Get to Know King David by Nancy I. Sanders (Book Review)
The Get to Know series by Nancy I. Sanders gives young readers a look into the world of various biblical figures. I just finished King David (Zondervan, 2014) and I would recommend it for any elementary student wanting to learn more about one of the most famous people in the Old Testament.
This is the second book I’ve gotten to review from the series, and I noticed some differences from the book on Mary, primarily because there is so much more information about David found in the Bible. Every part of David’s life is covered, from his days as a shepherd, through killing Goliath and his troubles with King Saul, all the way up to his plans for them temple that his son Solomon would eventually build.
Sanders starts out discussing the concept of a myth, explaining that some people have said Bible stories, such as those about David, are as mythical as the story of Hercules. The she shares archeological evidence that proves that David is actually a historical figure. She ends with a discussion of his connection to Christ, who wouldn’t be born until almost a thousand years later. Throughout the book there are beautiful full color paintings, maps, and photographs showing artifacts and places that help bring David’s world to life. My sons and I loved looking the photograph of the Valley of Elah, the place where David fought Goliath.
This book is a great resource for doing Bible study with our children. Everything in it is based on biblical and/or historical evidence, and it provides a wealth of information in a child-friendly manner. David’s life included some incidents that aren’t exactly G-rated (his affair with Bathsheba, and the drama with two of his sons surrounding the abuse of a sister), but these were covered in a very tasteful manner that I felt was very appropriate.
We have really enjoyed the books in the Get to Know series and look forward to reading more!
