No Toys on Sunday [Hardcover]

Nancy Markham Alberts (Author), Erin McGonigle-Brammer (Illustrator), Erin McGonigle Brammer (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 4 and up

When two brothers growing up during the Victorian era are forbidden to play with toys on Sunday, God instructs them to build an ark and paint pairs of clothespeg animals, which meets with their parents' approval. Full color.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Alberts brings a custom of religious families in the Victorian era to the fore in this quiet picture book. Every Sunday, for the hour between church and dinner, Peter teaches Bible lessons to his younger brother, Luke, who would rather play with his clothespeg kings, knights and horses. But the boys' parents, like many other Victorians, forbid playing with toys on Sunday. Inspired by the story of Noah's ark, Peter finds a way to satisfy everyone: he builds a miniature ark and clothespeg animals that help Luke understand the Bible's teachings. The message of Alberts's forthright text may well be lost on purists and younger children to whom a toy is a toy, whether it's religious or not. Older readers will likely grasp the distinction and appreciate Peter's efforts to make the Bible more accessible for his sibling. Brammer's earth-toned, grainy paintings capture a 19th-century household in careful detail. Her human figures, however, have a slightly stiff look, with limbs that occasionally appear a bit out of proportion. While the book offers an interesting historical perspective, few contemporary children will relate to these severe circumstances. Ages 4-7.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

... delight and teach young readers with their quiet picture book about an age gone by. -- Gail LeCompte, as printed in Maryland Church News, Episcopal Diocese of Maryland newspaper

... especially recommended for church libraries. -- Joyce Zuercher, as printed in Provident Bookfinder

This book will be thought-provoking for your kids and might stop their clamoring for new toys-at least momentarily. -- Pittsburgh Magazine

This little book nicely tells the story of 'The Sunday Toy' to our spoiled modern children. -- Children's Book Review Service

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Morehouse Publishing (May 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0819217409
• ISBN-13: 978-0819217400
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 8.2 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.1 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #6,094,121 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Here's the background on the book, June 18, 2000

By 

Nancy Markham Alberts, author (Pittsburgh, PA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: No Toys on Sunday (Hardcover)

Dear Readers, When I read an article about collecting Noah's ark toys and learned that they were known as the "Sunday toys" because of their Biblical connection, I began to play the "what if" game that most authors play. "What if," I pondered, "a boy had to keep his younger brother occupied on Sundays, but was unsuccessful in making him listen to the Bible stories and keeping him away from toys? And what if he came up with the idea of making a Noah's ark toy after praying about his situation?" In the book, I wanted to show that praying is really listening - that God is always pouring out all the ideas we need, but that we need to learn to listen to those thoughts and then act on them.

Blessings! Nancy Markham Alberts