A mysterious stranger has arrived in Castlebridge Iowa and he has found cousins Max and Celia. What does he want, what adventures does he bring? This mysterious stranger has brought the ultimate prize for Max and Celia to win, but what will they have to do in order to win?

The Ark of Time Book #1 is a great adventure read for boys and girls alike. Throughout this 75-page book, Max and Celia time travel to visit history, and more specifically, scenes from the bible. After helping with Baby Moses, they find out from the mysterious visitor that they have been given the chance to go on a treasure hunt, through time and through the bible.

Ray Ray, my 8-year-old, enjoyed reading this first book in the series. He was always asking to read this instead of his school reading because it was “more fun to read.” He wanted to know more and more.  The end of the book is a cliff hanger that leaves you wanting to keep reading.

Scott didn’t just leave us with a story, he added in a Learn More section at the end of the book. This is a great way for kids to learn more about the bible stories within the book. He gives the bible verse and goes on to explain the story in simple words for the kids to understand. Now we have a book and a great way to talk about the bible all in one!

We are looking forward to reading the second book in this series! If you have a reluctant reader and want to get them reading a great adventure book, or a new reader wanting something exciting to read, you will want to check out this book!

-Product review by Amanda Hopkins, The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine, LLC, November, 2016

Another Reviewer’s Perspective:

The Ark of Time: The Mysterious Visitor, Book 1 is a 70-page paperback, chapter book. It is also available as a Kindle download. The paperback costs $5.99 while the Kindle edition is $2.99.

Max and Celia are stuck folding bulletins at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Castlebidge, Iowa. This is not how they intended to spend their spring break! When Max took a break from the bulletins and snuck into the church’s sanctuary, he was met by an old man with a British accent.

The man gave Max a strange looking pendant. He also offered to take a skeptical Max on a treasure hunt; in fact, he called it the greatest treasure hunt of all. This treasure hunt involves traveling thousands of years back in history to see Noah’s ark in person.

Later, when Celia finds Max in the sanctuary he seems confused and keeps telling her about the British guy who took him on the treasure hunt. The treasure which even involved time travel. Celia is quite skeptical until the man returns and takes the two of them to ancient Egypt to witness the story of baby Moses.

The book ends with Max and Celia preparing for their next adventure in time travel.

I would consider The Ark of Time: The Mysterious Visitor, Book 1 a great resource elementary students. The writing style, print size and chapter length work well for those children who are reading early chapter book. It is apparent that the author, Scott Strosahl seeks to illustrate how the stories in the Bible lead up to the greatest treasure hunt of all, that of finding Christ.

The Ark of Time Club (www.arkoftime.club) also offers games that correspond to Book 1 of the series.

-Product review by Jennifer Allen, The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine, LLC, January, 2017