The Plans I Have for You Devotional

The Plans I Have For You Devotional by Amy Parker is a book of 90 daily devotionals. The book is divided into six sections; each section has 15 devotions. Each section highlights a character of the Bible as well as a specific thought

Each section highlights a character of the Bible, providing Bible verses and stories to show how the section title relates to that particular character as well as to our individual lives. A couple of section titles are "There's Nothing You Can't Do" and "I've Given You a Purpose." Moses is highlighted in the section called "There's Nothing You Can't Do" and Mordecai in the other one. Each section is filled with poems, stories, quizzes, scriptures and other items of interest that relate to the topic of that section.

Black and white illustrations by Vanessa Brantley-Newton are plentiful throughout and are multicultural in nature.

What I Like: Just about everything.

What I Dislike: Since the book is divided into 6 sections and each section has 15 devotions in it, and since the number "90" in printed in the upper left-hand corner of the cover, I thought each devotion would be numbered, i.e., #1 - #90. They are not. That's not really a problem; I just thought they would be.

Overall Rating: Very good.

Age Appeal: I'd say this book would be great for tweens and teens, so ages 9 and up would be about right.

Publisher Info: Zonderkidz, 2015; ISBN: 9780310725220; Paperback, , 160 pages, $14.99. 

Buy now at ChristianBook $11.99!

Or buy at Amazon $13.18.

Special Info: Read our reviews of other books by Amy Parker. Visit Amy Parker’s website.

Power Prayers for Boys

Power Prayers for Boys by Glenn Hascall is, as the title implies, a book of prayers for boys. Each chapter deals with a different "type of power." For instance, some chapter headings are "My Attitude: The Power of My Thoughts"; "My Family - The Power of Love"; and "My Respect - The Power of Honor." Each chapter has 15 prayers relating to the chapter subject matter and each prayer is preceded by a corresponding Bible verse.

The writers use several different versions of the Bible for reference: NIV (New International Version); CEV (Contemporary English Version); NCV (New Century Version); NLT (New Living Translation); NLV (New Living Version); and NLT (New Living Translation).

What I Like: This looks like a good book for boys to go use. It gives them guidance and insights about 21 different topics that are relevant to them in their daily lives.

What I Dislike: I don't really like the type size used for the pages. The book is printed in a rather small type face. I think it would feel more user-friendly if the type were just a bit bigger.

Overall Rating: Very good.

Age Appeal: 8-12.

Publisher Info: Shiloh Kidz, 2015; ISBN: 9781630588588; Paperback, 218 pages, $7.99.

Buy now at ChristianBook $6.29!

Or buy at Amazon $7.99.

Special Info: The title suggests this book is just for boys. Although some of the issues are specifically addressed to boys, many of these are relevant to girls, as well.

Read our reviews of other books by Glenn Hascall.

God and Me

God and Me by Penny Boshoff is a daily devotional written for toddler/preschool aged children. There is a devotional for every day of the year.  Each devotional contains an applicable title, short message, recommended Bible passage for further study and a prayer for the day. The devotional is designed to be read with toddlers or young preschoolers. Each day's devotional is very short which is ideal for the attention span of this target audience.

If you are looking for an engaging way to introduce your child to the Bible and Christian principles at a very young age, then this is the devotional for you! The content and photographs are not gender specific and will interest both boys and girls. I read this devotional with my three year old daughter and my four year old son and they were both equally engaged.

What I Like: I liked the variety of topics that were covered in this devotional. With titles such as "Twins,"  "Waiting Patiently," "Cats," "A Hungry Tummy," and more, my children learned about many different topics and Biblical principles.

I also loved the photographs on each page. They featured real children (similar to those seen on the cover.)  Little children love to look at pictures of other children and babies. The photographs also directly related to the day's message. I think that it helped my little ones have a better understanding.

What I Dislike:  There was not much that I didn't like about this devotional.  However, I think there are some families that will not like the prepared "Prayer for today" written at the end of each devotional. Many Christian families try to teach their young children to pray from their hearts more authentically and not to use another person's words.

Overall Rating: Very Good

Age Appeal: Toddler/Preschool
 
Publisher Info: Tommy Nelson Publishing 2013; ISBN:978-1-4003-2394-4;  Hardcover Devotional, 379 pages, $19.99

Buy it Now at Christianbook.com for $14.99

Or  Buy it at Amazon.com for $16.38

The One Year Devotions for Active Boys

Research shows the more hands-on the activity, the more engaged the learner and the more likely the learner is to retain the information. That’s one good reason to check out The One-Year Devotions for Active Boys by Jesse Florea and Karen Whiting.

Although each of the 365 devotions look like they are set up in a typical way—date/ title, a short story to interest the reader, and a line or two of Scripture—they contain a refreshing added element that makes the book uniquely not-so-typical! Tween boys are encouraged to connect to the spiritual messages through activities which include visual puzzles called ‘plexers”, codes, recipes, jokes, experiments, weird (and interesting) facts, checklists, quizzes, tongue twisters, and more!

The best part about this book is what it can do. Since the devotions are short, fun, and interesting, it can help youngsters establish a habit of giving thought to Heavenly things each morning… and to carry what they learn with them throughout the day.

What I Like: The price is reasonable, the activities are fun, and the writing is solid.

What I Dislike: I don’t like that the audience seems limited to BOYS. I would have loved an activity based devotional book like this. So just because it says its for boys, don’t rule it out for your girl! I also wish there was a little bit more Scripture offered each day, but that’s a minor complaint. The authors also call the passages “Life’s Guidebook” instead of the Bible, which may be off-putting to some.

Overall Rating: Excellent

Age Appeal: 8-12

Publisher Info: Tyndale House, 2014; ISBN: 9781414394046; Paperback, 384 pgs., $14.99

Buy it Now at Christianbook.com for $11.99
OR Buy it at Amazon.com for $12.14.

Special Info: Jesse Florea has another devotional book for kids who love sports. You can buy the Kindle version of The One Year Sports Devotions for Kids for $9.70 or the paperback version for $10.21.

Lori Gives Thanks for Just Sayin'

Life sure has its ups and downs, but what I have learned this year more than any other is that God is with us through it all... and for that I am extremely thankful! That means He can carry my burdens, guide my way, and surround me with people to encourage me. Not only that, His faithful love allows me to turn right back around and be a blessing to them!

This Thanksgiving, I have to straight out acknowledge that I am thankful for my family and friends, my joys AND my sorrows, my victories AND defeats. Through all these things, God works for our good and His glory.

Looking back over recent reviews, I picked a devotional book to highlight called

Just Saying: Write 'Em, Draw 'Em, Hide 'Em In Your Heart. In my review, I stated this: I am one of those people who love to doodle. Rarely does a piece of paper pass through my hands without some kind of embellishment added. So I was immediately drawn into (pardon the pun) the format of the book. So often, students are offered a left-brain approach to studying Scripture (or doing schoolwork for that matter). This right-brain approach is refreshing. I want to say, “Finally… a devotion geared for people like me… someone who colored the entire surface of her desk in second grade (without teacher consent) and turned in a cartoon strip for her final project in a college course (with teacher consent).”

You can read the full review HERE. 

What I Like: Just about everything since it's a unique approach to devotions for the artistically inclined.

What I Dislike: The verses are presented raw, with little or no explanation or context provided. Therefore, I believe it may be best suited for those familiar with and well rooted in the stories of the Bible. Also, I am not one who likes slang, and the book uses a lot of it. To me, the book would be just as enjoyable but have a longer shelf life if it used quality vocabulary!

Overall Rating: Excellent
Age Appeal: 8-12 (although it may appeal to those older than designated age group).
Publisher Info: Zondervan, 2014; ISBN: 9780310742982 ; Paperback, 192 pgs., $9.99.

Buy it Now at Christianbook.com for $8.19
OR Buy the version geared for boys, Dare U 2 Open This Book: Draw It, Write It, Dare 2 Live It, for $8.19 
OR Buy it at Amazon.com for $8.92.
OR Buy the version geared for boys, Dare U 2 Open This Book: Draw It, Write It, Dare 2 Live It for $8.82. 

Suzette Gives Thanks for Instant Bible Lessons for Nursery: Give Thanks to God

Last year brought some changes not our home and family in a wonderful way. After being members at our current church for (at the time) six years, I was asked to step into the position of Interim Director of Children's Ministry until a full time Children's Minister could be found. I continue to serve in this capacity, and it has been a blessing to our family in so many ways.

I am thankful for the extra income it has blessed us with. I am thankful for the people I have met. I am thankful for the glimpse of our wonderful staff and all of the hard work they do behind the scenes so our Sunday mornings are flawless. I am thankful for the friendships I have made which will carry on long after my services are no longer needed. I am thankful for the children I have the privilege of serving each week.

When I received today's book, I knew God had led Kristina and Cynthia to pack it in my box because it was so relevant to the ministry I am currently involved in.

Instant Bible Lessons for Nursery: Give Thanks to God by Mary J. Davis is a consumable book of eight lessons, complete with reproducible coloring pages, songs, and Bible lessons.

The lessons in this book are designed for nursery aged children with simple lessons which go over the same concept repeatedly so little ones can remember it. Each lesson can be broken up to be spread over an entire month which is great in giving little ones consistency in their lesson.

As is implied in the title, this lesson book focuses on thankfulness. The lessons include:

• Thank You God for My Family
• Thank You God for My Friends
• Thank You God for My Home
• Thank You God for My Pets
• Thank You God for My Food
• Thank You God for Water
• Thank You God for Clothes
• Thank You God for My Church

The last chapter of the book includes extra "Give Thanks" activities, including games, rhymes, and crafts.

Even children in the infant nursery can be taught to be thankful just by having the caregiving adult repeating the simple themes and verses while being rocked.

What I Like: I love the simplicity of the these lessons. Nursery curricula put together by larger groups often include "too much" stuff, and little ones are not designed to sit through and listen to a long drawn out lesson. The length of the lessons in this book are the perfect length for little ones. All of the pages in the book are also perforated for easy removal and photocopying.

As the Children's Ministry Director at our church, I look forward to implementing this book in our nursery.

What I Dislike: I liked everything about this book.

Overall Rating: Excellent

Age Appeal: 0-2 year olds

Publisher Info: Rainbow Publishers, 2012; ISBN: 978-1-58411-119-1; paperback, 96 pgs., $13.95


Buy it Now at Christianbook.com for $9.99
OR Buy it at Amazon.com for $13.95

40 Days, 40 Bites: A Family Guide to Pray For the World

In 40 Days, 40 Bites: A Family Guide to Pray for the World, author Trudi Parkes covers the needs of more than twenty different countries around the world. She talks about hunger, poverty, the need for clean water, and the need for Bible translators. As hard as it might be to believe, there are still millions of people around the world who have not yet heard about Jesus.

Each day’s devotion focuses on a different topic or a different part of the world. Each devotion has a Bible reference. The layout and info varies, but some day’s devotions have sections called “New Words,” “Did You Know?” and “Fact File.” Each of these includes additional information about the day’s topic. Each devotion also includes a sample prayer as well as a specific item to pray for.

What I Like: I like the format of the book, with 40 different ways to pray for people around the world, so you can learn about one person/one place each day for 40 days. You can do one chapter every day or break it down into whatever form works best for you.

What I Dislike: I’m puzzled as to why the title is 40 DAYS, 40 BITES, when this book does not deal with food in any particular way. Perhaps the author liked the way it sounded because it's almost like "40 days, 40 nights?" I think the title is a bit misleading as I was expecting a book that perhaps provided 40 different ways to eat healthier in 40 days or 40 ways to help stamp out hunger in 40 days.

Overall Rating: Very good.

Age Appeal: The way this book is written, it’s great for the whole family. Young children would need the book read/explained to them, while older ones could read for themselves. The targeted reading age would probably be 10 and up.

Publisher Info: CF4Kids, 2014; ISBN: 9781781914014; paperback, 96 pages, $7.99.

Buy now at ChristianBook $6.29!

Or buy at Amazon $7.99.

 

Special Info: Be aware the author spells many words the British way. For example, “organization” is spelled “organisation” and “labor” is spelled “labour.” This isn’t a problem, it’s just good to be aware of the different spellings so you don’t think the text is filled with typos.

 

Dare U 2 Open This Book

DareU 2 Open This Book, by Carol McAdams Moore, is a devotion book for guys. There are 90 two-page devotions. Each devotion includes a topic, quote, Scripture summary, plus some type of activity – doodles, journal prompts, quizzes, etc – that relate to that day’s devotion.

Topics include things like how to listen for God’s instructions, ways to praise God, ways to forgive people who hurt you, and ways to share your faith with others. As the book blurb says, this isn’t your typical devotion guide. “It’s an open space for you to explore and learn more about yourself and your faith. Prompts get your mind thinking and ideas flowing, helping turn your thoughts and emotions into dynamic doodles and more.”

What I Like: Just about everything.

What I Dislike: This is a great book for devotions and for generating ideas on how to implement the days’ lessons. However, the book is set up so you can not only write or doodle in it, but you’re supposed to be able to paint on the pages or glue things to them. This is just a paperback book. I think any painting or gluing would make the pages thick and make the book difficult to close.

Overall Rating: Very good.

Age Appeal: Teens.

Publisher Info: Zonderkidz, 2014; ISBN: 9780310742975; paperback, 192 pages, $9.99.

Buy now at ChristianBook $7.49!

Or buy at Amazon $7.50.

Special Info: This book is intended for boys, but I think some girls would like it, too, if they can get past the “guy” language (words like “dude”). Visit the author’s website. Read our review of the girls’ companion book called Just Sayin.

The Beauty of Believing

The Faithgirlz series has a new devotional called The Beauty of Believing. Geared for girls ages 8-12, this 365-day devotional is a collection of stand-out entries pulled from several devotional books. Contributing Faithgirlz authors include Tasha K. Douglas, Mona Hodgson, Kristi Holl, Lois Walfred Johnson, Allia Zobel Nolan, and Nancy Rue.

The book is divided into six sections, each introduced by one of the contributing authors. They are: 

• Growing Seeds of Faith—(having the right focus) 
• God's Promises—(inner beauty) 
• Finding Strength in Hard Times—(faith during trials) 
• God Speaks to Us—(making Godly choices) 
• The Helping Body of Believers 
• The Beauty of Believing 

Each devotional short; most consist of only one page, although a few spill over into a second page. They are structured with a Bible verse listed at top followed by a short story or narrative addressing issues, questions, and conflicts appropriate for this age level. The bottom of the page has a gray box with an additional Scripture reference to look up, “Girl Talk”—a few personal questions that give the reader something to think about—and “God Talk”—a brief prayer. A byline marks the end of each devotion, letting the reader know the author and from what book the devotion originated. 

 Since several authors contribute to the book, the writing style itself varies a little bit. Some use more slang and a more conversational tone. Others focus on stories first with applications and insights that can be pulled from a situation, while still other devotionals start off with a more direct tone, highlighting a problem faced by preteens and going from there. While the overall theme is beauty, within that context readers address how to be a friend, loneliness, strengthening your faith, making good choices, how to deal with anger, self-discipline, and more.

What I Like: For busy teens, the structure of the book makes it easy to establish it as a quiet-time staple; in addition, the lessons are quick and easy to apply. As mentioned above, the topics are age-appropriate, which means most girls will be able to see themselves in the pages.

What I Dislike: If you’ve read other reviews by me, you know I don’t care for slang, which slips into some of the devotions. Slang can make a book feel outdated.  I believe using consistent quality vocabulary would have broadened the target audience by giving it a more mature, timeless feel.

Overall Rating: Excellent.

Age Appeal: 8-12.

Publisher Info: Zonderkidz, 2014; ISBN: 978-0310736172; Paperback, ebook, Kindle, 432 pgs., $12.99

Buy it Now at Christianbook.com for $9.99
OR Buy the ebook version for $7.99 OR Buy it at Amazon.com for $11.07
OR Buy the Kindle version for $7.99.

Special Info: Devotions are taken from some of the following books:

That Is SO Me: 365 Days of Devotions: Flip-Flops, Faith, and Friends (Or try the Kindle version)
Girlz Rock: Devotions for Girls (Or try the Kindle version)
Girl Talk: 52 Weekly Devotions (Or try the Kindle version)
Chick Chat: 90-Day Devotional (Or try the Kindle version )
Shine On, Girl!: 90-Day Devotional (Or try the Kindle version .)

Just Sayin': Write 'Em, Draw 'Em, Hide 'Em in Your Heart

For creative girls who love God and doodling, Carol McAdams Moore’s book Just Sayin': Write 'Em, Draw 'Em, Hide 'Em in Your Heart may be a perfect fit for a devotional tool. Consisting of 90 separate devotions, the book is not an in-depth study of the Bible; it’s more a series of exercises designed to lead a teen to explore her own thoughts and discover truths within Scripture in an engaging, imaginative manner. With that in mind, the book has a consistent set-up throughout: 
• Each devotion is a two-page spread 
• The spread is heavy on the visual and light on text 
• A short portion of Scripture is stated 
• The reader is invited to interact with that Scripture (make a list, doodle a picture, insert a picture, take a fun quiz, rate yourself, design something, respond to a prompt, etc.) 
• An occasional prayer is included or an encouragement to read more from a provided Scriptural reference 
 • Readers are encouraged to write directly in the book, making it almost like a journal or a collection of artistic expressions

Though this book is geared toward girls, the author provides a similarly artistic book for boys. It's called Dare U 2 Open This Book: Draw It, Write It, Dare 2 Live It.

What I Like:I am one of those people who love to doodle. Rarely does a piece of paper pass through my hands without some kind of embellishment added. So I was immediately drawn into (pardon the pun) the format of the book. So often, students are offered a left-brain approach to studying Scripture (or doing schoolwork for that matter). This right-brain approach is refreshing. I want to say, “Finally… a devotion geared for people like me… someone who colored the entire surface of her desk in second grade and turned in a cartoon strip for her final project in a college course (with the teacher’s consent).”

What I Dislike: The verses are presented raw, with little or no explanation or context provided. Therefore, I believe it may be best suited for those familiar with and well rooted in the stories of the Bible. Because of that, I think the book has a more limited audience than it might otherwise reach. (It can still work for anyone, but may leave some gaps for those new to the targeted Bible stories.)

Also, I am not one who likes slang, and the book uses a lot of it to make (I suppose) the writing “fun”. However, I think the ideas are creative enough that the slang isn’t necessary (and may go out of style, rendering the book outdated before its time). To me, the book would be just as enjoyable but have a longer shelf life if it used quality vocabulary!

Overall Rating: Excellent.

Age Appeal: 8-12 (although it may appeal to those older than designated age group).

Publisher Info: Zondervan, 2014; ISBN: 9780310742982 ; Paperback, 192 pgs., $9.99.

Buy it Now at Christianbook.com for $8.19
OR Buy the version geared for boys, Dare U 2 Open This Book: Draw It, Write It, Dare 2 Live It, for $8.19
OR Buy it at Amazon.com for $8.92.
OR Buy the version geared for boys, Dare U 2 Open This Book: Draw It, Write It, Dare 2 Live It for $8.82.

99 Stories from the Bible

99 Stories from the Bible by Juliet David is a beautiful, well illustrated children's story Bible.

This was one of the books that my children loved me pulling out in the evenings and reading from before bedtime. My 6 year old reader loved that she was able to follow along with me as I read to her, and my 2 year old loved the colorful, child-friendly illustrations on each and every page.

As the title suggests, this book covers 99 of the more familiar Bible accounts in a very summarized way. Each account takes no more than one to two pages recount each story. Many of the accounts are broken up into smaller accounts which is how there are 99 stories. For example the account of Moses is broken into six separate stories: A Baby in a Basket, God Speaks to Moses, Moses Meets the King, The Sea Dries Up, Moses Climbs a Mountain, and Giants.

What I Like: Illustrations are a huge selling point for me (not that content isn't important in any way). Children usually tend to gravitate to whatever is beautiful, colorful, and well-drawn. I love how almost each account has a two page illustration with the words being placed in areas that are not busy but still colorful. The illustrations on the cover (pictured) are examples of the full page illustrations in the book.

I also like that children are made familiar with the Bible accounts that they may skip over otherwise such as the story of Hannah. The summaries are short but give enough information to children so they have a reference point to go back to.

What I Dislike: I liked everything about this book.

Overall Rating: Excellent

Age Appeal: 2-8-year-olds

Publisher Info: Candle Books, 2013; ISBN: 978-7-85985-847-9 ; hardcover, 192 pgs., $14.99

Buy it Now at Christianbook.com for $11.99


OR Buy it at Amazon.com for $13.49


 

Proverbs for Kids

Proverbs for Kids: Biblical Wisdom for Children (Bible Chapters for Kids) (Volume 9) by Agnes and Salem de Bezenac is a beautiful book of wisdom taken right from the book of Proverbs.

Each two page layout is beautifully illustrated with full color pictures that are delightful for children (and parents) to look at.

The illustration on each layout perfectly depicts the Proverb chosen for the page. A beautifully written paraphrase of each chosen Proverb is accompanied by the actual Scripture. Each paraphrase in personalized (using personal pronouns) so that children can picture himself applying the Proverb in his own life. This is great, in my opinion, because as a mother, I naturally find myself doing the same thing when reading Scripture to my children.

What I Like: I love illustrations! They are so colorful and beautifully depict children in real life situations which apply to the Proverb. What a great way to give children an example of how to apply Scripture!

I also love how child friendly and approachable this book is. Some books are not visually appealing even though the content is great. From the title page alone, this book has an "approachable" feel. I had to look through each page before actually reading it because it was visually so endearing.
 
What I Dislike: I liked everything about this book.
 
Overall Rating: Excellent
 
Age Appeal: 8 years and younger (by the author's recommendation)

 
Publisher Info: iCharacter.org, 2014; ISBN: 978-1623870874 ; paperback, 32 pgs., $8.49


OR Buy it at Amazon.com for $6.48.

13 Very Bad Days

13 Very Bad Days and How God Fixed Them, edited by Susan Ling, is a book with a unique title. The 13 “bad days” the author is talking about pertain to 13 different Bible characters (some single and others in groups) and the problems they faced. One of them was Daniel, when he faced the lions. Others include Lazarus, when he dies and was buried; Mary, who gave birth to Jesus in a rude stable; Jonah, who was swallowed by a big fish; and Saul, who became blinded. Most of those chosen are from the New Testament, but a few are from the Old.

The book is intended for use as a Bible study guide. The author starts off with an introduction titled “How to Use These Sessions” with tips and ideas on how to use the given information. He then follows a pattern for each chapter. He starts with a “The Point” of the story, a short sentence about what God is trying to teach us with that story; a “Scripture Connect” with a Bible reference for each story; “The Basics for Leaders” with a short re-telling of the story; two options for an “Opening Activity”; a “Game for a Bad Day” with a suggested game for each topic; a “Bad Day Bible Story” which uses a modern-day story to illustrate the point of the biblical one; a sidebar with “Age Alert Tips” giving the instructor tips for using the stories with different age groups; a “Closing Prayer”; and even options for an “Extra-Time Activity”.

What I Like: This is a great, comprehensive Bible-study guide book that’s packed with great stories and wonderful suggestions on how to make the stories relevant to young kids’ lives.

What I Dislike: Nothing.

Overall Rating: Excellent.

Age Appeal: “adaptable” for 2-12 years

Publisher Info: Standard Publishing, 2009; ISBN: 9780784721223; Paperback, 109 pages, $9.99.

Buy now at ChristianBook for $7.99!

Or buy at Amazon.com $8.99.

Special Info: Extra resources can be ordered from the publisher to enhance these lessons. This book is one in the publisher’s series of 13 Sessions books.

Divine Obsession

Rob Hensser has become one of my favorite authors over the last few weeks. Last Thursday, I introduced you to his book Be the Wave, a great devotional for preteens and teens. Today, I am happy to share with you his book Divine Obsession: God's Illogical Insane Incomprehensible Impassioned Love for You.


We have all heard the phrase "God loves you," but after a while, the phrase loses its depth of meaning. Kids growing up in church hear it said as the catch all phrase that will make everything better. Rob Hensser ventures to have kids realize that God actually likes them- He created them and looks forward to spending time with them.

Through the stories of Mephibosheth, the Prodigal son, Adam, Hosea, Moses, the adulteress, Peter, the leper, and Noah, students are shown the depth of God's genuine love for them. They are reminded through Biblical accounts, modern day twists on parables, and pop culture that God can and does love us beyond what we can imagine and think. He loves us despite our mistakes and short comings.
 
What I Like: One of my favorite things about Rob Hensser's writing is how real he is. Through his writing, you can "hear" how passionate he is in his effort to reach students with the Gospel of Christ. He is not only entertaining, but engaging.

What I Dislike: This is not necessarily something I dislike, but something of note. The chapters might be considered a bit long depending on the age or attention span of the reader. I read one chapter to my 6 year old daughter just to get a feel for the reception it would get. Halfway through the chapter, I offered to stop. She was so wrapped up in the author's retelling of the story of Mephibosheth that stopping was not an option.

Overall Rating: Excellent

Age Appeal: 8-18 years old

Publisher Info: Standard Publishing, 2006; ISBN: 0-7847-1839-3 ; paperback, 208 pgs., $14.99

Buy Now at Christianbook.com for $11.99
or Buy it at Amazon.com for $6.00 

Be the Wave

Be the Wave: Daring to Believe God and Embrace Your Destiny by Rob Hensser is a great devotional for the preteen/teen crowd.

Although it would fall under the category of devotional, it is much more than that.  Typically, when I think of teen devotionals, I think of a passage of scripture being shared with a good amount of "fluff" around it to make the devotional "like-able" with its targeted age group. That is not the case with this devotional. As I read through it, I was struck by how much substance this book holds.

Each chapter deals with a specific issue that young people face today. There is a "real life" introduction usually based on a news account, missionary story, or a "real life" situation that teens may find themselves in.

As the Bible character of focus is introduced, his or her situation is made very relevant to life today and it is done in a way that truly captures the attention of the reader.

The author, I think, does a wonderful job of making the devotional personal by adding how he thinks he would respond if he were put in the situation the Bible character found himself in or giving a real example of how he has found himself responding in similar situations.

What I Like: My favorite part of this devotional is how much Scripture is used in each and every chapter. A devotional is supposed to keep us thinking about what we have read from God's Word, but sometimes it is hard to do that when we have read so much of the author's thoughts and not enough of the Bible itself. Passages from the account being discussed are spread throughout the chapter and are put in bold type.

At the end of each chapter are two short sections. The first is a list of questions titled Making Waves. This section is designed to make students reflect on their own lives in order to help them find ways to serve God more fully in a way that will impact those around them. The second section is titled Be the Wave. This section is for the student to have a real heart to heart with God and make a commitment for action.

What I Dislike: I liked everything about this book.

Overall Rating: Excellent

Age Appeal: 11-18 years old

Publisher Info: Standard Publishing, 2005; ISBN: 0-7847-1766-4 ; Paperback, 208 pgs.

Buy Now at Christianbook.com for $10.99

OR Buy it at Amazon.com for $12.59.

Glorifying God

Glorifying God: Obedient Lives from the Bible by Carine MacKenzie is a great little devotional that teaches young people not only the Ten Commandments, but how they can apply them to their own lives.

Each devotional lesson is about one page in length (front and back), some are a page and a half. This keeps the devotional at a length and size that is perfect for the attention spans of a late elementary/junior high student.

The daily lessons do not just cover the commandment for the day, but they also take another Bible account and show how the characters either obeyed or disobeyed the commandment. 

I really like the fact that this devotional does not emphasize the letter of the law but the spirit of the law.

What I Like: After each reading, there are two reinforcement sections. The first section is the "Bible Verses" section. Here, the verse containing the commandment is emphasized, with an occasional cross-reference being added for emphasis.
 
What I Dislike: This is not something I actually dislike, because it works for this book, but it is very black and white in color. Fred Apps illustrates each selection in a way that is meaningful yet simple. If you are looking for something with flash and color, this book does not contain that. Someone looking at the inside and basing their judgement on how it looks would completely miss the greatness of the lessons this book has to offer.

Overall Rating: Excellent

Age Appeal: 8-12-year-olds

Publisher Info: Christian Focus Publications, 2013; ISBN:978-1-78191-124-2 ; paperback, 96 pgs., $7.19


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The Girl's Guide to Your Dream Room

Decorating your bedroom and becoming a girl of God - Sherry Kyle makes the two come together in The Girl's Guide to your Dream Room. Written in an informal, friendly style, Kyle's focus is on "crafts, activities, quizzes, and tips that will help you on your way to make changes inside and out...[Learn] how to redecorate your room...and how to discover a new you!"

Each chapter in this guide begins with a Bible verse, then a short, fictional story about a girl redecorating her room or dealing with a related personal issue. For example, the first chapter quotes Ephesians 2:10 ("For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.") and tells a story about a girl who asks her Mom if she can have a garage sale in order to revamp her bedroom into a less "little girl" style. This is followed by a journaling page, which includes questions like "Have you outgrown your bedroom? How does that make you feel?" There are also quick tips on decorating, "Did You Know?" sections, quizzes, and similar fun things. Each chapter then ends with a devotional, devotional journallng page, memory verses, and a short prayer.

Examples of activities include writing letters to God, making a bedroom diorama, whipping up a no-sew valance, making a bed canopy, creating a pillow, making a blanket and rag rug, and creating other items that easily change the look of items already in a room.

The book comes with a purple cross key chain.
 
What I Like: The Girl's Guide to Your Dream Room is a really informative decorating guide for girls. The author delves into topics like the color wheel and types of art, in addition to how to lay out a room on graph paper and refurbish items like lamps and boxes. The stories and devotionals delve far beyond decorating, covering important topics like choosing whether to be Martha or Mary, being truthful and humble, sacrificing for others, letting your light shine, being cheerful, and more.

What I Dislike: In the beginning of the book, the switch from talking about decorating to talking about God is a bit jarring, seeming not to go together at all. But as the book progresses, the tie-ins between the two topics make more sense.

Overall Rating: Very Good.

Age Appeal: Tweens and young teens.

Publishing Info: Legacy Press; 2013; ISBN: 978-1584111436; paperback, 192 pgs., $10.99

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