Raised Right by Alisa Harris

Genre- Christian Living/Social Issues

Raised Right: How I Untangled My Faith from Politics by Alisa Harris

Published by- WaterBrook Multnomah

Copyrighted- 2011

Number of pages- 230

Age Group- Teen/Adult

Description of book- paperback, list price $14.99, ISBN 978-0-307-72965-1

Alisa Harris was raised in a conservative Republican Christian family that actively picketed abortion clinics, helping fight moral decay and injustice in America.

As she grew she thought the right people in power would help the country, but now as an adult she is unsure what she should believe politically.  She wants to stay true to her parents and Christian beliefs. 

When reading this book put your political beliefs aside and concentrate on how you can focus your Christian beliefs in the political world.  If you are not of this latest generation, this book will show you how they are viewing politics and their faith.

About the author- Alisa Harris lives in New York City where she is a journalist.  She graduated from college in 2007 and has worked as a college instructor.  World, Albuquerque Journal, the Detroit Free Press, and the Farmington Daily Times have published her works.

My thoughts-

I had a hard time getting into this book.  I thought it would have more info on how she actually separated her faith from her political views, but it seemed to just have stories of her life that must have led to her decision, but she wasn’t clear..

I do commend Alisa on how firm she has always been in her Christian faith and how she has worked her political views into it.  It shows how strongly she respects her parents and God.

The part of the book that I liked the best was the “Epilogue,’ where she talks about what she will pass on to her children that her parents taught her; to care, love (with action) and take heart.

I personally didn’t like this book, but I think there are many people who might.  Readers will be able to understand the thought process of how of the newest Christian voters will choose to vote.

 

Disclosure of Material Connection- I received Raised Right by Alisa Harris for free from the WaterBrook Multnomah “Blogging For Books” program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

The Littlest One by Elspeth Campbell Murphy

The Littlest One
By
Elspeth Campbell Murphy
Illustrated by: Anne Kennedy
Series: Brenda Learns about God
Published by: Chariot Books
Copyrighted: 1984
Number of pages: 24 pages
Type of Book: Christian fiction
Age group: I-3 years
Physical Nature of Book: hardback, small for kids’ hands
Extras: List of the rest of the book in series
About the Book: Brenda is the youngest member of her family and she has a hard time adjusting to being little. She is able to spend sometime with a baby and she realizes she is little but she is not a baby. Her mother and father say that they are grateful God gave her to them and Brenda is growing up well, the illustrations are realistic and good for ages I-3.
About the Author: Elspeth Campbell Murphy has written more than 100 books the past years. She is a graduate of Trinity College and Mood Bible Institute. She currently lives in Chicago and received a Gold Medallion award for Do You See Me, God?
What my children thought: Both of my children enjoyed this book, there was nothing they disliked. My five-year-old son liked Tiny, dog, and that the book was about God. My three-year-old daughter liked Brenda. Both of my children think that Children their age would like this book. What I liked: I liked everything about this book. This book shows what it can be like for the youngest members in the family and how God helps them grownup.
What I Disliked: Nothing.
Would I recommend: Yes, I would recommend this book. I would read it to younger family members up to the age of five, because many may feel as Brenda did.

The Story of Easter

The Story of Easter or La Historia de la Pascua En Ingles
By
Patricia A. Pingry
Illustrated by Stacy Venturi-Pickett
Published by: Ideals Children's Books
Copyrighted: 2001
Number of pages: 26 pages
Age Group: 4-8 years of age
Type of book: Christian Non-fiction
Physical Description of Book: paperback, 8x8 inches
Extras: There are letters in the beginning to parents or teachers and a list of the 200 words in Spanish and English in the back.
About the book: This was a wonderfully drawn and written story about Easter, The illustrations are very realistic, bright and nicely textured. There are enjoyable mentions of spring, why we have Easter, what happens on Easter. The most important lesson in this book is that Jesus gave his life so we may live.
What my children thought: My five-year-old son liked the bunnies, people going to church and the list of vocabulary words at the end of the book. He also liked that it was in English and Spanish. He thought it was important that the angel told the women, “Jesus has risen.” There was nothing my son disliked and he wants kids his age to read it. My three-year-old daughter liked the chicks, children splashing in the puddles and sheep. She did not like the angel, but she did think that kids her age would like the book.
What I liked: I liked the illustrations and the vocabulary list at the end of the book. I liked that the author pointed out, Jesus loves us and we love him. I enjoyed being able to read a version in English and Spanish
What I disliked: Nothing
Would I recommend: Yes, I would The Story of Easter.

The Easter Story

The Easter Story
By
Anita Garneri
Illustrator: Rachael Phillips
Series: Storyteller Series
Published by: Smart Apple Media and Evans Brothers LTD
Copyrighted: 2005
Number of pages: 23 pages
Age group: 6 years and up
Type of Book: Christian Non-fiction
Physical Description: hardback, 8 ½ x 11 inches
About the book: This book is about Jesus and what happened to him in the time near the crucifixion, holy communion, the cross, the Lord’s Prayer, and painting Easter eggs. The story begins with the beginning of the festival of Passover and then continues with the last meal where Judas learns that Jesus knows what he is doing. It continues with the Roman soldiers capturing Jesus and the crucifixion. Jesus is then placed in the tomb and rises from the dead. The illustrations were very well done. The people are very realistic and the backgrounds had an interesting texture. The photos of the Easter eggs were a nice addition so the reader can see what a painted egg looks like.
What my children thought: I did read this book to them even though they are only three and five. My five year-old-son moved at seeing the illustration of how Jesus died and the way He was nailed to the cross. There was nothing my son disliked. My three-year-old daughter liked the illustrations of the angel and Jesus at the Last Supper. She disliked the illustration of Jesus on the cross. Both of my children enjoyed the idea of painting Easter eggs and would recommend it to kids their ages.
What I liked: I liked this entire book. It was very clearly written and it shows us, as Christians, what Jesus went through for us. I am looking forward to trying the Easter egg project.
What I disliked: I thought the illustration of Jesus was too graphic for young children.
Would I recommend: Yes, I would recommend The Easter Story to those who want to learn more about Easter.

The Disappearing Stranger by Lois Walfrid Johnson

Book one the Adventure of the Northwoods series, The Disappearing Stranger, was copyrighted by Lois Walfrid Johnson in 1990. Bethany House Publishers published it. This Christian mystery has 142 pages and is for kids ages 8-12.

Kate’s mama marries Mr. Nordstrom in 1906 and they go to his home in Wisconsin. His son, Anders, and Kate solve the mystery of the strange man and the box. When Kate first moves to Wisconsin she does not get along well with Anders. Kate comes across a man burying a box. She enlists the help of Anders to get the box and then solve the mystery when the box goes missing. When they come across a syrup pail in their well they know something is going on. They decide to stay up all night to watch to see if somebody takes the pail from its new spot. The stranger comes and Kate sneaks into his wagon. Anders comes to her rescue the next day with the help of Big Gust. They catch the thief, Mr. Eberly a traveling salesman. Kate and Anders receive an award, which enables both of them to get what they really want, Kate and organ and Anders a horse. Kate realizes that after being chased by a bull, being lost in the woods and strong winds that God is always with her. She just needs accept him, like she needs enjoy acceptance into her new blended family.

Lois Walfrid Johnson is a well-known author who has won a Gold Medallion award and her teen devotionals are bestsellers. Her setting is historically accurate as is the addition of Big Gust. At the end of the book Mrs. Johnson acknowledges the people who helped her with her book.

I, like Kate, need to make Psalm 46 my mantra. We need to all open our hearts to God and he will be there always. He is our refuge.

I liked how Mr. Nordstrom slowly made friends with Kate. I also liked how Kate realized that God is there for her. I did not like how Kate listened to Sarah and made negative assumptions about Wisconsin.

I would recommend this paperback book, because we all need to know that God is always there for us.

Prayer of the Week- Those in Need

Dear Lord,
Thank you for the wonderful sunny day you gave us.
Tonight I would like to pray for those in need.
Please help and heal those who have been displaced by the Australian bush fires. I also praise you for protecting many in those fires.
On this day be with those whose marriages have strayed from you. Please help those husbands and wives focus on you to help their marriages.
All over the world businesses are having financial difficulties and as a result many people are losing their jobs. Please help those people find new jobs in financially strong Christian companies. The strength of our future is in the younger generation. There are many colleges that have Christian organizations. Please be with them as they disciple to unbelievers at dances, forums and on the street.
With you we can be all we have wanted to be and more. Thank you for continuing to nudge our hearts in the right direction when we have needed it.
In your name we pray, amen.

Jeremy: The Tale of an Honest Bunny By Jan Karon

Jan Karon copyrighted Jeremy: The Tale of an Honest Bunny, in 2000. This Christian fiction book was published by Viking and is 80 pages. It is an easy chapter book to read out loud to children and those who know how to read can read it. This book is for the young and the old.

Lydia Sweeney made Jeremy, a rabbit, and is going to mail him to Candace in America. Jeremy wants to find his new home himself. Lydia sees Jeremy off and gives him a slip of paper with the address on it and tells him Psalm 91. On journey through England Jeremy meets Mr. Pruneholt, who shows him on a globe where the shipping docks are. When Jeremy lands in America he meets and older lady and gentleman and they rescue some bunnies. He finally makes it after Pastor Greer saves him from a fox. Jeremy is there just in time, because Candace will be there soon. Jeremy has decided the angels from Psalm 91 were there with him on his entire journey and he was protected.

Jan Karon wrote this book for her daughter and clearly carries us without confusion. She has also written the adult Mitford series. Terry Weidner has illustrated several other books for young readers. The illustrations were most enjoyable. Jeremy was unbelievably drawn with his pants, shoes and jacket and everything was so realistic.

This book reminds us that God has given us angels to help keep us safe and that is what I liked most about it. There was absolutely nothing I disliked in this book. When I know children old enough for this book I will buy it for them.

I would certainly recommend this book with its nice white pages and dark print. It would be a fun book to read with the family and then talk about Psalm 91 and what Pastor Greer said about being bought for a price and going to live in a heavenly home.

The Mystery of the White Elephant by Elspeth Campbell Murphy

Book one of the Three Cousins Detective Club is called The Mystery of the White Elephant and was written by Elspeth Campbell Murphy and illustrated by Joe Nordstrom. It was copyrighted in 1994 and published by Bethany House Publishers. This Christian mystery is 64 pages long and is for children ages 7-10.

Ten-year-old cousins, Timothy, Sarah-Jane and Titus need to solve the mystery of the missing cookie jar, a white elephant, before the church auction begins. The children solve the mystery by finding the missing bag. The kids begin their adventure by learning that a “white elephant” is something somebody has, but does not want or need. They need to find their “white elephant” to take to the church auction. They find that Mrs. Foster has taken a white elephant cookie jar, which they all would like to have. The cookie jar disappears after they see a lady wearing a rain poncho, sun hat and carrying a bag. They talk to Pastor Parry and they decide to search for it. They find the clothes in the lost-and-found. Timothy remembers the bag has a red maple leaf on it. The kids think it might belong to Mrs. Foster’s friend from Canada. After they children find the bag, they go tell Pastor Parry all they know and give him the bag. Pastor Parry is able to fix the problem. Mrs. Foster’s friend and Timothy, Sarah-Jane and Titus learn that God has no “white elephants.” He loves everybody and the church can love everybody, like Mrs. Foster’s friend too.

Elspeth Campbell Murphy has written more than 100 books the past years. She is a graduate of Trinity College and Moody, Bible Institute. She currently lives in Chicago and received a Gold Medallion award for Do You See Me, God?

The theme for this book is love. We must treat everyone with love, and never like “white elephants.” There was nothing to dislike in this book. I enjoyed reading all of it. I especially liked the part where everybody at church was so kind to Mrs. Foster’s friend, even though she took the cookie jar.

I would recommend this book to all to read. It is fun to with its white pages, large letters, and fun black and white illustrations.

Lost Beneath Manhattan by Sigmund Brouwer

Bethany House Publishers published Lost Beneath Manhattan, by Sigmund Brouwer, in 2004. It is 143 pages and is one of the books in the Accidental Detective Series. The age group for this Christian fiction book is boys, ages 9-15.

Ricky and his class are going on a field trip to New York City. To get part of the funding from a benefactor they will have to take Ricky’s little brother Joel along. This would be a trip they will never forget. When they are at the Museum of Modern Art Joel runs away and now Ricky has to find him. After Ricky prays for Joel’s safety and for his ability to find him, he realizes that to find Joel he will have to think from Joel’s perspective. Ricky is not too worried about Joel’s safety until he learns that a street person named, Mean Gene Delaney may have him. Mean Gene uses kids to do his begging for him. With the help of other people who live on the street, like crazy Lyle and the preacher at a local mission, Ricky and his friends are able to find Joel, hidden money and new friends. Ricky and his friends learn from their adventures that not all people who live on the street are bad people.

The author, Sigmund Brouwer, who has won many awards, has written this book with easily recognized characters and a clear plot line.

The main issue that I saw in the book was, the strong need to help the weak. In this story the weak are those that are homeless and are unable to help themselves. This was shown when Ricky asks Brother Philip about why people suffer if God can help. Brother Philip said that people have the choice; they can live with evil or with God. Other people can’t help their suffering, because they are mentally ill and those are some of the people that we can help.

The part of this book that I liked the best was how much Ricky and his friends care about Joel. The other favorite part was how Ricky always prays strength for Joel when Joel is lost.

This paperback book has small print, but it does not harm the story, it made me want to keep reading. I would definitely recommend this story to read, to help us remember to help those who cannot help themselves.

The Case of the Giggling Geeks by Bill Myers

The Case of the Giggling Geeks, was written by Bill Myers and illustrated by Meredith Johnson and copyrighted in 2002. It is book one in the series, Secret Agent Dingledorf and his trusty dog, Splat and is 88 pages long. This Christian mystery adventure was published by Tommy Nelson and is for boys ages 7-10.

Bernie Dingledorf is mistaken for Secret Agent Ralph Dingledorf and is sent on a mission to stop Dr. Chuckles from forcing everybody to laugh. He is able to stop Dr. Chuckles and they both learn a valuable lesson about respect. Bernie is having a fun time at school trying to turn his friend I.Q. into a cool person like himself. He is taken by men from an agency who keep insisting that he is Ralph Dingledorf, secret agent. They never change their minds and he is sent home with a special backpack and awaiting orders. He is at school when he is told that the agency found Dr. Chuckles’ hideout and he is to leave immediately. He goes home and is taken to Dr. Chuckles hideout by the Dr. Bernie sees the laughing machine, which Dr. Chuckles turns on. He wants everyone in the world to be like him and laugh. There is a pie fight and Splat, Bernie’s dog finds a pie and accidentally turns off the switch. It is good, because everybody in the room was laughing and could not stop. Dr. Chuckles decides that it is not fun to be force to do something. Dr. Chuckles and Bernie learn that God made us all differently and we should respect that not try to change it.

Billy Myers has written over 70 books and his films have won over 40 awards. He is also the author of the McGee and Me series. The illustrations were fun and realistic. I enjoyed studying each one.

I liked everything about this book. The best part was when Bernie first got his backpack and he pulled dental floss out of its container and it was rocket powered. He went shooting all over the room until the rocket quit. It was funny.

I would recommend this book to people of all ages, not just those 7-10, because we all need to learn God made us all differently. We need to respect that and we should not change them.

Jesus is My Friend by Linda and Alan Parry

Jesus is My Friend is a cardboard book written and illustrated by Linda and Alan Parry. John Hunt Publishing published it in 1994. It is an easy reader.
Every page of this book begins with, “Jesus is my friend because…” It then mentions different things that Jesus does or teaches, such as loving me. There is a Bible verse at the end of each sentence that gives greater depth to the sentence. This is a good book for all children. It can be read with just the sentence or the verses. The verses can be used as a tool to talk to children more about Jesus. I read just the sentences to my 2-year-old and all of it to my 4-year-old.
This is a book that is wonderfully artistic with a heart-shaped at the top and realistic drawings with mice. The mice are in different poses in each picture. The picture at the bottom stays the same throughout the book.

Jess and the Fireplug Caper by Elaine Shulte

Jess and the Fireplug Caper was copyrighted in 1992 by author Elaine Shulte. This Christian fiction book was published by Bethany House Publishers and is 128 pages long. It is part of the Twelve Candles Club series and is for girls 8-12.

Somebody is robbing houses in Santa Rosita Estates and calling Jess on the phone making growling noises. A teen was robbing the houses and Jess’s brother Jordan was the one making the phone calls. Whenever there is a robbery in the neighborhood there is an old blue van. Jess’s mom begins a neighborhood watch. The girls of the Twelve Candles Club; Jess, Becky, Cara and Tricia are always watching as they go out on their different jobs. It is not until the very end when the burglar comes into Jess’s bedroom, when all the girls are there, that they are able to stop him. They are able to stop the burglar from stealing and as the burglar runs downs the street the entire neighborhood runs after him. He stops and gives up and the police arrest him. Throughout this book, Jess, her dad, and Jordan learn more about God and the strength he can give us. Jess needed that strength when she knocks over the burglar. Jess and Jordan learned about how we need to forgive and ask for forgiveness whether it is from our friends and family or our enemies.

Elaine Shulte, who has written over 25 novels, did an excellent job with her characters and the description. I could see the girls dressed in their clown costumes. The flow was so good I just wanted to keep reading.

There are two themes that arise in this book. The first one is forgiveness and the other is that in Christ we get strength and all things are possible. This book can help us realize that when we have Christ on our side and in our hearts we can do anything.

I liked how Becky and Tricia are always talking about God without being forcing Cara and Jess. I did not like how Jess’s mom was so negative against her father when he decided that it was time to start saying grace before eating.

This paperback book has dark print, which always encourages me to continue reading. I would recommend this book, because we need to be reminded about forgiveness and the strength we can find in Christ.

Tomorrow is the day!!!!

Tomorrow will be the day when the new site for reviews of Christian children's books begin. I hope you join me for the excitement. Thank you.