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Customer Reviews for Crossway Books & Bibles Coming Home
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Crossway Books & Bibles Coming Home
Twin brothers Arion and Argo are scared. They have spent most of their lives shipwrecked on the lonely, gray island of Terrene with their ship's captain, and now he is leaving and they cannot imagine life on Terrene without him. He is going to Bluestone, a place where the birds always sing and the grass is ever green. He tells them he is going to prepare a place for them in Bluestone. Then he will come back for them, and they will all go to Bluestone together.
Though Bluestone sounds like a wonderful place, the boys find it difficult to wait for the captain on Terrene. The island is so gray that it is hard for them to imagine the vibrant colors of Bluestone. Soon they grow tired of watching and waiting for their captain, and it is hard for them to remember his voice. Can they really believe that he will come back for them? To do so they must have faith--they must see with their hearts, not their eyes. Will the captain really come back for Arion and Argo like he promised? And will the boys be ready for his return?
Once again, master storyteller Max Lucado tackles a difficult topic for children and creates an allegory that makes God's truth easy for them to understand. Coming Home captures the struggle and hope as we wait for Jesus to return and take us to an incredibly beautiful place that we cannot imagine. Children will learn powerful lessons about faith, patience, and God's great love and mercy. Recommended for ages 4 to 10.
Average Customer Rating:
(20 Reviews) 20
Rating Snapshot (20 reviews)
5 stars
10
4 stars
4
3 stars
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2 stars
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12 out of 1580%customers would recommend this product to a friend.
Customer Reviews for Coming Home
Review 1 for Coming Home
Overall Rating:
Great allegory for kids
Date:November 1, 2012
Quality:
5
out of
5
Value:
5
out of
5
Meets Expectations:
5
out of
5
I always look forward to reading another of Max Lucado’s picture books. Not only do they have beautiful illustrations, but the stories are captivating tales that are allegories of Christian life.(When I gave the book to Emily to read, she said, “Oh, I love this author! He’s one of the best!”)
Coming Home tells the story of two boys who live on a dull gray island and are cared for by a ship’s captain. He tells them stories of a land where everything is colorful and happy. One day, the ship’s captain tells them he is leaving…
“I am going away for just a time,” he said. “I’m going to Bluestone to prepare your place. But I will come back and take you to be there with me.”
When he leaves, the boys try to wait and prepare for his return, but one is tempted to venture into the forbidden gray forest and loses hope….
We enjoyed this book and I was able to talk with my daughter about the parallels between this story and our wait for Jesus’s return. It is a story that will be enjoyable and meaningful for any age and makes a nice addition to our collection of Max Lucado books. I did wish it were a bit longer, though, and the storyline not resolved quite so quickly.
I received this book free from Crossway Homeschool Book Review Program in exchange for my honest review.
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Review 2 for Coming Home
Overall Rating:
Beautiful look at waiting for Christ's return
Date:October 10, 2012
Quality:
5
out of
5
Value:
5
out of
5
Meets Expectations:
5
out of
5
Max Lucado has been a pastor, speaker, and author since, well, before I graduated from high school! I've heard him preach on the radio, and as a family, we've enjoyed some of his many books together. He is an author who writes with purpose. Even his children's books aren't written to be "fluffy" and meaningless. Each page has definite meaning and purpose, and I love this! If I wrote children's books, this is the style in which I would write them!
Most importantly, Max Lucado's books point people to God in a way that makes a person really ponder and meditate.
We've enjoyed every single Max Lucado book we've ever read. He often writes about heaven in terms that children can understand.
Coming Home is 32 pages filled with beautiful artwork and text.
The biblical message found within the 32 pages of Coming Home is that Jesus has returned to heaven, is building a heavenly home for us there, and will return for us in the future to bring us to heaven with Him. It is a delightful picture of the emotions a child or an adult will go through when choosing to wait and follow Christ or decide to choose a worldly lifestyle and not follow Christ.
It would be nice to have a family library full of Max Lucado's books! In handing down our Christian faith to our children, it is a blessing to be able to surround them with biblical, thoughtful books to help renew their minds and then their hearts.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading through this short but beautiful book. I know you'll enjoy Coming Home, too!
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Review 3 for Coming Home
Overall Rating:
children's allegory about the second coming of Chr
Date:October 3, 2012
Quality:
5
out of
5
Value:
5
out of
5
Meets Expectations:
5
out of
5
Arion and Argo are sixteen-year-old twin brothers who were shipwrecked fourteen years earlier with the Captain on the island of Terrene, where everything is a dull gray because a volcano had erupted there. Even the forest is dark and dangerous. But now the Captain has a chance to go away to his home on the island of Bluestone, promising to return one day for them and encouraging them to be ready for him by staying on the beach and not going into the forest. Yet, as time passes Argo grows tired of waiting and begins looking for fun in the forest and becoming more content with Terrene. Will the Captain ever return as he promised? And what will happen to Argo?
Coming Home is obviously intended to be an allegorical tale for young people about the second coming of Christ. Author Max Lucado explains the meaning. “In the Bible Jesus Christ tells us that he is preparing a place for us in heaven, and that he will come back for us someday. He tells us that this world is not our home and we must be ready for his return. But sometimes we grow weary of waiting for Christ’s return. We start to think that maybe this world isn’t so bad after all, and we get sidetracked by its fun distractions. Sometimes others try to convince us that what Jesus teaches us is not true, that he is not coming back, and that we should just forget about what he says and go have fun.” By reading the book, children can learn powerful lessons about faith, patience, repentance, and God’s great mercy.
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Review 4 for Coming Home
Overall Rating:
Wonderful Book!
Date:August 26, 2012
Quality:
5
out of
5
Value:
5
out of
5
Meets Expectations:
5
out of
5
This a beautiful book with a great story, beautiful pictures and an Excellent Price too!!
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0of 0voted this as helpful.
Review 5 for Coming Home
Overall Rating:
Excellent message
Date:August 21, 2012
revkorny
Location:London,. England
Age:35-44
Gender:male
Quality:
5
out of
5
Value:
5
out of
5
Meets Expectations:
5
out of
5
This is a wonderful story not only for children. It is a great way to teach about heaven and our blessed hope in a concrete way.
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0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
Review 6 for Coming Home
Overall Rating:
too much allegory...
Date:May 3, 2012
Jodie Greven
Age:35-44
Gender:female
Quality:
4
out of
5
Value:
3
out of
5
Meets Expectations:
2
out of
5
this looked like a fun book, but it too much allegory for a small boy and not enough story. Not my favorite. Not thiers either.
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+1point
1of 1voted this as helpful.
Review 7 for Coming Home
Overall Rating:
Great Book
Date:January 20, 2012
meedwards5
Location:Tehachapi Mountains of CA
Age:45-54
Gender:female
Quality:
5
out of
5
Value:
5
out of
5
Meets Expectations:
4
out of
5
Great book. My 7 y/o son really enjoyed reading it. However, he was hoping there would be additional books w/the same characters. I was hoping it would be a bit longer. Still, it's a very well written and illustrated book.
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+1point
1of 1voted this as helpful.
Review 8 for Coming Home
Overall Rating:
bad message
Date:January 13, 2012
claus
Location:odessa, tx
Age:35-44
Gender:male
Quality:
5
out of
5
Value:
1
out of
5
Meets Expectations:
1
out of
5
We love the books and DVDs from Mr. Max Lucado and have a huge respect for his work and creativity. After reading this book however, we were disappointed. I realize that "eternal salvation" (once saved, always saved) is a popular (yet controversial) idea and many may not agree with what I write below.
However, to imply that we can just decide to live like the world and abandon the Christian walk to the point where our life has no resemblance to what God intended it to be, yet when the Day comes, He just wipes it all out and in the end it makes no difference how we lived, is simply not what the Bible teaches. Of course, we are imperfect and hypocrites, get smeared and lured away and need to be constantly cleaned and reminded Who we live for, but if we decide to ignore Him altogether, there is no solution. Here is where I think the book got it all wrong maybe not intentional, but at least in the way the story is presented.
However, to imply that we can just decide to live like the world and abandon the Christian walk to the point where our life has no resemblance to what God intended it to be, yet when the Day comes, He just wipes it all out and in the end it makes no difference how we lived, is simply not what the Bible teaches. Of course, we are imperfect and hypocrites, get smeared and lured away and need to be constantly cleaned and reminded Who we live for, but if we decide to ignore Him altogether, there is no solution. Here is where I think the book got it all wrong maybe not intentional, but at least in the way the story is presented.
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+11points
13of 15voted this as helpful.
Review 9 for Coming Home
Overall Rating:
a good read
Date:November 8, 2011
Quality:
5
out of
5
Value:
5
out of
5
Meets Expectations:
4
out of
5
I read the reviews before i wrote this, and can see all the points. I thought it was a good book about choices and grace and beautifully illustrated.
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Review 10 for Coming Home
Overall Rating:
Date:October 12, 2011
mamajohn
Quality:
3
out of
5
Value:
3
out of
5
Meets Expectations:
3
out of
5
This was a nice book. I think my children would have liked to see a little more adventure throughout the story.
Share this review:
+1point
1of 1voted this as helpful.
Review 11 for Coming Home
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Date:August 23, 2011
Mountain Mama
Location:PA
Age:35-44
Gender:female
Quality:
5
out of
5
Value:
5
out of
5
Meets Expectations:
5
out of
5
This book is exactly what I would have expected from one of my favorite authors, Max Lucado. He did not disappoint my children with this beautifully written book, a wonderful addition to our Max Lucado library!
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0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
Review 12 for Coming Home
Overall Rating:
Very disapointing!
Date:July 22, 2011
Heather
Age:25-34
Gender:female
Quality:
1
out of
5
Value:
1
out of
5
Meets Expectations:
1
out of
5
As I was previewing this book, I thought it had beautiful pictures, and a realistic view of what happens to people living in this sinful world; some follow, some choose to believe in nothing. The end of this book truly makes it a fairy tale, and not a biblical allegory. How can we teach our children that the choices we make now effect the rest of our lives, if we read them stories that say no matter what we do everything will work out well in the end. Stick to the Bible, and find freedom in living Christ's way, don't be deceived by books like this.
Share this review:
+4points
8of 12voted this as helpful.
Review 13 for Coming Home
Overall Rating:
Date:July 19, 2011
Becky
Age:45-54
Gender:female
Quality:
3
out of
5
Value:
3
out of
5
Meets Expectations:
3
out of
5
I read this book and thought it would be great for all ages to read, not just for the younger ones. I loved the illustrations and the quality of the book material. It would be a great gift for any of the young of heart.
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0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
Review 14 for Coming Home
Overall Rating:
Date:May 4, 2011
lnix96
Quality:
5
out of
5
Value:
5
out of
5
Meets Expectations:
5
out of
5
My 8 year old son loved this book! He was able to recognize the symbolism and even asked if he could take it to school to share it with his class.
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0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
Review 15 for Coming Home
Overall Rating:
Date:October 21, 2010
Neane
Location:Milledgeville, Ga.
Age:Over 65
Gender:female
Quality:
5
out of
5
Value:
5
out of
5
Meets Expectations:
5
out of
5
A beautiful book, an excellent story, wrtten by one of my favorite authors.
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0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
Review 16 for Coming Home
Overall Rating:
Date:September 13, 2010
kmac
I agree with Becky it's not all Biblical-I've always rated Lucado's writings highly but I was really disappointed with Coming Home-Our choices have to be made before Christ's return or our death-the story left it that the choice could be made even after-that's very deceiving to a child or someone who doesn't really know what the Bible says
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+7points
7of 7voted this as helpful.
Review 17 for Coming Home
Overall Rating:
Date:April 30, 2010
Kathy Fraley
Wonderful book that is filled with the story of God's redeeming love, put in such a way that children and adults alike can understand it. I highly recommend.
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0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
Review 18 for Coming Home
Overall Rating:
Date:October 29, 2009
Mrs JM Lemay
My children (ages 9.75-15.75) and I absolutely adored this book. It is easy to understand and identify with at any age.
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0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
Review 19 for Coming Home
Overall Rating:
Date:August 26, 2009
Becky
I love the premise of this story, the beautiful words and illustrations, but it completely fell flat at the end. One of the twins was not ready at the Captain's return. At this point the story takes an unbiblical turn and truly disappoints those who choose to believe Jesus' words (the parable of the wise and foolish virgins for example).
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+7points
7of 7voted this as helpful.
Review 20 for Coming Home
Overall Rating:
Date:April 7, 2009
Coming Home is an allegory, based on Jesus promise to his disciples that he would return and take them to Heaven to be with him always.In Max Lucados story, three people, a ships captain and two young boys, Argo and Arion, are shipwrecked on a gray and desolate island. Several years after the shipwreck, the captain sails away from the island, leaving the boys behind. Before he leaves, he tells them, I am going away for just a short time. Im going to Bluestone to prepare your place. But I will come back and take you to be there with me. He also tells them to remember what he has taught them and to be ready for his return. He gives them brief instructions, one of them being to stay out of the islands forest. The captain is gone for some time, and of course, one of the boys, Argo, wanders into the forest while the captain is gone. When the captain returns, Argo is hesitant to greet the captain, as he knows he disobeyed the captains commands. But, the captain welcomes both boys onto the boat so they can set sail for their new home in Bluestone.Although it is a bit gloomy, the artwork is beautiful in its detail.I generally enjoy Max Lucados books. This story parallels the story of our lives on earth while we wait for Jesus to return and take us home to Heaven. The writing, itself, is flawless, and the artwork extraordinary, but I think the story falls short of his usual style and clarity. I like the idea of a story that is an allegory for the promise of Jesus return, but the setup for this story was a bit vague. There is very little background given at the beginning of the story as to how the three were shipwrecked or how long theyve been on the island. When reading the story, I kept wondering why the captain was able to leave the island by himself and was not able to take the boys with him. That was never explained and it seemed odd that the boys would be left there by themselves. Christian Children's Book Review
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+7points
7of 7voted this as helpful.