The Promised Child
ISBN 1 85792 297 2
The Big Sister's Secret ISBN 1 85792 098 8
God's Miracle Man ISBN 1 85792 097 X
Our Loving God ISBN 1 85792 294 8
all by Carine Mackenzie
Christian Focus Publications. £1.75 each
These books are a good attempt at re-telling Bible stories for children and explaining some important foundations about God.
Although no age is indicated, I would place them in the 8 to 11 age range. The author has not shied away from telling the less 'fun' parts of some of the stories, thus building a good understanding of sin and the need for God to punish it. This is an important, though sometimes missing, part of passing on the faith to children.
Rather than just telling a small part of the story, each book contains the 'big picture' story of the character involved. Again, this will help children to set things in context. The illustrations are good, and plentiful, which helps to break up the text.
My ten year-old daughter read the books and enjoyed them. I read some of them to my seven year-old son. He, too, enjoyed them although there were some rather complicated words that he didn't know.
Sometimes it is immensely difficult to take stories from the Bible or important theological concepts and make them accessible to children while still being true to the Bible. These books are a serious attempt at that. There are some words (such as confess, cleanse, humble, achievements) that are outside the vocabulary of most children this age. These could do with an explanation in the text. Some of the wording seems a bit quaint, reminiscent of a generation ago.
Overall, these books might be useful in helping parents further their children's understanding of the Bible and how it applies to our lives.
