Stink Bug Saves the Day! and The House That Went Ker-Splat! by Bill Myers

I love teaching my girls life lessons, and I love teaching them about God. So Bible stories are always a great resource to come back to because there's always something applicable there to relate to. Different times and different places, obviously, but the standing principals and theories remain the same. I think sometimes though, especially with younger kids, that the more you can relate the story to the present day the much better chance they have of truly grasping the concept you're trying to impart.

Picking up on this, Zonderkidz has come out with a great new Christian series called The Bug Parables. I recently had the absolute pleasure of reviewing the first two books in this series, and am I excited to be able to recommend them to you here.

Stink Bug Saves the Day! by Bill Myers
Illustrated by Andy J. Smith
Geared Towards: Ages 4-7
Published By: Zonderkidz
Publication Date: September 2008
ISBN-13: 978-0310712190

The first book in this series is a modern retelling of the Bible's Good Samaritan parable. In the original story a traveler is attacked, robbed, and left for dead. When people of power, who should have been his friends, passed by they ignored him. They chose to pretend the situation didn't exist or was too messy to deal with.

In Stink Bug Saves the Day! Mr Roly-Poly finds himself in a very similar predictament. On his way to vacation with his family at Six Rags, Mr Roly-Poly pulls his milk carton motorhome off the road when the engine dies. While he's trying to fix it a band of thugs, mean and nasty bugs, attack. The rest of the Roly-Poly family is able to escape, but Mr Roly-Poly stays behind to give them that chance. He is robbed, beaten, and left for dead on the roadside. The baddies even steal his motorhome, which apparently he'd had time to fix before they showed up.

As Mr Roly-Poly fights to survive he finds hope in the fact that a colony of strong ants comes marching by. They are too busy to stop, despite his cries for help. Marching around him, they head off but not before saying "God Bless You!" Next comes a family of beautiful butterflies, but again they find the idea of helping too messy and continue on their way. Again, not without first shouting out a cordial "Have a nice day!" Lastly, just when Mr Roly-Poly is about to give up, he smells the most attrocious smell. Not just any smell- the smell of Stink Bug. Stink Bug isn't beautiful, looked up too, nor does he have lots of friends. He does, however, have compassion, and a giving heart. With a tender touch and a loving spirit, Stink Bug helps Mr Roly-Poly with his own meager supplies, and spends his own time and money to find him a warm, safe place to mend.

Stink Bug Saves the Day! is a perfect retelling of the Good Samaritan. It's a version I think any little kid can enjoy and be able to grasp the concept of. With a fun rhyming text and cute illustrations, its perfect for the sliding age scale of 4-7. Even order kids would enjoy it I'm sure because the author uses creative language and really strives to make this one a modern tale that today's children can understand and relate to all the while still keeping strong the idea behind the initial story. Everyone isn't always as they appear, and you shouldn't judge by appearances. Treat everyone as you'd like to be treated, and love all of your neighbors as you love God Himself.

OUR RATING: 5 hearts



The House That Went Ker-Splat! by Bill Myers
Illustrated by Andy J. Smith
Geared Towards: Ages 4-7
Published By: Zonderkidz
Publication Date: September 2008
ISBN-13: 978-0310712190

Book two, The House That Went Ker-Splat! is a modern day retelling, buggy style, of the story of the wise and foolish man. In the Biblical tale the wise man builds his house upon the rock, while the foolish man builds his house upon the sand. In the end the wise man's house withstands the elements and is a solid creation because the wise man did the job correctly and obeyed God. The foolish man's house falls in a heap because he was lazy and did not obey God's direction. And this buggy tale is no different.

Willie and Ray are both construction bugs working for the same boss. Willie is a good Bee who obeys the work plans, uses good judgement, and works hard to make his construction the best it can be. He knows it's easier to do a shotty job and to cut corners, but he also knows that easier does not mean better. Then there's Ray; I believe he's a Hornet or a Yellow Jacket. He's lazy, cheap, and has a total disregard for the rules or common sense. So, when it comes time for him to put together his building he doesn't do anything right. He doesn't pick a safe environment to build in, he doesn't hire workers with ethics or skills, he doesn't even follow and complete the building plans. Instead, he does the least amount he can possibly do and still, maybe, get by. What happens though is that his structure fails, and his boss sends him to jail because he didn't do what he was hired and paid to do.

It's a short story, just like the original parable, but it's got great illustrations and packs a whopping good punch of morals. I think even young children will easily relate to this tale and be able to see how hard work and diligence in combination with following God's will will always make them prosper. It might not always be the easiest road, but it will always be the most rewarding. This book clearly shows, in a way that a young child understand, the difference between the wise and the foolish bug. Both reap the fruits of their labor, but each has a very different reward based on the seeds they sowed.

OUR RATINGS: 5 hearts