I received a copy of  "A Family Guide to the Bible" by Christin Ditchfield from Crossway Publishers for review.  I am a huge fan of Mrs. Ditchfield's book "A Family Guide to Narnia", therefore I was looking forward to reading this book.  

About the author:

Christin Ditchfield is an accomplished educator, author, conference speaker, and host of the internationally syndicated radio program, Take It To Heart!(R) Using real life stories, rich word pictures, Biblical illustrations, and touches of humor, Christin calls believers to enthusiastically seek after God, giving them practical tools to help deepen their personal relationship with Christ.

Christin's articles, essays, and columns have appeared in numerous national and international magazines. She is the author of more than 50 books, including "A Family Guide to Narnia," "A Family Guide to the Bible," and "A Way With Words: What Women Should Know About the Power They Possess."

As a former preschool and elementary school teacher, Christin has a special place in her heart for children -- and for sharing with them her own life-long love of reading and learning. Many of her books have been written specifically for this purpose.

A frequent guest on radio and television programs such as Open Line, Midday Connection, Truth Talk Live, HomeWord with Jim Burns, and Dr. D. James Kennedy's "Truths That Transform," Christin holds a masters degree in Biblical Theology from Southwestern Assemblies of God University in Waxahachie, TX.

About the book: 

 All Christian parents want their children to gain a better understanding of God’s Word, but many of them are still searching to completely understand the Bible themselves. How can they confidently share what they believe with their families?

A Family Guide to the Bible takes readers on a fun and exciting tour through all sixty-six books of the Bible and offers parents, grandparents, and teachers a better understanding of the Scriptures so they can help the children in their lives know what is in the Bible, where to find it, and how it all fits together. As Christians become more familiar with God’s Word, they will gain greater confidence as they share what they believe with their family and friends, help answer questions concerning the Bible, and encourage others to grow deeper in their walks of faith.

My Thoughts:

At first glance I thought this book was going to be a wonderful tool for our home-learning this year.  Jennifer has a lot of Old Testament reading for her history assignments and OT books like Leviticus and Numbers can drag on.  But  as I read through the first couple of chapters I was disappointed in the summaries brievity.  This book just simply didn't fit my style of wanting to have my daughter understand the Old Testament books and their deep meaning.  The book is well written and offers an excellent summary of the Bible.  But for me, it is just best to go straight to the source.  As a parent it is sometimes frustruating to not know exactly where to find.  But in the struggle and prayers that accompany it, many riches will be mined from the Bible itself.

~Appreciating the vast resources with have in great Christian material,

Linda