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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Polished Cornerstones: Projects for Daughters on the Path to Womanhood

Pam Forster has written an comprehensive manual full of projects designed to help daughters grow in their faith and prepare for Christian marriage. At nearly 500 pages, Polished Cornerstones: Projects for Daughters on the Path to Womanhood, is an exhaustive guide to projects and activities fostering positive character attributes such as patience, humility, purity, and devotion. Chapters also cover topics such as finances, gardening, cooking, and childcare.

Forster begins with a four-page purpose statement which states the two main purposes of the book are to "lead girls to maturity" and "prepare girls to be godly young ladies." However, Forster sees girls' primary role as a wife and mother. She states, "For most women, God's will includes marriage." For this reason, she writes, "Rather than encouraging a daughter to seek employment outside the home, would it not be more preparatory for her future role to have her remain in the home provided for by her father?" She continues, "This is an area we need to consider more diligently before we just accept the cultural norm of sending a daughter out of the home for higher education and/or employment. The spirit of independence that inevitably develops in these circumstances seems contradictory to the helper's role for which we are preparing our daughters." Many of the projects focus on a girl's development in relation to her future husband.

Forster includes a fifteen-page section titled, "How to Use 'Polished Cornerstones.'" She specifically recommends the book be used over a period of several years. Projects are divided into "Beginner" (ages four-nine), "Intermediate" (ages ten-fourteen), and "Advanced" (ages fifteen and up), so sisters can work simultaneously on the same chapter, even if they are different ages.

Each chapter includes memory work, with easy and more difficult verses listed. Forster also includes reproducible graphic organizers for many of her projects. (For example, a chart detailing "Examples of Christ's Love" has girls list a biblical reference, the situation, what Jesus did, and what she learned.) A checklist is included to determine whether girls are maturing in each attribute.

What I Like: Forster is very organized, and should be commended for her thoroughness and attention to detail. She has many interesting projects, and the section explaining how to use the book could be quite helpful if you were setting up a homeschool or church curriculum.

The chapters on evangelism (telling people about Jesus), devotion (to grandparents, specifically), and reverence (keeping the Sabbath), are quite well done.

I also like the graphic organizers, and her focus on the Bible. She teaches girls to use a topical Bible as well as a concordance. These are valuable skills to learn at a young age.

What I Dislike: The book is very long, which could be overwhelming to some readers, and it is expensive. Also, many of the projects rely heavily on reading other books. Although the reading list seems interesting, it would be necessary to locate these books before starting nearly half of the projects in the book.

My main concern is Forster's assumption most girls will get married. I have known many lovely, committed, Christian women who have been unmarried, or gotten married much later in life. If they followed Forster's protocol, they would have missed out on rewarding careers and opportunities God had for them (e.g. journalism, microbial engineering, pastoral ministry). I don't believe women should be kept out of higher education or careers simply because they may develop "a spirit of independence." Also, Forster advocates training girls differently in the area of finances, (focusing on budgeting mostly) as they will not be the primary breadwinners. Even if this is true, not all men are wonderful accountants or best suited to managing money. Again, if women are not married, they need to know how to buy a house or car and how to invest for retirement.

I would prefer my daughters to submit to a husband or stay home with their children out of choice--not just because they weren't given the opportunity to do anything else.

Overall Rating: Ho-hum, with some good chapters.

Age Appeal: Parents, but with projects designed for 4-adult

Publisher Info: Doorposts, 2010; ISBN: 978-1-891206-27-6; Paperback, Spiral-bound, 495 pgs., $48.00

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Hand Commands: The Ten Commandments for Little Ones

If you are looking for a great book to help your children memorize the Ten Commandments, Hand Commands: The Ten Commandments for Little Ones is a great resource. Written by Ann Dunagan, a homeschooling mom of seven, this board book will help your kids know their commandments in short order! We have the book sitting on our dining room table so we can use it after meals.

Mrs. Dunagan would like little ones to realize that since God traced the commandments with His Hand, so children can use their "ten little fingers to help them write these commandments on the tablet of their hearts."

The format of this book is easy to grasp. Each commandment is stated with a brief explanation and hand motion. For commandment one, a hand is shown with index finger pointing upward. The instructions say, "Now shake your finger from side-to-side, "NO! NO! NO!" The explanation of the commandment states: "There is only ONE GOD. We should have NO other." Underneath a large number one, the commandment is stated "I am the LORD your God ... You shall have no other gods before me." This format holds true for commandments two through ten.

What I Like: This is really a great little book. I like the way the commandments are explained. The hand motions really help children connect the number of the commandment with its meaning. I also felt that the explanations of the commandments really hit home with my oldest daughter.

What I Dislike: The only thing I disliked about this book is that children under five may lack the motor skills for some of the signs. My almost four year old struggles to form the hand signals, but I'm already seeing improvement as she practices. This small "dislike" isn't enough to take away from the value of the book.

Overall Rating: Very Good

Age Appeal: Five and under

Publisher Info: Kregal Publications, 2006; ISBN:0825424453 ; Board Book $5.99.

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Special Info: The NIV version is used in this book.

Crazy In Love

Crazy In Love, written by Dandi Daley Mackall, is a fabulous read for teen girls and parents of teen girls. This novel is about a seventeen-year-old girl’s first real boyfriend and her decision to not have sex with him. If you are a very conservative parent and you’re uncomfortable with this subject matter, you might want to read it first. The author is typically a Christian writer, but has crossed into mainstream teen fiction with Crazy In Love.

Mary Jane Ettermeyer thinks of herself in two ways: Plain Jane when she wants to do the right thing, and M.J. when she wants to make selfish, carefree choices. Mary Jane somehow manages a good compromise.

Mary Jane and her two best friends, Red and Alicia, made a pledge of abstinence during freshman year, becoming charter members of AIA (Abstinence In Action.) So far, Mary Jane’s pledge hasn’t been challenged. Then, she and gorgeous Jackson House make a four-minute trip to replenish pop at a group study date. Jackson dates the most popular and beautiful girl at Attila High, Star Simons, and suddenly the girls in Mary Jane’s social group take sides. When jealous Star spreads accusing rumors, boys begin calling Mary Jane in droves hoping for a hot date. As Mary Jane puts it, “How could seventeen years of my reputation get tossed out for a mythical missing four minutes?”

Ironically, Star’s controlling actions push Mary Jane and Jackson together. Mary Jane is strong-minded and lets Jackson know that she won’t date him on the side; he better have feelings for her and he must break up with Star. He’s a decent guy and really cares for Mary Jane, so they begin dating. He doesn’t pressure her to get into a physical relationship at first. Star’s friends warn her that if she doesn’t give Jackson what he wants, he’ll run back to Star, who will be waiting with open arms.

Jackson eventually plans a date night at his house where there will be no parents home, and Mary Jane is torn, although she does make a shopping trip to Victoria’s Secret. She could use advice from Red and Alicia, but they’ve gone off to college and are both busy with new boyfriends. When she sees them during Thanksgiving break, Alicia has broken her AIA vow and is heartbroken. Red is keeping her pledge, and when she discusses this with Mary Jane, she says, “You know how much (my) boy believes in God.” Red explains that God created sex and knows the situation where we’ll get the most out of it. She also tells Mary Jane that aside from the risks of STDs and pregnancy, sex is emotionally intense and changes a relationship.

When Jackson picks Mary Jane up for the date, she honestly explains her feelings. He’s a little angry at first. She stays strong and says, “What- so sex is a thank you? I owe it to you because you’ve been good to me?” She explains how much she wants to have sex with him, but nurturing the relationship is more important to her. She wants to consider her future. As she talks, she can see Jackson struggling with being disappointed, being relieved, and finally understanding the way she feels. They don’t break up and Mary Jane hopes he’ll still want to date her, but if he doesn’t, she knows she’ll be fine.

The sexuality in the book consists of kissing and one scene where Jackson rolls on top of Mary Jane.

The Christian elements of this book are the church-going Ettermeyers and Mary Jane’s friend, Red. Mary Jane also has a mentally handicapped sister. Mary Jane is supportive of her, never ashamed of her, and involves her sister with her own friends.

What I Like: This is a great conversation-starting book. It’s a page-turner and the story is a realistic interpretation of how students treat each other in high school. Ms. Mackall really nails the drama and rivalry among girls, or as some call it, The Queen Bee Syndrome. Despite the devious things the girls do, the author doesn’t use a bit of foul language. Her writing is funny, upbeat, and hopeful. It’s fun to see the two sides of Mary Jane. Don’t we all waver on our choices like she does?

What I Don't Like: I’d like to see more overt Christianity displayed by Mary Jane’s parents, particularly when they have “the talk.” That being said, keeping this book more mainstream has the advantage of reaching a teen who normally does not read Christian fiction. Although the reader knows the Ettermeyer family is Christian, Mary Jane never specifically states faith as being the reason for her abstinence.

Overall Rating: Excellent

Age Appeal: Young Adult

Publisher Info: Speak 2007; ISBN: 978-0-14-241157-5 ; Paperback $7.50.

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Special Info: See reviews of other Dandi Daley Mackall books here.

Ten Good Rules: A Counting Book

Ten Good Rules: A Counting Book, written by Susan Remick Topek, is a short, colorful, very kid-friendly introduction to the Ten Commandments and the numbers one through ten. Each commandment is written in easy-to-understand language. For instance, the ninth commandment is simply explained as, “Do not tell lies.”

The illustrations by Tod Cohen are bright photographs of children acting out the parts. A couple of the photographs include adults. All the pages have colorful “block” borders with the corresponding number in one of the blocks and a photo of a child’s hand (or hands) holding up the appropriate number of fingers.

What I Like: Everything.

What I Dislike: Nothing.

Overall Rating: Excellent.

Age Appeal: A suggested age group is 4-8, but I think kids even a bit younger, maybe 2-3-year-olds would like the bright colors and photographs, and the introduction to the numbers.

Publisher Info: Kar-ben Publishing, 2006; ISBN: 158013209X; Paperback, $7.95.

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Special Info: Kar-ben Publishing is a press that specializes in Jewish books for children. Although this book was written for children of the Jewish faith, its tenants are ones we should all keep in mind. The only obvious reference to the Jewish faith is the sentence: “Celebrate Shabbat,” which would be equivalent to “Remember the Sabbath day.”

The Ten Commandments for Little Ones

When you're ready to help your children move beyond the most basic understanding of the Ten Commandments, Allia Zobel Nolan's brand new book The Ten Commandments for Little Ones is an excellent choice.

The Ten Commandments are a difficult subject to cover for young children because some of the commandments deal directly with adult issues like adultery and murder. But Nolan does a superb job explaining such issues without becoming explicit. For example, with the sixth commandment, Nobel writes about Cain and Abel:

"Cain became so angry that he sinned by hitting his brother and killing him...Hating, or having bad feelings about someone, is the first step toward wanting to hurt or get back at them..."

For the seventh commandment, she writes:

"When a man and a woman get married, they promise to only love each other, and not to love anyone else in that same special way. Joseph worked for a married man. The man's wife wanted to love Joseph the way she loved her husband, but Joseph said, 'No!' and ran away. You should run away from people who want you to break your promises to God and to others."

In fact, Nolan touches upon a Bible story each time she writes about another commandment, but never fails to shed light on how the commandments fit into a child's everyday life, also.

In addition, she offers an introduction, explaining how the Ten Commandments came about, plus a page of questions to help children "dig deeper" into the meaning of the Ten Commandments, scripture references, a note to parents and teachers, and a two page glossary of terms (like "blessing" and "idol") that might not be familiar to children.

What I Like: Everything! Nolan does a superb job making the Ten Commandments understandable and applicable to children. This is the best picture book I've read on this topic, and I can't recommend it highly enough. The illustrations by Janet Samuel are a terrific addition to the book, showing children of many ethnicities, plus Bible characters, in colorful, cute drawings.

What I Dislike: Not a thing.

Overall Rating: Excellent.

Age Appeal: 4 - 8

Publisher Info: Harvest House, 2009; ISBN: 0736925457; hardback; $14.99

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Special Info: Read more of our reviews of Allie Zobel Nolan's books.

The Story of the Ten Commandments

The Story of the Ten Commandments, by Patricia A. Pingry, does a great job of explaining to young children what the Commandments are and how they came to be.

The author begins by telling us that the Commandments are God's rules for us to live by. She then explains that God first gave these rules to the Israelites; she explains Moses and the burning bush, the parting of the Red Sea, manna from Heaven, and Moses speaking to God on Mt. Sinai. Here, the author tells us, "God wrote ten rules on two stone tablets. We call these the Ten Commandments." Then the author lists the Commandments in language that's easy for young children to comprehend:

"1. There is only one God.

2. Bow down to no one but God.

3. Speak God's name with respect.

4. Give one day each week to God.

5. Respect your parents.

6. Do not kill.

7. Be faithful to your family.

8. Do not steal.

9. Do not lie.

10. Do not want what others have."

What I Like: It's great that the author has not only offered a basic understanding of what The Ten Commandments are, but how they came into existence. The illustrations, by Stacy Venturi-Pickett, are colorful and use both modern and biblical-era scenes. Unlike so many other books, the biblical-era illustrations are actually interesting and colorful.

What I Dislike: Nothing.

Overall Rating: Very Good.

Age Appeal: According to the publisher, infant to preschool, but I'd say toddlers and preschoolers.

Publishing Info: Candy Cane Press, 1999; ISBN: 0-8249-4165-9; board book, $6.95

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