Review of Snatched Up to Heaven for Kids
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Iulia Diana
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Review of Snatched Up to Heaven for Kids
[Following is a volunteer review of "Snatched Up to Heaven for Kids" by Jemima Paul, Arvind Paul.]
Snatched Up to Heaven for Kids
by Jemima Paul, Arvind Paul
Review by Iulia Moisi
Snatched Up to Heaven for Kids is a 35-page jovial, family-centered story about biblical knowledge (for 6 to 8-year-olds). The story follows an 8-year old, Emma, as she recollects her dreamscapes to heaven and hell to her Christian family. With each dream, different aspects of biblical accounts of the afterlife are explored in a way that’s fun and exciting for young children: the girls see characters they are familiar with and the excitement of the trips is conveyed well by the authors, the text is accompanied by colorful images and there is always an intriguing question lingering: Will there be another dream? If so, what will it be about this time?
The relationship between the parents and the girls is warm, supportive and defined by trust. The parents encourage Emma’s excitement about her dreams and are themselves eager to hear her recollections. A note-worthy aspect is that both girls ask questions and seek more details, and are praised by their parents for doing so. However, there is a point where the girls’ questioning is met with the common response in Christian discourse, namely that God knows best and if that’s what he chooses, it must be fair. The book gives an account of the Christian God as a unique male deity. The book is an enjoyable option to introduce children to biblical knowledge, but does not touch on religious diversity. That being said, the book encourages children towards considerate behavior and values while being a quick and engaging read. Parents committed to Christian teachings will almost surely consider this appropriate for their children. The book gives an approachable account of the fundamental principles of Christianity.
The storyline is coherent and easy to follow. The language may occasionally be complex for young children (under 6-year-olds), but this emerges more as an opportunity for children to develop their vocabulary rather than as an obstacle.
The editing has been done diligently, leaving the text without any typo. The story is neither too long to tire or bore children, nor too short to leave them disappointed.
I rate this book a 4 out of 5. The overall reading experience is pleasant and positive, overall the language is easy to understand and is likely to keep your children absorbed all throughout. The downside is that it presents only a very narrow narrative on spiritual diversity. Integrating other religious backgrounds would have increased the value and the reach of its book, as it would have been more likely to make it appealing to parents with religious backgrounds other than Christian. At the end of the book, there is a paragraph dedicated to parents that seems to have a faintly intrusive push towards God and Jesus’ teaching, which may be mildly alienating to some parents.
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Snatched Up to Heaven for Kids
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon | on iTunes
Snatched Up to Heaven for Kids
by Jemima Paul, Arvind Paul
Review by Iulia Moisi
Snatched Up to Heaven for Kids is a 35-page jovial, family-centered story about biblical knowledge (for 6 to 8-year-olds). The story follows an 8-year old, Emma, as she recollects her dreamscapes to heaven and hell to her Christian family. With each dream, different aspects of biblical accounts of the afterlife are explored in a way that’s fun and exciting for young children: the girls see characters they are familiar with and the excitement of the trips is conveyed well by the authors, the text is accompanied by colorful images and there is always an intriguing question lingering: Will there be another dream? If so, what will it be about this time?
The relationship between the parents and the girls is warm, supportive and defined by trust. The parents encourage Emma’s excitement about her dreams and are themselves eager to hear her recollections. A note-worthy aspect is that both girls ask questions and seek more details, and are praised by their parents for doing so. However, there is a point where the girls’ questioning is met with the common response in Christian discourse, namely that God knows best and if that’s what he chooses, it must be fair. The book gives an account of the Christian God as a unique male deity. The book is an enjoyable option to introduce children to biblical knowledge, but does not touch on religious diversity. That being said, the book encourages children towards considerate behavior and values while being a quick and engaging read. Parents committed to Christian teachings will almost surely consider this appropriate for their children. The book gives an approachable account of the fundamental principles of Christianity.
The storyline is coherent and easy to follow. The language may occasionally be complex for young children (under 6-year-olds), but this emerges more as an opportunity for children to develop their vocabulary rather than as an obstacle.
The editing has been done diligently, leaving the text without any typo. The story is neither too long to tire or bore children, nor too short to leave them disappointed.
I rate this book a 4 out of 5. The overall reading experience is pleasant and positive, overall the language is easy to understand and is likely to keep your children absorbed all throughout. The downside is that it presents only a very narrow narrative on spiritual diversity. Integrating other religious backgrounds would have increased the value and the reach of its book, as it would have been more likely to make it appealing to parents with religious backgrounds other than Christian. At the end of the book, there is a paragraph dedicated to parents that seems to have a faintly intrusive push towards God and Jesus’ teaching, which may be mildly alienating to some parents.
******
Snatched Up to Heaven for Kids
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon | on iTunes
Latest Review: The Easter Make Believers by Finn Bell
