Car Park Parables Review
Newest release and entry to CALEB 2011:
The Missing Motorcycle
THE MISSING MOTORCYCLE
Paul Clark
Even Before Publishing
For the second time in as many weeks Muscles the Motorcycle was missing from the group as the cars and trucks gathered in the car park of the little church at West-Brooke. They were waiting to hear Old Mr. T begin this week’s car park parable. They were agog with excitement as Old Mr. T began: ‘There was once a man who owned one hundred rent-a-cars...’
At the end they all knew that the story was about Muscles and during the next week they took care to watch for him. You really have to buy the book to see what happens next.
The Missing Motorcycle is Paul Clark’s latest book in the Car Park Parable Series and is a perfect book for pre-schoolers and early primary – especially little boys – to learn the Gospel message in language and ways that are meaningful to them. The Missing Motorcycle would make a great little gift to a ‘good boy’ just because he has been a good boy.
I scored it 9.5/10 but my 4 year old grandson gave it 11/10!! DS
The missing motorcycle by Paul Clark. Even Before Publishing, 2011 pb 32p $6.95
From the same ‘garage’ as The Strange Car and The Prodigal Ute comes this parable about Muscles the motor cycle. When he fails to arrive at the carpark, his absence is excused as a scrub adventure or the need for solitude. But when his vehicular friends continue to worry, Mr T unfolds a tale about a rent-a-car agent who owns 100 cars and discovers that one of them is missing. The tale tugs the heart strings and a search is organized to locate Muscles the motorbike. This retelling of the lost sheep parable is bound to resonate with city kids, especially boys. The author effectively creates the tension of the search and the empathy of the reunion. NS, ACLA
The Strange Car and The Prodigal Ute short-listed in the children's section of CALEB 2010.
CAR PARK PARABLES: THE STRANGE CAR
Paul Clark
Illus. Graham Preston
Wombat Books
Paul Clark once again captures in delightful child-like ways the essence of the Gospel message in The Strange Car. As usual the cars are lined up waiting for their Sunday message. Wise old Mr. T speaks to them in words that parallel the words of Jesus. The Strange Car from Car Park Parables is an excellent tool for entertaining as well as teaching young children. The story is enhanced by the illustrations that are bright, colourful and appealing.
DS
CAR PARK PARABLES: THE PRODIGAL UTE
Paul Clark
Illus. Graham Preston
Wombat Books
The Prodigal Ute as you can imagine is based on Jesus’ parable of the Prodigal Son. Again Paul Clark shares with young children the message of the Bible in concepts and words that they understand and love - through cars! And the illustrations enhance and reinforce the message. The Car Park Parables act like a breath of fresh air to the Christian understanding of young children. They might even strengthen the faith of the parents who read to them.
DS
CAR PARK PARABLES
Paul Clark
Wombat Books
A wonderful accompaniment to the DVD, these little books contain individual stories based on the parables of Jesus. They are illustrated with drawings by Graham Preston, and come in an easy to carry paperback size.
I used two of them recently with a group of children to teach voice expression, and they really enjoyed making up different voices for the characters. Of course there are the other advantages of books, such as being able to stop and ask questions about the story and not needing access to a DVD player.
Here is a modern setting to many familiar Bible stories which will make the stories fresh. As well as the attraction of the cars for boys (or female car lovers), children will relate easily to the conflicts between the cars. There are also some female cars, and the girls in my group of children were not at all concerned about the books being based on cars.
These books are a great resource for any Christian children’s group, and especially suited for younger children. Collect your series now!
AC
OLD MR T AND FRIENDS
Paul Clark
Paul Clark has taken some well-known parables of Jesus, and adapted them to scenarios involving road vehicles on this fun DVD. Set in the church car park, Old Mr T helps his friends solve their arguments.
The stories captured my children’s attention (ages 5 – 11). We listened to one each evening, and two the last night by popular demand. The static displays used for illustration lose very little effect for their lack of movement, which is compensated by the intricate detail taken in the models. Unfortunately the volume fades out a little at intervals, but we fixed this problem by turning up the TV main volume a little higher than usual. Gordon Burley has a wonderful story telling voice for Old Mr T, and all the cars have their own distinct personalities. Paul Clark himself does the narration, and it is refreshing to hear the Australian accents coming through.
There are books available which use the same illustrations as the DVD. The copyright on the DVD covers home, education or worship purposes. Might be a fun alternative Bible reading? Though the characters and situations have been changed, the essential story lines are quite accurate to scripture. If you want to give children a fun and memorable Bible story time, this DVD is for you!
AC
CAR PARK PARABLES: THE STRANGE CAR
Paul Clark
Wombat Books
It is a common sight today to see children playing with a collection of toy cars in a sandpit or on a play mat. Paul Clark draws together a varied collection of vehicles who gather in the church car park to listen to stories. While waiting for the day’s story, they make fun of a new arrival Lin-Su an electric car. But Mr T challenges them with the story of Zach, an unusual black car with a rear motor and a tax collector as its owner. Zach wants to see the famous visitor Jesus and is forced to drive to a high vantage point. While the cars laugh at Zach, Jesus kindly accepts him. The rest of the cars are forced to change their opinions of him and of Lin-Su. This is not only original take on a well known Bible story, but one that begs to be re-enacted with the reader’s car collection. Colouring pages and teaching notes, to assist with delving deeper into the stories’ messages, are available at www.carparkparables.com/index.html . ACLA
CAR PARK PARABLES: THE STRANGE CAR
Paul Clark
Illus. G. Preston
Even Before Publishing
The cars have trouble accepting the new arrival until they hear the story of Zach, the parking inspector’s car. This is the story of Zaccheus’s encounter with Jesus retold as a parable, with cars as the main characters. WN
Car Park Parables are available online from one of our sponsors. Or at your local Christian bookstore. Buy it today and support your local Christian bookstore. For a list of Aussie bookstores check out the Christian Booksellers of Australia Association.