A starting point for children who are not already familiar with Jesus’ parables.
A small collection of Jesus’ parables introduces young readers to Jesus’ way of teaching.
The text begins with the parable of the good Samaritan. A brief interlude presents several of the Beatitudes before Hendrix tells the story of two builders, one who built on bedrock, the other on sand. Several brief one- or two-page parables follow this before the longer tales continue with the lost sheep and the prodigal son. In a note on his retelling, Hendrix says that he has paraphrased the Gospel readings for “audience clarity, artistic purpose, and to bring the reader more deeply into the story.” However, his paraphrasing, mainly in the shorter parables, may do the opposite as readers try to remember exactly how the story that seems so familiar really goes. For example, he writes, “Can a hilltop fortress ever be hidden? Should a lamp be tucked under a veil? No! There is no such thing as invisible light.” And when Jesus is asked about the most important commandment, Hendrix styles the question, “Teacher, what should I do to live an eternal life with God?” Bright colors and patterns draw readers’ attention. Hendrix notes that his illustrations are a mix of fantastical and historical; humans have dark hair and olive complexions and wear, for the most part, Middle Eastern–style robes. Jesus is an almost skeletally thin bearded man wearing sandals and a tattered white garment. His skin tone varies from light to medium-toned. (This book was reviewed digitally with 9.8-by-22-inch spreads viewed at 24.2% of actual size.)
A starting point for children who are not already familiar with Jesus’ parables. (author’s note, sources, about the art) (Picture book/religion. 6-12)Pub Date: Feb. 2, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-4197-3705-3
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Abrams
Review Posted Online: Nov. 26, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 15, 2020
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A celebration of progressive Judaism and an inclusive primer on Jews making a difference in the world.
This wide-ranging collection of short biographies highlights 36 Jewish figures from around the globe and across centuries.
Explicitly pushing back against homogenous depictions of Jewish people, the authors demonstrate the ethnic, racial, and gender diversity of Jews. Each spread includes a brief biography paired with a stylized portrait reminiscent of those in Elena Favilli and Francesca Cavallo’s Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls (2016). A pull quote or sidebar accompanies each subject; sidebars include “Highlighting Jewish Paralympic Athletes,” “Jewish Stringed Music,” and “Ethiopian Jews in Israel.” Kleinrock and Pritchard’s roster of subjects makes a compelling case for the vastness and variety of Jewish experience—from a contemporary Ethiopian American teen to a 16th-century Portuguese philanthropist—while still allowing them to acknowledge better-known figures. The entry on Raquel Montoya-Lewis, an associate justice of the Washington Supreme Court and an enrolled member of the Pueblo Isleta Indian tribe, discusses her mission to reimagine criminal justice for Indigenous people; the sidebar name-checks Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Elena Kagan. The bios are organized around themes of Jewish principles such as Pikuach Nefesh (translated from the Hebrew as “to save a life”) and Adam Yachid (translated as the “unique value of every person”); each section includes an introduction to an organization that centers diverse Jewish experiences.
A celebration of progressive Judaism and an inclusive primer on Jews making a difference in the world. (resources) (Nonfiction. 8-12)Pub Date: Sept. 24, 2024
ISBN: 9780063285712
Page Count: 128
Publisher: Harper/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: June 15, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2024
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A useful if occasionally preachy introduction, this book would benefit from the inclusion of more specific details,...
To encourage tolerance, the photographer/authors want to help children understand similarities among Buddhism, Hinduism, Christianity, Islam and Judaism.
The authors assume readers will be people of faith, not atheists or agnostics. After short descriptions of each religion, common themes, such as the Golden Rule, spiritual leaders, sacred texts, clothing, symbols, places of worship, worship acts (use of incense, candles, water, and prayer), charity and cherishing children are explored. The text can be very specific, mentioning branches of Judaism (Orthodox, Conservative, Reform and Reconstructionist) without explaining the differences. (Sunni and Shiite Muslims are not delineated.) Activities will help children, teachers and parents think about religion in a comparative manner, although no sources or further reading are provided, which is a glaring omission. The attractive photos are often cropped into circular or curvilinear shapes and presented on brightly colored pages, giving the book the look of a magazine. Identified by religion but not by country, the photos were taken in the United States and eight other nations, including Mexico, Turkey and Vietnam. Interestingly, Israel and India, seemingly obvious choices, are not included. Captions would have been helpful for some photos such as a picture of a Muslim boy in a distinctive white cape and jeweled hat, which remains unexplained in the text.
A useful if occasionally preachy introduction, this book would benefit from the inclusion of more specific details, including holidays and eating customs. (glossary, index) (Nonfiction. 8-11)Pub Date: March 1, 2012
ISBN: 978-1-55453-750-1
Page Count: 36
Publisher: Kids Can
Review Posted Online: Feb. 4, 2012
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2012
BOOK REVIEW
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