Zack, You’re Acting Zany!

Zack, You’re Acting Zany!

Marty Nystrom has done it again. After writing his popular Don’t Mess With Moses! book of humorous poems based on Old Testament stories, now he’s written a sequel from New Testament passages. As an elementary teacher, Marty saw how kids loved funny poems and decided there should be amusing rhymes based on the Bible. So he wrote them!

Zack, You’re Acting Zany! begins with a poem about the first “gospel quartet”– Mathew, Mark, Luke and John and ends with a poem about Jesus never changing based on Hebrews 13:8. And in-between, Marty includes about 120 poems ranging in length from two to twenty lines or more. The lyrics provide a fun, thought-provoking read for kids and adults alike.

I purchased both of Marty’s books as gifts for my older grandsons, ages 9 and 11. But so far, I’ve kept his latest book to read at Grandma’s house. After I tucked my grandsons in bed on a recent sleepover, I read poem after poem to them. Then I gave them a flashlight and said they could keep reading a while longer if they wished. What kid doesn’t want to read after “lights out”?

Here’s an example of Marty’s witty and winning writing.
It’s gross enough
That John the Baptist
Gobbled up grasshoppers.
But here’s what makes it even worse-
The kind he chomped were whoppers!
(Read Mark 1:6 to find out what else John ate.)

Marty’s humorous rhymes and colorful words entertain and teach kids at the same time. Steve Bjorkman’s amusing paintings add even more color as they capture the poem’s content and help tell the story. Each poem ends with a comment or question and a Bible reference, so readers can look up the passage the poem is based on.

You may be surprised to learn this author of  “playful poems and riveting rhymes” has also written more than 100 worship songs, including “As the Deer.” Just as his music helps your heart sing, his captivating poems “sing” as you read them aloud. Consider these books as gifts for children or an adult who’s still a child at heart. They’ll tickle your fancy.

About Lydia Harris

Lydia E. Harris is happily married to Milt, her sweetheart for 48 years. She has two married children, five grandkids, and is the author of a Bible study, "Preparing My Heart for Grandparenting" (AMG Publishers, 2010 release). She's also a tea enthusiast and writes the column "A Cup of Tea with Lydia."

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