Roar Like a Lion (Book Review)

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This is my first blog tour with JustReads and I am so glad I had the opportunity to read and review Roar Like a Lion, by Levi Lusko. Lusko is a name I had frequently heard on K-LOVE, but I was unfamiliar with his work, prior to this reading. Having read Roar Like a Lion, I can say that the Lord really used his (and Fortner’s) writing to speak to me. I think it’s definitely a great work that can be useful for an audience spanning a variety of ages 🙂

Bet You Can’t Read Just One

I often begin mentally drafting my reviews before I actually finish reading, and the phrase that kept running through my head for this book was a variation on the Lay’s® slogan, “Bet you can’t eat just one.” In this case, “Bet you can’t read just one.”

While I often make a point to intersperse nonfiction in with my fiction readings (since I gravitate much more strongly towards fiction), in this case, I found myself skipping the fiction to read just one (or three) more of the devotional sections.

The writing is truly engaging, for children and adults alike. Although the devotional is clearly geared towards kids (it’s not written as a “family” devotion), with emphasis on childhood experiences, the messages are just as applicable to adults.

The devotionals are at once fresh and relevant and timeless, bringing biblical truths to light by using examples that make sense, today. This certainly contextualizes the Scriptures for readers of all ages.

I didn’t read many devotionals as a child, but this is one that I would have enjoyed. My biggest concern is readers’ ability to limit themselves to just one devotion a day. In all seriousness, this is absolutely a book I’d recommend, even for adults who are willing to read with a childlike perspective.

Organization

Each devotional includes a charming illustration by Tama Fortner, a key Bible verse, several paragraphs of explanation/application and a prayer. The daily devotionals also feature one of two sidebars: “Get Ready to Roar” (signified by a roaring lion illustration) and “Did You Know?” (signified by a drawing of an elephant). The roar sidebars offer specific suggestions for application (such as ). The elephant sidebars, which I really enjoyed, included tidbits of science or history. I learned, for example, that a lion’s roar is 20 times louder than a lawnmower!

Also interspersed throughout the book is a hidden object challenge, featuring anchors, the subject of an object lesson.

Layout / Graphic Design

This book is absolutely gorgeous, one of the prettiest I have ever owned. To be honest, the book’s physical appearance strongly ignited my interest, from the time I received it in the mail.

The cover depicts a roaring lion with a majestic mane, surrounded by bright green foliage. Each page includes brightly-colored illustrations, with scenes from the Bible, history and anecdotes. From a closed-book vantage point, the edges of the pages are also brightly colored, because each page has a pretty, geometric pattern framing the content.

Overall, there is just so much color, making for an engaging and eye-catching reading experience.

Recommendation

Highly recommended for children (ages 7-14) and for those who are young at heart!