4 Stars (of 5)
Martyn Payne and Jane Butcher
The Barnabas Family Bible is for parents, grandparents, carers and anyone of a similar nature, but this resource would still work in a small group setting. The book provides 110 stories with an activity idea, a visual aid, key verse and questions for each story. It’s a refreshing change to see a few stories in here that other resources haven’t explored such as sill-sleeping Eutychus, Rahab and the spies and Revelation. The bright cover is unfortunately where the bold colours stop as each story is displayed using only black and white text. The activities and visual aid section for each story gives you detailed ideas of what to use to fill this gap but requires a little more preparation time.
I used this resource with my own children who are four, seven and ten. With that wide an age range it was clear that there was something
for each of them in each story but that some elements are a bit advanced for younger children. The visual aids and activities however do provide a chance for them to all do something together.
There isn’t a suggested time for each story which is fine because some stories needed more time to unpack and some needed to be picked
up again at another time. The commentaries for each story are great if you need to better summarise the story but can’t do so in your
own words. There is a helpful section at the back if you are trying something like this for the first time, with tips for how to pray as a family
and ideas on how to establish a time for these activities. This is a solid resource, making these stories relatable and easier to understand.
Lloyd Kinsley is the designer at Premier Childrenswork
Three resources for those with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), and those who work with them.
The Asperkid’s Secret Book Of Social Rules
Jennifer Cook O’Toole
As an ‘Aspermum’ and wife with three ‘Asperkids’, Jennifer has written the handbook to life and socialising that she wishes she had had to guide her through what society expects, yet doesn’t come naturally, to those with ASD. With a very simplistic format with bullet points,
key ‘need to knows’ and life experience anecdotes, I couldn’t help thinking how many youngsters and adults needed to read these ‘rules’ of life wherever they fell on the spectrum. This is a great resource for a children’s worker to have insight into how they can help include and encourage greater inclusivity across our programmes. I’d also recommend it to parents and carers of those who have just received a diagnosis.
Shorts
Tessie Regan
Shorts is many things – deep, profound, humorous, confusing, sometimes blunt and to the point with some colourful language (which may cause offence) for good measure. This is one woman’s experience of alcoholism, Asperger syndrome and God. I loved its raw truthfulness but appreciate some may not. We take for granted that a relationship with God is of the greatest blessing, but what about when relationships are one of the hardest life encounters you face? This is a grown-up’s story which hasn’t necessarily impacted my children’s ministry, but in the ministry of life and church leadership it’s an insightful read.
A different kettle of fish
Michael Barton
This is a laugh out loud account with serious undertones, following Michael in his student days on a day out into London, fraught with new encounters and signs giving instruction which, when taken literally, take on whole other meanings. Easy to read, you can pick it up and put it down with ease. Michael’s illustrations bring the language and issues to life and leaves you realising how exhausting constantly thinking in this way might be. This is worth reading and re-reading.
Emma Price is creative director of Create and Inspire
