Bartholomew's Passage: A Family Story for Advent (Storybooks for Advent)

Jotham's Journey kept us riveted as a family. We loved reading that each night! We were excited to start the sequel the following year. We were so disappointed to discover that it is basically a re-hashing of Jotham's story from a different viewpoint. Really, there is very little new here. The main plot is still Jotham's story, which we already knew. What a let-down. We loved, loved, loved Jotham's Journey, but this book was a huge disappointment. I'm really surprised by all the positive reviews.

I recently was sent two books from Kregel Publications and what a special treat it was. These books have been on my Amazon.com wish list for literally years, but have been out of print. So, I'm going to kill two birds with one stone and do a needed review with the Holiday Classics link up with Five Minutes for Books.

These two books are advent devotionals for children. Jotham's Journey: A Storybook for Advent is the story of ten-year-old Jotham. His adventure takes him across Israel as he searches for his family. He faces thieves, robbers, and kidnappers, Jotham also encounters friendly wise men, shepherds, and innkeepers until at last he finds his way to his family - and to the Savior born in Bethlehem. (This book is actually on sale at a GREAT price on Amazon right now.)

Bartholomew's Passage is another advent storybook. Bartholomew's advent adventure starts when Roman soldiers destroy his village and disperse his family, and continue through his enslavement to a tyrannical master and his escape with his new friend Nathan. It ends with a reunion with his family in Bethlehem - just in time for Christ's birth.

(FYI, there is a third book in the series, Tabitha's Travels: A Family Story for Advent (Jotham's Journey Trilogy). It is still out of print right now).

I'll be honest and say that although I have been wanting to add these to my library for years, I'm not sure I will use them with my girls this year. After reading through them some, they seem to be more suited for a little bit older child (maybe starting with an 8-9 year old). Jotham's story starts out with his family thinking he has been killed by animals and he is left behind when his family moves their camp. I don't think the story is bad, per se, I just don't know that my girls are old enough to appreciate it.

We love these stories every advent season and this is our third year reading one. Great for kids and adults alike.

This series is a favorite at our house. It brings Advent to life for the older elementary and middle schoolers. And there are well-researched details that we only recognize later when we come across them and realize they were a part of the stories.

We did the Jotham book last year, and my kids loved it. Three boys of various ages are all enthralled with the exciting journey. Great way to keep family reading time going during the holidays.

our family loves this series of books! there is also one for easter that we have read as well ... my 7-11yos love them and often beg for me to read ahead as the 'cliff hangers' they leave you on at the end of each day's reading will often have you as the parent reading ahead as well :)

Mr Ytreeide is a MASTER storyteller. Each day is a cliffhanger ending, and my kids begged me to keep reading! I was often tempted to read ahead myself. These books are a part of out family's annual Christmas tradition! GREAT FAMILY TIME!

This is something my children are still talking about 3 months after Christmas. This is the second book from this series that we've done and I can't imagine Advent without them now! The story is captivating. It's about a boy who gets separated from his family and while trying to look for them learns more about the coming of the Messiah. It gives you a great idea of how life might have been like at the time of Christ. My kids were begging for more at the end of each chapter. I can't recommend this enough!

We read this book concurrently with TABITHA'S TRAVELS and JOTHAM'S JOURNEY, also by Arnold Ytreeide. My children LOVED them, and every time we finished the sections for the day, they begged and pleaded for me to read more. We learned much about what it was like to live at the time of Jesus through the eyes of 10 year old Bartholomew. It is a rather intense story, maybe for 7 years and older because it includes some of the harsh treatment of Jews by the Romans who took over Bartholomew's city. We will read these stories every year leading up to Christmas!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is another excellent read by Mr. Ytreeude. He is an excellent author weaving his story together - this time weaving in the first book of the series - Jotham's Journey - it made the book more fun to read. Those of us who could remember what happened in Jothams Journey could rest easier.
We learned a little about Roman History too. It definitely wasn't to pleasant for the people back then.