Customer Reviews

The King Without a Shadow

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A young boy asks a very difficult question of a king - where do shadows come from? As the king explores the answer, he learns that shadows come from the existence of light and then he learns about a Great King who has no shadow since He Himself is the Light - this Great King is God Himself and this fun little story is a great and easy read for young elementary-aged students. I would think that this is a good book for parents to read with their children, though, since the concept of shadows and light is a little confusing and presents a very good opportunity for a conversation.

As I read this book, I thought of the quote by C.S. Lewis that applied, "I believe in Christianity as I believe that the Sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else." This truth, that God is the center of the universe, the absolute truth, and the meaning and purpose of life, is the core of what Dr. Sproul is communicating to young readers with this book. It's great to see so many great children's books on the market today by some of the leading Christian authors and teachers of our day.

Dr. Sproul has done it a second time with this wonderful children's work. It will help the child in all of us renew the wonder and awe of a God beyond our imagination.

In this work, Dr. Sproul attempts to describe the indescribable in order to bring us face to face with the God we cannot see. The writing is superb. The illustrations are very well done. A great addition to children's literature bound to one day become a classic.

Reformed theologian R.C. Sproul is the chairman of Ligonier Ministries and the host of the Christian radio program Renewing Your Mind. He has written many theological works, and this is his first book for children. In this story, a young boy seeks an audience with his king to ask two important question: Where do shadows come from, and where do they go when they leave? This provokes the king to try to rid himself of his shadow, and in his search for knowledge he discovers a deeper wisdom than simply the way light and darkness relate: he learns that sin is a shadow on the human soul, that every soul is shadowed, but that there is one King who has no shadow because He is perfectly holy. The king joyfully tells the young boy this truth, sending him on a quest to find this King himself.

The story is beautifully illustrated with paintings of a king who bears a striking resemblance to Dr. Sproul himself, and the young boy with his friends closely resemble the grandchildren pictured on the flyleaf of the book. It is a rare pleasure to find such a deeply-developed Christian lesson, crafted carefully and lovingly for the third generation. Although it doesn't have the dramatic action of The Squire and the Scroll: A Tale of the Rewards of a Pure Heart or The Prince's Poison Cup, it does provide a gently reflective meditation on God's character, with enough of a story to provide a satisfying reading experience.

It is probably best suited to an older elementary audience, and could make an especially enjoyable family devotional reading.

The more I read books by R.C. Sproul, the more and more impressed I am. He has a wonderful storytelling style that captures the imagination, and keeps the reader focused on the Lord Jesus Christ. I highly recommend any of his books to Christian families looking for something to read to their small children or for the kids to read for themselves when they reach seven or eight.

This story is about a King who is asked a difficult question from a small boy who is a subject in his kingdom. Where do shadows come from? The King is perplexed and seeks answers. On his journey to find out, the king not only discovers why he has a shadow, but he finds there is a King higher than himself that casts no shadow. How? Because this higher King is made of pure Light.

The illustrations are nice and have the old world paint style that is a good representation of the age the story is set in. Liz Bonham did a superb job with the king's expressions, not silly, but spot on.

In my book "Tales of Wordishure" I tried to write in a way that would capture an adults imagination as well as the childrens. R.C. Sproul obviously shares this same idea because the level of emotion in this story kept me wanting to read more. This is a rare multi-age book and it should be on all our shelves.

Mick McArt

Author, Tales of Wordishure

[...]

June 22, 2010

Excellent book by RC Sproul Very well written for children. I can highly recommend this book.

I highly recommend this book for children as it will capture their imagination while instilling sound doctrine in their little hearts and minds!

Tip: I first turned off all the lights in the house and used a flashlight to teach my 32 month old grandson everything a shadow is, he especially loved trying to run away from his shadow as he ran throughout the house, then he was ready to hear about "The King Without A Shadow".

This book is wonderful. There are so many books for children out there with no substance but this one really makes the child think. As a grandmother it made me think too. I'll buy more of this author's books.

This book came quickly and in great condtion. My kids loved it and I was very impressed with it also.

listen, if you want to share jesus Christ with your children this is a must.

I thought the book was good. My boys really liked it. However, I was thinking it would be a bible story but it was a story to illustrate a bible issue. It was correct in theology. I just wished it had gotten to the point a bit faster.