Review of Amazing Animals by Design

In February, I received a free copy of the ebook version of Amazing Animals by Design by fellow Crewmate Debra Haagen in exchange for my review.  This book aims to fill a gap that Debra noticed when teaching her own children about creation and intelligent design.  When she couldn't find a satisfactory explanation for why and how animals are the way they are, she wrote the book on it!

The book follows two children on their journey through a zoo.  The children learn the answers to such intriguing questions as why elephants have trunks and why zebras have stripes.  While I knew the answers to these questions, I did not know why a caracal (the animal pictured below) could jump up twelve feet in the air backward! Sorry, I can't tell you! You'll have to read the book for the answer to that question!

The premise of the book, told through a 24 page storybook, is that God created each animal in a special way so that it could do what it needed to do to survive - a theory often called Intelligent Design.  The pictures are beautiful and the story is sweet.  For very young children whose parents want a concise explanation of animals and their design, this book is a good place to start.

While my children liked the book, I think at 7,8, and 10 they were too old for it.  Also, because I teach my children evolution, the answers to the questions were a bit simplistic.  A word about my view on Creation: I absolutely believe that God created the universe and everything in it.  I also believe, though, that it is beyond the capacity of our human minds to understand how God accomplished his creation.  Whether it took a gradual 4.6 billion years, or a literal seven days does not matter: the important thing is that God created all of it.  I am completely aware that many Protestant denominations firmly believe in a young Earth.  The Catholic Church, however, does not speak specifically on a young or old Earth.  All Catholics are required only to believe that which I stated above - that God created all.  I actually think that evolution is further evidence of God's amazing majesty.

So, even though the book was too young for my children, that doesn't mean that it wouldn't be a wonderful jumping-off point for other families who want or need to have the Intelligent Design conversation with their children.  It really is a charming story!

Amazing Animals by Design is available in ebook form for $7.99 or as a paperback for $8.99.  You can join Debra's FB page for the book here.  You can purchase the book here.  This is just my humble opinion...for others, visit the Crew blog.