In 1868, after a grueling Civil War that defined America (by almost destroying it), the novelist and critic John DeForest wrote a piece for The Nation magazine titled, “The Great American Novel.”  Surveying the literary field of the time, he could find no likely candidate for such a title.  Washington Irving was too cautious, James Fenimore Cooper too boring, Nathaniel Hawthorne, far and away the most gifted, was too artsy and high-minded.  The great American novelist must at least have a brotherly bond with “this eager and laborious people, which takes so many newspapers, builds so many railroads, does the most business on a given capital, wages the biggest war in proportion to its population, believes in the physically impossible and does some of it.”  No novels quite fit these criteria, though Uncle Tom’s Cabin came close.  Sadly, DeForest concluded that the American public would just have to wait for their definitive fictional treatment.

One contender was right under his nose: Moby-Dick, published in 1851.  But Melville’s masterpiece was way ahead of its time and would have to wait until the 20^th century to be appreciated.  The only other 19^th-century novel that regularly shows up on Great American lists is The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, published in 1881.  Ernest Hemmingway famously said that American literature began with Huck Finn, and I’m inclined to agree with him.  But I probably wouldn’t stamp it with the Great American label. 

Late last winter, Publishers Weekly polled readers on their choice for GAN.  What qualities should a candidate for the title have?  First and obviously, it should succeed as a work of fiction—compelling plot, memorable characters, evocative setting, striking literary style.  It should also be accessible to the general public, in that it doesn’t require a dictionary or a course in literary interpretation to read.  But most crucially, it should be American, meaning energetic, driven, paradoxical, and often frustrated (sometimes disillusioned).  For my money, the novel that meets all those criteria came in second in the Publishers Weekly poll: The Great Gatsby.

With the latest movie version racking up box-office sales, book sales are bound to rise as well.  I recommend it—the book, not the movie–to the point of believing no high school American literature course is complete without it.  For literary virtue, it strikes me as the most perfectly written novel I’ve ever read: hardly a word out of place or a simile unfit.  The language is often beautiful but not excessive (okay, maybe sometimes), the detail is exacting and the settings superb.  Sure, it’s loaded with symbolism but you can forget that and get caught up in the flow, and let the symbols work subconsciously like they’re supposed to. 

Some readers complain that the plot is thin, but for a short novel (about 200 pages), you don’t expect a multi-generational saga.  Here’s the story: When we meet him, Jay Gatsby has taken advantage of Prohibition to make a fortune in shady trades.  He owns a mansion in the fashionable East Egg neighborhood outside New York City, drives a sporty roadster, flies a plane, and throws legendary parties–all for the chance of re-connecting with Daisy Buchanan, the girl he loved and lost in faraway Louisville.  Daisy now happens to live across the bay from him, but unfortunately she’s married to Tom, a rich and callous philanderer.  Gatsby sees her marriage vows as no obstacle at all—and, after they finally meet, neither does Daisy.  But history, circumstances, Tom’s will, and “reality” itself prove to be too much for Gatsby’s fragile dream, and their story ends in tragedy.

Almost all the characters ring true to me–not that I’ve met them but I know I could someday—with the exception of Gatsby himself.  But then, he’s supposed to be an enigma, the novel’s thematic machinery; pure theme, in fact.  As for setting, no novel is said to bring to life the roaring decade better than this one—if your view of the twenties is all flappers and jazz.  It’s the perfect decade for this story, a period of furious acquisition, explosive energy, rising hemlines and falling morals. 

It’s not a Christian novel by any means, but Christians are edified by truth wherever it’s found (as long as it doesn’t come wrapped in sleaze).  Here’s what I find in Gatsby:

• “Follow your dream” isn’t always wise advice.  Our protagonist is a champion dreamer, and he possesses the gifts and the drive to push the accoutrements of his dream in place, but the linchpin eludes him.  Fitzgerald suggests his doom was settled when he fixed upon Daisy and forever wed his unutterable visions to her perishable breath . . .  As soon as Gatsby determined that his real goal in life was a being of “perishable breath,” he was bound to be disappointed, because no earthly object could fill the God-shaped space within him.  He should have listened to Augustine: “Our hearts are restless until they rest in thee.”
• Too desire is human, and so is the misappropriation of that desire.  One thing I love about this novel is that you can tell exactly when the climax comes: it’s when Daisy turns to Gatsby in an over-heated, emotionally-charged hotel room and cries, “Oh, you want too much!”  He wants to erase certain events of the past in order to re-shape the present, and don’t we all?  We want too much.  Most of us are “realistic” enough to know that you can’t change the past, but the very rich can deceive themselves.  Are they ever satisfied?  No one is, outside of Christ. 
• America is not the last best hope of earth.  I love my country, but I disagree with Lincoln about this.  There’s only one last best hope of earth, and He’s a Person.  America becomes a symbol for the nebulous “something” that Gatsby, and everybody else, is longing for.  On the last page, our narrator Nick Carraway visits Gatsby’s house one last time, and gazes across Long Island Sound as the scene of his saga melts away:

I became aware of the old island here that flowered once for Dutch sailors’ eyes—a fresh, green breast of the new world.  Its vanished trees, the trees that had made way for Gatsby’s house, had once pandered in whispers to the last and greatest of all human dreams; for a transitory enchanted moment men must have held his breath in the presence of this continent, compelled into an aesthetic contemplation he neither understood nor desired, face to face for the last time in history with something commensurate to his capacity for wonder.

We have something commensurate to our capacity for wonder, and then some: He who created that very capacity.  The Great Gatsby reminds me that wonder is not a quirk or a cheat; it has its match, and I should bend every talent toward making Him known.

And by the way, to discover what Great American title won the Publishers Weekly poll, go here.

Hattie Ever After, Kirby Larson.  Delacorte Books for Young Readers, 2013.  240 pgs.  Ages 12+.

Hattie is back–spunky, determined, and effervescent.  Her homestead days might be over but her adventurous spirit is still going strong.  She is not ready to settle down yet with patience, loving (and long-suffering!) Charlie, and by the end of Chapter 3, Hattie is bound for San Francisco.  San Francisco in 1919 is bustling and exciting and suits Hattie very well. There is so much to learn, so much to see, and so many opportunities for a hard-working girl like Hattie. It also has so much to write about, and Hattie hasn’t forgotten her dream of someday being a real reporter. Almost before she realizes it, she has a job working for the Chronicle. True, she’s only a building cleaner, but still Hattie finds plenty of inspiration in her work and lots to relate to her friends in a correspondence that is sprinkled throughout the book. Aside from letters, the rest of the story is told in first person, and it’s hard not to become fond of Hattie and her bubbling enthusiasm.

I paused for a moment, on the edges of the newsroom. That anyone got any work done with all this noise and commotion was nothing short of miraculous. How I loved my small role in this miracle! I fervently believed that one day I would have a larger role. I might never be a Nellie Bly, but wouldn’t it be better to be Hattie Brooks?

 Be yourself and pursue your dreams but don’t lose your happiness in the progress: that message is woven through Hattie Ever After. At one point, Hattie tries to explain her outlook in life to Charlie,

 It’s sort of about not giving up. But more, it’s about giving yourself –giving myself the chance to see what I’m really made of.” I thought back to the emptiness I’d first felt after leaving Vida. [End of first book] That feeling that something was unfinished. That I was unfinished. “It probably makes no sense to you, but I don’t think I’ll be able to know what I can really do with my life unless I stick it out.

It doesn’t make sense to poor Charlie, and it might not make sense to a younger reader. Why not marry Charlie and live happily ever after? But no, Hattie has to do it her way, and in the end, it all does work out.

Kirby Larson’s hard work and research in bringing San Francisco to life is evident in this well-written historical fiction. My one quibble and a topic worth discussion with readers, comes in Larson’s portrayal of the two young men in Hattie’s life. Charlie is a childhood friend who is dependable, steady, and who knows and loves Hattie. The feeling is mutual, and as Hattie observes fondly, “if he was occupied with a job that tickled his fancy, like working on planes, a body could dress like Helen of Troy, and ride a mare backward, all the while singing ‘The Star-Spangled Banner,’ and Charlie would pay no never-mind.” While good friends throughout the book, Charlie tends to fade in and out of the background. Ned meanwhile is a slick and ambitious journalist for the Chronicle who Hattie comes to know. In time, Ned and Hattie make a team, “we found our way to a good working routine, which mostly involved Ned telling me what to do and my doing it” Hattie cheerfully informs the reader. For once, Hattie has met her match, and all seems well, but not for long as readers will learn in an unexpected twist.

While Hattie does live on the eve of the roaring 1920s and the Flapper Era, a time of great change for American women, her free spirit and views regarding relationships seemed almost to be imposed by a 21st century mindset. Not every girl’s quest, apart from God, to find herself will end as happily ever after as Hattie’s. Understand that, and one can enjoy this fun historical fiction novel.

Worldview/Moral Value: 3.75 (out of 5)

Literary Value: 4 (out of 5)

Hayley Schoeppler grew up in a home surrounded by books and dwells amongst a family of book lovers.  When she’s not reading, she loves to write, and often writes about books at her blog Cats in Boxes.  Hayley’s other hobbies include baking, gardening, horseback riding, cross stitch, and traveling.  Having taken several years off after graduating from high school to travel and work, she is starting school and will be a student at Boyce College this fall.

If you would like to help us with an internship running from June to mid-December, leave us a note in the comments. You might want to include some of your previous work experience, why you love literature, or what you think you can bring to the job.

Since we’d like to get our intern on board before launching our summer series, we’ll announce a winner by Saturday, May 25th.

Sound fun?  We can’t wait to meet you!

Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site (see our review here) hurled Sherri Rinker’s star into the picture-book firmament.  Accepted by the first publisher she submitted it to, the cheerful tale of five construction vehicles settling down for the night went on to become one of the top-selling picture books of 2011.  Now the same talented team (Sherri and acclaimed illustrator Tom Lichtenheld) are back with another excursion into bedtime, Steam Train, Dream Train.  Who doesn’t love trains?  My quick search for “Picture books about trains” turned up 87 titles without half trying.  Dream Train is off to a brilliant start toward matching Construction Site’s success, and may even surpass it.  Sherri left such a nice comment on our review post, I was emboldened to get in touch with her for an interview.  You’ll enjoy her perspective as a Christian and a mother who happens to be a best-selling author in the tough field of picture book publishing:

1.  Can you tell us a little about your family and how they influence your writing?
My grandmother was the one that read to me as a child.  That early exposure to books, to artwork… that influenced the entire rest of my life.  Now, I’m a working mom with a wonderful husband and two boys, now twelve and seven.  My boys have been the inspiration for my writing — at least in terms of the subject matter.  My second son was truck-obsessed and tireless (literally!) in his enthusiasm for those big, powerful machines!  At night, after reading books like, Construction Trucks, Dig It, Build It or I Stink!, and then saying goodnight prayers (with his little hands clasped and his brows furrowed, “Dear Lord, thank you for excavators, thank you for dump trucks, thank you for cement mixers…!”) sleep was pretty much the last thing on his mind.  Hence, I was (exhausted and) inspired to write Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site.  And, both of my boys have enjoyed trains.  (I have spent the hottest days of summer standing in line for Thomas at the Union Train Museum in Illinois, and my floors are covered with train tracks.

2.  Unlike Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site, the dream train is not personified.  Was that your decision, or the illustrator’s?  Do you work with the illustrator at all during the publication process?
This time, Tom Lichtenheld and I worked really closely together.  I wasn’t particularly interested in personifying the trains (I felt like the Thomas series covered that pretty fully.).  But, my kids were always fascinated by the different KINDS of train cars and the different kinds of cargo they each carried.  I was intrigued with the idea of taking those non-fiction aspects (that I’d learned from so many of the non-fiction train books the boys had had me read) and combining them with the kind of cargo that my sons would love: ice cream, toys, bikes, blocks, dinosaurs, etc.   Tom actually came up with the idea that animals were the “crew.”  I was initially resistant, because I didn’t want to take anything away from the glamor and glory of the train… but I think it was a perfect addition to the magical, dreamy quality I was aiming for.  Tom’s initial sketches instantly won me over.

 3.  Both your books are great read-alouds.  Did you try out your rhymes on your own children before submitting them to the publisher?  Do you have any read-aloud tips or ways that you particularly like to read your own books?

Thank you for the compliment! With my first book, my editor was obsessed with rhyming perfection and perfect meter. She demanded syllable count, and I wrote and rewrote a TON, changing words to make the syllables strike properly.  It paid off: many of the reviews talk about the verse and how it hits easily, even on a first read-through.  I’d learned so much the first time around that it was less work with Steam Train.  Of course, my poor family had to listen to countless versions of both books as they progressed.  (They were really patient, but, I think, may have lost interest by the thousandth time!)

I have, obviously, read both of my books out loud dozens (hundreds?) of times at school presentations and events.  I read with tons of enthusiasm, quieting my voice during the sleepier parts, getting loud during the peaks, acting out the movement… but that may be to amuse myself more than my audience, at this point!

4.  I like the fact that your books dignify work.  All the vehicles in GGCS spend their days on the job, and at night they enjoy their well-earned rest.  But they seem to enjoy working, too.  Likewise the animals in STDT have work to do before tucking in for the night.  How do you encourage a work ethic at home?

I’ll admit: this is a constant struggle in my house.  My kids would rather sit on their bottoms and have me bring them things than do for themselves; they would much rather that I pick up their laundry and toys than do it on their own.  And, I really enjoy taking care of them because my own childhood sometimes lacked that for me; I often didn’t feel cared for or that I was a priority for my own mother.  And, so, there’s a tension there: I DEFINITELY don’t want my boys to grow up to be lazy, self-centered men who feel entitled, I DEFINITELY don’t want to be taken for granted, BUT I want them to know that I feel that part of my calling is to care for them.

My siblings and I are really hard workers, all of us.  All of us have a good work ethic, and I really want my boys to inherit that.  I try to teach my kids that there is value in hard work, and in earning what we have, and that there’s value in contributing as part of a team (to our family, our church, etc.).  I want them to know that life isn’t fair sometimes and that we can’t expect to just be handed things — which is often difficult, because some of their peers have so much.  I try to encourage them to find their passion, so that they will enjoy their life’s work but, also, that sometimes (often) we have to do things simply because they need to be done.  I don’t particularly love picking up after the dog, or cleaning the bathrooms, but I try to instill in them the idea that our lives and all we have are God’s gifts to us — and that we honor Him by caring for these things.  But, grace is hard to teach young children.  I think it develops over time as they become less self-centered and more aware.  At least, I hope so!  I certainly pray about it.

5.  How does your faith affect your books?  Or, how are your books different because you’re a Christian?  (Even though construction equipment and trains don’t appear to have any Christian context!)

Well, first, I need to say that these books, and their success, has been God’s gift to me and my family — truly a miracle for us, and I don’t say that lightly.  This success came at a time when I as deeply unhappy with my career as a graphic designer (the long hours, the crazy deadlines, the weekend work, direction based on budget and not quality, etc.), and I prayed constantly for “another option.”  Additionally, we were on the verge of losing everything because my husband’s career had been so devastated by the economic downturn.  (But, of course, the bills: the mortgage, health insurance, utilities, tuition, those didn’t stop.)  We turned to prayer, but, admittedly, also lived with a lot of fear.  We know the Bible’s admonishments about worrying, but that is certainly easier said than done.  It was a very tough time.

The inspiration for Construction Site hit me so definitively that I know, without doubt, it was a gift from God.  And, I promised God that, with the books’ success, I would continue to glorify Him and exalting His name.  Honestly, we owe Him everything.

Ultimately, my stories are inspired by God’s love for me and by my love for the children He gave me.  Additionally, I hope that the books will be a positive force in children’s lives, and in their family life.  The idea that I might encourage a child’s imagination or their reading skills, the idea that a child curls up with his parent and reads my book, maybe laughing together or dozing happily to sleep surrounded by love — I think that that’s, in part, The Lord’s will for all children.  I love that I might play a small part in that. 

6.  Goodnight, Goodnight has sold well and Steam Train is off to a good start—obviously the books have wide appeal. How do you explain that appeal?

Well, God’s leadership and gifts, first.  But, also, I think I understand kids – boys especially – and I think that my early exposure to literature has given me a good imagination!  And, I’m about love: love for God, for children, for the world. Love never hurts.

7.  What’s coming up next?

I’m working on a number of things!  My next book is titled, “Since There Was You,” and it’s a humorous look at how a child changes everything.

Thanks a bunch, Sherri!  And now for our review:

Steam Train, Dream Train, by Sherri Duskey Rinker, illustrated by Tom Lichtenheld.  Chronicle Books, 2013, 40 pages.  Age/interest level: 2-6.

Through the darkness, clickety-clack . . . / Coming closer, down the track . . ./ Hold your breath so you can hear/ huffing, chuffing, drawing near.

This train boasts a big furry engineer who looks like a bear, and large animated crew of freight haulers with work to do.  Before it’s too late, they need to load the boxcar, reefers, hoppers, tankers, gondolas, autoracks, and flat cars—with what?  As Sherri said, everything boys and girls like: Toys, sand, paint, ice cream, trees, and finally themselves.  The red caboose is last in line/ from the lookout all looks fine./ The freight and crew are tucked away,/ the next stop . . . is another day.  Our last view is a majestic double-page sweep of the entire consist rolling into the night as the headlight fades into the stars . . .  Last view, that is, until we turn to page to the little dreamer’s bedroom, with train and locomotive pictures on the wall and track on the floor.   The Tom Lichtenheld’s midnight-blue landscapes and colorful crewmen cast a soothing spell over the flawless rhymes.  If this doesn’t put your little conductor or engineer to sleep with a smile, nothing will. 

Booklists, a Summer Reading Challenge, and one of the funniest interviewees I’ve ever met…all coming up soon on Redeemedreader!  But for now, here are some of our favorite links this week.

Freebies

• Spring Cleaning Paperback Book Giveaway: I can’t vouch for all these titles, but several are worth having, including Pibbin the Small for kids.

• Children’s Book Week Giveaway:  Little Skink’s Tail by Janet Halfmann and Water Beds by Gail Langer Karwoski (one of my daughter’s favorite authors!).

• Free Homeschool Expo audio

• Can’t Wait Willow Giveaway

• 100 Always Free Kids’ Kindle Books:  Thanks to Ben & Me for this awesome list!

Web Newberys

• Kate Dicamillo’s New Book:  The author of Because of Winn Dixie and The Mercy Watson series among others gives readers a peek at her newest book due out in Sept.

• The Gospel Before the Reformation:  Reading for those who know Christians leaving Biblical Christianity for the Catholic or Orthodox church.

• What’s so Great About Frances?  Remember Best Friends for Frances?  Here’s one reader’s take on some of her best sayings.

• Author Interview, Nate Saint for Kids:  Shaun Tabatt at Cross Focused Media often offers interviews with Christian kids’ book authors that you often can’t hear anywhere else; this one features an interview with Nancy Drummond about her 2012 kids’ book, Nate Saint: Operation Auca.  I should note that he is paid to promote many of these authors.  But that doesn’t diminish the quality of his work.

Hope these links get you off to a good start for the week, guys!  Blessings to you all, and we look forward to making some fun announcements about summer reading soon!

For a parent, there’s nothing scarier than sending a high school graduate out into the world—and in fact, the world looks pretty scary these days.  Not to mention confusing, even in matters that used to be taken for granted.  Up until about ten years ago, for instance, it was a given that high-school grads eyeing a long and successful career would go to college.  Today there’s growing doubt about that (I have my own doubts, expressed here).  There’s also less certainty about the career landscape, which could mean more openings for alternatives.  Those alternatives are worth considering before your son or daughter starts packing up the desk lamp and beanbag chair in anticipation of dorm life. 

Whatever a Christian teen packs for college, whether the school is sectarian or secular, had better include a good study Bible and some encouraging Christian books–because the typical college campus today is at least indifferent to Christianity, if not actively hostile.  I’ve seen too many young relatives and friends lost to a secular worldview because their faith was not sufficiently grounded.  And even if your son or daughter is not college-bound, but emerging into adulthood via or internship or entrepreneurship or practicing life skills at home, they’d better have the verities in order.  There’s no better time than that hinge between dependence and independence to focus on what matters most.

With that in mind, we’ve put our heads together and come up with personal suggestions for titles new and old that could help fledgling adults in your circle navigate the rough waters ahead.  And if anyone needs a new Bible, be sure and see our post on the subject.

Janie’s recommendations:

In an interview with National Review, Eric Metaxas (biographer of William Wilberforce and Dietrich Bonhoeffer), was asked what he hoped to accomplish with 7 Men and the Secret of Their Greatness, his most recent book (Thomas Nelson, 2013, 210 pages).  “I wanted to begin a cultural conversation on what men are and what they ought to be.”  There’s no one style or template for male virtue; all the men described in these short biographies excelled in different areas with different gifts, but all shared devotion to a higher purpose and a willingness to sacrifice themselves for it.  Some sacrificed their very lives, others their reputations, others their pleasure.  All of them are worthy models of manhood: George Washington, William Wilberforce, Eric Liddell, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Jackie Robinson, John Paul II, and Charles W. Colson.  Metaxas does not claim to present any new information, but in short, engrossing chapters he hopes to introduce these heroes to a new generation.  7 Men is great for sons who may not be headed for the academic life, but need inspiration and role models (and don’t we all). 

Mark Driscoll, dean of the new nitty-gritty urban preachers, can be somewhat controversial, but his latest is comprehensive and helpful. Who Do You Think You Are? (Thomas Nelson, 2013, 256 pages) is a primer on Christian identity, an invaluable resource for the new Christian or a refresher course for the youth steeped in theology from birth.  In his accessible, upbeat style, Driscoll discusses facets of the Christian life, all related to who we are in Christ.  All the chapters begin with “I am . . .” followed by such attributes as a Saint, Blessed, Reconciled, Forgiven, Adopted, Loved, and more.  I especially appreciated the endnotes.  Usually endnotes are just references to primary sources for the reader who would like to check them out and make sure the author knows what he’s talking about, but here they’re almost a short course in theology.  Not wanting to break up his narrative to discuss doctrinal points, Driscoll expands on these in the appendix, giving alternative thought on controversial passages and providing extensive biblical cross-references. 

I discussed The HCSB Apologetics Study Bible For Students on Tuesday, so there’s no need to add much here—except to reiterate that a young man or woman emerging from a Christian home into the wider world will probably hear arguments against God and Christianity that will be new to them.  The Apologetics Study Bible discusses all the common objections and scriptural distortions that they’re likely to come across, right in the context of the Bible itself.  And if the Holman Christian Standard Bible translation is new to them, this edition is a good opportunity to get to know a reliable and conservative rendering of the scriptures.  (If you want to skip the student edition and go to the “grownup version,” check it out here.)

Emily’s picks:

For those of you with creative-types who will be headed into college-level arts and humanities, I’d recommend two books.  First, The Secret Thoughts of an Unlikely Convert  (Crown & Covenant, 2012, 153 pages) by Rosaria Butterfield (reviewed here).  Through this book you can peek into the prejudices of the secular mind, as well as be encouraged by the story of how the Lord used ordinary believers (not some formula!) to bring “the enemy” to Himself. 

My second recommendation isn’t for every English Major; but for kids who will be thinking at the highest level and really wrestling with existentialism and the Spirit of the Age, D.A. Carson is my go-to guy.  In The Gagging of God (Zondervan, 2002, 640 pages), you’ll find him taking on French philosophers (which he has read in their language) and really delving into literary theory in a way that only an English or Philosophy Major could appreciate.  (For those with less time and need to go deep, The Intolerance of Tolerance—also by Carson–is a good intro to the same cultural trends.)

Betsy likes

The Gospel for Real Life by Jerry Bridges (NavPress, 2003, 199 pages): Jerry Bridges has a knack for writing about deep spiritual truth with clarity and simplicity that engages both new and seasoned believers. The Gospel for Real Life is no exception. Bridges sums up his book in the preface as this: “It is intended to answer three questions: (1) What is the gospel we should preach to ourselves? (2) Why do we, who are already believers, need to preach it to ourselves? (3) How do we do it?” This book is a helpful refresher for our Christian students as they head away from home and a familiar church; it is also an excellent reference for how to explain the gospel (particularly some of the heavier doctrines like justification, reconciliation, the scapegoat, etc.) to those just being drawn to the Lord.

Megan looks to the classics:

In Mere Christianity C.S. Lewis effectively used his gifts as a Christian, thinker, communicator and creative writer to express not only what he believed but why. Young people facing transitions in life may find his conversational style refreshing to their faith, or strengthening them when they doubt whether what they have been taught about God is true. Essential on a limited bookshelf.

Got five minutes over breakfast? Need something to mull on during the day? A Christ-centered thought to fall asleep on? Spurgeon was entrusted with a remarkable gift for gleaning marvelous truths out of phrases in Scripture that on the surface seem minor. Morning and Evening is a deep, rich and brief devotional by C. H. Spurgeon, the Prince of Preachers. Perfect for any believer on any occasion.

Stepping Heavenward by Elizabeth Prentiss is one of my two all-time favorite works of fiction. I have given away over twenty copies because every time I read it I think, “She’s writing about me!” and am eager for my friends to have this same encouragement. Mrs. Prentiss’s semi-autobiographical story about Katherine’s spiritual journey from sixteen and up is real, amusing, and greatly edifying. Highly recommended!

Gene Edward Veith had some meaty thoughts about educations and vocation, here and here.  Last year, Alex Chediak shared his tips for Thriving at College.  Here are last year‘s ideas for graduation gifts, and if you still can’t find exactly what you’re looking for, Marvin Olasky has some ideas; also the staff at Truth for Life.

So, get on with it, who won?!

The preschool winner was almost decided by a coin toss. We had some great descriptions of shapes and color in the world God made through the eyes of 4-6 year-olds. It finally came down to two: “The Mysterious Shape” by Cara P. and “BLUE” by Lydia S. And the winner?

“The Mysterious Shape” by Cara P., age 5

I know a shape, I got it stuck in my head.
A few things could get it stuck in yours too.
When two of them meet they Dosey Doe around the corner.
Or jump on a bride’s finger at a wedding.
If one is in your closet, she will hold your dresses.
A final hint: rhombus. two of them make just one!

Such a complex description of something so simple as…have you guessed it yet?

The elementary category had some real gems as a whole. Again it was very close, with noteworthy contributions for “What Is a Poem?” by Faith, “Out In the Field” by Malley, and “The Flawless Flower” by Anna Lise. Eventually we decided on…

“The Ruckus” by Ian, age 11

 Tiger our cat is waiting by the door, waiting patiently,
For someone to open it and carelessly
Leave it open so he can slither in.

Then he hears footsteps coming,
They were coming,
Now, they are running!
The door opens, and before it can close,
He runs up the stairs,
On desks,
Under beds,
Till, four little heads
Look under the bed.
He’s caught.
All this effort was for naught;
All he gets is a smack on the head,
A flick on the nose,
And a toss outside.

And he’s waiting by the door again,
For someone to open it and carelessly leave it open,
So he can slither in.

This one just made me smile and is such a simple, well-told tale, surely familiar in the home of anyone who has a cat. The words were few, active, visual and perfectly descriptive.

A special thanks to the Madison Academy 7^th and 8^th grade girls’ Bible class taught by Christie McKee. If we were giving a prize for most submissions, it would certainly be theirs, with over thirty entries on the fruits of the Spirit! Thanks to each of you for sharing your hearts and applying what you have learned.

In the teen category, we had many outstanding entries showing great talent. “The Battle” by James B., “Herald of Light” by Allie T., “We Are In Life” by Anne and “Blank Page” by Mimi were all favored. Our winner is…Emily for her “stoem” (short story/poem) titled

“Four Words.”

“Four Words” shows remarkable talent, weaving biblical imagery with personal experience and ascending to a climax of worship in response to divine Love. The first half is written in paragraphs, so it feels weighty until the lines break into poetry as the writer finds her freedom, and the beauty of sparse, careful lines lightens our spirits with hers. You have to read it in her original format to appreciate her work.

Thank you to all who participated, and congratulations to our winners! We will contact you by email to find out where we should send your prizes. This has been so much fun…maybe we should start planning for next year?

In an earlier post I wrote about beginners “Bibles” and Bible storybooks.  That was followed up by a post on the methods and merits and of the most popular English translations, then Bibles for elementary-age readers.  Today, as we’re thinking about high-school graduations and college-bound sons and daughters, I’d like to look at Bibles aimed at young people who are beginning to exercise independent thinking—a development that’s both thrilling and frightening to moms and dads. 

In this week’s WORLD column, I wrote about the need for young people to own for themselves the principles their parents taught them—in biblical truth above all.  That makes the choice of a Bible even more crucial, perhaps, than it was for younger kids.  Our free-market system ensures that where there’s demand there will be supply, so a diligent shopper will find no dearth of “Teen” and “Student” Bibles out there.  The problem may be sorting out which is best for your own young adults.  I have my own opinions but I don’t know your kids, so individual preferences and needs must be taken into account—you might even ask them!  Today’s post is a tour of readily-available titles (I found them all at Mardel), for barely-teens to the college- and career-ready.

First, consider whether your teen needs a Study Bible, Devotional Bible, or Reading Bible.  What’s the difference?  A study Bible is designed to help the reader engage intellectually with the text, by providing theological and textual notes, cross-references, maps and charts, timelines, and anything else that will help clarify the meaning.  Devotional Bibles are designed to help the reader engage emotionally with the text.  They’re usually slanted toward the reader’s age group, interest, and/or demographic (have you seen Zondervan’s new NIV Homeschool Moms Bible?) and contain lots of sidebars with encouraging  thoughts, leading questions, and key verses.  “Life Application” Bibles tend to be a blend of study and devotional.  Everything else falls into the category of reading Bible: just the text with little supplementary material (besides the omnipresent “weights and measures”—does anybody actually refer to those?).  Some rearrange the text in chronological order and some, like the ESV Literary Study Bible, include notes to enhance “just reading.”  At the teen age, I would personally lean more toward study Bibles than devotional, though again, it depends on the individual.  And if the budget allows, consider buying one for just reading.   

The value ratings, from 1-5, refer to overall quality and age-appropriateness.   And while we’re on the subject of graduation: check back later this week for gift ideas!

The NIV Student Bible, with notes and commentary by Philip Yancey and Tim Stafford.  Zondervan, 2011, 1568 pages.  For ages 14-up.

The original Yancey & Stafford Student Bible was published some twenty years ago, so it’s already a classic in the field.  This “deluxe” edition is the latest, with little change except in the translation itself.  Over the years the NIV has drifted toward more “gender-neutral” language—not to the extreme of rendering Son of Man as the Human One (as the latest editions of the Contemporary English Version do), but in less jarring ways.  Where man was used generically to mean mankind, for example, people or human beings is substituted.  All this is explained in the preface to the 2011 edition.

The study content of the Student Bible has changed little if any.  The introductory material includes reading plans for three levels: beginners who are unfamiliar with the Bible, beginners who have been in Sunday school but haven’t engaged scripture for themselves, and readers who are ready for a more in-depth study.   The whole-Bible reading plan takes three years, which seems more reasonable to me than a one-year plan.  (My problem with one-year plans is that few readers have the time each day to give adequate thought to the amount of material required.  Reading the Bible becomes more of a relay race than an engagement with the word.)  The In-text features include “Highlights” (short notes about content), Insights” (articles that connect biblical truth to contemporary issues or daily life), and “Guided Tour” stops, which coordinate with the Level 2 reading plan.  The appendix includes indices of subjects and people, a glossary including everybody and everything mentioned in the Guided Tour and Insight articles (Bono and Robert Frost sharing space with Augustine and Calvin), where to find well-known events, an Old Testament timeline and an expanded list of kings, with summaries and corresponding prophets.  And of course, no study Bible would be complete without the full-color maps.

This is a solid resource with thoughtful, well-written commentary in the broadly Evangelical tradition.  The target reader would probably be someone at the Level Two reading plan: a young man or woman who’s attended church for most of their life and now needs to get into the word in depth.

• Value: 4 (For the 2011 edition, because I’m not comfortable with the NIV translation drift)

NIV Teen Study Bible.  Zonderkidz, 2011, 632 pages.  For ages 12-16.

“Study Bible” is a bit of a misnomer–it’s more of a Beginning to Discover the Word for Myself Bible.  Nothing wrong with that; there’s just not too much in the way of actual study helps, meaning that this Bible shades over into the Devotional/Life Application side.  The Teen Study Bible does include all of the NIV text notes that give alternate translations and the meanings of Hebrew names.  There’s also a one-page introduction to each book which helpfully places it in its historical context.  The distinctive in-text features are “To the Point” (explaining what the Bible says about contemporary issues) and “Instant Access” (personal application).  Key verses are highlighted in “Bible Promises.”  The appendix includes a Bible Truth Index and a Teen Life Index (from Abortion to Zits!).  And a nice classical touch: a breakdown of every phrase of the Apostles Creed, with references. 

• Value: 3  (Good as far as it goes, but you can do better.)
  

NIV True Images: the Bible For Teen Girls.  Zondervan, 2011, 1696 pages.  For ages 12-18.

The NIV has generated more “specialty” Bibles than any other translation, or I should say that Zondervan (which has exclusive NIV publishing rights) has shown unusual enterprise in this area.  Specialty Bibles, like this and the next, are more devotional-based; they’re about connecting the word of God with the child of God in his or her particular circumstance.  True Images plays on the well-known obsession of teen girls with their appearance.  (Yes, it’s a stereotype, but stereotypes are based on truth–there are very few male victims of anorexia, for instance.)  The study features consist mainly of several 30-Day Reading Plans (such as sampling the Psalms, covering the life of Jesus, addressing topics and issues) plus a 90-Day Tour of the Bible plan.  Each book begins with a one-page introduction, and in the appendix, “Christianity 101” gives the basics of salvation and Christian life. 

So far so good; the in-text features are where specialty Bibles show their specialness.  True Images is almost overwhelmingly pink, in appearance and in content.  “Mirror Images” focus on women of the Bible, fifty-two in all. “In-Focus” stories are incomplete narratives that encourage a Christian response to situations a teenage girl is likely to encounter.  These relate to self-esteem, relationships, boys, homosexuality, purity, shoplifting, abuse, conflict, envy, music, virginity, compassion, and more.  “Love notes” purport to be from God (a la Jesus Calling), assuring the reader of His love and personal interst, and “Truth or Dare” boxes point out Bible principles.  Glossy, full-color inserts give the reader a chance to get in touch with her feelings about dating, parents, accomplishment and other issues that occupy much of a teen girl’s mind.

True Images has several contributors, with theological review supplies by Dr. Andrew Sloan of Oral Roberts University.  I assume a certain theological slant, but haven’t read enough of the study notes to say for sure.  My main problem with True Images is that it encourages a self-focused, naval-gazing kind of Christian meditation.  Some self-focusing is necessary in the teen years, but it’s a little overdone here.

• Value: 3, for too much image.

NIV Revolution: the Bible for Teen Guys.  Zondervan, 2012, 1600 pages.  For ages 12-18.

In case you didn’t know, you’re in a war. Your enemy is dead serious. He wants you to think the battle raging around you is no big deal. It is a big deal. Your life, your relationships, your world—it’s all a big deal, and it takes a big, God-filled heart to make a difference.  So reads the back cover copy, and the Introduction by Alex and Brett Harris carries on the theme: “We can’t think of a group of people that society looks down on more than teen guys.  We’ve spent the last five years encouraging our peers to rebel—not against parents or teachers or God-given authority but against low expectations that say now is the time to goof off and have fun before ‘real life’ starts.”  If I had to pick between this Bible and the previous one, I’d go for Revolution, with its high-stakes, no-holds-barred, battle-cry style that seems so apropos in a post- (if not anti-) Christian culture.  And teen guys need something to sink their teeth and muscles into—you can practically smell the sweat wafting off the grim, minimalist cover. 

Distinctive features include “Battlelines” (interviews with real guys), “Be the Change” key verses, “Live the Revolution” (described as “gutsy calls to action” regarding holy living), and “Challenge Notes” (i.e., words from God, the masculine version of “Love Notes”—none of that mushy stuff for the guys!).  “Match-ups” are conflict stories from the Bible—Cain vs. Abel, Nehemiah vs. Sanballat, Diotrephes vs. Gaius (that one sent me back to my concordance)—that mainly focus on making choices.  Some of them use the What if—device, e.g., What if Abraham had said No way! to Sarah’s idea to conceive a child with Hagar?  I appreciate the technique, but some of these may hedge on the doctrine of God’s sovereignty just a bit . . .

The appendix material is basically the same as True Images: “Christianity 101,” subject index, 30-day plans, and a Creed and Covenant.  The glossy, full-color inserts feature not quizzes but lists: 50 Passages about God as a Revolution God; 50 Ways to Be a Good Friend; 40 Ideas for a Fun Date, 70 Promises of God, 40 Things Real Men Do/Don’t Do.

• Value: 4  (There’s a lot to like here, though it may be a little too much testosterone for some.)

NIV Once-a-Day Bible for Teens.  Zondervan, 2012, 1296 pages.  For ages 12-18.

The classic NIV Once-a-Day Bible groups readings into daily doses: 2-3 Old Testament chapters, 1-2 New Testament chapters, plus a Psalm or short passage from Proverbs.  This is a good plan that I’ve used for myself.  (I also like the Navigators Discipleship Journal Plan—available here in.pdf format–which draws from four separate tracks.)  The advantage of the Once-a-Day Bible and similar versions (I’ll talk about another one below) is that you don’t have to stick your Bible full of bookmarks or spend precious time turning to the next passage—it’s all laid out for you.  An even bigger advantage is the way the unity of the Scriptures unfurls when you compare Genesis to Matthew and I Corinthians to Proverbs.  The disadvantage of such a layout is that it’s for reading and meditation only–not so good for study because it’s hard to find references when they’re all mixed up. 

The Once-a-Day Bible for Teens helps less-experienced readers focus with a “Rewind” feature at the end of each day’s reading: a one-paragraph summary that condenses the main thought(s), makes obvious connections, and leaves a little space for personal notes.  The soft-cover edition is reasonably compact, making it handy for toting to summer camp or freshman year at college.  A separate Once-a-Day Devotional guide follows the daily readings and provides (in standard devotional format) a key verse, a meditation, and a prayer.

• Value: 3.5  (Though limited, this is a helpful Bible for encouraging personal meditation, without any distracting “features.”)

HCSB Reading God’s Story Bible, George Guthrie, ed.  Holman Bible Publishers, 2011, 1440 pages.  For ages 14-up.

The HCSB (Holman Christian Standard Bible) is a newer translation that deserves to be better known.  Since it is so new there are fewer HCSB editions available, but here are two worth mentioning for teens.  Reading God’s Story is similar in layout to the NIV Once-a-Day, but the purpose is not quite the same, nor is it specifically aimed at youth.  Still it could be very helpful to a student with a literary bent who already owns a good study Bible.  Reading God’s Story is the entire scripture arranged in three “Acts” and a total of seventeen “scenes.”  Act I is “God’s Plan for All People,” covering Genesis 1-11.  Act II is “God’s Covenant People,” covering the historical sweep between Abraham and Nehemiah.  Act III, “Christ and the Church,” addresses New Testament history—though NT passages can be found among the OT history, and vice versa.  The scriptures are arranged in daily readings with checkboxes. 

Here, for instance, is the plan for Week One: Day 1, Gen. 1&2; Day 2, John 1:1-3, Ps. 8, Ps. 104; Day 3, Gen. 3-5; Day 4, Gen 6&7; Day 5, Gen 8-9; Day 6, Gen. 10-11.  Day 7 is recap and prayer day.  This is one of the more orderly weeks—by the time we get to Week 40 the passages skip all over the four gospels with an excursion into Psalms.  Job follows Genesis and the books of Samuel and Kings are interspersed with II and II Chronicles, as well as Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon and all the prophets.  An index of Bible Chapters is included in the appendix, so if you have to look a passage you at least know what page to find it on.  Like the Once-a-Day Bible, this isn’t good for studying or cross-referencing, but for getting a grasp of scriptural unity it probably can’t be beat.

• Value: 4.5 (Limited, but excellent for “just reading.”)

HCSB Apologetics Study Bible for Students, Sean McDowell, ed.  Holman Bible Publishers, 2010, 1440 pages.  For ages 13-up. 

This is a slightly simpler version of the Apologetics Study Bible, but seems more than adequate for a high-schooler or college student.  I wouldn’t send a kid off to college or the armed forces or even a fast-moving freight train without some kind of training in apologetics, and this Bible offers a handy place to start.  The in-text features include 120 articles by authors across the Evangelical spectrum (Josh and Sean McDowell, Hank Hanegraaff, John Mark Reynolds, John Ankerberg, etc) on evidences for God, plus topics unbelievers are likely to raise, such as “What about the Crusades?,” “Does the Bible contain errors?,” and “Is Jesus the only way?”  The Twisted Scripture boxes discuss scriptures commonly misused by cults; Bones and Dirt highlight archaeological discoveries, Tactics help young Christians sharpen their apologetics skills, and Personal Stories and Notable Quotes provide faith-building examples.  

The HCSB is notable for text notes, which are included in this edition, as well as plentiful study notes that shed more light on difficult texts.  Chapter introductions, some of which run to four pages or more, provide not only major themes and authors but expanded timelines of historical context.  One thing it doesn’t have is maps—an inexcusable oversight, given all the other great contextual material.  My one other complaint is that the pages are very thin, especially for the soft-cover edition, and the text shows through to an extent that could be distracting.  Otherwise it’s a handy size that can be easily toted around campus and brandished in the face of an obnoxious sociology professor (though that’s not a tactic I would recommend).

• Value 4.5 (I’m only counting off for the maplessness; otherwise I love it.)

ESV Student Study Bible.  Crossway, 2011, 1856 pages.  For ages 13-up.

If the title sounds a little redundant, it’s because this is a younger version of the massive ESV Study Bible, a chunk of text that has it all.  The Student version has all the same kinds of resources, just not quite so much.  As a result, it’s somewhat easier to haul around in a book bag or Bible carrier.  The theological slant, as in most ESV editions, is “classic evangelical orthodoxy in the historic Reformation stream.”  A flip-through reveals that the study notes are condensed but thorough, and the helpful drawings and diagrams are exactly the same as in the big brother version.  One feature I’ve found particularly helpful in my ESV Study Bible are the numerous charts, such as (just choosing at random) “The Hand of God in Ezra and Nehemiah,” “Parallels between Jeremiah and Lamentations,” “Paul’s Visits to Jerusalem in Galatians and Acts.”  And many more.  Many of these charts are retained in the Student version.  Old and New Testament overviews and book introductions are shorter, but include similar outlines and timelines.  The Student Study Bible also includes youth-oriented in-text features, such as “Did You Know?” facts about Bible times and “Personality Profiles” of major characters.  The page and chapter numbers are in blue for easier reference.

The theological articles that make up such a hefty slice of the Study Bible are here as well, just not so many of them.  The complete list: “God’s Plan of Salvation,” “The Importance of the Church,” “The Authority and Reliability of the Bible,” “How to Read and Understand the Bible,” How to Apply the Bible in Daily Life,” “Important Christian Truths,” and “The Bible and Christian Living.”  An extensive glossary, concordance, and maps wrap it up, and if you’re wondering who was involved in this Bible’s production there’s a list, headed by Wayne Grudon and J. I. Packer.

• Value: 5

The Evidence Bible–NKJV, Ray Comfort, ed.  Bridge-Logos, 2011, 1954 pages.  For ages 15 and up.

No wonder this Bible contains “all you need to understand and defend your faith.”  It’s big–the chunkiest Bible in this entire post, partly because of the unusually large font size (other editions are available, including a softcover complete, a NT-only, and a two-volume softcover).  More than an apologetics Bible (though it’s that, too), this is the version for Christians who are driven to evangelize.  We all should be so driven, but this is Ray-Comfort-style evangelism—he even includes tips for how to draw a crowd while preaching on street corners.

Recurring in-text features include “Springboards for Preaching and Witnessing” (how to recognize openings for evangelism), “Principles of Growth for the New and Growing Christian,” and “Points and Tips for Open-Air Preaching.”  In-depth doctrinal comments about God, Jesus, the Bible, Evangelism, Training Children, Religion, Evolution/Creation, and much more help to sharpen a young believer’s faith.  You’ll also find “Common Questions and Objections” on all the above topics, plus Hypocrisy, Self-righteousness, Heaven & Hell, and Sin.  And don’t forget the excuses a believer is likely to encounter once he gets serious about sharing his faith.  How do you to reply to “There are no Moral Absolutes”? or, “God made me gay”? or, “We’re all God’s children”?  Ray Comfort has heard it all, and he has an answer for all, developed over years of practice.  Pithy quotes from famous Christians are scattered through the text: Spurgeon, Chesterton, Augustine, Lewis, and many more.  Though not specifically geared toward youth, The Evidence Bible speaks to youthful energy and idealism.  Teens and twenty-somethings running to the front lines need a sharp weapon, and this is it.

• Value: 5  (Excellent for its purpose)
  

Speaking of youth and the siren song of adventure, The Waterproof Bible (published by Bardin & Marsee) might be just the ticket.  It’s available in five translations (NIV, ESV, NLT, KJV and NKJV) and four cover designs: tree bark, pink lotus, blue wave, and blue tree frog.  The chief virtue is not additional content but extreme durability; the synthetic waterproof pages and cover can stand up to anything: flood, blizzard, or elephant stampede.  They are untearable, unsoakable, unstompable—and you can even write on them.  The advantages for kayakers and backpackers are obvious.  Most of the translations seem to come in only one size—5.8 x 8.7.  Backpackers would prefer something a little smaller, but so far as I can tell the KJV is the only translation available in the 4.3 x 6.9 size.  Serious young Christians should be able to squeeze even the larger size into a backpack or dry bag somehow (or wait—who needs a dry bag??).  I’m neither young nor into extreme sports, but I want one!

Value: 5 (Just for reading, but you can “just read” it anywhere.  Even under water.)

Finally: for young Timothy’s and Mary of Bethany’s who have been privileged to grow up with the word and already have an understanding of its contents beyond their years, consider the 17:18 Series from Reformation Heritage Books.  The name of the series is drawn from Deuteronomy, where Moses is instructing the people what to require of the monarchy they will eventually have.  “And when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, he shall write for himself in a book a copy of this law, approved by the Levitical priests.  And it shall be with him, and he shall read in it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the Lord his God by keeping al the words of this law and these statutes . . . ” (Dt. 17:18-19).   Thirty-four hundred years later [according to the preface], educators are “discovering” that students who physically write out their notes by hand have a much greater retention rate than those who simply hear or visually read the information.  Apparently, God knew this to be true of the kings of Israel also.

The methodology for this series of “Journables” is elegantly simple.  Laid out like a lined journal, each right-hand page is headed by the book’s chapter and range of verses, with individual verse numbers down the left margin.  The “scribe” hand-writes each verse in its designated space.  The left-hand page is for notes.  Occasional questions and suggestions are lightly printed (e.g. for I Cor. 13:1-3, What is Paul teaching about love? for 4-8, List and explain the attributes of love), but they can easily be written over if the Spirit leads elsewhere.  Of course, anyone can do this with an ordinary journal or a spiral-bound notebook, but these are keepsake quality: each volume is handsomely bound in black, with sewn pages and a bookmark.  Great for stay-at-home daughters and enterprising sons.  For more information and a list of available volumes, see the 17:18 website.

If your kids are under the age of seven, you’ll want to see Betsy’s post from yesterday about summer devotional guides for little ones.  And, once again, the previous posts in our Bible series: Beginners’ Bibles and storybooks, Considerations for choosing a Children’s Bible, and Sorting out the Children’s Bible Market.  Remember to check back on Friday for gift ideas! 

And when it comes to buying, I’d like to depart from our usual practice of providing Amazon buttons, and suggest instead that readers consider purchasing their Bibles at Mardel, currently under pressure by the US government for refusing to provide all forms of birth control as part of their insurance coverage.  We try to avoid politics here, but politics doesn’t always avoid us.

My family’s summer schedule is quite different from our school year schedule. What with travel, fun in the sun, and other diversions, it’s easy to get completely out of our normal routine. I find myself steering away from big “commitments.” Part of the charm of these two devotional guides by the well known Susan Hunt is their length: each contains just enough chapters to make a really great summer focus. Additionally, each is centered around a main theme. Why not consider picking one or the other to use as a focus for family devotions this summer with your younger children?

Caleb and Cassie Discover God’s Wonderful Design

by Susan Hunt and Richie Hunt (Moody, 2013).  Recommended for ages 5-8.

Susan Hunt and her (grown) son Richie tell 20 short stories about siblings Caleb and Cassie and their Christian family. The stories are a touch contrived, such as you might expect from a story-with-a-meaning, but they still resonate with children. (If you’re familiar with Susan Hunt’s ABC Bible Verses, Caleb and Cassie will sound similar to Missy and Billy.) Each story is followed by Scripture to read, questions on the story and application, and something to pray about. What intrigues me so much about Caleb and Cassie is the central theme: the roles of and designs for men and women. Caleb and Cassie are learning about the similarities of boys and girls (same sin, same Savior) as well as the differences spelled out in Scripture (using the Scriptural metaphors of plants for boys and pillars for girls). Such a needed topic today! It’s easy to miss spending such intentional time training our children in a key area like this–an area in which our society is most definitely doing its best to instruct them whether we like it or not. The stories are short enough that you can do more than one a week if you want to finish this study during the summer. I’m not the only one in favor of this little book; check out BeyondBathTime for your chance to win a free copy.

Worldview rating: 5 (out of 5); Literary rating: 3.5. On shelves this month!

Sammy and His Shepherd

by Susan Hunt and Corey Godbey (Reformation Trust Publishing, 2008). Recommended for ages 2-5 (and up).

Sammy and His Shepherd is geared for slightly younger children than Caleb and Cassie, but, like Caleb and Cassie, it focuses on a single theme: using the 23rd Psalm as a clear metaphor for salvation. The story quality in this one is a bit better, and preschoolers will readily grasp the “point” of the stories. Like her other children’s devotionals, Hunt provides Scripture to read/memorize, questions to discuss, and something to pray about. This one will encourage wonderful discussion about God’s plan of salvation, his shepherding of us, and a further understanding of the many metaphors of sheep/shepherds in Scripture! This one is short enough to cover in one summer using only one chapter/week.

Worldview rating: 5 (out of 5); Literary rating: 4.

Your Turn: What do YOU use at home with your children?

My children are also reading well enough now to be able to read through a Bible reading plan on their own. I’ve enjoyed the earlier posts about devotional guides here on Redeemed Reader (see below), but I’m curious: what resources have you used to encourage daily Bible reading/devotional habits for the young independent-readers in your families?

One more! (From Janie) My ABC Bible Verses from the Psalms, also by Susan and Richie Hunt (Crossway, 2013), follows another set of characters, Missy and Bill and their family and friends.  This devotional book builds on the same format as the authors’ My ABC Bible Verses from the Gospel: a main idea corresponding to every letter in the alphabet, with a brief story, Bible passage, discussion questions and a prayer suggestion.   For example, A is for Ascribe to the Lord the Glory Due His Name (Ps. 29:2).   The discussion questions review the story (just to see if they were listening!) and the prayer suggestion (Thank God that Jesus became a man and showed us God’s glory) encourages children to apply the Bible truth to their own devotional time.  The authors’ primary goal is to “help children discover Jesus in all of scripture,” which they accomplish by including a passage from the New Testament with each story.  That’s one of the main virtues of this book, in my opinion, and I also like that prayers are not printed out; parents or children put the prayer suggestion in their own words.  The target age is 5-8, but there’s wiggle room on both sides.

Devotions and Quiet Times are nothing new on Redeemed Reader; we are passionate about the Word! For other devotional resources reviewed on Redeemed Reader, see Janie’s terrific Toddler Bibles Write-up, her review of Children’s Bibles, the Dangerous Journey read along resources, Janie’s helpful musings on children’s quiet times (GREAT point about the “introspection” demanded of young children), and her reviews of some other children’s devotionals.  Emily also wrote an excellent post on how to complement your story Bible readings.

Cover images above thanks to publishers’ websites; ARC of Caleb and Cassie thanks to Moody via netgalley.

Our Poetry Contest is officially closed–many thanks to all the contestants! We received some fantastic entries, more than 50 total. We are putting our heads together and plan to announce the winners this coming week. This will be a tough decision; there are some talented young poets among us to be sure!

Note to Contestants:

If you entered our poetry contest but did NOT receive a confirmation email back from either Betsy or Megan, please forward your original email (so we can see the original time stamp/date) to Betsy@redeemedreader.com or Megan@redeemedreader.com by tonight. We tried to respond to each person, and we want to make sure no one’s entry got lost in cyberspace!