If I Could Ask God Anything

If I Could Ask God Anything

awesome Bible answers for curious kids

Kathryn Slattery

If you are looking for something to help answer your child's questions about God, the Bible, and issues that we all face in life, then this is a good resource for you! The book is divided into sections so that parents can easily find the topic/answers they are looking for: God, Jesus, Holy Spirit, The Bible, Christianity, Prayer, The Church, Christian Seasons & Holidays, Being A Christian Here & Now, Being A Christian Forever & Ever, and finally Big Questions.

Slattery did an excellent job with using scripture to answer each topic in this book. Each topic's answers are backed up with scripture. Slattery's answers are written in a simple way that is easy for a child to understand. For instance, Who is Jesus? Slattery wrote, "Jesus is God's only Son (Mark 14:61-62). Jesus is the most important person who ever lived in the history of our world." She then gives you scripture verses from the Gospel of John that further explains this answer.

I appreciate the fact that Slattery didn't just answer the questions with her beliefs. She gives you concise answers that are backed up with scripture! I don't want a person's "opinion" on these topics. I want answers that are backed up by scripture, and scripture alone. Occasionally Slattery may give you a personal story to use as an example, but they are just that, examples.

If you find yourself at a loss for words when faced with your child's questions this book is a good starting off point for you. Slattery's answers are simple and gives you scripture (some already written and some you have to look up) to back up the answers.

KALEIDOSCOPE

SEEING GOD'S WIT AND WISDOM IN A WHOLE NEW LIGHT By Patsy Clairmont

Kaleidoscope is classic Patsy Clairmont. A study on the book of Proverbs, Patsy covers a wealth of insight in 33 short chapters. Kaleidoscope has valuable bits of wisdom in every chapter that can be used by anyone who picks it up.

Patsy Clairmont has a whimsical sense of humor that comes out in her writings and this book is no exception. There are plenty of laughs within the pages of Kaleidoscope. But there is also great wisdom. Patsy breaks down each chapter into four, easy-to-read, sections that only cover a few pages at a time. There is the chapter's title page that has a scripture to prepare the reader on what they'll be reading. You'll then read the actual chapter that holds a wealth of wisdom. Next, Patsy gives you some questions to mull over that helps you apply what you've just read to your life. And finally, there are more scriptures that tie into the chapter you've just read. All this within a short five to six pages of reading material per chapter.

Definitely worth the read!

Plain Pursuit by Beth Wiseman

Plain Pursuit is the second book of the Daughters of the Promise series by Beth Wiseman. Another series based on the Amish lifestyle by yet another author. I would have thought this genre of books had been worn out but obviously there are authors determined to put their stamp on it.

Plain Pursuit begins with Carley Marek, the book's main character, being forced to take a paid vacation after recovering from a major accident. Carley decides to visit an Amish friend, Lillian, in hopes that the peaceful setting would rub off on her. Unfortunately, for Carley, life seems to unravel for her Amish friend's family. Shortly after arriving at her friend's house, Lillian's son falls ill. While at the hospital, the family meets Dr. Noah who is a stranger for some but for others he is well known. In Carley's quest to find out the secrets surrounding Dr. Noah she gets too close and soon, emotions begin to get the best of everyone.

Carley knows Dr. Noah has a secret he's hiding and she's determined to find out what it is. Nothing prepared Carley for what she would eventually find. Or for what would find her. Love. Will Carley turn her back on the new sense of family and peace to return to Houston and the busy pace of her job? Or, will she decide to follow her heart and take a risk with whatever the future holds for her? You have to read the story to find out.

It took me a while to get into Plain Pursuit. At first, the character's dialogue seemed forced. I was half way through the book when I finally felt invested in the characters and what happens in their lives. I prefer a book that captures my attention faster than that. With that said though, the book was not a total loss. I enjoyed how the story tied everything together at the end. If you read this story you will eventually feel a sense of closure, you just have to get to the end of the book to feel it. Overall, I was pleased with the story.

The Jesus Storybook Bible

The Jesus Storybook Bible: Every Story Whispers His Name
By Sally Lloyd-Jones


My husband bought The Jesus Storybook Bible for our daughter for Christmas this year and it immediately became a favorite in our home. Each story, from Genesis to Revelations, is beautifully written and illustrated. Lloyd-Jones wrote in such a way that every story draws you in, whether you're a child or an adult.

There is a quote by G K Chesterton used in this book and it appropriately describes the joint works of Sally Lloyd-Jones (Author), J. Jago (Illustrator), and David Suchet (Narrator) and The Jesus Storybook Bible...

"I had always felt life first as a story: and if there is a story there is a story-teller."

Sally Lloyd-Jones is an excellent story-teller! And she chose to use her excellent story-telling skills to tell the most important stories ever written, those that are in the Bible. Stories that are better than any fairy tale ever imagined. Stories that are true. Stories that, no matter how old they may be, are still relevant to life today. Lloyd-Jones doesn't gloss over the harder aspects of some stories, such as the heartache that Jesus felt in the garden of Gethsemane, but writes about them in ways that a child can understand.

Reading to our daughter at bedtime has always been a cherished time for our family. We have always gravitated to the same books that we've read over the years, books that are considered children's classics. Now we have a new book that we read from every night. And, we can't read just one story a night, we read at least two stories/chapters at a time. Our daughter protests when we have to shut the book and put it up for the night, not because she is trying to put off bedtime but because she wants to hear what happens next. To me, that is the highest praise a children's book can receive.

The storybook Bible is beautifully illustrated by J. Jago. Since I'm not an artist, and know very little about art, I cannot adequately describe Jago's work other than it reminds me of folk art. He added tiny details in his artwork that draws you into the page and brings the stories to life.

We bought the deluxe edition of this book which includes the complete book on audio CDs. The narration was done by David Suchet. Best known for his role as Agatha Christie's great detective Hercule Poirot, Suchet's narration is superb. I am not a fan of audio books and yet I enjoy listening to these.

I cannot give any higher praise for this storybook Bible than what my daughter says each night at bedtime, "Can we read our Bible stories now?" For a child to ask repeatedly to read from the same book means that they enjoy it. This is one book that we'll read from for years to come!

[Photos are courtesy of Amazon.com]

Welcome!

Welcome to Texas Bookworm! This is a new site for me that is dedicated just to the books I read, whether for my own pleasure or what I read to my child. A little information about me... I'm a stay-at-home wife and mom. I've been married almost fifteen years to my college sweetheart and we have a beautiful five year old little girl. I read during whatever spare time I may have in my day, which can be several pages or none at all. I am a self-professed bookworm and I'm sure you've figured out what great state I live in. Welcome to my blog!