'Jotham's Journey'

Having waited so long to get hold of 'Jotham's Journey' (Arnold Ytreeide), in a fit of zeal I have pre-read it to be set for Advent.

Let me just say - what a cracking book this is! It is the story of a little boy in Israel just before Jesus' birth who becomes separated from his family. His search to find them leads him into danger but he ends up finding his family and the Nativity at the same time. The idea is that you light advent candles (though I suppose you could skip this if candles really isn't your thing) and read a chapter as a family each night. After the story, there is a Bible verse or thought about Christmas, and often a prayer.

The only bad points are the strange yellow background to the text and the inconsistent spelling. Spiritually, I just loved it and can't wait to read the book as a family for the first time this year.

WARNING: some scenes are too graphic for young children, though they are easily adapted. For example, the baddie cuts a young boy's fingers off; and the hero and friend fight the baddie in an underground tomb wielding a human leg-bone. I think we will read this book in the morning rather than in the evening, as suggested.