HIMALAYAN ADVENTURES
By Jim Cromarty
Christian Focus. 96 pages. £4.99
ISBN 1 84550 080 6
GREAT BARRIER REEF ADVENTURES
By Penny Reeve
Christian Focus. 92 pages. £4.99
ISBN 1 84550 068 7
These two books from a series of six are aimed at 8-12-year-olds and categorised as ‘teaching and guidance’. The authors have first-hand experience of the places they write about in the form of short anecdotes, with simple applications or lessons. The chapters are self-contained stories short enough to read in one sitting. Each book has a quiz at the end, based on the contents of each chapter. Himalayan Adventures has a useful glossary, and Great Barrier Reef Adventures has an excellent map.
Himalayan Adventures, with slightly larger print and spacing, is probably aimed at the younger end of the age-range. I think youngsters will find it an easy and compulsive read! The lessons are clear and thought-provoking, backed up with appropriate Bible verses and generally positive in tone. Great Barrier Reef Adventures is probably aimed at the older end and follows a similar format but is more factual than anecdotal — perhaps more appealing to boys? This book has much more direct teaching and challenge about repentance and salvation in its applications. I felt slightly uncomfortable with the frequent references to Hell and the Devil and his angels in view of the fact that the book is aimed at independent readers, and suspect that some adult input or discussion might be helpful.
