A Book Review of Noah

A Book Review of Noah by Marky Ludy

Noah took dinosaurs on the ark!  I was thrilled to see dinosaurs included in the beautifully illustrated book by Mark Ludy.  It makes sense, though, since the author/illustrator certainly took a non-traditional approach to a wordless retelling of this all important biblical account and so many don’t include dinosaurs in their depictions.  

When I decided to review Noah (A Wordless Picture Book) by Mark Ludy I had no idea that it would take longer to finish than a book with words!  Each page is full of detail that children love and adults will too.  Parents will love sitting down with their children giving details the pictures bring to life and perhaps they hadn’t thought of before.   It can be opened many times and with each telling there will be more to see and tell.  The caricatures of the very real people are so unique they made me smile. 

All the important details of the account including Noah’s direction from God, the building of the ark, the rejection of everyone except Noah’s family, and the flood are there.  The most intriguing point for me personally was the birth of Noah’s children which caused me to look into the scriptures to see when they were actually born.  The author’s interpretation is a different point of view which you must see! Ultimately, I could reimagine the rejection, joy and sorrow of the time and experience the great deluge that God doesn’t want us to forget!  

I received this book from Handlebar in exchange for my honest review.

Review of The Healing Quilt by Wanda Brunstetter

The Healing Quilt  by Wanda Brunstetter

The intriguing title, The Healing Quilt, coupled with the cover picture of contrasts--an Amish woman in very modest, plain dress sitting on a beautiful quilt with an Englisher woman in traditional summer shorts and tank on a beach (whew!)-- causes the reader to want to dive in to the story right away! 

Wanda Brunstetter weaves the lives of six men and women in a quilting class with their challenges and mysteries as only a skilled storyteller can do.  Of course main characters Emma and husband, Lamar  held the keys to success for their quilting students, if they would only follow the kind directions given!

As each student faces life changing decisions, their lives interact with their previously unknown classmates there in Florida as well as students from Emma’s former Indiana quilting classes from a year or more in the past.

As a lover of Amish fiction I enjoyed the change of the typical setting from the Amish in the north to snowbird Amish in sunny Florida.  Amish folk are encouraged to adhere to their church doctrine, but in this story the main Amish characters became missionaries to the English community with their kind, non-judgmental treatment of all the folks in their quilting classes and relationships.  They certainly portrayed a convincing scenario of “winning a hearing” by their kindness and generous lives.  As the quilts come together in the end, so does the story for a great ending.

I received this book from handlebar in exchange for my hones review.

Review of Woman of Courage by Wanda E Brunstetter

Had Quaker, Amanda Pearson, married her fiancé as planned she probably wouldn’t have even heard God’s call into missionary service nor been challenged to reveal the strong, courageous woman she was.  This wasn’t your typical wagon train trek to the dangerous frontier.  There was no train and no wagon.  Was she foolish to set out on this 3000 mile journey with only her father and a guide?  The guide was seasoned of course, but Amanda learned that ultimately God was her guide and protector.

This was a bit of a detour from the author’s previous Amish story lines, giving a little insight into the Quaker mindset and speech.  Additionally, Amanda’s first convert, Indian Mary gave a glimpse into the culture of the Indians.  Their very real feelings and struggles in 1800’s America through Mary and her family gave the story a depth that it lacked in the beginning. 

I loved Woman of Courage because its story of danger, courage and romance brought to focus missionaries as real people in their daily lives and ministry.

I received this book from Handlebar in exchange for my honest review.