The Duke's Daughter

The Duke’s Daughter: A Story of Faith and Love,
By Lachlan Mackenzie
Illustrated by Jeff Anderson
(Christian Focus, 2008), hb., 24 pp.
Ages 3-6

This is another book in the same volume as Spurgeon’s Queen Victoria’s Request. Mackenzie was a colorful Scottish preacher in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. However, this book is not up to the same standard as the Spurgeon one.

In this story a duke has a beautiful daughter, and he expects many men to indicate interest in marrying her at an upcoming celebration. However, before any of the young men arrive a beggar pushes himself forward and asks for her hand in marriage. To the amazement of all she accepts and is to be married the following year on the same day. Many, including her father try to get her to change her mind, not understanding what she saw in this beggar. On the appointed day a handsome prince arrives to marry her and everyone realizes- what the young woman had discerned- that the beggar was the prince in disguise.

The gospel point is not real apparent. I assume we are supposed to see that people will not understand what we see in Jesus. However, this sounds too much like what I call the “poor Jesus” approach to evangelism- “Why won’t you just give him a chance?”

I would recommend you purchase the Spurgeon story and skip this one.

Queen Victoria's Request

Queen Victoria’s Request: A Story of Grace and Mercy,
By Charles Haddon Spurgeon
Illustrated by Jeff Anderson
(Christian Focus, 2008), hb., 24 pp.
Ages 3-6

This is a nicely illustrated, engaging story that illustrates the gospel well. Spurgeon in his characteristic way tells a down to earth story of an “old ragged, dirty beggar” who receives a summons from Queen Victoria to come to her palace right away just as he is. He is told that he will stay away at his own peril. People scoff at such an idea and the beggar struggles with thinking that he is not really desired to come or that he should clean himself up first. In the end he trusts the message to mean exactly what it says and he acts on its command. To the amazement of others he is accepted by the Queen and made one of the princes of the court.

The point is clear- the call of the gospel is beyond belief but we must simply take God at His word and act on his call. Furthermore the gospel is not just an invitation. It is a summons, a command. It is not just an offer. God has commanded that we come to Christ and any who refuse to so at their own peril.

This is a good parable for all, and accessible to children. My eight year old read it to my six year old today.

It would have nice to have some sort of preface providing some information about how this story originally came into being. This is a nice book, though, and useful for helping children understand the gospel.

Barnabas and Jonathan

I have commented previously on my family’s appreciation of the Bible Wise series of Bible stories from Christian Focus. They have recently published two more books in this series, Barnabas: The Encourager and Jonathan: The Faithful Friend, both by Carine Mackenzie. As in all the series, the illustrations are done by Fred Apps, probably our favorite illustrator of Bible books.

Both of these books maintain the high level of biblical fidelity which have marked the series and which makes them the best such series around. These volumes, like some previous ones, also deal with characters who often do not get such specific treatment. So, having a specific book on these two characters is itself a real benefit. Some books in the series make very good biblical theological applications from Old Testament to New Testament, but these focus more on highlighting good qualities of the main character. This is understandable given the characters in view.

I should note one slight hesitation. One picture in the Jonathan book is more graphic than what I have typically seen in this series. The decpiction of Jonathan's death has not simply blood on his chest but also straming out of his mouth. Now, I have argued elsewhere that we ought not water down biblical stories. But, even my boys were a bit taken back by this picture. Parents should simply be aware of this and make decisions accordingly.

In summary, these are good additions to a wonderful series, and we would warmly recommend them.

Jack’s Ward, Horatio Alger

Jack’s Ward, by Horatio Alger
(New York Book Company, 1909)
Hb., 164 pp
Ages 7+

I am behind in commenting on books we have read- we’re still reading but I have been short on time to write about them.

I purchased this book a few years ago when I found it for a cheap price (though it is falling apart!) because I had heard much about Alger’s novels about boys, adventure and pluck. It was, overall, disappointing, however.

The story does feature a hard-working boy (Jack), who protects his adopted sister. The values of frugality, honesty and diligence are affirmed. However, there were several weaknesses.
First, the story was fine but not all that compelling. It lacked the verve and adventure of other books we have read. We may be spoiled by C. S. Lewis, Allen French and Douglas Bond! Secondly, the language was poor. I understand books written in vernacular, but the slang used here did not add to the story but really detracted from it. Lastly, I was amazed and disappointed by the disrespect shown by Jack to his aunt in particular. Again, I am aware of good boys’ books which represent the main character doing various mischievous things, but the good books eventually make it clear that such things are not right. This story seems to condone a high level of disrespect and even cold heartedness from Jack to his aunt. The aunt is intended to be an unlikeable character which would lead the reader to affirm Jack’s disrespect; but, respect is due to elders whether or not it is deserved.

This is the only Alger book I have read so I cannot comment on them all. This one, however, could be skipped. There is some value in it, but there are plenty other good books to read.

Martin Rattler

Martin Rattler, R. M. Ballantyne

This is the second Ballantyne book I have mentioned here. On the first book I gave a longer review. This book has the same basic strengths and weaknesses of the previous volume, though i don't think the vocabulary is as challenging in this one.

The title of this book comes from the name of the young hero. Ballantyne provides in the early chapters a good picture of an earnest boy who means well though he gets into scrapes. One character illustrates those who do not understand the energy of a boy and other characters illustrate those who can see in a boy promise and the possibility of training and directing his energy rather than simply condemning. These are good pictures in our more feminized age.

The early chapters chronicle a fight between Martin and a larger, older bully where Martin fights to defend his little cat from the bully who intends to drown it. This provides a good example of standing up for the defenseless as well typical responses of bullies.

Eventually Martin and an older friend, Barney, escape pirates and find themselves on the shore of Brazil. There are fascinating descriptions of the forests of Brazil and encounters with various animals including jaguars! Martin and Barney’s encounters with a former monk open the door for strong statements about the need for the Bible and how Catholic priests had withheld the Bible. Ballantyne frequently ties in Christianity, though, as I noted before, not as smoothly or thoroughly as Douglas Bond.

This is a good adventure story which also makes good points about the faith, courage, and resourcefulness as well as introducing its readers to Brazil. We recommend it.

Touchstone Magazine on Not Diluting Bible Stories

Readers of this blog may have seen my concern about how far too often modern bible stories water down the truth of the biblical account seeking to make them more palatable to children but in the end distorting the biblical witness. My brief article on this from several years ago is part of what prompted me to begin this blog.

This month’s Touchstone magazine includes a great article which examines how many children’s Bibles dilute the story of Jonah in this way. The subtitle captures the key point:

In Removing the Fear from the Story of Jonah,

Children’s Versions Remove the Gospel, Too

I encourage you to read the article. Also, Touchstone is a great, stimulating resource. I greatly enjoy the magazine and recommend it to you.

A Thousand Miles Away

I am going through some old books and in one book of poems by a Perry Tanksley I came across this poem entitled “A Thousand Miles Away.” It is a negative counterpart to my “Bedtime with My Boys” and a good reminder of the value of reading to and talking with our children.


My boys would burst into my room
And find me in my chair,
And they would ask advice or tell
One of their exploits rare.
But I would wave them on and say,
Whenever they inquired,
“Perhaps you ought to run along;
Tonight I’m very tired.”
And I’d go right on reading news
As they would beg to stay,
But I ignored them like they were
A thousand miles away.
Ah! Things are different now and I
Would give my all in fact
To have them burst into my room
And see them trooping back.
Ala it’s not to be because
My sons grew strong and tall
And moved a thousand miles away-
So far they seldom call.
And it’s not that I want them here
If they are called elsewhere,
Nor is it that I doubt their love.
I’m sure they really care.
But I can’t help but wonder what
The outcome might have been
If I had laid the paper down
And talked to them back then.
Of course, I can’t take these things back
But for my sons I pray
That they’ll each take time with their boys
Before they move away.

Teach Children the Gospel

I have just read on Tom Ascol’s blog about a publisher of children’s Sunday School curriculum who decided that the cross is too violent for pre-schoolers and as a result they would skip the cross and resurrection in their Easter curriculum! You can see a letter of explanation and defense of their position here.

This is mind boggling. I would be hard pressed to do business with such a publisher again.

This sort of dumbing-down, anesthetizing approach to Scripture is what originally led me to searching out solid children’s material and eventually to starting this blog as a small way of passing on recommendations to others. Children can handle much more than what people today think and by giving them sturdy truths we will rescue them from the spiritual and moral anemia and spinelessness so prevalent today.