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Tuesday, July 2, 2013

Book Review: Anselm of Canterbury


Anselm of Canterbury (Illustrated Christian Biographies for Young Readers)Long time readers of this blog need no introduction to Simonetta Carr or her "Christian Biographies for Young Readers".  Ms. Carr is one of my favorite children's authors due, in large part, to her commitment to "...go beyond the simple story of someone's life by teaching young readers the historical and theological relevance of each character" (from the Copyright Page). There is a purpose and depth to Simonetta's writing which exceeds that found in much of written material for children today.

In her latest title, Anselm of Canterbury, the big question before the reader is, "Why did God have to become man? If God can do anything, couldn't He have saved His people some other way?" With clarity and simplicity, Simonetta Carr presents Anselm's Biblical answer to this question in a way that children can easily comprehend, without over-simplifying the concept. Being a gifted author, Simonetta conveys these truths as she relays the captivating story of Anselm's life without being "preachy" (as some might say).

Like the other books in the "Christian Biographies for Young Readers" series, Anselm of Canterbury is carefully researched, informative, and interesting.  Ms. Carr includes a map, photos, and a timeline to aid understanding. Additionally, the detailed artwork by Matt Abraxas serves to further draw one into the story of Anselm's life. Ms. Carr includes appropriate, well-chosen quotes to accompany her writing. One will also find a clear Gospel presentation throughout Anselm of Canterbury.

As we've come to expect from the "Christian Biographies for Young Readers" series, Anselm of Canterbury is a high quality, hardcover book with thick pages and a sewn binding making it sturdier than many books published today. This makes it a collectible title that will hold up well to many years of use.

Christian Biographies for Young Readers 5 Book SetI highly recommend Anselm of Canterbury and pray that many will grow in their understanding of the necessity of the incarnation and of the importance and value of studying church history as a result of this fine work!!

You can find out more about Simonetta Carr's "Christian Biographies for Young Readers" here, including activity pages for several existing titles (Augustine of Hippo and John Calvin) and a study guide for John Owen.


*Many thanks to Cross Focused Reviews and Reformation Heritage Books for providing me with a complimentary copy of Anselm of Canterbury in exchange for my honest opinion!

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