Reviews

REVIEWS

BOOKS

The sublime to the silly - great poems for kids

The Moon Has Got Its Pants on ... by Steve Turner (Lion, £8.99)

I'm a great fan of Steve Turner's children's poetry, having hugely enjoyed The Day I Fell Down the Toilet and Dad You're Not Funny, so I grabbed his latest as soon as it came into the office.

For research, you understand. Well, I have a six-year-old to read them to.

As with the others, there's a theme that draws the poems together: Steve set himself the task of writing three poems for every hour of the day and night - 72 in all.

And there are some real treats in store, enhanced greatly by David Mostyn's smashing illustrations. As Steve says in his introduction: "Some of these poems should make you think, some will make you laugh and there are one or two that might make you sad".

His skill is getting inside the thoughts, feelings, jokes, experiences and questions of children and teasing them out poetically. Often the simplest poems are the most profound, like Prayer:

Fell fast asleep
While saying a prayer
When I woke up
Found God was still there.

Splendid stuff - from the sublime to the silly, the yucky to the theological. Excellent for kids of all ages!

Russ Bravo

Great ideas for children's talks

77 Talks for 21st Century Kids - Messages with a meaning for 8-12 year-olds by Chris Chesterton (Monarch, £7.99)

Those of us who find ourselves giving talks to children, whether in church, school, youth groups or family services will find this book invaluable.

Chris Chesterton is children's work advisor for the diocese of Southwell, and has many years experience as a teacher, working with children in schools and churches.

And it shows. His precise, pithy, themed talks are concisely presented, packed with visual aids, helpful analogies and punchy ways to get your point across. The book also featues 10 guidelines for good communicators that underline the material and equip you to make the most of it.

A real blessing for anyone working with kids, this will inspire you to make every opportunity count - and provide talks that will be fun ways to see lives change.

Russ Bravo

MUSIC

Unstinting commitment

Retrospective, by Dave Clemo. CD £11/Cassette £7 (inc p&p)
The Moment of Truth, by The Broken. CD £13/
Cassette £9 (inc p&p)

Dave Clemo’s passion for all aspects of Christian music is exemplary – he keeps a faith ministry on the road with unstinting commitment, and campaigns tirelessly for broadcasting rights and other music-related issues.

Dave’s Retrospective compilation draws together highlights from the country and western-styled Change of Heart and Running on Empty albums, supplemented by Walk The Talk – theme song for the 1997 Cross Rhythms Festival.

Alcohol is a familiar c&w theme, but it takes on a new slant with Jesus Says Drink To Remember ("Satan says drink to forget"), and you probably couldn’t pull off a track like Jesus Loved The Hell Out Of Me in any other genre. Good fun, though.

Dave and Sue Clemo also front rock/worship team The Broken. Their repertoire includes 'standards' such as History Maker, a blues makeover of I’ve Found Jesus, and Redman’s For The Cross, plus a variety of quality material penned by Dave and his associates, best of which is psalm-like Salvation Comes To Those Who Believe.

Through Dave’s enthusiasm for surfing the internet, The Broken have recently secured an online distribution deal for The Moment Of Truth with innovative, but hitherto unconnected US label Broken Records. What could be more appropriate?

Copies are available from Dave Clemo, 69 Brambleside, Kettering, Northants NN16 9BP.

Peter Dilley is a bass guitarist and co-ordinator/mentor for a support scheme for young people with learning disabilities, with the charity InterAct

© Christian Family Network
is run by CPO, supported by
Care for the Family, Marriage Resource, Positive Parenting,
Care, Women Alive, Christian Herald and many others.


		REVIEWS BOOKS The sublime to the silly - great poems for kids The Moon Has Got Its Pants on ... by Steve Turner (Lion, £8.99) I'm a great fan of Steve Turner's children's poetry, having hugely enjoyed The Day I Fell Down the Toilet and Dad You're Not Funny, so I grabbed his latest as soon as it came into the office. For research, you understand. Well, I have a six-year-old to read them to. As with the others, there's a theme that draws the poems together: Steve set himself the task of writing three poems for every hour of the day and night - 72 in all. And there are some real treats in store, enhanced greatly by David Mostyn's smashing illustrations. As Steve says in his introduction: "Some of these poems should make you think, some will make you laugh and there are one or two that might make you sad". His skill is getting inside the thoughts, feelings, jokes, experiences and questions of children and teasing them out poetically. Often the simplest poems are the most profound, like Prayer: Fell fast asleep While saying a prayer When I woke up Found God was still there. Splendid stuff - from the sublime to the silly, the yucky to the theological. Excellent for kids of all ages! Russ Bravo Great ideas for children's talks 77 Talks for 21st Century Kids - Messages with a meaning for 8-12 year-olds by Chris Chesterton (Monarch, £7.99) Those of us who find ourselves giving talks to children, whether in church, school, youth groups or family services will find this book invaluable. Chris Chesterton is children's work advisor for the diocese of Southwell, and has many years experience as a teacher, working with children in schools and churches. And it shows. His precise, pithy, themed talks are concisely presented, packed with visual aids, helpful analogies and punchy ways to get your point across. The book also featues 10 guidelines for good communicators that underline the material and equip you to make the most of it. A real blessing for anyone working with kids, this will inspire you to make every opportunity count - and provide talks that will be fun ways to see lives change. Russ Bravo MUSIC Unstinting commitment Retrospective, by Dave Clemo. CD £11/Cassette £7 (inc p&p) The Moment of Truth, by The Broken. CD £13/ Cassette £9 (inc p&p) Dave Clemo’s passion for all aspects of Christian music is exemplary – he keeps a faith ministry on the road with unstinting commitment, and campaigns tirelessly for broadcasting rights and other music-related issues. Dave’s Retrospective compilation draws together highlights from the country and western-styled Change of Heart and Running on Empty albums, supplemented by Walk The Talk – theme song for the 1997 Cross Rhythms Festival. Alcohol is a familiar c&w theme, but it takes on a new slant with Jesus Says Drink To Remember ("Satan says drink to forget"), and you probably couldn’t pull off a track like Jesus Loved The Hell Out Of Me in any other genre. Good fun, though. Dave and Sue Clemo also front rock/worship team The Broken. Their repertoire includes 'standards' such as History Maker, a blues makeover of I’ve Found Jesus, and Redman’s For The Cross, plus a variety of quality material penned by Dave and his associates, best of which is psalm-like Salvation Comes To Those Who Believe. Through Dave’s enthusiasm for surfing the internet, The Broken have recently secured an online distribution deal for The Moment Of Truth with innovative, but hitherto unconnected US label Broken Records. What could be more appropriate? Copies are available from Dave Clemo, 69 Brambleside, Kettering, Northants NN16 9BP. Peter Dilley is a bass guitarist and co-ordinator/mentor for a support scheme for young people with learning disabilities, with the charity InterAct © Christian Family Network is run by CPO, supported by Care for the Family, Marriage Resource, Positive Parenting, Care, Women Alive, Christian Herald and many others.