Customer Reviews

Jotham's Journey: A Storybook for Advent (Jotham's Journey Trilogy)

5 star:		(48)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I teach in a Christian school that makes a special effort to celebrate Advent before celebrating Christmas. In cooperating with that effort, I've used Jotham's Journey as a read-aloud book since finding it three years ago, twice with first graders (some editing was prudent) and last year with my seventh graders. Both age groups have absolutely loved this tale of the shepherd boy, Jotham, as he journeys to reunite with his parents. Jotham's adventure is action-packed; and while the author does take some literary license, there are plenty of historical facts that lend themselves to further discussion in the classroom. I'll never forget the first grader's eager response to the vocabulary question about a caravan: "It's a kind of van." I have had the best time using this book to entertain and educate the children during Advent. The season is characterized by a gradual build-up of excitement toward Christmas Day, and every chapter of Jotham's Journey (there are as many chapters as there are days in Advent)lends to the intensity. My first graders wanted me to start over as soon as I'd finished the story; my seventh graders were underwhelmed by every story I read thereafter. What else needs to be said?

What a wonderful book. There is something so satisfying about sitting together in our living room, with Advent candles burning and the kids spellbound, listening to every word of this story. We are on our fourth week reading, and the kids still come running when we say it is time to light the Advent candles.

The story follows Jotham's journey to find his family after he gets angry at his father and runs away. He has many exciting cliff-hanger adventures that may seem contrived to adults but believe me, the kids won't care and will beg you to read the next day's section. Jotham ultimately ends up in Bethlehem and his life intersects the lives of Mary, Joseph, and the newborn Christ child in a lovely way that brings home Christ's divinity as well as the humanity of his infancy.

As a homeschooling mother, I really appreciate the way Jotham's Journey makes biblical times come alive. Even though there are very few illustrations in the book, the text provides many details about daily life that raised good questions from the kids, showing their engagement with the story and their desire to understand the setting.

One reviewer said this book is written for "conservative, evangelical Christians". I have to dispute that. Jotham's Journey IS a Christian story that tries to bring to life the true meaning of Christmas - the birth of the Savior. But presumably this is a given to a family that wants to celebrate Advent.

A couple of times the book emphasizes the importance of children being completely obedient to their parents/caretakers (Jotham's disobedience gets him into his mess), and it also refers to corporal punishment a couple of times as a natural consequence of disobedience. And there is some violence, which is used for the purposes of both evil and good. I suppose this could also be inconsistent with the moral beliefs of some families.

Otherwise I am mystified as to what the reviewer found as inconsistent with "liberal Christianity" or "an inclusive view of God's love". I don't know what the reviewer meant by "liberal Christianity", but I will say our family has a very inclusive view of God's love and we love this book.

This is our first year celebrating Advent. Previously, the holidays were pretty much a blur of decorating, wrapping, baking, and shopping, shopping, shopping. Christmas would arrive before I knew it and I would be exhausted, the kids would be hyper and focused on the presents. It occurred to me that from my children's perspective, Christmas was about gifts, decorations, and a frazzled mother.

One of the most effective things we've done to change that has been lighting Advent candles every night and reading this book by candlelight. It has been a simple and completely rewarding way to draw our family together.

Jotham's Journey - It is a day by day advent story of ancient Israel of a small 10 year old boy - filled with adventure and thoughtful commentary - drawing on history and psalms and old testament stories and Qumran and the star to weave a fiction that has my children mesmerized and begging for more -

we read the designated section each night by candle light - the advent candles and their own candle - they then go to bed by candle light entranced... and immersed in the season...

this is pure fiction - but so perfect for drawing in the 20th century modern kid - please try to find it and read it with your kids - it is so wonderful!

We bought this book last year for advent and read it with our 8-year old. It's a great story with TONS of biblical history "slipped" in. My son didn't even realize he was learning about the culture as he was so intent on finding out what happened to Jotham daily. One really great aspect of this book is how it creates an easy to understand timeline of events surrounding the birth of John the Baptist and Jesus. It combines details from all accounts of Jesus birth in the bible and shows you the "bigger" picture. Many good discussions about the choices Jotham makes along his journey took place. This year we're buying the other two titles for my niece and nephew!

Growing up, we always read together as a family.
I'm an adult now, so when my mom said she had bought
a book for us to read together over the Christmas holidays
I thought, "Oh brother, aren't we a little old for that?"
I must confess I had to eat my words. We sat down and took
turns reading and it was such a great story. Not only was
it well written, but the story was highly imaginative
and did a great job weaving fictional characters into the
traditional Christmas story. Its a must for families who
love doing things, and experiencing the meaning of Christmas
together.

This book is very engaging. It kept us eagerly waiting to find out what would happen the next day. In addition, it provides an opportunity for some great discussions on issues like disobedience, the consequences of disobedience, being able to discern good and bad character in strangers, etc. Excellent book!

Reading Jotham's Journey together was by far one of the best Christmas season experiences our family has ever shared. The story is exciting, suspenseful as well as Christ-centered. It's been three years since we first read the story together and are still searching for something to match it. I highly recommend this book!

We edited as we read, but we have read this story for 2 years and are planning on the third. It isn't Santa Claus - and it puts the Biblical Account into perspective for our city kids. I recommend it highly with some discretion for younger children.

This was the first time that our family ever was able to complete an advent devotion. We have a 12 year-old, 10 year-old and a 2 year-old and this was fascinating for the two older children as well as us as parents. We loved the story as it was played out and were able to read the last one on Christmas Day before opening gifts. There were several of us crying as the last story was revealed. I would love to have more books by this author.

FANTASTIC. We have never had such a blessing out of Christmas. We lite the candles every night and prayed for each person that we received cards from. This book kept my 6 and 8 year old on the edge of their seats asking for more. We as adults could not wait either. Get this book and try it this year. This year we are going on to Bartholomew's passage.