Tag: literature

“Weight of a Flame: The Passion of Olympia Morata (Chosen Daughters series)” by Simonetta Carr

~ Bob Hayton ~ 1 Comment

Book Details:
  • Author: Simonetta Carr
  • Category: Children’s Books
  • Publisher: P & R Publishing (2011)
  • Format: softcover
  • Page Count: 256
  • ISBN#: 9781596381582
  • List Price: $11.99
  • Rating: Highly Recommended

Review:
What would it be like to live in the years immediately following the Reformation? How joyful would the discovery of Gospel truth be? Yet, how terrible would it feel to know people close to you, who are suffering for their faith? The turbulent period which followed the Reformation is captured well in a new book by Simonetta Carr.

In Weight of a Flame: The Passion of Olympia Morata (part of the Chosen Daughters series from P & R Publishing), Carr tells the story of a Reformation-era heroine still remembered to this day. Olympia Morata was an Italian tutor and scholar, who embraced the teachings of Martin Luther and John Calvin with as much fervor as her professor father. She was fluent in Latin and Greek by the time she was 12, and at 13, she was summoned to the court of the Duke of Ferrara to tutor his eldest daughter, Anna D’Este. Morata developed into a scholar in her own right, lecturing on Cicero and studying philosophy. And she was known for her poetry, having written her own metrical adaptations of the Psalms.

This obscure historical figure is brought to life through the imagination and pen of author Simonetta Carr. Carr weaves us in and out of the tale of Morata’s short life. We share her wonderment at going to court, and learn with her of the terrible plight of French refugees fleeing religious persecution. Morata’s relationship with her father and her family is developed and a romance eventually unfolds.

But the story of Olympia Morata has its dark turns. She encounters suffering martyrs and survives a bout with the black plague. At one point her town is besieged and then sacked, and she and her family run for their lives. And at the young age of 28, she dies.

The author doesn’t leave us with the bare facts of the case. She infuses the story with Gospel hope. The characters rehearse Scriptural promises to each other and find encouragement in the Gospel. And through this fictional account we can imagine what it really would be like to be there in Olympia’s and her husband’s shoes living through these difficult times.

Stories like these can help build the faith of our children. This book, directed primarily to girls, will both educate and inspire them. And the story is written well enough to captivate both children and their parents. As the father of five daughters, I can’t wait to place Weight of a Flame in their hands. I can’t thank the author enough for uncovering another Christian heroine for my daughters to look up to and to emulate. May the hope-filled life of Olympia Morata inspire many chosen daughters to trust the Gospel and risk their lives for the cause of Christ.

Author Info:
Simonetta Carr, mother of eight and homeschool educator for twenty years, has worked as a freelance journalist and a translator of Christian works into Italian. She is the author of the Christian Biographies for Young Readers series.

Where to Buy:
  • Westminster Bookstore
  • Christianbook.com
  • Amazon
  • P & R Publishing

Related Media:
  • Book preview
  • Author interview about this book
  • Author’s website
  • Author’s blog

Disclaimer:
This book was provided by P & R Publishing for review. I was under no obligation to offer a favorable review.

Book Briefs: “The Soul of C.S. Lewis: A Meditative Journey through Twenty-Six of His Best-Loved Writings”

~ Bob Hayton

As we approach Christmas, I wanted to highlight some books which would make good gift items. I realize I’m a bit late with this, & I’m late on my shopping, too! But some of you may be in possession of a gift card soon, and wondering what to spend it on… For other gift ideas, you may want to check a new category I’ve created called “ideal gift books”.

The Soul of C.S. Lewis: A Meditative Journey through Twenty-Six of His Best-Loved Writings by Wayne Martindale, Jerry Root, and Linda Washington is a beautiful celebration of C.S. Lewis’ genius. The book highlights 26 of Lewis’ works and provides meditative reflections on them.

The book is divided into four spiritual themes of Lewis’ writings. Then 6 or 7 different works of Lewis are used to illustrate each theme. Each chapter covers one of Lewis’ books and gives a brief introduction to it. 10 meditative readings follow that expound upon a quote from that work.

As I have read many of Lewis’ fictional works, I was pleased to find that all the Narnian books are included, as are his three Space Trilogy books. While most of the book is not written by Lewis, the writing reflects his work. The authors also take time to assess Lewis’ legacy and significance and explain why these reflective readings are something Lewis himself would approve of.

The book oozes of Lewis and promises to be an enjoyable read. Students of Lewis will devour this book, and those who appreciate his genius are sure to likewise be enthralled. The beautiful cover of the book and the decorative art throughout add to the overall splendor of this work. It would make a perfect gift this holiday season. I highly recommend it.

Preview this book here. And pick up a copy of this book from any of the following online retailers: Christianbook.com, Amazon, or direct from Tyndale House. You may also be interested in a companion book: The Quotable Lewis, also from Tyndale House.

Disclaimer: This book was provided by Tyndale House. I was under no obligation to offer a favorable review.

About Book Briefs: With limited time available to give every book sent my way a full review, I’ll be offering short-form book reviews called Book Briefs. Book Briefs are book notes, or my impression and informed evaluation of a book, but they stop short of being a full book review.

The 12 Days Before Christmas Book Giveaway: Day 2

~ Bob Hayton ~ 7 Comments

Today is day 2 of the 4th Annual 12 Days Before Christmas Book Giveaway! Today’s giveaway is sponsored by New Growth Press, Reformation Heritage Books, and P & R Publishing. We will have four winners today, who will win a combined total of 15 books. The prizes will be spelled out below. First, I want to highlight the various books available in today’s giveaway.

Kids Story Books and Devotionals from New Growth Press

The Gospel Story Bible: Discovering
Jesus in the Old and New Testaments		 Long Story Short: Ten-Minute Devotions to Draw Your Family to God
OT preview and NT preview Watch an author interview or view sample
                   Visit GospelStoryforKids.com for more information.

Historical Fiction & Children’s Biographies from Simonetta Carr

Weight of a Flame: The Passion of Olympia Morata (Chosen Daughters) [P & R Publishing]

Preview the book here.

Learn more at prpbooks.com.

Bonus: for another chance to win this book, visit the Heavenly Springs blog.
Athanasius (Christian Biographies for Young Readers) [Reformation Heritage]

Preview the book here.

Read my review of this book.

You can also view a video clip produced by the illustrator of the book.
John Owen (Christian Biographies for Young Readers) [Reformation Heritage]

Preview the book here.

You can also view a video clip produced by the illustrator of the book.
                   Visit the author’s website for more information.

Additional Parenting Resources from Reformation Heritage Books

Parenting by God’s Promises: How to Raise Children in the Covenant of Grace

Preview the book here.
Family Worship (Family Guidance Series)

Preview the book here.

You can also view a video clip produced by the illustrator of the book.
                         Visit HeritageBooks.org for more information.

Today’s Prizes

Each winner will receive a free copy of the books listed below.

1st Prize 2nd Prize 3rd Prize 4th Prize
  • Gospel Story Bible
  • Long Story Short
  • Weight of a Flame
  • Athanasius
  • Gospel Story Bible
  • Long Story Short
  • Weight of a Flame
  • John Owen
  • Gospel Story Bible
  • Long Story Short
  • Weight of a Flame
  • Family Worship
  • Gospel Story Bible
  • Long Story Short
  • Parenting by God’s Promises

Enter Today’s Contest

The contest is now closed. Click to my home page and you’ll see a link at the top to the next day’s giveaway in our 12 Days Before Christmas Giveaway.

“The Quest for Comfort: The Story of The Heidelberg Catechism” by William Boekestein

~ Bob Hayton ~ 1 Comment

Note: A free audiobook of this title is available for download through the Heritage Booktalk blog.

Book Details:
  • Author: William Boekestein
  • Illustrator: Evan Hughes
  • Category: Children’s Books
  • Publisher: Reformation Heritage Books (2011)
  • Format: Illustrated hardcover
  • Page Count: 32
  • ISBN#: 9781601781529
  • List Price: $10.00
  • Rating: Highly Recommended

Review:
Growing up, I was introduced to a wide assortment of “heroes of the Christian faith.” But most of them were Americans — pastors, or presidents, or missionaries — and most were from the last two hundred years. As an adult, I came to a deeper appreciation of the Reformation, and I learned about a whole era of church history that was to some degree overlooked in my education. I now appreciate men like John Calvin and Martin Luther for their courage and tenacity, their faith and piety. As I continue to study the Reformation, it’s lesser-known figures are also catching my eye. The work of men whom history has almost entirely forgotten, continues down to this day in such influential church documents as the Westminster Confession of Faith and the Heidelberg Catechism.

In a new book by William Boekestein, the story of the creation of the Heidelberg Catechism is told on a child’s level. The Quest for Comfort: The Story of The Heidelberg Catechism traces the life stories of Caspar Olevianus, Zacharius Ursinus, and Frederick III. These three forgotten men, are the primary authors of the most enduring Reformation era Catechism: The Heidelberg Catechism.

The turbulent period of the Reformation and the fervent faith of these great men are captured well in this short book. Children will see preachers in jail, and Christians in exile — and such realities are sure to encourage reflection and interaction with the story. The book also introduces the Heidelberg Catechism and would serve well as a book to be read alongside a family study of this important catechism.

Young readers will be enthralled by the names of these men, if not their tales. And the pages of this book are fully illustrated with a classic look and rich, full colors which will transport the reader to another age. The deluxe hardback binding will ensure the book stands up to the constant use young minds will make of it.

I would imagine that young readers in the 3rd – 6th grades would be able to read this independently. And children from Kindergarten and up will find the story fascinating. The color pictures make the book ideal even for younger children in a family devotions setting.

I wish as a child I had access to books like this that majored on the Reformation story, and the rich and varied history of the Christian faith. Author William Boekestein has written other tales for children, such as Faithfulness Under Fire: The Story of Guido de Bres (the author of the Belgic Confession). His simple and direct style is suitable for children and I hope he goes on to write many more wonderful tales such as these for children.

I highly recommend this book. Listen to the free audiobook and consider possibly purchasing this book as a special Christmas gift for a young person in your life. You’ll be doing them a big favor and introducing them to the world of the Reformation.

Author Info:
William Boekestein (M.Div., Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary) is pastor of Covenant Reformed Church in Carbondale, Pennsylvania. He previously taught in a Christian school for several years. He and his wife, Amy, have three children.

Evan Hughes is an illustrator and graphic designer. He and his wife, Kate, live in Scranton, Pennsylvania with their two sons.

Where to Buy:

  • Christianbook.com
  • Amazon
  • Reformation Heritage Books

Book Trailer:

Related Media:
  • Author interview about this book
  • PDF copy of this review

Disclaimer:
This book was provided by the author for review. I was under no obligation to offer a favorable review.

Book Briefs: “Jungle Doctor’s Fables” by Paul White

~ Bob Hayton

Paul White was an Australian missionary to Africa who was only able to serve a few short years, due to his wife’s health problems. During his tie in Africa, he learned how to tell African fables to teach spiritual truths. The “Jungle Doctor” books came from this basic idea: clothing spiritual truth with a fascinating tale of life in Africa.

In The Jungle Doctor’s Fables series, illustrator Graham Wade provides detailed comic-like depictions of the stories in black and white. And the stories of animal’s escapades are told by Daudi, the missionary doctor’s friend and assistant. Daudi tells his tales to young Africans as he goes about his duties on the mission compound.

The stories are of mischievous monkeys, ferocious crocodiles, wise giraffes and a smattering of other animals as well. The animals learn lessons the hard way and the spiritual applications are made for the young readers who will pick up these books.

Written for kids age 5-11, I found that even my 3 year old was engaged with the tale. The books include Scripture verses and the moral of the story, and kids 7 and up should be able to read these books independently.

First written in the 1950s, this set of six books includes around 60 fables and has provided entertainment and instruction for Christian families the world over. These new reprints from Christian Focus for Kids, bring these classics in an attractive format for today’s families.

Pick up a copy of book #1 of The Jungle Doctor’s Fables from any of the following retailers: ChristianBook.com, Amazon.com, or direct from the publisher.

Disclaimer: This book was provided by Christian Focus Publications. I was under no obligation to offer a favorable review.

About Book Briefs: With limited time available to give every book sent my way a full review, I’ll be offering short-form book reviews called Book Briefs. Book Briefs are book notes, or my impression and informed evaluation of a book, but they stop short of being a full book review.