Author DeVern Fromke
Publisher MASTER PRESS
ISBN 0-936595-08-6
Strictly speaking DeVern Fromke is not the author of this book nor of several others I want to mention, he is the compiler of the stories and anecdotes that make up the main content of these many chapters.
This particular book is subtitled “Stories to read and discuss at the Family Circle” and there is a companion volume “Seeing God’s Purpose in Everything.” Along with these there are two volumes of stories particularly compiled by Fromke and these are intended for children. “A Hive of Busy Bees” and “Another Hive of Bees” are their titles. The purpose of these books with their stories and the comments that DeVern adds is to build character in both young children and youth.
They are ‘old fashioned’ stories and there are no great color illustrations to attract, it is the simple homeliness of the narratives and the relevance of the spiritual and moral truths that are brought out that make these books valuable. Even the idea of ‘the family circle’ is something foreign to many Christian households; people are just too busy to take ten minutes at the end of a mealtime. Instead of parents sitting with their young family and teaching them and using aids like this to do so, they prefer to choose a church with a ‘great children’s and youth program’ to do the job for them. Change can start somewhere and where better than obtaining books like this and bringing in the disciplines and the joys of sitting after a meal and reading a little and praying with your ‘little flock!’
There are those who are so committed to encouraging the continuing use of these books (they first appeared at least thirty years ago), that they are making them available by the carton at a very low price.
www.master-press.com should take you to the link for the Florida Depot, 3342 SW Hosanah Ln, Okeechibee, Fl 34974-2299 or the Indiana Depot, RR 2, Box 43, Shoals, IN 47581-9664.
Remember, don’t expect some ‘cool’ books or booklets, just solid and helpful pages that will instruct both parents and children and in some cases, the stories will bring parents up with a jolt as their content and value speaks deeply to their hearts.
