Showdown with the Shepherd

The Imagination Station #5

by Marianne Hering, Brock D. Eastman

The key to adventure lies within your imagination! Cousins Patrick and Beth go to the Holy Land in the tenth century BC. Their goal is to get back the ring Hugh stole and return him to 1450s England where he belongs. But troubles await them as soon as they step out of the Imagination Station. First they meet an angry bear and later an angry giant. Set against the backdrop of the David and Goliath story, the cousins learn that having a giant faith is more important than having a giant on your side.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Childrens, Christian, Christian Fiction, Fiction, Chapter Books, Adventure

47 pages, ebook

First published October 1, 2011

About the author

Marianne Hering is a prolific writer, having written hundreds of articles and a number of books for children and parents. For nine years she worked for several magazines in Focus on the Family’s periodicals department and became the editor of Clubhouse, a Focus on the Family children’s magazine with a circulation of more than 100,000.

As a book developer for Focus on the Family, she and coauthor / creative director Paul McCusker launched the Adventures in Odyssey book series The Imagination Station in 2010. Currently the series includes 19 books, with two more contracted for 2017 release. Paul bowed out of his role in 2015 to pursue other creative avenues. The combined sales are more than 450,000.

Currently Marianne is a freelance writer taking assignments. She and her husband live in Colorado with their twin sons.

Reviews

[Samuel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good, good, good, I think it was pretty good. I highly recommend this series but I also highly recommend reading the books before it first this is one of the first ones I've ever read and I was soooooo confused! =P

[Natalya's Reading Corner · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this series as a kid and really loved them!! 3 stars.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm reading this series to my kids and they like it.

[Jordyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Finally finished this one too! There was one part that made me overthink but other than that this was a really cute story. I don't know if I'll read all the other books or just pick and choose but I guess I'll just go with the flow.

[Faith · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Biblical adventure in the Imagination Station.


Patrick and Beth are on a mission to find the ring stolen by Hugh and return him to his proper time. When they step out of the Imagination Station Beth and Patrick are flung into a full blown adventure!


I think that this particular novel in the series was especially cool because Beth and Patrick traveled back to Bible times, during the time when David faced the giant. What I love about these books is that they are so children friendly with big print and managable words, that are easy for young readers to understand. But not only that, they contain historic facts interwoven with the storyline, plus a great lesson about courage and faith.


There's plenty of action in these short books, so don't let the size fool you. These books are perfect for kids who are just starting to read on their own, that age when it's hard to find a book that will engage and is at the appropriate reading level.


Overall a series that I highly recommend to children to read on their own or to have their parents read to them :)


No review required.

[Wil · Rating 5 out of 5]

its about david in the bible

[Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the fifth in a fun and adventurous historical fiction series of beginning Christian chapter books for children. It continues the journey of Patrick and Beth, cousins who begin the book in biblical times just a short while before David defeats Goliath. They’re trying to stop the villain Hugh, who had traveled in time from medieval England ahead of them. There are a few black and white illustrations throughout the book. We look forward to reading book six in this series!

[Hettie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my favorite so far.
Based around a average well know bible story it give just enough of a different perspective to be really investing.
It is probably the most obviously Christian book in the series so far but I really like that about it.

[Starr · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[the_bookish_took · Rating 3 out of 5]

My favorite in the series so far.

[GheenGirls · Rating 5 out of 5]

Turtle just re-read this series at her own request. She said: great! Return to library.

[Erica-Nate Gosser-Marrero · Rating 4 out of 5]

My son enjoyed reading this book, as a read aloud. I know it is at an approximate reading level of 2nd grade but the sentences were super choppy and not flowy when reading aloud. 3.5 stars.

[Lilly Jordan · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is one of my favorites in the series

[Brenten Gilbert · Rating 3 out of 5]

To be perfectly honest, this is what I expected when I heard about these Imagination Station books. A novelized version of Superbook or The Flying House. (Google those, if you need to.) Essentially, time travel, but to places and events from the Bible. I’m fine with that and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with this installment, but I’m kind of glad that more of history is covered by the series. I guess it kind of lends more credulity to the books and the Bible.

Now, the gist of the book. Beth and Patrick find themselves on yet another quest and this time, they’re chasing a moving target. The Imagination Station drops them off in the world of a shepherd boy named David and there is no shortage of adventure. Bear attacks, secret missions, and more action than you can sling a rock at, Showdown with a Shepherd is another solid addition to the growing catalog of this young reader’s series.

Another quick read and enjoyable story for younger readers and fans of Magic Tree House or Secrets of Droon books who are looking for (or at least don't mind) a Christian twist.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Difficult to pull off a Biblical story, but overall not bad

I'd give this book 3.5 stars if I could, but I can't. It's not necessarily that this book is worse than the others in the series (solid average of 4 stars) but that it feels ... different when you're messing with the Bible. I think it's tasteful overall, but this one was a stretch for me, whereas I could usually accept the other adventures without issue. 




Overall, I still recommend this book for early elementary aged children.




Word of warning: this book does not do well as a stand alone, it is a part of a story arch that begins with book one and carries on at least another book.

[Celena Janton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This 5th book in the Imagination Station series is a bit different as it's based on a bible story (the others, so far, weren't). It follows the adventure of Beth and Patrick as they continue to uncover the mystery of the Imagination Station, Albert, Hugh, Lord Darkthorn, and the stolen treasures. This book is written at a 2nd grade reading level, but even I was captured with the story! Definitely a page turner that keeps you hooked and makes you want to read more about the real historical figures between its pages.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Showdown with the Shepherd, Patrick and Beth travel to Israel to find a stolen ring in order to take it back to England in 1450. While looking for the ring, they encounter dangers involving Goliath and a bear. As they see the story of David and Goliath unfold, they learn about trusting God even when it seems like failure is sure. This is a great book for young readers and not only does it have adventure that will appeal to kids, but it also has great Christian truths and historical facts incorporated into the story.

[Kris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once again the eight year old cousins are off on an adventure, this time to ancient Israel where they bump into David just before he goes to the camp that Goliath is taunting. Unfortunately an evil knight from England has gone ahead and is trying to change history by showing the Philistines how to build a catapult. Can Patrick and Beth stop him and get him back to England? This one might be a little confusing for young children but entertaining for the slightly older one with the addition to the story of David and Goliath. I loved how David’s older brothers were portrayed.

[Louise Pearson · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this exciting story about David and Goliath, the cousins, Patrick and Beth, meet David who saved them with his slingshot from being eaten by a bear. They go with David to the war camp where they meet King Saul and hear David volunteer to fight the giant Goliath. Who is kidnapped when Hugh shows up at King Saul’s tent with a message from the Philistines? What had Hugh made that would enable the Philistines to win? What did Patrick do to prevent that?

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Showdown With the Shepherd is the fifth book of the Imagination Station series. This time Patrick and Beth get to meet the young shepherd boy, David. They get to live through the Biblical story involving their new friend, David and Goliath. They, also, had another meeting with troublemaker, Hugh. He just doesn’t give up.
I liked this book. It was enjoyable to “meet” David.
5 stars

[Cathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

My 4th grader picked out this book as a favorite one of the series for me to read. It's a quick read. I think the 4th grader liked "living into" a known Bible story. This one is David and Goliath, and that part of the story stays pretty true to the Biblical version. The parts about chasing Hugh and about the catapult, of course, is not in the Bible.

[Joy Strickland · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was another great story in the Imagination Station books. It was really neat how they had written about David & his brothers. Once again, Hugh is causing trouble and Patrick and Beth are trying to capture Mr. Whittaker's ring from him.

[Aaron Gannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sam says: I like when they kill Goliath and when Hugh gets away and they call for him when he got out of the Imagination Station

Amelia says: I like when Beth plays her harmonica and when they save her from the Philistine camp. I like when they pretend to be a bear and Patrick ties the knot.

[Tristan · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a very good book because it tell parts of the Bible.

[Liz · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book takes place during the battle between David & Goliath. It encourages people to trust in God, but the sub-plot is the focus.