The Prince’s Poison Cup – R. C. Sproul

©2008 Reformation Trust Publishing, Lake Mary, FL

R. C. Sproul, Bible teacher, prolific author, and founder of Ligonier Ministries, has turned his hand to children’s books on several occasions. And I must say that I was pleased with his 2006 story The Lightlings which allegorized the Christmas story. So when I had an opportunity to examine this new children’s story by Sproul I was expecting great things.

As with the previous children’s book I read from Sproul, he teamed up with artist Justin Gerard to create an ornamental, keepsake book for parents to read with their children and then pass on as veritable heirlooms for their grandchildren, and their grandchildren beyond. The artwork in The Prince’s Poison Cup, while relatively nice, is not consistently spectacular as readers encountered in The Lightlings.

Sproul also takes the approach of a story within a story to retell the message of salvation. Ella Ruth’s grandfather comes to visit while she is ill. She wants to know why medicine has to taste so bad if it is good for you. The story that Grandpa relates tells of a great King who provides a cure for the ailment of the people of his kingdom by sending his son, the Prince, to drink deadly poison.

The allegory bears a striking resemblance to the story of the fall of mankind found in the book of Genesis. In the story, instead of a forbidden tree, the reader finds a forbidden fountain. A place from which the King’s subjects are forbidden to drink or something terrible will happen. The King, known as the King of Life because he had the ability to create things, loved his people (who he created) very much, but he knew that they would one day disobey him and drink from the fountain. They are tempted into doing just that by the King’s archenemy—a dark figure whose appearance into the story brings with it a sense of foreboding.

The Prince’s Poison Cup is a good way to broach the subject of sin and God’s plan to forgive sin. The author includes a parent’s guide in the back of the book for just this purpose. The allegory is pleasing and starts out well, but breaks down during the reading. There are “friends” who travel with the Prince until he becomes disheartened and then they drift away. The friends are not explained and if their purpose is to show the utter aloneness with which the Prince faces his task, they lack luster to do so. The same message could have been painted without the introduction of these friends. The question that the Bible student in me wants to ask is, “Are they angels or the disciples?”

The surrounding story is rather inadequate in this case as well. The conclusion that medicine tastes bad because some things are bitter, and then multiplying the bitterness to remind us of the price that was paid for the people, is a stretch. Grandpa doesn’t seem to address Ella’s question in this book. To keep the audience from missing the main point of the book (which has little really to do with how bad medicine tastes) we hear Ella say, “I know of another Prince who died for his people.”

My advice to the general public is that you will have a hard time enjoying this book. For members of the church community, this book will be a good reinforcement of what you are teaching your children at home. I give The Prince’s Poison Cup three reading glasses.

—Benjamin Potter, September 30, 2008

The Lightlings – R.C. Sproul

© 2006 Reformation Trust, Lake Mary, FL

Here we have two of my favorites rolled into one—stories about Christmas, and stories for children. R.C. Sproul—pastor, teacher, founder of Ligonier Ministries, and radio/tv personality from Renewing Your Mind—has penned a pleasant little allegory that speaks to children. He teams up with artist Justin Gerard to present this book for children dealing with fear of the dark.

I’ll start with the artwork. The images are beautiful and inspiring to the young mind. Imaginations will run wild when your children are paging through this book. The book is worth your money and your time for the pictures alone.

In terms of literature, the book begins with almost too much detail before the story begins. We are introduced to Charlie Cobb who is afraid of the dark. Even with the specific details into his nightly bedtime routine, we fall in love with Charlie, and want to comfort him. But like his mom, we feel much better leaving the answers to tough questions like “why am I afraid of the dark?” to Grandpa (who conveniently will be over tomorrow for dinner).

Grandpa’s story, told to a Charlie snuggled into Grandpa’s lap, is one that tells of the history of a beautiful people who turned away from their maker and lost their inner “light”. People familiar with biblical stories will see the stories of creation, the Fall, and the birth of Jesus all wrapped up in a short readable tale. It is heartwarming and helps Charlie deal with his fear of the dark even offering advice on how to overcome that fear in the future. While the book isn’t strictly a Christmas book, it would be a great read during the holiday season because it explains not only the coming of the Son of God, but why He came in the first place.

Like many children’s books, this one is less written on the child’s level for reading than written as a “read to me” book. It provides great time for parents or grandparents to read with their little loved ones. The book includes some learning questions after the story to help guide discussion about issues addressed. Sproul also includes Bible verses to help parents in their discussion of the questions.

The Lightlings is an excellent tool to use not only in answering questions about fear of the dark, but also to aid in giving word pictures to help children to understand God and salvation as well. The beautiful pictures, the heartwarming story, and the prospect of spending special time with the little ones makes this a book that should be sought after by parents and grandparents alike. It has made me want to search for Sproul’s other children’s books – The King without a Shadow and The Priest with Dirty Clothes. I can’t help but give The Lightlings 5 reading glasses—for the kids.

—Benjamin Potter, March 3, 2008