Prince Noah and the School Pirates Book Review

SUMMARY:  Prince Noah may be a little slower than others, but he has no less joy in living and learning.
     It's time for young Prince Noah to go to school.  In his kingdom, children go to school on sailing ships.  There is a ship for girls and one for boys, one for children with an eye patch and one for children with one leg, and one for children who don't learn as fast.  No one knows why there are so many different ships, but it has always been that way.
     Then a terrible storm drives the ships into the hands of pirates.  The boys and girls realize that they will only escape if everyone does what he or she does best.
     This delightful fairy tale instills appreciation for children with developmental challenges.

REVIEW:  This is a sweet children's book.  No one is alike; we all are different.  Some of those differences are just more noticeable than others.  In this book, Prince Noah shows the other kids that everyone has a place and to use what we know to benefits those around us.  By working together, all of the children make a difference and change the perceptions of "this is how it's always been done" to "let's start something new." This book is geared towards children but I think even adults can take away something positive and uplifting.

This book was provided by Handlebar and Plough Publishing House 

for review without compensation.

Silke Schnee is a journalist and works as a television producer for a public broadcaster in Cologne, Germany.  She is married and has three sons.  Her youngest son Noah was born with Trisomy 21 (Downs syndrome).

Heike Sistig studies special education and art and is a trained art therapist.  She works as an editor for children's television programming.  She has illustrated several children's books, and has exhibited her collages in several art galleries.  She lives with her family in Cologne, Germany. 

My God and My All Book Review

The Life of Saint Francis of Assisi

SUMMARY:  The ever-fascinating life of Saint Francis of Assisi, retold for today's readers by one of the great novelists of our time.

    Perhaps more than any other figure in Christian History, Saint Francis of Assisi has captured our imagination, for his is a story of extreme self-sacrifice, of love to God and humankind.  How could this wealthy, handsome youth cast away all the advantages that were his by birth and choose instead a life of poverty and humility?  How could he attract members of all strata of society to his mission?  And how, when his order became established throughout Europe, could he renounce great personal power and humbly continue his life's work?

     Here is Francis, from his twelfth-century boyhood to his life as a missionary roaming the very boundaries of the known world.  Here too are the colorful men and women who followed him, recreated by bestselling author Elizabeth Goudge against a rich medieval canvas.

REVIEW:  This book is not a quick or easy read.  It is more an academic-type biography in nature, which should be read slowly and thoughtfully to get the most out of the information.  I enjoyed reading Saint Francis' story, but have to admit, I did not finish the book.  It was so rich with information that I ran out of time before I could finish it.  Reading about his early life and how he gave it all up to follow God was facinating.  He felt God calling him to follow Christ's words in Matthew 10:9-14 that says:

“Do not get any gold or silver or copper to take with you in your belts—no bag for the journey or extra shirt or sandals or a staff, for the worker is worth his keep.  Whatever town or village you enter, search there for some worthy person and stay at their house until you leave.  As you enter the home, give it your greeting.  If the home is deserving, let your peace rest on it; if it is not, let your peace return to you.  If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, leave that home or town and shake the dust off your feet." Bible Gateway

     He and his followers would go out with nothing but the clothes on their backs to spread the gospel.  Sometimes the townspeople would provide food and shelter; others, they had to sleep outside in the dead of winter with nothing to cover them and nothing to eat.
     Anyone who wanted to follow him had to abide with absolutely no possessions at all.  Many followed, but some could not handle it.  Francis did not show them any animosity but love and grace.  He always thought of others before himself.  Even at the end of his life, he was thinking of those around him.
     This was a very interesting story and one I plan to finish one day very soon.  Anyone looking at church history and followers of Christ should read this book.

This book was provided by Handlebar for review without compensation.

Elizabeth Goudge (1900-1984) was one of the most popular British novelists of the twentieth century.  Her Green Dolphin Street, a #1 New York Times bestseller, was made into an Academy Award winning film.  She also wrote many acclaimed children's books - in 1946 she won the Carnegie Medal for The Little White Horse, which J.K. Rowling has said was her favorite book as a child.

The Prince Who Was Just Himself Book Review

SUMMARY:  It's a good thing everyone is different!
     The royal couple is looking forward to their third child.  "He looks a little different," muses the king at Prince Noah's arrival. "He is not like the others," agrees the queen.  Soon they notice what a very special person he is, even though he can't do everything his brothers can.
     When Prince Noah disarms the cruel knight Scarface with an act of compassion, everyone finally realizes how good it is that each person is unique.
     This delightfully illustrated fairy tale for children three years and older instills appreciation for children with Down syndrome and other developmental challenges, making it a valuable aid for teaching acceptance in the home or classroom.
     There are children who are slower, who can't run so well, who can say just a few words or none at all.  Each of them belongs in our world and enriches it.

REVIEW:  Even though my children are older, this book piqued my interest.  When we don't understand something or meet someone different from us, we try to put them in a box.  But, there are those who just knock out the sides of that box with their insight, love and compassion.  Prince Noah is one of those people.  Everything about him is different but different is good.  When the scary Scarface comes to take over the kingdom, Prince Noah uses the compassion given to him to change Scarface for the better.  I loved this book and hope to share it with everyone with little or big kids.  May we all be accepting and blessed by the Prince Noah's we meet.

This book was provided by Handlebar and Plough Publishing House for review

without compensation. 

Silke Schnee is a journalist and works as a television producer for a public broadcaster in Cologne, Germany.  She is married and has three sons.  Her youngest son Noah was born in July, 2008 with Trisomy 21 (Down syndrome).  She writes, "At first when Noah was born, we were shocked and sad.  The catalyst for this book was witnessing the effect he had on many people, despite being categorized as disabled.  In fact, our little prince brings much love, joy and sunshine not only to us, but to all around him.  Children as a wonder, and we must see them with the eyes of our heart - each child just the way he or she is."

Heike Sistig studied special education and art and is a trained art therapist.  She works as an editor for children's television programming.  She has illustrated several children's books, and has exhibited her collages in several galleries.  She lives with her family in Cologne, Germany. 

Home for Christmas Book Review

Stories for Young and Old

SUMMARY:  They are some of the warmest childhood memories, those unhurried evenings around the fireplace, Christmas tree, or dinner table, when there was time for a story . . . Now, with this collection, you can keep the story-telling tradition alive in your family, and pass it on to your children or grandchildren.

     Home for Christmas includes twenty time-honored favorites.  Several are by world-famous children's authors; others are little-known European tales not available in English anywhere else.  Selected for their literary quality and their spiritual integrity, they will resonate with readers of all ages, year after year.

REVIEW:  I'm sorry to say I did not like this book.  Most of the stories were sad and depressing.  There was one story where the main character was very selfish and thoughtless. When he had a change of heart, the story ended abruptly.  Some stories just drug on and on.  Since they were written by different authors and were set in completely different time periods and places, I had a hard time switching thought processes to follow along.  I hope others will find this book more appealing than I did.

This book was provided by Handlebar for review without compensation.

Wisdom of the Sadhu Book Review

Teachings of Sundar Singh

SUMMARY:  Known in his lifetime as India's most famous convert to Christianity, Sundar Singh (1889-1929) would not approve of that characterization.  He loved Jesus and devoted his life to knowing and following him, but he never accepted Christianity's cultural conventions, even as he embraced its stark original teachings.

     A modern Saint Francis, Sundar Singh left the wealth of his home at sixteen to live as a sadhu, or wandering holy man.  His beggar-like existence, his intense devotion, his mystical encounters with Jesus, and his simple yet profound parables became the stuff of legends.  No one who met him - including the thousands who flocked to hear him during his visits to Europe, the Far East, and the United States - remained unaffected.  

     Wisdom of the Sadhu, a collection of anecdotes, sayings, parables, and meditations, brings together the best of Sundar Singh's teachings.  Couched as they are in a distinctly Indian idiom, they probe the essence of the Gospels with unusual freshness and offer insights of great depth and value to every serious seeker.

REVIEW:  This book is a series of stories, parables, questions and teachings that is simply the gospel taught by Jesus, weaving in information about Sundar Singh's life. Growing up as a Sikh, Sundar became a Christian at age sixteen and decided to live his life as a wandering holy man, a sadhu.  He lived his life like the apostles, going into towns preaching the gospel of Jesus and trusting God to meet his needs.  He faced persecution, hunger, hardships but found joy in teaching others about Jesus. Sundar's look at life and the gospel is a simple one, but very profound.  

     To be totally honest, with so many false teachers of the Christian faith who mix other religions in with biblical Christianity, I wasn't sure what to expect with this book.  I am happy to say that I was pleasantly surprised.  I found this book very interesting and very above board.  It will challenge the reader to examine their lives, how they view others and how they look at the gospel of Jesus Christ.  I totally recommend this book who wants to stretch their lives and their understanding of the Gospel.

This book was provided by Handlebar for review without compensation.

Sundar Singh grew up in Rampur, India in a prominent Sikh family and was educated at a nearby Presbyterian missionary school.  After his conversion at age 16, he took on the ascetic lifestyle of a sahdu.  His real significance comes from the devotion and selflessness with which he spread the Gospel and in the sincerity with which he lived what he preached.  His wanderings led him through at least twenty countries on four continents, where he profoundly influenced tens of thousands of people.  In the first half of the Twentieth Century, no spiritual teacher from the East was better known.  When he disappeared in the Himalayas in 1929, the world mourned this wandering, penniless pilgrim who kept his focus on Christ.

A Plain Disappearance Book Review

An Appleseed Creek Mystery

Book Three

SUMMARY:  It's Christmastime in Amish Country, and Chloe Humphrey has begun settling into her life in Appleseed Creek.  She's especially excited to see where her new relationship with Timothy Troyer will lead.  Unfortunately, it leads to murder when the couple discovers the body of Amish teenager Katie Lambright while on their first date.
     Near the scene there is evidence that Timothy's friend and auto mechanic Billy Thorpe is involved with the crime.  The police reveal Billy is not really who he said he was and has been living the last decade in Knox County under a stolen alias.  Now, Chloe and Timothy must find Billy, bring him to justice or prove his innocence.

REVIEW:  This is a different type of suspense book.  Instead of the story centering in the Amish community, the main characters are an Englischer and a former Amishman who still have some contact with Amish family members.  The storyline is interesting, suspenseful, and kept my attention.  While the actual story occurs over about about a two week period, it moves along at the right pace and doesn't get bogged down in details or move too fast.  Also, even though this is the third book in this series, I did not feel like I was missing anything by not reading the others and followed the characters pretty easily.
     If you are looking for a suspense novel with a different twist, check this one out.  I think you will be pleased.

This book was provided by Handlebar and Bethany House for review without compensation.

Amanda Flower is an academic librarian for a small college in Ohio and grew up visiting the state's Amish Country with her family.  Her 2010 debut, Maid of Murder, received an Agatha Award nominations for Best First Novel.

Invisible Book Review

SUMMARY:  What happens when we turn our health - physical and emotional - over to God?
     Ellyn - chef, cafe' owner, and lover of butter - is hiding something behind her extra weight.  While she sees the good in others, she has only condemnation for herself.  So when a handsome widower claims he's attracted to Ellyn, she's certain there's something wrong with him.
     Sabina - tall, slender, and exotic - left her husband, young adult daughters, and a thriving counseling practice to spend a year in Northern California where she says she's come to heal.  But it seems to Ellyn that Sabina's doing more hiding than healing.  Why?
     Twila has come out of hiding and is working to gain back the pounds she lost when her only goal was to disappear.  When her eating disorder is triggered again, thought she longs to hide, she instead follows God and fights for her own survival.
     As these women's lives intertwine, their eyes will open to the glory within each of them as they begin to recognize themselves as being created in God's image.

REVIEW:  This book is phenomenal!!!  The way Ellyn, Sabina, and Twila interact, lift each other up and challenge each other is fresh and enjoyable.  Ellyn and Sabina argue with each other and move each other out of their comfort zones but do it with love and respect and not out of anger.  Twila, even though she is much younger than Sabina and Ellyn, is full of God-given wisdom and understanding.  I love how all three women encourage each other and help each other through rough spots and in hard times.
      Even though the story deals with weigh issues (both overeating and anorexia) and weight loss, the author is quick to point out that it is a story about freedom from the bondage of shame, which is found through believing the truth in God's Word.  I can relate to Ellyn's struggles of weight, love of food and not seeing herself as others do - beautiful, loving, fun, and amazing, but Twila's insight on seeing yourself in God's image has stuck with me the longest.
     We all struggle with how we see ourselves and how we perceive others see us, even if we would never admit to it.  When we see ourselves made in God's image, no matter our size, coloring, or abilities, we have great freedom.  
    While this review does not do this book the justice it deserves, you will not be disappointed when you take the time and read it yourself.

This book was provided by Handlebar for review without compensation.

Ginny L. Yttrup won a Christy Award and ForeWord Reviews Book of the Year Award for her award-winning debut novel, Words.  Also a speaker and life coach, she ministers to women wounded by sexual trauma.  Yttrup has two grown sons and lives in California.  For more information, visit her website at www.GinnyYttrup.com.

Goodbye to Yesterday Book Review

The Discovery

Part 1 of 6
A Lancaster County Saga

SUMMARY:  Instead of experiencing newlywed bliss, Meredith and Luke Stoltzfus are faced with the greatest challenge of their young lives.

     When Luke Stoltzfus loses his job at a furniture store in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, he is given an opportunity to learn a new trade from his uncle who lives in Indiana.  Despite his wife's reservations, Luke jumps at the chance and makes plans for a quick trip to Middlebury.

     Along the way, Luke meets with tragedy, and life as he knew will never be the same.

     Despite all odds, will the faith and love Luke and Meredith share be enough to bring them back together again?  Or will Meredith begin a new life with another?

REVIEW:   Reading this book is like watching my favorite television show.  The storyline builds and, just as things start getting interesting, you are made to wait until the show airs again to find out what happens next.  The book is not very long, only about 121 pages, and I finished it in about an hour and a half (my reading time was stop and go).  I am afraid to write anything about the story in fear that I will give away something important.  This is a great book and I can't wait to see what happens in the coming issues.  The second book in the continuing saga is due out in March 2013 and I will be waiting!!

This book was provided by Handlebar for review without compensation.

Award-winning, bestselling author Wanda E. Brunstetter and her husband live in Washington State but take every opportunity to visit friends in Amish settlements throughout the States.  For more information about Wanda and her books, visit her website at www.wandabrunstetter.com.

Courageous Teens Book Review

SUMMARY:  You need courage.
     You need the courage to stand strong when everything else is falling apart.  You need the courage to say no when the world entices with diversions.  You need the courage to be a faithful leader of the next generation.
     Looking at strong biblical characters, examples from the unforgettable film Courageous, insightful questions, and practical applications.  Courageous Teens builds an unshakeable foundation for a courageous lifestyle.  Perfect for weekly group or individual study, this inspiring and in-depth study of courage will call teens like you to step out in faith, equipping you with the courage that is vital to your future - and to the future of us all.

REVIEW:  This is a great book for teens and adults alike.  The authors challenge their readers to take a stand for what is right - to be courageous - by showing how biblical characters such as Gideon, Joshua, Joseph and Ruth took as stand and changed the world around them.  There are questions and a recap at the end of each chapter to reinforce what they read and to challenge them to become a better, more courageous teen.  I would encourage teens, and even adults, to read this book.

This book was provided by Handlebar for review without compensation.

Michael Catt, executive producer of the film Courageous, is a senior pastor of Sherwood Baptist Church in Albany, Georgia.  He also served as executive producer on other popular films including Facing the Giants and Fireproof.  Michael authored the best seller Fireproof Your Life, The Power of Desperation, The Power of Persistence, The Power of Surrender and Courageous Living.  He is the founder of the ReFRESH revival conference.  Michael and his wife, Terri, have two children.

Amy Parker has written more than twenty books for children, teens and adults.  She lives in Middle Tennessee with her husband, Daniel, and their two amazing sons, Michael and Ethan.