The Day Time Began


Children - Christian
34 Pages
Reviewed on 09/24/2024
Buy on Amazon

This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Free Book Program, which is open to all readers and is completely free. The author will provide you with a free copy of their book in exchange for an honest review. You and the author will discuss what sites you will post your review to and what kind of copy of the book you would like to receive (eBook, PDF, Word, paperback, etc.). To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email.

This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Review Exchange Program, which is open to all authors and is completely free. Simply put, you agree to provide an honest review an author's book in exchange for the author doing the same for you. What sites your reviews are posted on (B&N, Amazon, etc.) and whether you send digital (eBook, PDF, Word, etc.) or hard copies of your books to each other for review is up to you. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email, and be sure to describe your book or include a link to your Readers' Favorite review page or Amazon page.

This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Donation Program, which was created to help nonprofit and charitable organizations (schools, libraries, convalescent homes, soldier donation programs, etc.) by providing them with free books and to help authors garner more exposure for their work. This author is willing to donate free copies of their book in exchange for reviews (if circumstances allow) and the knowledge that their book is being read and enjoyed. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email. Be sure to tell the author who you are, what organization you are with, how many books you need, how they will be used, and the number of reviews, if any, you would be able to provide.

Author Biography

ME’s Full on-line Pro-Bio for The Day Time Began:
Mary Ellen Roberson is making her children’s book debut with her picture book, The Day Time Began – a rhymed retelling of the story of creation found in Genesis 1. She earned her BA in English and Theology from Spring Hill College in Mobile, Alabama, and is recently retired from 30 years of home-educating her five children. Teaching her children to write fueled Mary Ellen’s long-held desire to one day write children’s books of her own. Now, working up a story is among her favorite activities. However, making meaningful memories with family and friends and going on adventures with her husband and grown-up children still tops the list. Mary Ellen also loves creating and teaching interactive Bible lessons for pre-school through 2nd graders to encourage them to want to know and follow God. For over 35 years, she and her husband have worked together in the AWANA Bible Club program, teaching children and youth about God and the power of His Word. And Mary Ellen and her family all love animals — rescuing, caring for, training, and cuddling them. From her life experiences as a mother, teacher, and animal lover, Mary Ellen is excited to be devoting part of her retirement to capturing these stories in picture and chapter books for children and their parents to enjoy. Mary Ellen and her husband have lived in Lake Linganore, MD, for 32 of the 42 years they’ve been married. Visit Mary Ellen at maryellenroberson.com

    Book Review

Reviewed by Carol Thompson for Readers' Favorite

The Day Time Began by Mary Ellen Roberson is a unique and engaging retelling of the creation story from the Book of Genesis. It stands out with its rhythmic, rhymed stanzas that bring the story of God’s creation to life in a memorable way. It offers a vibrant and delightful read for preschool through second-grade children. The lyrical narrative is easy to follow, making it a perfect read-aloud for parents and teachers. Children will love the poetic flow, which breaks down the days of creation in a simple way. The book captures the essence of the biblical creation account and infuses it with a sense of awe and wonder that will resonate with young readers.

Joanna Garcia’s illustrations are a standout feature, bringing over 160 animals to life on the pages. The realistic yet playful art encourages kids to explore the pages and identify all that God made. What impressed me most about the illustrations is how they look three-dimensional; each page is like looking through a View-Master—they come to life in a way that’s hard to explain. The Day Time Began is a valuable teaching tool for homeschoolers, Sunday School teachers, and Bible Club leaders. Mary Ellen Roberson and Joanna Garcia capture the grandeur of God's creation in a way that will excite children to learn more. I enjoyed trying to find and name all the animals, and it’s an excellent activity for kids to learn about nature and wildlife and how they came to be.

Pikasho Deka

Teach your children the story of creation with this illuminating picture book. Mary Ellen Roberson presents The Day Time Began, which recounts a tale older than time itself when God chose to create the universe and all it encompasses. Using lyrical storytelling, Roberson takes readers through each day of the first week of creation. On the first day, God brought light to the universe, and with each passing day, He included the oceans, mountains, deserts, flowers, and trees. On the fourth day, God created the sun, the moon, and the stars. Over the next couple of days, He introduced various animals into the world, including fish, birds, and all the land animals. At last, He created a man and a woman, the two best creations in God's plan, and He sat back to observe and enjoy his work on the seventh day.

Drawing from scriptures, Mary Ellen Roberson has written a fun-filled children's tale that retells the story of creation in a way young readers can understand and enjoy. The Day Time Began shows the glory of God's creation and His love for all His children in this world. The book is filled with colorful illustrations of various animals, birds, and even human beings drawn with meticulous attention to detail. Illustrator Joanna Garcia's artwork is simply spectacular. The storytelling is also enhanced by Roberson's lyrical prose, which brings a song-like quality to the narrative. This is one of the best ways to introduce children to the story of creation. Although primarily written for Christians, I think other readers will also find a lot to love about this book. I enjoyed it very much, and recommend it to children and their parents alike!

Philip Van Heusen

The Day Time Began by Mary Ellen Roberson is a beautiful children’s picture book that explores the miracle of creation based on Genesis 1. After dedicating the book to the Lord God, Creator, Mary Ellen looks at each day and explains the highlights of creation so children can understand. The greatest and most important part of creation was the creation of a man and a woman from which the human race came. Mary Ellen shows how each part of creation was just right and prepared the way for the creation of humankind. God cared so much for the man and woman that He wanted the world perfect for them. This is one of the best-illustrated books on creation for children I have ever seen. If this had existed forty years ago when my children were young, I would have ensured they had a copy to read.

Mary Ellen Roberson brings the creation story to life in The Day Time Began. A retired educator, Mary Ellen knows how to write to keep a child’s attention. This book is faithful to the Bible’s creation story and a wonderful introduction to children of how God brought this world, everything in it, including time, into being. Joanna Garcia masterfully illustrated this book in vibrant colors that will give your child pleasure as they name all the various animals in the book. Another theme parents can discuss with their children is that God created humankind as the pinnacle of creation and wants to have a relationship with them. Spend time with your children discussing this book and all the ramifications of accepting God’s miracle of creation as the truth concerning how the world came into existence.

Courtnee Turner Hoyle

In The Day Time Began by Mary Ellen Roberson, the author condenses the story of creation in the Bible into a book that young listeners and readers can better understand. The narrative follows God as he speaks the universe and Earth into existence. In the text, children read about the Lord's daily accomplishments and see the people, landforms, water, animals, and celestial bodies in the pictures, giving them a view of what the Earth may have looked like as God was creating it. Roberson shows when time began and everything that followed from that moment through the next seven days. Certain words, like God, are capitalized to place particular emphasis on them.

Mary Ellen Roberson breaks down each day of creation into simple terms so children can grasp what they need to know about creation. Reading this book to children from an early age will help them comprehend the true wonder of God's abilities and the dedication he poured into his tasks each day. Joanna Garcia provides gorgeous, almost illuminated designs that will draw young readers' eyes to the cover and every page of the book. She even included dinosaurs! I read the book to four of my young children, and the pictures captivated even my four-year-old. Best of all, every child had questions as we read, sparking more religious discussions. Caregivers who hope to provide their children with a timeless story of creation and the beauty of God's work will benefit from reading The Day Time Began to their children.

Diana Lopez

The Bible is one of the most influential texts in the history of mankind. Its teachings allow children to reflect on life, good and bad. Mary Ellen Roberson gives us that approach through The Day Time Began. The story is based on Genesis 1, which tells of the world's creation in seven days. Through melodious verses, we appreciate how God created light and separated it from darkness. Then, we follow the different creations: the sky, the earth, the sun, the moon, and the stars. The latter shine at night and allow us to mark the seasons and the passage of time. Finally, the appearance of all forms of life is described until the divine design is completed.

The Day Time Began is a charming book. The illustrations stand out in their level of detail, full of life, and with a great variety of animals. It is surprising how many creatures are on each page, perfectly balanced and with a remarkable depth effect. Young readers will be able to develop an appreciation for nature and its diverse life forms. Mary Ellen Roberson presents the Genesis story in a captivating way, using a lyrical style. It is ideal for children to understand the creation process with easy-to-read sentences. She also faithfully respects the original content, using language and tone appropriate for her audience. The Day Time Began is an excellent tool to foster a love of reading and God's teachings, helping children begin to build a personal relationship with the divine.