Conquering Fear 52-Week Devotional: For Superhero Kids Ages 10-12 by Julia Ball is an amazing activity book. Although it is aimed for kids ages 10-12 I think kids as young as 7 or 8 could also enjoy this book. I think that the comic book feel and colors would attract any child of reading age. The book is divided into 52 weeks. Each week has six days of devotions. The activities range from reading, prayer prompts, coloring, word searches, other word puzzles, writing prompts, mazes, drawing activities, experiments and crafts. The pictures would intrigue any super hero fan. I love how all the scripture verses stand out in bubbles like a comic book. I received the e-book version for review which made it difficult for me to show my own kids. I want to buy paperback versions so my kids can actually do the written activities. Each week, on day one, there is a Read This! section which is a short devotional with a scripture verse and Fear Buster section. The Fear Buster is a short section that explains fears and how we can overpower them through scripture and knowing who God is. Day four is like day one. There is a Read This!” section and a scripture verse but instead of a Fear Buster there is a Prayer Prompt section which asks questions and leads the reader into prayer. Days two, three, five and six there is a “Try This!” section which covers a variety of activities geared to make kids think and apply the scripture. I think that this activity book could be adjusted to use in a children’s ministry at a church using each six day section to cover one day a week like in Sunday School. This book explains how Jesus is a super hero and how we can be super heroes too through knowing what Jesus did, following Jesus, serving Jesus, praying, living like Jesus, loving others, sharing Jesus with others, helping others, growing in faith, worshiping, singing, asking questions about God, knowing God’s plan for our lives and future, and trusting God with our future. In the back of the book is an answer key for the puzzles. I like the full color pages and the pictures though out the book. I like how this book is full of scripture and encourages bible memorization. One page stood out to me. It is a page of scripture and the reader is given the task of doodling or drawing in the margins. I think more adults should encourage kids the many ways of engaging God’s word as this book does. I suggest this book to everyone who has kids or teaches the Bible to kids. Even teenagers might enjoy this book at a faster pace.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the Hendrickson Review Program. http://www.hendrickson.com/content/hendrickson-review-program/ I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
