Age 12-16. 5 Stars. In this poem Jesus, on his way to be crucified in Jerusalem, visits the innkeeper and hears his account of the Nativity. His story goes on, however, to dramatically describe Herod’s Slaughter of the Innocents (Matthew 2:16-18), in which the innkeeper lost his entire family and his right arm…. Piper draws together the stories of a joy-filled family, a terrible evil, and the great hope that Jesus’ life, death and resurrection bring to all who suffer under the reign of death and evil. Because of the violent content of the story, it may be better suited to teenagers than younger children.

Age 04-08. 3 Stars. This is an adequately-illustrated collection of classic poems and prayers, some of them traditional, others by authors such as Christina Rossetti, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and Robert Browning. It is included in several homeschooling curriculums and may be best used for repeated reading and memorization exercises. Unlike nursery rhymes, these poems are serious rather than funny, and it may take a committed parent to help young children appreciate them. As a basic introduction to classic poetry it is pretty good, but is by no means essential.