The ARK, the REED, & the FIRE CLOUD ~ Wacky Wednesday Chapter Book & KID KANDY

The ARK, the REED, & the FIRE CLOUD
By Jenny L. Cote
(Living Ink Books, 2008)

Maybe not wacky, but more wonderful.

Have you ever wondered how God did it?

All of those animals, the few people, and the sheer number of days. How did they all fit in the ark? How did they get enough to eat? What about the polar bears needing ice and the lions needing heat? How did all of those climate, food, and space requirements work in the ark?

The ARK, the REED, & the FIRE CLOUD is an interesting story that considers the possibilities of the hows that perplex this modern day mind. Not that Jenny L. Cote is saying this is how it all happened, not at all. But she does pen some scintillating ideas of how it could have taken place.

Now, I don't want to ruin the surprise, because I had no idea what would happen once all were in place on the ark. THE ark (the one with Noah and his wife and his sons and their wives, THAT ark)and THE flood.

So let me just say, from the imagination of a writer and the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, some potential ideas are given voice in The ARK, the REED, & the FIRE CLOUD. This book - the 2009 Readers Favorite Award Winner - is the beginning of a series of books from The Amazing Tales of Max & Liz.

Upper elementary and middle school readers will enjoy this chapter book. Younger elementary children will love to hear about Max and Liz as the book is read aloud to them.

KID KANDY:

Make Your Own Ark

Yes, let's pretend! Any age will enjoy the challenge of creating a boat that floats.

Materials: milk cartons or shoe boxes, foil and assorted decorative paper, masking tape (or duct tape), scissors, cardboard scraps, paper towel tubes, stapler, plastic toy animals, markers

1. Cover the sides of your ark with foil. Tape the edges closed.

2. Use the rest of your supplies to customize your ark. Build a ramp, make a roof, decorate the inside, tape on walls for animal stalls, and so on.

3. Load up the animals and get ready to test the "floatability" of your ark.

4. Fill the bathtub or a plastic tub with water. Put that ark in and get it floating!

The story of the flood and the ark is found in the Bible. Read the original version in the Old Testament in the book of Genesis (the very first book in the Bible), chapters 6-9.

Terrific Tuesday - Molly Meets the Missionaries - Picture Book & KID KANDY

Molly Meets the Missionaries
By Rhonda Robbins-Reeves
(Woman's Missionary Union, 2010)

Meet Molly and Mikey, friends who travel the world meeting missionaries.

Written in rhyme, Molly and Mikey (an MK - missionary kid) explore and learn about some of the things missionaries and their families do around the world to tell about God. Bible thoughts are listed on each page and relate to the service being provided by missionaries or learned about by Mikey and Molly.

Flat Molly and Flat Mikey, paper doll figures at the end of the book, can be cut out (or copied and then cut out), laminated, and taken on trips. Be sure and take pictures of both of them when you stop to sightsee! Think of Flat Stanley and his adventures, except Flat Molly and Flat Mikey travel to tell and learn about Jesus.

Preschoolers and children will enjoy international travel and fun times with friends when they read Molly Meets the Missionaries.

KID KANDY:

Make a Clay Toy

Molly and Mikey learn about MK's in Malawi who make their own toys. Let's make a toy with clay!

1. Get some modeling clay. Choose a color and start warming it up by rolling and smashing it in your hands. It might take awhile, so keep on working hard.

2. Decide what type of toy you want to make - doll, ball, car, building, animal - or anything else you think would be fun.

3. Mold your clay into the shape. Don't worry if your toy is not exactly right. Just have fun making it.

4. Play with your toy! The neat thing about clay is you can always add to or adjust what you've made. Tools make clay fun - a fork, butter knife, or spoon can help you mold clay and make designs on it.

(If you want a toy that does not change shape anymore, use play dough and let it dry for several days.)

Old Book

(1890 Bible at the Presby House Museum)

One of my favorite books! A true classic.

Untouchable.

My honey and I discovered this version of a family Bible on a recent road trip through Goldendale, Washington.

The Presby House Museum is located in the Presby House, built in 1902. It is filled with many wonderful, baffling, exciting, sentimental, and old objects. All three floors of this home are open for visitors, as well as two outside buildings.

The docent was very friendly and helpful, advising us of important items on display throughout the beautiful home. One item that caught Kevin's eye was this old, old Bible. Being a pastor, he loves checking out old Bibles. Fragile though they be, the old language, period style illustrations, and sheer variety of sizes of the Bibles he finds, draw him in like a moth to a light.

In this case, very much like a moth to a light! Beware, OLD BIBLE alert. The docent gave us a quick peek inside to see the yellowed but readable pages. I estimate that this Bible was between 9 and 9 inches thick, and over a foot in length. That would require a serious commitment to hold on to it, let alone read it!

An antique (anything over 100 years is an antique, right?), but totally current and modern. Oh, I dare say, some words may need translating into common language. But overall, the message is the same.

A keeper of a book.