With two girls in the house, it’s safe to say that we do princesses here, and it’s also one reason I was so quick to accept an opportunity to review Where the Jewels Are (Tales from the Throne). As a former English teacher, I’m still captivated by allegories, and this is a great way to introduce ages 8-10 (or even the young at heart!) to that genre.
The Princess lives in the Land of Wonderful with her Father the Great King, but this princess has a problem: she constantly wants more. The wise Father sends her on a journey to find the jewel she desires, and she ends up discovering that her friendship with her companion Winifred is more precious than any jewel.
The book is an easy read (it’s only 45 pages from start to finish), and my youngest daughter easily devoured it in one sitting, coming back to ask where the next book is. As a mom, I was pleased with the wholesome content and subject matter. As a Christian, I was even more excited about the “Thinking About the Story” section in the back, drawing the reader to simple parallels between the Great King and God, and how wisely He loves His children, knowing exactly what we need and when to say no.
The illustrations are done in black and white. They reminded me of Little House on the Prairie drawings, and seemed to fit the book perfectly.
With Christmas just around the corner, the book also has a timely lesson about becoming attached to things instead of concentrating on what’s really important: relationships. If you know a child age 8-10, this would be a great gift. Order Where the Jewels Are (Tales from the Throne)through Amazon for $5.99, or directly from the author’s website at http://www.dianasymons.com/. You’ll likely want to visit the site anyway, because you can also download a FREE story there!
Want more? Good, because there’s a whole list of more Tales from the Throne that are waiting to be published. Follow Diana Symons on Facebook or Twitter to find out when the next book will be available!
*I received this book from Diana Symons, in cooperation with MamaBuzz, for the purpose of review. No compensation was made for this review. All opinions expressed here are my own.*
Terrestria Chronicles by Ed Dunlop Ages: 10 and up Price: $7.99 per book or $47.99 for the entire series
Visit the kingdom of Terrestria, a land where knights and their ladies live in castles and where dragons still roam (occasionally).
The Terrestria Chronicles allegory series was written with a three-fold purpose: to honor Jesus Christ as King, to challenge young readers to love and serve Him, and to teach them to guard their hearts for Him. The focus of the series is always on the King.
Fast-paced action… powerful imagery… heart-pounding adventure… These life-changing books are captivating and once you start reading, you’ll find them hard to put down. This adventure series has a particularly strong appeal to today’s young people: it’s a series with knights and castles, dragons and princesses. . . but these are books in which every page points to truths of the Christian walk. Biblical doctrines and character principles are taught in such a compelling, fascinating way that they will stay with the reader for a lifetime.
Written for ages ten and up, the Terrestria series is ideal for family devotions, classroom use, or individual enjoyment. So grab your sword and take your family on a quest to Terrestria! Your heart will be changed forever.
Also available: Visits to Terrestria , $5.99
A Study Guide for Parents, Teachers, and Students
Covering all seven books in the Terrestria Chronicles allegory series, this study guide is designed to invoke discussions of the life-changing messages and powerful imagery within each story, much of which might be missed with a casual reading. Visits to Terrestria takes the reader to a new level of understanding of the series. Adults and young people alike will more fully grasp the wealth of meaning in these captivating books.
REVIEW: When I was given the opportunity to read and review this set of seven Christian allegorical fiction books, I was excited. Apparently, so were my daughters (ages 12 and 14). Almost before I could unpack them from the box, they disappeared. My 14-year-old devoured them (all between 150 and 200 pages each), and now, months later, she is still talking about the characters in the books. My 12-year-old finished the series almost as quickly, recommending it to friends, family, and schoolmates. When it was finally MY turn, I have to admit, I was mesmerized, as well.
I went into the series expecting Narnia, but it more closely resembled Pilgrim’s Progress to me, except for how easy it was to read. The more I read, the more powerfully I was drawn in to the story. My heart was thrilled when Josiah was not only freed from his slavery by King Emmanuel in The Sword, The Ring and The Parchment (Book One), but was also adopted into the King’s own family, a beautiful picture of salvation. I found myself cheering for Josiah in some situations, yet fearing for his lack of wisdom in others. It encouraged me in my own walk with the Lord as I read.
The series continues with Josiah, now a prince, who encounters deeds of derring do, princesses, castles, the evil Argamor, and dragons. Such colorful imagery is used to paint the picture of the Christian walk that the reader cannot help but be moved in his own Christian walk, or lack thereof. What a fabulous way to introduce the gospel to someone who might not otherwise be interested in it! Even the covers of the books are illustrated with castles, scrolls, and medieval artwork.
It is difficult, if not impossible, to find good Christian fiction without wizards or sorcery, but you will find it here. Terrestria Chronicles not only stimulate the imagination, but they also nurture the soul. My daughters found themselves talking about situation after situation from the book, discussing what they would have done differently, or why they agreed with the outcome of a difficult decision. As a parent, it was heartwarming to hear all the things they had gleaned from reading these books. I especially love the fact that the series concludes with Book 7, The Great War, when King Emmanuel comes back just like Christ will in Revelation!
A companion study guide, Visits to Terrestria, for parents and teachers is also available. We read the books the first time for the storyline; we fully intend to go back and read each chapter at bedtime, using Visits to Terrestria to dig a little deeper into the symbolism conveyed there.
As a frugal zealot, you know that I rarely pay full price for anything. But these books are more than worth the asking price. Also in true frugal fashion, I would be remiss if I didn’t tell you that you can get in on a Christmas special including FREE shipping and a FREE study guide, if you order the entire Terrestria Chronicles set ($47.99) by December 20.
If you like what you’ve read, you’ll be happy to know that author Ed Dunlop is writing another series of books called Tales from Terrestria, which you can read more about here. (I know what my girls would love to get for Christmas…)
(Disclosure: I was provided this series of books to review, free of charge, by author Ed Dunlop, in cooperation with MamaBuzz. No compensation was given for this review.)
It was my privilege to have the opportunity to review the new book Redefining Beautiful by Jenna Lucado, just released from Thomas Nelson Publishers, listing for $12.99.
I have to tell you that after I sat down to read this book, I was interrupted. When I returned, my book had disappeared. I soon discovered my that my 13-year-old had taken off with it, and she couldn’t put it down. (Can you tell it is geared toward ages 12-17?)
The book is an easy read with a timely message: beautiful is what God sees when God sees you. At a time when teens are bombarded by Hollywood’s version of beautiful, they need to know that there’s only one basic beauty secret that a girl can’t live without: the love of the perfect Dad.
As a mom with a one teen and a pre-teen, I’m thrilled with the message of this book. It offers practical advice about real-life situations…self esteem, dating, authority..while doubling as a journal so a girl can work through some of the questions that are asked. I love the beauty tips in there (I never knew there were so many uses for Vaseline!), as well as encouraging helps from the author’s father, Christian author Max Lucado.
The book is very relevant to this generation. A chapter entitled “My Facebook Addiction” will resonate with girls of all ages, and Jenna’s stories will live on in the hearts of minds of her readers long after the pages have been turned.
Fashion, friends, and faith. With an entertaining and interactive way to show how you can find the perfect look, Redefining Beautiful is a book that you won’t want to miss. I have a feeling I may have to buy another copy. (Psst! In typical frugal fashion, I’ve discovered that you can already purchase a copy from Half.com for less than $8. Another way to get this FREE is to redeem your Swagbucks for Amazon.com gift cards, and then buy it through Amazon!)
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. As a former English teacher, I’m still captivated by allegories, and this is a great way to introduce ages 8-10 (or even the young at heart!) to that genre.
