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I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. It's sing-song rhyming style made it easy to read. The book tells the tale of Jonah and how God punished him for not obeying God's word. Jonah is tossed overboard of a ship and eaten by a whale. It is not until Jonah repents for his sin that he is spat from the whale's mouth back onto shore. He then goes on to spread God's word and follow his commands as previously asked. This book teaches three religious lesson. One is that God's word should be obeyed. The next is that God is everywhere and sees everything. The third is that no matter how bad someone is, God will forgive them if they repent for their sins. ( )

Summary: This book describes the Biblical story of Jonah. Jonah was instructed by God to go to some people and preach to them, but he disobeyed God and did not go because he was afraid. God sent a whale to swallow Jonah. He prayed to God in the belly of the whale to save him. The whale spit him out and he went and did what God was instructing him to do.

Personal Reaction: I have always loved this story. I grew up going to church and hearing old testament stories like this. I think that all children should have the opportunity to read stories like this one.

Classroom Extensions: 1) I would have the children cut out construction paper and create a whale. When they finished we would vote on which one is the scariest and which one is the cutest. 2) We would talk about how we should obey when we are instructed to do something by someone we love or respect. We would discuss the importance of obeying. ( )

I used to read this book to my children when they were little and decided to reread it for the first time in many years. Rereading it again I am reminded of why I chose to read this on so many occasions to my children and why it’s one of the few books I saved from their early childhood. I enjoy this book because of the language and the clearly stated message at the end.

The language in the book flows nicely with its rhyming verses such as, “I also know that when we’re bad, And sorry as can be – God has mercy and has pity, And forgives us lovingly.” The author also breaks the story down in simple language that makes it an easy read.

The big message of the book is that God is everywhere, always watching, forgiving, and loving us. ( )

Alice visits Bibleland and learns valuable lessons from the life of Jonah.