Kids praise party 2
2 star review
Kids Praise Party 2 is an animated DVD of ten worship songs with subtitles and sign language. It also includes a handy booklet with all the song words. I was very excited when the DVD arrived – the bright packaging and selection of tracks looked really promising and I thought this would be a resource I could use in my church. I was wrong. The graphics on the DVD are very basic – the sort of thing one would design in a year seven ICT lesson. The cartoon of a ‘Jesus wash’ (similar to a car wash) during ‘Oh Happy Day’ was a particular low point for me. The only good idea this DVD has is the inclusion of the songs with sign language.
I’m not sure where this DVD could be used in ministry – is the idea to play it during all-age worship? I’m not sure children’s worship can be enhanced by a cartoon of an aviator-clad penguin rapping ‘Rhythm Inside’. Although we regularly sing many of these songs (which are good) during worship at our church, I will not be using this resource.
Elise Allanson works with children aged 0-18 in Pinner
Held in hope: Maya goes to hospital
4 stars review
The Held in hope series explores challenging experiences that children may have such as going to hospital, staying in hospital, a family member dying and a child with limited life expectancy. They portray the experiences honestly and appropriately, sensitively illuminating the fears and emotions that children may have at these times, and relating them to the Christian faith in a helpful and appropriate manner.
The pictures are bright and appealing and the story is also available as an online film, which is a fantastic addition. There are also notes for parents at the back of each book, containing advice and information on further resources and organisations. They are priced fairly (£5.99), considering that they are specialised books. They will be an invaluable resource for children or families who are living through these experiences, enabling children to understand and verbalise their own experiences and emotions. I’d recommend parental caution when reading these stories to children who have not encountered
such situations, as they are very upfront about the issues. However, when read to children in conjunction with parental conversation, the stories could enable children to support others who may be facing these experiences. I would love to see more titles in the series addressing other difficult experiences of children.
Sarah Holmes is mum to three pre-school children, and currently carrying out PhD research exploring passing on of the Christian faith within the family environment
Christmas is coming, the goose is getting fat, it’s time to spend some money, on books and gifts and...er...hats?
There are loads of things you can buy at this time of year, but here are a few of our favourite books and stories to engage children with the Christmas story:
Professor Bumblebrain’s absolutely bonkers Christmas
Professor Bumblebrain is back! In this comic, the Professor, together with his faithful companion, Einstein the cat, explores the origins of Christmas – how it started and the traditions that have become part of our celebrations today. He even has a chat with Santa.
It’s Christmas!
The Good Book Company
This compilation brings together four of Alexa Tewkesbury’s previously published children’s Christmas stories. The books included are The camel who found Christmas, The Christmas star’s big shine, The perfect Christmas present and What’s Christmas?
The Christmas promise
The Good Book Company
This retelling of the Christmas story shows how God kept his promise to send a new king. Illustrated by Catalina Echeverri, this book is also available as an Advent calendar!
Guess who? Christmas
Lion Children’s
This ‘lift the flap’ book takes toddlers through the Christmas story by introducing characters from the Nativity. Certainly not one for older children, this book does simple things well: bright colours, stories and flaps!
The Christmas journey storybook
Candle Books
Follow Mary and Joseph’s journey to Bethlehem with this board book in a case with a ribbon tie. This pop-up storybook unfolds to make a 3D playmat with ten play pieces, so children can re-enact the first Christmas.
