Esther, the Belle of Patience (Bible Belles’ The Adventures of Rooney Cruz #2) by Erin Weidemann [Review & Giveaway - US/CANADA]

Just what are "Bible Belles? 

THE SOUND OF THE BELLES WILL BE H.E.A.R.D. -Exodus 28:35

Hannah. Esther. Abigail. Ruth. Deborah. H.E.A.R.D. The names of these five women represent the journey to discover the real definition of beauty through God’s love and His special purpose for each of our lives.

Bible Belles’ The Adventure of Rooney Cruz is an original children’s series that presents real life heroes like never before. The series highlights five superhero women of the Bible: Hannah, Esther, Abigail, Ruth and Deborah.

We’re setting out to present women in the Bible in a way that has never been done before. We want girls to connect with them and find out what being truly beautiful is all about. We want girls to remember their names, their stories, and how special they are.

My thoughts: Esther the Belle of Patience is book 2 in the series and it highlights Esther because of her patience. The goal of this and the other Belle books is to teach young girls about inner beauty correlating a contemporary young girl with a prominent Bible character addressing real life problems.

This is a sweet story about cute, bright-eyed Rooney Cruz and how she learns to wait patiently on God's timing. The illustrations are bright, with strong colors and very lively.

The gist of the story is that Rooney's special angel which is designed as a tiny, winged pretty lady (sort of an angelic Tinker Bell or fairy) warns and cajooles Rooney into thinking through situations and having patience. The special angel also supernaturally spins a waterbottle cap until it transforms into a magical window that opens up to scenes in the life of Esther, the Biblical woman who saved the Jews.

As I said the story is cute, bright, and engaging. The lesson can easily be learned that a woman of God (or a girl of God) can learn to be patient and exercise restraint and pray before acting. All very good traits and qualities. And these are the charm of the book.

The series uses two concepts that I find potential for confusion. We want to certainly delineate carefully between the real and the unreal. The Bible and stories contained therein are not fantasy or fairy tales. The Bible is the story of real people, real events, and a very real God. Esther was a very real lady.

1. Using the tiny personal angel that smacks so akin to a Tinker Bell style figure or fairy or even as in new age speak "guide," could tend to confuse the child between what an angel (even a personal angel) really is and the same types of figures in the fiction realm.
2. The use of a magical transformation to create a window frame that is open to another time or age, smacks with the super heroes, time travel, and fantasy that is so prevalent in the entertainment world. I certainly don't see any harm in tales of modern super heroes, time travel, or fantasy, but care needs to keep them separate from Biblical truth. To not maintain separation could potentially allow for a child's confusion or distrust.

Now what do I think of the book? Well, it is cute, charming, bright, engaging, teaches a wonderful Biblical concept of waiting patiently on God and praying prior to doing. So these are all pluses. It is also a plus for young girls to learn while they are young about the wonderful women of the Bible. I simply feel that while this is a good story and well done, care must be taken to make certain children don't think angels are flitting around us like little new age fairies.

Would I read it to my children if they were still in the home? Yes, because I can discern the truth and help in their understanding. I could easily see and teach the strengths of the story.

Will I pass my copy along to a home with children in it? Yes, but then I will be certain they understand my cautions.

Esther, the Belle of Patience (Bible Belles’ The Adventures of Rooney Cruz #2) by Erin Weidemann is sure to be a kid-pleaser.

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