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Customer Reviews for Reformation Trust Publishing The Lightlings
Reformation Trust Publishing The Lightlings
In The Lightlings, Dr. R.C. Sproul weaves an allegorical tale that captures the essence of the biblical story of redemption in a manner that will fascinate and delight children. A race of tiny beings known as lightlings represent humanity as they pass through all the stages of the biblical drama--creation, fall, and redemption. In the end, children will understand why some people fear light more than darkness, but why they need never fear darkness again. With richly detailed illustrations by Justin Gerard, this picture book also has discussion questions and Scripture references that will help parents guide children into the deeper meaning of the story. Recommended for ages 4 to 8.
Average Customer Rating:
(15 Reviews) 15
Rating Snapshot (15 reviews)
5 stars
13
4 stars
2
3 stars
0
2 stars
0
1 star
0
11 out of 11100%customers would recommend this product to a friend.
Customer Reviews for The Lightlings
Review 1 for The Lightlings
Overall Rating:
Lightlings is Lovely.
Date:January 4, 2013
Quality:
4
out of
5
Value:
4
out of
5
Meets Expectations:
4
out of
5
It's amazing that a simple picture book like this can awaken your heart to profound truth. Somehow the fact that humans are created in the image of God to reflect His Glory gets lost until we read a story like this- a story about the King of Light who created Lightlings in His Image. This book comes in the form of a story told by a wise grandfather to his little grandson Charlie Cobb, who asked why we are afraid of the dark? “That’s a very good question." Grandpa responds,"But you know, not only are lots of people afraid of the dark, many people are afraid of the light.” Thus begins the story of the Lightlings, beings created to shine with their Makers Light, who were placed in a Paradise Garden until willful rebellion cast them out into a dark wood of thorns and thistles. The Lightlings are doomed to walk in the darkness they chose until the King of Light sends His own Son to be the Light in the Lightlings world. Justin Gerad's illustrations are well suited to this faerie world, the pictures of Light are lovely: sunlit glades with winged lightlings. roses and friendly chipmunks. The pictures of darkness (sin) and the lightlings going into exile are appropriately sad and dark without being overly scary- if your children are sensitive than be careful to explain that the darkness is taken away soon. The lightlings soon could not tell night from day, and when they saw the light shining frommiles and miles away they were frightened of it, afraid of the Light King.
Some of the children went to it though..
Some of the children went to it though..
And the Children who went to see the baby came home shining with a light that was not their own and they told all the other Lightlings that the LIGHT OF THE WORLD had come.
Grandpa looked at Charlie's awestruck face, and explained that the Light of the World has come to us too, and we who love God are children of the Light. We need never fear the darkness.
“Charlie, let me make a suggestion. Every time you see the sun, the moon, or the stars, or light a candle, or turn on your night light, remember the story of the child the King of Light brought into the darkness of this world. And remember that He gave us this baby as a present. As long as you remember that, you will never, ever have to be afraid of the darkness again.” I am delighted to receive a free copy of this book for my library. R C Sproul has given us Truth in this book for children. Scripture verses are included for study with your children. I give this five stars.
“Charlie, let me make a suggestion. Every time you see the sun, the moon, or the stars, or light a candle, or turn on your night light, remember the story of the child the King of Light brought into the darkness of this world. And remember that He gave us this baby as a present. As long as you remember that, you will never, ever have to be afraid of the darkness again.” I am delighted to receive a free copy of this book for my library. R C Sproul has given us Truth in this book for children. Scripture verses are included for study with your children. I give this five stars.
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Review 2 for The Lightlings
Overall Rating:
Date:April 25, 2012
Kristin Wright
Quality:
4
out of
5
Value:
4
out of
5
Meets Expectations:
4
out of
5
This book appeals to my daughter's love of fantasy books while teaching solid, Biblical truths.
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Review 3 for The Lightlings
Overall Rating:
Great way to teach kids about salvation
Date:February 21, 2012
Quality:
5
out of
5
Value:
5
out of
5
Meets Expectations:
5
out of
5
People tend to understand life lessons in different ways. One way of learning is through stories. Jesus used this method often in His teaching; we call them the parables. Stories take the lesson itself and simplify it, making it easier to understand. R.C. Sproul takes the stories of Creation, the Fall of Man, and the Redemption of Christ and forms them into a unique story that children of all ages can understand.
Little Charlie Cobb was afraid of the dark. He had to have His night light on every night, just to be able to sleep. He wonders why he is so terrified. After all, what is there to be afraid of? His mother tells him to ask Grandpa the next day. Grandpa answers his question with a story.
He tells Charlie about a great king, the King of Light who created the lightlings. The lightlings loved living in the light the sun gave off. All too soon the lightlings began doing what they wanted instead of what the King wanted and they became afraid of the light. So they hid. The story goes on to explain the difficulties the lightlings had, living in the dark, until one day a new light shown, brighter than the sun. Some lightlings went to follow the new light, some chose to live in fear of it.
The pictures in this story make it come alive; they are so real you actually feel like you are right there with the lightlings. The author has also included a parent's guide with questions and scriptural references to help guide children into understanding the spiritual truths behind The Lightlings.
I will receive a free copy of this book as compensation for my honest review.
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Review 4 for The Lightlings
Overall Rating:
great Christian alternative to magic and fairies
Date:October 27, 2011
Value:
5
out of
5
Meets Expectations:
5
out of
5
Ever since my daughter inadvertently became fascinated with Tinker Bell and fairies, I have wished for a Christian alternative. There are Christian alternatives to so many other favorite secular characters and genres, but fairies? Not that I could find.
Enter The Lightlings. Wow! I loved this book from the get-go, when mother and child pray together at bedtime, which ultimately leads to addressing a fear of the dark. What ensues is a journey into a fanciful allegory where fairy-like beings, the lightlings, represent humanity from Creation through redemption. It's almost as if the entire Bible were summed up into one story book, and a beautiful story book at that!
Author R.C. Sproul's style is reminiscent of a time when children's stories were more simple and yet more enchanting, and certainly more inspiring, than what is so often found today. Justin Gerard's whimsical illustrations are the perfect compliment to this allegory, helping children to fully invest in the message.
As if I needed one more reason to fall in love with this book, The Lightlings ends with a series of discussion questions and Biblical references. Being blessed with a child who loves the Bible, I find this addition a wonderful way to further enhance the Lightlings experience!
This is the first I've heard of R.C. Sproul, but you can be sure I'll check out more of his children's books!
I received this ebook free from Reformation Trust Publishing for the purpose of providing my honest review. I was not required to give a positive review.
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Review 5 for The Lightlings
Overall Rating:
One of the best children's book we have read.
Date:October 17, 2011
Samuel
Location:Gulfport, MS
Age:35-44
Gender:male
Quality:
5
out of
5
Value:
5
out of
5
Meets Expectations:
5
out of
5
I would highly recommend this for your children. It is, by far, one of the best children's books we have read in a while.
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Review 6 for The Lightlings
Overall Rating:
Date:July 18, 2011
Share and Learn Together
Charlie Cobb, like most boys and girls, did not like the dark. So he asked his grandpa why he and so many other people are afraid of the dark. Grandpa answered his question with a story about the King of Light and His people called the lightlings. This allegorical story portrays the creation, fall, the incarnation of Christ and salvation through Him.
This is another great children's book by Sproul. I personally did not like the illustrations in this one as much as the Prince's Poison Cup, but the book is definitely one that will spark children's interest and encourage them to desire to know more about God especially when followed with the questions and verses at the end of the book.
(Reformation Trust Publishing provided me with a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest critique.)
This is another great children's book by Sproul. I personally did not like the illustrations in this one as much as the Prince's Poison Cup, but the book is definitely one that will spark children's interest and encourage them to desire to know more about God especially when followed with the questions and verses at the end of the book.
(Reformation Trust Publishing provided me with a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest critique.)
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Review 7 for The Lightlings
Overall Rating:
Tells "The Story" Beautifully
Date:May 28, 2011
Have you ever wondered why stories have such power to move us? Why children sit mesmerized when they hear a fairy tale, and why people inevitably share their own personal stories when they get together?
Stories move us because we are part of a bigger story, "The Story". As Christians, we know the beginning and the end of that story, and all its major plot turns and twists. We don't know exactly how our life story will fit into it, but we have faith that it will.
R.C. Sproul has the gift of storytelling, and has written several stories for children. In "The Lightlings", Sproul tells "The Story" by means of an allegory. He casts the world as peopled by lightlings, children of the King of Light. He depicts the fall, and their flight into darkness. He then paints a beautiful picture of a baby full of light, who is to be the Light of the World. This allegory is applied to children well by Sproul's setting it as a story told to a child wondering why he is afraid of the dark. The answer is a tale told by his grandfather, and then applied to the child's own circumstances at the end of the book.
The story is beautiful and has numerous points of contact with the true Biblical story of creation, fall and redemption. At the end of the book, several discussion questions are listed with Biblical verses in a "For Parents" section. These points don't exhaust the allegory but open it up to those who may be more unfamiliar with the Biblical metanarrative depicted in the tale.
The illustrations by Justin Gerard are stunning. He captures light well, which is necessary in illustrating this particular story. The pictures are attractive to kids of all ages, and imagining the lightlings as fairies helps the story compete with other children's tales that remain ever popular.
Christian parents must seek to get as many Christian resources as possible into the hands of our children. This book will provide opportunities to discuss the Gospel with children of all ages, particularly those in preschool and elementary school. An audio version of the book is available, as is an animatic DVD telling of the tale. And if you like this story, Sproul has other allegorical children's books available as well.
I wish more children's books today were like "The Lightlings". The power of the story is not as often used as it should in capturing the hearts of our children. I cannot recommend this book more highly. If you have children, it is definitely a must have tool for the Christian parent.
Disclaimer: This book was provided by Reformation Trust Publishing for review. The reviewer was under no obligation to offer a favorable review.
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Review 8 for The Lightlings
Overall Rating:
Buy It, Share it, and Teach it!
Date:February 28, 2011
Quality:
5
out of
5
Value:
5
out of
5
Meets Expectations:
5
out of
5
Summary
Charlie Cobb is afraid of the dark and is curious why. Charlie inquires of his mother as to why he fears darkness. Charlie’s mother tells him that his Grandpa is coming over for lunch and that he needed to ask him this question. As soon as Charlie’s Grandpa arrives he asks him about the origin of his fear. Grandpa responds to Charlie by telling him the story of the Lightlings. Grandpa explains, not all people are afraid of darkness, and that some people are afraid of the light. The story of the Lightlings is an allegorical tale which takes Charlie through redemptive history. The story tells of the origin of sin/ darkness and about a means of redemption from this darkness through putting one’s faith in the son, who is the King of light. Everything at one time was full of light, until one of the Lightling sinned against the source of light and as a result was kicked out of paradise. Darkness came about as a result of this rebellion. Those who formally loved the light now fear the light and flee from it, but the story does not end there. Grandpa then tells Charlie about how a son was born to offer salvation to those who would cling to him. Those who cling to the son, no longer need to fear the darkness, but delight in the fact that the light will/and has already overcome the darkness.
Review
The book is a great book for children! It is basic, has great pictures, and a clever allegory explaining redemption, and hopefully relieving a fear of darkness. The book explains many essential doctrines of the faith in understandable language for young kids. As a parent/student I appreciate theologians writing simple, yet solid material for children. Rc Sproul has mastered the ability to explain deep theological truths to all age groups. If you a looking for a book to read to your children, sunday school literature for young kids, a baby shower gift, or an upward gift (my church is currently doing upward basketball) for your players this would be a great choice. The book is relatively inexpensive and is a great tool for explaining the gospel on the bottom shelf to young children. Buy It, Share it, and Teach it!
Charlie Cobb is afraid of the dark and is curious why. Charlie inquires of his mother as to why he fears darkness. Charlie’s mother tells him that his Grandpa is coming over for lunch and that he needed to ask him this question. As soon as Charlie’s Grandpa arrives he asks him about the origin of his fear. Grandpa responds to Charlie by telling him the story of the Lightlings. Grandpa explains, not all people are afraid of darkness, and that some people are afraid of the light. The story of the Lightlings is an allegorical tale which takes Charlie through redemptive history. The story tells of the origin of sin/ darkness and about a means of redemption from this darkness through putting one’s faith in the son, who is the King of light. Everything at one time was full of light, until one of the Lightling sinned against the source of light and as a result was kicked out of paradise. Darkness came about as a result of this rebellion. Those who formally loved the light now fear the light and flee from it, but the story does not end there. Grandpa then tells Charlie about how a son was born to offer salvation to those who would cling to him. Those who cling to the son, no longer need to fear the darkness, but delight in the fact that the light will/and has already overcome the darkness.
Review
The book is a great book for children! It is basic, has great pictures, and a clever allegory explaining redemption, and hopefully relieving a fear of darkness. The book explains many essential doctrines of the faith in understandable language for young kids. As a parent/student I appreciate theologians writing simple, yet solid material for children. Rc Sproul has mastered the ability to explain deep theological truths to all age groups. If you a looking for a book to read to your children, sunday school literature for young kids, a baby shower gift, or an upward gift (my church is currently doing upward basketball) for your players this would be a great choice. The book is relatively inexpensive and is a great tool for explaining the gospel on the bottom shelf to young children. Buy It, Share it, and Teach it!
The Reformed Reader
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Review 9 for The Lightlings
Overall Rating:
Wonderful children's book!
Date:January 8, 2011
The Lightlings is another wonderful children's book by R. C. Sproul. Charlie asks his grandfather why he is afraid of the dark. His grandfather tells him a wonderful story about the lightlings (fairy-like creatures) who once lived with the King of Light. They sinned and ran from the king, causing them to live in the dark. Until one day the King of Light sent a baby as his gift to the lightlings. This precious story ties two familiar "stories" from the Bible together perfectly. I loved how the author pulls these stories together to teach about redemption in Christ. So many children's books simply tell one single story from the Bible and leave it separate from the bigger picture ... this book ties it all together. The illustrations are absolutely beautiful as well! I would highly recommend this book!
I received a free copy of this book from The Reformation Trust in exchange for my fair and honest review.
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Review 10 for The Lightlings
Overall Rating:
I LOVE THIS BOOK!!! LOVE R.C. SPROUL!
Date:January 5, 2011
Tiffany Hutton
Age:25-34
Gender:female
Quality:
5
out of
5
Value:
5
out of
5
Meets Expectations:
5
out of
5
I bought this book for my five year old son a few months ago, fell in love with it, and proceeded to buy it for my neices for Christmas. The story is so sweet and touching and true! And the artwork is beautiful. WE LOVED IT! R.C. Sproul is so talented and insightful in creating a story to demonstrate our Creator's love for us, and the love of our Savior Jesus Christ, in a way for kids to understand.
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Review 11 for The Lightlings
Overall Rating:
Short & Simple. Rich & Profound. Gospel Allegory!
Date:October 20, 2010
Bentley Crawford
Age:25-34
Gender:male
Quality:
4
out of
5
Value:
5
out of
5
Meets Expectations:
5
out of
5
I’ve enjoyed any book I’ve read by R.C. Sproul. I’ve often appreciated his ability to graciously and clearly teach complex or controversial subjects through his writings. This is the first book I’ve read by Sproul that is for children or that is fiction and I really enjoyed it for what it was. It is a very short story filled with great illustrations along the way. It is the story of a people called “The Lightlings.”
PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS
This is a nice wide-bodied book. It is also a very short book; easy to read and keep the attention of young children. It is full of illustrations and pictures for almost every page of text.
THE STORY
As the back of the back describes the “lightlings are a picture of humanity as they pass through all the stages of the biblical drama—creation, fall, and redemption” and may I add, consummation.
I liked how the story was set within the framework of a problem that almost all humans have encountered at one time or another; a problem that children will most certainly be familiar with. That problem is being afraid of the dark.
At the beginning of the book Charlie (the young child to whom this story is being told) asks his grandpa, “Grandpa, why am I afraid of the dark?” And so the stage is set as the Grandpa goes way back to the beginning and tells of how the Lightlings began as children of the great and fell into darkness. He then goes on to describe how the God of the light sent His Son into the darkness to save His children and bring His children back into the light and spend eternity with Him in His great light.
At the end of the book Sproul has some extremely helpful questions to go over with your children after finishing the book. They help to draw out all of the themes, events, and characters of the book and show the reality they were pointing to. He also gives Scriptures as helpful answers to these questions.
CONCLUSION
I loved the simplicity and profundity of this biblical illustration of light and darkness that Sproul used. It is a theme so simple and relatable that young children can begin to grasp it and yet profound enough to give the deepest thinkers something to ponder and be thankful for.
This seems like a great book to consider when choosing what books to get for your children to help teach them about the gospel and to help them not be afraid of the dark!
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Review 12 for The Lightlings
Overall Rating:
Date:May 1, 2010
thestewartsix
This story book is a well written allegory of creation, fall, and redemption. The Lightlings are fairy-type creatures (my only complaint; I'm not much on magical things). R. C. Sproul did a fantastic job relating to children these wonderful concepts. Highly recommended!
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Review 13 for The Lightlings
Overall Rating:
Date:January 4, 2008
Jackie Wilkinson
Great book. Ordered as a gift for 2 year olds because their unsaved parents will read the book to them. Great witnessing tool to explain Christ is the Light of the World.
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Review 14 for The Lightlings
Overall Rating:
Date:December 2, 2007
Sylvia Coss
Wow, talk about a beautifully illustrated book! This one is for my granddaughter who is 4.
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Review 15 for The Lightlings
Overall Rating:
Date:November 23, 2007
Julie
It's hard these days to find good Christian children's books, so I am pleased to recommend this book for your child's library. This is a wonderful story that communicates the fall and our need for a savior, while handling the common issue of being afraid of the dark. The lightlings are portrayed as faeries, which made them very appealing to my 4-year-old daughter, and she was quick to understand that the King of Light was God. The details in the illustrations help to convey the contrast between the light (inhabited by flowers and bunnies) and the dark (inhabited by thorns and spiders). I hope we will see more children's books from R.C.
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