A commendable if imperfect effort; caregivers should be ready for questions
This book of Christian-themed infographics is anchored by the theme of light versus darkness.
Infographics are a hot ticket, utilizing eye-popping graphic design to present charts, graphs, and other informational text in a visually appealing way. Harvest House uses high-contrast colors with bold sans-serif type to grab their viewers. Spreads contrast light with dark and battles between good and evil. Heroes (Esther, Deborah, John the Baptist, Paul) and villains (Cain, Delilah, Herod, Saul before he became Paul) are identified, as are good rulers and bad rulers, God’s power, and human fallibility—though often lacking the nuance present in the source material. Though a “find the hidden objects” game seems targeted to younger readers, the majority of the information presented is best suited to older children with well-established religious vocabularies. The text tackles some difficult theological discussions, including the doctrine of the Trinity. Even with kid-friendly illustrations and simplified language, the concept of “modalism” may be over the heads of many. Still, the book demonstrates an admirable respect in introducing the terminology and addressing the ways many Sunday school analogies fall short in capturing this particular mystery of Christian faith. Some design flaws, such as text in the gutter and confusing charts, further mar an inconsistent introduction to Bible history and doctrine. The decrial of polytheism makes this a less-than-inclusive introduction to Christian principles for non-Christian readers.
A commendable if imperfect effort; caregivers should be ready for questions . (Nonfiction. 8-14)Pub Date: May 7, 2019
ISBN: 978-0-7369-7632-9
Page Count: 56
Publisher: Harvest House
Review Posted Online: March 2, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2019
Barnard’s brave effort to cram such an immense subject into 40 pages leads to some debatable claims. He opens with a sweeping history of Muslim expansion (“Early Muslims knew they had a lot of catching up to do to equal or surpass the great civilizations that preceded and surrounded them”) and continues generalizing throughout (“Until the twentieth century, most buildings in most cities owed much of their look to Islam”). Single-topic spreads cover the development of Arabic calligraphy and the mass production of paper, revolutions in mathematics and medicine, artistic and architectural motifs, astronomy and navigation, plus the importation of new foodstuffs, ideas (e.g., marching bands, hospitals) and technology to the West. The array of street scenes, portraits, maps, still-lifes and diagrams add visual appeal but sometimes fall into irrelevancy. Labored stylistic tics stale (the Caliph’s pigeon post was “the email of the day,” the astrolabe was “the GPS device of its day,” the translation of Classical texts was “the Human Genome Project of its day”). The author winds down with a discussion of how the dismissive attitude of Renaissance “Petrarchists” led to a general loss of appreciation for Muslim culture and scholarship, then finishes abruptly with a page of adult-level “Further Reading.” Enthusiastic, yes; judicious and well-organized, not so much. (Nonfiction. 11-13)
Pub Date: April 5, 2011
ISBN: 978-0-375-84072-2
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Knopf
Review Posted Online: April 5, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2011
BOOK REVIEW
Though the tone refrains (barely) from utter didacticism, the values-driven narrative just misses the goal.
An otherwise unremarkable sports biography hammers home the values of determination and hard work with an unapologetic Christian slant.
NHL forward Mike Fisher's professional and spiritual life reveals the physical and emotional battle scars he suffered on the ice. Each chapter addresses a separate season (even hockey aficionados may be shocked by the numerous times his playoff games resulted in defeat). Portrayed as a near-saint, this charity-supporting, gracious athlete received support from his religious mentors, though not with immunity from grief; the illness and then death of a beloved coach results in a cutting loss. Religious fervor is maintained in quotations and repeated references to Romans 12:12. Bubbly, fast-paced commentary hits on each score, while stats naturally blend within text. Words occasionally repeat in close proximity, disrupting the text's fluidity. Overt enthusiasm for the sport lends it a tone akin to a high-drama broadcast, though statements can veer into ludicrous territory: “Like previous years, the unknowns and distractions make life a lot like balancing on Jell-O in a blizzard at midnight.” Small black-and-white action photographs fail to evoke the rink's aggressive drama. A glossed-over review of the pro's recent marriage to singing sensation Carrie Underwood will disappoint both country-music fans and romantic hopefuls.
Though the tone refrains (barely) from utter didacticism, the values-driven narrative just misses the goal. (Biography. 9-12)Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2011
ISBN: 978-0-310-72540-4
Page Count: 128
Publisher: Zonderkidz
Review Posted Online: July 19, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2011
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