Posts by emily
Christ in Literature: Symbolism (pt. 4)
In my last post of this series, I looked at two ways that the Lord wrote Christ in the Old Testament: historically and symbolically. As for finding Christ historically in literature, it’s fairly simple. It’s Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ or any other historical fiction that treats Christ’s personal works in history. Today,…
Read MoreEmily’s Top Ten
Finally getting around to this post. I had hoped to post it during our six-month birthday celebration, but I ran out of room. So…here are my top ten posts since we started the blog in February. Sort of a summary of the scope of my writing and what you guys have found most helpful. (One quick…
Read MoreShakespeare on Record
A few years ago, my grandmother passed on to me a set of children’s records from the 1950s and 60s. Many of them were filled with odd arrangements of classical music or marching bands, but a few turned out to be really special. In particular, one which included train adventures–Train to the Zoo and Train…
Read MoreGrowing Up Shakespearean
Shakespeare and Story Bibles As I was searching recently for Shakespeare resources for my kids–who are 3 and 5–I harbored a nagging, undefined feeling that what I was doing was…not normal…and perhaps taking the homeschool prejudice for “great books” a little too far. Do kids who are still in diapers really need Macbeth? Do we…
Read MoreMake Your Own Book
We’re talking about Shakespeare this week, and one of the difficulties of introducing him to kids is finding books that aren’t too dark or perverse in the hands of professional illustrators. I’ve sifted through a lot of the books for you and found a few jewels. But another approach would be to make your own!…
Read MoreBreakpoint’s Youth Reads with Sherry Early
Last week, Janie had the privilege of sharing radio waves with Chris Fabry on his national radio show. You can find out more about the radio program and find a link to listen in Janie on Chris Fabry Live!.) The other featured guest of the program was Gina Dalfonzo, who is greatly responsible for Breakpoint’s…
Read MoreReader Spotlight
As we wrap up our half-birthday celebration, I thought it might be nice to give some attention to our readers. You’ve already met a few public figures like Simonetta Carr and Douglas Bond. (I actually got to know Douglas through a comment on our site!) A few other writers have kept a lower profile but…
Read MoreShould Christian Kids See Harry Potter?
Or for you parents, will your kids be going to see the final Harry Potter movie released to theaters this week? If so, for what ages do you think this movie is appropriate? Given the focus of Janie’s interview yesterday on Chris Fabry Live!–Teens and Dark Fiction–it seems to be a question many parents are…
Read MoreJanie on Chris Fabry Live!
Welcome old friends and new! Most of you probably know by now that Janie was interviewed on Chris Fabry Live! on July 13th. For those of you who aren’t familiar with him, Chris Fabry has been involved in a number of successful radio shows over the years, including A Love Worth Finding. His daily show…
Read MoreAnother Half-Happy Birthday: Our Blog Story
What does it take to make a blog? Besides a computer, internet connection, and credit card, of course? Some might say passion, intelligence, computer saavy. But for me at least, I think the key ingredient is this: I’ve got nothing better to do. In Janie’s case, she could be working on essays and novels that…
Read More1/2 Birthday Bash: Janie’s Best
Happy Half-Birthday, guys! Redeemed Reader has been online for roughly six months this week. It seems ages ago since that cold, February morning when Janie and I opened up the door, inviting all from the highways and hedges to come in. So much has happened since that time. And I hope tomorrow to look at…
Read MoreChrist in Literature: History (pt. 3)
In my previous post, I tried to show that Sally Lloyd Jones uses two broad ways of finding Christ in the Old Testament: 1) historical and 2) symbolic. For instance, when we approach the story of Abraham and Isaac, we must first admit that these are real people in space and time. (For a wonderful…
Read More‘Oh Say, I Can’t See’ Anyone Else But Me
Boy Humor, and How I Came to Terms With It One of my earliest realizations of the strange, otherness of boy humor is embodied in this image: me, an eleven or twelve year-old smartypants, standing and staring googled-eyed at my dad. He was kicked back on our couch and laughing so hard that I thought…
Read MoreRR Podcast 5: Douglas Bond from Scotland
Today’s podcast is a follow-up to our last interview with Mr. Bond, RR Podcast 4: Douglas Bond on Fatherhood. Last time we talked about his devotional books for young men and their fathers, Fathers and Sons. But this time we focused more on his fiction–including his series on hymns of the church featuring Mr. Pipes,…
Read MoreFree Audiobook: BBC’s Romeo and Juliet
A few weeks ago, I wrote about Overdrive software in relation to online library rentals of audiobooks. Today Sync Audiobooks, a website that offers free YA audiobooks each week, is offering a BBC radio recording of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet as a free audiobook through that same software. And although there is a little effort…
Read More4th of July Round-up
Here it is: my 4th of July round-up! Books about the Revolutionary War era recommended for ages 4-12, arranged from youngest to oldest. Saving the Liberty Bell by Megan McDonald, illustrated by Marsha Gray Carrington. Ages 4-8. 32 pgs. This is perhaps the best story of the lot. It held the interest of my three…
Read More‘Creative’ Retellings of Paul Revere’s Ride
The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Illustrated by Christopher Bing. Ages 4-8. 40 pgs. Roughly 150 years ago, a poem entitled “Paul Revere’s Ride” was published by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow in an edition of Boston Transcript, and a month later in Atlantic Monthly. Today, of course, it is one of the…
Read MoreFather’s Day Contest Winners
Thanks to everyone who entered our Father’s Day contest! Janie and I have enjoyed both hearing your dad stories, as well as the opportunity to give you a closer look at both our featured writers, Douglas Bond and Jonathan Rogers. For those of you who didn’t win, never fear. We’re already planning another contest just…
Read MoreIs Your Son ‘God’s Mighty Warrior’?
Will, God’s Mighty Warrior by Sheila Walsh, Ages 4-7, 32pgs. “This book is a favorite with my boys, 2 and 5. They really like Will’s adventures, and seem to ‘get’ the message behind the book, which is the importance of the Armor of God to success in life’s challenges.” –Sarah M., Amazon.com review Fathers…
Read MoreRR Podcast 4: Douglas Bond on Fatherhood
Today’s interview is regarding Douglas Bond’s devotional series for young men and their fathers, Fathers and Sons. I hope to eventually do another interview with Mr. Bond, since we weren’t able to touch on his fiction. However, in this interview Mr. Bond explains why he chose to write to young men and their fathers together,…
Read MoreEarthly Fathers, Our Heavenly Father & A Contest
“For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, ‘Abba, Father.’” Romans 8:15 Father’s Day Celebration As Christians, we–make that I–often forget just how startling it would have been for Jesus’ followers to hear Him call upon…
Read MoreLibrary Loans: Late Fees and Summer Camp
SUMMER CAMP We are eventually going to do our first summer camp next month. But in the meantime, I have been looking for ways to get my kids involved in something besides our same-old-same-old. Without having to take out a second mortgage. Enter I love Tennis by Naia Bray-Moffatt, a Dorothy Kindersley Book, which carries…
Read MoreChrist in Literature: Old Testament Lessons (pt. 2)
I have recommended The Jesus Storybook Bible by Sally Lloyd Jones in numerous posts on this blog. That doesn’t mean I think it is perfect, or perfect for everyone. In some ways, what makes it useful—its strong narrative voice and creative illustrations—actually end up taking kids farther from the original Bible text. And in that…
Read More10 Vacation Audiobooks for the Whole Family
“No book is really worth reading at the age of ten which is not equally – and often far more – worth reading at the age of fifty and beyond.” C.S. Lewis Despite the gas prices, a lot of folks will be traveling this summer. With so many portable digital devices (including ereaders!) these days,…
Read MoreWhat Would You Do Differently?
While we are awaiting a post by Dr. Gene Veith later in the week, I thought it would be fun to ask some of our readers this question. I am a mom on the cusp of homeschooling. We’re officially starting Kindergarten in the fall with my oldest, and my mind is filled with questions….How do…
Read MorePreparing for Launch: Gene Edward Veith, Jr.
We don’t usually do teasers on this blog. But we don’t usually do interviews with scholars as distinguished as Gene Edward Veith, Jr. either. If you aren’t familiar with him, Dr. Veith is Provost of Patrick Henry College and a long-time advocate of the importance of books–especially for Christians. Perhaps his most explicit treatment of…
Read MoreChrist in Literature: Worlds Without God? (pt.1)
“They know bits and pieces of the Old Testament—how God created the heavens and the earth, what rules he wants us to follow, how he worked through faithful believers to inflict justice on enemies. But they often fail to see how it all fits together as one story of grace from first to last, featuring…
Read MoreThomas the Train: All Aboard for Fun!
Today’s Article is a Guest Post by Libby Minor. See more about her below. “The morality of the stories was clear and Christian: misbehaviour led to suffering and retribution; however, provided the culprit showed repentance, restoration always followed. ‘The important thing,’ Awdry said, ‘is that the engines are punished and forgiven – but never scrapped.’…
Read MoreMoms with Blogs: Friends We Made Last Week
Yesterday wrapped up our Mom with a Blog Contest. And the winner was…Julie of www.learningtotreasure.blogspot.com! She won the Game of Sovereignty (that’s as opposed to Games of Chance) I played yesterday by assigning all the entrants numbers and pulling one out of a glass, and thus I’ll be putting her book in the mail shortly. …
Read MoreA Mother’s Day Meditation: ‘She Has Done A Beautiful Thing’
“While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, which she poured on his head as he was reclining at the table. When the disciples saw this, they were indignant. “Why this waste?” they asked. “This perfume could have…
Read MoreIs Your Daughter “God’s Little Princess”?
I know I’m in murky water here. Early in my daughter’s infancy, my husband and I began the argument: is our daughter a princess? Now that we have two daughters under six, the lure of the princess is in full swing, and I’ll be honest, I haven’t completely answered the question myself. One the one…
Read MoreAnnouncing our Mom with a Blog Contest!
We’re jumping on the bandwagon today. Mother’s Day is around the corner, and we’re gearing up to celebrate good old mom. Rather than creme-filled candy and flowers, though, we’re offering some delicious book insights and ideas, as well as one chocolate covered kids’ book! Ok, just kidding. You’ll have to add the chocolate yourself. But…
Read More‘The Dawning’ by George Herbert
Awake sad heart whom sorrow ever drowns; Take up thine eyes, which feed on earth; Unfold thy forehead, gathered into frowns; Thy Saviour comes, and with mirth: Awake, awake. And with a thankful heart His comforts take. But thou dost still lament, and pine, and cry, And feel His death, but not His victory.…
Read MoreMusic of ‘The Little House’
Saturday happy: Just found out that folksinger/songwriter Caroline Herring just put a CD out called The Little House. It’s a retelling of Virginia Lee Burton’s classic by the same name. In case you haven’t read it in a while, The Little House is about, you guessed it, a little house. The house spends its early…
Read MoreEaster Gifts 101: Last Minute Warning!
Easter is almost here, and while you could just pick a board book up at Walmart while you’re getting the Paas dye, you’ve still got time to order a book you’ll treasure for years to come. And guess what?! I happen to have a few ideas to help you do just that! TOP PICKS The…
Read MoreRR Podcast 3: eReader Safety with Malechi Tech Guy
A few weeks ago, Tim Challies released his book on the role of technology in our lives, The Next Story: Life and Faith After the Digital Explosion. In it he brings into focus the moral and spiritual challenges of new technology. He says, “We cannot run away from digital technology — mobile phones and computers…
Read MoreFree Classic ebooks
As many of you know–particularly those who’ve read our newsletter this week (and if you haven’t signed up already, why not take a moment and sign up in the top, right-hand sidebar?!)–tomorrow I’ll be posting an interview with Michael of Malechi Tech about ereaders and kids’ safety. If that topic seems like a stretch, by…
Read MoreDear Reader….
So, we’ve been up and running here at Redeemed reader for roughly a month and a half. It’s amazing to think about that, considering all the water that’s passed under the bridge. For starters, we’ve created a catalog of over 40 new posts. We’ve made some distinguished new friends–more than 2,500 moms and dads and grandmas…
Read MoreFree Audio Book: Corrie Ten Boom’s ‘The Hiding Place’
Can’t wait for my kids to read this in a few years. If you don’t have a copy already, here’s a great way to enjoy it as a family: a free audio book at Christianaudio.com!
Read MoreWhat Ginger Plowman Taught Me About Kids’ Books
Roughly three years ago, I read Ginger Plowman’s book, Don’t Make Me Count to Three. It’s a fantastic resource with lots of practical advice for dealing with kids in a way that points to Christ. I am sure I disagreed with something somewhere in the book, but it’s been so long ago that I’ve forgotten…
Read MoreAuthor Interview: Caldecott Finalist Ima B. Twitt
Now that April Fool’s Day is over, I should probably introduce this as my post on April 1st… Recently I had the extraordinary opportunity to interview author Ima Twitt, two time Caldecott finalist and one of the least known powerhouse authors out there in kids publishing. Ms. Twitt actually spent several years as a ghost…
Read MoreEaster Gifts 101: Bible stories and The Story of the Bible
“I just ordered Happy and Honey, Bob Books set 1, and the Starfall readers—books you recommended—for Lois’s and my African-American great-grandson. Could you recommend an early reading Bible story book for 4-year-old African American boy on the south side of Chicago? We want him to get into the Bible, but obviously understandability is important –and…
Read MoreEaster Gifts 101: ‘The Prince’s Poison Cup’ by R. C. Sproul
The Prince’s Poison Cup is perfect for young boys ages 4-8, but I think it will also appeal to many girls. It’s that time of year again: the tulips in my flower bed are peeking out, the birds are building nests on my porch, and I’m trying to explain to my girls that, no, you…
Read More‘True Grit’ and True Grace
“Or what man is there among you who, when his son asks for a loaf, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your…
Read MoreContest Winners and More
$20 Bookshelf Challenge Winner Today is the big day for one Redeemed Reader: the announcement of our $20 Bookshelf Challenge winner. Thank you to everyone who gave it a try, especially Alane who was the first runner-up. (Alane, I’ll email you with my idea for a consolation prize…) First place goes to Cathy for her…
Read MoreRR Podcast 2: Tim Challies on Choosing Kids’ Books
Last week I had the honor of interviewing Tim Challies–author, publisher, and blogger extraordinaire–on the subject of kids’ books. Much of what he had to say will come as no surprise to the hundreds of thousands of people who have read his body of work, such as his review of The Shack or his other…
Read More$20 Bookshelf Challenge: Best Books for Beginners
Everybody seems to be pinching pennies these days. I am admittedly pretty miserly when it comes to buying books. As much as I value reading, I also like having money to buy food, clothes, and a roof overhead. So, what is it that you really, really need to start your kids’ library? In order…
Read MoreWhen God Shakes a Nation: Real Relief for Japan
I have been praying for Japan over the last few days, as I know many of you have. In particular, I have been praying for Grace City Church in Tokyo where my friends Roger and Abi Lowther are missionary artists. (In case you’re wondering, that just means that they use their gifts in music to…
Read MoreAuthor Interview: Simonetta Carr on Heroes of the Faith
Emily interviews Simonetta Carr, author of Christian Biographies for Young Readers. In today’s author interview, I talk with Simonetta Carr, author of several picture book biographies for kids on church fathers including John Calvin, John Owen, and Augustine of Hippo in her Christian Biographies for Young Readers series. Her newest book on Athanasius will be…
Read More‘A Story, A Story’: Thinking Through African Mythology
The Anansi stories have been handed down through generations of Ashanti culture…Born in Ghana I left at aged 3, leaving much of the Ghanaian culture behind. At aged 30 I can still remember a song about Anansi the spider, the only remnants left of my native tongue. I was given the Anansi book as a…
Read MoreRR Podcast: Kevin Twit on The Jesus Storybook Bible
It may be my freshman attempt at an interview, but Kevin Twit is no novice when it comes to focusing his listeners’ attention away from themselves and onto Christ. In his ministry at RUF of Belmont University as well as the music he helps create at Indelible Grace, Kevin has been preaching Solas Christus for…
Read MoreIf Olivia Comes to Visit….
We live in an age of series picture books. Which, like having 27 McDonalds in every city, makes shopping a little less complicated for tired, stressed out parents. You know what you’re getting with McDonalds, while the mom and pop restaurant down the road is an unknown quantity. The bad news, though, is that not…
Read MoreThe Whole Counsel of God: Complementing Your Story Bible
The claim that a story Bible isn’t actually a Bible may seem a bit shocking at first. I mean, it’s got the word “Bible” right there in the name, doesn’t it? But now that I’ve had a few years to teach my kids with one, I’ve come to realize that most story Bibles contain very…
Read MoreBuying Your First Story Bible
You’re a new parent. You’ve got the baby crib with a fancy name, the swing, the bouncer, the burping pads. Now it’s time to choose your baby’s first Bible. And how hard could that be? It’s got to be easier than putting that crib together, right? The first time around, I just took my friends’…
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