"No one could have imagined that the frail, seven-year-old slave girl who arrived in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1761 would become the first published African American, achieving fame for her poetry in both America and England. Upon her arrival, Phillis quickly learned to read the Bible and other classic literature, publishing her first poem in 1767 when she was thirteen and a book of poetry in 1773. Her poetry encouraged freedom for all people, and she proved to a doubting generation that intelligence and creativity are not limited to a particular race. Through Phillis's story, young readers will learn the importance of trusting God's plan while standing up for justice and the good of other human beings."
"Outside of the people in the Bible, Augustine of Hippo is the most influential person in church history. Yet how many people know his story? In this book, Simonetta Carr introduces young readers to the life and ministry of Augustine. Readers will come to know Augustine's personal struggles and the high value he came to place on the Bible and truth. Readers will also see the difficult days in which Augustine lived, learning about his disputes with false teachers and the turbulent times during the fall of the Roman Empire. This volume is simply written and full of interesting facts. It is written for young readers, but is sure to capture the interests of the whole family."
"Anselm is probably the greatest theologian who lived during the time between Augustine of Hippo and Thomas Aquinas. His compelling yearning to know and love God as He is revealed to us in Scriptures shaped his life and permeates all of his writings. He found the greatest joy in communion with God, but was thrusted into the difficult political scene of the 11th-12th centuries. He didn't work well with kings and, at one point, he had most of the English leaders against him. Still, his writings have had a great influence on the Christian church, and his teachings about Christ's sacrifice and about the relation between faith and reason are a vital part of the historical Christian Confessions.
What can Anselm teach our children? To be inquisitive and use their minds as God's gifts to discover and understand what He has revealed in His word (Deut.29:29). Particularly, I hope the children will take time to consider and explore Anselm's question: Why a God-man? What is the meaning of Christ's sacrifice on the cross? What do we mean when we say, "Jesus died for our sins"? Our understanding of Christ's atonement shapes all of our theology and our lives."
"B. B. Warfield lived at a time when many people--even those who considered themselves Christians--were questioning the authority of God's Word. For centuries most people in Europe and North America had taken for granted that the Bible was the word of God, but in Warfield's lifetime they were wondering whether it could still be trusted. Warfield was confident that the Bible could be trusted, and as a professor of theology at Princeton Seminary, he devoted his life to teaching and writing about its authority and other important issues of theology. In this biography, Simonetta Carr introduces children to one of America's greatest Reformed theologians whose timeless writings address challenges to the truths of God's Word today."
"Chosen by WORLD Magazine as Outstanding 2017 Nonfiction (Real Lives Category) Irenaeus is remembered for his work in helping the church to preserve the faith handed on by the apostles and to defend it when it was attacked. In this simply written and beautifully illustrated book, Simonetta Carr shows young readers the difficulties the early church faced and how Irenaeus taught Christians to discern truth from error by listening to the Bible. To Christians, the lessons Irenaeus taught are as important today as they were in his time."
"The name St. Patrick is associated with three-leaf clovers and leprechauns, but what was his life really like? Simonetta Carr tells the inspiring story of how Patrick's suffering as a slave opened his eyes to the mercy of God and prepared him to return to Ireland as a missionary. Get to know the real Patrick of Ireland as young readers learn that the joy of the Lord will sustain them through difficult times and strengthen them to share the gospel."
"2017 Illumination Book Award winner. Five hundred years ago, a monk named Martin Luther wrote ninety-five questions, hoping to start a discussion about sin and repentance at the University of Wittenberg in Germany. In a few months those questions had stirred the nation; a few years later, the continent. Today we know that those questions changed the course of both the Western church and world history. In this volume for children, Simonetta Carr tells the compelling story of this father of the Protestant Reformation, tracing his quest for peace with God, his lifelong heroic stand for God's truth, and his family life and numerous accomplishments. The Reformer's greatest accomplishment, she writes, 'has been his uncompromising emphasis on the free promise of the gospel.' Table of Contents:
Introduction
1. From Law Student to Monk
2. Looking for Peace with God
3. A Powerful List
4. A Reluctant Rebel
5. Starting a Reformation
6. Raising a Family
7. Ready to Die in the Lord
Time Line
Did You Know?
Series Description
The Christian Biographies for Young Readers introduces children to important people in the Christian tradition. Parents and school teachers alike will welcome the excellent educational value it provides for students, while the quality of the publication and the artwork make each volume a keepsake for generations to come. Furthermore, the books in the series go beyond the simple story of someone's life by teaching young readers the historical and theological relevance of each character."
