Marilyn E. Randall's Children's Books

"For Faithful Friends" by Marilyn E. Randall is a pleasant children's book. It is about a turtle that holes himself up in his shell under a fence. He is so terribly afraid of life and the world beyond his comfort zone that he does not even go out to eat. A friend of his--the mouse--is kind enough to gather food for the turtle and talk with him. The turtle and mouse have many talks together, and the mouse encourages the turtle to go and see the world. A dilemma arises as winter approaches and the turtle will no longer have the mouse to gather food for him. Also, there is a climactic event when the turtle must either save his friend or stay in his safe area of fear. The morals of this story are clear as day, and the added religious dialog is sweet for little eyes.

"Inside Out" by Marilyn E. Randall offers a reassuring message for youngsters. The protagonist is a frog who thinks he is quite ugly. He does not like the green color of his skin, the croaking noises he makes, and his big, bulging eyes. He compares himself to other animal and plants in nature that he considers beautiful. At one point, he pines to God for making him grotesque. While crying, his mother consoles him and sends him to a wise owl. The owl knocks some sense into the frog and tells him that he is perfect how he is. He lets the frog know that God does not make mistakes and that friends who love him are all around. The frog then begins to croak without inhibition. He then makes other friends and has a higher level of self-confidence. This book is great for children that are stuck in the rut of comparison.

"Elmer the Christmas Elf" by Marilyn E. Randall is a quaint book for children. It is about an elf in Santa's workshop. Working diligently, Elmer is content. However, come Christmas day, a toy is left behind--which means one child will not have a present on Christmas. Distraught and a bit befuddled, Elmer bows down and prays to God for help. Subsequently, an angel comes and helps Elmer by having the child ride in Santa's sleigh back to the workshop so Elmer can give him the toy. There is a remarkable point in the book when it is stated that the love of God is the greatest gift of all. This short Christmas book will entertain little ones and put a smile on their faces. The graphics are very rudimentary and may inspire kids to pick up markers and draw the characters with ease.

Faith and Fangs

"Touched by a Vampire: Discovering the Hidden Messages in the Twilight saga" by Beth Felker Jones is an enticing read. It chronicles the messages of Twilight from a Christian perspective. The issues of a nuclear family, love, self-esteem, gender roles, and more are discussed. Jones first gives the reader an overview of the plot (spoilers included) of the Twilight saga. Then, she dives into particular topics. Each time she does this, she recaps the part of the Twilight story that pertains to her point so those that haven't read the saga will not get lost in her arguments without perspective. Readers are interested as they learn that the protagonist in Twilight puts herself down, obsesses over a perfect boy, and leaves behind everything for her "soul mate." Jones talks about girls needing more positive role models and that idolizing perfect men will leave nothing but disappointment. While love is droned over, the pages fly by almost as if readers were reading Twilight. At the end, Jones recaps how Jesus is all one needs in life, and that, while finding a significant other is copacetic, it must not trump God. Jones mentions how the author of Twilight is Mormon and brings up many interesting points. There are discussion questions included, too. It would have been interesting to read about race or the economy in Twilight, but, as it stands, Jones' book is a page turner.

"Thirsty" by Tracey Bateman is a gripping novel. It is about an alcoholic woman of Indian descent who is supposed to be quite beautiful. When she is young, a vampire finds her after a party when she is intoxicated and has just been raped (there is no explicit detail of this). Seventeen years later, the vampire sees her again and is compelled to go to her. He has waited for her all those years. To him, she reminds him of his long lost love that he killed in a fit of rage when she would not marry him. The alcoholic woman has found her sobriety and goes to her hometown to live next door to her sister while her daughter visits for a week. She ends up talking with the vampire and interacting with him, but she does not know who he is to that extent--she does not remember. The vampire's admirer is a black magic woman that threatens to kill the alcoholic woman if he does not go to her. There is intense internal conflict. There is also tension between the woman and her ex-husband as he still loves her. Additionally, the woman reconnects with the man that raped her, and her daughter finds out who her real biological father is. There is much drama in the book, and the excitement heightens towards the end. As for the vampirism itself, that comes into play more towards the second half. This book is a great read for those that want to have the appeal of "Twilight" without any of the religious guilt attached to it. The characters and moral dilemmas in this book are more Christian. God could have been written about more often, but, in general, the themes and lessons are more Christian-friendly.


This book was provided by the Multnomah Publishing Company. Check out their books at http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/.

"Fit For My King" by Sheri Rose Shepherd

"Fit For My King: His Princess 30-Day Diet Plan and Devotional" by Sheri Rose Shepherd is a nice book. From the tiara on the cover to the tough binding to the designs on the interior, this book is sure to make women smile. In it, Shepherd discusses the most candid parts of her life, from the heights to the depths. She talks of eating disorders, love lost, failure, depression, and so much more. However, she brings the focus back onto God. There are several Bible quotations in the book that relate to her topic for each day of the month. There are prayers the author wrote, as well as letters that are supposed to be from God. These are not presented in a form of blasphemy, but rather for the reader to read how much God loves her. There are even actions where Shepherd tells the reader what to do to be more successful. At the end of the book, there are recipes included that seem tasty. Many women may find Shepherd's idea of giving up certain foods / ingredients hard, especially with a book that only goes up to thirty days, but, overall, the book is a pleasant read for Christian women looking for a book geared to them as an audience.

"What Your Mother Never Told You" by Richard M. Dudum

"What Your Mother Never Told You: A Survival Guide for Teenage Girls" by Richard M. Dudum is a novel reference book for young girls. It dives deep into many controversial issues centered around today's young women. Drugs, sex, friendships, relationships, self-esteem and more are discussed. The book is divided into several parts with sub-chapters that are quite short. This makes the book very un-intimidating. Also, there is a table of contents and logistics in the back for quick reference. The pages themselves are quite pretty with flowers and fancy title fonts. Conversely, in his candor, Dudum does use explicit language and leaves nothing unsaid. In terms of content, Dudum does give young girls important messages such as never to assume anything, always have a plan b, be aware of surroundings, and know what their words / actions / clothes say to the world, especially boys. In a few parts of the book, Dudum refers to the Bible in terms of being individualistic and savoring uniqueness (not conforming to society's pressures). However, there are some contradictions to the Bible. For one, Dudum does tell girls not to rush into sexual intercourse, but he is not so blunt as to reinforce abstinence before marriage. Also, he discusses talking with parents and thinking things over when it comes to emergency contraception--something that many conservative Christians consider abortion. In general, this book is candid and has some satisfactory lessons for girls. For the more conservative readers and parents, they should give this book a good once-over before placing it into a little girl's hands to fill her tabula rasa.

"Stop It!" by Sally O. Lee

"Stop It!" by Sally O. Lee is a charming children's book. It has only three characters, two of which are human. There is a boy and a girl; they are siblings. The girl is quite feminine and enjoys dressing up with her cat. However, the brother is malevolent and both steals the girl's accessories and harms her cat. One day, the girl explodes at the boy, and the boy feels badly. Full of remorse, he gives his sister back her accessory. Then, the sister appoints him as king. This book is simple and fun for little children, especially those just learning how to read. It has the messages that children need to know--speaking up for oneself, forgiving, and obliterating sibling rivalries. The pictures are cute and may inspire kids to pick up crayons and emulate the rudimentary shapes that make up the characters. This book is suitable for both young boys and girls, especially if they are partial towards cute kitties with bowties.

"The Swiss Courier" by Tricia Goyer and Mike Yorkey

"The Swiss Courier: In a time of Traitors and Uncertainty, Whom Can She Trust?" by Tricia Goyer and Mike Yorkey is an exciting book. It incorporates many characters' stories and winds them together. There is the linguistic named Gabi--the infamous Swiss Courier plastered across the cover. Then, there is her beau who is presented to the reader as a simple farmer. There is also an American pilot that is being retained in Switzerland. Then, there are several German and Swiss operatives, some of which are loyal to Hitler and some of which a saboteurs. Gabi is intoxicated by the good looks of her boss, who is intrigued by her translational skills and ability to break open safes. They partake in many dangerous missions together. Gabi comes to a crossroads when she must determine what her true feelings are and who has her best interests in mind. A physicist named Joseph Engel makes most of the adventure in the book. Working for Germany, he is studying how to develop an atomic bomb. However, when German operatives find he is really German, he is hunted down. Engel is raised Christian, but there is some mystery as to his true lineage, which is heavily discussed in the novel. There are many colloqualisms that refer to World War Two, as well as anti-Semitic sentiments to reflect the time era. However, there are characters that support the Jews and trust in God to end the horrific war. The romance in the book is subtle and not truly graphic (the worst part involves one implication, and one implication only). The book may seem overly dramatic at times, but it does manage to hold the reader's attention for quite some time.


Available October 2009 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

"Embrace the Struggle" by Zig Ziglar and Julie Ziglar Norman

"Embrace the Struggle: Living Life on Life's Terms" by Zig Ziglar and Julie Ziglar Norman is an inspiring book. What one may pigeonhole as an ordinary self-help book is so much more. The authors take the ordinary theme of perseverance and put a Christian spin on it. They insert Bible quotations into the pages and talk about the love of Christ. Oftentimes, books such as these are insincere and have ulterior motives. However, the authors seem genuinely concerned about God. One can't say if that is their only focus, but it is better than the books that discuss the power of prayer without talking about being "born again." The authors touch several topics that range from finances to relationships to mental struggles to addictions and more. Many stories of people--both famous and ordinary--fill the pages. There is no bibliography in the back of the book, but there is an acknowledgement page. Readers who are skeptical about the credulity of the stories find a tad bit of reassurance. In general, this book is candid, crisp, and something of a beautiful enigma in its genre.

Fun Fall Fiction

"Diary of a Teenage Girl: What Matters Most" by Melody Carlson is a shockingly good book. It is number three in the diary series of Maya and the last volume of the "Diary of a Teenage Girl" series. (It is number 16, but the series has other books from other girls' perspectives, not just Maya's.) Readers don't need to read the other books to understand this one, but, after completing this one, they will want to. Maya is a teenage girl that is half white and half black. Her father is a famous musical artist, and her mother is an incarcerated train wreck. Writing an ecological newspaper column, working on TV, and studying, Maya has her hands full. In her past, she has done modeling work (possibly expounded upon in the earlier books). Beautiful, the ex-boyfriend of a top cheerleader has his eyes on Maya. This causes animosity between the cheerleader and Maya, with drama ensuing. Also, Maya's ex-boyfriend but still friend Dominic has feelings for her (also possibly detailed in book 1 and 2 of Maya's diary). Later on in the book, Maya's mother comes back from jail, and a local band asks Maya to join. While only a couple of months are detailed in this book, readers will feel as if they are looking down on Maya as she lives and goes about her day to day life. The choices Maya makes about her mother, her band, and her enemies truly reflect Christian values. This is a great gift for teenage girls that will compel them to read the diaries of the other girls, as well as the first two of Maya to squeeze the juicy details out of all sixteen diary books. Fantastic to say the very least.



"Limelight" by Melody Carlson is a book geared towards older readers. The main character is an ex-actress in her eighties. In her heyday, she was the one of most beautiful and gorgeous women around. However, in the current age, she is alone and bitter. Her looks have faded with the years, and her husband is deceased. To make matters worse, she has little to no money. This is due to the fact that, when her husband was alive, he eluded the IRS. This leaded to the government repossessing the actress' possessions and tapping most of her money. As the story begins, the woman is in a nursing home of sorts. Tired of such a mundane setting, this ex-actress flees to an old friend who has a real house. This friend happens to be homosexual. The book gets controversial and may not sit well with certain Christian readers. When the woman and the homosexual friend discuss religion, the woman does not tell him that his lifestyle is wrong. The friend goes to church because Jesus loves him (which is true of all people), but no one in the book points out what a grave sin the man is committing against God. Anyway, as the book progresses, the woman moves to an old house from her hometown that is in her name. It is run down, but it is shelter nonetheless. Once there, the woman reconnects with her estranged sister and makes some new friends. In the end, she feels better and is no longer suicidal / depressed in her old age. There is more description than dialog, and the book moves a bit slowly, but older readers may enjoy it.


"Leaving Carolina" by Tamara Leight is an unusual book. It centers around a woman named Piper. She is from down south and has an odd family history. One of her uncles comes clean to a less-than-perfect life and wants to make up for it by altering his last will and testament. Urged by others, Piper visits her uncle to try and bring him to his senses. While there, Piper encounters her uncle's robust and rugged gardener. The reader will think of this man as the Brawny paper towel man with more facial hair and a ponytail. At the same time, Piper is in a relationship with a congressman. She is not engaged to him yet, but she wishes she were. Things go downhill when the congressman ignores her for work and is rumored to run off with other women. Throughout the book, Piper's family secrets come out of the closet with much southern colloquialism. Depending on the reader's perspective, this book will either be seen as remarkably charming or remarkably annoying. The romance in the book is not raunchy, but it is a bit superficial. The storyline as a whole is reminiscent of a mix between a Lifetime series and Desperate Housewives. In any case, readers will definitely be surprised by this book.

These books were provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.




http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/catalog.php?isbn=9781601421661 http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/catalog.php?isbn=9781601421197 http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/catalog.php?isbn=9781400070824

"The Guilt Gene" by Diana M. Raab

"The Guilt Gene" by Diana M. Raab is an unusual collection of poems. It is about the poet's youth, mistakes, middle-age life, aging, love, and ordinary occurrences. The poems range in length, with some paragraphs thrown in. Most are written in free verse. The odd scenarios that the poem writes of makes the reader wonder if the poet is truly "something else" or if various events were made up for literary purposes. Also, one would think the publication of this book would cause angst between the poet and close family / friends when the poet discusses problems in her marriage as well as embarrassing childhood events. The tone of most of the poems is quite satirical and mostly cynical. Readers may be depressed with this book, while others may take it as daringly whimsical. Either way, this book of poetry is highly existential for lack of a nicer euphemism.

"The Tallest of Smalls" by Max Lucado and Illustrated by Maria Monescillo

"The Tallest of Smalls" by Max Lucado and Illustrated by Maria Monescillo is a marvel of a children's book. It takes place in its own little town that--albeit unusual--is not too far off for little ones to grasp. In Smallsville, the townspeople are tiny and await a time each day when they get the opportunity to be called to walk on stilts. A little boy named Ollie is short and imperfect. Those around him tend to look down upon him--both literally and physically. Then, one day, his name is called to walk on stilts. Everything feels stupendous as he perches upon those sticks and is tall for a bit. However, birds perch on him and make him lose his balance. When he falls, no one but Jesus helps him up or even seems to care. At the conclusion, Ollie realizes that he is fine as he is and that no status or elevation matters at all when compared to the everlasting love of God. The pictures aren't bad, either. ;)

http://brb.thomasnelson.com/reviews/blogger/2503

"The Great Grammar Book" by Marsha Sramek

"The Great Grammar Book: Mastering Grammar usage and the Essentials of Composition " by Marsha Sramek is a fine reference book. It starts off with a lengthily diagnostic test on grammar, followed by subsequent chapters on grammar skills. Everything from verbs to spelling to pronouns to capitalization to syntax to punctuation and more is covered. The structure of each chapter is relatively the same. Examples of the key skill are marked off in boxes. These are followed by prompts for the reader to complete. This cumulates with a review. This book is ideal for students, teachers, or even professionals looking to improve their own grammar (after all, having a comma splice on a resume may be the reason why one does not get hired). This book is quite long, so it is better as a reference book to look things up. However, if readers are audacious enough to go through the whole book, they will be quite rhetorically astute upon completion.

"Jack's Dreams Come to Life" by Sara Jackson

"Jack's Dreams Come to Life" by Sara Jackson is a copacetic book for little ones. The adventures of furry Jack are chronically most adorably. Children's attention is grabbed in the beginning as Jack plays around outside and encounters other animals most amusingly. Later, he falls asleep and has a dream. It is quite scary, or at least little ones will think so. Jack's squeaky toys come to life and chase him. Plus, a giant squirrel attacks him. In the end, Jack wakes up to find that he is all right and that none of his squeaky toys are plotting his demise. With fun pictures and cute drawings, children will learn that even the most scary of dreams are nothing to fret over.

Jack’s Dreams Come to Life can be purchased on Amazon.com. Her book can also be found at Copperfield’s Books in Napa and at the Bookshelf in Southampton, Benicia. For each book sold, Sara will donate $1 to the Benicia/Vallejo Humane Society.

About the author:
Professional author Sara Jackson is a graduate of Vallejo High School. She also earned a Bachelors degree in screenwriting from the Academy Of Art University in San Francisco. After graduating, she became a freelance writer for The American Canyon Eagle. Ms. Jackson is a regular contributor of Gorezone Magazine, Animal Wellness and Fangoria. Sara has written numerous book and movie reviews for†Scars Magazine. She has also written opinion articles for the Times Herald, most of which address the issue of animal rights and politics. In January 2007, she won first prize in the Soul Making Literary Contest with her nonfiction piece, "Necessary Procedures." She is working on a horror script for director Rob Schmidt, has another children’s book at a publisher’s and is in the process of writing a collection of short horror stories.

Contact:
Sara Jackson sara@castles.com, www.sarajacksonwriter.com

"The Laceyville Monkeys" by Harriett Ruderman and illustrated by Beverly Luria

"The Laceyville Monkeys: Say the Right Words" by Harriett Ruderman and illustrated by Beverly Luria is a fun book for children, especially those enamored with monkeys. It is about three monkeys who have special talents. One can sing, one can act, and one can dance. Their teacher / mentor enrolls them in a local competition where they can showcase their abilities. When a human grandmother--possibly estranged--discovers this, she tries to exploit the monkeys. However, the monkeys do not work in her favor because she treats them poorly. Only when the teacher says kind and encouraging words do the monkeys perform at their best. The main theme of the book is that a kind word can go a long way, and that impetuous anathemas do nothing but harm. The pictures are fun, and children will be amused at the superfluous images of other animals putting on shows. There are some subtle undertones against the elderly in the book, but most children will not pick up on this.

"Three Feet From Gold" by Sharon L. Lechter & Greg S. Reid

"Three Feet From Gold: Turn Your Obstacles into Opportunities" by Sharon L. Lechter & Greg S. Reid is a philosophical book of sorts. It is about improving one's current situation and becoming great. With the words "Think and Grow Rich" sprawled across the cover, readers think they are picking up a fiscal manual. However, the true essence of this book relies first on success, not fortune. The fortune is supposed to come with success, not the other way around. The authors of this book did their research on Napoleon Hill's original manuscript. That man was a reporter who interviewed Carnegie and other powerful people in that time era. The chapters cover several topics from passion to perseverance, and each begins with a quote from Hill himself. The chapters themselves have both fictitious and real anecdotes that illustrate points. Inspirational sayings are thrown in every now and then in boldface. Readers of this book may never grow rich, but if they start thinking the way the authors suggest, they will accomplish more and quit less.

"Redefining Beautiful" by Jenna Lucado

"Redefining Beautiful: What God Sees When God Sees You" by Jenna Lucado is a self-help book for young girls. It revolves around the notion of self esteem. Topics range from health and beauty to self-mutilation, bulimia, and--yes--boys. Each chapter starts off with a story. Then, there is an explanation of a particular professional development lesson for girls. Interspersed throughout the book are "Notes from Max" (Max Lucado is a famous author and Jenna's father). There are also Bible quotations and fill-in questions provided. Additionally, there is a quiz here and there. The main concept of girl's beauty in God's eyes always goes back to fatherhood. Jenna Lucado discusses girls' relationships with their fathers and correlates it to having God as Father. Girls will enjoy the straightforward and candid style of this book. The current nature is copacetic, too; even facebooking is integrated into a chapter. Also, the aesthetics are nice with fun chapter designs that will excite young readers.

http://brb.thomasnelson.com/reviews/blogger/2503

"If God is Good" by Randy Alcorn

"If God is Good: Faith in the Midst of Suffering and Evil" by Randy Alcorn is a mind-boggling book. Written with rhetorical finesse, Alcorn covers every possible angle when it comes to God and evil / suffering. He discusses illnesses, disabilities, depression, suicide, natural disasters, politics, philosophy, relationships, prayer, heaven, and so much more. Scripture is quoted heavily, as are personal anecdotes, stories from others, and quotes from prominent anti-Christians. Arguments are boldfaced as to make this brick of a book a bit more accessible for reference. There are eleven sections, each with sub-chapters. The organization is pristine, and readers will pick up this book whenever they are doubting their faith or just to something wise to say back to the sharp tongues of the world. While this book is scholarly at best, it can still be understood by readers of all levels. The notion of Jesus and Christ's redemptive plan for all of humanity--from even before the beginning of humanity--is a simple concept that is expounded to the utmost degree in this book. The cover is this book proclaims Randy Alcorn as a best selling author. With this book, it is not hard to see why.

This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.


http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9781601421326

"The First Thirty Seconds" by Stephen M. Armstrong

"The First Thirty Seconds: A Collection of Inspired Thoughts and Reflections for Living" by Stephen M. Armstrong is an intriguing book. Written in poetic form, this is a quick read. On the left side of the page, there is a sort of story. On the right side of the page, there is a question / prompt addressed to the reader. All of the poems and sentences pertain to changing attitudes in thirty seconds--almost with alacrity if you will. The major themes in the book are thoughts, feelings, relationships, power, hands, living ideas, character, and spirit. Since marriage is mentioned with sexual innuendos, this book is not appropriate for children. The book is not graphic, but it does mention not forcing a partner to fulfill desires, not using sexual intimacy as collateral, and how marital intimacy is an illustration of trust and acceptance. Religiously, the author briefly quotes Jesus and discusses the peace of God. Those who are religious will feel this book is lacking. Others will think this book is just a quirky book on self-improvement. This book is unusual to say the least.

"After the Ball" by Barb Greenberg

"After the Ball: A Woman's Tale of Reclaiming Happily Ever After" by Barb Greenberg is a dashingly good read. It is about Snow White and Cinderella. Long time friends since they were girls, the two are separated when they marry their princes. However, they still find time to talk with each other every now and then--usually over tea or while picking herbs. One day, each princess realizes the other is disheveled. They begin to prod each other and discover that they are both unhappy. Apparently, the princes have taken the power of the princesses. Later, the princesses travel to a sagacious woman for guidance. Many metaphors ensue and the princesses ultimately realize that they must first save themselves before they let a prince save them. This book is short and easy to read with wonderful artwork inside. It is quick, but the hidden meanings and undertones will keep readers pondering for quite some time.

"Cracking the $$ Code" by Patricia M. Annino

"Cracking the $$ Code: What Successful Men Know and You Don't (Yet)" by Attorney Patricia M. Annino is a savvy book. It is basically a handbook for working women. The main goal of the book is to give women the masculine skills they need to climb their corporate ladders. Several key issues about women in the workforce are tackled. Some include women being afraid to say no, feeling bad for others less successful, not speaking up, and so on. More interesting topics such as public relations and imaging are also touched upon. At the end of each chapter, there is a table with important lessons from the chapter. Also, there are inspirational quotes interspersed throughout the book. This is a short read--ideal for the working woman that doesn't have time to read a large encyclopedia-of-sorts on corporate success.

"Fearless" by Max Lucado

“Fearless: Imagine Your Life Without Fear” by Max Lucado is an unconventionally good book. Delving deep into controversially contemporary topics, Lucado takes a literary plunge akin to the one plastered on the cover. Hard fiscal times, control issues, mental projections, natural disasters, terrorism and more are juxtaposed with biblical insights. Lucado takes Bible quotations and stories and inserts them into the chapters that best correspond to letting go of fear. What’s even more interesting is that Lucado actually explains the biblical story in its timeframe and how it relates to today. He does not merely blow hot air and talk about hard times with some quotes at the end of the chapter. Rather, everything is intertwined and in easy-to-understand terms. Also, there are personal anecdotes (they are real with notes in the back of the book to back them up) and a discussion guide. The companion booklet is also nice; it’s a great way to get friends thinking or just a nice complement to a gift. Readers will feel better after reading this book. They will understand God’s promises, why He wants us to fear Him and not the world, and how Jesus’ time on earth some 2000 years ago is as relevant today as it was back then.

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