Chris Morphew is a new author to me, but he is obviously an elementary educator, and I learned he lives in Australia. These books are written by a man who knows kids well and should have a great appeal.
What I like about the books:
Using many engagement and teaching techniques, the author explains the answer to a common question. Strategies like: story-telling, metaphors, questions, thinking aloud, and biblical connections and explanations.
I found the books easy to read, informative, great thinking aloud about potential questions, misconceptions, and wonders.
And there are illustrations of each chapter's title throughout the book. Done in fun, engaging ways.
Each book is only around 80 pages of reading, which is well spaced, with breaks in sections, and makes an easy-to-follow read.
What I wonder about the books?
These are non-fiction biblical-centered books, so there is a certain reader that will love this style, but I doubt these books will appeal to every child that they are geared toward. My 11-year-old girl looked at them and did not pick one up to read.
Are these more appealing to adults than their intended audience?
Will well-intending adults insist that kids read these? and forgot that there are multiple ways to discover the answer to these questions?
Could the style, the chapter divisions, and perspectives, be built into a more graphic novel, with a wider appeal? how about a Bible study and more book-driven investigation?
Thankful to partner with thegoodbook company and review this new tool for tween kids.