The Child's Story Bible

Customer Reviews:

family time.......2007-09-21

This book was recommended to me by a friend. I love this book!! My kids (7,4) and I read a passage every morning after breakfast. The stories are easily understood by my kids. They are short and capturing. Sometimes my kids will ask questions regarding our reading. I enjoy this special time with my children. Most of all it is coming from the Bible!!

Wonderful next step for elementary-aged kids.......2007-09-10

I LOVE this Bible. The writing is beautiful, the insight rich and thought-provoking. Highly recommended as a next step after beginner-type Bible storybooks. Note: There are some lovely illustrations here, but unlike the Golden Children's Bible, they are very few and far between. This is a Bible for children who do not need pictures to follow the story.

The Child's Story Bible.......2007-05-07

This book is one that has been around for a long time. It is ideal for teaching young people and new Christians about the history in the Bible. The book is written in narative form and is such that all people can understand it well. When I was a little boy, I used to love to read it and would benefit for reading it for a review as an adult. I would recommend it highly.

This Brings Back Wonderful Memories..........2007-05-06

I first heard stories of the Bible from this book and reread it multiple times through high school. I grew up on the King James Version of the Bible and this book closely parallels it as well as providing the actual Biblical references for each story. When I had my own daughter in 1978, I asked my mother for our old volume, but she had gotten rid of it. At that time, all I could find was the paperback version and so had to make do with it. I continued to search for The Child's Story Bible and purchased a 1932 and 1961 version from a major on-line auction site. Nevertheless, I was delighted to find Amazon had obtained the 1986 version - the last hardback I can find of this book. I purchased one for a future grandchild and one for my daughter to give to her niece. In reviewing the text, I was pleased to see that the editors had not succumbed to making this a politically correct version of the Bible, but chose to maintain the integrity of the original text. If you are looking for a great addition to your child's library or a text that will provide many hours of delightful reading and sharing of the Bible with a child, this is your choice!

Greatest Childrens .......2007-01-10

This is the best Children's Bible I have ever read. I love it and my kids love it. I will buy a bunch more to give away as gifts!

Average customer rating:

Revolve * * * around what?
Wow!
Eugh...
THE NEW TESTAMENT with supplemental features
Highly offensive

Revolve: The Complete New Testament

Manufacturer: Nelson Bibles
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

General | Religion & Spirituality | Teens | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0718003586

Book Description

In focus groups, online polling, and one-on-one discussion, Transit Books has found that the number one reason teens don't read the Bible is that it is "too big and freaky looking." This fashion-magazine format for the New Testament is the perfect solution to that problem. Teen girls feel comfortable exploring the Scriptures in the New Century Version and over 500 further-study notes because of the relevant language and format!

Revolve is the new look for teen Bible publishing!

Customer Reviews:

Revolve * * * around what?.......2007-09-21

This so called Bible in magazine format is full of inaccurate wording. Even false teaching. This is a shameful attempt of turning Gods word into other meanings. Not totally rewrote but full of areas with wrongful meanings. I strongly recommend not buying this. I purchased this for my child and certainly wish I had saved my money after I had a good look through it. Better to spend your money on a good King James Study bible than this. Two thumbs down.

Wow!.......2007-06-27

I wasn't sure about this book when I first ordered it but after reviewing it I am very glad that we bought it. My preteen just adores it, she actually sat down and read the whole thing through. We think its a great modern twist for the bible. Certainly this would not be appropriate for a girl that stays home and avoids the world, but for those that are living in the real world and trying to raise Christian children in it this is a great piece. I dont care how the Bible is packaged, it is still the bible! Anything that can get youth to read (within reason of course) the gospel is wonderful!!

Eugh..........2007-02-20

If you're a white girl from a middle-class family, and if you're thin and trendy and beautiful, and if your life revolves around boys and clothes and gossip, and if you want to read the Bible in public and still be cool, and if you're a 21st-century girl who happens to live in the 1950s, then by no means this is the magazine for you.

I don't consider the "THE NEW TESTAMENT IN READER FRIENDLY LANGUAGE" a sin--though teenagers should find this very fact an insult to their intelligence, considering the NCV translation is suitable for children--but this "biblezine" is just stupid.

First, a typical teen magazine (think Seventeen and Cosmo) encourages everything the Bible discourages. Trying to mix the two results in bizarre, laughable tips that seem to be a parody of themselves. If you have actually read the sidebars, and if you haven't been living in a cave for the last fifty years, you would think twice before you think this is the magazine for your teenage girls.

Second, much like a typical teen magazine, this biblezine relies HEAVILY on stereotypical views of girls. What do girls like? The answers are of course: BOYS! CLOTHES! GOSSIP! (AND HOROSCOPES!) Seriously, if you need real fashion tips, I encourage you to turn to a real fashion magazine. It at least won't make a pretense of doing everything in the name of God.

When I stumbled upon this magazine in the bookstore, I *did* think of getting one for my thirteen-year-old cousin. However, considering my cousin is one productive human being who is neither self-absorbed nor petty, and who isn't too dumb to fall for all the COOL stuff this biblezine has to offer, I ended up buying her an actual Bible instead. If worse comes to worst, she'll realize the Bible can still be COOL without being Britney-Spearsed at all.

THE NEW TESTAMENT with supplemental features.......2006-12-29

This IS THE NEW TESTAMENT IN READER FRIENDLY LANGUAGE, WHICH IS NOT A SIN. I prefer to leave the judging to God, thank you. This publication features His Word in easy-to-understand language, which we happen to see as a good thing AND a thing of God. It is not a crime or a sin; it is merely something you may not like or prefer, so do something positive and stop complaining. Have you looked for the good? Have you seriously considered it and its target audience from the eyes of the Almighty or solely from your own? It is but one of many available options. I happen to love the size and find the format appealing with its supplementary information, as stated. (FYI-I happen to have a number of post-graduate credits and over a decade of both college credits and work experience in the medical, science, education and communication fields, so I wasn't exactly born yesterday). Nobody is going to buy this product for the supplemental info regardless; it will be bought for it primary content, which is good. What surprising nerve and hypocrisy to condemn the Word with such shameful, negative, and shallow reviews. I'm going to buy another copy as well as several other Nelson Biblezines to add to our home & work collections. Our daughter attends a Christian college with an academic scholarship, and she favored its size & the NCV text to the NIV or NKJV & audio Bible components. She also enjoyed the adjacent practical applications and the positive yet realistic (read: not glamorized, not inconsequential, not condescending supplementary info)overall tone. Is is perfect packaging? Maybe not, but we haven't seen her this excited about the Bible since her Children's edition (though she's blessed: she is a research asst, an honor student, & urban volunteer), and we couldn't have done it better ourselves. Kudos to Thomas Nelson Publishing.

Highly offensive.......2006-11-23

As a teen girl, I found this "BibleZine" highly offensive to my intelligence and sense of self-worth. Their attempt to be accessible is ridiculous, with letters from "teens" full of too many "likes" and "awesomes". I do not think that my life revolves solely around boys, clothes and gossip, as the authors seem to suggest. I was outraged that choices for "What you want to be when you grow up" included a doctor, a lawyer, a charity worker, a mom, and a pastor's wife. Not a pastor, which is now accepted in many Christian denominations, but a pastor's wife. In a similar vain, the #1 "Random thing to know about being a revolve Girl" is that "Revolve girls don't call guys" because "guys need to be the man; you need to be the woman." I had difficulty holding back contempt when I read the claim that "Meditation is a Christian discipline that has been taken on by other non-Christian traditions." I charge anyone who believes this to spend some time studying the Far East. In the modern world, in which I live, though perhaps the authors do not, I go to school and interact with students and teachers of all different religions. The authors advised me to talk with someone of another race or class, but not of another religions, even though there are many things to learn from other religions and where our beliefs overlap. And this review is me heavily self-restrained, in an attempt not to offend others.

Average customer rating:

Excellent beginner's Bible
Really hideous artwork.
An ideal starting place
Excellent reading and images
Every Christian Family should own a copy!

DK Illustrated Family Bible
Peter Dennis , and Claude-Bernard Costecalde
Manufacturer: DK CHILDREN
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Christianity | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0789415038

Amazon.com

Whether you see the Bible as a literal revelation of God's word, a guide for life, or a wonderful set of stories, The DK Illustrated Family Bible--a colorful, accessible reference source---can be the cornerstone of your family's knowledge of scripture. Based on the modern English of the New International Version Bible, this stunning, lavishly illustrated 384-page book is an interpretation of the Bible rather than a complete edition. The most important stories, such as "The Tower of Babel" and "The Sower," are presented chronologically with full-color illustrations supported by helpful captions. Each story is complemented by illustrated side panels explaining key words and concepts, as well as by photographs of actual sites, artifacts, and works of art. The people of the Bible are defined in appendices for both the Old and New Testaments and throughout the text as needed.

The production team for the book included advisors from different denominations, ensuring that all faiths are treated with equal respect. Jewish and Middle Eastern history and traditions are explained in context, providing a better understanding of the period and the rise of Christianity. As a reference for both youngsters and adults, this beautifully designed, thoughtfully arranged book offers a superb introduction to the basic Biblical stories and to the significance of the Bible. (Ages 10 to adult)

Book Description

Explications of particular passages and clear explanations of key words are backed up by extensive maps, works of art and photographs.

Customer Reviews:

Excellent beginner's Bible.......2007-08-16

Beautiful illustrations. Archeological findings, cultural and scientific comments on the side give flesh to the places, people and events happened in the Bible. Stories are succinct and to-the-point, but still keeps the integrity of the original Words of God. Highly recommended! Amen!

Really hideous artwork........2003-12-28

Not up to the quality of most DK books - beware! Only a few small photographs here and there. Mostly drawn illustrations that look very dated. The artwork spoils what otherwise would be an OK book overviewing the Bible. Also weighs about 20 lbs! Hard to hold.

An ideal starting place.......2002-07-11

This book provides an excellent presentation because it smoothes out the Bible and provides a coherent, easily comprehensible, linear framework of understanding. The most helpful aspect of this arrangement of material is that in the section covering the Gospel books, it presents selected chapters in chronological order (Sunday School materials might have set a precedent here).

It's like an ideally arranged compendium of Sunday School booklets, with helpful background sections introducing major parts of the Bible. It uses a classic style of graphics, combined with various types of art as DK Publishing excels in.

Everyone who is studying Christianity should read this first, to set up a basic framework of understanding. This book portrays clearly and efficiently a point of reference to answer "What is the orthodox conventional reading of the Bible?"

This book reveals the anti-Semitism that builds up in the book of Acts; the Jews who supposedly persecuted the Christians are always shown in a two-dimensional, cardboard way, with mean expressions on their faces. This book clearly portrays the conventional Christian reading of this material. It's a good, clear portrayal of the standard orthodox way of reading the Bible.

There is an appendix of people's names in the back. The book lacks, most of all, a set of genealogy diagrams. It has a fairly good map in front, but could use more maps or at least a guide to the little maps that are dispersed throughout.

It has a great index. After reading the book cover-to-cover, I highlighted the 50% of the index entries that are least clear to me, to do a 2nd, review pass. I played a Bible trivia game and was inspired to read this book because I lacked too many of the standard Bible stories. I can tell that I'll do much better in that Bible trivia game, and will do even better after reviewing more of the unfamiliar entries I found in this book's index.

I felt that getting through this book required the most perseverance when wading through the section about the kings who did or didn't worship God, and the section about Jesus' parables -- these are covered well, but these weren't the sections of the Bible I was most interested in. My favorite sections of the book -- the subjects I was already most curious about -- were the stories between Eden and the later kings, and the stories between the Crucifixion and Revelation. The book has a nice treatment of Revelation and explains its political context. In the middle of the book, the parables and wisdom literature is covered.

I treasure this book and am glad to have read the Bible in this clear and understandable form. Next, I may read the Bible Handbook by DK Publishing (John Bowker). I'm reading Bowker's 2002 book from DK Publishing, God: A Brief History. I've also read the pocket-size Bible handbook from DK Publishing, which isn't very enlightening -- it's a tiny, somewhat random subset of the Illustrated Family Bible. I also recommend the books by DK Publishing, which I have read, covering Christianity, Myth, World Religions, and Philosophy.

Excellent reading and images.......2000-12-09

This book is great because it gives a very readable overview of the main Biblical stories. The illustrations are a plus and make the stories easy to absorb and remember. The sidebars provide very useful information. There appears to be a high degree of scholarship in the analyses. Of course, because this is a "family" bible, perhaps a few of the more sordid elements may not be covered. Still, this is a wonderful way to get an overall feel for the Old and New Testaments

Every Christian Family should own a copy!.......1999-09-12

Noting with horror that "Teen Witch" is number 1 in the "teen - spirituality" category on amazon.com, I am at least pleased to see this book to be sitting currently at number 2.

This is a great book, we have it as part of our christian family library that we keep out in the open for everyone to use. I often just end up opening the book to any page and reading, every page is absolutely FASCINATING and gives a deep historical perspective to the bible. Lots of pictures to break up the text and give dimension to the topics.

Book Description

A book that sets forth, in chronological order, the events in the life of Christ from the resurrection of Lazarus to Christ's ascension into heaven. Sidebars will show how Jesus Christ is the exact fulfillment of prophecy

Customer Reviews:

Loving and thoughtful..........2001-04-04

This story of Christ is lovingly told using words carefully chosen to reach the heart of a child. The journey's beautiful illustrations captivate the reading audiance while complimenting the thoughtful text. Additional explanations are given to highlight Bible times, and to further relate them to current life. This book makes a wonderful additon to the library of any 8 - 12 year old.

Average customer rating:

"Where are my dinosaurs?" she shrieked. "I can't feel my dinosaurs!" - "Daughter Earth"
Science fiction satire by one of the best modern proponents
Boring stuff...
A great collection of short stories
Quality collection of short stories

Bible Stories for Adults
James Morrow
Manufacturer: Harvest Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Satire, General | Humor | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

General | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

Short Stories | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0156002442

Book Description

Morrow unabashedly delves into matters both sacred and secular in this collection of short stories buoyed by his deliciously irreverent wit. Among the dozen selections is the Nebula Award-winning “Bible Stories for Adults, No. 17: The Deluge.”

Customer Reviews:

"Where are my dinosaurs?" she shrieked. "I can't feel my dinosaurs!" - "Daughter Earth".......2006-07-22

Morrow does indeed revisit some classic tales from the Hebrew scriptures, but the "Bible stories" he retells here involve the sacred (as in sacred cow) more generally. In his sights are such unassailables as God, the Unknown Soldier, Darwin's theory, and masculinity itself. Given that these stories, according to the title, are for "adults," one should not be surprised to be thrilled, shocked, and even offended by some of the author's jibes, yet each shot he takes is precisely aimed and well-deserved. Every story in this book was entertaining; several were masterfully crafted thought-provoking works suitable for extended rumination and discussion.

In the first story, Nebula-winning "Bible Stories for Adults, No. 17: The Deluge," we observe along with our prostitute protagonist that, "When I destroyed my unwanted children, it was murder. When Yahweh did the same, it was eugenics." Morrow simply applies a single moral standard to the old tale of Noah and the Ark, to wicked effect. "Known but to God and Wilbur Hines" tells the story of a murderous, racist deserter who, through a twist of fate, enjoys a hero's burial and anonymous immortality in Arlington.

"Bible Stories for Adults, No. 20: The Tower" inverts the traditional telling of the Tower of Babel legend, so that instead of confusing the human race with a gibber of languages, God trips up humanity by allowing them to communicate "without the benefit of semantic doubt." "So My plan is working. Half the planet is now a graduate seminar, the other half a battleground." Morrow likewise turns the entire Intelligent Design debacle on its head in "Spelling God with the Wrong Blocks," a story in which science missionaries confront a race of androids who insist that they originated through natural selection, when in fact they were created as an experiment by Harvard sociobiologists. When the science missionaries try to explain the androids' error, they are tried as heretics for speaking against the Two Testaments...of Darwin, of course.

Morrow concludes the collection with the fantastic "Arms and a Woman." This story explores the life of Helen, lover of Paris and wife of Menelaus. When she discovers that the Greeks and Trojans have been fighting for a decade over her, she tries to win the peace by going back to her husband. But she has aged, and is now slightly less than launching-a-thousand-ships-beautiful, so the men don't want to hear it. That, and they really like the glory that comes from the battle. It turns out that Helen's abduction by Paris was really just an excuse. As the council of Greeks and Trojans explains to Helen, if they can make ten years of warfare over a single woman look rational, then men could make war over just about anything, and she wants to spoil all that fun. In Morrow's hands, the gentle anti-heroism of the feminine is lauded while the foundational epic of Western civilization is revealed as a work of a banal, baleful masculinity that has provided the rationale for millennia of braggadocio and pee-pee waving. Brilliant!

Science fiction satire by one of the best modern proponents.......2003-02-23

"Bible Stories for Adults, No. 17: The Deluge"--Not for the squeamish, this retelling of the Flood touches on some of Morrow's recurring themes. Why is it murder when humans kill, but not when God kills? What is the value of life? How should we live our lives? I did not find this as disgusting as when I first read it, but I'm also 10 years older.

"Daughter Earth"--I've written about this story before, and it was a pleasure to reread it. It is one of my favorites--a strange metaphorical tale that has character, humor, and a biosphere. This is the kind of story I want to write when I grow up.

"Known But to God and Wilbur Hines"--Well researched tale of World War I and how war is hell. It is okay, but we have seen the sentiment elsewhere, and, while the details are sharp and fresh, the actual plot and manner are a tad warmed over.

"Bible Stories for Adults, No. 20: The Tower"--I like this one a lot better than "The Deluge," possibly because of the great humor inherent in a story narrated by God himself. Morrow has a real gift for merging humor into his satire, and this is a prime example. The story itself, with its criticism of Donald Trump and the hubris of the well-off, and its method of turning the tables on the idea of Babel, is just marvelous.

"Spelling God with the Wrong Blocks"--This is a fabulous story. I finished this and, as with "Daughter Earth," thought, "This is the kind of thing that I try to write. A story that transposes one set of beliefs into the reference frame of another set of beliefs to put serious question marks into both absolutes." In this one, natural selection is seen as the "correct" and holy interpretation of evolution, and when the science missionaries try to convince the planet of androids that instead they were actually the result of special creation, things don't turn out so well. God, what a funny, but not so funny, story. Check double plus, highly recommended, in my top 20.

"The Assemblage of Kristin"--Another great story, about an organ donor whose parts don't seem to want to give up life. Wonderful details, interesting characters, and a marvelous story structure. You know, if this book continues with stories like this, Morrow is going to move into real favorite status with me. Is this his only story collection (well, no, there was the Pulphouse Author's Choice one, but this is the only major publisher collection, I think)?

"Bible Stories for Adults, No. 31: The Covenant"--Like "Spelling God..." this drops us into a apotheosis wherein what we find normal is switched. Instead of having Moses' law for over 2,000 years, this world has had to go without it, instead preserving the shattered bits of clay from Mt. Sinai. The purpose of the computer they build is to put the tablets together again, to reveal the holy word. But is it worth it? Great social commentary. Question: What is the purpose of the numbers to these bible stores for adults? In this collection, there are only four, but the last is numbered 46. Are there 42 more that Morrow has not published?

"Abe Lincoln in McDonald's"--A little like the last story except the strange twist of having a very real Abe Lincoln in the future is almost too bizarre for words. The concept of slavery and society is always good for another story.

"The Confessions of Ebeneezer Scrooge"--Similar in style and substance to the Bible Stories, at least in that it picks grits with a story that ostensibly provides for modern morals. Morrow feels that greed shouldn't get off with just providing a turkey at Christmastime.

"Bible Stories for Adults, No. 46: The Soap Opera"--An examination of God's role in the life of Job. I'm reminded of XTC's "Dear God," and the line about how God has a lot of questions to answer about suffering. That's a great thing about the Bible Stories--the God of the Old Testament was so capricious that moving his actions into modern times make him look truly ridiculous. I was thinking that Morrow needs to tackle a New Testament story, but I guess that is what Only Begotten Daughter was about.

"Diary of a Mad Diety"--Great concept for a story--a man with the most extreme multiple personality disorder. And I liked several parts it this, but the latter third just did not seem. to match the inventiveness of the earlier parts.

"Arms and the Woman"--This is an example of the Iliad for Adults. What happens when Helen decides that she is not worth a war, a la Shaw. Nice idea, and the best part is the heroes over the truce table talking about how this is the war to make all war seem rational.

Boring stuff..........2002-08-08

What can I say, it was a drag. Reading stories that had not one ounce of original creativity as it was all based upon existing bible stories, characters and stuff.

Clearly this guy feels that writing books he feels are controversial will sell. Maybe they do, fortunately I read this from the library.

Where is the real science fiction these days???

Sigh.

A great collection of short stories.......2001-06-20

James Morrow's ideas are sometimes preposterous, sometimes pretentious, but always wildly inventive, and Bible Stories for Adults is no exception. While a couple of the included stories might cause the reader to roll his or her eyes in the presumptuousness of the author, or the wild implausibility of the ideas involved, it's a good bet the story will still get read -- if only because it's wonderfully entertaining.

My personal favorite from this collection was "The Tower," in which God, fed up with human vanity, makes a personal appearance on Earth and creates a tower of Babel in reverse -- a world in which every human being understands one another implicitly, and no secret is left unrevealed. The impact to humanity is cataclysmic, and the resulting story is both humorous and unsettling.

Bible Stories for Adults also makes a great introduction to the reader starting out with James Morrow, as it is lighter in tone and easier to digest than his (equally excellent) novel-length works.

Quality collection of short stories.......2000-06-22

After reading this book, I place James Morrow in the same spot I hold for Joe Haldeman: favorite short-story writer. Simply put, the stories contained in this book are EXCELLENT! Morrow has a true economy of writing - he says so much with very few words, and his subject matter is very well chosen, most of the time taking a fresh look at historical events or Biblical stories.

Book Description

Winner of the 2006 National Jewish Book Award for Family Literature.

An extraordinary collection of midrash written expressly for teenage girls

Not long after the world was created, Lilith, the first woman, was expelled from the Garden of Eden. She built an ark, a magic box, in which future biblical women could hide their most prized possessions. And so, Lilith's Ark became a place for women to share their own experiences of adolescence with future generations of girls...

The women of Torah grew up at a time when gender roles were rigidly defined and girls were considered women at an early age. Still, the Torah hints that young biblical women faced challenges similar to those that teenagers encounter today: first loves, burgeoning identities, developing sexualities, and blossoming spirituality. Building on textual sources, Deborah Bodin Cohen has created a collection of midrashim about the teen years of 10 women in Genesis that will resonate with 21st-century readers.

Lilith's Ark melds text, biblical commentaries, and historic details about the ancient world with the experiences of modern girls and women and the author's own imagination. A discussion guide for each story enriches the reading experience. This is a book that will speak across time to the anxieties and aspirations of today's growing girls.

Customer Reviews:

Wonderful contribution to Jewish literature.......2007-07-03

This lovely gem of a book is a welcome addition to the wealth of Jewish literature, providing young Jewish women with powerful Biblical role models by telling their stories in a relevant and engaging way. I remember feeling alienated from Biblical literature as a teen, since most of the stories centered on men. The female Biblical heroines got short shrift in those days, which distanced me from an appreciation of my heritage. Rabbi Cohen's contribution of Lilith's Ark is a wonderful resource for youth group leaders and religious school teachers who work with adolescent girls. The discussion questions and extensions which accompany each story are of tremendous value to these busy professionals in facilitating discussion groups. It would also make an excellent bat mitzvah gift to increase the recipient's understanding of the heritage she has inherited. This book belongs in any collection accessible to teens and those who love and work with them. (Abbe Krissman, parent, grandparent, and former teacher)

A 2007 Association of Jewish Libraries Notable Book for Teens.......2007-01-29

This wonderful story collection tells the story of ten of our biblical foremothers from Lilith to Asenath (Joseph's wife.) Each story begins with a "Hint from the Torah," a phrase about each woman as it is related in the Torah. Then there is a midrashic tale of the woman's experience and final the woman puts a symbol of her story into the ark so that future generations will come to know her. The midrashic stories are beautifully written and fully expound on the stories we and our children have come to know from reading and studying Torah. There is much here for exploration and discussion.

There are never enough story books for young girls about biblical characters. This is a wonderful addition to the shelf as it not only tells the story of a woman from the Hebrew Bible, it also provides a discussion guide for each story and ideas for how mother-daughter book groups could use this book. It includes ideas for creating their own ark and discussions about what to place in it. I highly recommend this book to Jewish libraries. With the rise of such titles as Rosh Hodesh: It's a Girl Thing and The JGirl's Guide, young women of today will have a healthy understanding of life during biblical times and how it was not so very different from our own. REVIEWED BY KATHY BLOOMFIELD (NEWTON, MA)

A unique and power work of creative art.......2006-12-12

With Lilith's Ark: Teenage Tales of Biblical Women, Rabbi Deborah Bodin Cohen has created voices for the teenage young women of the Torah. Not unlike, The Red Tent, Lilith's Ark, brings us back to our ancient past, melding Torah text, Midrashic Commentary and modern psychology.

The ten women represented in the book, and connected by Lilith's Ark passed from generation to generation, teach lessons of self confidence, strength, passion, following dreams and journeying to the unexpected. Each of the lessons is important to the young women of today who are growing up in a intimate world of tremendous expectation and pressure and a global world where terrorism trumps rationalism. Rabbi Bodin Cohen teaches that our ancestors, Lilith, Eve, Sarah, Hagar, Rebekah, Rachel, Leah, Dina, Tamar and Asenath, encountered the same fears and dreams of every woman. The Torah is not a relic of the past, rather stories of our lives and the lives of our daughters.

Lilith's Ark is a wonderful resource for teenage Rosh Hodesh Classes, Bar and Bat Mitzvah Divrei Torah writing and sermons. I have used it in teaching parents and children alike and it always creates an atmosphere for interesting, provocative discussion.
The stories are written with beauty and the heroine's with strength and honesty.

In Lilith's Ark, Rabbi Deborah Bodin Cohen has written a book that should be on every rabbi's bookshelf, every parent's bookshelf and every teacher's bookshelf. It is a unique and powerful work of creative art.

Lilith's Ark: Teenage Tales of Biblical Women.......2006-10-13

According to the author, "Lilith's Ark is a midrash, a story that grows from the Torah text and the imagination." Each chapter features a different biblical character-- starting with Lilith and Eve and continuing with Sarah, Hagar, Rebekah, Rachel, Leah, Dinah, Tamar and Asenath. After each woman tells her story she places an item in the ark that represents an important aspect of her life. The ark is then passed on to the next generation. The stories are engaging, sensitive and thought provoking, similar to The Red Tent and The Harlot at the Side of the Road, but more appropriately written for teens. For each chapter there are "Discussion Themes"; "Discussion Questions", a section called" Extending the Exploration," which guides the reader toward more study and thought, and a section called "A Mother- Daughter Dialogue," which stimulates meaningful discussions between teens and adults. Also, an extensive discussion guide appears at the end of the book. This book could form the basis for a Mother-Daughter or Parent-Teen study group. Each month a different chapter could be read and discussed. The discussion questions encourage participants to share their thoughts and insights, helping teens and adults gain a better understanding of each other. For ages 12 and up. Reviewed by Diane Levin Rauchwerger

Average customer rating:

A wonderful, classic retelling
The "plain language" Bible

Pearl S. Buck: The Story Bible
Pearl S. Buck
Manufacturer: Random House Value Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Christianity | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0517149818
Release Date: 1997-07-07

Customer Reviews:

A wonderful, classic retelling.......2007-02-13

Pearl Buck's Story Bible is in the same league with Jesse Lyman Hurlbut's and Elsie Egermeier's books (Bible stories rewritten with children in mind.) Of the three, Buck's was written most recently. Buck's rendition of the Bible stories is intelligent, detailed, and reverent. One father of four told me this was the best book he's ever read!

Parents should purchase at least one Bible story book for their family library, and this is an excellent choice.

The "plain language" Bible.......2000-09-25

For someone who has tried to read the Bible several times but been unsuccessful at keeping it up due to the conplexity of the language used, this book was golden. In it, Pearl S Buck retells the bible stories in an interesting and informative way. I have read the book through over several days and could not wait until evening when I would have time to get back to the stories. I was also able to retain the stories and their meanings. It would be a great for primer for pre-teen kids and, of course, adults.

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True to the original, and yet radically fresh
Only for Those With Prior Knowledge
Marked
A FRESH VISION OF THE GOSPEL OF MARK: RECOMMENDED

Marked
Steve Ross
Manufacturer: Seabury Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Comic Strips | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books

General | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books

General | Graphic Novels | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books

General | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

Inspirational | Religion & Spirituality | Teens | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 1596270020
Release Date: 2005-11-01

Customer Reviews:

Get Extra Copies.......2007-08-11

Give this to the people in your life who would not normally sit down and read a book.

True to the original, and yet radically fresh.......2007-02-16

Readers familiar and unfamiliar with the Gospel according to Mark will both find much to appreciate in Steve Ross's retelling. He really internalized the story and then retold it from his perspective. This version will surprise many readers who have no interest in the Gospel, or who think they understand it and have dismissed it. It will also be of great use to people who love the Gospel, but need to re-learn some parts of it. Either way, I suggest reading Marked on its own, and then read through it again alongside a more widely used translation (like the New International Version of the Gospel of Mark, to see the parallels. This is a remarkable work. I hope to see more retellings of Scripture in the future.

Only for Those With Prior Knowledge.......2006-02-16

As someone who is not Christian and only knows the basics of the New Testement (and doesn't know the difference between any of the gospels), I came into Marked with a lot of expectations. Having read about it in Newsweek, I expected the story of an outsider and to learn about a religion I don't know about. The book is without a doubt meant for Christians. No background is given on the characters, we're supposed to know that Jesus is who he is, that Simon is Simon, and the land is corrupt. I was left confused and slightly frustrated at several moments. Also, a lot of the drama just wasn't there for me. Since this is an adaptation, I guess the reader is supposed to be waiting for certain moments. It just didn't work for me.
That being said, there were some moments I enjoyed. The devil is great, and the pages that lead up to the crucifixition are better than The Passion any day of the week.
Recommended for the Christian graphic novel fan.

Marked.......2006-01-19

As an author who has tackled Gospel translation into the graphic novel format, I commend Steve Ross on a heart-felt effort to bring the book of Mark to life with a contempory feel. It's not an easy task by any means. But Marked is slightly problematic in a couple areas. One, if it was designed to be used as an outreach to the unchurched, I felt like the narrative was not very easy to follow, (if you were not "very" familiar with the work it was based upon, I.E. the Gospel of Mark, and in some places even if you were)! It was the same kind of feeling I had when I first saw the movie, 2001. Secondly, the artwork I would say drifts more toward abstraction in many parts of the story, more than solid storytelling...which is fine and works wonderfully in soome parts of the book, but leaves the reader wondering too much in others, (what the heck just happened there?).

If Mr. Ross's intention was to merely convey how this story personally speaks to him, then he succeeded wonderfully. If he intended to bring those not familiar with the story along for the ride, I'm afraid he might have left more than a few scratching their heads, (which could be good, if it leads them to the original work to find their answers).

Robert Luedke is the author of "Eye Witness: A Fictional Tale of Absolute Truth" and "Acts of the Spirit".

A FRESH VISION OF THE GOSPEL OF MARK: RECOMMENDED.......2005-12-18

With my newly revived interest in old and new, well-done comic books-slash-graphic novels (think ASTONISHING X-MEN, think SANDMAN, think WATCHMEN, think SUPREME POWERS), I had to rush here to amazon.com for a copy of MARKED. I first saw it featured at novelist Chris Well's nifty blog. This re-imagination of the gospel of Mark sounded like something I should "taste and see."

It arrived on a Friday. I read it the next Saturday, in one sitting. Loved it.

Why?

MARKED is clever. It's got attitude. It's got gentle moments of compassion. It's got strong visuals that mix a bag of emotions together and toss them at you. It's got humor. It captures the essence of what the evangelist wrote: a very active Son of God, a very troubled world, imperfect followers, even more imperfect antagonists, wisdom, courage, mercy, grace, death, and victory over death.

I recommend it.

I dare you not to laugh at mad-eyed John the Baptizer and the running headlines that cover the main events of that prophet's activities--even as you'll be horrified (rightly so) by the front page spread of his demise and its timeliness given some of our recent front page news. I dare you not to be thrilled at some really fine creative moments, such as the Gadarene's encounter with the Christ or the incident of transfiguration on the mount. I dare you not to feel ferklempt over the incident of Christ's meeting with the leper. I dare you not to holler, "Cool!" every few pages. And do tell me if you've seen the resurrection handled anywhere quite like this, ever. I haven't. I had to actually stop and ...STOP. No, really, I had one of those blank moments of, "What?" And I had to think. I like when creative folk make me stop and think. I like when creative folk stir things up. Steve Ross achieves this with MARKED.

The Mir's thumb is way up.

Side Note: You can also play, "Find the famous person" with this. Can you find a great black leader? Can you find the is-he-dead-or-isn't-he rocker? Anyone else?

Shameless Gift Suggestion: Christmas is upon us. If you have a comic book lover in your family, of if you know a reader who needs to be slapped with a zingy graphical gospel that will whet their appetite for a visit to the original, or if you just love someone and want to thrill them, get this as a gift for that person.

A slightly different version of this review with helpful links to an article with Steve Ross and to Chris Well's Nifty Blog may be found at: http://mirathon.blogspot.com

Mir

Lord, Teach Me to Pray for Kids (Discover 4 Yourself® Inductive Bible Studies for Kids)

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Lord, Teach Me to Pray for Kids (Discover 4 Yourself® Inductive Bible Studies for Kids)
Kay Arthur , and Janna Arndt
Manufacturer: Harvest House Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Bible & Other Sacred Texts | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0736906665

Book Description

Kay Arthur’s popular Discover 4 Yourself® Inductive Bible Studies for Kids continues in this exciting exploration of the power of prayer.

As members in God’s Special Forces, kids train to be communication experts. Using the illustration of “chain of command,” Kay Arthur and Janna Arndt explain the concept of prayer. Fun puzzles, mazes, and codes help kids make contact with “home base,” develop clear reception, and stay continually in touch with their Commander in Chief, their Father in heaven.

The Lord’s Prayer is the foundation of this special basic training, and it’s not long before the trainees discover the awesome truth that God wants to talk to them as much as they want to talk to Him!

Extreme Faith
<i>twelve Radical Young Believers In The Bible Who Changed Our World</i>

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It rocks!
It Rocks!

Extreme Faith twelve Radical Young Believers In The Bible Who Changed Our World
Tim Baker
Manufacturer: Thomas Nelson
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Ages 9-12 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Biographies & Memoirs | Teens | Subjects | Books

General | Religion & Spirituality | Teens | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0785267573

Book Description

Some young people today are indifferent about the Christian faith because they don't identify with anyone in Scripture or in their church. Others are excited about the faith and hungry for role models to show them how to pursue their ideals. Extreme Faith, a book created for the Extreme for Jesus line, addresses both needs.

Extreme Faith is a collection of fresh, youth-oriented character studies that show readers what a difference young people made in Bible times. This book devotes a chapter to each character profile, telling stories of amazing Bible characters such as Isaac, Esther, and Josiah in detail and showing how today's youth can follow their examples and make a difference in their world. Includes snapshot profiles of modern young people whose lives are extreme for Jesus.

Customer Reviews:

It rocks!.......2001-06-20

If you want to learn more about people in the Bible who were still young when they did amazing things for God you will love this book. It takes the stories you've read before and puts them in totally normal language. It is a great book.

It Rocks!.......2001-06-20

If you would like to learn more stuff about people in the Bible who were still young with they did awesome things for God this book totally rocks. It tells you the stuff from the Bible but in really normal language that is totally easy to understand. I would definately recomend it to anyone who wants to learn more about the people of God.

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