Problems in Plymouth by Marianne Hering and Marshal Younger

Problems in Plymouth by Marianne Hering and Marshall Younger, Book 6 in the Imagination Station Series

Genre: Juvenile Fiction/Readers/Chapter Books

Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers

Website to Visit: The Imagination Station

Age Appeal: 7 and up

Important Information: Paperback book, ISBN 978-1-58997-632-0, Copyright 2011, 117 pages

Price: $4.99

In this sixth book, eight-year-old cousins, Beth and Patrick, are at the Plymouth Colony in the year 1621.  Hugh, from the 1400’s, arrived there shortly before they have and Patrick and Beth are immediately worried about what trouble he could cause.  Squanto is captured and three Native Americans are injured, did Hugh cause these problems?  Beth and Patrick need to find Hugh and stop him before the Pilgrims and Native Americans go to war.

Will they succeed and finally get Hugh back to his home in 1450 England?   

Authors:

Marianne Hering has written more than 12 children’s book and is the former editor of Focus on the Family magazine. She lives in Colorado with her husband and children.

Marshal Younger has written over 100 episodes for the radio program, Adventures in Odyssey.  He is a freelance writer and lives in Tennessee with his wife and four children.

Illustrator: 

David Hohn lives in Portland, Oregon where he works in his studio on many different projects.

Our Experience:

B and C were very excited to receive Problems in Plymouth.  One of the favorite things the kids and I like to do together is read. This was one of the books we couldn’t put down.  The kids wanted to read it for our school time reading and our nighttime reading.

My Thoughts:

I thought this book was fun to read to the kids.  We spent some of our school days and some nights reading this book.  B didn’t want to read this book himself until we read it together.  I think he wanted to have the enjoyment of being surprised along with us.   I know this was a work of fiction, but I have never seen the Pilgrims portrayed as such kind and Christian people before.  I was very glad to see this portrayal. 

The only part of this book that I was not sure about was the illustration of the Native American village with teepees instead of wigwams.  I thought it was primarily just the Native Americans who lived on the plains that used teepees.

What B (boy, age seven, second grade) Liked and Disliked:

I liked everything about the book, except for Hugh.  Hugh is mean.  Beth and Patrick went to Plymouth in the Imagination Station.  In the end Hugh went back to his proper time in England. 

I think this book is good for kids my age to read to themselves or to have someone read to them.

What C (girl, age five, kindergarten) Liked and Disliked:

I liked it.  They didn’t fight very much.  Mr. Whittaker could not go into the Imagination Station, because Hugh had the ring.  I think Hugh was an old man.  Beth and Patrick got the ring back from Hugh. 

I liked everything.  It is good for kids my age.

Would I Recommend?:

I would highly recommend Problems in Plymouth. It should be in every public and school library.

Disclaimer:

I received this book free from Tyndale House Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

Showdown with the Shepherd by Marianne Hering and Brock Eastman

Showdown with the Shepherd by Marianne Hering and Brock Eastman, Book 5 in the Imagination Station Series

Genre: Juvenile Fiction/Readers/Chapter Books

Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers

Website to Visit: The Imagination Station

Age Appeal: 7 and up

Important Information: Paperback book, ISBN 978-1-58997-631-3, Copyright 2011, 117 pages

Price: $4.99

Mr. Whittaker has sent Beth and Patrick in the Imagination Station to the time of David and Goliath to find Hugh.  They need to get the Whittaker family ring and send Hugh back to his time. 

The kids will face an angry bear and Philistines and disgruntled Israelites.  Will they succeed and finally get Hugh back to his home in 1450 England?

Authors:

Marianne Hering has written more than 12 children’s book and is the former editor of Focus on the Family magazine.  She lives in Colorado with her husband and children.

Brock Eastman is Product Marketing Manager at Focus on the Family.  He enjoys writing, but he focuses even more on his family.  They live in Colorado, but enjoy visiting the Midwest during harvest.

Illustrator:

David Hohn lives in Portland, Oregon where he works in his studio on many different projects.

Our Experience:

B and C were very excited to receive Showdown with the Shepherd. One of the favorite things the kids and I like to do together is read.  It didn’t take us too many nights to finish this book.  The kids just wanted to keep reading and then we had to read it a second time.

My Thoughts:

I am always intrigued when authors have people go back in time and associate with people in living during that time.  The authors did an excellent job of melding Beth and Patrick into David’s life and the war between the Israelites and Philistines.

Huge was a very addition to this storyline.  He sure knows how to cause a lot of trouble.  I think that the addition of Hugh along with King Saul and his army with their lack of faith helped B and C how faith in God is truly important. 

What B (boy, age seven, second grade in the fall) Liked and Disliked:

I liked Showdown with the Shepherd.  This story is in the Bible!  My favorite part was when David killed Goliath, none of the other Israelites would do it, because they had no faith in God.  The part I didn’t like was when Hugh made the catapult and sent burning tar covered rocks. 

I think this book is good for kids my age to read to themselves or to have someone read to them.

What C (girl, age five, kindergarten) Liked and Disliked:

I liked the part when Goliath, because the Israelites won. 

I didn’t like the catapult, because they threw the rocks right towards the Israelites camp.  The second time they had loaded a boulder the knots had slipped.  I also didn’t like the part with the bear, because it was rushing right at Beth and Patrick.

It is good for kids my age, except for the scary parts. 

Would I Recommend?:

I would highly recommend Showdown with the Shepherd.  I am going to tell my family, friends and librarians about this book and the rest in the series.  I hope these books will also be audio books.

Disclaimer:

I received Showdown with the Shepherd for free from Tyndale House Publishers.  I was not required to write a positive review.  The opinions I have expressed are my own.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

Revenge of the Red Knight- Imagination Station

Revenge of the Red Knight by Marianne Hering and Paul McCusker, Book 4 in the Imagination Station Series

Genre: Juvenile Fiction/Readers/Chapter Books

Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers

Website to Visit: The Imagination Station

Age Appeal: 7 and up

Important Information: Paperback book, ISBN 978-1-58997-630-6, Copyright 2011, 107 pages,

Price: $4.99

In this fourth book, eight-year-old cousins, Beth and Patrick, are in 15th century England at Lord Darkthorn’s.  Patrick and James are taken to the stocks by Lord Darkthorn’s steward, Hugh.  Meanwhile Beth learns who has been taking the artifacts from the three previous adventures.  Beth and Patrick finally meet Albert and Sir Andrew jousts with Hugh, for the freedom of the kids.

Will Patrick and Beth make it back to Whit’s End?

Authors:

Marianne Hering has written more than 12 children’s book and is the former editor of Focus on the Family magazine. She lives in Colorado with her husband and children.

 

 

 

Paul McCusker is Creative Director for Focus on the Family and has written many times for Adventures in Odyssey. He lives in Colorado with his wife and children.

 

 

 

Our Experience:

B and C were very excited to get Revenge of the Red Knight book.  We used it for our nighttime story and for our daily reading as well.  The kids couldn’t wait to read more.

B and C love reading Christian books. The book was exciting with two young children venturing through time and space.

What I Liked:

• B and C were very eager to have it read to them.
• It was easy enough B could have read it to himself or to his sister.
• The importance of honor, justice, prayer, and fair jousting. 

What I Disliked:

• Not enough of a historical background.

What B (boy, age seven, second grade in the fall) Liked and Disliked:

I loved Revenge of the Red Knight.  Why?  Sir Andrew is a good knight.  He is the same knight who saved Beth and Patrick in Peril in the Palace.   There was a tournament against Hugh and Roderick, because Hugh wanted to lock people in Lord Darkthorn’s tower, which he could not do.

I think this book is good for kids my age to read to themselves or to have someone read to them.

What C (girl, age five, kindergarten in the fall) Liked and Disliked:

It was good, good, good.  It was fun to learn about knights.  Sir Andrew had the ring for the Imagination Station.  At the beginning of the book the kids were in a cave full of bats instead of going to Whit’s End.

It is good for kids my age. 

Would I Recommend: I would highly recommend Revenge of the Red Knight. It should be in every library.

Disclaimer: I received this book free from Tyndale House Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

Peril in the Palace- Imagination Station Series

Peril in the Palace by Marianne Hering and Paul McCusker, Book 3 in the Imagination Station Series

Genre: Juvenile Fiction/Readers/Chapter Books

Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers

Website to Visit: The Imagination Station 

Age Appeal: 7 and up

Important Information: Paperback book, ISBN 978-1-58997-629-0, Copyright 2011, 119 pages,

Price: $4.99

Eight-year-old cousins, Patrick and Beth, are off on their next adventure.  The Imagination Station takes them to 1271 China where they are kidnapped by Mongol warriors, become friends with Marco Polo and meet Kublai Khan at the Shangdu Palace.

Will Patrick and Beth make it safely back to Whit’s End with the Golden Tablet?

Authors:

Marianne Hering has written more than 12 children’s book and is the former editor of Focus on the Family magazine.  She lives in Colorado with her husband and children.

 

Paul McCusker is Creative Director for Focus on the Family and has written many times for Adventures in Odyssey.  He lives in Colorado with his wife and children.

 

 

Our Experience:

B and C were very excited to get this book.  We had to sit down and begin reading this book when it arrived in the mail.  We also used it for our nighttime story. 

They love reading Christian books.  The book was exciting with two young children venturing through time and space.

What I Liked:

• The Christian focus.
• That the kids visit real places and people.
• This is a book B could read silently to himself or out-loud to C.
• How Beth proves with magnets that the yellow lamas are not using magic.

What I Disliked:

• There could be more about Jesus and Christianity.

What B (boy, age seven, second grade in the fall) Liked and Disliked:

I liked Peril in the Palace.  I liked that they traveled to China in 1271.  In the book, Beth and Patrick got to visit the Shangdu palace.  The palace was made out of real gold.  I didn’t like that rocs (a type of eagle) carried them to the nest and that Beth got scraped on the leg. 

I think this book is great for kids my age to read to themselves or to have parents read to them. 

What C (girl, age five, kindergarten in the fall) Liked and Disliked: 

Patrick and Beth had to travel in the Imagination Station to China. The yellow lamas used magnets to hold things up in the air, like a pitcher. They did that to show magic, but Kublai Khan didn’t know that. Beth and Patrick scared the yellow lamas with a wind-up toy chicken. Marco Polo who had been with them left them at Shangdu Palace.

I liked this book.  Other kids my age should like it too.

Would I Recommend: I would highly recommend Peril at the Palace.  It should be in every library.

Disclaimer: I received this book free from Tyndale House Publishers.  I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.