Come Worship With Me: A Journey Through the Church Year (Mouse Books) [Hardcover]

Ruth L. Boling (Author), Tracey Dahle Carrier (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 2001 | Age Level: 4 and up | Grade Level: P and up | Series: Mouse Books (Book 2)

In this colourful and beautifully illustrated children's book, the seasons of the Christian year come alive as friendly church mice invite children of all ages to 'Come Worship With Me.' They trace the journey of the church year from Advent through Christmas, Epiphany, Ash Wednesday, Palm Sunday, Good Friday, Easter, Pentecost, and beyond. In a special closing section, clear and easy-to-understand explanations are given for many Christian symbols and crosses.

Editorial Reviews

Review

[A]ttractive to adults and kids visually... [Boling]writes with a passion and is enthusiastic about worship. (quoting Rev. Karen Stanley) -- The Virginia Gazette, Williamsburg, VA, May 5, 2001, Ann Efimetz

[O]f great worth to children's hearts, minds, and spiritual lives... fills a void that has been empty-- Assoc. of Logos Bookstores Children's Notes, Nov/Dec. 2000, Maureen Cole, reviewer

Boling [addresses]subjects as abstract as the Trinity... and as commercialized as Christmas without lapsing into the sanctimonious...-- The Concord Monitor, December 10, 2000, Rebecca Rule, Reviewer

Boling's spare, lyrical writing conveys the sacred aspects of the Christian service in concrete ways... --The Sunday Telegraph, Nashua, NH, November 19, 2000, Ellen Grimm

From the Author

In our own words -- favorite quotes from an interview with the Nashua, NH Sunday Telegraph, 11/19/2000:

On the "church mice" characters:

Carrier: "We didn't want an imposing figure telling kids how to behave in church."

Boling: "What I love about Tracey's mice is that they're beyond cute. They're so winsome. Tracey seems to have plumbed every depth or dimension of a mouse face that you could."

On the many-hued mice as a celebration of diversity:

Boling: "If you're dealing with people, you can get into tokenism."

On the blend of sacred traditions and typical in-the-pew shenanigans:

Boling: "What we wanted to do in this book is show the humanity of the community at worship. What we're trying to do and what we're actually doing are all combined."

On writing a religious book for children:

Boling: "You've got to be concrete. As soon as you go abstract, you've lost the kids."

On the process of illustrating:

Carrier: "Ruth's writing has such a nice rhythm that I could see it so easily. I'd add something [to a drawing] and she might change the writing to accomodate that, (or vice versa)."

On the religious stance of the book:

Boling: "[We took] the widest possible theological ecumenical stance."

Additional Author Comments:

Not long ago, in a box of childhood memorabilia, I discovered a piece of lined notebook paper on which I had written in cursive, circa third grade, these words: "When I grow up I want to make church more understandable for children. Church is supposed to be joyful, but it is not joyful for children when they use too many thees and thous and words that are un-understandable to children."

These prescient words, long forgotten, describe perfectly my interest and motivation for writing a children's book about the seasons and holidays of the church year. As children grow familiar with the rhythms and themes of the church year, so can their understanding of God grow.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 43 pages
• Publisher: Geneva Press; illustrated edition edition (January 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0664500455
• ISBN-13: 978-0664500450
• Product Dimensions: 12.3 x 9.2 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #362,914 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding Book for Children and Adults, December 26, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Come Worship With Me: A Journey Through the Church Year (Mouse Books) (Hardcover)

Complete with spectacular illustrations, this is an easy to read and understand journey through the Christian year. A delightful church mouse shares his experiences of each key event in the life of the church (Christmas, Epiphany, Ash Wednesday, Easter, Pentecost, etc.). At the end are multiple pages with Christian symbols and their meaning. This is a wonderful book for families to share the with their children. Or, for adults wanting a charming and meaningful refresher course on the important days and symbols of their faith.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Church Mice, March 29, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Come Worship With Me: A Journey Through the Church Year (Mouse Books) (Hardcover)

Ruth Boling's words and Tracy Carrier's illustrations combine to make a simple, yet powerful invitation for kids to experience the beauty of the Christian year. Most amazing are the details of Christian symbols on the mice's clothing and the facial expression on these very churchy mice. It's like looking at people in the pews I've known for years! The chart of symbols in the back is great. It would make a wonderful first communion, Sunday School, or Christmas gift. My kids love both the pictures and the text. I heard there is a matching Advent calendar but don't see that advertised here.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Five stars!, January 3, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Come Worship With Me: A Journey Through the Church Year (Mouse Books) (Hardcover)

This charming book simplifies for children the traditions of the Christian church year. The delightful, rich illustrations are alive with wonderful, sensitive details. I cannot say enough about what a valuable resource this is for family and church communities. It makes all the special days throughout the church year more meaningful and more accessible to children and adults alike.