A Book Review from Books At a Glance
by Kristin Stiles
If I asked you to summarize each of the Minor Prophets of the Old Testament, how would you do? You could probably handle Jonah easily and give some detail about Hosea and maybe even quote a few verses from Joel and Malachi, but what about Nahum or Zephaniah or Haggai? Most Christian adults would have to admit that we’re pretty vague on what’s contained in those books. But just like Genesis, Psalms, Matthew, and Galatians, they are part of the inspired Word of God. If we as adults aren’t familiar with the Minor Prophets, what hope do we have that our children will know anything about them at all?
Enter Brian Wright and John Brown. These two pastors have a heart to share the truths contained in the Minor Prophets with children as young as 4-6 years old! And they do a masterful job of it.
Of the twelve books that fall under the heading of Minor Prophets, Wright & Brown have written eight adaptations of them so far: Haggai’s Feast, Habakkuk’s Song, Obadiah & the Edomites, Zephaniah’s Hero, Joel & the Locusts, Jonah’s Journeys, Nahum & the Ninevites, and Malachi’s Final Message. Each book is a delight to read. The authors give a bit of the historic background and context to the message that the prophets proclaimed. They paraphrase large sections of the biblical text. These passages can be identified by being enclosed in quotation marks. They make the language simple, yet they stay true to the meaning of the text. They present the hard truths about sin that needs to be punished. They show that God is just, but He is also merciful and gracious. They point out the hope that we have for the future consummation of the kingdom. And they point out how these ancient writing still apply to us today.
The simple presentations of the messages found in each of the Minor Prophets are elevated by the amazing illustrations of Lisa Flanagan. The colorful pictures add so much to the text and make these books so very enjoyable to look through. Flanagan really captures the settings and the emotions of the stories. This artwork is just as brilliant as the text.
As a Sunday School teacher and mom, I am just over the moon about this series. I love that these pastors care enough about children learning the whole counsel of God that they put the time and effort into adapting the books of the Minor Prophets to make them accessible to those who are so young. And as adults who aren’t overly familiar with those books ourselves, it’s a great help to us, too! I look forward to the last 4 books being released.
Kristin Stiles is a home-school mom, a Sunday School teacher, and helps lead the “Young, Reading, & Reformed” children’s ministry at Reformed Baptist Church of Franconia, PA.
Buy the books
GOD'S DARING DOZEN (THE MINOR PROPHET SERIES), by John Brown and Brian Wright