WHISTLESTOP TALES:
Around the Bible With 10 Extraordinary Children
By Krish and Miriam Kandiah
Hodder and Stoughton. 240 pages. £12.99
ISBN 978 1 399 801 300
It’s not often that books make me cry. It’s even less common for the introduction of a book to make me feel a bit weepy, and in a good way. But this bright orange book, described by Kate Bottley as ‘witty, warm and wise’, managed it.
It begins with a warm letter to young readers setting out Krish and Miriam’s hope that they will learn the amazing truth that God loves them and wants to fit each of us ‘with your own wonderfully unique differences, into his global adventure’. Each chapter starts by introducing a modern child who is extraordinary, and then linking this to a Bible character that faced similar challenges. The overall package was a total hit in our house, where we live with difference daily as my nine-year-old is autistic.
‘Like the Bible, but more interesting,’ said one son – the stories do fill in creative details around the original Bible stories, but at the end of each chapter is the reference with an invitation to read the Bible passage. ‘Helped me understand the stories a lot more, especially with the pictures,’ added another son, and the multitude of beautiful black and white sketches on every page, together with a mix of modern fonts do really draw the eye and make the stories feel fresh.
Some of the stories were familiar favourites for my sons (Moses, Zacchaeus) and some words were so new they boggled at seeing them (Mephibosheth). This might be the first time we’ve found the story of Rahab to be quite so family-friendly! As a perpetually-busy mum-of-three I felt personally spoken to by the story of Martha and her worry – Jesus accepts us just as we are.
At this time, when many of our children are feeling anxious after Covid, these tales of those who were different, anxious or felt worthless, but with whom God did something incredible, are just the ticket. It’s not about what we feel, it’s about the God who loves us all, and wants to use us as part of His story.
This would make a wonderful Christmas gift, potentially together with the authors’ first book Whistlestop Tales: Around the World in 10 Bible Stories, which looks at Bible characters from ten different countries and cultures in the same lively, engaging way.
