An elegantly illustrated collection of ten favorite Bible stories retold from the point of view of the women involved.

Even if you have a fondness for the classic Disney movies, there is something about the aggressive pink-and-purple princess marketing machine that is off-putting, to say the least. And yes, I know that there are modern Disney heroines who have real moxie and spunk. But it's also fair to say that young girls deserve a more diverse range of female role models than the ones you'll find dancing through most animated movies.

That's why Women of the Bible by Margaret McAllister (illustrated by Alida Massari) is such a gem. It's a picture book for older readers (7-11 says the press release, though younger kids could enjoy it with their parents), and it's a great way to get ten fascinating historical women into your child's imaginative life.

One thing I love about this book is the range of women represented. There are the expected figures, like Rachel and Ruth and Mary, but the book also features Mother Noah and the wife of Pilate and Lydia from Acts of the Apostles. The book moves chronologically through the women, telling each lady's story in a short, first-person narrative. These stories are detailed and imaginative, fleshing out the ones in the Bible. Mary's story, for example, is told through a description of five special objects she keeps in a box: a feather dropped by a dove right after the Annunciation, a stone she picked up on the journey to Bethlehem, a fleece offered by the shepherds, among others. This creativity makes even the most well-known of the stories feel fresh and engaging. (They are moving in places, too; the chapter told by Miriam, the sister of Moses, made me tear up a bit.)

And the illustrations? Well, they are truly gorgeous. They have a vaguely folk art feel about them, which suits the subject matter, but they are also wonderfully detailed and pretty to look at. Each woman has character and beauty and dignity. If your daughter is used to princess stories, these pictures will capture her imagination while providing a good break from pink ballgowns and tiaras.

In fact, while the subject matter makes me think of girls (and I can think of one niece of mine who will be receiving this as a gift!), this is a book that boys can learn a lot from, too. I intend to share it with my older son as I think it's always good for boys to read stories about strong women. Even I, a forty-year-old woman, thoroughly enjoyed this book and loved having a chance to ponder the lives of these women more deeply. It's an all-round winner, and a very welcome addition to the family bookshelf.-Ginny Kubitz Moyer, Random Acts of Momness

http://randomactsofmomness.com/tired-of-princess-stories-try-women-of-the-bible/
Most traditional Bible stories focus on the men who followed Jesus. This book highlights ten women who played equally important roles in the Bible story and biblical history. They were often linked with the men who were closest to Jesus. The beautifully muted color illustrations appear throughout the text and add a pleasing dimension to the women's stories. The tem women recreate Bible events by telling their personal stories. Some of the women are familiar figures; others are less well known. All of the women share memories of events that focus on the life of Jesus. Young girls in early grades will especially enjoy these tales of Noah's wife, Rachel, Miriam, Ruth, Mary of Nazareth, Martha and Mary, the Canaanite women, Pilate's wife, Mary of Magdala, and Lydia. Ages 6-9. -Annette B. Thibodeaux, Catholic Library World

A great addition to your Sacred Story shelves: This book features the personal accounts of ten women of the Bible: Noah's wife, Rachel, Miriam, Ruth, Mary of Nazareth, The Canaanite Woman, Lady Prcula, the Wife of Pilate, Mary Madalene, and Lydia. This beautifully illustrated book tells each of their stories from the first-person point of view. We recommend placing this book on the bottom shelf of your Sacred Story shelves either in the Old or New Testament section. When a child asks, "Why don't we have more stories about women (or girls) in our room?" you can point them to this book.
-The Rev. Cheryl V. Minor, Ph.D.
Co-Rector, All Saints' Church, Belmont, MA
Director of the Center for the Theology of Childhood
The Godly Play Foundation

About the Author
Margaret McAllister grew up in the northeast of England and has enjoyed success with leading publishers as a writer of historical and fantasy fiction. The first of her Mistmantle Chronicles, Urchin of the Riding Stars, was shortlisted for the Ottaker's Children's Book prize.

About the Illustrator
Alida Massari's beautiful illustrations have won her many awards. She was born in Rome, where she grew up surrounded by art, and studied Illustration at the European In