Callapidder Days

5 Minutes for Books is holding their monthly Kids’ Picks carnival today, in which we are invited to share the books that have recently captured our children’s interests. Since I had so much fun interviewing C. back in November, I thought I’d do it again. In the past six months or so, he’s read a couple Christian biographies from the Christian Heroes: Then & Now series, and seemed to really enjoy them. Let’s listen peek in on his interview and learn a little more.

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Thank you for joining us here at Callapidder Days today, C.. We appreciate you taking the time to tell us about some books that you recently enjoyed.  I was thinking, in particular, about the Christian biographies . Would you tell us which biographies you’ve read?

One about Brother Andrew, and one about Corrie Ten Boom. The Brother Andrew one is called God’s Secret Agent and the Corrie Ten Boom one is called Keeper of the Angels’ Den.

They sound intriguing. Overall, what did you think about those books?

They were very good books. They were exciting and interesting to read.

I see. Would you please tell us a little bit about Brother Andrew?

Brother Andrew was a missionary in Communist Europe and later into China and other Asian Communist countries. He distributed Bibles and told people about Jesus.

Why do you think the book was called “God’s Secret Agent”?

Because he tried to do those things in secret. The Communist leaders and security-checkers at country borders could get him in big trouble for distributing Bibles and talking about Jesus.

Ah, yes, that makes sense. Is there one particular incident from the book that was very memorable?

The time when he was caught (I think in Czechoslovakia) and was told not to come back, but then later he did come back to complete his job. He went back because God was calling him to do this work and Brother Andrew wouldn’t let the government get in the way of God’s plan.

Sounds like an inspiring book.  Now, what about Corrie Ten Boom? Who was she and what did she do?

She was a Dutch woman who helped Jews and kept Jews in her house during World War II. She was arrested and sent to a prison and later to a concentration camp, and then an even worse concentration camp. She endured much pain for God.

Wow. Why do you think she would do that?

Because she wanted to help the Jews from their persecution from Hitler’s men, and thought that’s what God would want her to do.

Why was her book called “Keeper of the Angels’ Den”?

She had a secret room in the Beje (her house, pronounced bay-yay) where guests could hide in case of an inspection by German soldiers, and it was called the angels’ den.

A secret room? That sounds really neat. Was there a particular incident from Corrie’s life that really stood out to you?

Probably when she was released from Ravensbrück [concentration camp], how much she probably would have been relieved to be out of that horrid place.

They both sound like very good books. Now, some people might think that non-fiction books can be boring. Do you think the two books we’ve talked about were boring?

No, not at all. Brother Andrew and Corrie Ten Boom had very interesting lives.

What age do you think these biographies would be good for?

Probably they would not be good for kids under 8, because very difficult and tragic things happen that would not suit younger kids very well. But for anyone around 8 or 9 and up, they are good books.

Would you be interested in reading more biographies from this series?

Yes. They’re well-written. The ones on Clarence Jones and C.S. Lewis sound interesting.

Thank you C.. I’m so glad you enjoyed those books, and that you were willing to share your thoughts with us.

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To find out what other kids are reading, click over to 5 Minutes for Books.