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For Such a Time as This: Stories of Women from the Bible, Retold for Girls
From bestselling author Angie Smith comes her second children’s book, For Such a Time as This, a Bible storybook for girls that features 40 biblical retellings from prominent women in both the Old and New Testament. Illustrated once more by Breezy Brookshire, For Such A Time As This is the pair’s second children’s book together following the success of Audrey Bunny.
For Such a Time as This illuminates the stories from the perspective of prominent women of the Bible, including Eve, Sarah & Hagar, Esther, Mary Magdalene, Gomer, and more with vivid and historical accuracy. Girls aged 6 to 10 will enjoy learning about God through the recounts of the Bible’s heroines and stunning illustrations. Summaries at the end of each story highlight the attribute of God to be learned and offer thoughtful reflections for both parent and child to takeaway.
For Such a Time as This illuminates the stories from the perspective of prominent women of the Bible, including Eve, Sarah & Hagar, Esther, Mary Magdalene, Gomer, and more with vivid and historical accuracy. Girls aged 6 to 10 will enjoy learning about God through the recounts of the Bible’s heroines and stunning illustrations. Summaries at the end of each story highlight the attribute of God to be learned and offer thoughtful reflections for both parent and child to takeaway.
249 pages, Hardcover
First published October 1, 2014
18 people are currently reading
200 people want to read
About the author
Angie Smith
9 books299 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
This is Angie^^Smith, where ^=space.
About the Author
Smith is an author, blogger, wife (of Todd Smith, lead singer of the hit Christian contemporary group Selah) and speaker. Many people have connected with her through her transparent, warm, witty writing about the life experiences Smith writes about. Her training is in psychology (a Master’s degree from Vanderbilt University in Developmental Psychology), and her blog gives her the opportunity to combine her two greatest passions: helping to heal people’s hearts and writing. Her recent books include "What Women Fear: Walking in Faith That Transforms" (2011) and "I Will Carry You: The Sacred Dance of Grief and Joy" (2010).
This is Angie^^Smith, where ^=space.
About the Author
Smith is an author, blogger, wife (of Todd Smith, lead singer of the hit Christian contemporary group Selah) and speaker. Many people have connected with her through her transparent, warm, witty writing about the life experiences Smith writes about. Her training is in psychology (a Master’s degree from Vanderbilt University in Developmental Psychology), and her blog gives her the opportunity to combine her two greatest passions: helping to heal people’s hearts and writing. Her recent books include "What Women Fear: Walking in Faith That Transforms" (2011) and "I Will Carry You: The Sacred Dance of Grief and Joy" (2010).
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
April 5, 2020
Wondrous book, with beautifully retold and Scripture accurate stories of gentle and courageous or wicked and sly (there are very few presented here) women of the Bible. However, in each story we are shown one attribute of God, be it rightousness, gentleness, omnipotence, love or kindness which is explained in a short text after each story, accompanied by another text, a reflection for both parents and children (a virtue usually they can focus on, to work on), and a prayer for parents to pray over their daughters.
The stories are accompanied by beautiful colour and b/w illustrations by my Goodreads friend, Breezy Brookshire 🤗.
I cried and rejoiced and cried again after reading each story and I highly recommend it to all families.
The stories are accompanied by beautiful colour and b/w illustrations by my Goodreads friend, Breezy Brookshire 🤗.
I cried and rejoiced and cried again after reading each story and I highly recommend it to all families.
February 18, 2023
This book is amazing! So sweet and well-done. If you are considering getting this for a little girl in your life, do it! The illustrations by Breezy Brookshire are stunningly beautiful! Modest, detailed, and heartfelt. I appreciate the great amount of work that went into this book!
November 12, 2014
Young girls will be intrigued by the stories of famous, infamous, and obscure women of the bible as retold by Angie Smith in her new book For Such A Time as This. Famous women like Sarai, Rahab, Ruth, and Mary, the mother of Jesus, play key roles in the lineage of Christ. Infamous women like Delilah, Jezebel, and Herodias confirm that God’s plans cannot be thwarted. I particularly enjoyed the more obscure biblical characters like Abigail, the widow of Zarephath (1 Kings 17; 2 Kings 4), Gomer (Hosea), Anna, and Priscilla, because their lives are often overlooked by other children’s books, yet God saw fit to include them in scripture.
Each story is packed with a treasure trove of information, biblical truths, and life applications. Most importantly, they draw attention to the character of God. In light of this, the publisher recommends the book for children ages 6-10. In my opinion, some six year olds may lose interest either in the length of each story, or due to the weightiness of the message (it may be over their heads). On the other end of the spectrum, I would say that girls as old as 14 would enjoy this book. It would make a wonderful selection for older siblings to read to younger ones - both would benefit.
I would like to give a nod of appreciation Angie Smith for the way she has equipped parents to share these stories. My favorite detail was how she defined terms like: sovereign, covenant, omnipotent, transcendent, and righteous. These terms are repeated in a lot in Christian circles, aren’t always explained accurately to our children. Parents and children will connect deeper with the stories by completing the “He, Me, She” portions that follow each story.
“He” - describes an attribute or characteristic of God found in the story.
“Me” - is the life application portion that I alluded to before.
“She” - contains a scripture-based prayer that adults can pray over their daughter.
Lastly, beautiful pencil and watercolor sketches by Breezy Brookshire make the stories spring to life.
For Such a Time as This by Angie Smith is a treasure that would make a lovely gift, devotional, or keepsake for a special young girl in your life. I give it 5/5 stars.
**I received this book free as a member of the Family Christian Blogger program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Each story is packed with a treasure trove of information, biblical truths, and life applications. Most importantly, they draw attention to the character of God. In light of this, the publisher recommends the book for children ages 6-10. In my opinion, some six year olds may lose interest either in the length of each story, or due to the weightiness of the message (it may be over their heads). On the other end of the spectrum, I would say that girls as old as 14 would enjoy this book. It would make a wonderful selection for older siblings to read to younger ones - both would benefit.
I would like to give a nod of appreciation Angie Smith for the way she has equipped parents to share these stories. My favorite detail was how she defined terms like: sovereign, covenant, omnipotent, transcendent, and righteous. These terms are repeated in a lot in Christian circles, aren’t always explained accurately to our children. Parents and children will connect deeper with the stories by completing the “He, Me, She” portions that follow each story.
“He” - describes an attribute or characteristic of God found in the story.
“Me” - is the life application portion that I alluded to before.
“She” - contains a scripture-based prayer that adults can pray over their daughter.
Lastly, beautiful pencil and watercolor sketches by Breezy Brookshire make the stories spring to life.
For Such a Time as This by Angie Smith is a treasure that would make a lovely gift, devotional, or keepsake for a special young girl in your life. I give it 5/5 stars.
**I received this book free as a member of the Family Christian Blogger program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
December 22, 2016
Adelaide and I enjoyed reading this book together this year. For Such a Time as This is a great devotion book for a mother and daughter to share. Angie tells the stories of 40 different women from the Bible including Eve, Sarah, Rahab, Ruth, Esther, Gomer, Elizabeth, Mary, and Priscilla. Every page is beautifully illustrated by Breezy Brookshire. The Bible stories are well told, and there is an application section that is challenging for both moms and daughters alike. Each chapter ends with a prayer to pray for your daughter. If you are looking for a high-quality devotion book for a 6-10 year old girl, this is a good one!
December 17, 2015
This is absolutely the best devotional I have read for young girls. Perfect for the 6-10 range. Not cheesy! Beautiful illustrations, well-worded text. Just absolutely a fantastic book. I would happily trade in all the other little girl devotional books that we have and just keep this one. It's great. My 6-year-old loved it and I did too.
December 28, 2019
My first choice for a special girl devo time with my daughter once per week. It was a great choice. Biblical, explanatory (but not too much for adult topics like Rahab), engaging, beautiful artwork. I loved the application sections, not so much because I always would have chosen the same applications, but because the format is one my husband taught me long ago, especially pertaining to the OT stories: ask two questions--what does this teach me about God, and what does this teach me about me (or the nature of man)? Smith's applications followed the same format--"He" referring to a lesson about God, "Me" referring to a lesson for the girl from that story, and "She" in which the reader reads a written prayer aloud for her daughter [girl]. Overall, very well done--sometimes a little gushy or sentimental, and there were a few mechanical mistakes. I would recommend it for 6-9 year old girls.
August 10, 2022
Truly lovely. A wholly inspiring series of stories with such beautiful artwork. Geared towards mothers and daughters reading together, I loved this biblically-sound yet kid-friendly presentation of the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ and the women of His wonderful Word. The Lord has used it to breathe some courage, strength, and joy back into my world-weary heart. Well worth the read.
November 7, 2018
I enjoyed reading this book to my two young daughters. Each chapter features a woman in the Bible then there is a paragraph about God and another paragraph with an application and finally, a prayer.
The art is beautiful!
2018 A book of theology
The art is beautiful!
2018 A book of theology
November 28, 2023
I would have loved more pictures and the prayers didn't feel very accessible to my kids (ages 3-11). The language in the prayers just felt kind of Christianese to me. But we really liked this book besides those things.
October 22, 2023
I love reading this to my girls and praying the prayers over them. We’ve given this multiple times as a gift.
April 3, 2024
The way in which it is printed makes it unreadable and useless on my Kindle. Don't waste your money.
January 12, 2015
In For Such a Time as This, Angie Smith retells 40 different stories of women from the Bible in an accessible way for girls ages 6-10. We find the expected stories from both Old and New Testaments, women we consider heroines such as Esther, Ruth, Mary, and Lydia. Also presented are those we may not expect to find in a book about Biblical women, such as Delilah, Gomer, and Sapphira. Coupled with the lovely pencil and watercolor illustrations by Breezy Brookshire, this Bible storybook is a beautiful book for elementary aged girls.
I loved that the stories presented in this collection are not just the typical heroines of the Bible. I enjoy the stories of Ruth and Mary Magdalene, and their places in the Bible are both important and deserving of inclusion in a Bible storybook for girls. I appreciated the story of Rahab, how God redeemed her and went on to include her in Jesus’ genealogy. But I will admit that I was initially surprised to find Jezebel included in a book such as this. After reading that part of the book, however, I was thrilled that Angie Smith had also decided to share the stories of some of the Bible’s infamous women, too. She does not try to redeem who the Bible does not portray as a follower of God, but allows them to become cautionary tales for girls about how the choices they make effect every part of their lives.
Angie Smith does an excellent job of sharing the truth of Scripture in an age-appropriate manner. For example, in the case of Rahab, we read that the city of Jericho had become “infested with sin,” and that “Rahab made her living by lying and sinning,” rather than spelling out exactly what her sin was. As a parent, I appreciated that sometimes less description is a better choice, especially toward the younger end of the intended ages for this book.
The Gospel is entwined throughout the book, just as in the Bible itself. From the first stories out of Genesis through the final story of Priscilla, everything points back to Jesus. Some of the references are subtle, others are direct, but forgiveness, grace, and atonement are woven through the stories for girls. One of the most powerful instances of this occurs at the end of the retelling of the flood: the sound of driving nails into the ark to save Noah’s family points to the nails being driven into the wood of the cross for our salvation. “Thud. Thud. Thud.” So very simple, yet powerful.
This book is an excellent tool for parents to use with their children. At the end of each story is an application section. It gives a brief lesson on God related to the story, explaining some aspect of His character. The second portion gives the daughter something to think about in relation to her own life. A third paragraph guides parents in how to pray for their daughter with the story they have just read in mind. Finally, we learn a Greek or Hebrew word and are given a memory verse for that Bible story. I personally found the insights in these application sections to be deep and thoughtful, and while they perhaps impacted me more than my daughters at this point, I am hoping it will return to their thoughts when needed.
I would be remiss if I did not mention the stunning quality of the illustrations. Breezy Brookshire’s watercolors are gorgeous and add greatly to the emotional impact of the stories themselves. The feel is warm and gentle, and the mix of color and black and white pencil drawings lend a relaxed yet refined air to the book as a whole. It becomes an integral part of each story and I cannot imagine the book illustrated in any other way. At the end of the book, in a “behind the scenes” section, we are treated to more drawings that did not make it into the stories, as well as a few fascinating “in process” watercolors to give us an idea of the steps taken to create the illustrations.
This is an outstanding book--I would highly recommend it to anyone involved in a young girl’s life, be it a parent, grandparent, family friend, or church leader. While nothing can or should take the place of the Bible, this book will make excellent family devotional reading with built-in application at the end of the story, gorgeous illustrations to keep younger children engaged, and solid Biblical teaching to aid in understanding the saving message of the Bible itself.
This review originally appeared at The Christian Manifesto: http://thechristianmanifesto.com/arch...
I loved that the stories presented in this collection are not just the typical heroines of the Bible. I enjoy the stories of Ruth and Mary Magdalene, and their places in the Bible are both important and deserving of inclusion in a Bible storybook for girls. I appreciated the story of Rahab, how God redeemed her and went on to include her in Jesus’ genealogy. But I will admit that I was initially surprised to find Jezebel included in a book such as this. After reading that part of the book, however, I was thrilled that Angie Smith had also decided to share the stories of some of the Bible’s infamous women, too. She does not try to redeem who the Bible does not portray as a follower of God, but allows them to become cautionary tales for girls about how the choices they make effect every part of their lives.
Angie Smith does an excellent job of sharing the truth of Scripture in an age-appropriate manner. For example, in the case of Rahab, we read that the city of Jericho had become “infested with sin,” and that “Rahab made her living by lying and sinning,” rather than spelling out exactly what her sin was. As a parent, I appreciated that sometimes less description is a better choice, especially toward the younger end of the intended ages for this book.
The Gospel is entwined throughout the book, just as in the Bible itself. From the first stories out of Genesis through the final story of Priscilla, everything points back to Jesus. Some of the references are subtle, others are direct, but forgiveness, grace, and atonement are woven through the stories for girls. One of the most powerful instances of this occurs at the end of the retelling of the flood: the sound of driving nails into the ark to save Noah’s family points to the nails being driven into the wood of the cross for our salvation. “Thud. Thud. Thud.” So very simple, yet powerful.
This book is an excellent tool for parents to use with their children. At the end of each story is an application section. It gives a brief lesson on God related to the story, explaining some aspect of His character. The second portion gives the daughter something to think about in relation to her own life. A third paragraph guides parents in how to pray for their daughter with the story they have just read in mind. Finally, we learn a Greek or Hebrew word and are given a memory verse for that Bible story. I personally found the insights in these application sections to be deep and thoughtful, and while they perhaps impacted me more than my daughters at this point, I am hoping it will return to their thoughts when needed.
I would be remiss if I did not mention the stunning quality of the illustrations. Breezy Brookshire’s watercolors are gorgeous and add greatly to the emotional impact of the stories themselves. The feel is warm and gentle, and the mix of color and black and white pencil drawings lend a relaxed yet refined air to the book as a whole. It becomes an integral part of each story and I cannot imagine the book illustrated in any other way. At the end of the book, in a “behind the scenes” section, we are treated to more drawings that did not make it into the stories, as well as a few fascinating “in process” watercolors to give us an idea of the steps taken to create the illustrations.
This is an outstanding book--I would highly recommend it to anyone involved in a young girl’s life, be it a parent, grandparent, family friend, or church leader. While nothing can or should take the place of the Bible, this book will make excellent family devotional reading with built-in application at the end of the story, gorgeous illustrations to keep younger children engaged, and solid Biblical teaching to aid in understanding the saving message of the Bible itself.
This review originally appeared at The Christian Manifesto: http://thechristianmanifesto.com/arch...
March 16, 2017
When I first heard about this book, I was delighted. One of my favorite books growing up focused on women of the Bible, so this immediately appealed to me. Even better? I fell in love with Angie Smith's writing earlier this year and loved that she was going to be retelling stories of women from the Bible. I picked up a copy as soon as it was released, and I was not disappointed!
For Such a Time as This is illustrated by Breezy Brookshire, and her art is easily one of my absolute favorite parts of this children's Bible. The gorgeous sketches and watercolors are detailed, eye-catching and so gorgeous! There is a section at the back where Breezy talks about her research into the time period, and I loved the knowledge that she wanted the clothing and buildings to be accurate and realistic. I could spend hours just looking at the illustrations in this book!
As for the stories, I adored the way Angie brought them to life. I think this book is intended for slightly older girls (possibly 7+) because the stories are a bit longer and more detailed than in a traditional children's storybook Bible. Girls will meet some of the Bible's most famous women (Sarah, Esther, Ruth, Mary, etc.), as well as some lesser-known women (Anna, Priscilla, Herodias, etc.). I love taking another look at these women, especially through Angie's words. She's a natural storyteller, and this book reminded me of why I love her writing so much.
Angie writes in her opening Letter to Parents: "One of the joys of having a daughter is watching her uncover the exciting story God has written for her life. The more she knows about God's Word, the more likely she is to let its truths guide her decisions and shape her character." So, each woman's story ended with a "He, Me, She" section to help readers connect to them on a deeper level. And I loved that aspect! "He" focused on God and highlighted a facet of His character that was revealed in the story. "Me" focused on the reader and explained how the reader can incorporate the truth of each story into their daily lives. And "She" is written for parents - a Scripture-based prayer they can pray over their daughter. There was also a memory verse for each section, as well as a Hebrew or Greek vocabulary word.
Honestly, I just loved everything about this book! I could tell that Angie had prayed over every aspect of it - from the words she used retelling the stories to the way she wrapped each one up at the end. Add in the gorgeous illustrations, and I found a new favorite storybook Bible! I will hang on to mine for years to come, as well as gift this to so many people in my life.
For Such a Time as This is illustrated by Breezy Brookshire, and her art is easily one of my absolute favorite parts of this children's Bible. The gorgeous sketches and watercolors are detailed, eye-catching and so gorgeous! There is a section at the back where Breezy talks about her research into the time period, and I loved the knowledge that she wanted the clothing and buildings to be accurate and realistic. I could spend hours just looking at the illustrations in this book!
As for the stories, I adored the way Angie brought them to life. I think this book is intended for slightly older girls (possibly 7+) because the stories are a bit longer and more detailed than in a traditional children's storybook Bible. Girls will meet some of the Bible's most famous women (Sarah, Esther, Ruth, Mary, etc.), as well as some lesser-known women (Anna, Priscilla, Herodias, etc.). I love taking another look at these women, especially through Angie's words. She's a natural storyteller, and this book reminded me of why I love her writing so much.
Angie writes in her opening Letter to Parents: "One of the joys of having a daughter is watching her uncover the exciting story God has written for her life. The more she knows about God's Word, the more likely she is to let its truths guide her decisions and shape her character." So, each woman's story ended with a "He, Me, She" section to help readers connect to them on a deeper level. And I loved that aspect! "He" focused on God and highlighted a facet of His character that was revealed in the story. "Me" focused on the reader and explained how the reader can incorporate the truth of each story into their daily lives. And "She" is written for parents - a Scripture-based prayer they can pray over their daughter. There was also a memory verse for each section, as well as a Hebrew or Greek vocabulary word.
Honestly, I just loved everything about this book! I could tell that Angie had prayed over every aspect of it - from the words she used retelling the stories to the way she wrapped each one up at the end. Add in the gorgeous illustrations, and I found a new favorite storybook Bible! I will hang on to mine for years to come, as well as gift this to so many people in my life.
December 22, 2014
I loved, loved, LOVED Angie Smith's For Such A Time As This. I really did. What did I love about it? I loved the balance of text and illustration. The stories felt full, or, I suppose a better word might be rich. Some story books are so concise that all stories are made to fit on a two-page spread. The stories feel complete, whole. Each one just the right length. And the illustrations, well, I think I loved them!!! Breezy Brookshire's illustrations may be my favorite out of the story book bibles I've read the past few years. At first, I wasn't sure if I "liked" how some of the illustrations are done in black and white and some are in color. But. After reading and rereading, I think I like it just how it is.
What else did I love about For Such A Time As This? Well, I loved the format itself.
I loved, loved, loved the prayers!!! I love how Scriptural they are. I love how practical they are.
And did I mention I love, love, love the storytelling? Angie Smith is a gifted writer. She has a way with words. She pulls out the importance and significance from the passages, always helping readers see the big picture. It was just a joy and a delight to read her stories.
For Such A Time As This is perfect for mothers and daughters to read together. (Though dads and daughters could read as well!!!) The book is subtitled "Stories of Women from the Bible, Retold for Girls." But honestly, I think parents could read it/share it with sons and daughters.
What else did I love about For Such A Time As This? Well, I loved the format itself.
I loved, loved, loved the prayers!!! I love how Scriptural they are. I love how practical they are.
And did I mention I love, love, love the storytelling? Angie Smith is a gifted writer. She has a way with words. She pulls out the importance and significance from the passages, always helping readers see the big picture. It was just a joy and a delight to read her stories.
For Such A Time As This is perfect for mothers and daughters to read together. (Though dads and daughters could read as well!!!) The book is subtitled "Stories of Women from the Bible, Retold for Girls." But honestly, I think parents could read it/share it with sons and daughters.
November 3, 2017
The stories of forty women from the Bible, twenty from each Testament, are retold with a maximum of 5 pages attributed to each. At the end of each richly worded and imaginative retelling is fairly accurate explanation of where God is in this story.
This title excels at looking for God in everyday life, including prayer, biblical imagination and God's constant presence.
It glosses over matters of intimacy and violence. For instance, Sarah tells Abraham to "marry" Hagar, which was not the case. (Hagar was used as a temporary concubine for the sole purpose of reproduction but her position was not elevated - she continued on as a maid. Hence, the strife when she superseded her mistress through chilbearing yet continued in chores. Same as Bilah and Zilpah with Jacob.) It does leave out Tamar and Athalia, but it includes Hagar, Jael and Jezebel.
The content is solid and the illustrations are beautiful. I'd say any child from 5 to 14 would enjoy going through this with an adult. A 14 year old might be reluctant but the pictures and the point along with the woman focus would keep her engaged.
This title excels at looking for God in everyday life, including prayer, biblical imagination and God's constant presence.
It glosses over matters of intimacy and violence. For instance, Sarah tells Abraham to "marry" Hagar, which was not the case. (Hagar was used as a temporary concubine for the sole purpose of reproduction but her position was not elevated - she continued on as a maid. Hence, the strife when she superseded her mistress through chilbearing yet continued in chores. Same as Bilah and Zilpah with Jacob.) It does leave out Tamar and Athalia, but it includes Hagar, Jael and Jezebel.
The content is solid and the illustrations are beautiful. I'd say any child from 5 to 14 would enjoy going through this with an adult. A 14 year old might be reluctant but the pictures and the point along with the woman focus would keep her engaged.
April 18, 2023
terrific read with my daughter
February 7, 2017
LOVE the illustrations. (So detailed and expressive!) LOVE that they don't show Jesus' face. LOVE many of the convicting applications at the end of each woman's story! LOVE the behind the scenes. The writing is enjoyable even for adults like me, but not too hard for children, either. The main thing I didn't really like is that some of the quotes and/or feelings of Bible characters are added in, though it is quite carefully done. (I expect that in fiction books, but not so much in a devotional.) Also, it is geared toward Christian children, which may not be a bad thing, but has to be expected and read with care for the unsaved.
June 22, 2016
I think this book was really well written. it made the female characters in The Bible seem more real, like I could relate to them better.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews