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THE MERCHANT AND THE THIEF

Name: THE MERCHANT AND THE THIEF
Author: Ravi Zacharias
ISBN: 978-0-310-71636-5

A FOLKTALE FROM INDIA

by Ravi Zacharias ; illustrated by Laure Fournier ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 1, 2012

Uri Shulevitz’s Caldecott-winning The Treasure presents a more winning take on the original theme, but Christian educators...

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A canny merchant outwits a would-be thief trying to steal his jewels, then with help from the Bible gives him a greater treasure.

First issued by a small publisher in 1999 with illustrations by Lad Odell, the story pairs wealthy Raj, on an annual journey to visit his family, and a light-fingered fruit seller, Mohan, who is bent on stealing his precious cargo. Though Mohan searches Raj’s bags every night along the way, he finds nothing—because, as Raj at last reveals, he had been wise to Mohan’s scheme all along and hid his jewels under Mohan’s own pillow. “When we have our eyes on other people’s treasure, we cannot see how close we are to the greatest treasure there is.” Taking out a New Testament, Raj then explains that giving his life to Jesus will make him God’s child, and the repentant thief returns to his own loving family, resolved to look to God for his future needs. Fournier’s carefully detailed depictions of generic Indian street scenes and benign-looking figures in traditional dress give the explicitly Christian message, which Zacharias has tacked on to what he claims is an old parable, an unlikely but not impossible setting.

Uri Shulevitz’s Caldecott-winning The Treasure presents a more winning take on the original theme, but Christian educators may find a use for this repurposed version. (no source note) (Picture book. 7-10)

Pub Date: April 1, 2012

ISBN: 978-0-310-71636-5

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Zonderkidz

Review Posted Online: Jan. 17, 2012

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2012

Categories:

CHILDREN'S RELIGIOUS FICTION

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THE BEGINNING

From the The Secret of the Hidden Scrolls series

by M.J. Thomas ; illustrated by Graham Howells ‧ RELEASE DATE: Aug. 8, 2017

First of what promises to be a highly selective but at least not humorless set of introductions to biblical events.

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An ancient scroll transports two modern children and a dog back to witness the biblical Creation.

Great-Uncle Solomon says he has a jarful of scrolls that “prove the Bible is true.” A midnight venture into his library leaves white Peter, 9, his adopted, Chinese 10-year-old sister, Mary, and their unusually smart dog, Hank, floating in a dark but not airless void until a big voice calls out “LET THERE BE LIGHT.” As similar all-cap commands bring day, night, water, and the rest, white-robed Michael arrives in a boat, warns that Satan lurks nearby (“I have a feeling that he is going to try to mess things up here”), and tells them that they have seven days to guess the meaning of the scroll’s secret Hebrew message or they’ll be stuck. When the great serpent shows up he gets a karate kick to the face from Mary, after which the children watch the “first man” (white, in the drawing) rise and name the animals (Hank gets to be “dog”). Peter translates the scroll’s message (“GOD CREATED EVERYTHING”) just in time and brings the travelers back to hear from their great-uncle how God kicked the first man and woman out of Eden but will “fix everything someday.” How? Repeated oblique mention of a lion (the only remotely subtle thing about the tale) might furnish a hint. Book 2, Race to the Ark, publishes simultaneously. Howells’ cartoon illustrations (many not seen) are as straightforward and artless as the text.

First of what promises to be a highly selective but at least not humorless set of introductions to biblical events. (Religion/fantasy. 8-10)

Pub Date: Aug. 8, 2017

ISBN: 978-0-8249-5684-4

Page Count: 112

Publisher: WorthyKids/Ideals

Review Posted Online: June 4, 2017

Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2017

Categories:

CHILDREN'S RELIGIOUS FICTION

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ON POINT

From the Zayd Saleem, Chasing the Dream series , Vol. 2

by Hena Khan ; illustrated by Sally Wern Comport ‧ RELEASE DATE: May 29, 2018

A delightful follow-up from a writer who understands children, family, and culture.

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In this second installment of the Zayd Saleem, Chasing the Dream series, Zayd navigates challenging times on his new basketball team and changing relationships with both his best friend and his favorite uncle.

Pakistani-American fourth-grader Zayd has made it to the elite gold team, but now the team is losing games. His best friend, Adam, whom Zayd loves playing with, is losing interest in basketball and is acting different. Zayd’s uncle Mamoo is also less fun to be around; he’s at the center of plans for his upcoming wedding, which is all anyone at home talks about. The family holds planning meetings and dinners, and they travel out of state to shop for the wedding in Edison, a “Little Pakistan”–like town in New Jersey. When Adam misses basketball practice, the coach puts Zayd on point guard. Zayd is not sure he can do it, but the harder he works, the more his confidence and abilities grow. He even shares some lessons from basketball with his uncle and soon-to-be aunt about taking charge while being a team player. Khan stays firmly in Zayd’s perspective while keeping the many elements of his life—family, friends, and passions—in focus too. With just enough action to keep readers turning the pages and a sprinkle of age-appropriate realizations throughout, this small book is a great pick for elementary-age readers. Players on Zayd’s team are diverse; Adam is Jewish.

A delightful follow-up from a writer who understands children, family, and culture. (Fiction. 7-10)