The Berenstain Bears Storybook Bible For Little Ones

This is a review of The Berenstain Bears Storybook Bible for Little Ones. It is a small board book with a bright cover of the Berenstain Bears reading their storybook bible. The cover is padded and the book seems to be very well made. The bible stories start on the inside cover and end on the back cover so there are no paper pages. 

There are 8 bible stories starting with the creation story. Noah, Daniel in the Lion’s Den, David and Goliath,the birth of Jesus, The Good Neighbor Story, Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem and Jesus is risen are the others featured in this book. The characters in the stories are illustrated using the familiar Berenstain Bears style. 

 I wonder how the authors chose these particular Bible stories. I’m not sure that a story about someone being thrown into a den of hungry lions or a story about robbers beating up a stranger they come across are appropriate for the little ones this book is intended for. The story of Jesus coming into Jerusalem ends with the authors saying that the soldiers hurt Jesus but don’t say how. Then on the next page they tell us that Jesus died and was put into a tomb. Iwas glad they didn’t go into a lot of detail about the crucifixion. 

The book looks like it is made for toddlers but I think the content is more suited for 4-5 year olds. I think it would be a good book to take along to church to keep little ones entertained.

(I was given this book to review by HarperCollins Christian Publishing. All opinions are my own.)

Book Review--The Printer and the Preacher

This is a review of the book The Printer and the Preacher. It is a biography of Benjamin Franklin and George Whitfield. Benjamin Franklin is a well-known figure from American History and George Whitfield a lesser known preacher during Franklin’s time.

The author Randy Petersen tells about the friendship that developed between these two. Benjamin Franklin got to know George Whitfield as he printed Whitfield’s sermons. Whitfield preached in public spaces across the colonies. Whitfield in turn defended Franklin’s diplomacy.

I just wasn’t inspired by this account. Maybe it’s because I didn’t find his writing of Benjamin Franklin or George Whitfield to be all that interesting. You will get historical facts along with the story of their friendship. Some of the conversations between the two men are what Petersen imagines them to say. If you want more history and less entertainment this book might be for you.

Petersen does show that the two men with very different beliefs could get along, work together and sustain a life-long friendship. So it serves as a model that shows a friendship between two people of very different outlooks and disagreements can survive as long as there is mutual respect. 

(I was given this book to review by HarperCollins Christian Publishing. All opinions are my own.)