The Prince's Poison Cup

The Prince’s Poison Cup written by R.C. Sproul and published by Reformation Trust Publishing, and is one of the children’s titles currently offered under this publisher. Dr. Sproul is world renowned for works on Reformed Theology and Apologetics aimed at adults but The Prince’s Poison Cup is uniquely aimed at conveying the truths of scripture to very young children. The Prince’s Poison Cup has two major strengths: the story and the illustration. With regard to the story, The Prince’s Poison Cup, takes a ‘Princess Bride’ approach to storytelling, a story within a story if you will. While this approach can get confusing or exhausting in other works, that cannot be said of The Prince’s Poison Cup, which is fast paced, sharp, and witty. With regard to communicating the truths of God’s Word, Dr. Sproul goes to great lengths to communicate to young children the Gospel starting with original sin, the need of a savior, and the provision of the savior in Jesus within a unique allegorical tale. With regard to the illustration, The Prince’s Poison Cup has vivid colors and is masterfully drawn so that it not only captures a child’s attention but their imagination as well. Furthermore the illustrations not only illustrate the allegorical tale but progress the story in a way words cannot do. If you are looking to purchase The Prince’s Poison Cup, it is a delightfully articulated and beautifully illustrated book; the audience is for ages 3 to 7, yet when I read it to my daughter (age under 2) she was captivated the entire time. This book was provided to me free of charge from Reformation Trust Publishing in exchange for an unbiased, honest review.

R. C. Sproul has written several children's books. I have been aware of them for some years, but since our children are grown and grand children are not yet on the scene, I have not had a reason to purchase one of the book. I do intend to purchase all of them once grand children are on the scene!! We purchased THE PRINCE'S POISON CUP for a young boy who is being adopted. There was a shower for the family and we were asked to bring a children's book as part of the celebration. This was our chance to purchase one of Sproul's children's books. When it arrived I read the book from cover to cover. The art is decent, and the story flows along very well. It is a religious book, of course, so behind the story is the Bible's teaching on the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ for the sins of mankind. It is a story that is especially good to read to your child. You can pause along the way to look at the pictures and talk about them. There are many interesting things in the pictures. At the end of the book the parent will find a discussion guide to help talk through the biblical teaching of the Jesus' atonement in terms that the child can understand. There are a set of questions with Bible verses as answers. I think this is probably a book that parents will enjoy reading to their child at many ages. It is also a nice way to instruct one's child in one of the important biblical teachings.

The story is short and sweet, a simple allegory of Christ’s love for people and His willingness to die for all mankind. But the text needs a thorough editing job. Lots and lots of typos, especially in the Q & A section that follows the story, make for a confusing read. I hope the publisher will clean up the text and provide an updated version soon.

This is an excellent portrayal of the relationship of God the father and Jesus and the work that was done on the cross. I read the story to my 3-year old and when I was done I asked, 'Who was this story really about?' She thought for a second and said 'Jesus'! I would recommend buying an actual book. The kindle version text and illustrations do not correlate well (I.e. There will be pages of text with no pictures and then several pictures in a row). The illustrations are beautiful too.

This book is terrific and would appeal to both girls and boys. The illustrations are beautiful. It's a treasure.

After reading the reviews, I decided to purchase this book for my girls (ages 4 and 8). Dr. Sproul does an amazing job portraying the Gospel in a way that even a child can understand. Both of my girls love this book, and repetedly ask me to read it to them, especially my 4 year old. Durring the first reading, my 8 year old daughter actually stopped me, and asked me if she could tell me what the story was about... She Got it! I highly reccomend this book for your own children, and to give as gifts to others.

What a beautiful story. From the illustrations to the way it was written. I read to my almost 4 year old and although it may be geared for more older kids there are a lot of great notes in the back for explaining the gospel in detail with scripture references. Great resource! The illustrations may be scary for some sensitive younger children...but I find it very moving...the kind of book an adult enjoys as well.

We own four of R. C. Sproul's children's books. This is probably one of my favorite (although I like all of them very much). This is the story of a people created, a people rebelled, and a King's Son who had to drink poison to save the world. It's beautiful. You see creation, fall, redemption, and it celebrates Jesus' obedience to God and his love for mankind. The illustrations are also well done.

This is not your typical, fluffy, feelgood children's book. It does not hide sin and death, but instead seeks to make them more understandable to the young child. It is a book with purpose. This book is rife with opportunities to discuss difficult Christian concepts with children. An allegorical adaptation of the story of the cross, this piece covers such concepts as: the fall, the hard-heartedness of all humanity, the cost of sin, the necessity of the Son's sacrifice, redemption, God's goodness even when things seem bad, and Christ's resurrection, just to name a few. There is potential to discuss many more topics that are touched on in the book as well. I disagree with a previous reviewer, who felt that the points were not adequately clear. Truly good children's literature covers difficult concepts that cause children to ask questions and think for themselves. The idea is not for the child to sit alone in his or her room reading the book and fully understanding it, but for a parent to read it to them and guide them through the difficult parts. I think this book does this better than most. Without giving us all the answers, it allows the child to think and the parent to lead the child into a discussion of the real Prince, and the poison of our sin that he accepted on the Cross.

As always, great and profound story based on the Bible. The print material was also impressive.

The Prince’s Poison Cup written by R.C. Sproul and published by Reformation Trust Publishing, and is one of the children’s titles currently offered under this publisher. Dr. Sproul is world renowned for works on Reformed Theology and Apologetics aimed at adults but The Prince’s Poison Cup is uniquely aimed at conveying the truths of scripture to very young children. The Prince’s Poison Cup has two major strengths: the story and the illustration. With regard to the story, The Prince’s Poison Cup, takes a ‘Princess Bride’ approach to storytelling, a story within a story if you will. While this approach can get confusing or exhausting in other works, that cannot be said of The Prince’s Poison Cup, which is fast paced, sharp, and witty. With regard to communicating the truths of God’s Word, Dr. Sproul goes to great lengths to communicate to young children the Gospel starting with original sin, the need of a savior, and the provision of the savior in Jesus within a unique allegorical tale. With regard to the illustration, The Prince’s Poison Cup has vivid colors and is masterfully drawn so that it not only captures a child’s attention but their imagination as well. Furthermore the illustrations not only illustrate the allegorical tale but progress the story in a way words cannot do. If you are looking to purchase The Prince’s Poison Cup, it is a delightfully articulated and beautifully illustrated book; the audience is for ages 3 to 7, yet when I read it to my daughter (age under 2) she was captivated the entire time. This book was provided to me free of charge from Reformation Trust Publishing in exchange for an unbiased, honest review.

R. C. Sproul has written several children's books. I have been aware of them for some years, but since our children are grown and grand children are not yet on the scene, I have not had a reason to purchase one of the book. I do intend to purchase all of them once grand children are on the scene!! We purchased THE PRINCE'S POISON CUP for a young boy who is being adopted. There was a shower for the family and we were asked to bring a children's book as part of the celebration. This was our chance to purchase one of Sproul's children's books. When it arrived I read the book from cover to cover. The art is decent, and the story flows along very well. It is a religious book, of course, so behind the story is the Bible's teaching on the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ for the sins of mankind. It is a story that is especially good to read to your child. You can pause along the way to look at the pictures and talk about them. There are many interesting things in the pictures. At the end of the book the parent will find a discussion guide to help talk through the biblical teaching of the Jesus' atonement in terms that the child can understand. There are a set of questions with Bible verses as answers. I think this is probably a book that parents will enjoy reading to their child at many ages. It is also a nice way to instruct one's child in one of the important biblical teachings.

The story is short and sweet, a simple allegory of Christ’s love for people and His willingness to die for all mankind. But the text needs a thorough editing job. Lots and lots of typos, especially in the Q & A section that follows the story, make for a confusing read. I hope the publisher will clean up the text and provide an updated version soon.

This is an excellent portrayal of the relationship of God the father and Jesus and the work that was done on the cross. I read the story to my 3-year old and when I was done I asked, 'Who was this story really about?' She thought for a second and said 'Jesus'! I would recommend buying an actual book. The kindle version text and illustrations do not correlate well (I.e. There will be pages of text with no pictures and then several pictures in a row). The illustrations are beautiful too.

This book is terrific and would appeal to both girls and boys. The illustrations are beautiful. It's a treasure.

After reading the reviews, I decided to purchase this book for my girls (ages 4 and 8). Dr. Sproul does an amazing job portraying the Gospel in a way that even a child can understand. Both of my girls love this book, and repetedly ask me to read it to them, especially my 4 year old. Durring the first reading, my 8 year old daughter actually stopped me, and asked me if she could tell me what the story was about... She Got it! I highly reccomend this book for your own children, and to give as gifts to others.

What a beautiful story. From the illustrations to the way it was written. I read to my almost 4 year old and although it may be geared for more older kids there are a lot of great notes in the back for explaining the gospel in detail with scripture references. Great resource! The illustrations may be scary for some sensitive younger children...but I find it very moving...the kind of book an adult enjoys as well.

We own four of R. C. Sproul's children's books. This is probably one of my favorite (although I like all of them very much). This is the story of a people created, a people rebelled, and a King's Son who had to drink poison to save the world. It's beautiful. You see creation, fall, redemption, and it celebrates Jesus' obedience to God and his love for mankind. The illustrations are also well done.

This is not your typical, fluffy, feelgood children's book. It does not hide sin and death, but instead seeks to make them more understandable to the young child. It is a book with purpose. This book is rife with opportunities to discuss difficult Christian concepts with children. An allegorical adaptation of the story of the cross, this piece covers such concepts as: the fall, the hard-heartedness of all humanity, the cost of sin, the necessity of the Son's sacrifice, redemption, God's goodness even when things seem bad, and Christ's resurrection, just to name a few. There is potential to discuss many more topics that are touched on in the book as well. I disagree with a previous reviewer, who felt that the points were not adequately clear. Truly good children's literature covers difficult concepts that cause children to ask questions and think for themselves. The idea is not for the child to sit alone in his or her room reading the book and fully understanding it, but for a parent to read it to them and guide them through the difficult parts. I think this book does this better than most. Without giving us all the answers, it allows the child to think and the parent to lead the child into a discussion of the real Prince, and the poison of our sin that he accepted on the Cross.

As always, great and profound story based on the Bible. The print material was also impressive.

The Prince’s Poison Cup written by R.C. Sproul and published by Reformation Trust Publishing, and is one of the children’s titles currently offered under this publisher. Dr. Sproul is world renowned for works on Reformed Theology and Apologetics aimed at adults but The Prince’s Poison Cup is uniquely aimed at conveying the truths of scripture to very young children. The Prince’s Poison Cup has two major strengths: the story and the illustration. With regard to the story, The Prince’s Poison Cup, takes a ‘Princess Bride’ approach to storytelling, a story within a story if you will. While this approach can get confusing or exhausting in other works, that cannot be said of The Prince’s Poison Cup, which is fast paced, sharp, and witty. With regard to communicating the truths of God’s Word, Dr. Sproul goes to great lengths to communicate to young children the Gospel starting with original sin, the need of a savior, and the provision of the savior in Jesus within a unique allegorical tale. With regard to the illustration, The Prince’s Poison Cup has vivid colors and is masterfully drawn so that it not only captures a child’s attention but their imagination as well. Furthermore the illustrations not only illustrate the allegorical tale but progress the story in a way words cannot do. If you are looking to purchase The Prince’s Poison Cup, it is a delightfully articulated and beautifully illustrated book; the audience is for ages 3 to 7, yet when I read it to my daughter (age under 2) she was captivated the entire time. This book was provided to me free of charge from Reformation Trust Publishing in exchange for an unbiased, honest review.

R. C. Sproul has written several children's books. I have been aware of them for some years, but since our children are grown and grand children are not yet on the scene, I have not had a reason to purchase one of the book. I do intend to purchase all of them once grand children are on the scene!! We purchased THE PRINCE'S POISON CUP for a young boy who is being adopted. There was a shower for the family and we were asked to bring a children's book as part of the celebration. This was our chance to purchase one of Sproul's children's books. When it arrived I read the book from cover to cover. The art is decent, and the story flows along very well. It is a religious book, of course, so behind the story is the Bible's teaching on the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ for the sins of mankind. It is a story that is especially good to read to your child. You can pause along the way to look at the pictures and talk about them. There are many interesting things in the pictures. At the end of the book the parent will find a discussion guide to help talk through the biblical teaching of the Jesus' atonement in terms that the child can understand. There are a set of questions with Bible verses as answers. I think this is probably a book that parents will enjoy reading to their child at many ages. It is also a nice way to instruct one's child in one of the important biblical teachings.

The story is short and sweet, a simple allegory of Christ’s love for people and His willingness to die for all mankind. But the text needs a thorough editing job. Lots and lots of typos, especially in the Q & A section that follows the story, make for a confusing read. I hope the publisher will clean up the text and provide an updated version soon.

This is an excellent portrayal of the relationship of God the father and Jesus and the work that was done on the cross. I read the story to my 3-year old and when I was done I asked, 'Who was this story really about?' She thought for a second and said 'Jesus'! I would recommend buying an actual book. The kindle version text and illustrations do not correlate well (I.e. There will be pages of text with no pictures and then several pictures in a row). The illustrations are beautiful too.

This book is terrific and would appeal to both girls and boys. The illustrations are beautiful. It's a treasure.

After reading the reviews, I decided to purchase this book for my girls (ages 4 and 8). Dr. Sproul does an amazing job portraying the Gospel in a way that even a child can understand. Both of my girls love this book, and repetedly ask me to read it to them, especially my 4 year old. Durring the first reading, my 8 year old daughter actually stopped me, and asked me if she could tell me what the story was about... She Got it! I highly reccomend this book for your own children, and to give as gifts to others.

What a beautiful story. From the illustrations to the way it was written. I read to my almost 4 year old and although it may be geared for more older kids there are a lot of great notes in the back for explaining the gospel in detail with scripture references. Great resource! The illustrations may be scary for some sensitive younger children...but I find it very moving...the kind of book an adult enjoys as well.

We own four of R. C. Sproul's children's books. This is probably one of my favorite (although I like all of them very much). This is the story of a people created, a people rebelled, and a King's Son who had to drink poison to save the world. It's beautiful. You see creation, fall, redemption, and it celebrates Jesus' obedience to God and his love for mankind. The illustrations are also well done.

This is not your typical, fluffy, feelgood children's book. It does not hide sin and death, but instead seeks to make them more understandable to the young child. It is a book with purpose. This book is rife with opportunities to discuss difficult Christian concepts with children. An allegorical adaptation of the story of the cross, this piece covers such concepts as: the fall, the hard-heartedness of all humanity, the cost of sin, the necessity of the Son's sacrifice, redemption, God's goodness even when things seem bad, and Christ's resurrection, just to name a few. There is potential to discuss many more topics that are touched on in the book as well. I disagree with a previous reviewer, who felt that the points were not adequately clear. Truly good children's literature covers difficult concepts that cause children to ask questions and think for themselves. The idea is not for the child to sit alone in his or her room reading the book and fully understanding it, but for a parent to read it to them and guide them through the difficult parts. I think this book does this better than most. Without giving us all the answers, it allows the child to think and the parent to lead the child into a discussion of the real Prince, and the poison of our sin that he accepted on the Cross.

As always, great and profound story based on the Bible. The print material was also impressive.

The Prince’s Poison Cup written by R.C. Sproul and published by Reformation Trust Publishing, and is one of the children’s titles currently offered under this publisher. Dr. Sproul is world renowned for works on Reformed Theology and Apologetics aimed at adults but The Prince’s Poison Cup is uniquely aimed at conveying the truths of scripture to very young children. The Prince’s Poison Cup has two major strengths: the story and the illustration. With regard to the story, The Prince’s Poison Cup, takes a ‘Princess Bride’ approach to storytelling, a story within a story if you will. While this approach can get confusing or exhausting in other works, that cannot be said of The Prince’s Poison Cup, which is fast paced, sharp, and witty. With regard to communicating the truths of God’s Word, Dr. Sproul goes to great lengths to communicate to young children the Gospel starting with original sin, the need of a savior, and the provision of the savior in Jesus within a unique allegorical tale. With regard to the illustration, The Prince’s Poison Cup has vivid colors and is masterfully drawn so that it not only captures a child’s attention but their imagination as well. Furthermore the illustrations not only illustrate the allegorical tale but progress the story in a way words cannot do. If you are looking to purchase The Prince’s Poison Cup, it is a delightfully articulated and beautifully illustrated book; the audience is for ages 3 to 7, yet when I read it to my daughter (age under 2) she was captivated the entire time. This book was provided to me free of charge from Reformation Trust Publishing in exchange for an unbiased, honest review.

R. C. Sproul has written several children's books. I have been aware of them for some years, but since our children are grown and grand children are not yet on the scene, I have not had a reason to purchase one of the book. I do intend to purchase all of them once grand children are on the scene!! We purchased THE PRINCE'S POISON CUP for a young boy who is being adopted. There was a shower for the family and we were asked to bring a children's book as part of the celebration. This was our chance to purchase one of Sproul's children's books. When it arrived I read the book from cover to cover. The art is decent, and the story flows along very well. It is a religious book, of course, so behind the story is the Bible's teaching on the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ for the sins of mankind. It is a story that is especially good to read to your child. You can pause along the way to look at the pictures and talk about them. There are many interesting things in the pictures. At the end of the book the parent will find a discussion guide to help talk through the biblical teaching of the Jesus' atonement in terms that the child can understand. There are a set of questions with Bible verses as answers. I think this is probably a book that parents will enjoy reading to their child at many ages. It is also a nice way to instruct one's child in one of the important biblical teachings.

The story is short and sweet, a simple allegory of Christ’s love for people and His willingness to die for all mankind. But the text needs a thorough editing job. Lots and lots of typos, especially in the Q & A section that follows the story, make for a confusing read. I hope the publisher will clean up the text and provide an updated version soon.

This is an excellent portrayal of the relationship of God the father and Jesus and the work that was done on the cross. I read the story to my 3-year old and when I was done I asked, 'Who was this story really about?' She thought for a second and said 'Jesus'! I would recommend buying an actual book. The kindle version text and illustrations do not correlate well (I.e. There will be pages of text with no pictures and then several pictures in a row). The illustrations are beautiful too.

This book is terrific and would appeal to both girls and boys. The illustrations are beautiful. It's a treasure.

After reading the reviews, I decided to purchase this book for my girls (ages 4 and 8). Dr. Sproul does an amazing job portraying the Gospel in a way that even a child can understand. Both of my girls love this book, and repetedly ask me to read it to them, especially my 4 year old. Durring the first reading, my 8 year old daughter actually stopped me, and asked me if she could tell me what the story was about... She Got it! I highly reccomend this book for your own children, and to give as gifts to others.

What a beautiful story. From the illustrations to the way it was written. I read to my almost 4 year old and although it may be geared for more older kids there are a lot of great notes in the back for explaining the gospel in detail with scripture references. Great resource! The illustrations may be scary for some sensitive younger children...but I find it very moving...the kind of book an adult enjoys as well.

We own four of R. C. Sproul's children's books. This is probably one of my favorite (although I like all of them very much). This is the story of a people created, a people rebelled, and a King's Son who had to drink poison to save the world. It's beautiful. You see creation, fall, redemption, and it celebrates Jesus' obedience to God and his love for mankind. The illustrations are also well done.

This is not your typical, fluffy, feelgood children's book. It does not hide sin and death, but instead seeks to make them more understandable to the young child. It is a book with purpose. This book is rife with opportunities to discuss difficult Christian concepts with children. An allegorical adaptation of the story of the cross, this piece covers such concepts as: the fall, the hard-heartedness of all humanity, the cost of sin, the necessity of the Son's sacrifice, redemption, God's goodness even when things seem bad, and Christ's resurrection, just to name a few. There is potential to discuss many more topics that are touched on in the book as well. I disagree with a previous reviewer, who felt that the points were not adequately clear. Truly good children's literature covers difficult concepts that cause children to ask questions and think for themselves. The idea is not for the child to sit alone in his or her room reading the book and fully understanding it, but for a parent to read it to them and guide them through the difficult parts. I think this book does this better than most. Without giving us all the answers, it allows the child to think and the parent to lead the child into a discussion of the real Prince, and the poison of our sin that he accepted on the Cross.

As always, great and profound story based on the Bible. The print material was also impressive.

The Prince’s Poison Cup written by R.C. Sproul and published by Reformation Trust Publishing, and is one of the children’s titles currently offered under this publisher. Dr. Sproul is world renowned for works on Reformed Theology and Apologetics aimed at adults but The Prince’s Poison Cup is uniquely aimed at conveying the truths of scripture to very young children. The Prince’s Poison Cup has two major strengths: the story and the illustration. With regard to the story, The Prince’s Poison Cup, takes a ‘Princess Bride’ approach to storytelling, a story within a story if you will. While this approach can get confusing or exhausting in other works, that cannot be said of The Prince’s Poison Cup, which is fast paced, sharp, and witty. With regard to communicating the truths of God’s Word, Dr. Sproul goes to great lengths to communicate to young children the Gospel starting with original sin, the need of a savior, and the provision of the savior in Jesus within a unique allegorical tale. With regard to the illustration, The Prince’s Poison Cup has vivid colors and is masterfully drawn so that it not only captures a child’s attention but their imagination as well. Furthermore the illustrations not only illustrate the allegorical tale but progress the story in a way words cannot do. If you are looking to purchase The Prince’s Poison Cup, it is a delightfully articulated and beautifully illustrated book; the audience is for ages 3 to 7, yet when I read it to my daughter (age under 2) she was captivated the entire time. This book was provided to me free of charge from Reformation Trust Publishing in exchange for an unbiased, honest review.

R. C. Sproul has written several children's books. I have been aware of them for some years, but since our children are grown and grand children are not yet on the scene, I have not had a reason to purchase one of the book. I do intend to purchase all of them once grand children are on the scene!! We purchased THE PRINCE'S POISON CUP for a young boy who is being adopted. There was a shower for the family and we were asked to bring a children's book as part of the celebration. This was our chance to purchase one of Sproul's children's books. When it arrived I read the book from cover to cover. The art is decent, and the story flows along very well. It is a religious book, of course, so behind the story is the Bible's teaching on the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ for the sins of mankind. It is a story that is especially good to read to your child. You can pause along the way to look at the pictures and talk about them. There are many interesting things in the pictures. At the end of the book the parent will find a discussion guide to help talk through the biblical teaching of the Jesus' atonement in terms that the child can understand. There are a set of questions with Bible verses as answers. I think this is probably a book that parents will enjoy reading to their child at many ages. It is also a nice way to instruct one's child in one of the important biblical teachings.

The story is short and sweet, a simple allegory of Christ’s love for people and His willingness to die for all mankind. But the text needs a thorough editing job. Lots and lots of typos, especially in the Q & A section that follows the story, make for a confusing read. I hope the publisher will clean up the text and provide an updated version soon.

This is an excellent portrayal of the relationship of God the father and Jesus and the work that was done on the cross. I read the story to my 3-year old and when I was done I asked, 'Who was this story really about?' She thought for a second and said 'Jesus'! I would recommend buying an actual book. The kindle version text and illustrations do not correlate well (I.e. There will be pages of text with no pictures and then several pictures in a row). The illustrations are beautiful too.

This book is terrific and would appeal to both girls and boys. The illustrations are beautiful. It's a treasure.

After reading the reviews, I decided to purchase this book for my girls (ages 4 and 8). Dr. Sproul does an amazing job portraying the Gospel in a way that even a child can understand. Both of my girls love this book, and repetedly ask me to read it to them, especially my 4 year old. Durring the first reading, my 8 year old daughter actually stopped me, and asked me if she could tell me what the story was about... She Got it! I highly reccomend this book for your own children, and to give as gifts to others.

What a beautiful story. From the illustrations to the way it was written. I read to my almost 4 year old and although it may be geared for more older kids there are a lot of great notes in the back for explaining the gospel in detail with scripture references. Great resource! The illustrations may be scary for some sensitive younger children...but I find it very moving...the kind of book an adult enjoys as well.

We own four of R. C. Sproul's children's books. This is probably one of my favorite (although I like all of them very much). This is the story of a people created, a people rebelled, and a King's Son who had to drink poison to save the world. It's beautiful. You see creation, fall, redemption, and it celebrates Jesus' obedience to God and his love for mankind. The illustrations are also well done.

This is not your typical, fluffy, feelgood children's book. It does not hide sin and death, but instead seeks to make them more understandable to the young child. It is a book with purpose. This book is rife with opportunities to discuss difficult Christian concepts with children. An allegorical adaptation of the story of the cross, this piece covers such concepts as: the fall, the hard-heartedness of all humanity, the cost of sin, the necessity of the Son's sacrifice, redemption, God's goodness even when things seem bad, and Christ's resurrection, just to name a few. There is potential to discuss many more topics that are touched on in the book as well. I disagree with a previous reviewer, who felt that the points were not adequately clear. Truly good children's literature covers difficult concepts that cause children to ask questions and think for themselves. The idea is not for the child to sit alone in his or her room reading the book and fully understanding it, but for a parent to read it to them and guide them through the difficult parts. I think this book does this better than most. Without giving us all the answers, it allows the child to think and the parent to lead the child into a discussion of the real Prince, and the poison of our sin that he accepted on the Cross.

As always, great and profound story based on the Bible. The print material was also impressive.

My 3 year old really enjoys this book. Such a creative way to tell of the fall of mankind and Jesus being the propitiation of the just, righteous, and holy Godhead, by drinking the full cup of the wrath of God for sinners.

Dr. R.C. Sproul was very gifted in his ability to make complex truths easy enough for a child to understand. He does that well in this book.

My son bought this with his chore money. The WHOLE family, including me, LOVED it!!

This book is well written and has rich imagery. I particularly liked the images of the people transformed from a "good" human form into mean, vicious and cruel faces and the reverse transformation towards the end when the Prince redeems them. The book is an allegory of The Plan of Salvation. What impressed me the most and was most valuable about this book was the discussion that followed with my children regarding the parallels between the gospel and the story. Watching them draw the parallels was rewarding.

Grandchildren loved this book

Awesome book! One of my kid’s favorite books!

My seven and nine year-olds and I have read this book cover to cover at least ten times. This is a very vivid description of why Christ's sacrificed for us and how much He loves us. The kids get the real meaning behind this book and were quick to pick up on the similarities between this depiction and the Bible.

This is another of Dr. R. C. Sproul's great children's books, not only for children, but for adults too. A great book to read to your children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. A great big thanks to Dr. Sproul for sharing the gospel with us in a children's story for adults as well. bill in Missouri

As promised.

Fun story with a great lesson!

The Prince’s Poison Cup written by R.C. Sproul and published by Reformation Trust Publishing, and is one of the children’s titles currently offered under this publisher. Dr. Sproul is world renowned for works on Reformed Theology and Apologetics aimed at adults but The Prince’s Poison Cup is uniquely aimed at conveying the truths of scripture to very young children. The Prince’s Poison Cup has two major strengths: the story and the illustration. With regard to the story, The Prince’s Poison Cup, takes a ‘Princess Bride’ approach to storytelling, a story within a story if you will. While this approach can get confusing or exhausting in other works, that cannot be said of The Prince’s Poison Cup, which is fast paced, sharp, and witty. With regard to communicating the truths of God’s Word, Dr. Sproul goes to great lengths to communicate to young children the Gospel starting with original sin, the need of a savior, and the provision of the savior in Jesus within a unique allegorical tale. With regard to the illustration, The Prince’s Poison Cup has vivid colors and is masterfully drawn so that it not only captures a child’s attention but their imagination as well. Furthermore the illustrations not only illustrate the allegorical tale but progress the story in a way words cannot do. If you are looking to purchase The Prince’s Poison Cup, it is a delightfully articulated and beautifully illustrated book; the audience is for ages 3 to 7, yet when I read it to my daughter (age under 2) she was captivated the entire time. This book was provided to me free of charge from Reformation Trust Publishing in exchange for an unbiased, honest review.

R. C. Sproul has written several children's books. I have been aware of them for some years, but since our children are grown and grand children are not yet on the scene, I have not had a reason to purchase one of the book. I do intend to purchase all of them once grand children are on the scene!! We purchased THE PRINCE'S POISON CUP for a young boy who is being adopted. There was a shower for the family and we were asked to bring a children's book as part of the celebration. This was our chance to purchase one of Sproul's children's books. When it arrived I read the book from cover to cover. The art is decent, and the story flows along very well. It is a religious book, of course, so behind the story is the Bible's teaching on the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ for the sins of mankind. It is a story that is especially good to read to your child. You can pause along the way to look at the pictures and talk about them. There are many interesting things in the pictures. At the end of the book the parent will find a discussion guide to help talk through the biblical teaching of the Jesus' atonement in terms that the child can understand. There are a set of questions with Bible verses as answers. I think this is probably a book that parents will enjoy reading to their child at many ages. It is also a nice way to instruct one's child in one of the important biblical teachings.

The story is short and sweet, a simple allegory of Christ’s love for people and His willingness to die for all mankind. But the text needs a thorough editing job. Lots and lots of typos, especially in the Q & A section that follows the story, make for a confusing read. I hope the publisher will clean up the text and provide an updated version soon.

This is an excellent portrayal of the relationship of God the father and Jesus and the work that was done on the cross. I read the story to my 3-year old and when I was done I asked, 'Who was this story really about?' She thought for a second and said 'Jesus'! I would recommend buying an actual book. The kindle version text and illustrations do not correlate well (I.e. There will be pages of text with no pictures and then several pictures in a row). The illustrations are beautiful too.

This book is terrific and would appeal to both girls and boys. The illustrations are beautiful. It's a treasure.

After reading the reviews, I decided to purchase this book for my girls (ages 4 and 8). Dr. Sproul does an amazing job portraying the Gospel in a way that even a child can understand. Both of my girls love this book, and repetedly ask me to read it to them, especially my 4 year old. Durring the first reading, my 8 year old daughter actually stopped me, and asked me if she could tell me what the story was about... She Got it! I highly reccomend this book for your own children, and to give as gifts to others.

What a beautiful story. From the illustrations to the way it was written. I read to my almost 4 year old and although it may be geared for more older kids there are a lot of great notes in the back for explaining the gospel in detail with scripture references. Great resource! The illustrations may be scary for some sensitive younger children...but I find it very moving...the kind of book an adult enjoys as well.

We own four of R. C. Sproul's children's books. This is probably one of my favorite (although I like all of them very much). This is the story of a people created, a people rebelled, and a King's Son who had to drink poison to save the world. It's beautiful. You see creation, fall, redemption, and it celebrates Jesus' obedience to God and his love for mankind. The illustrations are also well done.

This is not your typical, fluffy, feelgood children's book. It does not hide sin and death, but instead seeks to make them more understandable to the young child. It is a book with purpose. This book is rife with opportunities to discuss difficult Christian concepts with children. An allegorical adaptation of the story of the cross, this piece covers such concepts as: the fall, the hard-heartedness of all humanity, the cost of sin, the necessity of the Son's sacrifice, redemption, God's goodness even when things seem bad, and Christ's resurrection, just to name a few. There is potential to discuss many more topics that are touched on in the book as well. I disagree with a previous reviewer, who felt that the points were not adequately clear. Truly good children's literature covers difficult concepts that cause children to ask questions and think for themselves. The idea is not for the child to sit alone in his or her room reading the book and fully understanding it, but for a parent to read it to them and guide them through the difficult parts. I think this book does this better than most. Without giving us all the answers, it allows the child to think and the parent to lead the child into a discussion of the real Prince, and the poison of our sin that he accepted on the Cross.

As always, great and profound story based on the Bible. The print material was also impressive.

This has a wonderful message but the spelling is atrocious. There are sentences that are left hanging. (Not finished) but still I gave it 5 stars for the message.

I just love R.C. Sproul. He is such a clear communicator that children can understand it, and in this book, he beautifully communicates The Gospel story for a child to understand. This is one of the greatest books that I've ever read!

good book for kids

Great story

Great book and love the Author

Great book for explaining the Gospel!

This book is very thought provoking. My grandson picked up the message nicely and even interrupted my reading of it to tell me what it meant. The illustrations are beautiful.

Lots of words, good artwork, good message. The only downside is the message is about a prince drinking poison, and I've been teaching my 3 year old son NOT to drink poison things that are chemicals under the sink etc. This book's message says the prince did a good thing by drinking the poison, so I'm afraid to read it to my son right now. Sounds lame I know, but I don't want to confuse him.

My 10 year old really enjoys this book. It lays out the gospel of Jesus Christ in a way a child can understand, and serves as a good reminder for us adults too!

Awesome story

The Prince’s Poison Cup written by R.C. Sproul and published by Reformation Trust Publishing, and is one of the children’s titles currently offered under this publisher. Dr. Sproul is world renowned for works on Reformed Theology and Apologetics aimed at adults but The Prince’s Poison Cup is uniquely aimed at conveying the truths of scripture to very young children. The Prince’s Poison Cup has two major strengths: the story and the illustration. With regard to the story, The Prince’s Poison Cup, takes a ‘Princess Bride’ approach to storytelling, a story within a story if you will. While this approach can get confusing or exhausting in other works, that cannot be said of The Prince’s Poison Cup, which is fast paced, sharp, and witty. With regard to communicating the truths of God’s Word, Dr. Sproul goes to great lengths to communicate to young children the Gospel starting with original sin, the need of a savior, and the provision of the savior in Jesus within a unique allegorical tale. With regard to the illustration, The Prince’s Poison Cup has vivid colors and is masterfully drawn so that it not only captures a child’s attention but their imagination as well. Furthermore the illustrations not only illustrate the allegorical tale but progress the story in a way words cannot do. If you are looking to purchase The Prince’s Poison Cup, it is a delightfully articulated and beautifully illustrated book; the audience is for ages 3 to 7, yet when I read it to my daughter (age under 2) she was captivated the entire time. This book was provided to me free of charge from Reformation Trust Publishing in exchange for an unbiased, honest review.

R. C. Sproul has written several children's books. I have been aware of them for some years, but since our children are grown and grand children are not yet on the scene, I have not had a reason to purchase one of the book. I do intend to purchase all of them once grand children are on the scene!! We purchased THE PRINCE'S POISON CUP for a young boy who is being adopted. There was a shower for the family and we were asked to bring a children's book as part of the celebration. This was our chance to purchase one of Sproul's children's books. When it arrived I read the book from cover to cover. The art is decent, and the story flows along very well. It is a religious book, of course, so behind the story is the Bible's teaching on the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ for the sins of mankind. It is a story that is especially good to read to your child. You can pause along the way to look at the pictures and talk about them. There are many interesting things in the pictures. At the end of the book the parent will find a discussion guide to help talk through the biblical teaching of the Jesus' atonement in terms that the child can understand. There are a set of questions with Bible verses as answers. I think this is probably a book that parents will enjoy reading to their child at many ages. It is also a nice way to instruct one's child in one of the important biblical teachings.

The story is short and sweet, a simple allegory of Christ’s love for people and His willingness to die for all mankind. But the text needs a thorough editing job. Lots and lots of typos, especially in the Q & A section that follows the story, make for a confusing read. I hope the publisher will clean up the text and provide an updated version soon.

This is an excellent portrayal of the relationship of God the father and Jesus and the work that was done on the cross. I read the story to my 3-year old and when I was done I asked, 'Who was this story really about?' She thought for a second and said 'Jesus'! I would recommend buying an actual book. The kindle version text and illustrations do not correlate well (I.e. There will be pages of text with no pictures and then several pictures in a row). The illustrations are beautiful too.

This book is terrific and would appeal to both girls and boys. The illustrations are beautiful. It's a treasure.

After reading the reviews, I decided to purchase this book for my girls (ages 4 and 8). Dr. Sproul does an amazing job portraying the Gospel in a way that even a child can understand. Both of my girls love this book, and repetedly ask me to read it to them, especially my 4 year old. Durring the first reading, my 8 year old daughter actually stopped me, and asked me if she could tell me what the story was about... She Got it! I highly reccomend this book for your own children, and to give as gifts to others.

What a beautiful story. From the illustrations to the way it was written. I read to my almost 4 year old and although it may be geared for more older kids there are a lot of great notes in the back for explaining the gospel in detail with scripture references. Great resource! The illustrations may be scary for some sensitive younger children...but I find it very moving...the kind of book an adult enjoys as well.

We own four of R. C. Sproul's children's books. This is probably one of my favorite (although I like all of them very much). This is the story of a people created, a people rebelled, and a King's Son who had to drink poison to save the world. It's beautiful. You see creation, fall, redemption, and it celebrates Jesus' obedience to God and his love for mankind. The illustrations are also well done.

This is not your typical, fluffy, feelgood children's book. It does not hide sin and death, but instead seeks to make them more understandable to the young child. It is a book with purpose. This book is rife with opportunities to discuss difficult Christian concepts with children. An allegorical adaptation of the story of the cross, this piece covers such concepts as: the fall, the hard-heartedness of all humanity, the cost of sin, the necessity of the Son's sacrifice, redemption, God's goodness even when things seem bad, and Christ's resurrection, just to name a few. There is potential to discuss many more topics that are touched on in the book as well. I disagree with a previous reviewer, who felt that the points were not adequately clear. Truly good children's literature covers difficult concepts that cause children to ask questions and think for themselves. The idea is not for the child to sit alone in his or her room reading the book and fully understanding it, but for a parent to read it to them and guide them through the difficult parts. I think this book does this better than most. Without giving us all the answers, it allows the child to think and the parent to lead the child into a discussion of the real Prince, and the poison of our sin that he accepted on the Cross.

As always, great and profound story based on the Bible. The print material was also impressive.

Such a great book!

Great book for all ages. I just finished reading it to my 3 year old and my older kids were eavesdropping. Great illustrations too.

Great book

This book by R.C. Sproul is a wonderful read for children, but interestingly enough it is wonderful for any reader. I would recommend this book to anyone.

You must get. What an awesome book.

A great read to children to understand the great truth of God's great love for us and the great sacrifice He had to make. This is the first children's book that brought to tears over Gods supreme love for rebellious sinners. My boys say that it was the best book so far.

This is a real simple portrayal of Jesus's steadfast and willful sacrifice of self for us on the cross. It is great and accurate. the story may be a bit scary and dark for younger kids, but so is real life.

Going to be great for our VBS!

RC Sproul has done it again! He's written a wonderfully, simple, engaging story about what Jesus did on the cross. The illustrations are outstanding. I've read it many times to my children since giving it to them on Christmas Day.

Great read! Centered on the gospel of Christ!!! My son loved it and so did I. Looking forward to buying more books by RC Sproul.

The Prince’s Poison Cup written by R.C. Sproul and published by Reformation Trust Publishing, and is one of the children’s titles currently offered under this publisher. Dr. Sproul is world renowned for works on Reformed Theology and Apologetics aimed at adults but The Prince’s Poison Cup is uniquely aimed at conveying the truths of scripture to very young children. The Prince’s Poison Cup has two major strengths: the story and the illustration. With regard to the story, The Prince’s Poison Cup, takes a ‘Princess Bride’ approach to storytelling, a story within a story if you will. While this approach can get confusing or exhausting in other works, that cannot be said of The Prince’s Poison Cup, which is fast paced, sharp, and witty. With regard to communicating the truths of God’s Word, Dr. Sproul goes to great lengths to communicate to young children the Gospel starting with original sin, the need of a savior, and the provision of the savior in Jesus within a unique allegorical tale. With regard to the illustration, The Prince’s Poison Cup has vivid colors and is masterfully drawn so that it not only captures a child’s attention but their imagination as well. Furthermore the illustrations not only illustrate the allegorical tale but progress the story in a way words cannot do. If you are looking to purchase The Prince’s Poison Cup, it is a delightfully articulated and beautifully illustrated book; the audience is for ages 3 to 7, yet when I read it to my daughter (age under 2) she was captivated the entire time. This book was provided to me free of charge from Reformation Trust Publishing in exchange for an unbiased, honest review.

R. C. Sproul has written several children's books. I have been aware of them for some years, but since our children are grown and grand children are not yet on the scene, I have not had a reason to purchase one of the book. I do intend to purchase all of them once grand children are on the scene!! We purchased THE PRINCE'S POISON CUP for a young boy who is being adopted. There was a shower for the family and we were asked to bring a children's book as part of the celebration. This was our chance to purchase one of Sproul's children's books. When it arrived I read the book from cover to cover. The art is decent, and the story flows along very well. It is a religious book, of course, so behind the story is the Bible's teaching on the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ for the sins of mankind. It is a story that is especially good to read to your child. You can pause along the way to look at the pictures and talk about them. There are many interesting things in the pictures. At the end of the book the parent will find a discussion guide to help talk through the biblical teaching of the Jesus' atonement in terms that the child can understand. There are a set of questions with Bible verses as answers. I think this is probably a book that parents will enjoy reading to their child at many ages. It is also a nice way to instruct one's child in one of the important biblical teachings.

The story is short and sweet, a simple allegory of Christ’s love for people and His willingness to die for all mankind. But the text needs a thorough editing job. Lots and lots of typos, especially in the Q & A section that follows the story, make for a confusing read. I hope the publisher will clean up the text and provide an updated version soon.

This is an excellent portrayal of the relationship of God the father and Jesus and the work that was done on the cross. I read the story to my 3-year old and when I was done I asked, 'Who was this story really about?' She thought for a second and said 'Jesus'! I would recommend buying an actual book. The kindle version text and illustrations do not correlate well (I.e. There will be pages of text with no pictures and then several pictures in a row). The illustrations are beautiful too.

This book is terrific and would appeal to both girls and boys. The illustrations are beautiful. It's a treasure.

After reading the reviews, I decided to purchase this book for my girls (ages 4 and 8). Dr. Sproul does an amazing job portraying the Gospel in a way that even a child can understand. Both of my girls love this book, and repetedly ask me to read it to them, especially my 4 year old. Durring the first reading, my 8 year old daughter actually stopped me, and asked me if she could tell me what the story was about... She Got it! I highly reccomend this book for your own children, and to give as gifts to others.

What a beautiful story. From the illustrations to the way it was written. I read to my almost 4 year old and although it may be geared for more older kids there are a lot of great notes in the back for explaining the gospel in detail with scripture references. Great resource! The illustrations may be scary for some sensitive younger children...but I find it very moving...the kind of book an adult enjoys as well.

We own four of R. C. Sproul's children's books. This is probably one of my favorite (although I like all of them very much). This is the story of a people created, a people rebelled, and a King's Son who had to drink poison to save the world. It's beautiful. You see creation, fall, redemption, and it celebrates Jesus' obedience to God and his love for mankind. The illustrations are also well done.

This is not your typical, fluffy, feelgood children's book. It does not hide sin and death, but instead seeks to make them more understandable to the young child. It is a book with purpose. This book is rife with opportunities to discuss difficult Christian concepts with children. An allegorical adaptation of the story of the cross, this piece covers such concepts as: the fall, the hard-heartedness of all humanity, the cost of sin, the necessity of the Son's sacrifice, redemption, God's goodness even when things seem bad, and Christ's resurrection, just to name a few. There is potential to discuss many more topics that are touched on in the book as well. I disagree with a previous reviewer, who felt that the points were not adequately clear. Truly good children's literature covers difficult concepts that cause children to ask questions and think for themselves. The idea is not for the child to sit alone in his or her room reading the book and fully understanding it, but for a parent to read it to them and guide them through the difficult parts. I think this book does this better than most. Without giving us all the answers, it allows the child to think and the parent to lead the child into a discussion of the real Prince, and the poison of our sin that he accepted on the Cross.

As always, great and profound story based on the Bible. The print material was also impressive.

I love it.

Boring and disappointing!

I first read The Prince’s Poison Cup a few years before I had children. Now, as my two oldest kids are turning 2 and 3 and are showing a deep love for reading, I’m remembering how much I enjoyed this book, and I want to pass it on. As with Sproul’s The Priest with Dirty Clothes, The Prince’s Poison Cup has the powerful combination of a simply told plot with striking illustrations. The illustrations, I believe, give the book its true charm as it evokes in adults and little children alike an enchanting sense of wide-eyed reverence and awe. Reverence and awe are most appropriate when discussing how Jesus drank God’s wrath for sin, and how what brought death to Jesus now brings life to all who believe. In The Prince’s Poison Cup, a brilliantly bright King of Life watches as his people listen to his archenemy and disobey the King, drinking from a fountain the King has forbidden to them. Having drunk from the fountain, the people’s hearts turn to stone, and the people start to hate the King. Thoroughly corrupted, they turn from the King and create a new home for themselves: the City of Man. It is a wicked city, full of hatred and filth, and at its center is another fountain, spewing poison. This poison is nothing less than the wrath of the King of Life himself. One drop would kill the strongest man. Yet, wanting to restore his fallen people, the King sends his prince to drink from the poisonous fountain. The prince obeys, spurred on in difficult times by remembering how much he loves his father and desires to please him. In the process, he is mocked and ridiculed by both the people and his father’s archenemy. Yet, as the prince dies and falls to the ground, the King of Life enters the city. The people and the archenemy flee as the King restores his prince back to life. At that moment, the poisonous fountain changes from black and filthy to glittery and pure. The prince fills his cup with the newly fresh, sparkling water and, with words carried by the wind, he offers the cup to all living in the City of Man. Some hearts soften to the prince; others remain hard. Yet, all who drink from the prince’s cup find themselves completely renewed and full of love for the prince and his father. As with The Priest with Dirty Clothes, this book concludes with a set of very helpful discussion questions and supporting Scripture verses. The questions were very thorough. My only addition would be a question considering how the prince also might have been inspired in his obedience by his love for the people as well as for “the joy set before him.” This would highlight Jesus’ love for us and the way the Bible describes that Jesus endured suffering. Also, and only with young children, I would really stress that it’s only the prince who should try drinking poison. (Thanks to Reformation Trust for providing me a free copy of the book in exchange for this review. I stand by what I have written, as I’m sure is already clear from my obvious desire to get a copy of this book!)

Those of us who have been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb desire desperately for those we come into contact with to share in our love and adoration of our great God. But we oftentimes feel awkward in how we are to go about initiating Gospel conversations. And, while it seems like it should be easier to do this with our children, even knowing how and when to engage in Gospel conversations with them can be daunting for parents. One discipline that can alleviate some of this tension, and aid in beginning to genuinely open our eyes to the all-encompassing nature of the Gospel, is learning how to weave praise and Gospel conversations into the fabric of our everyday life. Learning to see the world around us through the lenses of God’s redemptive narrative and then speaking in that manner will cause even the most mundane conversations to return to where they should always be, praising the One who gives us every breath. This is what struck me as I began reading The Prince’s Poison Cup by R.C. Sproul. The grandpa in the story had a reputation of being one who would always point back to God in whatever he was speaking about. He could answer questions and tell stories in ways that entertained and thrilled his grandchildren. But, much more importantly, he consistently used his words to point them back to the Lord. I was overwhelmed by how great an example of that this story was. As for the story itself, it is first class. There is so much imagery and so much truth, jam-packed into this story. Sproul leads the reader from creation to redemption and will lead to many, many conversations with your kids and will help solidify some concepts even in adult minds. This is one worth re-reading to the kids and letting older-siblings read to the younger. Also, the art is wonderful. This is a 5* book. Concept, content, presentation, they are all top notch and a blessing. *I received a review copy of this book from the publisher.

The Prince and the Poison Cup is a story that little Ella Cobb's wise, old Grandfather tells her one day when she was not feeling well. Ella is questioning how such "terrible" tasting medicine can possibly make you well. Grandpa reminds her that "Some things that look or taste or smell wonderful are really awful." "But sometimes things that seem terrible are actually very good." Grandpa adds. "I even remember a story in which both of these strange things were true. Would you like to hear it?" He then begins to weave the story of the King of LIFE, whose archenemy enters into the King's country and tempts the King's subjects to drink the pure looking water of a poisoned fountain, promising that it will make them as great as the King. What the water does is gives them hearts of stone and causes them to hate their King. They leave the beautiful park that He had created just for them and fled to the desert to build the city of Man, a city of rebels. "The King of Life was angry that the people had disobeyed Him. He knew that because of the people's terrible violation of His command, He would be justified in destroying their city. But the King still loved His people and felt sorry for them in their pain." How can the heart of stone that they chose ever be removed so they can return to the King as his people? Only if the King's own Son, the Prince, goes to the rebel's city and drinks from their fountain with the cup His Father gave Him can the curse be removed. The Prince will die from drinking the poison, but it will make the water of fountain sweet again and the people will have the opportunity to drink and heal their hearts. When we read the of the anguish in the Garden of Gethsemane, we often, like the disciples, want to run from the suffering of God's Son. Justin Gerard illustrated this account to show the anguish of the Prince, who longed to put away the cup from Him. It was not He that desired the poison- it was not His sin that needed atoning- the people did not deserve a Savior. They desired their fate- yet the bitter cup was pressed to His lips! And he chose to drain it for the salvation of the people who hated Him! If Anyone is Thirsty, Let Him Come to Me and Drink. This book by R C Sproul is one I am looking forward to using with children. For adults it reminds us that along with little Ella we too know a Prince who died for His people. I was blessed to be given a copy of the Prince's Poison Cup for this review.

The Prince's Poison Cup is another children's book written by R.C. Sproul. This has been one of my favorites to read so far, from the fantastic illustrations to the intriguing plot it will keep anyone engaged in the story. The plot is based on Jn. 18:11, "Shall I not drink the cup that the Father has given me?" In the usual fashion of R.C. Sproul's books written for children; the tale begins with a little girl, Ella. However, Ella has a terrible sickness and doesn't understand why the medicine meant to make her feel better has to taste so bad. So as any little child she asks her Father that questions, to which he responds that it would be better to wait for Grandpa to come. Once Grandpa comes he begins to share with Ella the story of the King of Life who had a beautiful park filled with happy people. Yet, there was one rule in this jubilant park- in the middle of the town was a crystal clear fountain, but the King warned his subjects that they were not allowed to drink from this fountain. Since there were many streams in the park the people for a time were content with not drinking from the fountain, but soon they became curious about this enticing fountain. Disastrously, the King's archenemy comes to the park and begins to convince the people that there is nothing wrong with the fountain and that the King of Life unfairly wants to keep the best for himself. The people are enraged by this and decided to drink from the fountain that the King had commanded them not to. Then a terrible thing happens, the people's hearts are turned to stone and they no longer love or want to be with their King. So they decided to leave the park and build their own city away from the King of Life. The King of Life is angry when he sees what the people have done and would be completely just to destroy the people and their city since he had commanded them not to drink from the fountain. Yet, the King still loved his people and has a plan that involves his son, the Prince- and a terrible poison cup. You will have to buy the book yourself to find out what happens to the Prince in his journey to the City of Man, but I have never read a children's book that so clearly details the truth of Jesus Christ in a way that even children will be able to comprehend. I found myself as an adult, thinking and meditating on the passages in John and about the wonderful mission that Christ completed when he came to earth and drink the bitter cup of God's wrath to save man's heart of stone.

The Prince's Poison Cup is an allegorical retelling of the Gospel in a non-threatening and child-friendly way. The illustrations are plentiful and beautiful. (I especially like how the book is tan colored, so when the King of Life is drawn he is brilliantly bright.) There are enough Biblical concepts and truth in this seemingly simple tale to keep a parent busy for many readings. I think that is the true brilliance of Dr. Sproul and this book! He is able to take a very complicated story and retell it in a way a child can understand without sacrificing truth. The King of Life creates a park for his people to enjoy and gives them freedom to drink from the streams but not the fountain, as the fountain would harm them. The people drink and as a result their hearts turn to stone. The King asks his son the prince to take his golden cup and drink murky poison to heal the hearts of his people. There are some especially deep, yet simple, concepts in the book that I really liked, like explaining the consequences of sin. "But a terrible thing happened when the people drank the water--[of which they were forbidden to drink] their hearts turned to stone. After that, they no longer felt any love for their King. They didn't even want to be with Him anymore. (p. 14) Dr. Sproul doesn't go into the Holiness of the king requiring punishment for sin, but he does cover depravity with the idea that the people's hearts were turned into stone. Another deep concept is the foreknowledge of God that people would sin: "The King was very wise and had known that the people would drink from the fountain, and He already had a plan to help them. (p. 16)" The book even helps to explain the righteousness of God by saying that "The poison was made up of the King's anger over the people's disobedience. (p. 16)" The Prince (or Jesus) has to drink the poison for us in order to heal our stony hearts. The end of the book also has ideas and Bible verses to help answer questions that will come up. For example, in answering what happens after you trust in Jesus? The book gives you Ezekiel 36:26: "And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh." (Referenced on p. 40) This book is a wonderful addition to any collection and is far from a fluffy children's Bible story. I certainly recommend it to anyone with children. (I received this book for free from Reformation Trust Publishing in exchange for my honest review)

Theologian and pastor Dr. R.C. Sproul's The Prince's Poison Cup is nothing less than gorgeous. In this allegorical tale, we first meet a modern-day little girl named Ella who has a minor illness and must take some distasteful medicine. She asks her father, "Why does medicine taste so bad if it's going to make us well?" Her grandfather gives the answer in the form of a "once upon a time" story. He says that once their was a king called the King of Life because he made people, animals, and plants. He created a beautiful park where he could meet with his people and enjoy a beautiful fountain. He told them they could drink from any stream in the park, but they could not drink from that fountain. But when a stranger in a dark cloak appeared and told them the liquid in the fountain would do "wonderful things for them," they disobeyed their king. They didn't know the stranger was the king's enemy. Once they drank from the fountain, the water turned murky and they moved out of the park and began disobeying the king in nearly every way imaginable. The king was angry enough to destroy his people, but instead he sent his son, the prince, to go to the park and drink from the fountain. By doing so, the king said, the prince would die from the murky poison - but the prince would also save the people. Even though it was very difficult, the prince obeyed his father. As he approached the fountain, the prince began to tremble with fear. With a cruel smile, the stranger in the dark cloak handed the prince a cup. With difficulty, the prince drank the poison and died. The people, led by the stranger, laughed and cheered...until the King of Life appeared and put life back into the prince. "At that moment, the liquid bubbling up out of the fountain changed. No longer was it dark, murky poison. Now it was beautiful, clear, sweet water...The water seemed to be alive...[The prince said] 'If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink.'" Slowly, the people began to drink the water. And when they did, their hate was gone. They no longer wanted to run from the king. Grandpa finishes up the book by saying: "Ella, I want you to remember that we get sick because of sin. That's why the medicine that makes our bodies well usually looks and tastes bad. But the prince had to drink something far more terrible so that His people might be healed from the results of their disobedience. Each time you have to take bitter medicine, I want you to remember the story of the Prince's posion cup." Ella promises she will, then replies, "And do you know what? I know another Prince who died for His people." "'Do you?'" Grandpa asked, with a twinkle in his eye." This story is followed by a four page parent's guide, filled with questions children may ask and how they can be answered. (For example: "Who is the real King of Life?" and "What does it mean to drink from the cup Jesus offers?") What I Like: The illustrations by Justin Gerard are absolutely gorgeous. They are vivd and imaginative, hearkening back to Medieval times and displaying both darkness and splendid light. This story couldn't have more appropriate or interesting illustrations. The allegory itself is a creative way of helping kids understand the true meaning of Jesus' death and what it means to drink from his cup - difficult concepts, sometimes even for adults. I also really appreciate the parent's guide, which offers plenty of Bible verses to read. What I Dislike: At times, especially in the part of the story set in the modern day, the dialogue seems stilted. At other times, the story seems truncated, as if the author was running out of room to tell his tale. For example, the story mentions that the prince traveled with friends, and that those friends disappeared when the crowds jeer, but their appearance in the book is so fleeting and ill-described they really add nothing to the story. However, even with such flaws, this is a lovely book and does a good job of offering enlightenment on the subject of why Jesus had to die on the cross. Overall Rating: Very good. Kristina Seleshanko Managing Editor Christian Children's Book Review

The Prince's Poison Cup is an allegorical book that begins with a little girl, Ella, who has a stomach ache and is given medicine by her father. Unlike the sugary syrups in today's world, this one did not impress the child and she asked the question, "Why does medicine taste so bad if it's going to make us well?" Her father passes the baton to her grandfather who then tells the child a story about the King of Life who can create anything; He has created a beautiful park for His people and enjoys walking in it with them. He also created a lovely fountain, but gave them strict instructions not to drink it's clear flowing water. Of course they are tempted by his archenemy, and their hearts are turned into stone as a result. They leave the park, set up their own dark city and remain in that state until the Prince enters their city to rescue them. Sent by the King, the Prince must fill a golden cup with murky, smelly poison that bubbles up from their city's fountain. When he drinks it, he dies, amongst a triumphant cold-hearted crowd. The King enters the plaza however, brings Him back to life, and the fountain is transformed. The Prince offers this new water as life to all who would come. After reading the book once to make sure it was theologically sound, I read it to my four-year old. He loved it and has requested it multiple times the past few days. What did he enjoy about it? First, he liked the fact that there was a king and prince involved. Next, he loved that the story was similar to the redemption story of the Bible. After every page, he would point out that "the King of Life was like God, because He created the whole world too!" or "the archenemy was like Satan who pretended to be that naughty snake and lied". It could be just the boy in him, but he didn't really seem to get into the background story at all, usually zoning out at the end, and I think this book would have been just fine without Ella and her Grandpa. The only thing he said was missing was that the Prince needed a white horse just like Jesus, though I had to remind him that Christ won't come riding on His white horse until the end. :) I also thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. The illustrations (by Justin Gerard) are lovely and capturing, from the rounded cherubic faces of those filled with love for their Creator, to the hardened, chiseled features of those whose hearts have turned to stone. The author, RC Sproul, is also the founder of Ligonier Ministries. On their website, he states that he started his ministry to "faithfully present the unvarnished truth of Scripture to help people grow in their knowledge of God and His holiness." I believe he accomplished this masterfully in this children's book, as even my four-year old was able to see the allegorical comparison. You can tell Sproul focused on every detail, hinting back to Scripture when he could (There are some great discussion questions and Biblical references at the end of the book). I loved the progression of sin that you could see with the people and the fountain (James 1:14-15, I John 2:15-16), and how he subtly establishes the respect for wisdom from the elderly. Personally, my only fault was at the end, where the Grandpa notes that the origin of sickness was brought about by sin- I felt that his contrasting explanation of this medicine to the cup of poison was forced. In the end however, I highly recommend this book, as yet another creative way (I'm always looking for them!) to teach such the story of God's love, sacrifice and redemption for us. Disclaimer: I am blessed to be receiving a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my unbiased review.

Berenstain Bears, Dr. Seuss, Golden Books, and The World of Beatrix Potter are all books that I had the enjoyment of growing up with. I can honestly state that being raised in a non-Christian home, my mother made an attempt to educate my brother and I with wholesome literature. Early on, I can remember the emphasis of reading and her spending time helping us to understand what it was we were hearing. My brother and I loved books as kids. Kids love books when they can interact and relate with the characters in the books. The most powerful imagery of these childhood books I still have today are the messages they ultimately conveyed. While this is the first book in R.C. Sproul's series of children's books that I've read, I've heard warm reviews of the others. Most notably this book enters the world of the child by relating to the common distaste of medicine that all children seem to be born with. The illustrations tell of the comfort a child might experience from Grandpa sharing a story and advising with his wisdom why medicine tastes bad. If you have an imagination (and most certainly your child does) the warm images will compensate for the lack of detail our adult minds will be looking for in the theology of this story. Because it is from R.C. Sproul, many parents who read this to their children should be expectant of a resonating influence of scripture in the plot. The opening page quotes John 18:11 and inevitably sets the tone that coincides with the title of this story. Providing the backdrop to Sproul's allegory is the concept of creation, the garden, and the fall of man. The emphasis and buildup of just what it was that the Prince (Jesus Christ) was preparing to do create the anxiety necessary for telling a good children's story. Climaxing with the death of the Prince, the resurrection through the power of His Father, and the moral summary given by Grandpa would seem to let readers down at first glance. However, this book sets out to accomplish its task, and illustrates the curse of sin (sickness), the distasteful medicine (cup of wrath), and the healing brought from its ingestion (cleansed cup of Christ). The story does not provide ample text to preach a sermon from, but any parent reading this book to their child would do well to accentuate details through the powerful imagery seen in the full color illustrations. There are several images throughout the book that don't seem to have a correlated description in the story, some would say this was poorly planned, I believe it to be intentional. I would thoroughly enjoy reading this book to a child, and vicariously viewing this through the lens of my childhood past, these illustrations would excite me and they breathe life into this potent little book. While reflecting on the important values and ethics I picked up in childhood readings, nothing could be more important than learning about the nature of the One True God. This book embodies the nature of our Lord through the story of Christ's atonement and the reconciliation given us through His cross. While some younger children may not grasp the concept of propitiation and reconciliation, The Prince's Poison Cup provides a means to teach your children biblical truth. Even better, the appendix includes a summary of questions to ask a child while promoting an understanding through scriptures that tell of Christ's work in the atonement. Without having read any of Sproul's other childrens books, I have no comparison to gauge this one by. That said, I would still recommend this book to parents, grandparents, uncles, aunts, or even babysitters. If I could only go back and tell mom to buy this book for me as a child, I would.

The Prince’s Poison Cup written by R.C. Sproul and published by Reformation Trust Publishing, and is one of the children’s titles currently offered under this publisher. Dr. Sproul is world renowned for works on Reformed Theology and Apologetics aimed at adults but The Prince’s Poison Cup is uniquely aimed at conveying the truths of scripture to very young children. The Prince’s Poison Cup has two major strengths: the story and the illustration. With regard to the story, The Prince’s Poison Cup, takes a ‘Princess Bride’ approach to storytelling, a story within a story if you will. While this approach can get confusing or exhausting in other works, that cannot be said of The Prince’s Poison Cup, which is fast paced, sharp, and witty. With regard to communicating the truths of God’s Word, Dr. Sproul goes to great lengths to communicate to young children the Gospel starting with original sin, the need of a savior, and the provision of the savior in Jesus within a unique allegorical tale. With regard to the illustration, The Prince’s Poison Cup has vivid colors and is masterfully drawn so that it not only captures a child’s attention but their imagination as well. Furthermore the illustrations not only illustrate the allegorical tale but progress the story in a way words cannot do. If you are looking to purchase The Prince’s Poison Cup, it is a delightfully articulated and beautifully illustrated book; the audience is for ages 3 to 7, yet when I read it to my daughter (age under 2) she was captivated the entire time. This book was provided to me free of charge from Reformation Trust Publishing in exchange for an unbiased, honest review.

R. C. Sproul has written several children's books. I have been aware of them for some years, but since our children are grown and grand children are not yet on the scene, I have not had a reason to purchase one of the book. I do intend to purchase all of them once grand children are on the scene!! We purchased THE PRINCE'S POISON CUP for a young boy who is being adopted. There was a shower for the family and we were asked to bring a children's book as part of the celebration. This was our chance to purchase one of Sproul's children's books. When it arrived I read the book from cover to cover. The art is decent, and the story flows along very well. It is a religious book, of course, so behind the story is the Bible's teaching on the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ for the sins of mankind. It is a story that is especially good to read to your child. You can pause along the way to look at the pictures and talk about them. There are many interesting things in the pictures. At the end of the book the parent will find a discussion guide to help talk through the biblical teaching of the Jesus' atonement in terms that the child can understand. There are a set of questions with Bible verses as answers. I think this is probably a book that parents will enjoy reading to their child at many ages. It is also a nice way to instruct one's child in one of the important biblical teachings.

The story is short and sweet, a simple allegory of Christ’s love for people and His willingness to die for all mankind. But the text needs a thorough editing job. Lots and lots of typos, especially in the Q & A section that follows the story, make for a confusing read. I hope the publisher will clean up the text and provide an updated version soon.

This is an excellent portrayal of the relationship of God the father and Jesus and the work that was done on the cross. I read the story to my 3-year old and when I was done I asked, 'Who was this story really about?' She thought for a second and said 'Jesus'! I would recommend buying an actual book. The kindle version text and illustrations do not correlate well (I.e. There will be pages of text with no pictures and then several pictures in a row). The illustrations are beautiful too.

This book is terrific and would appeal to both girls and boys. The illustrations are beautiful. It's a treasure.

After reading the reviews, I decided to purchase this book for my girls (ages 4 and 8). Dr. Sproul does an amazing job portraying the Gospel in a way that even a child can understand. Both of my girls love this book, and repetedly ask me to read it to them, especially my 4 year old. Durring the first reading, my 8 year old daughter actually stopped me, and asked me if she could tell me what the story was about... She Got it! I highly reccomend this book for your own children, and to give as gifts to others.

What a beautiful story. From the illustrations to the way it was written. I read to my almost 4 year old and although it may be geared for more older kids there are a lot of great notes in the back for explaining the gospel in detail with scripture references. Great resource! The illustrations may be scary for some sensitive younger children...but I find it very moving...the kind of book an adult enjoys as well.

We own four of R. C. Sproul's children's books. This is probably one of my favorite (although I like all of them very much). This is the story of a people created, a people rebelled, and a King's Son who had to drink poison to save the world. It's beautiful. You see creation, fall, redemption, and it celebrates Jesus' obedience to God and his love for mankind. The illustrations are also well done.

This is not your typical, fluffy, feelgood children's book. It does not hide sin and death, but instead seeks to make them more understandable to the young child. It is a book with purpose. This book is rife with opportunities to discuss difficult Christian concepts with children. An allegorical adaptation of the story of the cross, this piece covers such concepts as: the fall, the hard-heartedness of all humanity, the cost of sin, the necessity of the Son's sacrifice, redemption, God's goodness even when things seem bad, and Christ's resurrection, just to name a few. There is potential to discuss many more topics that are touched on in the book as well. I disagree with a previous reviewer, who felt that the points were not adequately clear. Truly good children's literature covers difficult concepts that cause children to ask questions and think for themselves. The idea is not for the child to sit alone in his or her room reading the book and fully understanding it, but for a parent to read it to them and guide them through the difficult parts. I think this book does this better than most. Without giving us all the answers, it allows the child to think and the parent to lead the child into a discussion of the real Prince, and the poison of our sin that he accepted on the Cross.

As always, great and profound story based on the Bible. The print material was also impressive.

R. C. Sproul has written some helpful books for children. These books are "designed to present deep biblical truths to children on their own level." Each book presents a different aspect of God's character and serves as a wonderful conversation starter. The latter two (of which "The Prince's Poison Cup" is one) even include discussion questions and Scripture references at the end of the story. However, if you could only purchase one of these books, I think that "The Prince's Poison Cup" best communicates the Gospel of Jesus Christ and is therefore, the most beneficial. There are two things in particular that gave me pause in "The Prince's Poison Cup" that warrant further discussion. The first is the depiction of the deceiver in that he looks evil. This is a very common portrayal among children's books, however, I think it deserves special acknowledgment because often, sin and temptation do not look evil to us. The second point worth discussing is on Page 20 in a section that parallels Christ's time of prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane. In Dr. Sproul's story, his Prince trembles with fear as he considers whether there might be another way of rescuing His people. I would want to clarify that, although Scripture does say that Christ trembled, it never attributes fear to Christ. In Matthew 26: 37 & 38, Christ is described as sorrowful and troubled. Mark 14:33-34 describes Jesus as greatly distressed, troubled, and sorrowful. Luke 22:44 describes Jesus as being in agony. Furthermore, 1 John 4:18 states: "There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love" (1 John 4:18 ESV). Christ was perfected in love and perfectly trusted His Father in spite of the coming punishment He was to bear for the sins of His people and so, I do not think he could have been fearful. I could be wrong, but just to be cautious, I would try to use more Biblical language to describe Christ's trembling and sweat in the Garden as we are representing His character. (Please note: Dr. Sproul is not necessarily attributing fear to Christ in this book but rather to his fictional Prince character who parallels Christ.) I would not allow these two issues to prevent me from purchasing this book. It does a great job of communicating Gospel truth in a clear, concise manner to children. Due to the longer paragraphs, I would recommend these books for children who have longer attention spans (probably starting around age four to six, depending on the child). (Many thanks to Reformation Trust Publishing for granting me a review copy in exchange for my honest opinion!)

This book was written by highly respected theologian R.C. Sproul and designed to present deep biblical truths to children on their own level. It's a beautifully illustrated allegorical tale focusing on the atonement and how Jesus endured the curse of sin to redeem us. A little girl asks her grandpa why medicine, something to make her well, tastes so yucky. In answer, he tells her a story about a great King who enjoyed a close, loving relationship with his subjects until they rebelled and drank from a forbidden well that turned their hearts to stone. The grieved father asks his son, the prince, to drink from a poisoned well in order to save the people. Although he knows it will kill him, the prince is willing. Of course, the king brings the prince back to life. The people's hearts of stone are healed, and the poisoned well turns to a well full of sweet, clear water. The story is beautifully told and illustrated and contains a very helpful section for parents in the back with discussion questions and Scripture application. Of course, any allegory of redemption is going to be somewhat inadequate. After all, God didn't just send his son to rescue us, he came himself as the Son! We have nothing comparable. Still, I think the book gives us a decent illustration to work with and it's definitely a worthwhile read. Our family really enjoyed it, both the story and the gorgeous illustrations by Justin Gerard. (Thank you to Reformation Trust for providing a review copy of this book. I was not required to give a positive review, all opinions are my own.)

It's not every day that you come across a story that not only helps your child understand something he doesn't like to do, but (and more importantly) one that uses the same principles to illustrate a great Biblical truth. In R.C. Sproul's "The Prince's Poison Cup," a grandfather explains to his granddaughter that some things like medicine, while tasting horrible, help us to feel better. While he doesn't really give an answer as to why this is, he uses it as an illustration to teach a greater truth. He tells the little girl the story of a people who disobeyed a King's command not to drink from a beautiful fountain. Even though the fountain was beautiful to look at, the water was bad for them and turned their hearts to stone. In order to heal them, the King's son takes his Father's cup to another fountain in the City of Man to drink the poisonous brew, even though he knows the drink will kill him. The Prince dies, but is raised again by his Father. As a result, many of the people's hearts are changed and love the King once more. The Biblical parallels in this story are unmistakable. Sproul weaves the story in a way that makes it very easy to point out to children the similarities to Jesus' death and why it was that he died. There are two strong parallels made to the Scriptures. The first is that Jesus (the Prince) willingly does what His Father asks of him out of love for the Father and for the people. The second parallel is that because Jesus drank the cup of poison, the Father's anger is turned into the sweetest water. It should be noted that the story isn't a straight point-for-point allegory of the atonement, but I don't think the story was meant to parallel exactly. In illustrating the people's disobedience, the Father's love, the Son's willingness and the new life found only in coming to Jesus, this book does an excellent job. The guide for parents at the end of the book is helpful in pointing out where in Scripture the concepts in the story can be found. My children enjoyed listening to the story and were able to see the links between it and the Bible.

As a parent, I often try to come up with ways to present the truths of the gospel in a way that my children can understand. Often, I find myself frustrated in the task. It is highly difficult to allegorize the gospel without completely missing major, important truths. Thankfully, R. C. Sproul has made this task much easier by bringing us The Prince's Poison Cup. The story we find in the pages of this well-illustrated children's book is mainly the allegory of the gospel couched in the answer to a little girls' question about why medicine which makes us better tastes so bad. This affectation helps young readers to understand that they are hearing a clearly fictional story with a bigger, real-world meaning. The allegory itself is a sweeping picture of the overall story of redemption history--creation, fall, and redemption. In the allegory, a great king created all things. The king's subjects rebelled against him by drinking the water in a fountain in the center of the king's garden. That water caused the people's hearts to turn to stone, and their stony hearts led the people to hate and fear the loving king. In order to rescue his people, the king sent his son to drink a cup of poison, a poison made up of all the king's anger for the rebellion of his people. When the prince drinks the poison, the king arrives, raises him from the dead, and drives off the enemy who had deceived the people. Then the hearts of many of the people are changed from stone to flesh, and they come to receive fresh, healing water from the prince. Sproul has done an excellent job of bringing the details of redemption history into a readable children's storybook. My children grasp the flow of the story. They feel sorrow when they see the people rebel. They squirm when the prince drinks the poison. They rejoice when the people's hearts are changed and when they are restored to fellowship with the king. And, thankfully, they understand that this story represents the bigger truth of what Jesus did to help them to be made right with God. There is no doubt that this book was written to teach young ones the truth of redemption history, but it can help grown-ups too. We need, from time-to-time, to take a fresh look at the gospel for the encouragement of our own souls. We need to be reminded of how God, by his grace and for his glory, changed our stony hearts into soft hearts that could receive his free gift of mercy. We need to remember the horror that the Lord Jesus suffered in order to consume the wrath of God that we deserved. We need to remember that to embrace the sin of this world is to choose a slum over a garden. We need to remember that God is the great King who cannot and will not be defeated by the schemes of the enemy. We need to remember that it is good to take the message of the prince's sacrifice to all those who need grace. I offer a wholehearted recommendation of The Prince's Poison Cup. Parents, grandparents, and Sunday School teachers all could find ways to use this book. Even youth workers and grown-up pastors can benefit by having on their shelves a resource that so simply and beautifully captures the big picture of God's plan. R. C. Sproul has given us a great gift by taking the time to write for us such a sweet little book. [Disclosure: Reformation Trust has offered a free hardcopy of this book to me in exchange for the publishing of this review. The publisher did not in any way influence how the review was written, not asking for a positive review, but simply asked that the review be honest and thoughtful.]

R.C. Sproul is a leading Reformed teacher and theologian. He is the founder of Ligonier Academy, editor of the Tabletalk devotional and host of the radio program Renewing Your Mind. He is also the author of several excellent Gospel-centered children's books which are distinguished from others of their genre both by their theological depth and artistic excellence. The Prince's Poison Cup is a well-developed, transparent allegory for Jesus' ransom of humanity from their sin. When a young child asks her grandfather why medicine tastes so bad, he takes the opportunity to tell a story about a king who built a garden for his people, with a fountain of pure water in the middle. Against his command, the people drank from the fountain and it turned to poison. This resulted in their hearts being turned against their King, while earning his wrath. Only by sending his Prince to drink the poison and die from it could the poison be turned back into water, the people's hearts be changed, and the King's anger be satisfied. Many of the story elements are drawn from Jesus' statements about Himself. In John 4:10 and John 7:37 He invites people to come to Him and drink. In Matthew 26:39 He compares his suffering to a cup which has been assigned for him to drink. This in turn is drawn from a common biblical analogy (see for example Isaiah 51:17, Jeremiah 25:15, and Revelation 16:19) comparing God's wrath to a full cup assigned for the wicked to drink. This story dramatically enacts the story of Jesus' rescue of sinners through His voluntary death on our behalf. It is an excellent way to introduce and reenact His sacrifice for us in a way that will engage young children's imaginations. It comes with a study guide to help readers draw explicit connections between the story and the full Gospel. Unlike much Christian Bible literature, it is well written and the illustrations are artistically excellent. I highly recommend this book for children's devotionals or simply as a good read-aloud.

My son, Tinsley, has been through so much in his short life. He has spent most of the first 3 months of his life in the hospital or the emergency room. When we last took him to the ER I told him, "We're home!" Even at his age he knows that people who try to help him cause him pain. He probably does not understand that what is painful is meant to help him, but I am sure that he will understand that better than most as he grows. The book The Prince's Poison Cup is a story in answer to a small girl's question of why medicine tastes so badly. In the cloak of a sage grandfather, RC Sproul tells about a king who loved his people so much that he sent his son, the prince, to drink a wretched poison from a fountain in order to die and reconcile the people with their king. Drinking the horrid poison was the only way to set things right, and the prince did it to save the people that his father loved best. Tinsley has a very strong opinion of books at his age (he loves to hear CH Spurgeon and hates his mommy's theology book). He was absolutely taken by the artwork in this book, starring at each picture as I showed it to him. I know that he does not now understand the words, but I am eager to share this story with him again and again to help not only give him context for his pain, but as a way to talk about our Savior Jesus Christ.

The Living Room Couch (Blogspot) Book Reviews You Want to Read Story behind the story: I enjoy the written word as much as anyone. The question at hand is, "Do I enjoy the electronic word?" This is the first PDF version of a book that I have read, and it's a good thing I started with one that had pictures. I should let you know I received this book from Reformation Trust. I'm not required to give a positive review, but they do ask that I do not malign the Word of God. I think I can agree to that! Story Line: Dr. Sproul tells his children's story through a Princess-Bride-like lens (Grandfather/sick grandchild). He answers her question, "Why does what makes you better (medicine) taste so bad?" He tells her the story of a Prince who must drink from the poison in order to cure those with a stone heart. The story parallels Eden to the sacrifice that Christ made for us. The Real Story: As we begin the journey into foster care to adopt, I am eager to find ways to share with kids in a creative way the essential Message of Life. We never know how much and how long of an impact we can have on these kids. This is a great resource that gets right to the heart of the gospel. The illustrations are fantastic and stylistically appealing. Perhaps the greatest value is in the Parent Pages at the end. There are questions that parents can discuss that directly coincide with the story. The answers are provided through several Scriptures each. Talk about an answer key! R.C. is not my favorite children's author. There isn't the rhyme and rhythm that you might expect, but he is one of the greatest theological minds of our time. We may not always agree, but I have always had great respect for this man and his ministry. Check out: The Story of Eden as found in Genesis; The Story of the Answer as found in John Rating: 4 out of 5 Lullabies.

"The Prince's Poison Cup" is an allegorical book. The real allegory is a story within a story, told by a grandfather to his granddaughter. She asks him about the medicine she has to take for her tummy ache, and why it tastes so bad if it is going to make her well. The grandfather springboards off of this apparent paradox to tell a story about things that look good but are actually bad, and things that look bad but are actually good, referring to the fruit of the knowledge of good and evil and the cup of God's wrath respectively. So the bulk of the story covers the allegory, which depicts the fall of man and the suffering of Christ as the way mankind can be redeemed. This book is meant for preschoolers and early elementary schoolers, I think. You can visit the Ligonier page for this book to get a small preview of the content and difficulty. This is definitely not for a beginning reader, because there are actually a lot of words. (I find it slightly humorous that R.C. Sproul retains some of his scholarly diction, even when writing for kids. This book includes words such as "archenemy," "violated," and "justified." I suspect that some of the more difficult words were kept in for their theological connotations, although I do wonder about other words like "taunted" and "persuaded.") I do, however, think that even early preschoolers can benefit from having this book read to them by a sibling, parent, or babysitter. There are beautiful illustrations so that they can remain engaged and follow the storyline. It is well-written, and the pacing is excellent, with full-page illustrations every once in a while to accent important events. (There are even four full pages of illustrations at the Prince's death.) As a children's book, "The Prince's Poison Cup" is meant to cover the major concepts of Christ's suffering and its implications for us sinners. It's not going to be complex, detailed, or even expository. It is an allegory meant for children, and that is exactly what it delivers. I first read it expecting a deeply complex and intricate allegory. I'm glad I didn't find it. This isn't a work of literature. It's a simple allegorical tale that kids will be able to understand. The greatest benefit of this story is that it provides an excellent segue for talking about salvation and the work of Christ, as well as more complex themes like Christus victor, the servanthood of Jesus, and satisfaction in God (if you so choose). Also helpful will be the four pages at the end labeled "For Parents" which has some discussion questions (e.g. "Does Jesus offer people a `drink' of some kind?") with relevant Bible verses to facilitate conversations focused on teaching young children the truth. This is an excellent resource and a lovely book that I'm sure you will find helpful in instructing children in the way of truth. I hope you consider it for any Christmas or birthday gifts you may give! (This book was provided free for review by Reformation Trust Publishing, but the opinions contained herein are solely my own.)

Little Ella is sick and must take medicine that tastes horrible. She does not understand how something so horrible can do so much good. It's her kindly old grandfather who helps explain things to her. And the way he does is with a story that helps her understand Christ also. This approach is what makes this book so wonderful. It is a parable of the first coming of Jesus Christ tied in with struggle with what Ella is going through with her medicine. Will the Prince who was sent by his Father willing to drink from the poison cup that will heal the world? Yes, I'm glad that He did. And how easy it is to show your child from this how the real story of Christ was so necessary. The Prince's Poison Cup also shows the love that Christ has for His children. Justin Gerard's artwork is some of the best I've ever seen in a children's book, Christian or secular. The colors, the facial expressions, and balance in the artwork is well thought out and appropriate for the topic. The book does use the ESV as a reference for verses. I would recommend getting a King James Version to refer to. I hope R.C. Sproul and Justin Gerard do many more books. This one is truly a blessing. Mick McArt Author, Tales of Wordishure [..] Review Date: 6/9/2010

This book is a wonderful modern day parable. My 5 year old loves the story of the prince doing something good for his people, and is drawn in by the beautiful artwork. We originally thought the story may be too long for his attention span, but he continues to request it over & over and, with discussion, is beginning to be able to apply the concepts of the book to real life situations as well as to linking it to the Gospel account of Christ. Our 11 year old also enjoys this book and it is an excellent illustration for her of the concepts and principles we try to teach. You know how at times a person is speaking and trying to articulate a point, but you don't really grasp the depth of what they're saying until they give you a story from their personal experience to demonstrate it? This book acts as a tool to do just that with your child and it is a joy to have a great story with a significant moral point that is useful in teaching and entertaining both a 5 year old boy & 11 year old girl who most days want to do nothing similar to each other!

The Prince’s Poison Cup written by R.C. Sproul and published by Reformation Trust Publishing, and is one of the children’s titles currently offered under this publisher. Dr. Sproul is world renowned for works on Reformed Theology and Apologetics aimed at adults but The Prince’s Poison Cup is uniquely aimed at conveying the truths of scripture to very young children. The Prince’s Poison Cup has two major strengths: the story and the illustration. With regard to the story, The Prince’s Poison Cup, takes a ‘Princess Bride’ approach to storytelling, a story within a story if you will. While this approach can get confusing or exhausting in other works, that cannot be said of The Prince’s Poison Cup, which is fast paced, sharp, and witty. With regard to communicating the truths of God’s Word, Dr. Sproul goes to great lengths to communicate to young children the Gospel starting with original sin, the need of a savior, and the provision of the savior in Jesus within a unique allegorical tale. With regard to the illustration, The Prince’s Poison Cup has vivid colors and is masterfully drawn so that it not only captures a child’s attention but their imagination as well. Furthermore the illustrations not only illustrate the allegorical tale but progress the story in a way words cannot do. If you are looking to purchase The Prince’s Poison Cup, it is a delightfully articulated and beautifully illustrated book; the audience is for ages 3 to 7, yet when I read it to my daughter (age under 2) she was captivated the entire time. This book was provided to me free of charge from Reformation Trust Publishing in exchange for an unbiased, honest review.

R. C. Sproul has written several children's books. I have been aware of them for some years, but since our children are grown and grand children are not yet on the scene, I have not had a reason to purchase one of the book. I do intend to purchase all of them once grand children are on the scene!! We purchased THE PRINCE'S POISON CUP for a young boy who is being adopted. There was a shower for the family and we were asked to bring a children's book as part of the celebration. This was our chance to purchase one of Sproul's children's books. When it arrived I read the book from cover to cover. The art is decent, and the story flows along very well. It is a religious book, of course, so behind the story is the Bible's teaching on the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ for the sins of mankind. It is a story that is especially good to read to your child. You can pause along the way to look at the pictures and talk about them. There are many interesting things in the pictures. At the end of the book the parent will find a discussion guide to help talk through the biblical teaching of the Jesus' atonement in terms that the child can understand. There are a set of questions with Bible verses as answers. I think this is probably a book that parents will enjoy reading to their child at many ages. It is also a nice way to instruct one's child in one of the important biblical teachings.

The story is short and sweet, a simple allegory of Christ’s love for people and His willingness to die for all mankind. But the text needs a thorough editing job. Lots and lots of typos, especially in the Q & A section that follows the story, make for a confusing read. I hope the publisher will clean up the text and provide an updated version soon.

This is an excellent portrayal of the relationship of God the father and Jesus and the work that was done on the cross. I read the story to my 3-year old and when I was done I asked, 'Who was this story really about?' She thought for a second and said 'Jesus'! I would recommend buying an actual book. The kindle version text and illustrations do not correlate well (I.e. There will be pages of text with no pictures and then several pictures in a row). The illustrations are beautiful too.

This book is terrific and would appeal to both girls and boys. The illustrations are beautiful. It's a treasure.

After reading the reviews, I decided to purchase this book for my girls (ages 4 and 8). Dr. Sproul does an amazing job portraying the Gospel in a way that even a child can understand. Both of my girls love this book, and repetedly ask me to read it to them, especially my 4 year old. Durring the first reading, my 8 year old daughter actually stopped me, and asked me if she could tell me what the story was about... She Got it! I highly reccomend this book for your own children, and to give as gifts to others.

What a beautiful story. From the illustrations to the way it was written. I read to my almost 4 year old and although it may be geared for more older kids there are a lot of great notes in the back for explaining the gospel in detail with scripture references. Great resource! The illustrations may be scary for some sensitive younger children...but I find it very moving...the kind of book an adult enjoys as well.

We own four of R. C. Sproul's children's books. This is probably one of my favorite (although I like all of them very much). This is the story of a people created, a people rebelled, and a King's Son who had to drink poison to save the world. It's beautiful. You see creation, fall, redemption, and it celebrates Jesus' obedience to God and his love for mankind. The illustrations are also well done.

This is not your typical, fluffy, feelgood children's book. It does not hide sin and death, but instead seeks to make them more understandable to the young child. It is a book with purpose. This book is rife with opportunities to discuss difficult Christian concepts with children. An allegorical adaptation of the story of the cross, this piece covers such concepts as: the fall, the hard-heartedness of all humanity, the cost of sin, the necessity of the Son's sacrifice, redemption, God's goodness even when things seem bad, and Christ's resurrection, just to name a few. There is potential to discuss many more topics that are touched on in the book as well. I disagree with a previous reviewer, who felt that the points were not adequately clear. Truly good children's literature covers difficult concepts that cause children to ask questions and think for themselves. The idea is not for the child to sit alone in his or her room reading the book and fully understanding it, but for a parent to read it to them and guide them through the difficult parts. I think this book does this better than most. Without giving us all the answers, it allows the child to think and the parent to lead the child into a discussion of the real Prince, and the poison of our sin that he accepted on the Cross.

As always, great and profound story based on the Bible. The print material was also impressive.

The Prince's Poison Cup is about a little girl and her medicine and a King and His subjects. The book is basically a story the grandfather tells a little girl to help her understand how yucky medicine can be good for her. The story starts with the subjects coming to a beautiful park to talk with the King and drink from all the streams. They are told not to drink of the fountain in the center of the park for it will hurt them. A dark stranger comes and convinces the subjects to drink from the fountain. Unfortunately, their hearts turn to stone and they turn away from the King. They build their own city and never go to the park anymore. The King asks His Son to go to the city, dip a golden cup in the fountain of poison and drink it. He tells the Prince that it is the only way to save the people. The Prince goes to the city and drinks the poison. He dies....or so you think. The King appears and touches the Prince. He lives!!! The fountain then becomes clean and the Prince again fills his cup and offers it to the people. The people drink it and are saved. The story is of man's fall and the awesome power of Jesus to save us all from sin by dying on the cross for us.

The Prince’s Poison Cup: A children’s book written by Dr. R.C. Sproul, a pastor and theologian from Sanford, Florida. This book was illustrated by Justin Gerard. This wonderfully illustrated book shows children the price Jesus had to pay for sins as our Ultimate Atonement. prince The story begins as a little girl named Ella Ruth was sick, did not want to drink her medicine, asking her Dad why it tasted so bad if it was good for her. So Grandpa comes to the scene, sharing an important lesson that, “sometimes things that seem terrible are actually very good.” Grandpa tells the story of the King of Life who created a beautiful and perfect park with subjects he ruled over. This story uniquely covers the biblical account of the Fall through redemption. The King created a fountain and told His subjects, “The water in the fountain will harm you. Do not drink it.” The King’s subjects, in disobedience, drank the water, and so left the park, building their own city called The City of Man. In the middle of the City was another fountain filled with poison. This poison was “made up of the King’s anger of the people’s disobedience.” Though the people disobeyed, there was a plan to redeem the people. The King’s Son, the Prince, was to go to City of Man and drink this deadly poison to save the people. Through the Prince’s sacrifice, the people could be redeemed; their hearts could turn from stone to flesh. This story has some very simple, yet deep, theological implications. Some of these theological topics are that the King had every right to destroy the city (justice), the people’s hearts turned to stone (depravity), the Prince drinking the cup of the King’s wrath (propitiation), the healing of the people (redemption), and the immense love of the King. All to this to say that the Gospel was beautifully woven into the story. It is never too young for children to be learning about these important truths. It will be easy for the children to pay attention to the story as I was periodically held in suspense myself. Most Christian children’s books these days lack substantial meaning and are shallow. R. C Sproul’s books are intertwined with deep seated meaning that will not only teach the children but the parents as well. This book has helpful questions in the back of the book for parents to ask their children and to engage in theological conversations. Why keep the children in the kiddy pool when they can be in an ocean? We just need to teach them to swim first, which is the goal of this book. Here is an example, “THE POISON THE PRINCE HAD TO DRINK WAS MADE UP OF “THE KING’S ANGER OVER THE PEOPLE’S DISOBEDIENCE.” DOES GOD GET ANGRY ABOUT SIN? For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men. (Romans 1:18a) I think that this is a great way for parents to not be lazy in simply reading the answers to their children and to customize the answer depending on the age of the child. I recommend this book for children of all ages; making a great gift for children or expectant mothers. Read this book if you desire to deepen your child’s understanding of Scripture and the Gospel. **Reviewer will receive a copy of the book due to writing a review**

Thursday, February 28, 2013Review: The Prince's Poison Cup We recently had the pleasure or reading another R.C Sproul book for children. The Prince's Poison Cup is a wonderful story that mirrors God's sacrifice of his son for our sins. In the City of Man, the people are in peace with their king and spend time with him in the park.In the center of the park was a beautiful fountain. The people were not allowed to drink from the founatin. One day, a stranger dressed in a black cloak appeared and told the people they could drink the water without concern. Of course, being told they would be like their king was far too much temptation, they decided to drink and their hearts became hard (like stone)They no longer visited their king in the park.Stone like hearts desired to please themselves. Their king was greatly saddened. He sent his son(the prince) to come into the village and drink the poison water from the fountain. With all that he was the prince did not want to drink. The water was foul and smelled bad, and the people were cruel. The jeered at the prince, and when he drank, laughed and cheered when he fell to his death beside the fountain. The king himself appeared in a bright white cloak. The dark man tried to shield his eyes from the brightness but could not. The king approached his son and touched him, the Prince opened his eyes.The King of Life brought his son back to life. The water in the fountain changed suddenly. It became sweet, clear water. "If anyone thirts, let him come to me and drink" the King proclaimed. The people surrounding the fountain in the plaza bagne to feel a change. Their hearts were softening. They could not contain their joy. The prince's death by drinking the fowl water had cleared away their sin. This being a wonderful way of a grandfather explaining to his grandaughter, why some medicine that tastes bad, can be helpful. I have enjoyed both stories that we have read written by R.C. Sproul.The stories are engaging, excellent metaphors for scriptural stories, and each is followed by questions for discussion backed with scripture. Choose this wonderful story to share with your children. you won't be disappointed.

Some time back, I reviewed The Priest with Dirty Clothes by R.C. Sproul. While children's books aren't the usual fare here, I do have six children, and reading children's books is something with which I have a fair amount of experience. We enjoyed reading that book as a family. As a father interested in his children's spiritual growth, I enjoyed going through the questions in the back of the book that provided for quite a bit of question-and-answer interaction. When I was given the opportunity to review another similar book by RC Sproul, I was glad to do so. The Prince's Poison Cup is a book that begins with a common childhood predicament- having to drink "yucky" medicine. I remember doing that as a child, and I recall the involuntary shivers that "yucky" medicine caused. During the course of events, grandpa comes over and proceeds to tell young Ella a tale that puts the story of atonement and redemption well within the grasp of even the younger readers. In grandpa's tale, which (to me at least) had echoes of John Bunyan's The Holy War, the subjects of a king, who live in a beautiful kingdom created for them, eventually rebel against the king in disobedience, in a sequence that bears a strong resemblance to the Biblical account of the Fall, complete with an appearance by the King's "archenemy." When they disobeyed, their hearts were turned to stone, and they no longer wanted anything to do with the King. They left the park the King had created for them and built themselves a city- the City of Man. In following pages, the story of the King's Son unfolds, and we follow him through his travel to the City of Man, and watch the trials he undergoes as he seeks to undo the damage that the people's rebellion had done. The King's Son was to go to the City of Man and fill up his golden cup with poison- and drink every last drop. The Prince goes to the City, offers his cup to the King's archenemy who had led the people in rebellion, and watches as his golden cup is filled to the brim with poison. Then, in an act of incomprehensible love towards a people who hate him, he drinks every last drop. Now, maybe I am overemotional when it comes to this analogy, but I have to admit to you that Dr. Sproul did a very good job of conveying the Prince's struggles, the treachery of the betrayal, and in general, the unspeakable tragedy of the entire story. This story brought a tear to my eye as I read it aloud, and I am not ashamed to have let my children see it. What an unspeakable love Christ showed us. What unthinkable mercy. Throughout the book, I found that the illustrations added greatly to the general mood of the story, and had a unique feel to them. The book and story would perhaps not have been the same without them, and I think that both Dr. Sproul and the illustrator, Justin Gerard, have produced a piece of art in more than one way. I don't know if either of them will ever read this, but I think that this book has blessed me just as much -if not more- than it has my family. Reading a good story to my kids out of an old-fashioned hardcover is something I greatly enjoy. If you're looking for a good children's book that is not too long and is good "bedtime story" or devotional material, I highly recommend this book. I was provided with a free copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review, but I definitely intend to buy more to give as gifts to nieces and nephews.

Book Review | The Prince’s Poison Cup The Prince’s Poison Cup by R.C. Sproul is a fantastic book that I look forward to reading to my niece and nephew soon and my future children someday. This book displays so many theological truths in such simple language in such an easy-to-understand story. Sproul discusses creation, man, fall, redemption through Christ, atonement, substitution, the Holy Spirit’s work, and so many more. My mind is still reeling in remembering all the little details he used to display such big ideas. The story begins as most Sproul books do, a child is doing something (in this instance, taking nasty medicine) which provokes a large life question (Why does medicine taste so bad if it’s going to make us well?). The parents then (and always) decide that the grandfather is the best person to answer hard life questions. Grandpa comes over and gives the answer in a beautiful story. The story that Grandpa tells this time is about the King of Life who created a great park and people to play in it. The people and the King enjoyed being together in the park. In the middle of the park was a fountain that the King instructed the people not to drink from because it would harm them. One day a stranger comes along and serves the people water from the fountain. These sips from the fountain bring sadness, ugliness, and disaster. The people flee the area and create the City of Man. The King knew the people would disobey him and had created a plan to help them. He was saddened that the people of the city were now in misery, even though he would be justified in destroying them because they terribly violated his command. The King sends the Prince who will need to draw water from the fountain in the middle of the City of Man and drink it. That drink would hurt, burn, sting, and be the most terrible experience the Prince had ever experienced. In fact, it would be so terrible, it would kill him. The Prince, determined to fulfill this task from the King went to the City of Man and did as he had asked and was brought to death. At the same moment, a person with a brilliant white cloak (the King of Life) came and brought his son, the Prince back to life. At that moment, the fountain in the City of Man changed from misery to sweet life. The Prince offered the cup to anyone who thirsts and a young boy came and drank. The drink from the new fountain changed his heart to love the King he had learned to hate. Sproul sums it up well as the Grandpa talking to the granddaughter, “Ella, I want you to remember that we get sick because of sin. That’s why the medicine that makes our bodies well usually looks and tastes bad. But the Prince had to drink something far more terrible so that His people might be healed from the results of their disobedience. Each time you have to take bitter medicine, I want you to remember the story of the Prince’s poison cup.” (p. 35) Disclaimer: I receive a free copy of this book from its publishers for an unbiased review.

Ella has a problem. Her stomach hurts really bad, but the medicine her father prepares looks like it will taste extremely bad. She asks her father: "Daddy, why does medicine taste so bad if it's going to make us well?" At this point Daddy chickens out and tells Ella to ask her grandfather when he comes over later. Apparently Ella really likes her grandfather, because she actually takes a nap while waiting on him to get there instead of following her father around the house yelling "WHY?! WHY!? WHY!? WHY?! WHY!?" Once Grandpa arrives, he hardly gets in the door before Ella is asking him the same question: "Grandpa, why is my medicine so yucky if it's going to make me well?" Grandpa, being the masterful theologian he is, takes this simple question from his granddaughter and begins to tell the tale of the Prince's Poison Cup. A simple summary of the story goes as follows (From Ligonier ministries webpage:) "[The] great King and His subjects...enjoyed wonderful times together -- until the people rebelled against the King and drank from a forbidden well. To their horror, they found that the beautiful water in the well made their hearts turn to stone. To reclaim His people, the King asks His Son, the Prince, to drink from a well of horrid poison. The poison will surely kill the Prince -- but He is willing to drink it to please His Father and help His people." So, as you can see, the poison in this case is our sin that Jesus had to "drink" in order that we might be healed. Not only is this story written extremely well, but the artwork is amazingly beautiful. Justin Gerard also did the artwork for "The Priests with Dirty Clothes" as well. I think this book would make a fantastic addition to any parent's library. I look forward to reading the rest of Sproul's children's books as well. Disclaimer: I received a review copy of this book from Ligonier Ministries, but I am not required to give any book I review a positive review if I do not enjoy it!

R. C. Sproul's writings have meant a lot to me for many years, so several years ago I noted with interest when he began writing children's books. This is the first of his children's books I have read however. I am now all the more interested to get his other children's books. This story is a good allegorical retelling of the gospel. The story begins with a little girl who loves to hear stories from her grandfather. She asks him, "If medicine helps us get better, why does it always seem to taste so bad?" From this question the grandfather tells her a story of how "sometimes things that seem terrible are actually very good." What follows then is medieval story of a people who rebelled against their good King (the King of Life) and drank from a forbidden fountain. As a result the people became wicked and abandoned the King. Eventually the King's Son, the Prince came and drank the deadly poison himself. The poison killed him, but the King brought him back to life. The Prince's action also turned the poisoned fountain into a life giving fountain that restored the people to the King. The story is well woven bringing in many facets of Christ's ministry and giving a good grasp of the atonement in basic terms. A discussion guide is also provided in the back to help parents discuss the book with their children. This is a great tool, because although the connections will seem obvious to those raised in the faith, this guide ensures that you can give this book to people with no background in the faith and they will be sure to see the connections being made. I commend this book heartily. Books like this are wonderful on various levels. For one, I like to be able to present the gospel regularly to my children from various angles. Secondly, this is a great tools for parents, helping them as they read to their children to better grasp the gospel and to learn to interpret some of the imagery of the Bible. Then, this is helpful not only for believing parents, but it can also be a good evangelism tool as you give books like this to non-Christian parents. Often time parents who do not profess faith will want their children to have some exposure to Christianity. Anyone reading this book- young or old- will hear the gospel, and that gospel is still the power of God unto salvation (Rom 1:16)! Lastly, the book also portrays a healthy family situation where a grandfather is involved in the life of hid grandchildren, where he is considered a source of wisdom, and where adults take time to tell stories and explain the gospel to children.

Anyone who knows myself or my family knows our make up; 6 kids, 2 of which are adopted and we just arrived home with them from China. Both of whom are deaf. With reaching the latest status of 6 kids, we have been very intentional trying to ensure we are doing things with all of them as well as specifically spending time with them individually. All of my kids share in my love of reading. So when I noticed a new PDF sent to me free of charge by Reformation Trust; It was a picture book that was published a few years back "The Princes' Poison Cup" by R.C. Sproul; We opened it up and spent the next 20 min's having a very memorable time with my older 3 kids. First off here is what the Publisher had to say about this work: With The Prince's Poison Cup, Dr. R. C. Sproul continues his series of books designed to present deep biblical truths to children on their own level. In this work, he focuses on the atonement to show that Jesus had to endure the curse of sin in order to redeem His people from their spiritual death. When Ella gets sick and has to take yucky medicine, she wonders why something that will help her get well has to taste so bad. When she puts the question to Grandpa, he tells her the story of a great King and His subjects who enjoyed wonderful times together until the people rebelled against the King and drank from a forbidden well. To their horror, they found that the beautiful water in the well made their hearts turn to stone. To reclaim His people, the King asks His Son, the Prince, to drink from a well of horrid poison. The poison will surely kill the Prince but He is willing to drink it to please His Father and help His people. Richly illustrated, The Prince's Poison Cup will help children appreciate the great love of God for His people and the awful price Jesus had to pay because of sin. A For Parents section provides assistance in unfolding the biblical elements of the story. _______________________________________________________________________ So I began reading and I asked my kids to pay attention as I told them the story and to tell me when they recognized it! We start out with the King of Life who created a city with a beautiful fountain in the middle. After telling his people that they could drink from any stream in the kingdom but not out of the fountain, he lived and spent his life with them. One day his archenemy arrives and convinces the people to drink from the fountain. When they do their heart's turn heard and they all leave to create their own city and fountain. The King, out of his Love for the people, asks that his son visits this city and drink from their fountain with a Golden cup that he was given by his father. That only then could these people be healed. The catch is that the new fountain is full of poison. When the prince drinks it, this bitter poison fills his lungs and kills him. The prince dies, the enemy rejoices, but then the king returns. He returns and heals his son and all those who will drink the cup from his son. The art work was very well done, I enjoyed being able to turn to an art work that expressed the key points of the story. It engaged all my kids from my 10 year old to my 6 year old. But the beauty of this book is not in the art work, the verbiage, or just the analogy it represents. No the beauty was in the last couple pages of the book. At the end of this title, after the story is finished there are a few pages of questions. These questions enabled my children and I to have a very engaged and informed conversation not just about the story but about Jesus, his death on the cross, sin, Satan and God's Love. I was amazed at the questions that arose from this simple Picture book in the mind of my 8 year old boy. He focused in more on the bitterness of the poison. Why is it bitter? This enabled us to talk about the bitterness of sin's effects on our lives. It may seem good at first but it makes us bitter towards God, or hardens our hearts... Those 5 min's of questions, and seeking and learning with my children are what make this book so amazing to me. This book was such a simple retelling of God's love, his provision, his healing and his redemption that all ages will be able to better comprehend. This is a title that I will share with all of my family, my friends and my church. Just as we find sometimes in Jesus' nature, a simple message but so powerful and profound when we just take a minute to think.

The Prince's Poison Cup is a beautiful rendition of the reason mankind needs a savior and the ultimate sacrifice that was made. The story starts with a beautiful town that the King of Light has created. The people in the town are happy in their daily fellowship with their ruler, until they disobey his orders and drink from the forbidden well. The rest of the story follows the Prince's journey as he must muster his courage and try to rescue the town's people from their own mistake of drinking from the well. This was a delightful and charming book! The pictures were intriguing, captivating and just overall beautifully done. The age range of this book is definitely early elementary school, but even I as an adult reader thoroughly enjoyed it. This book would make a nice edition to any children's pastor, teacher, or family's library. The story is succinct and nicely paced. The vocabulary is nice too. Overall I give this book 10/10 stars on my rating scale. This is definitely a must if you have any elementary age children living in your home or if you have anyone that you want to explain the Gospel to! Disclaimer: For reviewing this book, I will be receiving a copy of it for my library from Ligonier Books.

The Prince's Poison Cup by R. C. Sproul is an allegorical story about the fall of man and Christ's sacrifice for our salvation. Grandfather tells Ella a story about a king whose people have turned away from him. He has to send his son - the prince - to drink a cup of poison to heal their stony hearts. I thought the author did a great job of conveying the gospel through a "fairy tale" type story. The bigger message was clear and a parents' section at the end provides additional support for those who aren't as confident in unpacking these truths with their kids. Much of the book has great description as well, with only a few exceptions. The illustrations are beautiful and helped tell the story visually. I received a free copy of this book from The Reformation Trust in exchange for my fair and honest review.

The Prince’s Poison Cup written by R.C. Sproul and published by Reformation Trust Publishing, and is one of the children’s titles currently offered under this publisher. Dr. Sproul is world renowned for works on Reformed Theology and Apologetics aimed at adults but The Prince’s Poison Cup is uniquely aimed at conveying the truths of scripture to very young children. The Prince’s Poison Cup has two major strengths: the story and the illustration. With regard to the story, The Prince’s Poison Cup, takes a ‘Princess Bride’ approach to storytelling, a story within a story if you will. While this approach can get confusing or exhausting in other works, that cannot be said of The Prince’s Poison Cup, which is fast paced, sharp, and witty. With regard to communicating the truths of God’s Word, Dr. Sproul goes to great lengths to communicate to young children the Gospel starting with original sin, the need of a savior, and the provision of the savior in Jesus within a unique allegorical tale. With regard to the illustration, The Prince’s Poison Cup has vivid colors and is masterfully drawn so that it not only captures a child’s attention but their imagination as well. Furthermore the illustrations not only illustrate the allegorical tale but progress the story in a way words cannot do. If you are looking to purchase The Prince’s Poison Cup, it is a delightfully articulated and beautifully illustrated book; the audience is for ages 3 to 7, yet when I read it to my daughter (age under 2) she was captivated the entire time. This book was provided to me free of charge from Reformation Trust Publishing in exchange for an unbiased, honest review.

R. C. Sproul has written several children's books. I have been aware of them for some years, but since our children are grown and grand children are not yet on the scene, I have not had a reason to purchase one of the book. I do intend to purchase all of them once grand children are on the scene!! We purchased THE PRINCE'S POISON CUP for a young boy who is being adopted. There was a shower for the family and we were asked to bring a children's book as part of the celebration. This was our chance to purchase one of Sproul's children's books. When it arrived I read the book from cover to cover. The art is decent, and the story flows along very well. It is a religious book, of course, so behind the story is the Bible's teaching on the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ for the sins of mankind. It is a story that is especially good to read to your child. You can pause along the way to look at the pictures and talk about them. There are many interesting things in the pictures. At the end of the book the parent will find a discussion guide to help talk through the biblical teaching of the Jesus' atonement in terms that the child can understand. There are a set of questions with Bible verses as answers. I think this is probably a book that parents will enjoy reading to their child at many ages. It is also a nice way to instruct one's child in one of the important biblical teachings.

The story is short and sweet, a simple allegory of Christ’s love for people and His willingness to die for all mankind. But the text needs a thorough editing job. Lots and lots of typos, especially in the Q & A section that follows the story, make for a confusing read. I hope the publisher will clean up the text and provide an updated version soon.

This is an excellent portrayal of the relationship of God the father and Jesus and the work that was done on the cross. I read the story to my 3-year old and when I was done I asked, 'Who was this story really about?' She thought for a second and said 'Jesus'! I would recommend buying an actual book. The kindle version text and illustrations do not correlate well (I.e. There will be pages of text with no pictures and then several pictures in a row). The illustrations are beautiful too.

This book is terrific and would appeal to both girls and boys. The illustrations are beautiful. It's a treasure.

After reading the reviews, I decided to purchase this book for my girls (ages 4 and 8). Dr. Sproul does an amazing job portraying the Gospel in a way that even a child can understand. Both of my girls love this book, and repetedly ask me to read it to them, especially my 4 year old. Durring the first reading, my 8 year old daughter actually stopped me, and asked me if she could tell me what the story was about... She Got it! I highly reccomend this book for your own children, and to give as gifts to others.

What a beautiful story. From the illustrations to the way it was written. I read to my almost 4 year old and although it may be geared for more older kids there are a lot of great notes in the back for explaining the gospel in detail with scripture references. Great resource! The illustrations may be scary for some sensitive younger children...but I find it very moving...the kind of book an adult enjoys as well.

We own four of R. C. Sproul's children's books. This is probably one of my favorite (although I like all of them very much). This is the story of a people created, a people rebelled, and a King's Son who had to drink poison to save the world. It's beautiful. You see creation, fall, redemption, and it celebrates Jesus' obedience to God and his love for mankind. The illustrations are also well done.

This is not your typical, fluffy, feelgood children's book. It does not hide sin and death, but instead seeks to make them more understandable to the young child. It is a book with purpose. This book is rife with opportunities to discuss difficult Christian concepts with children. An allegorical adaptation of the story of the cross, this piece covers such concepts as: the fall, the hard-heartedness of all humanity, the cost of sin, the necessity of the Son's sacrifice, redemption, God's goodness even when things seem bad, and Christ's resurrection, just to name a few. There is potential to discuss many more topics that are touched on in the book as well. I disagree with a previous reviewer, who felt that the points were not adequately clear. Truly good children's literature covers difficult concepts that cause children to ask questions and think for themselves. The idea is not for the child to sit alone in his or her room reading the book and fully understanding it, but for a parent to read it to them and guide them through the difficult parts. I think this book does this better than most. Without giving us all the answers, it allows the child to think and the parent to lead the child into a discussion of the real Prince, and the poison of our sin that he accepted on the Cross.

As always, great and profound story based on the Bible. The print material was also impressive.

The Prince's Poison Cup is an amazing book by R.C. Sproul geared for children but just as good for parents. Dr. Sproul is a pastor, teacher, theologian, and philosopher who understands God's Word so well that he is able to make it understandable to children without sacrificing any of the deep, important meaning of important concepts. This is his fourth book for kids and each one keeps getting better. The Prince's Poison Cup is written to help kids understand the concept of substitutionary atonement. Dr. Sproul does this by first introducing us to Ella Ruth, who has a bad tummy ache and has to take some yucky medicine to make it go away. She doesn't understand why medicine that makes us feel better has to taste so bad. She turns to her grandpa for an answer and he responds with a story. In the story there is a king who is so powerful he is able to create anything. He makes a beautiful park and people to live in it. In the middle of the park he creates a fountain. Every day the king comes to visit his subjects. They have a wonderful relationship. The only thing that the king asks of his subjects is that they do not drink out of the fountain in the middle of the park. One day the king's archenemy convinces the people to go against the king's command and drink the water from the fountain. When they do, their hearts are turned to stone and they rebel against the king. They leave the park and build their own city and don't want anything to do with the king anymore. The king was angry that the people rebelled against him and so he placed a fountain in the middle of that city that was filled with poison - his wrath at the sin of his subjects. At the same time, the king still loved his subjects and desired to make a way that his wrath could be removed and the relationship could be restored with his people. The rest of the book is the story of how the king provides forgiveness for his people and how Ella Ruth's medicine is a reminder of what God did for us. This book is unlike anything else out there right now (except maybe Dr. Sproul's other kids' books). Kids' books today tend to take the Bible and the truths in it so lightly. Everything is "fun" and shallow. If there happens to be a "Bible story" included, it is usually out of context and doesn't give any explanation with how it fits in with the big picture of the Bible. The Prince's Poison Cup does not make any of those mistakes. The story and the truths it contains are rock solid and explained very well so that it is impossible to misunderstand the deep theology behind them. The artwork is absolutely beautiful and fits the feel of the story - rich, reverent, and serious. On top of all of that, in the back of the book there is a section for parents that gives Scripture passages that support the main points of the story that can be used for further discussion to make sure that kids pick up on the truths behind the story. All of this is done in a way that is very enjoyable to read over and over. This is absolutely a book you should have on your kids' bookshelves. It will help you as a parent understand one of the most important concepts in the Bible, it will give you an opening for some great discussions about Biblical truth with your kids, and it will be a book that you will love to read again and again.

As a Christian, and hopefully one day a father, I sincerely look forward to reading, and explaining the meaning behind, this phenomenal book to my children! R.C. Sproul is not only a master philosopher and theologian, but also fares well as an engaging child-book author, with the help of lively illustrations produced by Justin Gerad. John 18:11b can be found on the first page of the book, giving the reader (parent) an unsubtle indication of where the story is heading and the question that our Prince had to ask on our behalf: "Shall I not drink the Cup that the Father has given Me?" The book begins with a girl named Ella who is sick, and has to take bad-tasting medicine so that she will feel better, but doesn't understand how something that tastes so bad could possibly be good for her. Her grandpa, whom she adores, shows up to comfort her and tells her a story of "The Prince's Poison Cup." In short, a Prince must go to the "City of Man" to drink from the poisonous fountain on behalf of the citizens of this city, so that they may return back to the Palace where the Prince's Father, the King, longs to be reunited with them! Even though the book is only 35 pages long, (including all of the pictures of wonderful Illustrations that will even impress and capture the attention of adults) it truly covers so many doctrines, concepts, and stories from Scripture, put within the context of this book, i.e. God's Sovereignty, the Fall, Total Depravity, Christ's active obedience, the Passion of Christ, Penal substitution, the Doctrine of Election, the Resurrection, Regeneration, and Reconciliation just to name some! There is also a four page Biblical reference section at the back of the book, which helps parents to draw correlation between this book and the Bible. Here are some of my favorite quotes from the book: "The King of Life had brought the Prince back from death!" pg. (29) "If anyone thirsts let him come to me and drink." pg. (32) "They saw that the terrible poison the Prince had drunk was wonderful medicine for them. Although it had tasted awful to the Prince and had caused him to die, it had healed their stony hearts." pg. (34) Conclusion: I think this is not only a good book from a sound theological standpoint, but from an illustrative and narrative standpoint as well! Christian parents, by God's grace, it is our responsibility to raise our children in the Lord, love them, serve them, discipline them and share with them the joy that we have in our Lord Christ, and Dr. R.C. Sproul has given future parents an exciting and wonderful resource in "The Prince's Poison Cup" to do just that! Soli Deo Gloria! (To comply with Federal Trade Commission guidelines, I was asked that I would note in my review that I received a free copy of this book in return for my review from Reformation Trust. I am not obliged in any way to write a positive review.)

I am always curious when reading Christian children's books to see how the author will present the gospel to little children. I love children and want to see them grow up in families where Christ is treasured above all things. I have read Christian children's books by many authors; most notably Max Lucado and Joni Eareckson Tada. Some authors make the gospel conform to their books so as to make it palatable for little children. While I do not want to throw the hardest truths of the Bible at children and force them to memorize it, I think it is important for them to know their Heavenly Father and grow up learning how magnificent He is. This book was longer than most children's books and contained a lot of big words for children. I think Dr. Sproul was trying to add so much detail that he forgot who would be reading the book. Besides that the book was very good. It was a great reflection of the gospel of Christ. I would definitely read it to my children. Dr. Sproul took the verse Luke 22:42 and made it into a children's book: "saying, "Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done." A great book that all parents should read to their children. And it came with discussion questions that would be good for family Bible study time!

RC Sproul's "The Prince's Poison Cup" is a beautiful children's allegory of the Bible's overall redemptive story of Jesus Christ taking the "cup of God's wrath" (Isaiah 51:17; Mk 14:36) to save us. It stars ol' Great Grandpa Sproul telling Ella (a sick little girl) that just as drinking the bitter medicine will make her better, so there once was a Prince who took a "bitter cup" to make people well. The story is well-done and leads kids (and surely adults too) in a simple, yet beautiful way of understanding the reason for Jesus' death on the cross for us through a Grimm-style fairy tale. The drawings are artistically tasteful and portray beautiful scenes with imagery that enlivens Sproul's text. And the biblical themes are clearly there, not just in the images but most definitely in the text. Sproul takes great care to make the theology of his story match succinctly with the Bible's (so much so, that it may have limited the simple scope of the story). Therefore, anyone who's read Genesis 1-3 and the passion of Jesus Christ in the gospels will see where Sproul is going from the beginning. Parents will be encouraged to know that "The Prince's Poison Cup" comes with a parent's guide at the end, to help lead a child's understanding of the children's story to the real story of Jesus. Overall, its a beautiful story that will lead children into an understanding of Jesus at an early age. Who doesn't want that for their kids? 5/5 stars * * * **

Love this book! Great for kids and interesting for adults! Great biblical principles and message. The book looks really nice too. It’s large and is nicely illustrated. Good gift. I’ve purchased for my own son and a gift for a nephew.

From the poignant illustrations to the direct yet dramatic allegorical telling of Jesus' sacrifice for us, this book is simply wonderful. A grandfather, in response to his granddaughter's question as to why medicine has to taste so bad to make her well, tells the story of a Prince -- the Son of the King of Light -- who obeys His Father and drinks from a poisoned cup, knowing it will kill him yet is the only way to make the hearts of the King's people whole. Parts of the book I particularly appreciated were the drawings of God's people post-Fall as -- quite literally -- taking on the appearance of stone just as the accompanying prose told of their hardened hearts; Sproul's description of the Prince's fear and heavy heart when traveling to the City of Man, knowing he would have to suffer in order to save; and the very Narnia-esque climax wherein the man in the dark cloak meets the Prince at the poisoned fountain and revels in temporary triumph as the Son dies... then cowers in defeat when the King of Light comes to revive him. Awesome stuff. The discussion questions at the book's conclusion, included in all of Sproul's children's books, get directly to the point and ensure children understand the true meaning behind the story. I would heartily recommend this book to any parent (or other adult) who seeks to reveal God's truth to children in an understandable and beautiful way. I received a free copy of this book for review purposes; the opinions expressed herein are entirely my own.

I get so excited when respected older authors write a children's book. I appreciate them putting all of their years of study into something simple and tangible for young people. The Prince's Poison Cup from R.C. Sproul is a great example. One of the best things about this book is that it would make a wonderful gift for both children who have not yet heard the Gospel, or those that could treasure it even more (all of us!). The bulk of the story line is an overview allegory of the Gospel. Little Ella needs to take some terrible tasting medicine, and she poses the question, "Why does medicine taste bad, if it is supposed to make us well?". Her grandfather answers this question by telling her the story of the King of Life and his son the Prince. Grandfather's story starts with creation (like all good Gospel presentations!) and wraps up with the resurrected Prince offering man living water. I like this story very much because Sproul creates a vivid picture of what happened to man's heart after sin entered in, and how it can be restored by coming to Jesus. At the end Grandfather asks Ella to remember the story of the Prince's poison cup every time she takes bitter medicine. That is a great practical way for children to meditate on the sufferings of Christ! The illustrations are very beautiful. I have not seen the DVD, but I would like to get it for my own children. Included, at the end of the book, is a helpful parent's guide to use with their children so they may understand the Scriptural truths behind the story.

Its an important task when you are rummaging through the mounds and mounds of Christian children's literature out there to find material that is sound enough to impart to your children. The discouraging part of the task is that it seems as though the majority of what is available is more commercial driven in nature, designed to appeal to a broad audience at the expense of Gospel clarity. There are far more resources out there that tend toward moralism and self-worth than there are those that tend toward the truth of human depravity and the supremacy of Christ in being the solution to that depravity. For the record, because of the shortage of good children's material available, I will five-star anything that is armed with a gospel-saturated message to children. For this reason, I am grateful for R. C. Sproul and his series of children's books that introduce gospel issues to children. He has a knack for introducing potentially complex theological concepts in a very simplistic and engaging manner with a level of clarity that children can comprehend. Ironically, I also imagine parents reading through these stories with their children, just as I was, being drawn once again to the remarkable story of Christ crucified and risen. The Prince's Poison Cup is precisely that kind of book. Ella, a little girl who had just taken a spoonful of medicine to soothe her tummy ache, poses the question to her grandfather, "Grandpa, why is medicine so yucky if it's going to make us well?" Her grandfather then tells her a story about a great king whose own people rebelled against him, choosing to drink from the only forbidden fountain in the entire kingdom. This fountain turned their hearts into stone when they drank from it and caused them to no longer desire fellowship with the king. But the king sent his son the prince on a mission to reclaim his lost people. The prince would make his way to the city of man, and with a golden cup, he would drink from the fountain of poison that was made up of the wrath of the king. Upon drinking the poison, the prince died and the people rejoiced. But the "King of Life" came down to the prince and made the prince alive again, and the fountain that once bubbled with poison, now miraculously bubbled with life-giving water. Then, the prince took the golden cup, filled it with the water, and turned to all of those who had rebelled against the king and said, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink." The church needs children's literature like this. Literature that paints a realistic picture of the human predicament while holding the story of the gospel high as the solution to that predicament. Sproul has done this with The Prince's Poison Cup. He has aptly communicated the truth of the gospel to children, and to parents for that matter. We have hearts of stone that are opposed to the Great King (Eze 11:19; Rom 3:10). We deserve his wrath (Col 3:5-7). The Great King's son bore the wrath that we deserved (Isa 53:12, 1 Pet 2:24), turned our hearts of stone back into hearts that desired fellowship with him (Ezk 36:26), and enabled us to drink joyfully from the fountain of living water (Joh 7:37). I commend this book to parents and grandparents and church libraries everywhere.

I love fairy tales! A young lady of humble origin is rescued by a prince who falls in love with her. They marry and live happily ever after. As a child I never understood, that far better than any fairy tale devised by a human mind, was the glorious story of love and redemption that God the Father wrote before the foundations of the earth were laid. In The Prince's Poison Cup, R.C. Sproul tells the old familiar story in a fresh way. Theologically rich, Sproul lays out the story of creation, fall and redemption as the grandfather in the story tells his granddaughter Ella the story of a prince who had to drink the poison cup of his Father's anger. The story was sparked by Ella's question, a question your children have probably asked at one time or another: "Grandpa, why is medicine so yucky if it is going to make me well"? Grandpa's reply, "Some things that look or taste or smell wonderful are really awful. But sometimes things that seem terrible are actually very good. I even remember a story in which both of these strange things were true. Would you like to hear it?" And thus begins the story of a King who sent His Son to rescue His people. Like Ella in the story, my nine year old daughter figured out pretty quickly who the Prince in the story represented. Yet, being reminded of the love Christ has for us never gets old. The book is well illustrated with enough pictures to hold the attention of preschool aged children. This story is geared toward young children, but is theologically heavy enough to spark up conversation with older children, and perhaps even tweens. If you are a fan of The Jesus Storybook Bible by Sally Lloyd Jones, you will also like this book. I received a review copy of this book from Reformation Trust.

The Prince's Poison Cup written by R. C. Sproul and Illustrated by Justin Gerard is a great allegory for children and parents alike. I really enjoyed reading this book and look forward to reading it again and again to my daughter. Dr. Sproul does a great job of taking something that kids are familiar with (like having to take medicine) and pairing it up with a theme from Scripture. Thus taking the readers along a journey from the common to the sacred. The Illustrations are also fantastic. The images are child friendly, yet compelling as the story unravels. I was amazed at the range of illustrations that took place in this book. Every thing from a mysterious villan in a dark robe, to the King of Life, to a grandfather and his grand-daughter. The book was a great read. Perhaps the strongest aspect of the book was the parents section in the back. Parents are given great questions to ask their kids and help draw the connections between the story they have just read and the scriptures. We read lots of books at our house, but this element really seems to make this book especially useful. I've noticed most all the childrens books published by Reformation Trust tend to have this element and its worth noticing the lengths the authors and publishers are going through to produce quality childrens literature that goes beyond entertainment and into training and guidance.

The Prince’s Poison Cup written by R.C. Sproul and published by Reformation Trust Publishing, and is one of the children’s titles currently offered under this publisher. Dr. Sproul is world renowned for works on Reformed Theology and Apologetics aimed at adults but The Prince’s Poison Cup is uniquely aimed at conveying the truths of scripture to very young children. The Prince’s Poison Cup has two major strengths: the story and the illustration. With regard to the story, The Prince’s Poison Cup, takes a ‘Princess Bride’ approach to storytelling, a story within a story if you will. While this approach can get confusing or exhausting in other works, that cannot be said of The Prince’s Poison Cup, which is fast paced, sharp, and witty. With regard to communicating the truths of God’s Word, Dr. Sproul goes to great lengths to communicate to young children the Gospel starting with original sin, the need of a savior, and the provision of the savior in Jesus within a unique allegorical tale. With regard to the illustration, The Prince’s Poison Cup has vivid colors and is masterfully drawn so that it not only captures a child’s attention but their imagination as well. Furthermore the illustrations not only illustrate the allegorical tale but progress the story in a way words cannot do. If you are looking to purchase The Prince’s Poison Cup, it is a delightfully articulated and beautifully illustrated book; the audience is for ages 3 to 7, yet when I read it to my daughter (age under 2) she was captivated the entire time. This book was provided to me free of charge from Reformation Trust Publishing in exchange for an unbiased, honest review.

R. C. Sproul has written several children's books. I have been aware of them for some years, but since our children are grown and grand children are not yet on the scene, I have not had a reason to purchase one of the book. I do intend to purchase all of them once grand children are on the scene!! We purchased THE PRINCE'S POISON CUP for a young boy who is being adopted. There was a shower for the family and we were asked to bring a children's book as part of the celebration. This was our chance to purchase one of Sproul's children's books. When it arrived I read the book from cover to cover. The art is decent, and the story flows along very well. It is a religious book, of course, so behind the story is the Bible's teaching on the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ for the sins of mankind. It is a story that is especially good to read to your child. You can pause along the way to look at the pictures and talk about them. There are many interesting things in the pictures. At the end of the book the parent will find a discussion guide to help talk through the biblical teaching of the Jesus' atonement in terms that the child can understand. There are a set of questions with Bible verses as answers. I think this is probably a book that parents will enjoy reading to their child at many ages. It is also a nice way to instruct one's child in one of the important biblical teachings.

The story is short and sweet, a simple allegory of Christ’s love for people and His willingness to die for all mankind. But the text needs a thorough editing job. Lots and lots of typos, especially in the Q & A section that follows the story, make for a confusing read. I hope the publisher will clean up the text and provide an updated version soon.

This is an excellent portrayal of the relationship of God the father and Jesus and the work that was done on the cross. I read the story to my 3-year old and when I was done I asked, 'Who was this story really about?' She thought for a second and said 'Jesus'! I would recommend buying an actual book. The kindle version text and illustrations do not correlate well (I.e. There will be pages of text with no pictures and then several pictures in a row). The illustrations are beautiful too.

This book is terrific and would appeal to both girls and boys. The illustrations are beautiful. It's a treasure.

After reading the reviews, I decided to purchase this book for my girls (ages 4 and 8). Dr. Sproul does an amazing job portraying the Gospel in a way that even a child can understand. Both of my girls love this book, and repetedly ask me to read it to them, especially my 4 year old. Durring the first reading, my 8 year old daughter actually stopped me, and asked me if she could tell me what the story was about... She Got it! I highly reccomend this book for your own children, and to give as gifts to others.

What a beautiful story. From the illustrations to the way it was written. I read to my almost 4 year old and although it may be geared for more older kids there are a lot of great notes in the back for explaining the gospel in detail with scripture references. Great resource! The illustrations may be scary for some sensitive younger children...but I find it very moving...the kind of book an adult enjoys as well.

We own four of R. C. Sproul's children's books. This is probably one of my favorite (although I like all of them very much). This is the story of a people created, a people rebelled, and a King's Son who had to drink poison to save the world. It's beautiful. You see creation, fall, redemption, and it celebrates Jesus' obedience to God and his love for mankind. The illustrations are also well done.

This is not your typical, fluffy, feelgood children's book. It does not hide sin and death, but instead seeks to make them more understandable to the young child. It is a book with purpose. This book is rife with opportunities to discuss difficult Christian concepts with children. An allegorical adaptation of the story of the cross, this piece covers such concepts as: the fall, the hard-heartedness of all humanity, the cost of sin, the necessity of the Son's sacrifice, redemption, God's goodness even when things seem bad, and Christ's resurrection, just to name a few. There is potential to discuss many more topics that are touched on in the book as well. I disagree with a previous reviewer, who felt that the points were not adequately clear. Truly good children's literature covers difficult concepts that cause children to ask questions and think for themselves. The idea is not for the child to sit alone in his or her room reading the book and fully understanding it, but for a parent to read it to them and guide them through the difficult parts. I think this book does this better than most. Without giving us all the answers, it allows the child to think and the parent to lead the child into a discussion of the real Prince, and the poison of our sin that he accepted on the Cross.

As always, great and profound story based on the Bible. The print material was also impressive.

The Prince's Poison Cup by R.C. Sproul is nothing short of amazing. I read this Book to my children and grandchildren. They picked up the message of the Gospel right away. The book walks through the story of the bible cleanly and simplistically. Dr. Sproul relates the characters of the book to biblical figures with ease. The artwork was nice and colorful. The questions in the back were thought provoking for the children. The children were able to answer them with ease after a little thought. The children all enjoyed the story and the story time with dad/pawpaw. I recommend this book to all parents and grandparents. It makes for a really good time with the kids.

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

I loved this book...It's a great book to help kids grasp the great truths of the Gospel of Jesus giving himself up for us on the cross

An amazing allegory. Highly recommend

The story is a good one, is "theologically correct" from a Christian standpoint and very well illustrated. However, when it is read aloud (it was my goal to read it to children), it lacks strength because there is almost no dialogue in it. It is mostly a description of what the protagonists did. You would have to adapt the story in order to keep your young readers' attention.

My 3 year old child is always wanting me to read this over and over again, and at the end we get to talk to him about the Gospel. It is a fantastic allegorical story to help teach children with.

Great for children with ability to understand the analogy.

The Prince’s Poison Cup written by R.C. Sproul and published by Reformation Trust Publishing, and is one of the children’s titles currently offered under this publisher. Dr. Sproul is world renowned for works on Reformed Theology and Apologetics aimed at adults but The Prince’s Poison Cup is uniquely aimed at conveying the truths of scripture to very young children. The Prince’s Poison Cup has two major strengths: the story and the illustration. With regard to the story, The Prince’s Poison Cup, takes a ‘Princess Bride’ approach to storytelling, a story within a story if you will. While this approach can get confusing or exhausting in other works, that cannot be said of The Prince’s Poison Cup, which is fast paced, sharp, and witty. With regard to communicating the truths of God’s Word, Dr. Sproul goes to great lengths to communicate to young children the Gospel starting with original sin, the need of a savior, and the provision of the savior in Jesus within a unique allegorical tale. With regard to the illustration, The Prince’s Poison Cup has vivid colors and is masterfully drawn so that it not only captures a child’s attention but their imagination as well. Furthermore the illustrations not only illustrate the allegorical tale but progress the story in a way words cannot do. If you are looking to purchase The Prince’s Poison Cup, it is a delightfully articulated and beautifully illustrated book; the audience is for ages 3 to 7, yet when I read it to my daughter (age under 2) she was captivated the entire time. This book was provided to me free of charge from Reformation Trust Publishing in exchange for an unbiased, honest review.

R. C. Sproul has written several children's books. I have been aware of them for some years, but since our children are grown and grand children are not yet on the scene, I have not had a reason to purchase one of the book. I do intend to purchase all of them once grand children are on the scene!! We purchased THE PRINCE'S POISON CUP for a young boy who is being adopted. There was a shower for the family and we were asked to bring a children's book as part of the celebration. This was our chance to purchase one of Sproul's children's books. When it arrived I read the book from cover to cover. The art is decent, and the story flows along very well. It is a religious book, of course, so behind the story is the Bible's teaching on the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ for the sins of mankind. It is a story that is especially good to read to your child. You can pause along the way to look at the pictures and talk about them. There are many interesting things in the pictures. At the end of the book the parent will find a discussion guide to help talk through the biblical teaching of the Jesus' atonement in terms that the child can understand. There are a set of questions with Bible verses as answers. I think this is probably a book that parents will enjoy reading to their child at many ages. It is also a nice way to instruct one's child in one of the important biblical teachings.

The story is short and sweet, a simple allegory of Christ’s love for people and His willingness to die for all mankind. But the text needs a thorough editing job. Lots and lots of typos, especially in the Q & A section that follows the story, make for a confusing read. I hope the publisher will clean up the text and provide an updated version soon.

This is an excellent portrayal of the relationship of God the father and Jesus and the work that was done on the cross. I read the story to my 3-year old and when I was done I asked, 'Who was this story really about?' She thought for a second and said 'Jesus'! I would recommend buying an actual book. The kindle version text and illustrations do not correlate well (I.e. There will be pages of text with no pictures and then several pictures in a row). The illustrations are beautiful too.

This book is terrific and would appeal to both girls and boys. The illustrations are beautiful. It's a treasure.

After reading the reviews, I decided to purchase this book for my girls (ages 4 and 8). Dr. Sproul does an amazing job portraying the Gospel in a way that even a child can understand. Both of my girls love this book, and repetedly ask me to read it to them, especially my 4 year old. Durring the first reading, my 8 year old daughter actually stopped me, and asked me if she could tell me what the story was about... She Got it! I highly reccomend this book for your own children, and to give as gifts to others.

What a beautiful story. From the illustrations to the way it was written. I read to my almost 4 year old and although it may be geared for more older kids there are a lot of great notes in the back for explaining the gospel in detail with scripture references. Great resource! The illustrations may be scary for some sensitive younger children...but I find it very moving...the kind of book an adult enjoys as well.

We own four of R. C. Sproul's children's books. This is probably one of my favorite (although I like all of them very much). This is the story of a people created, a people rebelled, and a King's Son who had to drink poison to save the world. It's beautiful. You see creation, fall, redemption, and it celebrates Jesus' obedience to God and his love for mankind. The illustrations are also well done.

This is not your typical, fluffy, feelgood children's book. It does not hide sin and death, but instead seeks to make them more understandable to the young child. It is a book with purpose. This book is rife with opportunities to discuss difficult Christian concepts with children. An allegorical adaptation of the story of the cross, this piece covers such concepts as: the fall, the hard-heartedness of all humanity, the cost of sin, the necessity of the Son's sacrifice, redemption, God's goodness even when things seem bad, and Christ's resurrection, just to name a few. There is potential to discuss many more topics that are touched on in the book as well. I disagree with a previous reviewer, who felt that the points were not adequately clear. Truly good children's literature covers difficult concepts that cause children to ask questions and think for themselves. The idea is not for the child to sit alone in his or her room reading the book and fully understanding it, but for a parent to read it to them and guide them through the difficult parts. I think this book does this better than most. Without giving us all the answers, it allows the child to think and the parent to lead the child into a discussion of the real Prince, and the poison of our sin that he accepted on the Cross.

As always, great and profound story based on the Bible. The print material was also impressive.