
Here are reviews of three kids books, all centered around biblical characters or events.
Title: The Lost Lamb and the Good Shepherd
Author: Dani Daley Mackall
Illustrator: Lisa Manuzak
This is a flipside story – one side tells the story from the point of view of the shepherd – the other is the lamb’s perspective. Obviously parts of this are fictionalized – the lamb wasn’t really “thinking” words, but it does illustrate the parable well.
Rating: 3 out 5
Title: An Unexpected Hero – A Bible story about Rahab
Author: Rachel Spier Weaver/Anna Haggard
Illustrator: Eric Elwell
Rahab can be a difficult character to explain to a small child. I thought the authors did a great job. One of the first pages lists the Scripture referring to Rahab, so you can read that together with your kids. In my opinion, their explanation of Rahab’s lie was also well stated (a choice between helping God or helping evil men).
A short part in the beginning is fictionalized, but doesn’t interrupt the flow of Rahab’s story.
Rating: 4 out of 5Title: The Book of Jonah
Author: Peter Spier
A detailed look at the book of Jonah for kids. The illustrations are detailed and would be appealing to kids. The content is also detailed and focuses on all of Jonah’s story, not just the fish part.
The back gives additional information, explaining where the voyage took place and also what other religions do with the story of Jonah. (Perhaps this would be confusing for very young children and you would need to be wise in explaining it.) A map is included and also what this area looks like now. (Joppa is now called Jaffa and is a suburb of Tel Aviv.) Mr. Spier also details ancient texts that have been found, giving us much detail about the Assyrians and Babylonians
To me, this could be the basis of a devotional study you and your children could do about Jonah.
Rating: 5 out of 5