Okay, I’m doing this devotional right, so you all can decide if it might be a good fit with your youngsters, and I’m sitting here thinking about another dinosaur book that I have in my review pile that if you like this book…you just might like THAT book. The two go so well together. SO as soon as I get that review done and posted I’ll link it up here so you can go find it. Deal? GREAT. The book I’m reviewing for you here is called Dinosaur Devotions. It’s a nice hardcover, devotional designed for dinosaur loving children. But I really do need to just focus here.
From the cover:
Did you know that a Therizinsaurus’s claws were as long as short swords? And that the Argentinosaurus weighed as much as 10 elephants? Now that’s heavy! In Dinosaur Devotions, award-winning author and dinosaur enthusiast Michelle Medlock Adams shares hundreds of dinosaur facts and makes growing in your faith even more fun.
What do you get?
75 dinosaurs discoveries, bible facts and fun facts fill the pages of this lovely hardcover book. With a blue ribbon to keep your spot, your children will delight in learning about God as they learn interesting facts about dinosaurs that tie into our faith in God. For instance, the built in noise maker of the parasaurolophus reminds us to make a joyful noise unto the Lord, The velociraptor reminds us to be strong and courageous and the family minded mapusaurus encourages us to respect our parents.
Each page is set up the same.
The name of the dinosaur on a banner, with facts about the dinosaur in smaller print down the side. Under the banner is a bible verse, which, for the most part fit in well with the readings that I perused. The title of the reading along with the passage. Page 2 bringing us opportunities to dig a little deeper with questions to answer, and then a chance to do some Jurassic journaling as you write, complete an activity or draw out your thoughts on the passage. Occasional a dictionary word would appear in this side banner as well. A small ‘did you know’ fact appears with every lesson. Each reading takes a two page spread.
Family, diet, weight, height and family are given given statistics. As you can see from this devotional, an interesting fact about the dinosaur is used to help children better understand the life of being a Christian.
I really liked the stop and think about it banner. From the digging deeper where a parent can ask their child (ren) questions about the reading, or if you are reading it yourself … to help YOU think more deeply about what you are learning. Applying this knowledge to yourself in the journaling really helps to cement the learning.
My Thoughts:
I have mixed thoughts. Not being entirely sure what age this devotional was geared to, I handed it to my son (a young teen) and asked what his thoughts were. They weren’t impressive. He said “It mostly just talks about having good morals and doesn’t talk enough about God”.
Yet I look through it, and I don’t see it. I see a devotional that (though not perfect) tries hard to connect one love (dinosaurs) with another love (God). Those connections will never be perfect because well… we don’t know enough about dinosaurs to really understand them, and two.. we live in a fallen world .. using a fallen part of creation to explain the greatness of God .. you will always fall short. Just like with any devotional some do a better job at connecting the facts then others, and some the verses used seem a bit stretched but I could find a way to connect them.
In the end my consideration needs to be this this devotional good enough to recommend to others? I think so, I don’t know that I would give it a teen, but doing it as a family devotional with your children to about 11 or so? Especially if they have a fondness for dinosaurs? Definitely. Ms. Adams has done a good job with this devotional.
Dinosaur Devotions: 75 dino discoveries, bible truths, fun facts and more!
Michelle Medlock Adams
Illustrator: Denise Turu
Tommy Nelson
Hardcover, 160 pages, Devotional
Elementary ages
Discipleship, Faith, Christianity, Dinosaurs
Reviewed for: Booklookbloggers.
This is exactly what my family needs.
Thank you so much for this thorough book review!
you are most welcome. 🙂