Biblical Narratives

Greetings!

Last week I mentioned a number of titles that are good for older students to read. Most of those titles were appropriate for students in grades 6 – 12. This week I want to focus more on titles for those same grades, but that are published by our SDA publishing houses or Christian publishers.

I have listed a total of 37 books that focus on individual Biblical characters and what their lives and their culture might have been like. Obviously these aren’t biographies, but these stories really help to bring Bible characters to life.

Some of these books will be better stories than others. One example is the book Martha and Mary by Ntihemuka. This was the first of her books that I read and I didn’t really like it much. The story switched between Mary’s childhood and adulthood back and forth and was difficult to follow. I decided not to read any more of her books. One day a student came and was waxing lyrical about Ntihemuka’s Mary book and loved it. After a short discussion, she talked me into reading Mary and I did like it a lot. So I should not have judged an author by just one book.

Another book that is likely on your shelves right now is the book Deborah by Heppenstall. This was printed in 1967 and I see this book in many of our school libraries. This is the story of the little captive maid captured and bought by Naaman. If you haven’t read it, pull it out and read it aloud to your class. You have time to read the book before school is out and you and the students will really enjoy it.

Some have asked where to catalog these books. I know that some of you put them in the 813 section and others put them in the 200’s. We have them cataloged in the 200’s. I suggest that you put the Old Testament people in 221.9 and the New Testament people in 225.9. I have a post on this blog with more information about this dilemma. Take a look at Feb 7 2012.

I hope you enjoy this list and find some great books to put in your library.

Have a wonderful week!

Audrey


Bruno, Bonnie – Secret Journals of Bible-time Kids published by FaithKidz
Vol. 1 – Abigail’s Secret Journal (The Exodus)
Vol. 2 – Rachel’s Secret Journal (King Solomon’s time and peer pressure)
Vol. 3 – Benjamin’s Secret Journal (Feeding of the Five Thousand and the problem of exaggerating)
Vol. 4 – Deborah’s Secret Journal (Zacchaeus and the problem of poverty)

Hawse, Alberta – Vinegar Boy (Christ on the cross)

Ntihemuka, Patty Froese – Zacchaeus, Martha and Mary, Mary (mother of Jesus), Woman at the Well

Traylor, Ellen Gunderson – John Son of Thunder

Gibbs, Noni Beth – Peter Fisher of Men, Malchus

Fivash, Terri – Dahveed series, Joseph, Ruth and Boaz

Morgan-Cole, Trudy J. – Esther Story of Courage (longer book), Esther Courage to Stand (shorter book), Deborah and Balak, Bathsheba, Lydia, Samson

Thomsen, Hester – Hagar

Heppenstall, Margit Strom – Deborah (captive maid of Naaman)

Booth, Bradley – Miracles of the Mantle (Elisha), Escape from Egypt (Israelites), Plagues in the Palace (Moses), Esther A Star is Born, Prince of Dreams (Daniel), Shepherd Warrior (David), Noah Chosen One, Noah End of the World, The Prodigal

Erickson, Lois N – Leah, Hannah

Dickerson, Ed – Torn (Jacob)

Petty, Thurman C. Jr. – Siege at the Gates, Fire in the Gates - Autumn House Publishing