Youth Books

As a long-time pop culture geek and a person of faith, I approached this book with some trepidation. Others have tried to find spiritual lessons and insights from comic books, with widely varied--but mostly weak, pedantic, and obvious--results. In Holy Superheroes, Greg Garrison hits it out of the park. It's extremely insightful and engaging. It forced me (gladly and willingly!) to think through the key issues of life, faith, human history, and culture as witnessed by and expressed through comic books. Greg clearly knows his comic books, and his faith, and so reading this fascinating overview of the nexus of those two great worlds was deeply fulfilling.

Don't be put off by the "Revised and Expanded" part of the subtitle. Even if you own a copy of Greg Garrett's earlier version of this book -- this is so different than the earlier text that you shouldn't think twice about ordering the new book.

If you're new to Greg Garrett's work, you may want to order this book -- and his book, "The Gospel According to Hollywood," as well.

Today, the men and women we are interested in reaching to explore spiritual themes are far more adept at swimming in the seas of popular media than they are in the seas of traditional faith. In this book, Baylor University's Greg Garrett helps us explore our deep fascination with superheroes over the past century of comics, since the creation of Superman in the 1930s.

He has designed this book to be great for discussion groups. The main text is only 120 pages and the dozen chapters are smartly divided around themes likely to spark discussion. Plus, he offers an appendix that recommends "essential" graphic novels and comic collections that anyone seriously attempting to lead a group in this field should explore.

The one problem with picking up a copy of Garrett's book is that it's almost guaranteed to make you want to read more books -- graphic novels. You won't want to read just one.

I really enjoyed this book because, although I was forced to read it, it made me think. After reading the book I gave 200 yen to a homeless man in the park. I also chilled with him.

I really enjoyed this book because, although I was forced to read it, it made me think. After reading the book I gave 200 yen to a homeless man in the park. I also chilled with him.

I enjoyed this book because it described a time and place, Russia from 1905 through 1920, that I knew little about. The author tells the story of her parents' love match -- a young Scottish woman marries a Russian man and moves to his country -- and the family events that followed, including her own birth. Very charming and sad. I'm so glad Ms. Fraser wrote an autobiography instead of trying to turn her story into a novel as so many younger writers from potentially interesting backgrounds are doing today. This way she was able to include various events that were exciting, fun or touching without stretching to find some novelistic reason for including them.

Very interesting book by Mrs. Fraser, who was a child of a Russian-Scottish marriage in pre-revolutionary Russia. This has to be one of the very few detailed accounts of life in the Arkhangelsk region around that time, at least in English. Following a recounting of some of her family's colorful history, the book essentially tracks the pre-war years of her memory through the civil war and her escape from Russia. I had a hard time putting it down and am looking forward to reading her follow-up book dealing with this subject, "The Dvina Remains."

Makes a person think about education, urban planning and the cost of suberbia.

Michael Downs has done a wonderful job of weaving in his personal life with a story of hopes and dreams--some realized and some not. At times, his prose is poetic. The story of the virtual collapse of huge chunks of Hartford is a story that has played out in major cities across America. This story, extremely well-documented and reported, is uniquely and poignantly told.

This is the best book of skits that our puppet team has used. The skits inside are relevant, humorous, and easy to perform. But more than that, this book is a springboard of ideas. Thanks!

These are very fun puppet skits that are absolutely hilarious but all have a point that is very clear. A lot of puppet skits books are ok, but this one takes the cake. The personalities of each character are well-defined and are tons of fun. I have used these skits in my church as well as with my nieces, who love performing them, especially the Rolf and Fleabisucuit skits. I highly recommend this whether you are actively involved in children's ministry or just have kids in your home that you want to do some creative devotions with.

I love stories -- especially real-life ones. This book is full of personal stories, every day stories...and yet the author reveals so much meaning in them! I thought this book was wonderful, and it made me want to take a deeper look at my life experiences and what God wants me to learn from them. This book gives me hope that I can become more like Him...that every day He gives me lessons to learn, if I'll just open my eyes and look around!

Steven James is a phenomenal writer-creating vivid stories in the mind of the reader. Even though you have never met him, you can feel his sense of God in his writings. The stories range from Matt, a rock climber who fell 85 feet and got a second chance at life- to- Crystal, a 19-year-old mass murderer who found hope behind bars. These stories somehow all tie into your everyday life and give you valuable insights in how to live closer to God, or "How to smell like God"! Though the title may sound a little girly, I recommend it to any guy or girl of any age.

According to Karen-Marie Yust, professor of Christian Education at my seminary, Christian Theological Seminary, the book `How to Use Camping Experiences in Religious Education: Transformation through Christian Camping' by Steven Venable and Donald Joy is about the only book available on the topic of Church Camping. It is a very brief book, some 120 small pages, and only briefly touches on many practical issues related to church camp planning, leadership, and implementation. Yet, as Yust says, it is about the only book available. True, more general guides on Christian education and youth ministry will talk about camping experiences as part of their text, but not in the systematic way that Venable and Joy provide here, and not with such focus.

In twelve brief chapters, Venable and Joy trace history, theory, and practice of church camp experience in a very practical way. This is designed to aid the current or potential camp leader or counselor, as well as give insight to church school and Christian educators who are interested and concerned about church camp experiences, and how they might fit into an overall programme of education and formation.

`How to Use Camping Experiences in Religious Education is designed to get you up and running as quickly as possible. Chapters 3-11 constitute the `handbook' tools, each offering information on a specific aspect of religious camping. Each chapter ends with an annotated bibliography that points the way to other resources.'

This points to two primary strengths of this book. First, the chapters are brief, to-the-point expositions of specific aspects of church camps. How does bible study fit in? How does worship work at a campground? What makes a good camp counselor? These considerations form the core of the handbook text, which addresses the following topics:

o Getting started
o Small groups
o Camp bible study
o Worship at camp
o Camp counselors
o Rites of passage
o Creative programming
o Choices and strategies
o Developing a leadership team
o Backpacking

The last chapter is a special love of Donald Joy's, so he details the advantages and considerations of holding a backpacking experience camp. This chapter also shows the details one must consider when getting further involves in any kind of specialty camp.

A second strength is the bibliographic material at the end of each chapter, which gives a current guide to outside resources - knowing that this book doesn't provide all there is that needs to be known, it assists the reader in locating useful resources to build upon the broad principles provided in this text. The references are varied and useful on different levels; for instance, the bibliographic references for small groups includes three books of practical suggestions, but also includes an autobiography (of E. Stanley Jones) that helps illustrate through the life of a person the importance of small groups, and Dietrich Bonhoeffer's `Life Together', a book that shows the overwhelming importance of small groups in the face of overwhelming obstacles and life struggles.

It is the combination of these features that gives this book real power. The suggestions are direct and easy to understand, but they are also open-ended in theory and practice, so that the reader will be encouraged to use these guidelines and ideas as a starting point, and not as an end or a set curriculum.

Through the book, the importance of community is highlighted. The formation of camp communities small and large, the importance of community spirit and feeling in and outside of camp, and the power that community can play in the education and formation of campers permeates all the suggestions and narratives.

`Community is not something to be taken lightly. During the time set apart for camp, campers and counselors alike are searching for meaning and significance, and they often find it in the unique bonds that they form with one another. The experience of community at camp is magnified when the homes, communities, and churches we come from fail to reflect and make use of this strength.'

Tying the theory and practice of church camping back to the example of Jesus in his wilderness reflections and wandering ministry, Venable and Joy show a biblical basis to the practice of camping. The authors show their enthusiasm most strongly in the conclusion, where they state they will continued camping ministry `so long as we have breath'. Their final statement, `Blessed camping!', is in fact what this book is to camping. A blessing indeed.

This is one of the best "small in size", yet "great in content" books that I have read on the subject of summer camping in my lifetime! It is filled with ideas, theology, and practical suggestions. The authors provide tips for the effective training of staff and counsellors, discuss the importance of small groups, deal with worship and Bible study in the outdoor context, and speak imaginatively and creatively to camping programs as part of life journeys. They include important sections on rites of passage, schedule planning, and backpacking. Each chapter ends with a solid list of resources. You could plan an entire camping program with the use only of this book.

What a fun, creative, and easy resource to have and use to bring Bible stories to life in your classroom, small groups, large groups, and in your children's ministry as a whole. The skits are written with just a slight bit of humor, so this will for sure keep the kids and adults attention! They are also written with sound and Biblical based truths! The message doesn't get lost in the drama. The unique way in which the skits are written and presented gives the drama leader choices in how best to present the skits. Either using various audience or class members as characters and additional characters, so everyone feels involved in the story. The skits can also be presented with just the main characters delivering and performing the skits as they are written. It is always to the children's ministry teacher or leaders advantage when presented with options and this resource definitely gives options! The follow-up questions at the end of each skit is also a way of tying in the skit to the Bible story and not just presenting a skit for the sake of presenting a skit. It gives a sense of "meat and bones" to the skit and lesson presented. The sound effect CD is a plus bonus as well! With realistic sound effects, it makes the Bible story and skit even more realistic and come alive. In the media driven society that our kids are living in and the visual learners that they have become, having a resource readily available like this will bring newness and freshness to children's ministry and to the art of presenting and telling Bible stories! For the children's ministry leader looking to start a drama ministry, this resource is the tool you need to help you get started and go above and beyond! As a children's ministry leader who is involved in writing and presenting skits in our children's ministry and burden with writing skits, with this resource, this burden has been relieved ten-fold!

This is a good resource to use when planning children's ministry. I bought it for use in our children's church department and was not disappointed. There are over fifty skits, all of which are around three minutes (some may take closer to five minutes). The cd that comes with it has background music for each skit that you just set your player to continuously play.

The stories cover many excellent bible stories and talk about such things as courage, God's provision, standing up for God, patience, etc. At the end of each skit there are listed different discussion ideas that you can have with the kids.

These smaller skits also really help prepare the children for larger presentations, like fullscale Christmas and Easter dramas. Go ahead and buy this book. It is not expensive and you will be glad that you did.

if anyone wishes to go into children's ministry, this book should be required reading. when my husband and i took over the children's church we were running 3 children. within a year we were running 40. the ideas work great in sunday school and in awana clubs. i know teachers who have also utilized some of the priciples in their classrooms in the public schools too. i have met the author and he has a real heart for children and for those wanting to serve in the ministry. get his other books as well. "How do I get these kids to listen?" and "Teaching with Bible games"

A terrific book with many excellent and creative ideas for children's ministries, especially Children's Church. This book is very readable and contains much practical insight into making church exciting for youngsters. I have personally used a number of the games and ideas. The response has been very encouraging. This book will fire you up about your Junior Church!

Every elementary and middle school in America should have a copy of this book on their shelves. It is an endearing, autobiographical tale of a young girl growing up in the Texas Hill Country during the 1930s-40s.

At the center of the story is the making of a blue satin headboard by the beloved Momma; however, along the way, the reader learns of the day-to-day life of the farming family during the depression and before the advent of electricity.

The author is very successful in relating the story from the perspective of a young, innocent, and impressionable child. Through her eyes, we learn of using kerosene lamps; sewing feed sack dresses; having only cold running water; cooking and baking on a wood burning stove; making blood sausage, bread, cream, butter, cooked cheese, and molasses; participating in school Christmas pageants; and using the infamous outhouse.

We also learn of the grueling daily routine of all the family members (especially of the mothers and fathers). There is the washing routine on Mondays; the ironing routine on Tuesdays; the house cleaning and family bathing routines on Saturdays; and the resting, church-going, and visiting rituals on Sundays. Although their lives were hard (by our standards), there was always laughter at the kitchen table and lively conversations on the porch in the evenings.

I've read this book twice and thoroughly enjoyed it both times. The steady discipline and the German-American work ethic were prevalent throughout the book; as was the wonderful, unconditional love of the little girl's mother and father.

When electricity comes to the farm, one can almost feel a sense of loss - although electricity made life easier, there was a loss of the simple, self-sufficient, rewarding, and family-based life that this author experienced. It is important these experiences and feelings be documented, so that future generations can experience them too - and that is exactly what this author does.

The author includes many photographs throughout the book of the items and places she describes. She completes the book by recommending related classroom and internet activities.

Even though I previously recommended this book to elementary and middle school students, there are many others who would enjoy it - those who lived during this period (it is always fun to reminisce) and those who would like to know more about this period of American history. I will definitely be giving a copy of it to each of my grandchildren. I think that it will generate many fun and informative conversations.

See the Victoria Advocate for this entire review. It is wonderful and goes to the very heart of this book. The review was written by Reese Vaughn and says this: "...I JUST CALLED HER MOMMA, by a former elemenatry school librarian, is more than a children's book...it's a celebration of rural life that prompts readers to reflect on the way families once lived and worked together. Bill Nelson's photos of practical farmhouse objects remind me of Neruda'a lines in Odes to Common Things: "beauty is beauty twice over and good things are doubly good when you're talking about a pair of wool socks in the dead of winter..."