Some reading for the Easter break

New Books

• A big black scary monster with no name lives in the dark forest. So does a little white mouse and this charming story tells how the tiny mouse learns how to deal with the perceived threat of the big monster. Phillida Smith's words are well-matched by Ann Kearon's drawings which capture both the dread of the unknown and the light and colour of the happy ending. An attractive A4 format with large print makes it a good book for bedtime stories for younger readers.

• Another book from the author of Eyes Delight: six paintings and their theological meanings. Again the author starts with a painting of an aspect of Jesus' life and mulls over his personal interpretation of what the painting is saying. The paintings are by a range of artists — among them Dali, Caravaggio, Vermeer and Patrick Hockey — and the author attempts to reconstruct the events and his understanding of Jesus from his own viewpoint as a Christian and a historian. Challenging, and at times bold, this is nevertheless a faith-filled examination of Jesus and his life.

• Christian singer-songwriter Richard Beeston writes a very honest account of a young husband trying to help his young wife through a frightening time of deep depression. Well-meaning friends and family had very mixed reactions, but Richard and Alison's experience of 'the Black Dog' could change the way Christians think about depression and suffering that affects Christians as much as anyone else.

• Listed on the cover are Tim Costello, John Yeo, Justin Langer, Joyce Harmer, Andrew Scipione, John Gilmour, Aaron Baddeley, Carolyn Stedman, Leigh Hatcher, Cameron & Rachel Watt, Jim Wallace and Bruce Robinson — all Australians with stirring stories of endurance and how their faith has moulded their lives. A good book to share with a non-Christian.

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