grows in understanding and maturity.  

Of course, the actual Bible is the best source for children's Bible stories.  My first Bible was a full King James version of the Bible spanning from Genesis to Revelation.  I was so young when my parents gave it to me but I loved it.  I understood it because my parents took me to church when I was only days old.  I'm 50 years old now and I've rarely missed church (until now under shelter-in-place orders).  My parents did more than just take me to church.  They spent a lot of time reading the Bible with me.  We talked about the stories.  My parents and grandparents always discussed the Bible with me at age appropriate levels so that I grew into the deeper stories as I grew older.  I don't recall ever owning a shortened children's version of the Bible but I did have a Bible story book.  Now, there are so many options for young children.  It's OK if you want to start your younger children off with a children's version of the Bible, but they need to grow into a full version as soon as they can. 

Of course, stand alone Bible stories like this Easter Story are perfect for daytime story times, bed times, or to carry along for car rides, etc.  Any time you can help your child soak in stories from the Bible and absorb their meanings is important for building a foundation for application of Biblical principals to their own lives.  

I think your children will enjoy this story for many years to come.  Usborne books are well made.  As long as they aren't abused, they should last a very long time.  Maybe your child can someday pass the book along to his or her child.

Get your copy here.

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The Easter Story

You might be interested in this FREE Easter mini lesson.