Ages 4-12This is a book that Fifi spotted at the checkout of our local Christian homeschool bookstore. What a great find! I'm so blessed that Fifi has the presence of mind to recognize a blessing when it's right in front of me, but I'm too frazzled to see it myself.
This book unapologetically promotes the conviction that purity is important; that those who profess Christ are to be chaste until that day when you covenant with your spouse. And it supports the courtship model, though isn't crystal clear about that until almost the end.
Mrs. Bishop has girls. It's very clear in the little details of this royal-themed tale. In it, the God-gifted "first kiss" of the Princess is bestowed at birth, protected by her parents during childhood and then entrusted to the Princess when she comes of age. While she is assured that the "kiss" (represented as a ball of light kept under glass) is her's to keep or give away as she chooses, she is counseled by the King and Queen to hold it dear, award it only to her future husband and not squander it to a stranger.
Then a procession of prospective suitors visits with the Princess. Each represents one of the knee-buckling, swoon-worthy, fleshly temptations of intrigue and desire that blind so many women as they make the most important decision of their lives, that lasts them for the rest of their lives. When the "right" one comes along, he first humbly seeks the permission of the King and Queen to meet their Princess -- I like that. It's biblical. We see that model exercised in the marriage of Isaac and Rebekah, and then Jacob to Rachel -- parents' permission before the bride-to-be's right of refusal.
This book is beautifully illustrated, full of virtue, wise in counsel and clever in its delivery toward understanding amongst even the youngest girls. I look forward to purchasing some of Bishop's other titles.
I give this book a grade of "A."
3 comments:
You don't know me, but I happened upon your blog through a friend (or two). I had read this review a week or two ago and thought the book would be a good read for my daughter, age 8. Well, in the midst of it all, I forgot to write it down and kind of forgot about it unti I was at work the other night - I work(ed) in a bookstore. I happend to be scanning in the children's religious section for books to be sent back and had one beep at me. I picked it up to put on the cart and noticed the title "The Princess and the Kiss". I remembered reading the review so I grabbed the other one that hadn't been scanned yet so I could put it aside to buy later. I read through it on my break and I am so glad I was able to find it. It has come at a good time, as earlier that day my daughter came home saying "A fourth grader loves me" and really threw me for a loop. I think this book will really help her, and I thank you so much for writing a review of it. Otherwise, I probably just would have scanned both books and sent them back without ever knowing what it was.
Thank you!
Praise the Lord! And God bless you and your dear girl...
This is a great book! Every year my parents give Tiffany a book for Christmas, and this one she got a few years ago. She's gotten some other princess ones with the same theme of purity, that we enjoy. I will have to find them and send you the titles.
We love reading aloud as a family also. Although my kids (being that there are 3 boys!) for whatever reason prefer daddy to read aloud. Although they don't mind it when I do it too, of course. And for whatever reason, the themes of the books we read, seem to have a bit more action!! I guess that's because there are 3 boys instead of girls.
I look forward to trying out some of these books you've mentioned. Can you find them online from the library too?
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