Amazing Grace” is a brilliant book about believing in yourself and going for your dreams no matter what race or gender you are and this book will definitely be an inspirational story for children who want to go for their dreams. I would recommend this book to children ages four and up since there is nothing inappropriate in this book. Due to its immense popularity and iconic nature, the meaning behind the words of "Amazing Grace" has become as individual as the singer or listener. [95] Bruce Hindmarsh suggests that the secular popularity of "Amazing Grace" is due to the absence of any mention of God in the lyrics until the fourth verse (by Excell's version, the fourth verse begins "When we've been there ten thousand years"), and that the song represents the ability of humanity to transform itself instead of a transformation taking place at the hands of God. "Grace", however, had a clearer meaning to John Newton, as he used the word to represent God or the power of God. [96]

A Choice Selection of Hymns and Spiritual Songs for the use of the Baptist Church and all lovers of song #405 Movie Comment. I first learned of Wilberforce by watching movie Amazing Grace. The movie cannot do justice to world-history-changing events nor even to the people involved in the struggle. And nothing about civil rights activities taken by inner group of Wilberforce along with many others in India, Sierra Leone, Haiti or about how Napoleon upon leaving Elba capitulated and emancipated the slaves almost immediately as ploy to deflect English anger.Newton wrote the words from personal experience; he grew up without any particular religious conviction, but his life's path was formed by a variety of twists and coincidences that were often put into motion by others' reactions to what they took as his recalcitrant insubordination. He was pressed into service with the Royal Navy, and after leaving the service, he became involved in the Atlantic slave trade. In 1748, a violent storm battered his vessel off the coast of County Donegal, Ireland, so severely that he called out to God for mercy. While this moment marked his spiritual conversion, he continued slave trading until 1754 or 1755, when he ended his seafaring altogether. Newton began studying Christian theology and later became an abolitionist. With the support of her family, Grace learns that she can be anything she wants to be, and the results are amazing! Amazing Grace" is an icon in American culture that has been used for a variety of secular purposes and marketing campaigns. It is referenced in the 2006 film Amazing Grace, which highlights Newton's influence on the leading British abolitionist William Wilberforce, [86] in the film biography of Newton, Newton's Grace, [87] and the 2014 film Freedom which tells the story of Newton's composition of the hymn. Amazing Grace is about a little girl who loves stories, especially from her Nana. She loves to act out the characters in the stories. At school, her class will be performing Peter Pan, Grace wants the lead role. Some of Grace’s classmates don’t think that she can have the role because of her skin color and her gender. Grab a copy to find out what happens and enjoy the incredible artwork and story that is, Amazing Grace

Amazing Grace, really is an amazing story. Mary Hoffman, is able to take real life issues and put them into story form drawing the reader in creating a story showing the harsh realities of life are still present for everyone, even the most hopeful people. This story allows the reader to connect to the character Grace in one way or another, allowing us to hurt as she does and cheer for her as the theme of the book is revealed, and reaffirmed.Metaxas has a fun writing style, including a great sense of humor. When it was almost a fad to be reading his biography of Bonhoeffer, I decided I wasn't that interested, but after having listened to the audio version of his biography of Wilberforce, I'm considering looking into the Bonhoeffer bio as well. Some songs that could be paired with this hymn in a worship service are “Grace Unmeasured” by Sovereign Grace Ministries, “Your Grace Is Enough” by Chris Tomlin, “When I think about the Lord” by Hillsong United, and so many more songs that speak about Christ’s redemptive work in us. Phipps, William (Summer 1990). " 'Amazing Grace' in the hymnwriter's life", Anglican Theological Review, 72 (3), pp. 306–313.

Watson, J. R. (ed.)(2002). An Annotated Anthology of Hymns, Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-826973-0 This is a very powerful book, but you can't have any preconceived expectations about it and you have to let it come together without being frustrated. It is certainly not going to connect with every reader but it certainly did with me. With the message that forgiveness and redemption are possible regardless of sins committed and that the soul can be delivered from despair through the mercy of God, "Amazing Grace" is one of the most recognisable songs in the English-speaking world. American historian Gilbert Chase writes that it is "without a doubt the most famous of all the folk hymns" [1] and Jonathan Aitken, a Newton biographer, estimates that the song is performed about 10million times annually. [2] This lush historical novel commences in 1501 in Florence and imagines the life of the model for Michelangelo’s statue of David, breathing life into the art and politics of this iconic work. The Continue reading »I can not give you a generalized view of all that this book covers, the information it contains and the story it tells. Well that and a recommendation. Martin, Bernard and Spurrell, Mark, (eds.)(1962). The Journal of a Slave Trader (John Newton), The Epworth Press, London. Amazing Grace' by Mary Hoffman, tells the story of a girl called Grace who has a vivid imagination and loves to recreate famous roles and include her family in the fun. When the school auditions for the role of Peter Pan, Grace decides she wants to try out; despite the prejudices of her classmates, Grace's talents shine through. 'Amazing Grace' explores issues of sexism and racism in a child friendly way in situations that children can relate to. As with most debut authors, this author too throws in everything plus the kitchen sink into her book. There are way too many themes, and most of them aren’t really necessary for the main storyline. They just end up diluting the main point of the book, which is that of a mother desperately wanting to connect with her teenaged daughter again.

What finally leads Grace to decide to try out for Peter Pan, even though her classmates teased her about it? Talk with your child about what this says about Grace’s character. Mary Hoffman is a bestselling British author and reviewer, born in 1945. She is a true enthusiast of Italy and spends a lot of her time there, which shows in her Stravaganza novels: a series currently in publication. In total, she has written over 80 books, including the aforementioned Stravaganza series and the bestselling picture book, Amazing Grace. Mary is also the editor of a review magazine Armadillo for kids. Ask your child why Nana might have taken Grace to see the ballet, Romeo and Juliet. What effect does this experience have on Grace? How do you think this moves the story forward? Watts had previously written a hymn named "Alas! And Did My Saviour Bleed" that contained the lines "Amazing pity! Grace unknown!/ And love beyond degree!". Philip Doddridge, another well-known hymn writer, wrote another in 1755 titled "The Humiliation and Exaltation of God's Israel" that began "Amazing grace of God on high!" and included other similar wording to Newton's verses. Newton biographer Jonathan Aitken states that Watts had inspired most of Newton's compositions. (Turner, pp. 82–83.)(Aitken, pp. 28–29.)The illustrations in this picture book are stunning. The artist Carol Birch has produced beautiful and realistically detailed watercolours. They are very expressive, authentic and true to life. The glimpsed spontaneous moments we have of these characters are full of life and emotion. Carol Birch's work on Amazing Grace was shortlisted for the Kate Greenaway Medal in 1992. Small for his age, Hue Boy takes a lot of ribbing from his classmates, and he's himself more than a little concerned about his size. He does his best to speed the growing process--eating all the good Continue reading » Stripped of his rank, whipped in public, and subjected to the abuses directed to prisoners and other press-ganged men in the Navy, he demonstrated insolence and rebellion during his service for the next few months, remarking that the only reason he did not murder the captain or commit suicide was because he did not want Polly to think badly of him. (Martin [1950], pp. 41–47.)