Ishtar’s Odyssey: A Family Story for Advent by Arnold Ytreeide (Book Review!)

Ishtar’s Odyssey: A Family Story for Advent

by Arnold Ytreeide

(received in exchange for an honest review)

Genre- Religion / Holidays / Christmas & Advent

Published by- Kregel Publications

Copyrighted- 2015

Number of pages- 176

Age Group- Adult

Description of book- paperback, listed price- $15.99, ISBN 978-0-8254-4393-0

Ishtar’s Odyssey is a book that was specifically written to be read during the days of Advent.  In this book, Ishtar, a ten-year-old, who happens to be the son of a Persian wise man, sees a star, which wasn’t there before.  He is able to go with his father on a caravan ride across the desert to follow the star.  There are many dangers, and Ishtar needs to learn how to listen and follow instructions.  Along the way he becomes friends with Jotham, Bartholomew, and Tabitha.

This book has suggestions of different Persian foods to try, pronunciation guide, and ideas on how to make this a family tradition.  Each day your family will:

• light the candle.
• read the story.
• discuss the section talking about God and how it related to the story.

About the Author-

Arnold Ytreeide currently lives in Idaho with his wife.  He has written three other Advent stories: Jotham’s Journey, Bartholomew’s Passage, and Tabitha’s Travels.  He is the founder of Storyteller Productions.

My thoughts-

I thought this was an excellent book to use during Advent.

I liked how each day ended as a cliffhanger.  It will make everyone more excited for the next day.  I can imagine my children wanting to read more and looking forward to the next day.

I like the extra sections of the book.  I think a connection to food is important and an excellent way to relate to others.  I liked the lists, one containing Persian food and the other similar foods for us to try.  The pronunciation guide was very helpful.  There were some words I had not heard before.  Ytreeide also mention his own family’s traditions, which helped me decide what I wanted to do with mine. 

I learned a lot about the Persian culture while reading this book and I am looking forward sharing it with my family during this year’s Advent.  I recommend this book to you and your family.

Disclosure of Material Connection- I received Ishtar’s Odyssey, by Arnold Ytreeide, for free from Kregel Publications’ Blog Tour.  All links were current when posted.  I was not required to write a positive review.  The opinions I have expressed are my own or those of my family.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

If He Had Not Come from David Nicholson (Schoolhouse Crew Review review)

We received this for review purposes!

Product Links: If He Had Not Come

Vendor Information Link: David Nicholson

Age Appeal: Best for ages six and up

Format: Hardback book, with 40 pages

Price: $18.95

Are you looking for an original Christmas book?  Look no further than If He Had Not Come, by David Nicholson.  This story was originally in an anthology by Cynthia Pearl Maus in 1938 and was written by Nan F. Weeks.

This story is about a boy named Bobby and what happened to him on Christmas Day.  The story begins with Bobby reading the Bible with his father on Christmas Eve.  They read John 15:22 and five words from the verse keep running through his mind, “If I had not come.”  Bobby goes to bed and wakes up very excited for Christmas.  When he goes downstairs there is no evidence of Christmas, he goes outside where he finds no evidence of Christmas or that people even know anything about Christmas or Christ.  He goes to his church, the Children’s Home, hospital, homeless shelter, and to his Bible at home.  He finds no evidence of Jesus, just the words, “If I had not come.”  As he looks at his Bible that has only the Old Testament, he hears bells.  He jumps out of bed and it is Christmas.  He kneels and prays to Jesus.

The rest of the book contains study questions and information about the Gospel message.

All proceeds of sales from the book go to the National Christian Foundation.

Our Experience: 

Christmas is an important time of year to many people and this book shows how important it truly is.  I have always enjoyed Christmas.  When I was little it was about the presents and also about Jesus.  Now that I am a parent I do try to make sure that the focus is more on Jesus.  I thought this book was the perfect opportunity to show B and C how important Jesus’s birth was to all of us.

I was excited when the book arrived, so I had the children sit down with me and we read the book.  We have read the book several times since then and Dad read the book to the children too.  As a family we spent time discussing the questions at the end of the book.  I thought it was important, because the questions helped us think even more about how important the birth of Jesus is to us.

I plan on keeping If He Had Not Come where we can easily see it and read it.   

Mama’s Thoughts:

• The feel of the book is very silky and it makes it fun to hold the book.  The book cover makes it fun for any child to hold and enjoy.
• One of my favorite parts of this book is the questions at the end of the book.  The questions and the time we spent together as a family answering them, really helped complete the book.  It helped us draw nearer to Jesus.
• This book would be perfect in Sabbath School classes and for every family to read.  It would also be great for Christian elementary schools and public libraries.  This book will help those families focus on the true reason for Christmas.
• I liked Charles Jaskiewicz’s classic illustrations.  I could spend a lot of time studying the illustrations while reading the text. 

B’s Thoughts (boy, age 10, officially in fifth grade):   

I liked the feel of the front and back covers.  In the book it did not make sense why in his dream, the church had a sign saying, “’If I had not come’ John 15:22.” I loved the illustrations, they were so nice.  I liked the question section at the end of the book.

Overall I would recommend this book.

C’s Thoughts (girl, age 8, officially in third grade):

I liked the illustrations, they were nice.  It is good for people of all ages.  I did not like thinking about a world without Jesus, so I did not really like the book.

Dad’s Thoughts:

If He Had Not Come by Nan F. Weeks and reintroduced by David Nicholson gives us a question to consider.  If Jesus had not come into this world how what would it be like?  How would people act and react?  We should all take some time to ponder this.  And there is a study plan in the back of the book to go further in depth.  The illustrations by Charles Jaskiewicz are nicely done.

Mama highly recommends this!

Social Media Links!

  Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/If-He-Had-Not-Come/1543755249189773?ref=tn_tnmn

 

Ideas for Christmas Books to Read

I have spent the past week reading and reviewing some great Christmas books from Abingdon press on Christ’s Bridge.  I would like to share those links with you now.  I hope you enjoy the books.  Click on the book and you will go to the review.

I hope you enjoyed these reviews and found some new books to read.

Christ-Centered Christmas by Hal & Melanie Young

 

Published by- Great Waters Press

Copyrighted- 2011

Number of pages- 80

Age Group- Families

Description of Book- e-book, download price $15 but now as a new release it is $6

 

Christmas will be here before you know it.  Christ-Centered Christmas by Hal and Melanie Young  help you to bring Christmas back to something simpler.

Inside you will find:

• Carols- with links to the music
• Christmas crafts
• Christmas traditions you can make your own
• Many Christmas recipes
• Ideas for meaningful Christmas presents   

About the Authors- Hal and Melanie Young live in North Carolina with their eight children who have always been homeschooled.  Hal has published many articles in homeschooling magazines and is also a consulting engineer.  Melanie is a full time mom and serves as information director for Johnston Country Home Educators and board-certified lactation consultant.

My Thoughts- Hal and Melanie Young have written and shared a meaningful e-book for Christmas.  I know I am going to be printing this e-book, so I can put it in with our Christmas books for years to come.

I love cooking, so I would have to say that was my favorite part of the e-book.  I got so hungry while reading and seeing the pictures of the Christmas recipes.  I am planning on making Granny’s Fruitcake and Orange Juice Balls with my children.  And if we have time I would like to make more to take to people for presents.

I enjoyed seeing the large selection of traditional Christmas carols.  The kids and I have decided that we’re going to learn some of these  songs for school and sing them for friends and family.

I highly recommend this book to everyone who want to celebrate a traditional Christmas.  This e-book will guide you in the best way to have a Christmas centered on Christ.  

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received Christ-Centered Christmas for free from Hal and Melanie Young.  The opinions I have expressed are my own.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.