Gospel Time Trekkers Vols. 4, 5, and 6 (Pauline Books and Media)

Late last year, Pauline Books and Media released the first three books of their Gospel Time Trekkers series, and I was blessed enough to review them. Early this year, the final three volumes have been released. For those who forgot the plot of these books, they revolved around three siblings (Caleb, Hannah, and Noah) who are sometimes graced with the opportunity to travel back in time to Jesus' day. So far they have been to Bethlehem, Cana, and Gennesaret. Let's find out where they go in the next three.

Mystery of the Missing Jars is the 4th book in the Gospel Time Trekkers series, and the first one that involves a mystery. This particular volume takes place in Capernaum, where our three protagonists (Caleb, Hannah, and Noah) meet a girl named Sarah who is the daughter of Jairus. This is a reference to the miracle Jesus performed of resurrecting Jairus' daughter. Jairus in addition to being a synagogue official is a potter. Unfortunately, someone has stolen some of his precious pottery, and they must find out who before Caleb is completely blamed. Read the book to find out who did it.

There are many things I liked about this book, primarily that the mystery added a genre expansion to this kid's adventure series. I also enjoyed the fact that it teaches kids how scales, weights, and balance worked. In addition to learning this, your children also learn a little bit about clay and pottery. This 70+ page book is a great price and a great read for your young reader. 5 stars.

Courageous Quest adds a new twist to the Gospel Time Trekkers series. While helping their mom babysit a little boy named Garrett, the three children (Caleb, Hannah, and Noah) are transported back into Jesus' time. Remarkably, Garrett is transported as well. This time they are back in the town of Jericho. Like the other books, they are looking for Jesus, who is unfortunately in Jerusalem. They want to travel to look for him, but they can't because robbers roam the roads making them unsafe, and the trip would be too long for Garrett.

In true stubborn-kid fashion, one of them makes a poor decision and decides to venture out on his own. To find out which one and the consequences, you'll have to buy the book. Amidst the peril and danger in this book, your children will learn about two other Biblical figures who encountered Jesus. One of them is Bartimaeus, and the other is Zacchaeus. With Bartimaeus' restored sight, and Zacchaeus' tree-climbing ability, they make the perfect team to help locate the sibling who ran away.

Discovery at Dawn is the 6th and final volume of the Gospel Time Trekker series. It is hands down my favorite of the six too! In this book, our three protagonists (Caleb, Hannah, and Noah) make it to Jerusalem. They remember that this is where Jesus was last time they time-travelled, and hope that He is still there. What they don't realize though is that Jesus has just been crucified. They learn this sad news from none other than Jesus' apostles. However, all hope is not lost.

SPOILER ALERT: The title will tell you what happens, but I will go ahead and spell it out. The children are present when Mary Magdalene sees the resurrected Jesus. After sending Mary Magdalene to go tell the Apostles, Jesus addresses the children by name and gives them a mission to go tell people His message. They are then transported back to their own time. END SPOILER

After this, the children think back on their many adventures. They also finally figure out the secret to how and why they were able to time travel. That you will have to buy the book to find out though. Unfortunately, in discovering the secret, they fear it has closed off the possibility of future time-travel adventures. There are hints that there may be different kinds of adventures in the future, and I hope that the author, Sr. Maria Grace Dateno, will do a followup-series geared at kids 10+. This book like the other 5 volumes in the Gospel Time Trekkers series, deserves 5 stars.

These books were provided to me for free Pauline Books and Media in exchange for an honest review. If you found them helpful click here, here, and here and hit Yes!

Pauline Books and Media: Danger at Sea

Good afternoon one and all. I'm back here in the Children's Corner, and I have mixed feelings today. We have reached Book 3 in the Gospel Time Trekkers series, Danger at Sea, which is exciting. However, I have to now wait for the next three to be published, which is several months away. For those of you who know me or read my blog regularly, I am NOT a patient person. If this is your first time checking out my blog or hearing about the Gospel Time Trekkers, check out my reviews of the first two volumes, Shepherds to the Rescue and Braving the Storm.

Our story opens up with the three young adventurers trying to avoid weeding a garden (Who can blame them?!) by making another trip back to the time of Jesus. After several silly and failed attempts of rolling down a mini-hill, they realize that their attempts are not working and, after some normal bickering among siblings over who will weed what, they begin the tedious task of weeding the garden. However, just as they begin their task, they are unexpectedly whisked back to Jesus' time.

As one can infer by the book cover and the title, this is a story about fishermen. The children are once again in a different Biblical town than their previous adventures. This one is called Gennesaret where Lake Gennesaret is located. This lake also is referred to as Lake Tiberias or the Sea of Galilee. Jesus did many miracles and signs in this area, including healing many diseased people (Matthew 14:34-36). Unlike the other stories, the people the children meet don't have direct Biblical counterparts, but instead are just an average family of fisherman that you would find in Jesus' day.

I enjoyed this story because it gives your children a good mental picture of what the life of a fisherman might have been like in Jesus' time. This is important to me because at least 1/3 of Jesus' Apostles were fisherman, so next time they hear a story from the Bible on Peter, Andrew, James, or John, they can make the connection. They could also think about the miracles Jesus performed like calming the sea or the miraculous catch of fish the Apostles had after fishing all night and not catching anything.

I also enjoy how at the end of the story the children are more mature than the beginning. This shows personal growth and how Jesus will transform your life, in small ways and large ways, if you let Him. With the right mix of past, present, history, and Bible this is another 5 star book in the Gospel Time Trekkers series. The only disappoint me I have with the series is that I have to wait several months to see how it concludes.

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Pauline Books and Media: Braving the Storm

Today in the Children's Corner, we're looking at Volume 2 of the Gospel Time Trekkers series. As you recall, last week we looked at Volume 1: Shepherds to the Rescue, where our young adventurers Hannah, Caleb, and Noah traveled backwards in time to Bethlehem when Jesus was 30 years old. They didn't get to meet him in that book but met a shepherd named Benjamin and his family. Let's see where Volume 2: Braving the Storm takes them.

The story's beginning reminds me of The Chronicles of Narnia. Caleb, the middle child and narrator, reminisces about the adventure with his siblings in Bethlehem (as read in Book 1: Shepherds to the Rescue)  and is trying desperately to get back to the past. After multiple failed attempts of trying to re-create the same scenario that allowed them to originally travel to the time of Jesus, they eventually discover a new route to the past. However, things are different than their first adventure...

Instead of making it back to Bethlehem, they are now situated in Sogane, a town which is very far north of Bethlehem. Like the first story when they met Benjamin, the children are once again fortunate enough to meet a kind young traveling companion named Levi. Levi, like Benjamin, has a story to share with the young Time Trekkers about his connection with Jesus. He was not only present for a miracle Jesus performed, but was integral to the miracle occurring. You might be able to deduce the miracle to which I am referring, but if not, you'll have to read the book to find out.

Like the first book, there is a bit of adventure when Levi allows the Time Trekkers to journey with him. There is also a good lesson in the book as Caleb learns about respecting and listening to his father. Different from the first story is the intention of the children. With a better understanding of the time travel gift that has been bestowed on them, they now have a goal of meeting Jesus. This definitely represents a child's mindset of fearlessness. I'm not sure how many adults would have that goal, or if they would be too scared to approach Him. You're going to have to read the book to find out if they meet Him.

I am thoroughly enjoying this well-written series. Each book subtly teaches your children different stories of the New Testament and makes them feel like they are living the events in the book. This is the mark of a great story and storyteller. You are definitely going to want to pick up this 5-star book as well as the other books in the Gospel Time Trekkers series. Tune in next Saturday for my review of Volume 3 Danger at Sea.

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Pauline Books and Media: Shepherds to the Rescue

Welcome back to the Children's Corner feature on Stuart's Study. I have been neglecting this segment due to a combination of too many adult books to review and a lack of children's literature in my queue. Whenever I find myself with a shortage of kids books to review, Pauline Books and Media always comes to the rescue. They have recently released the first of three books in a six book series called Gospel Time Trekkers. I will be reviewing these three books over the next three Saturdays, but today we are starting with Volume 1: Shepherds to the Rescue!

The story involves three siblings named Hannah, Caleb, and Noah. It is told from the perspective of Caleb, but that doesn't necessarily make it a story just for boys. One day the three siblings are transported back in time to 30 years after Jesus' birth. The children spend a lot of time with a shepherd boy named Benjamin and his family. They also come to a better understanding of Jesus through a story told to them by Benjamin's grandfather, Eldad. I won't spoil the story for you, but you and your kids will absolutely love it.

At approximately 70 pages, this book is a quick read. The font is a nice size for children and each chapter is five to six pages long, so your child will have easy stopping points if they want to take a break from the book. More than likely, you'll have to pry the book from them as the story is just that captivating. There's about one illustration every two chapters, meaning your six year old will still be engaged while reading it to them, but your nine year old won't think this is a book for babies.

I particularly love the feature at the end titled, "Where is that in the Bible?" In this section, your child reads the Scripture passage that serves as the basis for this book. This ties a neat little bow on the package and helps catechize and reinforce what they just read. At $5.95, this 5 star book is a steal, and I can't wait to read the rest of the Gospel Time Trekkers series. Tune in next week for my review of Braving the Storm and in two weeks for my review of Danger at Sea!

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