Curious Kids' Guides present cool and surprising information about Christian history and beliefs in an entertaining, visually engaging way for kids.
The World Jesus Knew: A Curious Kid's Guide to Life in the First Century
Jesus often told stories using everyday objects to help his listeners understand life with God. But for most of us, the deep imagery and meaning behind those objects has been lost to history. The World Jesus Knew: A Curious Kid's Guide to Life in the First Century helps kids discover the world Jesus lived in through maps, charts, graphs, and other infographic elements. They’ll learn about the culture Jesus lived in: his Jewish religion, the power of the ruling Roman Empire, the role of fishermen and carpenters and shepherds. It’s an invitation to explore the stories of Jesus in their cultural context, bringing new life to familiar biblical events. This beautifully illustrated book will be a family favorite that kids and adults will come back to over and over again.
The World of the First Christians: A Curious Kid's Guide to the Early Church
The life and teachings of Jesus changed the world forever--but what happened after the events of the Gospels? How did Christianity grow from a small group of followers to one of the largest religious movements in human history? How did the first Christians survive in an oppressive Roman Empire? What did the early church believe, and how did they worship? The World of the First Christians: A Curious Kid's Guide to the Early Church answers these questions and more, with colorful illustrations, charts, graphs, maps, and other infographics that will keep kids' attention for hours and give them new insight and understanding into the early growth of the Christian faith.
The World of the Old Testament: A Curious Kid's Guide to the Bible's Most Ancient Stories
The stories of the Old Testament present modern readers with a world completely foreign from our own. Curious kids riveted by these stories are likely to come away with questions. Who were the people who lived in the time and place in which these stories were set? How did they work? What did they eat? What were their families and tribes like? How did they fight? What did they believe about God, kings, enemies, and the world around them? And above all, what does any of it have to do with how we read and understand the books that make up the first half of the Bible? The World of the Old Testament: A Curious Kid's Guide to the Bible's Most Ancient Stories answers these questions and more, with charts, graphs, maps, and other infographics that will keep kids' attention for hours, and send them back to the Bible with surprising new insights and understanding.
Grades 3-7
Hardcover: 64 pages
Dimensions: 9.0 x 12.0 x 0.5 inches
Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
ABOUT THE AUTHOR & ILLUSTRATOR
Marc Olson is an author, tinker, and theologian who lives and works in Saint Paul, MN. In addition to working as an educator, bus driver, garbage hauler, and undertaker, Marc served as a Lutheran Pastor for a handful of years. He earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Pacific Lutheran University and a Master of Divinity from Luther Seminary. He was also awarded the Seminary's International Preaching Fellowship in 2007, which resulted in a year abroad, studying and teaching with his family in Tanzania as well as Israel and Palestine. He is the father of two grown children, Sigurd and Dane. Marc's partner, Sara, has three teenagers: Ben, Maggie, and Ted. Together, this whole family helps take care of Marc's Basset Hound, whose name is Bruce.
As a child, Jemima Maybank was inspired to draw exotic animals as the next best thing to having them. Her style is inspired by the minimal shapes and subtle use of textures seen in mid-century children's books, and she makes sure to include nature in her work. She lives in England.
PRAISE
"...Utterly fascinating from cover to cover and a "must" for personal, public, school, and church library collections. Highly recommended!"
— Midwest Book Review
"Aiming to remind young readers that "Jesus was a real person who lived in a real place during a specific time in history," this overview offers general pictures of 1st-century life and society in what Olson calls Palestine, with particular attention paid to the era's Jewish practices and Scriptures."
— Kirkus Reviews
"The World Jesus Knew is a beautifully illustrated book that will be a family favorite that kids and adults will come back to over and over again."
— Midwest Book Review, Christian Shelf
"Written in a down-to-earth style that kids can connect with, and it also includes fantastic illustrations!"
— Play Eat Grow Blog
"Jesus appears throughout this smartly designed book, but it's primarily about his world, one that is depicted in fascinating, crisp detail, with almost every topic one could think of covered here."
— Booklist Top 10 Religion and Spirituality Books for Youth Feature
