The 10 Must Know Stories

Heather Butler

Rating:

This book is part of a series, presenting what Scripture Union feels are the ten most important Bible stories, with volumes for each Key Stage. I’m not sure what the intended market for this book is. After all, SU publications aren’t generally available in mainstream bookshops where non-Christians shop and most church children will already know these familiar stories. 

Although the jacket is eye catching and colourful, the inside has dense print and only line drawings. It looks very old fashioned. The stories do not read at all well and speaking them aloud does little to improve the pedestrian retelling. In the story of the Prodigal Son, looking after pigs is for “no-hopers”. That will not go down well in Suffolk where we farm pigs! There is nothing in the text to show that pigs and pork are seen as being “unclean” (i.e. non-Kosher) in the Jewish religion. The language used in the retelling of the Feeding of the 5,000 makes it sound like magic.

I gave this book to several pupils. A Christian girl said it was boring and, in any case, she knew all the stories; another girl commented was that she didn’t really understand the first story; and a poorer Year 5 reader couldn’t read it at all.

The device of using a lizard to tell some of the stories was good, however it was invariably spoiled by the use of stilted language. There are so many better retellings of these stories. I cannot see any reason why anyone would want to buy this volume, even at £3.99.

Reviewer: Moira Kleissner, School Librarian and Supply Teacher, Hillside Community Primary School, Ipswich, Suffolk

Review posted on: 12 June 2008

Product information:

Disclaimer:

All resource reviewers are volunteers and offer their reviews for the sole purpose of informing and guiding fellow Christian educators.

All opinions reflect the professional and/or personal judgements of reviewers and do not necessarily reflect the views of ACT. Reviewer recommendations do not imply endorsement of publications by ACT, nor does ACT accept any responsibility for books, CDs, CD ROMs, DVDs, video cassettes, poster packs, photo packs or other materials reviewed on this site or in any of its other publications.