I was so impressed with this book that I rearranged the content of my children's church so that I could include a story from it! A lot of the stories require so many materials that you have to go shopping in order to do them, however, most materials can be used with other stories later. I hesitated buying this book because I thought it would require a lot of craftiness or dressing up that I wouldn't be able to pull off, but it's all pretty simple to do. It's a good way to bring the Bible to life with grade school kids.

I've been a Sunday School teacher for 17 years and have accumulated a lot of resources--this book is among the best. I've come back to it again and again to find creative, interactive ways to tell familiar Bible stories. The walk-through drama in which children experience the last week of Jesus' life has become an annual event for our Sunday School. We've also enjoyed telling stories with food, balloons, projected pictures on the wall, etc. The book also gives suggestions for other Bible stories that would adapt well to the story-telling technique described. I highly recommend this book.

This is a fresh, creative book filled with storytelling ideas and techniques for Sunday school, family events, children's sermons, and church gatherings. As a member of our Children's Ministry Committee, I find this book especially helpful in creating new and fun programs. We do lots of storytelling at our church and found some ideas particularly fun; for example, we liked the Mystery Containers and Rainbow of Colors. We used the Rainbow of Colors storytelling technique to tell the story of Noah at an intergenerational event. The story got them moving and laughing as well as hearing an old story told in a fun, dynamic new way. These stories get the children moving, dancing, exploring, and interacting. The storytelling ideas are adaptable to other bible stories and this book gives you many suggestions. This is one of my personal favorite books.

I own and have read this book, and I love it very much. I plan to donate it to my local library soon. It is the personal narrative of a Christian woman who details her struggle to come to terms with her daughter's conversion to Islam. Interwoven into this narrative are personal accounts of American women who converted to Islam.
The negative aspect of this book is that the personal accounts of those women is not complete. Mrs. Anway only selected the material that suited the direction of her narrative. There is not enough about the personal experiences of the Muslim women themselves. It's in bits and pieces scattered throughout the text.
But overall, I would definitely recommend this book for those of Christian background, who have a loved one that has become Muslim.

I love studying religions and philosophies. I read this one because I wanted to indeed understand WHY SO MANY American women are turning to Islam.

This Book as well as other good books, told me why. I've read both sides (for and against) about Islam.

I've come away with a greater respect and even admiration for Islam and am impressed with the revert's Mother who wrote the book for having such an open and loving mind towards her daughter and for Islam.

This book is a keeper for my personal library.

As an American convert to Islam with a Roman Catholic Mother (whom I love DEARLY) this was the best way for me to give her some sense of what other Mothers go through when their daughters embrace Islam. While it is a great read for all, I especially recommend it over and over to women who have embraced Islam, and want to give reassurance to the women who gave them life. It is one of the most comprehensive and compassionate accounts of Islam I have seen to date. It is also one of the few books by a non-Muslim that is uplifting and fair. BUY THIS BOOK!

While the style is a bit too oral and loose for 5 stars, this easy-to-read, short book gives a very down to earth introduction to what it really means to be a Christian. Personal stories bring theology out of the clouds and into real daily life; I especially admire the author's willingness to reveal her own weaknesses as well as how knowing Jesus has affected them. She never, before or after her conversion, comes off as a stained-glass, holier than thou person. Some of the images and illustrations she uses are uniquely helpful in bringing home what a Christian doctrine actually means to us. You will get right to the heart of Christianity by reading and reflecting on this book, and you'll feel able to make an intelligent choice about your faith.

Rev. Anderson has an excellent grasp of relational Christology and writes in a straight forward manner with great clarity and humor. Her personal story of coming to faith is captivating and offers encouragement to those who struggle with questions such as: Who is this Jesus? What does he mean to me? Does he make any difference in my life? She nailed it down when she wrote:"Following Jesus is a radical step. It is not to be religious: it is to have a relationship with a person, who, in fact, calls into question everything about our lives and moves us in directions that go against all that the world thinks is important." Well done. She answers the question as to who Jesus is to her, details her shocking experience of being used by God for the physical healing of another and invites us into relationship with God that will indeed change everything. An excellent book, easy to read, hope filled and life changing. I will read anything that this author writes.

Wonderfull book that encourages children to thnk about their ability to make a difference in environmental issues. One 11 year old boy I know missed dinner to finish the story! Great story with a likeable heroine.

Sandy Thomas' book, "So You Want To Be A Voiceover Star," is a lot of things...

What is is not is a quick fix. It is not a hand-holding, "insert slot-A into flap-B," guide for children. It is not, as one reviewer wrote, an infomercial full of promises. It is not a a look at the voiceover industry through rose-colored glasses, and it is not a guarantee.

For those who have had their hands held all their lives, who have never invested time, hard work, nor the risk of making a success of one's self, for those looking for a be-all and end-all, this book will fall short. Consider yourself warned. The book will not make you a star voice talent, nor will it make you a pig farmer. You will make of yourself what you will.

It is an accurate picture of what it takes to make it in professional voiceover. Period. If one is vastly disappointed in the lack of "real content," (read: Do it for me, Daddy), then one lacks the motivation, persistence, and thick skin required to make it in voiceover to begin with.

This book was clearly not written to be the ONE BOOK for begining voice talent. Only the lazy expect to read one book and become a success at anything.

For those who already have a base level of talent, who believe in themselves, who are motivated and persistent, who are looking for an accurate portrait of the business, Sandy Thomas' book is a must-read.

It is loosly narrative in nature..."This is how I did it." And it doesn't take itself too seriously. It is clear that Thomas' recognizes that life is about a bit more than career. True, there are a number of typos, but these are the fault of the editor, not the author. At least they had the courage an forsight to publish an important book for the business from one of the top talents in the industry. Perhaps they just need a better proofer.

I highly recommend this book.

With few good books available on the subject, this book is a must. The author apparently has considerable practical experience in the day to day aspects of the industry. My knowledge of the subject was highly limited so I found this book to be a good jumping off point for my orientation into the little understood world of voice overs. Sandy did a good job in bringing to life the reality of the industry. He clearly warns of the unrealistic expectations a newcomer to the industry might have. Its a difficult industry in which only the very best make it to the top. At the same time he shares some of his secrets for interpreting copy, prepares you mentaly for this competitive industry and gives valueable industry resources. Thanks for the insight.

I recently read Sandy Thomas's new book and was quite thrilled with it. I was lucky enough to speak with the author before my purchase and his words to me was, don't be fooled or irrational to think that this book will make you a voice-over star. What he did say was that this book will share with you a pure insight into the field, give you a vision of what it's like to make to the top and test your personality to see if you have a strong enough one to make it in this very competitive industry. Along with that, it provided me with some credible industry trade references. It accomplished that. I was quiet disturbed by one reviewers comments on Amazon putting the author down. To think you could read one book on voice-overs and than WHAM I'm gonna be a voice-over star, quite naive. Basically if your looking for a perspective about this industry, from a credible highly successful consistently working Voice Talent and want info on getting started then this is a perfect book....if your expecting to be a voice talent after you read this...than this isn't a book to buy, in fact there is no book on the market that will achieve that. There's more to making it in Voice-Overs than reading a book.

Strengths of the book:

It does a good job of showing that God can use us even in the midst of our weaknesses and sinfulness. It is fast-moving, humorous, and helps the reader understand what missionary life, especially from the wife's perspective, is all about without using glowing descriptions.

Weaknesses:

I thought it left quite a few gaps. 3/4's of the book describes the author's preparation for service and first missionary term, and then the remaining part told about 6 more terms in a very short, abbreviated way. Time doesn't fly that fast. Also this reviewer felt uncomfortable with the author's emphasis on "feeling" God's leading and how she worked through a major depression without receiving the help of any type of counseling.

Overall, I was pleased with this book as it gives a fair representation of the trials involved in being a missionary, and how we who are missionaries are no more perfect than anyone else and must rely on God in order to serve Him. This story is an excellent example of faithfulness in the midst of difficulties. I would say it is a "must-read" for missionary wives.

A fairly dry story which takes place in the early 1900's to the brink of WWI in Virginia. It is about women, and their relationships ( or lack thereof ) with men. However, the focus is on the youngest, who is 8-years-old at the start of the story.

The 8-year-old becomes acquainted with her mother's best-friend's husband. Through the years they are close and share a close bond. Eventually, she falls in love with him despite knowing she shouldn't. Not until the daughter comes of age, and the wife finds out, tragedy strikes.

The title, I believe, comes from the lack of the exposure and isolation that the girl received. She knows little about except her small environment. I think this parallels the current attitudes that was prevalant in those days about not wanting to talk about troubling things, especially by women.

Overall, the first half of the book was exceedingly dull and a bit confusing. There was a time when I almost considered putting it down, but I am glad I stuck with it. There are many nuggets of wisdom about life and man/woman relationships that can be found in the book.