Compiled by Tama Fortner—Illustrated by Natalie Carabetta

“But Ruth replied, ‘Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God.’” Ruth 1:16 (NIV)

Oh, the story of Ruth! It has always been one of my favorites. It’s a story of committed love and ultimate redemption. Boaz, the kinsman redeemer of the Old Testament, reflects our Redeemer of the New Testament. I have always loved how intricately woven the Bible is. Everything ties together from Genesis through Revelation. In the story of Ruth, we not only see a picture of redemption, but we also meet one of the women in the lineage of Christ.

There is no greater responsibility and privilege than to share God’s Word with our children. When I first began my homeschooling journey two years ago, I believed I would be taking the more classical approach. Textbooks, comprehension questions, spiral learning…I’m old fashioned and I believed this to be the best way to teach my kids.

My oldest will begin First Grade in the fall and I have found that this approach is just not working for us. My daughter is often bored and has difficulty sitting still. Don’t get me wrong—she’s smart as a whip. She’s been writing her name since she was two-and-a-half and can recite the Books of the Bible without batting an eye. But try to make Bible time a simple “read and recite what you’ve learned” activity just doesn’t cut it.

I’ve decided to give Sonlight a try as far as curriculum goes next year. I am so excited to begin because the entire scope and sequence of Sonlight can be put in one word: reading. My daughter can’t get enough of books. Her favorite place is the library, and whenever I ask her to pick out some books to read she brings me at least ten. She loves to look at the pictures and to read books that have really engaging, hands on content.

One book I have already decided to include and implement into next year’s Bible schedule is Children’s Favorite Bible Stories from Tommy Nelson. It’s jam-packed with all the ingredients needed to cook up a Bible lesson that’s rich in taste and full of texture.

Here’s what I like about it…

1. It’s easy to navigate. There’s a table of contents at the beginning so you can jump right into reading about your favorite stories and characters (Ruth and Boaz can be found on page 80). The stories are also color coded (tan for the Old Testament and blue for the New). You won’t have any trouble getting comfortable or finding your way around. A handy ribbon bookmark is attached so you can save your place, too!

2. Each story includes extras you won’t want to miss. There’s a spot for family prayer time, going deeper through further Bible reading or family activities, vocabulary words, fun facts, and even a quote of the day! My favorite part is that the prayers aren’t simply speeches to be recited. Instead, many of the stories use praise and worship scriptures as the prayers. I found this little tidbit unique. I thought it was a great way to show my girls that our prayers and praises should be modeled after scripture.

3.  The pictures are timeless. The classic illustrations done by Natalie Carbetta fit well with the stories and keep my girls engaged while I read. My oldest will even ask me to point out who’s who in the pictures.

4. The stories are written in a verse by verse format that is easy for young readers to grasp and understand. With scriptures taken from the International Children’s Bible, this book is suggested for children ages 6-12, but I feel that it is great for younger listeners as well. My 8-month-old will even sit still and listen to me read it.

What about you? Do you have a favorite Bible story you like to read with your family? Comment below and you’ll be entered for a chance to win a copy of this timeless book, courtesy of Thomas Nelson.

Use the Rafflecopter below to earn other entries too, now through February 28^th.

Be sure to check back Friday, March 1^st to see if you’re the winner. Until then, Happy Reading!

Yours in Christ,

 S

 

P.S. Can’t wait to purchase your own copy? Get one Here.

 

I received this book for review through the Tommy Nelson Mommy program. I was not asked to write a positive review. All views and opinions expressed are solely and completely my own. This post also contains affiliate links. Click here to read my full policy.

 

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