Jean Marzollo Reviews

Page Two

Added June 29, 2005

Jonah and the Whale (and the Worm)

Author: Jean Marzollo
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company
Available At: Bookstores Everywhere
Publishing Date: September 22, 2004
Genre: Children: Storybook/Biblical
Format: Hardback
Price: $15.99
ISBN: 0-316-74134-5
Author Email/Website: www.jeanmarzollo.com
Reviewer: Sherri Myers

Jonah was a Hebrew prophet whom God had called to go to Nineveh to teach them about Him. Jonah didn't want to go because the Ninevites were enemies of Israel, so Jonah decided to run away and hide from God. After stowing away on board a boat, Jonah fell asleep, only to awaken later to a fierce storm brewing. Realizing God was the one behind the storm, Jonah tells the crew to throw him overboard in order to stop the storm. Jonah agrees to go to Nineveh, but he doesn't want God to forgive the enemies of his people. Jonah waits outside the city gates to witness Nineveh's destruction, relaxing under a vine God had made grow to shade him. When the vine dies at dawn, and Nineveh isn't destroyed, Jonah finally understands why God wishes to forgive the Ninevites.

Jonah and the Whale (and the Worm) is a wonderful adaptation of the classic Bible story of Jonah and the whale with one little addition. It also reminds our children (and us) of the importance of the worm in this tale, which many storytellers forget to include. The worm is just as important to the lesson that Jonah and we learn as what the whale is, and I am very glad to have found this fabulous children's story. Cute octopi venture along at the bottom of each page with silly comments children will love, and the book is filled with bright, colorful illustrational paintings that add greatly to the story. Any parent, grandparent, or friend looking for an exceptional series of Bible stories for the children in their lives should definitely check out Jean Marzollo's series, which now includes several titles all of excellent quality. Highly recommended!

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Added June 6, 2004

Daniel in the Lion's Den

Author: Jean Marzollo
Publisher: Little, Brown, and Company
Available At: Bookstores Everywhere
Publishing Date: February 20, 2004
Genre: Children: Storybook/Biblical
Format: Hardback
Price: $15.95
ISBN: 0316741329
Author Email/Website: www.jeanmarzollo.com
Reviewer: Sherri Myers

,b>Daniel in the Lion's Den by Jean Marzollo is a fabulous retelling of the classic Bible story about Daniel and the lions. Beloved by King Darius of Babylonia, Daniel is hated by the other soldiers in the king's court because he is the King's favorite, and because he prays to a different God than the Babylonians. They decide to get rid of him by talking the King into making a decree that you must pray only to the King himself. If found to be praying to anyone else, you would be thrown into the lions' den. Of course, Daniel only believed in and prayed to God, so he was thrown to the lions' to be their lunch. King Darius was upset for being tricked, but had to follow through on his own law. God loved Daniel and sent an angel to protect him by closing their mouths and making them fall asleep. Imagine everyone's surprise the next day when Daniel is found to be alive! The conspirators themselves become the lions' lunch and a new decree is made for everyone to worship Daniel's God instead of the King.

Colorful watercolor drawings illustrate this fantastic book that should grace the shelves of every Christian child's bookshelf. Tiny black ants at the bottom of each page add their own comments to this story in an amusing fashion. Along with two others in this series by Jean Marzollo, this Bible story rendition of Daniel's test of faith is one of the best I've ever read to my children. The two others in this series are Miriam and Her Brother Moses and David and Goliath, which also are must-buys. Coming soon is also the story of Jonah and the Whale (and the Worm), which I definitely am looking forward to.

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