Links to inspire you...

A memory project for you AND the kids.... this blogger is my 'kindred spirit'...somehow she and I think the same, and need the same reminders, supports, and encouragement in our intentional christian living....  I'm joining her in this challenge and hope to get my kids on board!! (which is sometimes hard when I don't homeschool, but I need to try some structure in our walking and talking the Word at home on occasion!)

Here's a series on layering storys... but I think it applies to teaching our kids as well....these are our goals...I am adding "Layered Story Sensitivity" to my vocabulary when I think about our goals for teaching kids about God's Word.   I want them to see ALL the layers-- the connections---the theology and most importantly Who God is across the Bible!

A giveaway for the Princess Bible I reviewed!

Candle Bedtime Bible

I love children's Bible story books!! I have an ever growing collection. I'm always intrigued when a new one is published, how will this be different? what will be the hook? why should someone purchase this specific one?

We all know that the Bible doesn't change, so how much can an author or an illustrator do, to appeal to the Bible storybook fans?  Here's what author Karen Williamson and illustrator Christine Tappin did...

1) it's a Bedtime Bible, and parent's what's implied by the word 'bedtime'? It's a cue for your kiddos to try and stretch out seconds and minutes AS LONG AS HUMANLY possible... that's where this book meets a need... you can choose a 3 minute, 5 minute, or 10 minute retelling of the Bible.  So you could have your kids 'race' the clock with the pjs, teeth brushing, face washing, to get several stories or ONE long one!!
2) The illustrations are warm, with very round faced people, but they have an 'action' quality to them, and their expressions help to tell the stories.
3) The text is written to be read aloud, with fluency, expression, and as if you were watching this happen.  It really does bring the stories to life.
4) I found the re-tellings to be shared in child appropriate vocabulary, but still accurate to the scripture, although not personal.   Each story also give you the scripture reference/portion of the text to read in a translation.  I think it would be a great book to read and compare to a translation, and even discuss how caption stories, and use real translations to get the full power and connections of the scripture.

As I often find, I wish there was a stronger practical application, connection to the people being sinners saved by grace through the redemptive work of Jesus on the cross.... This could easily be worked in, but would make it less story like, and more reality based.  Could we include terms and concepts  that connect bad, sad to sin?  Could we share that Jesus died as a King, the Word became flesh and dwelt amongst us, so that we could know that He knows our hearts, loves us, and forgives us despite our badness (sin)?

 Children often know they are bad and know when they are good, but I'm not sure without the concept of sin being clearly shared with a young child, how they will grasp the redemption, salvation, and blessing of new life in Christ. As I read through the New Testament stories, I also think that the gospel could be more clearly shared, as it is written, these are Bible stories retold, without the concepts of salvation being offered.   It shares the events in Jesus life, death, and Resurrection with key details of the passages, but not the personal connection and power to make it real for US today.

I still will use this storybook, and add those concepts myself in the thinking and dialogue that goes with a read aloud.  The stories are written in a way that it will be easy and natural to have these conversations, and perhaps, this book will be more appealing to a parent or grandparent who just wants their children exposed to the Bible.   I was given this book for my honest review, these are my thoughts and opinions as a reader or MANY children's Bible storybooks.  

Book Review: Bible Stories for His Beautiful Princess by Sheri Rose Shepherd

Another book...   but this one is for a new audience!!  Girls under 4!  But if you are looking at the picture, you can see that it's for girls!


Here's what I like:

• Each story is short and sweet appropriate for the under 4 crowd.
• Each story begins with scripture and reference. Each story has a life truth that could be the application of that story (this is connected to a life truth, not always the text of the story).
• The stories are factual, yet simple, and point to theological truths and what God is like.  
• Those theological truths come across in the summary with a Princess Prayer and a Princess Jewel.   
• It's definitely illustrated for the little girl- there are borders/headers (can you say crowns, flowers, wands?)  as well as images that connect with the story, and on the summary page, a princess girl.
• The size/structure- silly I know but it's a nice 6x8 book, the cover is padded, the pages are thick and sturdy (but not a board book), its sturdy but not too heavy, and as a mom of a girl-- these things matter to her!  
• The book talks about sin, in the prayer/jewels application and is direct with this concept, and it explains salvation through Jesus birth, life and death. 
• God and His character are truly integrated in the short sentences.  Also christian life principles like trusting God, prayer, God cares for us, God asking us to do the right thing... come across clearly.  

Things that bugged me: (and I think this is more appropriate than cons or weaker areas because I am a bit snobby and ideal about Bible Story books and I use many of them but like to point out nit picky things that can ruin them for a few.) 

• The book ends with a lovely summary page that says the Bible is 'alive' and sends a letter to the princess from God.  This only bugs me because some critics won't like Mrs. Shepherd writing as if she were God, but as a teacher and mom, she's taking a little literary license and I don't think she is saying her letter is inspired like the Bible. It's to make a point, but it still bugs me when I know it may bug some of my colleagues, and I hate to have a good book ruined by one or two small literary license to connect with girls a concept.  
• The book ends with a "salvation prayer" which I am not fond of... I get why it is there because the author wants to be crystal clear that you have all the info you need to be saved.  She isn't here when you are reading it, so its an example,  and she's doing what a good teacher does meta cognition: a model of how to pray.  
• The prayer starts with 'Please come into my heart.' and while many still say this, we try to avoid this extra-biblical phrase, that can be confusing to children because they are so literal. 
• Some of the prayers and jewels do not connect to the few sentences that create the story, they are a a bit of a jump, but they are true to applications from the fuller story and I don't know how you could keep it short and sweet and toddler appropriate, so I like the leaps but some may not have the background to see where they come from if the Bible is new or they may be too simplified to one truth, and detract from the Who God is and His one big story.  

Overall I really enjoyed this Bible storybook and believe it will be a delightful read aloud for the 4/5 and under crowd, and also wonder if it wouldn't be a great early reader book for the new princess reader.   

Wayfinding Bible New Living Translation

I am so excited to review this new Bible.  The easiest way to explain how it is new and different is with the publishers description.....
 a trailer can be found here...
What if you had a trusted friend to guide you through God’s Word every day? Whether you want a fast overview of the grand story of the Bible or a deeper exploration of the riches of Scripture, The Wayfinding Bible is that guide.

With an innovative, full-color visual guide at the top of each reading, The Wayfinding Bible provides you with three paths through God’s Word: the Fly-Over Route, the Direct Route, and the Scenic Route. Following the Fly-Over Route, you’ll cover the most important events in the Bible in just 40 readings, giving you a fresh overview of how these events tell the story of God’s redemption. Following the Direct Route’s 200 readings, you’ll develop a better understanding of how God’s story develops through history. Following the Scenic Route, you’ll explore new territory while discovering a richness and depth in God’s Word that you’ve not seen before. All without the discouragement of getting bogged down in any single book.

Whether you are encountering the Bible for the first time or simply looking for a new journey through Scripture, you will always know where you are and where you’re going in God’s Word. Just choose your route, and prepare yourself for life-changing experiences with God.

Special features:

• Getting Your Bearings: These 8 two-page articles occur at major turning points of Scripture and help the reader stay on track
• Side Trips: Explore a known concept in greater depth or read about a topic for the first time
• Scenic Overlooks: Stunning visuals including maps, photos, infographics, and charts that aid in understanding the Bible text

The Wayfinding Bible uses the clear and understandable New Living Translation text.

So here's what I think...

• This would be a great Bible for boys, the flight concept, could easily transfer to a map or pilots uniform with a sticker or badge for milestones.  (Boys in grades 3 or 4 are the hardest age to reach in curriculum, and oh the appeal of the flight, the itinerary, and the images throughout the 40-200 stops!) 
• The reading teacher in me thinks this is an awesome tool for teaching or modeling how to read and understand the Bible.  The built in tools help provide all the key reading strategies for comprehension (connections, imagery, summarizing, clarifying, questions, evaluations, and prediction/inference)
• The paths and options are a refreshing way to get an overview of the Bible, and it lets you pick your commitment.  (I tried the flyover and didn't succeed as I wanted to read all the special touches and other passages marked on a page.)
• The sense of accomplishment and connections could be very empowering to a new Bible reader, and a veteran Bible reader, the New Living Translation is solid yet refreshing perspective. 
• The Bible is filled with scenic overlooks (signified by binoculars) images and maps for major places, connections of this portion of scripture to other portions read, connections to Christ, to history, and info-graphics to help the reader easily connect the Bible to itself, and help gain perspective. 
• Each reading has a special introduction, an observation and an exploration to help the reader think through this part of God's Big Story, and these simple inserts could make it easier for a  novice to grasp the points without a lot of commentaries, concordances, or tools. 
•  I believe that a Bible scholar could enjoy reading through these commentaries and determining if they would prefer a different connection, add a new theological term, or concept, or leave it as the creators of the Bible wrote it.  But it's unique, and it in my book it inspires thinking on many levels.  
• I believe this Bible has features that could help keep you on track in a group Bible study, but still provide a good overview and some critical thinking for lively discussions.  I especially like the infographics and charts. 
• It is not a Bible that teaches doctrinal terms, theological concepts, it's merely a tool to explore the text of the Bible, get an overview of the Bible, and see topics across the Bible (like Angels, Easter Readings, forgiveness, ...)  

I will continue to test this Wayfinding Bible and see how my thoughts change, expand or grow, but the bottom line is, I find it a very useful tool that I want to continue to have on my nightstand with easy access.  

Say Goodbye to Survival Mode...book review

The purpose of this blog is to focus on whispering the Word is to help our kids become those who crave time in the Word.  But that can only happen if their time is well managed, and good habits start early, to be natural.  So they must be modeled! That's why I appreciated a new book by blogger Crystal Paine, known as MoneySavingMom.  I have followed her blog for several years now and have not only been encouraged by her coupons but unexpectedly by the glimpses of her own life and habits shared.  She has written about her lifestyle, carefully crafted over a few years, a few kids, and a determination to thrive through the busyness of life.  It takes discipline, knowing your purpose, having perspective, and hope.

Here's a few quotes...


It's my hope that all parents, children's workers, and those who serve kids in any way, would value the Word of God, make it a goal to read daily, pray meaningfully, memorize scripture, and talk about the value and life changing events in their lives because of the active, living Word of God.  If you struggle with discipline, establishing routines, and you need help finding hope with the structure of your life, then this book is for you!! It is NOT a Bible study, and I am not even sure scripture is integrated in the book, but it is a woman who keeps a quiet time in her goals, and her relationship with God is a priority, and she walks you through how she stopped surviving and found she could thrive in her daily life as a wife, mother, woman of God, and as a blogger.  (She makes enough money on her blog now, that she uses it to support others, she still lives a frugal life, even though her income is beyond their needs! So she's in the trenches with normal Moms who struggle to do it all.

Here are some more quotes/photos-- for many of you these will speak to your visual learning style more than my words can!

                 


This one might be my favorite:


 I would add, that if you trust in the Lord, He can help you do this as well!

Here's what I shared at amazon as a review:
I have followed Crystal's blog for several years now, so I was intrigued by her new book. Would it be more helpful than her short informational pieces? Would it just be the same stuff I can get without a book? I was pleasantly surprised that while her book matches up with her blog (she posts weekly goals & progress, freezer meal weekly reports/recipes, organizational tips, and ways to save money). Her book really explains the HOW she lives and how you could follow her example and live life on purpose, with perspective, and hope. She is a christian and her book occasionally refers to her faith, but it is not a main theme and scripture is not really interspersed throughout her quotes and concepts, she bases her purpose, goals, and plans with her faith in mind but it's not overtly christian.) The book is just what it's title says it is, it's 9 simple strategies to move out of survival mode. It is an easy read. It has real life examples from her life and her readers, and it is written in a way, you can implement her ideas, and change your life. Having researched skills and helped many college students with time management, life organization and planning, I can say that this book is well researched, and founded on common and very helpful strategies. It's not just a homemaker sharing what works for her, it works for many. But her books is more approachable and direct than many other self help books. I enjoyed it and I am sure will use it again. I was given a book as part of her launch team, but all ideas and opinions are my own, I was not required to do a favorable review.


Two last thoughts from her book...to give you the flavor...

99 Stories from the Bible

This book is a lovely picture story book Bible.  The print is large, but not too much on a page. The illustrations are soft, warm colors, rounded figures, and kid oriented.  The people have big noses, and Adam has a beard, which disturbed my 4 year old, but not all the men had beards, and I think it bothered her because her other story bible makes Adam look different.

The stories are short, and they count 99 stories, but take some Biblical accounts as multiple stories. So creation is actually several stories.  An adult could read the whole book in part of an afternoon.  The selection of stories seemed broad and along a line of creation to the cross, ending with Jesus return to heaven and His promise to return for His disciples.  I wished it had gone on into a few more new testament stories like the church, Paul, etc. But very few picture story Bibles do, I imagine it's because these are not as easily summarized.  There were some very unique but accurate elements in some of the stories. Adam and Eve leaving the garden is entitled "Flashing Swords" and I double checked Genesis to see how my translations words that part.   I liked that level of detail on occasion, and it would be fun to compare to a real Bible's detail.

I enjoyed this Bible storybook and believe it would be a great tool in a preschool class, with young children, or even new readers.  My four year old enjoyed it.  It seemed to keep the vocabulary simple enough for a typical first/second grade reader.   My only con was how it addressed sin.  It never used this term.  In the ark story, it mentioned that Noah was good but most people were "arguing, and cheating, and fighting."  In Adam and Eve, it says "Adam and Eve had not done as God had told them.  So he sent them out of the beautiful garden. Forever."  They are sad and sorry on the next page.  So it leaves the explanation and teaching to the parent or teacher who is reading it aloud or checking in, to address the concept of sin directly.  

Drake's Flag, a GA Henty radio drama

http://www.hentyalive.com/index-a.html

Review Week is fun isn't it? today's review is extra fun because I know one of the consulting producers! (and so do my children!) He attended Emmaus and taught piano lessons.  Now he's working on producing radio drama!  How cool is that? 



In order to adequately review this radio drama, I had to enlist the two best critics I know- my boys, who are almost 8 and almost 12 years old, and are huge fans of podcasts and radio drama.  So if you have Adventures in Odyssey Fans or You've Got the Time kidz podcasts fans, you know what I mean.

The first sign that these are a hit, was my oldest kept getting the cd case for his room, so he could re-listen to them!  His review is that they are exciting and entertaining.  The story had lots of action, helped him love history, and had good truths.  It really encouraged him to think about kindness.  He enjoyed listening to them. 

On their website- they make some claims about why a parent should like these CD's. My son when I asked him about them- agreed to all of them! Things like develop moral character, instill a love of history, teaching self reliance, are just great audio teaching.... His big question was, are there more? 

We listened to them as well, and I can see how my son enjoys them. The sound affects are amazing and the story is good.