Review - WHOO'S IN THE BOAT by Lisa Burch

WHOO'S IN THE BOAT

by Lisa Burch

Illustrated by Kristi Goldsmith

Whoo's In The Boat details the spiritual journey of Jody, his dog Salty, and Good owl. 

My Take:

Jody's life in a harbor town is filled with dreams of being a fisherman, and also one day of being a Fisher of Men, following Jesus' Great Commission to tell others about Him. When he finds a shipwrecked small sailboat while wandering the shore, he gets a clear call from God to use it to spread the word. So with the help of his dog Salty and his friend Good Owl, he repairs the boat and sails into the unknown with God as his captain, and a dolphin named Harmony as his guide.

Content:
Well, this is a children's picture book, and is squeaky clean on every level. The main point of the book is to carry the Good News to others and share God's Love with them. At 32 beautifully watercolor illustrated pages, it's about a 15 minute read in a family or Kids' Ministry setting. Just right for a night when you want to share with children the desire God has for us to share His Good News. 

The Christian content of the book is pretty evident throughout, and the concepts are down on the bottom shelf, worded in language that a five year old can grasp. Between the covers here we find adventure, prayer for protection, diligence, perseverance, and obedience. Jody listens for God's voice and direction. God provides guidance and protection. Jody does what he can, and his efforts bear fruit. At the end of the book is a set of verses recorded, a Captain's Log that are key verses for sharing the Gospel. Five Stars!

About the Author

Lisa Brubaker Burch grew up in Memphis, Tennessee and currently resides in Mississippi. While pursuing a career in nursing, Lisa worked as a daycare instructor and kindergarten assistant teacher at St. Luke United Methodist. She also has taught in various children's programs including Sunday school, vacation bible school, and gymnastics. As a critical care nurse she served as a patient caregiver, educator, and team leader. Later she conducted cardiac research studies at Memphis Heart Clinic which led to her current occupation as a health and wellness instructor. She has a passion for assisting others to a better life mentally, physically, and most importantly, spiritually.

About the Illustrator

Kristi Goldsmith grew up in a family that always encouraged her to pursue her artistic passions. She studied fashion at Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri, and fine art at the Art Academy of the University of Memphis. When her dear friend, Lisa Burch, wrote Whoo's In The Boat, Kristi knew she wanted to contribute to the project because it spoke to her artistic creativity and resonated with her religious upbringing. Kristi maintains a close relationship with God and is eager to help children establish their own relationships with Him.

Review: The Shard by Victoria Simcox

 The Shard by Victoria Simcox

Kristina's stay at summer horse camp is horrible to say the least, and it's all because Hester and Davina are there as well, making her life miserable. When Hester's cruel prank goes terribly wrong, it's actually what sends the three girls back to the magical land of Bernovem. In Bernovem, Kristina is very excited to see her former friend, Prince Werrien. When he invites her to sail with him on his ship to his homeland Tezerel, putting it simply, Kristina can't refuse. Reunited with her gnome, dwarf, animal, fairy friends ... and best of all, Werrien, things seem like they couldn't get any better for Kristina. But when Werrien becomes fascinated with an unusual seeing stone, the "Black Shard," Kristina is haunted by a ghostlike old hag. Struggling against suspicion, guilt, illness, and ultimately the one who wants to possess her soul, Kristina will see it's in her weakest moment that she will encounter more strength than she has ever known.

My Take:

In this second installment of the Bernovem Chronicles, Kristina has moved on with her life, and her experiences at Bernovem are beginning to seem a fading dream. Only the music box and the dormant Warble remind her that any of that happened. But when her family forces her to go to a horse camp over the summer with the school bully, she knows her life is about to turn a miserable corner. Her old arch-enemies Hester and Davina are there and try to hurt her in a dangerous prank. But the prank sends the three of them back to Bernovem, where her old friend Prince Werrien is about to sail to his homeland, Tezerel. On the voyage, things seem idyllic, almost perfect. But visions of an evil hag in her reflections, and undercurrents of a deadly plot centered around a dangerous Shard threaten to prevent Kristina from ever returning home. And staying would mean disaster for everyone, including her.

 

Content:

Drug Content:

G - There's a small bit of drinking in this. Not even on the level of Disney.

Violence:

G - There is little violence in this. A near drowning. A poisoning. Evil races are created through magic transformations. 

Language:

G - The language in this book is squeaky clean. 

Adult Content:

G - This is, again, on a level with a Disney movie. There is a little childhood romance, and a first kiss. 

Christian content:

There is an undercurrent of direction by a divine and benevolent but unrevealed character.  There is prayer and answered prayer, faith and guidance. Self sacrifice and a clear depiction of evil vs good here. As the stakes rise and the plot thickens, things are revealed concerning the spiritual forces at play here.

Final analysis:

The Shard is a fantastic read, a satisfying continuation to the Bernovem Chronicles, filled with adventure and fantasy. Dwarves, monsters, fairies, magic,  evil queens, and talking animals make for a page turner of a fantasy with a solid amount of world-building. Engaging character arcs and immersive scenery contribute to a satisfying return to the land of magic. Five Stars!

About the Author

I was born in Scarborough, Ontario, Canada, to an Austrian immigrant mother, and a Dutch immigrant father. I now lives in Western Washington with my husband, Russ and our three children, Toby, Kristina, and William. Beside being a writer, I am a home-schooling mother of thirteen years and an elementary school art teacher of twelve years.

Website: victoriasimcox.blogspot.com