HOME SCHOOL BOOK REVIEW
Book: The Adventures of Jesus Illustrated: He Lived Among Us
Author: Pierre Thivollier
Illustrator: Noel Gloessner
Publisher: Campus Crusade for Christ, republished in 2005
ISBN-13: 9781563992483
ISBN-10: 1563992485
Related website: www.gospelcomics.com
Language level: 1 (nothing objectionable)
Reading level: Probably ages 9-15
Rating: 4 stars (GOOD)
Reviewed by Wayne S. Walker
For more information e-mail homeschoolbookreview@gmail.com
Thivollier, Pierre. The Adventures of Jesus Illustrated: He Lived Among Us (published in 1989 by Gospel Comics, 156 Hillsdale Ave. East, Toronto, ON M4S 1T5, Canada). This book, with illustrations by artist Noel Gloessner, was originally written in French, but has been translated into 27 different languages. I do not know the date of its original publication or who translated it into English, but the copyright was obtained in 1989 by retired Dutch sea captain Warmolt Houwing, now a Toronto, Canada, based evangelist, who makes it available for mass distribution. It is a comic book presentation of the life of Christ, beginning from the preaching of John the Baptist through Jesus’s ascension, with some Biblical text from the New International Version (unfortunately, not the most accurate) on most pages, followed by scripture readings that consist of the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7), James chapters 1-4, 1 Peter chapters 1-4, 1 Corinthians 15, and the parable of the prodigal son.
Personally, I am not fond of the comic book approach (I have seen some homeschool history curricula which use it), but there are perhaps many whom this would be the only way to reach. I found it to be exceptionally accurate in its portrayal of Bible events, and even where a few details for the sake of color were added, I saw nothing that actually does any violence to the scriptures. There were a few times when the author seemed to go a bit overboard as he tried to be ingenious in working in flashback material, such as Christ remembering His temptation when the disciples were arguing among themselves about who was greatest in the kingdom of heaven. A few events appear out of place, but it is always a problem in trying to arrange a harmony of the gospels to know exactly where to place some events in relation to others. I did find it a little difficult on some pages to follow the action, but then I am not geared to reading comic books. There is one page that includes a version of “the sinner’s prayer.” All in all, this is not a bad presentation.
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I wish I could know about the illustrator of this book, Sir Noel Gloessner. I am a fine arts student with the specialization in illustratin. The illustrations in the book are fascinating truly.
Thank you :)
I thank God for the production of the book. I was opportune to buy a copy from a bookshop in Nigeria and I took it home. My grandchildren loved it and one day they took it to church and their peers also enjoy it. Please can we get copies?
Secondly, I will like to volunteer to translate it to Yoruba my mother tongue and if possible have permission to produce it here. I am a retired Anglican Priest, a Venerable. It is meant for evangelism among the children. God bless your ministry in Jesus name.
Ven. Olumide Ajagbe +234 8033822771 jilogart@gmail.com