Book Reviews by Title

Bo's Cafe by John Lynch, Bill Thrall and Bruce McNichol
Fearless by Max Lucado
The Final Summit by Andy Andrews
King's Cross by Timothy Keller
Love & Respect by Dr. Emerson Eggerichs
Max on Life by Max Lucado
The Strategy of Satan: How to Detect and Defeat Him by Warren Wiersbe
Transforming Grace by Jerry Bridges
When the Hurt Runs Deep by Kay Arthur

Uri Shulevitz

Born in Warsaw, Poland, young Uri escaped with his family in 1939, after experiencing the horrors of war. Wandering for several years, they arrived in Paris in 1947. The family moved to Israel two years later. Eventually, Uri came to the United States, where his career blossomed. He has illustrated the texts of numerous, notable authors. A reluctant writer at first due to concerns about his ability to communicate in English, he went on to write many of his own stories. And he's created a number of marvelous tales. Here are the ones we like best. Only a partial list of awards is cited.

 How I Learned Geography

Caldecott Honor 2009,
Publishers Weekly, Best Children's Books of the Year

A work of fiction based on a true incident in the author's life. A young boy living as a refugee in a far-away land dreams of exotic places after his father brings home a map from the market instead of food. Fanciful, heartwarming, and exquisitely illustrated.

One Monday Morning
Horn Book Honor, ALA Notable Book 1967

A little boy at home on a rainy day imagines royal visitors. “One Monday morning the king, the queen, and the little prince came to visit me. But I wasn't home . . . " True to his philosophy of letting the illustrations tell the story in a picture book, these are the only words on the first ten pages. On each subsequent day, the royal family is accompanied by another member of the household (knight, guard, cook, etc., the procession growing quite large), only to find the the boy away. The color palette is minimal compared with the author's later books, yet the illustrations are whimsical and endearing.

Snow

Caldecott Honor 1999, ALA Notable Children's Book

Captures the joy in a child's heart upon experiencing a snowfall. The dreary, gray skies are a perfect backdrop to the falling snow. From the sparse, melting flakes to a village covered in white (the skies turn blue in the end), Shulevitz's art is enchanting. Grown-ups trudge home as a boy and his dog, along with Mother Goose characters rejoice in the gift from above. A minimum of text is needed as the illustrations tell the story.

The Travels of Benjamin of Tudela

National Jewish Book Award, 
School Library Journal Best Books of the Year,
100 Titles for Reading and Sharing, New York Public Library 2005

Based on the true adventures of a medieval Jewish wanderer from Spain whose journeys took him to Europe, Asia, and Africa. The original Benjamin chronicled his explorations, describing routes he took, dangers he encountered, and the status of Jewish communities. Benjamin's travels predate those of Marco Polo. Shulevitz's work is a glorious tribute, with amazing, detailed illustrations. More than a picture book for children, young adults and grown-ups will also enjoy this stunning work.

Arnold and Anita Lobel

The multi-award-winning team of Anita Lobel and her late husband, Arnold have delighted young readers for decades. Each has written and illustrated their own books and provided illustrations for numerous authors. Any of their picture books is a feast for the eyes. The whimsical stories are fun, engaging, and uplifting reads. Their use of line and color make for delightful, appealing images certain to put a smile on a reader’s face. We've been collecting their books for many years. Prolific authors and recipients of numerous awards, only a partial list is cited. Here are the books we like best.

Animal Antics: A to Z

Anita Lobel, text and illustrations

As I Was Crossing Boston Common

Norma Farber, text; Arnold Lobel illustrations

A creative "ABC" of rare animals, at times the rhyming seems forced. The illustrations are stunning, making this title a worthwhile addition to your library. It is out-of-print but you can find copies at online booksellers.

Away From Home

Anita Lobel, text and illustrations 

Fables

Arnold Lobel, text and illustrations

1981 Caldecott Medal Winner

Frog and Toad Are Friends

Arnold Lobel, text and illustrations

1971 Caldecott Honor Book

This book contains our favorite Lobel story, Cookies, a light-hearted tale about human nature, epitomized by two amphibian friends trying very hard not to eat their stash of delicious treats. You'll need to read the book to see how things turn out. It's a story for grown-ups as well as children. And it makes a great message or sermon illustration. We recommend The Frog and Toad Treasury as it contains two additional titles (fifteen stories total). The version pictured is out-of-print but you can find copies at online booksellers.

Ming Lo Moves the Mountain

Arnold Lobel, text and illustrations

On Market Street
Arnold Lobel, text; Anita Lobel, illustrator

1982 Caldecott Honor Book
The book that started our collection.

One Lighthouse, One Moon

Anita Lobel, text and illustrations

10 Best Ilustrated Books of 2000, New York Times Book Review

Pierrot's ABC Garden

Anita Lobel, text and illustrations

The Rose in My Garden

Arnold Lobel, text; Anita Lobel, illustrator

1984 Boston Globe Horn Book Award

Anita is also the author of No Pretty Pictures: A Child of War, the heartwrenching true story of her life as a young girl during the Holocaust. That she became a prolific creator of works that delight the soul and bring joy, is a testament to the wonder of healing in a human heart. National Book Award Finalist, 1999

Web Sites We Like

Catalogs and Collections
GoodReads
LibraryThing
Open Library
WorldCat (find books in libraries around the globe)

Children's Authors and Illustrators
Jan Brett 
Doreen Cronin
Denise Fleming
Kevin Henkes
Laura Numeroff


Online Books in the Public Domain
Project Gutenberg

Fearless by Max Lucado

I wanted to read Fearless because the subject matter is universally relevant. What person is never afraid of anything, ever? But I wondered how this book would differ from what has seemed like a string of fluffy, feel-good titles from the author (not all, but some). The net royalties Max has received from my acquisition of his books could buy him a nice lunch. 

I was pleasantly surpised. The characteristic way Lucado weaves words together in his opening chapter is pure poetry. They draw you in as you anticipate what’s coming down the pike. Continuing on this highway will not disappoint. Always the master story teller, Lucado’s anecdotes warm the heart and encourage the spirit. Structurally, the book is well organized by types of fear (disappointing God, mattering to others, worst-case scenarios, storms of life, etc.).

The topic is fear. But it is more than that. Ultimately, this is a book about what makes us tick and how we relate to God and the world around us. Using the lamp of Scripture to support his points, Max shines a flashlight into the dark, hidden crevices of our hearts, reminding us of basic truths about trusting God in all circumstances. And he has heartening words for those who struggle with fears about their fears.

I have only two minor criticisms regarding issues the author or his editors might find difficult to discern in the midst of a cultural Christian enclave. The book seems to be written as though most readers understand who Jesus is and what following him is all about. A topic as important as fear could have been made more relevant to a broader readership by a change in jargon, for starters.

Second, Lucado makes a troubling statement in describing Jesus' relation to his kinsmen. The Messiah never “gave up” on synagogues. The public announcement of his ministry happened in one. He wept over Jerusalem and for his Jewish people. And he didn’t teach his followers to give up on synagogues either (they were often the first places Paul--who exhorted Gentiles not to boast in Romans 11:18-21--visited in his travels). Therefore, minus 1 star (because aside from the aforementioned flaws, the book is a valuable, inspiring read).****


A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review by the publisher, Thomas Nelson.

The Caldecott Medal

Since 1938, the American Library Association has awarded the Caldecott medal to an outstanding illustrator of children's picture books each year. Named after the English illustrator Randolph Caldecott, the award is granted for a book published during the preceding year. Learn more about this prestigious award as well as other children's book awards. View a list of winners. We'll be blogging about our favorite Caldecott Medal Winners as well as great runners up (Caldecott Honor Books).