ChristFocus Book Club

Traced by Nathaniel T. Jeanson

noreply@blogger.com (Debbie) — Mon, 16 Mar 2026 12:00:00 +0000

Traced
by Nathaniel T. Jeanson

ISBN-13: 9781683442912
Hardocver: 252 pages
Publisher: Master Books
Released: March 11, 2022

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
What happened to the ancient Egyptians? When their civilization fell, did the Egyptian people disappear? Or do their descendants exist to this day? What about the ancient Persians? Romans? Mayans?

For years, the answers to these questions have been hidden. But no more. Nathaniel T. Jeanson, a Harvard graduate with a Ph.D. in cell and developmental biology, has discovered a DNA-based, generation by generation family tree for global humanity. This tree uncovers the origin and fate of these ancient peoples—and connects them to peoples alive today.

The fascinating research presented in Traced has additional far-reaching consequences for numerous contemporary debates. Traced shows that the races have changed multiple times in human history. Thus, “white”, “black”, “Asian” and other common descriptors lose their meaning in light of modern genetics. The genetics in Traced restores the indigenous histories to many obscure people groups and connects them back to specific ancestors in Genesis 10. Traced represents one of the strongest arguments in print for the recent origin of humanity.

Dive into the wild and emerging field of historical genetics and see how these recent discoveries on the fate of ancient civilizations end up uncovering the story of the whole world.

My Review:
Traced looks at what has been discovered about Y chromosome lineages and how this information helps to show people-group movements, mergings, and extinctions. Tracking genetic mutations and calculating mutation rates, biologists can estimate when certain Y chromosome lineages emerged and where their descendants moved (or stayed), giving a chromosomal-level view of early to modern history.

The author comes from the perspective of a young earth and biblical foundation for the origins of mankind. As in, after the Flood, the people groups were split and moved apart with Genesis 10 recording which groups went where. He tried to identify which lineages were which people groups in recorded history with findings about where various lineages occur providing some interesting insights into how much people got around in the ancient world.

He provided maps showing where the various lineages show up and about how much of the population in that area has that lineage. While I didn't completely understand how they figured out the timing on all the various splits to create the Y chromosome family trees, it's clear the author's put a lot of thought and research into it. The book focused more on trying to match the various lineages to known history. Overall, I'd recommend this book to those interested in what DNA can tell us about our lineage.

If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

The Jesus Discoveries by Jeremiah J. Johnston

noreply@blogger.com (Debbie) — Tue, 10 Mar 2026 20:57:00 +0000

The Jesus Discoveries
by Jeremiah J. Johnston

ISBN-13: 9780764243660
Paperback: 176 pages
Publisher: Bethany House Publishers
Released: March 10, 2026

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
In this eye-opening, faith-fortifying book from acclaimed New Testament scholar and minister Jeremiah Johnston, you'll encounter ten of the most compelling historic finds that corroborate the truth claims found in the Bible regarding who Jesus said he was, when and where He lived, His claims and aims, how His life ended, and how that wasn't the end of His story.

My Review:
The Jesus Discoveries is an apologetics book about Jesus. While the author feels that these are "ten of the most compelling" finds that align with the descriptions of Jesus given in the gospels, several of the finds seemed a bit indirect to be very mind-changing to a skeptic. I've read other apologetic books on the historical existence of Jesus that were more convincing, so I'm unlikely to choose this book to give to a skeptic, but I did find it an interesting read.

The ten historic finds are: the shroud of Turin, magic phrases on pottery that might mention Christ, the James ossuary (with the "James, son of Joseph, brother of Jesus" inscription), early mentions by skeptics about Jesus, a stone inscription mentioning Pontius Pilate, the "King of the Jews" crucifixion inscription being consistent with Roman practice, ancient fragments of the New Testament, the Palatine Graffito (a donkey-headed man being crucified while a young man worships him), Josephus' mention of Christians in his writings, and the Dead Sea scrolls.

The shroud was cited first, but much of that chapter talked about why the reader should look at the latest evidence on the shroud. A later, "Dig Deeper" section about the shroud contained most of the evidence that convinced the author that the shroud really was used on Jesus. In the next chapter, he gave details about ancient magical amulets and cups which may reference Christ (or might be using a different name). This supposedly shows that people widely knew Jesus' ability to do miracles, but it's not even certain they refer to the Jesus of our gospels. The Palatine Graffito appears to be a reference to Christians worshiping a crucified god, but this shows more what pagans thought about Christians than anything else. As in, most of the chapters are really only significant if you already believe the Bible account.

If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

The New Testament You Never Knew Bible Study Guide by N. T. Wright; Michael F. Bird

noreply@blogger.com (Debbie) — Wed, 04 Mar 2026 13:00:00 +0000

The New Testament You Never Knew Bible Study Guide plus Streaming Video, Updated Edition by N. T. Wright; Michael F. Bird

ISBN-13: 9780310147046
Paperback: 176 pages
Publisher: HarperChristian Resources
Released: Jan. 20, 2026

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from NetGalley:
In this eight-session video Bible study, well-known Bible scholars N. T. Wright and Michael F. Bird team up to take you on a tour of the New Testament. You will discover things you never knew about Jesus' baptism and journey in the wilderness, the meaning behind his parables and miracles, the significance of his death and resurrection, the incredible expansion of the early church into the Greco-Roman world, and how the transforming mission of Jesus can still turn the world upside down today. Through reading the New Testament we continually discover that God indeed keeps his promises, but those promises don't always look like what people expect.

This study guide includes individual access to eight streaming video sessions, group discussion questions, Bible exploration, and video teaching notes, and personal study and reflection materials. Sessions and video run times:

The Books of the New Testament (23:00)
The World of Jesus and the Apostles (20:30)
The Life and Death of Jesus (25:30)
The Resurrection of Jesus (24:00)
The Ministry of the Apostle Paul (25:30) The Early Christians and the Church (23:00)
The Mission of the Church (26:00)
The Creation of the New Testament (23:30)

My Review:
The New Testament You Never Knew Bible Study Guide is an 8-week-long study providing an overview of the New Testament. This is an updated version and came with online streaming video. You start each session with the group/video. The video was about 20-25 minutes long and showed Bible locations while Wright and Bird provided commentary on that session's topic. The written study guide started each week with a short intro (your choice of one of two questions to discuss for 15 minutes), then there were spaces to write notes under the main topic headlines given in the video with important bits from the video recapped in sidebars. You then discuss the video for 40 minutes with provided questions for group discussion. You finish with 10 minutes for prayer on various prompted points. For each of the 5 days after the group study, you're provided with related verses to look up and asked 2 questions about those verses. You are also provided with a few paragraphs of application at the end of that session. This study covered:

Session 1 - The Books of the New Testament
Session 2 - The World of Jesus and the Apostles
Session 3 - The Life and Death of Jesus
Session 4 - The Resurrection of Jesus
Session 5 - The Ministry of the Apostle Paul
Session 6 - The Early Christians and the Church
Session 7 - The Mission of the Church
Session 8 - The Creation of the New Testament

While this study generally provided a good overview of the New Testament and how the books of New Testament came to be a part of the New Testament, they made a few claims that I didn't agree with. For example, they said that John the Baptist was baptizing in the Jordan River near Jericho because he wanted people to see his ministry as a new Exodus. Well, Exodus refers to leaving...in this case, leaving Egypt. By the time Joshua lead the Israelites across the Jordan, only a few people were left that had been a part of the Exodus. Crossing the Jordan River was entering the land of covenant promise. Also, John preached in other locations as well. Anyway, the visuals chosen for the video were interesting, especially if you knew what they were showing (as they didn't label where every visual was located).

If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

Christian Life in the Greco-Roman City by Jason Borges

noreply@blogger.com (Debbie) — Fri, 27 Feb 2026 20:55:00 +0000

Christian Life in the Greco-Roman City
by Jason Borges

ISBN-13: 9781540968852
Paperback: 240 pages
Publisher: Baker Academic
Released: February 17, 2026

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
From lively agoras to magnificent temples and luxurious baths, civic buildings were more than just physical settings for everyday life; they were spaces imbued with social and political meaning. Informed by Jason Borges's research and his experience leading tours to ancient sites, this book explores how early Christians interacted with and understood their urban environment. The result is fresh insight into the cultural background of the New Testament and other early Christian writings.

Each chapter explains a specific structure (agoras/forums, temples, baths, prisons, theaters, libraries, and cemeteries), provides an extant example, and discusses its significance for reading the New Testament. The book includes black and white images, informative diagrams, and a foreword by David A. deSilva. This helpful book illuminates the architectural and civic background of the New Testament and early Christianity so that readers can better understand the writings and theology of early Christians.

My Review:
Christian Life in the Greco-Roman City is Bible background book which explains how understanding the public spaces that New Testament events occurred in can bring insight into NT writings. For example, an agora might be translated as "marketplace" in our Bible, but it was so much more than we'd envision from the word "marketplace." Knowing what activities happened in an agora and how people interacted in these spaces helps readers to better understand references to these spaces in the NT.

The author spent a chapter on each of the following environments: agoras/forums, temples, baths, prisons, theaters, libraries, and cemeteries. He explained what they looked like (both the ideal and an example from archeology), what activities were done there and how people interacted there (using writings from the time), and then examined references to these spaces (or activities done there) in the New Testament. He showed how the original audience would have understood the passages, either adding nuance or showing how we may have misunderstood the main intent of the passage. The writing style was easily understandable and interesting, not highly academic. Overall, I'd highly recommend this interesting book to those intrigued by the subject.

If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

A Journey with Jesus by Bob Goff

noreply@blogger.com (Debbie) — Mon, 16 Feb 2026 23:02:00 +0000

A Journey with Jesus
by Bob Goff

ISBN-13: 9780830791293
Paperback: 176 pages
Publisher: David C Cook
Released: February 3, 2026

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
With immersive teaching filmed on location in Israel, this 8-week video-led Bible study from New York Times bestselling author Bob Goff invites you to walk where Jesus walked, engage Scripture with fresh eyes, and follow Him with greater love and purpose. Join Bob Goff on a journey across Israel—not as a tourist but as a follower of Jesus. From Capernaum, where community took root, to the Sea of Galilee, where joy met calling, each session includes stunning video, fascinating biblical and historical insights, reflection opportunities for personal or group study, and Bob’s joyful storytelling.

My Review:
A Journey with Jesus is an 8-week long Bible study on the Gospels. Each week had a video portion that was filmed in Israel, showing a location where Jesus spent time, and then the author talked about several events that happened there and what we can learn from them. In addition to the commentary, there were also study questions, some maps in the book, and some recipes for local food. Unfortunately, the videos and other extra content can only be accessed using QR codes (no URLs were provided). As I don't use a smart phone, I wasn't able to view that material. I felt like I was missing half the content, but the book portion was still informative and insightful.

If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

God, the Great I AM by Sydney Ann Johnson

noreply@blogger.com (Debbie) — Tue, 03 Feb 2026 13:00:00 +0000

God, the Great I AM
by Sydney Ann Johnson,
Thais Mesquita Silveira Cunha (Illustrator)

ISBN-13: 9781640704169
Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: Our Daily Bread Publishing
Released: February 3, 2026

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
I AM...
I am the God of gods and Lord of lords, and my love will last forever
I created you for a reason, with a special purpose

God, The Great I AM is a love letter from God’s heart to yours. Through lyrical language and vibrant imagery, Sydney Ann Johnson invites you and your child to explore who God is, what He does, and how much He cares for you. This beautifully illustrated picture book helps children ages 4 to 8 see God’s beauty in creation and feel His presence in their everyday lives. Whether your child is feeling joy, fear, sadness, or wonder, they can turn to the Great I AM with confidence. With diverse characters and gentle truths woven throughout, this story encourages every child to embrace their God-given identity and find comfort in His never-ending love. Scripture is included in the back to help parents and caregivers further explore the Bible with children.

My Review:
God, the Great I AM is a Christian nonfiction, exploring who God is for children ages 4 to 8. The book follows two girls (black, asian) and two boys (white). While the title says who is speaking, the text in the book just says "I am..." The text listed things God created and controls and explained only He can create out of nothing. That He has always existed and never changes. He's the giver of all good things and all He does is good. He makes plants grow and season's change. He wants us to talk to Him about anything. He's everywhere at once and keeps watch over you. He designed how various things look and work, including "I shaded people in magnificent varieties of brown, with melanin in every hue." He created us and how we look, and "Before the beginning of time, I knew you."

"I created you for a reason with a special purpose: to reflect my image--bright, creative, and compassionate. To care for my world--the big and small. To bring honor to my holy name." "I will be your helper and your friend, your God and your Savior. Place your hope in me and I will show you I AM who I AM."

The illustrations are stylized rather than more realistic in style. They illustrated what's being talked about in the text. Overall, I'd recommend this book.

If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

Draw Close to Jesus by Heidi Chiavaroli

noreply@blogger.com (Debbie) — Mon, 02 Feb 2026 19:00:00 +0000

Draw Close to Jesus
by Heidi Chiavaroli

ISBN-13: 9780800746544
Paperback: 256 pages
Publisher: Revell
Released: January 20, 2026

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
It is hard to imagine a more needed and desirable invitation than "come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." The Gospel accounts are full of stories of Jesus noticing, meeting, and walking alongside people who were weary, worried, and wondering what to do about the challenges they faced. People a lot like you. Jesus intentionally drew close, spent unhurried time with them, and changed their lives forever.

Through imaginative retellings, Heidi Chiavaroli brings to life the stories of 40 people who encountered him in the pages of Scripture. As you journey alongside them, you will gain new appreciation for the beauty of repentance, the power of redemption, and the incredible intimacy we get to experience with the One who stepped into our sin and shortcomings to offer forgiveness, abundance, and rest for our weary souls.

My Review:
Draw Close to Jesus is a 40 day devotional for Lent built around "imaginative retellings" of people who encountered Jesus in the New Testament. Each day started with the fictional account, written in first person present tense ("I cry"). After this, the author suggested some questions or comments to ponder, followed by a short prayer. She also included the Bible verses that inspired her story.

My main problem was that the author sometimes didn't stick to what's told in the Scriptures. For example, She had Judas leading Roman soldiers to arrest Jesus when the Gospels do not mention Romans, only Jews: "chief priests, the officers of the temple guard, and the elders." She had Jesus leave all but three of his disciples outside of Gethsemane while the Gospels portray them as in the garden with Jesus and Jesus withdrawing 'about a stone’s throw beyond them.' And so on.

The author also sometimes got too imaginative. For example, she described Gethsemane as a garden of fruit trees, with Jesus sitting under a fig tree with pomegranate trees nearby. "Gethsemane" means "an oil press" and is on the Mount of Olives, but she departed from the traditional view that the garden largely held olive trees. Also, she described leprosy as an intensely painful disease where the flesh literally rotted off the body and involved a fever (so an infection) that caused death. This is not what leprosy (now called Hansen's disease) is like.

The author also didn't seem to know some basic facts, like she gave a person "linen robes" and another person a "flax tunic." But linen is cloth made from flax. In another place, she stated that newborn lambs were sacrificed on "its eighth day of life," but (when the age is mentioned), lamb sacrifices were to be one year old. And some things just didn't seem normal for the culture, like she had James think that the smell of Passover lambs roasting over the fire was a "foul odor" when they would have considered it a festive treat.

While some of the stories were well-written and drew out good points, I can't really recommend the devotional due to the amount of creative license the author took.

If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

The Heart Who Wanted to Lasso Thoughts by Beth Guckenberger

noreply@blogger.com (Debbie) — Mon, 26 Jan 2026 13:00:00 +0000

The Heart Who Wanted to Lasso Thoughts by Beth Guckenberger

ISBN-13: 9780830786015
Hardcover: 40 pages
Publisher: David C Cook
Released: February 3, 2026

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
The party looks so fun! Full of party food, games, and people! But one little cowboy is uninvited and oh-so-unhappy. Bad thoughts threaten to carry his heart away, but God helps him learn to lasso those thoughts with thankful prayers. See how the power of gratitude can help us all fight off envy and discontentment with hope and joy.

Parents and teachers looking for ways to help kids navigate big feelings will love the StrongHeart Stories, a series of illustrated spiritual tales by Beth Guckenberger and Irina Mileo. In The Heart Who Wanted to Lasso Thoughts, based on 2 Corinthians 10:5, children learn how to be thankful for the good all around them instead of being carried away by negativity. Let’s train an emerging generation to grow strong hearts and sound minds and be free from the power of the enemy!

My Review:
The Heart Who Wanted to Lasso Thoughts is a children's hardback picture book about combatting bad thoughts with God's truth and with gratitude. A young boy (and his heart) sees kids having fun at a party that he wasn't invited to, and negative thoughts start to ruin his mood. "'People are mean and the world is bad. There's absolutely no good thing to be had. Everyone has better, bigger, and more. What have YOU got to be thankful for?' But the heart knew these rumply thoughts were not true." The heart then repeats Scripture (in a kid-understandable version and with the Bible reference provided) to counter these and other arguments, like "You are not wanted" or "You mess up everything." It's a wonderful, child-level guide to taking every thought captive (lassoing it) and focusing on what is true and good. I'd highly recommend this fun, important kid's book.

If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

The Compassionate Christ by Sherri Hughes-Gragg

noreply@blogger.com (Debbie) — Mon, 24 Nov 2025 21:54:00 +0000

The Compassionate Christ
by Sherri Hughes-Gragg

ISBN-13: 9781400253340
Hardcover: 224 pages
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Released: November 4, 2025

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
In The Compassionate Christ author Sherri Hughes-Gragg invites you to embark on a transformative journey to witness firsthand the abundant and welcoming love of Jesus. Through emotive storytelling, a form of fictional narrative that mixes biblical history with Scripture, Sherri transports you back in time to vividly bring to life the biblical stories of Jesus' interactions with people. For thirty-one days you will walk alongside the Savior, witness miraculous healings and events, and experience His compassion and mercy by thinking and feeling along with the people whose lives have been instantly transformed by His love and grace.

My Review:
The Compassionate Christ is a 31-day devotional. For each day, we're asked to read a passage in the Bible, then the author wrote a fictionalized account of that passage, showing Jesus' compassion toward the hurting, the outcast, and sinner. The author ended each devotional with a short prayer regarding a truth learned from the biblical account.

The author did a lot of research into what life would have been like at the time of Jesus and included information that helped draw out the full impact of what was happening in each biblical account. She stayed true to what's actually in the Bible, simply filling in Bible background details to make the setting come alive and adding some motivation for why people might have acted the way they did. For example, the background information helped show why the woman with the issue of bleeding tried to hide that she'd touched Jesus. Overall, I'd recommend this well-research and interesting devotional.

If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

Don't Worry, Warrior! by Levi Lusko

noreply@blogger.com (Debbie) — Tue, 28 Oct 2025 21:16:00 +0000

Don't Worry, Warrior!
by Levi Lusko,
Studio Muti (Illustrator)

ISBN-13: 9781400253265
Paperback: 192 pages
Publisher: Tommy Nelson
Released: Oct. 28, 2025

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Follow this guidebook to wage war against anxious thoughts! Bestselling author and pastor Levi Lusko will help your tween win the hardest battles of the middle school years, including the fears, insecurities, and negative thoughts within their own heads.

Peer pressure is sneaking up on you. Moodiness is hiding in the bushes, ready to pounce. And worry wants to pin you to the ground. But you don't have to be afraid of every problem and feeling that you're confronted with. You have so much more power over what you think, how you feel, and how you act than you ever knew!

Follow the fictional characters Luca and Coral as they become warriors who overcome their struggles and glean wisdom from the biblical teaching, sage advice, and practical tools shared in every chapter. Don't Worry, Warrior!, inspired by Levi's popular book I Declare War, is for ages 8 to 12 and is a fun mix of Levi's teaching, guidance from God's Word, and fictional stories that bring each struggle and victory to life. Suitable for small groups and Bible studies for preteens.

My Review:
Don't Worry, Warrior! is a Christian book for ages 8 to 12. Each chapter handled a different challenge and usually started with a fictional account following Luca or Coral as they dealt with emotional challenges, like moving or peer pressure. The fictional situation was set up, then there's a nonfiction section giving advice on how to handle similar situations. This included examples from the author's life and from the Bible along with some relevant Bible verses. This nonfiction section included a work sheet area were you're asked a few questions that help you analyze a similar situation to understand why you acted a certain way and how you might do it differently in the future. There's also a sidebar with suggestions on things to do or think about to become a more courageous warrior. Then the fictional section continued, showing the child getting that advice and how it worked out for them.

The book covered things like how to handle your feelings when things don't go your way (talk about it, give it to God, ask God to help), taking charge of your mood, finding the good in change, trying to fit in and dealing with bullying, how we say mean things when we're angry and steps we can take so we don't lash out with hurtful words, learning to explain how you feel and what made you feel that way, being aware of your bad habits and steps to take to make good habits, how daily habits and choices make it easier to perform your best when it matters most, and giving your worries to God. Overall, I thought that the book offered useful advice along with doable steps for tweens to make positive changes. I'd recommend it.

If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

Beloved by Francis Chan

noreply@blogger.com (Debbie) — Mon, 13 Oct 2025 12:00:00 +0000

Beloved
by Francis Chan

ISBN-13: 9780830789054
Hardcover: 160 pages
Publisher: David C Cook
Released: October 7, 2025

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley. Plus I bought a copy.

Book Description from Goodreads:
Despite pastoring for decades and reaching thousands of people through his books and preaching, Francis wrestled with deep-seated insecurity. He understood God’s love conceptually, but struggled to actually experience it. This resulted in a life that was far from the thrilling and peaceful life God saved us for. Francis prayed fervently for God to intervene, and asked his friends and family to do the same. The result was a fresh revelation of the depth of God’s love and affection. This brought about newfound freedom and enjoyment of God that only continues to grow.

As Francis shared this journey with others, he realized that many in the Church are burdened by the same insecurity, and God is zealous to change this. In Beloved, Francis Chan gives biblical insight our restlessness and striving is a symptom of our disbelief of God’s love and Satan’s schemes to keep us trapped in doubt and insecurity. Discover abiding in our identity as God’s beloved children and how God’s love overflows to a life of radical obedience and joy. God longs for His children to rest securely in His holy love. It’s what we were made for, and it is this inward confidence that causes us to be light unto the world.

My Review:
Beloved is about focusing on God's great love for us and how it can free us from the burden of trying to earn God's approval. The book "was written primarily to those who tend to focus on their own failures rather than His mercy, grace, and love." The author pointed out verses describing how much God loves us. He explained why we may not accept this and ways that Satan can keep us distracted from God's love and looking at ourselves. He described things you can do that will help you focus on God's love and counteract Satan's deceptions. He also looked at if we serve God out of our overflow of God's love or to try to earn God's love.

There were many good points, but my favorite quote was about how John called himself the beloved disciple and how "John was expressing faith in Christ's love, not in his own lovability." The book was written in a causal, conversational tone, and it was easy to follow his points. Overall, I'd highly recommend this book.

If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

The Wonders of the First Christmas by Andy McGuire

noreply@blogger.com (Debbie) — Tue, 07 Oct 2025 12:00:00 +0000

The Wonders of the First Christmas
by Andy McGuire

ISBN-13: 9780310170211
Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: Zonderkidz
Released: October 7, 2025

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
The Christmas story is so familiar that we often take the details for granted. But did Mary and Joseph really ride on a donkey to Bethlehem? What was a manger and why did they use one for Jesus’s bed? And where were the wise men actually from? By approaching the story with historical insight and a child’s sense of wonder, Andy McGuire crafts a tale that feels fresh and insightful, using well-researched material and beautiful original artwork.

The Wonders of the First Christmas combines the gospel text of the nativity story with historical and geographic facts about ancient Israel and the life and times of Jesus. It gives children a solid foundation for their faith with beautiful art and additional content. For children ages 4 and up, it includes an easy-to-read main story as well as callouts with easy-to-understand facts.

My Review:
The Wonders of the First Christmas is a Christian book about Christmas for ages 4 and up. The illustrations were in a very realistic style and showed historically accurate visuals for the story. The main text recounts the birth of Jesus as described in the Bible, from Mary being visited by an angel until Jesus' family returns from Egypt after Herod's death. There were also boxes with a paragraph or two of historical information that expanded upon the main text, and this would be of more interest to maybe 7 year-olds and up. These boxes provided more information on carpenters, Rome, donkeys, inns, swaddling clothes, shepherds, sheep, angels, mangers, wise men, prophecy about Jesus' birth, myrrh and frankincense, camels, and Egypt. Overall, I think this would be of most interest to kids who have grown up hearing the basic Christmas story but are old enough to like learning more background information. I'd recommend this well-written and illustrated book.

If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

Let's Find Joy by Shaunti Feldhahn and Katie Kenny Phillips

noreply@blogger.com (Debbie) — Mon, 22 Sep 2025 12:00:00 +0000

Let's Find Joy
by Shaunti Feldhahn & Katie Kenny Phillips

ISBN-13: 9780578881607
Hardcover: 36 pages
Publisher: iDisciple Publishers
Released: October 4, 2021

Source: Bought.

Book Description from Goodreads:
"Jesus has a treasure for us—JOY! It’s like happiness times a million—because joy is for ALWAYS! Not just when things seem good or easy or fair. When things are hard, joy is still there. Let’s go on a scavenger hunt for clues that make joy our treasure. Ready . . . set . . . GO!"

If kids rely on this world to make them happy, the struggles will only deepen. But what if they could learn about joy? Like, real, unwavering, not-dependent-on-their-circumstances, joy? This joy can only be found in Jesus—and there are specific steps kids can take to train themselves to choose joy every day. This beautiful children’s book gives kids the opportunity to go on an adventure for the treasure that only Jesus can give us—JOY! By following 8 clues on a treasure map (based on the 8 elements in Find Joy), children learn the daily choices that will profoundly impact their heads and hearts and give them a treasure that Jesus was born for—to give joy to all people, everywhere.

My Review:
Let's Find Joy is a Christian children's book about joy. The story follows two children (a black girl and a white boy) and their animal friends (a monkey and a bird) as they follow 8 clues on how to find joy. The text started by explaining what Christian joy is and how it's different than happiness. "If we know that God loves us and that He's on our team, we can have joy! Always!" The illustrations show the children following the clues on a treasure hunt but also demonstrate some of the clues. The text also asks the reader to think of ways to apply the clues.

The clues are (1) God is a BIG God, there's nothing He can't do and He's in control, (2) Say "Thank you!" (think of something nice someone has done for us today), (3) Say "I'm sorry" and "I forgive you," (4) Remember how God has been with us and kept us safe in the past, (5) Believe God's promises, (6) Pray, listen for God's voice, and read the Bible, (7) Follow God's rules, they guide us on safe paths, and (8) Help others along the way. Overall, I'd recommend this fun book about a topic kids rarely hear explained or talked about.

If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

Your Worth Never Wavers by Laura Wifler

noreply@blogger.com (Debbie) — Mon, 15 Sep 2025 12:00:00 +0000

Your Worth Never Wavers
by Laura Wifler,
Sara Ugolotti (illustrator)

ISBN-13: 9798384515616
Hardcoverk: 32 pages
Publisher: B&H Kids
Released: September 16, 2025

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from NetGalley:
Research shows that attitudes about body image and self-esteem begin forming in children between the ages of three and five and only become more widespread and problematic as they grow. Many people's answer to this problem is to “look within,” “trust your heart” or “try harder” to muster up your own value and worth. Your Worth Never Wavers sends a better message: true worth and beauty is found by gaining a higher view not of ourselves but of God, the creator of everything.

Journey with a diverse group of mothers and daughters as they explore the wonders of creation from colossal canyons to boisterous beehives. Each illustration celebrates God's handiwork from nature to his design of people, showing women and girls with different skin tones, body shapes, hair types, and abilities. On each page, a child learns that the same God who made tigers, snowflakes, sunsets, and stars, is the God who fearfully and wonderfully created each person perfectly in his image.

This book is a catalyst for conversation between young readers and their loved ones about body image, identity, and God's unending love. By teaching girls the source of their worth and value, they’ll have foundational truths to lean on when doubts arrive, reminding them that they are beloved by God and declared beautiful. His love is all around them; all they must do is look.

My Review:
Your Worth Never Wavers is a Christian board book for girls ages 4-8 years old. It shows many different mothers and daughters doing activities together. The characters have many different ethnic backgrounds, and one girl was disabled. The illustrations of the people were in a fairly realistic style, while the surroundings were often fanciful and stylized. I liked that the message was to look to God when we have doubts about our value. "You're made in His image; He knit you together. Your worth never wavers--not now, and not ever. When you wonder your value or question your worth, Know you're beloved by the God who formed Earth."

Overall, I'd recommend this book. However, I would have liked it even more if it'd explained that we live in a fallen world--as in, the girl with the disability has the disability as a part of living in a broken world, not because God wanted to make her uniquely beautiful and that's how He did it.

If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

God's Name for Me by Talia Messina

noreply@blogger.com (Debbie) — Tue, 09 Sep 2025 12:00:00 +0000

God's Name for Me
by Talia Messina

ISBN-13: 9798400505751
Boardbook: 24 pages
Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers
Released: September 9, 2025

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Does your little one have a special nickname that’s used just for them? In God’s Name for Me, author Talia Messina gathers diverse children to share their funny and silly nicknames—names that they were given by loved ones. But they are reminded that there is a name, the very best name, from God who has given it out of his perfect love.

Tthis charming kids’ picture book has lift-the-flap surprises to keep young children engaged and delighted and a mirror surprise in the back! Discover God’s super special name for you, given freely for being exactly who he made you to be. This name can’t be earned—it’s part of your identity, so you can’t lose it! It reminds you that being God’s child has nothing to do with personality, likability, outward appearance, energy, size, the love given, or actions taken towards others.

My Review:
God's Name for Me is a Christian board book for young children. It shows boys and girls of different ethnic backgrounds telling about a nickname a family member gave to them and why they got their nickname. All are sweet reasons, and the illustrations show the family enjoying doing things together related to the nickname. The book ends with God's name for us and "It's all about whose you are and not what you can do." His name for us? "God calls you Precious Child 'cause his love for you is strong." The illustrations were in a realistic style and did a good job of supporting and expanding upon the text. Overall, I'd recommend this delightful board book.

If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

Every Breath, Every Blessing by Dorena Williamson

noreply@blogger.com (Debbie) — Tue, 12 Aug 2025 12:00:00 +0000

Every Breath, Every Blessing
by Dorena Williamson

ISBN-13: 9780310166788
Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: Zonderkidz
Released: August 12, 2025

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher.

Book Description from Goodreads:
In a world full of uncertainty, Every Breath, Every Blessing reminds children that they are never alone. Through lyrical text and beautiful art, this inspiring picture book gives parents, grandparents, and educators a way to connect with children and encourage them that even during the changes and challenges of life, hope can be found through friendship and family.

Today’s kids face a lot of challenges and questions, and parents and caregivers want to give them care and protection. While we cannot promise children that times will never be hard or take their difficult feelings away, Every Breath, Every Blessing offers a gentle story of affirmation: You are loved. You are not alone. I am here. A book for the small disappointments and sadnesses in life as well as the big fears and griefs. When we approach life with gratitude and joy, the big feelings and questions we face do not need to overwhelm us.

My Review:
Every Breath, Every Blessing is a children's picture book. The story followed different children and covered dealing with tough days and giving thanks for being alive. When storms come, your parents will be there for you to talk to or just be with and they'll pray for you. We can help others in bad times (like cleaning up after a bad storm). When at school, children need to follow instructions during an emergency and learn the drill. Just take one day at a time.

The text is spoken as "I" and seems to be a parent giving advice to the child. There's a brief mention of the Giver of Breath (not specifically God or Jesus) who made us a unique and blessed us with life, but the book focused on looking to your family for a sense of security and love. The illustrations were watercolor style and realistic looking, giving a context for the words. The children have a variety of looks and included a disable child in a wheelchair.

I'm looking for a book reassuring children that a good, powerful God is always with them, but I'll have to keep looking. This book seems most suited to parents who want to reassure their child of their love and support but don't feel confident about what to say.

"You can't always control what others may do, but you can do this: Breathe in--you can control yourself. Breathe out--do the next right thing."

If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

God Made You Special! by Greg Fritz

noreply@blogger.com (Debbie) — Mon, 09 Jun 2025 12:00:00 +0000

God Made You Special!
by Greg Fritz & Lisa Reed

ISBN-13: 9780824919474
Boardbook: 20 pages
Publisher: WorthyKids
Released: February 1, 2015

Source: Bought.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
When you look in the mirror, you'll see his touch . . . 'cause God made you special, and he loves you very much!; Join Bob and Larry and their friends as they spread the joyful message to children that God made each of us special! Here, the lyrics to this favorite VeggieTales song are illustrated with a cast of familiar characters in a small board book, just the right size for little hands.

My Review:
God Made You Special! is a Christian board book about how God made each of us "just right." It features the VeggieTales crew, and my young nieces enjoyed the colorful, fun illustrations. In the book, the characters explain that God made everything, including you and how you look. He put thought into making you "just right" and you are "his delight." And if sometimes you don't like something about yourself, just remember that "God had a plan. He wants me to be just the way that I am." Overall, I'd recommend this book.

If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

I Thank God for This Day! by Phil Vischer

noreply@blogger.com (Debbie) — Mon, 02 Jun 2025 12:00:00 +0000

I Thank God for This Day!
by Phil Vischer & Lisa Reed

ISBN-13: 9781546014881
Boardbook: 16 pages
Publisher: WorthyKids
Released: February 1, 2013

Source: Bought.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
The Veggies know that it is fun and important to thank God for the good things he gives us. Follow along as Junior Asparagus, Laura Carrot, and the rest of the Veggies enjoy a sunny day at the park and express gratitude for the things that make them glad.

This edition pairs the lyrics of the Veggies' "Thankfulness Song" with bright illustrations of our favorite Veggies in the beloved classic character style. For added fun, children can push the book's sound button and hear the refrain of the song. To make the music stop, simply press the button again. This joyful book helps children practice gratitude as they realize how many reasons there are to be thankful.

My Review:
I Thank God for This Day! is a Christian board book about giving thanks to God. It features the VeggieTales crew and has a button to push to hear them singing a "Thankfulness Song." My young nieces (3 and 5 years old) were getting very demanding and ungrateful, so I got this book for them. They'd never seen VeggieTales but enjoyed the colorful, fun illustrates and singing along with the song. Both of them started being more thankful for everyday things. In the book, the characters thank God for the day, food, parents, God's love, that God listens to our prayers, and so on, so they thank God every day. They also thank Mom and Dad for doing things with them. Overall, I'm grateful for this board book and would recommend it.

If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

The Gospel by Devon Provencher

noreply@blogger.com (Debbie) — Mon, 26 May 2025 12:00:00 +0000

The Gospel
by Devon & Jessica Provencher

ISBN-13: 9781433565250
Boardbook: 22 pages
Publisher: Crossway
Released: February 18, 2020

Source: Bought.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Each book in the Big Theology for Little Hearts series introduces a big idea from the Bible with concise definitions and illustrations to help young minds gain a foundational understanding of God's word. With each volume written to complement all the others, this series is designed to help children develop a cohesive framework of theology that includes God, creation, humanity, Jesus, and the gospel-allowing you to start having crucial conversations with your children as early as possible.

My Review:
The Gospel is a Christian board book that explains the gospel in simple terms and is suitable for kids who have no church background. The authors started by explaining that God created everything, that "All people have chosen in their hearts to disobey God and have rejected Him as King." And "Those who sin must be punished because sin is breaking God's law" so "God sent His own Son into the world to rescue people from their sin because they couldn't save themselves." Jesus didn't sin, and he "was put to death, taking on himself the punishment that God's people deserve." That Jesus came back to life and "God commands all people everywhere to turn their back on sin and believe in Jesus alone for the forgiveness of sin." And if you do that, you will have never-ending life with God. I feel like this book did an excellent job of explaining the basic gospel message at a level that young kids can understand. The pictures were in a simple style and illustrated the text. Overall, I'd highly recommend this board book.

If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

M Is for Manger by Crystal Bowman; Teri McKinley

noreply@blogger.com (Debbie) — Mon, 19 May 2025 12:00:00 +0000

M Is for Manger
by Crystal Bowman;
Teri McKinley

ISBN-13: 9781496401953
Hardcover: 64 pages
Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers
Released: September 17, 2015

Source: Bought.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Travel through the alphabet with this beautiful rhyming storybook that tells the story of Jesus' birth. Begin with the angel who tells Mary that she is God's chosen vessel and follow along until you reach the zillions of stars that paled in comparison to the star that announced the birthplace of the newborn King. Beautifully illustrated and written, this book will be a classic for parents to read to their children every Christmas season.

Sneak peek:
Mary gently wrapped her son,
then rested in the shed.
She placed the newborn Savior
in a MANGER for his bed.

My Review:
M Is for Manger tells the main events of Jesus' birth in a way young children can understand. Each page is alphabetical, with the letter up top and a cartoon-style picture around the letter illustrating the text. A rhyming verse is below that describing events in chronological order, from Mary learning from an Angel that she's going to have a baby to Jesus being born and seen by shepherds, then wise men, then Simeon and Anna. A Bible verse is included below each rhyme to show where the described events are mentioned in the Bible. Overall, I'd recommend this children's book as a way to teach young kids about Jesus' birth.

If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

The Promised Presence by Jenny Randle

noreply@blogger.com (Debbie) — Tue, 13 May 2025 12:00:00 +0000

The Promised Presence
by Jenny Randle

ISBN-13: 9780830786213
Paperback: 224 pages
Publisher: David C Cook
Released: June 3, 2025

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Today, as in biblical times, God holds the power to transform, heal, and deliver. This Bible study through Luke and Acts reminds us that God can turn messes into miracles through the supernatural activity of Holy Spirit. In The Promised Presence, Jenny Randle shares topical Bible teaching, her own faith journey, and practical application to help understand the Spirit’s influence on the early church and in our lives today. Discover biblical answers to common questions about Holy Spirit and His work and grow in understanding spiritual gifts. Engage in reflective journal prompts for personal spiritual growth.

The Promised Presence uses a four-week format (five lessons each week) with a bonus fifth week for those studying the book in a group, plus accompanying video teaching and thought-provoking questions. For individual or group use.

My Review:
The Promised Presence is a Bible study on Luke and Acts looking at God's power to transform, empower, and heal. This Bible study lasts for 4 weeks, with each week having prompts for the group meeting and video clip (available online), a lesson introducing that week's theme, and 5 days of lessons in the book for you to do on your own time. Each day's lessons are about 5 pages long. They start with a short prayer, then you read a few verses from the Bible and her commentary, and end with a few questions to answer. There are often lists to make or charts to fill out as a part of the questions section. The book ended with a section covering common questions about the Holy Spirit.

The first week looked at some miracles in Jesus' ministry and how the Holy Spirit empowers His people. The second week explained that believers have been given the Holy Spirit, and He dwells within us when we accept Christ. The lessons pointed out that there's a supernatural realm and good and evil spiritual forces. The third week talked about baptism in the Spirit and being filled by the Spirit. The author appears to hold a classic Pentecostal view about this, though she did briefly mention other denominational views. She stated "Being baptized in the Spirit means the believer's life becomes fully immersed in the power and presence of God" and is a one time event separate from salvation. The Holy Spirit also "brings subsequent fillings enabling us to do our tasks in obedience to the will of God." The lessons also looked at verses about casting out evil spirits. The fourth week covered the fruit of the Spirit and spiritual gifts, with mention of roles in church ministry and participating in the work of God. The lessons also looked at praying for healing. She stated, "When we ask the Holy Spirit to fill us, we're asking a supernatural God to be naturally present in a discernible way."

Quotes: "We're not called to rescue ourselves or be perfect; we're called to acknowledge the One who is the perfect rescuer." and "If life were painless, we'd stop looking for the Promised One who carries peace."

The author said many good and true things in this study, but she assumed that how things happened just after Jesus ascended into Heaven is still how things happen. The situation was unique back then because some people believed in Jesus' saving work yet the Holy Spirit hadn't been sent to believers yet. We both agree that believers have the Holy Spirit seal them and dwell within them at salvation. However, the author believes that you then need to be immersed (baptized) in the Spirit, and she talked like you can run out of the Holy Spirit (like gasoline) and need to request fresh fillings of the Holy Spirit.

Keep in mind that the Greek word for 'fill' in this context also means 'imbue, influence, supply.' I believe that the Bible teaches that the Spirit comes to dwell within you, and you can surrender and let Him fill your house (life) and cooperate with the renovations He's carrying out or you can resist or grieve the Holy Spirit. You can stuff the Holy Spirit into a small closet and ignore Him a lot or you can pay attention to what He's saying and doing. He'll fill/influence your life as much as you allow Him to. It's more about a steady presence of the Holy Spirit in every aspect of your life than doing it on your own, running out of steam, and requesting a new sensational experience to jazz you back up again. But I think we both agree that it's about listening for His voice and often requires surrendering what you want or think is best.

If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

Little One, God Loves You by Amy Warren Hilliker

noreply@blogger.com (Debbie) — Mon, 05 May 2025 12:00:00 +0000

Little One, God Loves You
by Amy Warren Hilliker,
Polona Lovšin

ISBN-13: 9780310753070
Boardbook: 14 pages
Publisher: Zonderkidz
Released: October 1, 2004

Source: Bought.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
A cute and cuddly board book that shows children just how much God loves and cares about them.

My Review:
Little One, God Loves You is a rhyming Christian boardbook for preschoolers (up to age 4). The book showed a small bunny interacting with family and friends. The text is very simple so even fairly young kids should be able to follow along. It explains that God loves you, made you for his family, and helps you grow. So be God's helper (help others) and show others God's love. It's a good message and lovely illustrations. All of the art has the same look and style as the cover picture. I prefer illustrations like this, where the animals look more like the real thing (rather than a cartoon) yet still look warm and cuddly. I'd highly recommend this book.

If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

All The Things I Say to God by Tanner Olson

noreply@blogger.com (Debbie) — Tue, 29 Apr 2025 12:00:00 +0000

All The Things I Say to God
by Tanner Olson

ISBN-13: 9780310165958
Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: Zonderkidz
Released: April 29, 2025

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description from Goodreads:
Abby has been praying with her parents for as long as she can remember. They pray together before meals and before bed, on good days and tough days. Then one day Abby asks a simple “Mom, can I pray to God all by myself?” Follow Abby on her journey of faith as she discovers how to express her gratitude, ask questions, pray for others, and use silence to communicate with God. Led by her own curiosity, she finds out that you can pray for anything and everything—God’s love knows no bounds.

My Review:
All The Things I Say to God is a Christian picture book for children. The narrative follows Abby, who has prayed along with adults but wonders if she can pray to God by herself. Along the way, she asks her mom about the type of things one can pray and then we see her pray about these things. She's shown as praying when in bed, though the text says she prays at other times, too. They covered topics like talking to God about life (and she tells God what happened that day, even small things), asking God questions, thanking God for good things, praying for others, and quietly thinking about God if you have nothing to say.

The illustrations were cartoon-like in style and showed what Abby was doing while asking her mother questions or while praying. It's a good book to start a conversation with kids about prayer, but the mother provided little guidance beyond saying that God loves it when we tell Him about our day, etc. The book didn't cover answers to prayer or God's part in prayer. Abby asked questions of God without seeming to expect answers. It was sort of talking at God. Your child may ask why God never responds to Abby, and you'll have to respond to that yourself. Overall, though, I'd recommend this story about praying to God.

If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

Man of Valor, Man of Grace: The Life of David by Charles R. Swindoll

noreply@blogger.com (Debbie) — Mon, 21 Apr 2025 12:00:00 +0000

Man of Valor, Man of Grace:
The Life of David
by Charles R. Swindoll

ISBN-13: 9781400351039
Paperback: 240 pages
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Released: April 22, 2025

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher.

Book Description, modified from Goodreads:
From his heroic youth onward through his greatly accomplished decades-long kingship, with continual struggles always along the way—from extreme highs to extreme lows—the continual dramatic highlights in David’s life are shown here with keen perception.

David very early experienced spectacular victories and unprecedented popularity, yet he also quickly became a fugitive from authorities for at least a dozen years of his early adult life—then, years later, was forced on the run again by his own son. Tragedy stalked this man in so many ways—but he was teachable and "a man after God's own heart."

Swindoll explores the three great failures in David's adulthood, with their heartbreaking consequences—while also showing David to be the best example in Scripture of someone riding out the storms of life. David was gripped by destructive passion, rocked by family chaos and personal tragedy, and motivated by political expediency. Like all of us, David was far from perfect, but Swindoll teaches us that David had the chance to become great when he placed himself at the Lord's disposal.

My Review:
Man of Valor, Man of Grace is basically a reprint of "Great Lives: David: A Man of Passion and Destiny by Charles R. Swindoll" published in 1997. When skimming the older version, I did notice some updates, like a reference to a storm that they were going through in 1997 was changed to the author having gone through several storms. If you've read the older version, there's no reason to get this book, too.

This is a Bible study on the life of David, with the author telling about a part of David's life (including quotes from the Bible) then commenting on what happened and what we can learn from these events. My problem is that the author (like most people) still tries to put David on a pedestal despite his sins since he's "a man after God's own heart." So in one chapter, we have David described as a negligent father and his children left to raise themselves. In a later chapter, the author stated how Solomon should be grateful to have such a great father. Yet David's refusal to name Solomon his heir from the beginning (and spend some time making sure he knew how to rule instead of criticizing Solomon's inexperience) caused at least the last attempt by one of his sons to take over the throne. In one chapter, we're told how David is a good example of forgiveness of an enemy, yet the author never mentioned how David commanded Solomon to make sure that same man died for what he did.

The general principles that the author draws from the text are good ones. I merely question if David was really such a great example of these things. Overall, I'd recommend this Bible study if all you know about David's life are his battle with Goliath and his sin surrounding Bathsheba as this book does go into greater detail about David's life.

If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

The Maker of the Mountain by Sandra McCracken

noreply@blogger.com (Debbie) — Mon, 14 Apr 2025 12:00:00 +0000

The Maker of the Mountain
by Sandra McCracken;
Tim Nicholson

ISBN-13: 9781430097471
Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: B&H Publishing
Released: April 15, 2025

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Little Brown Bear is on an adventure to find the maker of the mountain and discover what he is like. Along the way, the bear meets new friends who share that the maker is like a bridge and a gate, a rock and a boat. And he’s always there to light our way home. This charming story offers imagery from the Bible to help young readers better understand what God is like. Perfect for story time or bedtime, The Maker of the Mountain will leave children feeling loved by their strong, compassionate God and comforted to know Him better.

My Review:
The Maker of the Mountain is a Christian children's book. Little Brown Bear is sent out by his mother to discover what the maker of the mountain is like. As he travels to the mountain, over it, and then back home, he asks various animals if they've seen the maker of the mountain. They say yes and that he's like a bridge, gate, vine, rock, boat, or light. He learns that "God is like a bridge...steady and sure...leading me safely on the right path." "God is like the gate, who keeps me safely in and sends me out at just the right times." "God is like a vine, helping me grow strong." "God is like a rock, high and strong." "No matter how high the flood or how wide the sea, God will carry me safely to the other side." and "God is light...he is always there to light your way."

I liked the illustrations, which were watercolor style and showed the bear's journey and what the animals were talking about. There's a map at the beginning and end showing the bear's journey and giving Scripture references for that description of God. Frankly, I found the comment that the vine "tends and tames the branches" a little confusing as a plant doesn't "tend" to itself, but the rest of the examples should be understandable to children. I liked the firefly/light section the most of the 6 sections. Overall, I'd recommend this children's book.

If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.