John Owen - Christian Biographies for Young Readers

Excellent illustrations. I would put this book at the level of a 10 year old, but I read it to my 4 & 5 year olds and they still maintained interest.

So well done~

This week I learned a lot about the Puritans by reading Ms. Carr's biography of John Owen. The cover of this book is inviting and might make you think that this is a picture book about John Owen, which it is not. This book is a solid biography for young readers in grades 3-6. The younger readers may have some difficulty reading some of the words on their own. My daughter struggled with the words in this book, because though her phonics are very strong, many of the words in this book need to be read aloud because they don't fit the typical rules of phonics. So, this will be a book we read together the first time or two. She loves history books, so I am sure she will then begin reading it on her own once she knows what the difficult words sound like.The first time I read this book about John Owen, I had many thoughts that I discussed with my husband. His view of this book was very different than my initial view and that is why I clarified from the beginning that this is a biography and not a picture book. The cover made me think of this first as a picture book biography. I expected a lot of personal information about John Owen. Instead, this is a story of his life and the things he did. Simonetta Carr did not infer things about his life. I believe she strove to stay true to what we do know about Owen, rather than embellishing his story. This is very important because inferring information about real people is a dangerous thing. It is a difficult thing with figures from the past--to portray them in an unbiased way. I enjoyed Ms. Carr's blog post about just this aspect of writing biographies on her blog.The illustrations from the book by Matt Abraxas are wonderfully done. But, the book includes many pictures of real places and other historical documents and artwork as well. The explanations of difficult concepts such as what a theologian is and the book of common prayer are very good, though your children may have a few more questions about what Parliament is. It is explained at a very simple level in this book, but they may still have more questions.This book would be a good resource to help children understand the lives of the Puritans and that period of history. It would be a wonderful addition to a church library, to a Christian school's Church History curriculum, or to a homeschooling family's history lessons. It is very easy to read about events in history and not see how the little pieces fit together. Reading a book like this may help your children see that the figures in church history matter as much as other key figures like the great scientists and inventors that our history books are filled with.Please note that I received a complimentary copy of this book for review from Reformation Heritage Books.

The life of John Owen is powerful, and Simonetta Carr amply provides his the story of Owen's life that's worth telling your children. Simonetta Carr writes about Owen's life, as Matt Abraxas provides beautiful illustrations for the story. An introduction, six chapters, time line, a "Did You Know?" section, and a modern version of John Owen's Lesser Catechism rounds out the hardcover book.Owen has been called the greatest English-speaking theologian, and this book tells his story. There's plenty of history in the book, but plenty of theology explained in an understandable way. Carr retells Owen's childhood, conversion, call to ministry, life as a pastor, writer, and parent. Particularly moving is the account of Owen losing almost all of his children to sickness and his death. Throughout the story, Carr is able to convey Owen's dedication to Christ, the church, and God's Word. The cost for such a dedication proved costly, at times, but children can be instructed from these stories about the seriousness of the call of discipleship from them.My son particularly enjoyed this book. I pray that when my son is a teenager he'll read and understand Owen's books for teenage Oxford students, Mortification of Sin and Overcoming Sin and Temptation. The Lesser Catechism included in the appendix can facilitate parental instruction in Gospel truths.This book comes highly commended for its story telling, artistry, and usefulness in conveying Christian truth.

Simonetta Carr's third book in her Christian Biographies for Young Readers is on John Owen. As with the previous two books (on John Calvin and Augustine), this colorfully-told story is enhanced with beautiful, well-chosen photographs and original paintings. The book's illustrator, Matt Abraxas has, in my opinion, provided the best art in this excellent series.This book (like the two previous) manages to be informative without being dry, edifying without being moralistic. By avoiding the temptation to be either obtrusive or dispassionate Simonetta succeeds in highlighting the value of a thoughtful, courageous, principled life. And in being true to Owen's life she has invited readers to glory in Owen's God.My kids and I finished the book last night, though I suspect this was only the first of many odysseys into this highly recommended introduction on the life of the "Prince of the Puritans."

I love this series of Christian Biographies for Young Readers, and once again, Ms. Carr has not let me down with her latest about John Owen. And apparently, the San Diego Book Awards agrees, since they have noted it as one of four finalists! For a children's book it is packed with interesting information as well as learning points that could be used in any school room or Children's Bible class. A must read for anyone of any age interested in Christian biographies.