panda_incognito's review against another edition
5.0
Note: This is a review of the board book edition.
The Prisoners, the Earthquake, and the Midnight Song Board Book is a toddler-friendly adaptation of a longer picture book from the Tales That Tell the Truth series. Both books tell the story of Acts 16, showing how Paul and Silas's worship of God during their imprisonment witnessed to the Phillippian jailer and led to his salvation, but this edition is shorter and simpler. The original author, Bob Hartman, simplified the text for a toddler's comprehension, and only some of the original illustrations appear, but the book reads in a seamless way and feels complete.
One of the biggest differences between the original book and this adaptation is that it removes references to death and suicide. The picture book shows the whole biblical story, with the jailer despairing after the earthquake and preparing to kill himself, since he believes that the prisoners have escaped and that he will face execution. The board book simply shows him crying and says that if the prisoners escape, he will be in "BIG trouble." This sanitized element keeps the book suitable for toddlers in different settings, without requiring a parent's explanation of dark and difficult topics. Some families may also prefer this as an alternative to the picture book, if death or suicide is a particularly sensitive issue for them.
I would recommend this board book for families, churches, and Christian schools. The gorgeous illustrations from Catalina Echeverri convey the story and its emotions in a vivid way, and the simple, rhythmic text can hold young children's attention. This board book shares a story that is less commonly explored with little ones, and it provides a wonderful launching point for talking more about the gospel. Many families will enjoy reading this again and again, and I highly recommend it.
I received a free copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
The Prisoners, the Earthquake, and the Midnight Song Board Book is a toddler-friendly adaptation of a longer picture book from the Tales That Tell the Truth series. Both books tell the story of Acts 16, showing how Paul and Silas's worship of God during their imprisonment witnessed to the Phillippian jailer and led to his salvation, but this edition is shorter and simpler. The original author, Bob Hartman, simplified the text for a toddler's comprehension, and only some of the original illustrations appear, but the book reads in a seamless way and feels complete.
One of the biggest differences between the original book and this adaptation is that it removes references to death and suicide. The picture book shows the whole biblical story, with the jailer despairing after the earthquake and preparing to kill himself, since he believes that the prisoners have escaped and that he will face execution. The board book simply shows him crying and says that if the prisoners escape, he will be in "BIG trouble." This sanitized element keeps the book suitable for toddlers in different settings, without requiring a parent's explanation of dark and difficult topics. Some families may also prefer this as an alternative to the picture book, if death or suicide is a particularly sensitive issue for them.
I would recommend this board book for families, churches, and Christian schools. The gorgeous illustrations from Catalina Echeverri convey the story and its emotions in a vivid way, and the simple, rhythmic text can hold young children's attention. This board book shares a story that is less commonly explored with little ones, and it provides a wonderful launching point for talking more about the gospel. Many families will enjoy reading this again and again, and I highly recommend it.
I received a free copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
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