What Does the Bible Say About That?
(by Carolyn Larsen)
Crossway Books & Bibles has published a new Bible devotional book for children ages 8-12, written by Carolyn Larsen and illustrated by Rick Incrocci.
Our family received this book from Crossway Books & Bibles in order to share a review with you all.
Are children in your family struggling with jealousy, gossip, or fairness? How about repentance, laziness, or hatred? How about 300 common character flaws or issues that we all struggle with, no matter what our ages?
What Does the Bible Say About That? may be specifically written for children ages 8-12, but this book is an excellent tool for using with the entire family for Bible devotional times together.
How can this book make a difference for your family?
There are many family Bible resources out on the market right now – you may have a shelf full of them! Very few, however, are written to be used like how this book may be effectively used in your home.
The 300 character issues and traits which are addressed in this book are found in alphabetical order, which makes it simple for Dad to consider the main struggle his children are having, and for finding a devotional for the evening that addresses this problem.
For example, let’s say that Dad comes home from work, and Mom greets him at the door. By the time dinner is finished, Dad realizes that the #1 struggle the kids were having that day was dealing with fairness.
That evening, as they all snuggle on the couch or sit on the floor together, Dad can easily pull out What Does the Bible Say About That? along with a Bible, and he can quickly flip to the page in this book that addresses fairness.
If you’d like to take a look at one of the pages in this book, you may look here: Crossway Book Blogs . To look at additional books presented by Crossway Books & Bibles, you may also check this site out: Crossway’s Blog .
Tell me more about the author, Carolyn Larsen…
Carolyn Larsen has written more than forty books for children and adults, including Crossway’s The Toddler’s ABC Bible Storybook and The Toddler’s 1-2-3 Bible Storybook. A mother of three whose humor and understanding of kids combines so well with her vast experience in writing on biblical topics, she is best known as the author of the Little Girls Bible Storybook line, which has sold more than 1 million copies.
What inspired you to write What Does the Bible Say About That?
Carolyn: We raised three children and I’ve been involved with a team comprised of young people for over twenty years. I often heard confusion from the children as to how the Bible relates to "real life." It’s easy to put God and the Bible in the context of church, youth group, and ministry situations. But, I thought it would be practical to choose some everyday life topics and show how the Bible speaks to those. I believe this book will help kids see that God cares about the day in and day out struggles of life.
What do you hope kids will feel, believe, and do after reading this book?
Carolyn: My hope is always that the books I write will speak to kids’ hearts. I hope they will feel and believe that God loves them so very much – whether they make mistakes, make bad choices, or struggle with the same temptations day after day. I hope they will turn to the Bible to see how God can guide them, strengthen them, and teach them to learn His standards and goals for their lives.
How will this book benefit parents?
Carolyn: I hope this book will be a resource for parents to turn to and quickly find Scripture passages that will assist them as they work through issues and struggles with their children. Someone told me once that a parent is only as happy as his or her unhappiest child. In other words, we hurt when our kids hurt. My prayer is that this book will help parents come alongside their chidlren to encourage, motivate, teach, and strengthen kids’ faith walk.
What topics in this book would have been a resource for you as a parent?
Carolyn: Well, my kids were great (are great!). But, believe it or not, the topics I might have found most helpful are the ones that in some ways I struggle with myself or the topics that every kid sometimes resists…things like homework, stubbornness, abilities, and acceptance. As kids head into the middle school years, those topics seem to come to the forefront.
What sets this book apart?
Carolyn: I know there are a lot of great devotional books out there for kids, and I truly believe that all of us must work together to help kids grow into young men and women who follow the Lord. That said, I think the great thing about this book is that it addresses everyday topics kids struggle with, gives a short devotional thought, Scriptures that address the topic, and an action point for the reader to work on.
What did you enjoy most about writing this book?
Carolyn: I always consider it both a privilege and a responsibility to write Bible storybooks and devotionals. I pray that God will use these tools to draw the reader closer to Himself. With this book, I enjoyed thinking through some of the struggles kids have (and let’s be honest – struggles that adults still face from time to time). It was a blessing to me to research Scripture and be reminded of God’s care and involvement in my life – every moment, in every situation. I was reminded once again to stay in His Word and to have quiet times before Him when I can hear His voice.
I really pray that the section (on each page of this devotional) "Today I will…" is a practical point of action. I pray that the immediacy of it will give kids a chance to put into practice what they have just read and begin to see how obeying God’s Word makes a difference in their lives right away.
What was my family’s "take" on this book?
I (Julieanne) really like the way the topics throughout this book are presented alphabetically. This gives parents two options: they can read the book straight through with their children, from cover to cover, or they can choose topics which they are finding more prevalent problems or issues in their home. It’s always nice to have options like this! Also, children can use this devotional guide as a tool during their own private time with the Lord each day.
My children, though only ages 9 and 11, were hoping for some more meatier devotional readings. I really appreciated the fact that usually three different Scripture readings were included in each topic’s page, but they were short passages. One of my girls also commented that a few topics didn’t seem to address the seriousness of getting involved in that particular sin (for example, witchcraft and unmarried sex). When I looked at those devotional pages with her, I was disappointed to see that a very important verse from the Old Testament was left out of the witchcraft page. I strongly believe that Deuteronomy 18:10-13 should have been included:
"Let no one be found among you who…practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. Anyone who does these things is destestable to the LORD, and because of these detestable practices the LORD your God will drive out those nations before you. You must be blameless before the LORD your God."
Instead, the author chose to include three verses (Philippians 1:9-11; Philippians 4:8, and James 3:17) that describe the positive and godly things we ARE to think about. While I love these verses, and they remind me regularly to avoid negative and godless thinking, I think that some verses that specifically addressed witchcraft would have been more appropriate to also include.
And, since the topic of sex is handled so differently from family to family, I think it would have been more appropriate to leave that discussion out of this book. Fortunately, the author never defines "sex" on the page dedicated to talking about what the Bible says about sex. In fact, the author is vague enough that if a child did not know what this word meant, he or she could read this page and still not have a clue what the author is talking about. A parent who likes this book but wants a page or two removed can easily do that if it would make him or her more comfortable.
Maybe because my husband and I have chosen to educate our children with a classical, Christian format, they are just used to more in-depth study of the Bible. I don’t know. They liked the book, but they were asking for more depth than what this book has to offer my own children. However, I would say that the typical 8-12 year old would find these readings faith-strengthening for personal or family Bible times.
We have used another source for character trait issues in our family, and it provides a very in-depth look at the specific trait that is being studied. But What Does the Bible Say About That? is a great start for families who are not used to having Bible times together, or for encouraging your children who are not used to having their own personal Bible time alone.
The #1 feature of this book that I really like is that it helps transition children from the "Top 40" Bible stories they have heard a million-and-one times at Sunday School, to realizing that the Bible not only relates true stories, but also is THE Book to guide us in our daily walk with the Lord.
Our family received this book from Crossway Books & Bibles in order to share a review with you all.
Are children in your family struggling with jealousy, gossip, or fairness? How about repentance, laziness, or hatred? How about 300 common character flaws or issues that we all struggle with, no matter what our ages?
What Does the Bible Say About That? may be specifically written for children ages 8-12, but this book is an excellent tool for using with the entire family for Bible devotional times together.
How can this book make a difference for your family?
There are many family Bible resources out on the market right now – you may have a shelf full of them! Very few, however, are written to be used like how this book may be effectively used in your home.
The 300 character issues and traits which are addressed in this book are found in alphabetical order, which makes it simple for Dad to consider the main struggle his children are having, and for finding a devotional for the evening that addresses this problem.
For example, let’s say that Dad comes home from work, and Mom greets him at the door. By the time dinner is finished, Dad realizes that the #1 struggle the kids were having that day was dealing with fairness.
That evening, as they all snuggle on the couch or sit on the floor together, Dad can easily pull out What Does the Bible Say About That? along with a Bible, and he can quickly flip to the page in this book that addresses fairness.
If you’d like to take a look at one of the pages in this book, you may look here: Crossway Book Blogs . To look at additional books presented by Crossway Books & Bibles, you may also check this site out: Crossway’s Blog .
Tell me more about the author, Carolyn Larsen…
Carolyn Larsen has written more than forty books for children and adults, including Crossway’s The Toddler’s ABC Bible Storybook and The Toddler’s 1-2-3 Bible Storybook. A mother of three whose humor and understanding of kids combines so well with her vast experience in writing on biblical topics, she is best known as the author of the Little Girls Bible Storybook line, which has sold more than 1 million copies.
What inspired you to write What Does the Bible Say About That?
Carolyn: We raised three children and I’ve been involved with a team comprised of young people for over twenty years. I often heard confusion from the children as to how the Bible relates to "real life." It’s easy to put God and the Bible in the context of church, youth group, and ministry situations. But, I thought it would be practical to choose some everyday life topics and show how the Bible speaks to those. I believe this book will help kids see that God cares about the day in and day out struggles of life.
What do you hope kids will feel, believe, and do after reading this book?
Carolyn: My hope is always that the books I write will speak to kids’ hearts. I hope they will feel and believe that God loves them so very much – whether they make mistakes, make bad choices, or struggle with the same temptations day after day. I hope they will turn to the Bible to see how God can guide them, strengthen them, and teach them to learn His standards and goals for their lives.
How will this book benefit parents?
Carolyn: I hope this book will be a resource for parents to turn to and quickly find Scripture passages that will assist them as they work through issues and struggles with their children. Someone told me once that a parent is only as happy as his or her unhappiest child. In other words, we hurt when our kids hurt. My prayer is that this book will help parents come alongside their chidlren to encourage, motivate, teach, and strengthen kids’ faith walk.
What topics in this book would have been a resource for you as a parent?
Carolyn: Well, my kids were great (are great!). But, believe it or not, the topics I might have found most helpful are the ones that in some ways I struggle with myself or the topics that every kid sometimes resists…things like homework, stubbornness, abilities, and acceptance. As kids head into the middle school years, those topics seem to come to the forefront.
What sets this book apart?
Carolyn: I know there are a lot of great devotional books out there for kids, and I truly believe that all of us must work together to help kids grow into young men and women who follow the Lord. That said, I think the great thing about this book is that it addresses everyday topics kids struggle with, gives a short devotional thought, Scriptures that address the topic, and an action point for the reader to work on.
What did you enjoy most about writing this book?
Carolyn: I always consider it both a privilege and a responsibility to write Bible storybooks and devotionals. I pray that God will use these tools to draw the reader closer to Himself. With this book, I enjoyed thinking through some of the struggles kids have (and let’s be honest – struggles that adults still face from time to time). It was a blessing to me to research Scripture and be reminded of God’s care and involvement in my life – every moment, in every situation. I was reminded once again to stay in His Word and to have quiet times before Him when I can hear His voice.
I really pray that the section (on each page of this devotional) "Today I will…" is a practical point of action. I pray that the immediacy of it will give kids a chance to put into practice what they have just read and begin to see how obeying God’s Word makes a difference in their lives right away.
What was my family’s "take" on this book?
I (Julieanne) really like the way the topics throughout this book are presented alphabetically. This gives parents two options: they can read the book straight through with their children, from cover to cover, or they can choose topics which they are finding more prevalent problems or issues in their home. It’s always nice to have options like this! Also, children can use this devotional guide as a tool during their own private time with the Lord each day.
My children, though only ages 9 and 11, were hoping for some more meatier devotional readings. I really appreciated the fact that usually three different Scripture readings were included in each topic’s page, but they were short passages. One of my girls also commented that a few topics didn’t seem to address the seriousness of getting involved in that particular sin (for example, witchcraft and unmarried sex). When I looked at those devotional pages with her, I was disappointed to see that a very important verse from the Old Testament was left out of the witchcraft page. I strongly believe that Deuteronomy 18:10-13 should have been included:
"Let no one be found among you who…practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. Anyone who does these things is destestable to the LORD, and because of these detestable practices the LORD your God will drive out those nations before you. You must be blameless before the LORD your God."
Instead, the author chose to include three verses (Philippians 1:9-11; Philippians 4:8, and James 3:17) that describe the positive and godly things we ARE to think about. While I love these verses, and they remind me regularly to avoid negative and godless thinking, I think that some verses that specifically addressed witchcraft would have been more appropriate to also include.
And, since the topic of sex is handled so differently from family to family, I think it would have been more appropriate to leave that discussion out of this book. Fortunately, the author never defines "sex" on the page dedicated to talking about what the Bible says about sex. In fact, the author is vague enough that if a child did not know what this word meant, he or she could read this page and still not have a clue what the author is talking about. A parent who likes this book but wants a page or two removed can easily do that if it would make him or her more comfortable.
Maybe because my husband and I have chosen to educate our children with a classical, Christian format, they are just used to more in-depth study of the Bible. I don’t know. They liked the book, but they were asking for more depth than what this book has to offer my own children. However, I would say that the typical 8-12 year old would find these readings faith-strengthening for personal or family Bible times.
We have used another source for character trait issues in our family, and it provides a very in-depth look at the specific trait that is being studied. But What Does the Bible Say About That? is a great start for families who are not used to having Bible times together, or for encouraging your children who are not used to having their own personal Bible time alone.
The #1 feature of this book that I really like is that it helps transition children from the "Top 40" Bible stories they have heard a million-and-one times at Sunday School, to realizing that the Bible not only relates true stories, but also is THE Book to guide us in our daily walk with the Lord.
