Sunday, October 7, 2012

Augustine of Hippo

by Simonetta Carr 
66 pages, 2009
reviewed by Adolph Dykstra

This is a book I would have liked to have had when our offspring were youngsters! Its 66 pages are interesting and easily read in about forty minutes, but it is not hard to spend a lot more time with this book because of the many fine illustrations and photos that take up about half of its pages.

The publisher’s blurb on the back cover claims that, “outside of people in the Bible, Augustine of Hippo is the most influential person in church history.” That’s debatable, but his influence in explaining the Bible’s teachings was remarkable. “Yet how many people know his story? Author Simonetta Carr introduces young readers to the life and ministry of Augustine, sharing with readers Augustine’s personal struggles and the high value he came to place on the Bible and truth. Reader will also see the difficult days in which Augustine lived, and learn about his disputes with false teachers and about the turbulent times during the fall of the Roman Empire.”

That sums up the book very nicely. Along the way, we learn about Augustine’s Confessions and his twenty-volume The City of God, all of which are still readily available today. We get a clear understanding of why the teachings of Pelagius were false. We discover many more interesting facts about the culture and history of the Roman Empire.

This is a very readable book for the ages 7-12, but can also serve as an excellent resource for parents and teachers. Recommended without reservations.

You can pick up a copy at Amazon.com here and Amazon.ca here.

RELATED REVIEWS: Other children's biographies by Simonetta Carr

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