A Glimpse at “Islands of the Ocean: Stories from the Lives of Celtic Saints” by Constantine Ganotis and Katerina Kormali, illustrated by Eva Karantinou

Newrome Press’ book Islands of the Ocean: Stories from the Lives of Celtic Saints features the stories of saints who lived in Wales, Ireland, and Scotland. The book engagingly tells the stories of St. Melangell, the Boys of Lan, Saint Kevin, Saint Patrick, and St. Gobnait. But the saints in this book share more than cultural and geographic proximity. These saints had an extraordinary awareness of (and appreciation for) nature. Thus, God often used His creation to help, save, and teach them. The saints’ love for animals is a recurring theme throughout the book. 

Authors Constantine Ganotis and Katerina Kormali are a grandfather-granddaughter duo whose love for studying and teaching Church history pairs well with their ability to write folktales, strengthening the way in which they share the stories of these saints. Illustrator Eva Karantinou’s medieval-inspired stained-glass-window illustrations add charm while also helping the reader to mentally “step back in time.” The bright colors and simple shapes of each illustration, as well as the themed borders for each saint’s story draw the reader into the text.

Which saint was a slave with only the animals that he cared for as his friends; and because of this, he began to notice the details in the natural world which God so carefully created?

Which saint’s story recounts how people were miraculously saved by sudden rainstorms, not just once, but TWICE? 

Which saint loved watching and learning about bees; and later in life, the bees saved the saint’s monastery from an invasion?

Which saint’s story includes two boys who were protected by a monster and fed by an otter?

Which saint was spoken to by an owl? 

Readers will find the answer to all of these questions in this book. They will also be inspired to become more aware of the natural world, and more appreciative of the ways in which God works through it to help and save His people. The account of each saint’s life will challenge the reader to become closer to God.

Find your copy of Islands of the Ocean: Stories from the Lives of Celtic Saints here: https://newromepress.com/islands-of-the-ocean-stories-from-the-lives-of-the-celtic-saints/ 

The Antiochian Department of Christian Education thanks Newrome Press for sharing this book so that we could read and review it. 

Reviewed for the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Education Ministry by Kristina Wenger, educator, podcaster, co-author of Tending the Garden of Our Heart.

A Look at “Old Testament Games & Relays” by Summer Kinard

Park End Books’ latest addition to their Accessible Church School series is Summer Kinard’s Old Testament Games & Relays. In the book’s introduction, Kinard reminds her readers how important play is in children’s learning. She points out how frequently lessons (particularly religious education lessons) omit this important means for learning, offering only “a lesson, a coloring page, and a snack.” In her effort to create an educational atmosphere that includes everyone and meets all children’s needs, she has created these fun games.

Old Testament Games & Relays features 25 games in the following categories: Creation and the Fall; Noah; Abraham and Sarah; Joseph; Moses and the Exodus; The Promised Land; King Saul, King David, and King Solomon; and Prophets and Forebears. Kinard has written each game in such a way that instruction and play are happening simultaneously. Because of this, children will romp their way through these games, learning truths from the Old Testament while playing them, without even realizing that they are learning.

Each game’s description offers a succinct explanation of the story on which it is based, complete with scripture reference; the goal of the game; the ages for which it is appropriate (as well as suggestions for how to mix age groups if needed); the materials/setup for the game; suggestions for multiple ways to play; and related notes. Kinard has 30 years of Sunday school teaching experience under her belt, which is very well evident in the thorough suggestions/offerings for each game. An appendix at the end of the book groups the games in categories: messy games, water games, indoor games, and Sunday best clothes games. Kinard has intentionally utilized fairly readily available “props” for the games, many of which are easily at hand or can be used again in other settings if they need to be purchased/created.

This book is a valuable resource for any Sunday school teacher, homeschool group, parish event planner, or family that gathers neighborhood children for organized games. Sunday school teachers will find games they can use with their Church school curriculum. Homeschool groups could use this book as a guide for weekly Bible study (for 25 weeks: almost a full school year!), basing their weekly study on an Old Testament story reflected in a game from this book. Parish event planners could use a game (or more) from the book to drive the theme for a family night or for a children’s group gathering. Families who are intentionally building relationships with neighborhood children could pick a game or two from the book, briefly share the story related to it, and have a lot of clean neighborhood fun as they all play the game(s) together.

Children learn so well through play. It is imperative that any adult working with children keeps that fact in mind, and finds ways to incorporate as much play as possible into their interactions with children. This book is an excellent place to start.

Find your copy of the book here:  https://parkendbooks.com/shop/oldtestamentgamesandrelays/ 

Reviewed for the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Education Ministry by Kristina Wenger, educator, podcaster, co-author of Tending the Garden of Our Heart.

“Come, Stay, Fetch” by Summer Kinard, Illustrated by Kathryn Tussing

If you were a dog in the time of Christ, what would His life and ministry look like to you? What would you hear Him say? How would you respond? Park End Books’ new board book offers its readers the chance to consider these questions, and see for themselves. Come, Stay, Fetch, written by Summer Kinard, and illustrated by Kathryn Tussing draws its readers into the life, ministry, death, and resurrection of Christ through simple commands that dogs are trained to recognize. 

Each page or spread features a dog, observing Christ and those around Him, in a particular moment of His ministry, His death, or His resurrection. A single command graces the image, along with at least one scriptural reference related to it. Summer Kinard’s distillation of such important moments in Christ’s time on earth into simple commands is at once soothing and brilliant. The reader understands that the Gospel is simple, that it can be communicated in basic language, even though it is simultaneously unfathomable because of the depth of God’s love for humanity.

Kathryn Tussing’s simple but engaging illustrations draw the reader to consider the dog’s perspective on the moment; especially since they are done in a color scheme that dogs can see! The hues may seem subdued to human eyes, but they allow a truly canine perspective of these moments in Christ’s earthly life. And what an experience it is, to look with a dog’s eyes! Every moment is an adventure, from the eagerness in the dog’s eyes when Christ says, “Come!” as He invites all to follow Him; to the struggle on the dog’s face when Christ says, “Wait” in Gethsemane; to the ears-flopping-full-gallop at the joy of hearing the angel say, “Fetch!” at the resurrection.

Naturally, dog lovers will enjoy this book’s perspective. But any family who wants to learn more about Christ, or any teachers wishing to engage their class in the Gospels in a slightly different way will find this book to be a beautiful opportunity to do just that. The reader will be driven to scripture, in order to read all of the passages related to each picture/command, and they will see for themselves the beauty of the different Gospel writers’ accounts; then draw their own conclusions of how the command relates to that moment in time.

Readers will step away from this sweet board book grateful that “even the little dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table” (Matthew 15:27). Christ’s earthly life not only brought hope and healing to those around Him at the time. He also commands those of us who have come into being, since, to follow Him. And in His great mercy He heals and saves us, too. All we need to do is “Come!”, “Stay!”, and “Fetch!” 

Purchase your own copy of Come, Stay, Fetch by Summer Kinard, Illustrated by Kathryn Tussing at https://parkendbooks.com/shop/come-stay-fetch-the-gospel-according-to-dogs/

Note: thanks to Park End Books for sending us a copy of Come, Stay, Fetch so that we could read it and write this review.

Reviewed for the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Education Ministry by Kristina Wenger, educator, podcaster, co-author of Tending the Garden of Our Heart.