Shelby-Utica News (MI)

RHYMING STORIES A HIT WITH KIDS
Local man releases second in BibleRhymes series
KRISTYNE E. DEMSKE C & G Staff Writer  
Published: January 30, 2008
SHELBY TOWNSHIP - Coming from a childhood of rap and Dr. Seuss, Ken McCardell was an ace at rhyming before he ever dreamed of writing stories for children. The Shelby Township man said he was reading his Bible one day when he had the idea of putting the stories into an easier format for children.

"I saw all those difficult words, and little children can't understand that language," he said. "There's so many of that Sponge Bob-type that are so popular, and I figured the Bible-reading people need something of that type of nature."

That's why McCardell teamed up with a local artist, Antonella Chirco, to form BibleRhymes Publishing, which offers rhyming Bible tales for children in both hardcover and e-book format.

McCardell's first title, "Creation," came out in April 2007 and is available on their Web site as a free e-book. The second title, "Noah and the Ark," was just released in hardcover over the holidays.

"We do intend on giving every book in the series away as an ebook," he said. "So many of the people in the Philippines or Malaysia or something like that … it wouldn't be economically appropriate for people in these countries to be able to get our books, and it's not all about just to make money. I'd like to see little kids introduced to the Bible, so we wanted to give the books away for that reason."

He said he also likes the fact that an e-book can spread the BibleRhymes name more than each person buying his or her own copy of the book.

"People can download the book and e-mail it to their friends, and now 50 people have found out about BibleRhymes," he said.

McCardell hasn't always been an author. He said he's done everything from guiding tours of Jet Skis in the Virgin Islands to running a Montana ranch. But now that he's thrown himself into the books, he's planning to release two more this year - the Christmas story and that of David and Goliath.

He said he wants to write stories that will stick with children for years to come.

"I read those books when I was little," he said, referring to Dr. Seuss' children's books. "I enjoyed those and that's why it started coming out like that. I want to make it something that when the children read it, it would stick in their heads."

Beth Denhart, principal of Warren Woods Christian School in Warren, said that's what drew her to have McCardell read to her students.

"They combine the Bible stories and then it also introduces them to poetry and rhyming words," she said. "I think the rhyming, it's easier for them to remember, especially the younger kids, and to make those connections from the stories that they've learned about and know about.

(The books are) fun and amusing … but still teaching the story itself."

For more information on BibleRhymes, to read the "Creation" e-book or to order copies of that or "Noah and the Ark," log on to www.BibleRhymes.com.

Caption:Below: Ken McCardell poses with his newest BibleRhymes book at the Royal Park Hotel in Rochester. Above: So far there are two titles in the series, with plans to add more.

Photos by Erin Sanchez

Copyright, 2008, Shelby-Utica News (MI), All Rights Reserved.

Reprinted with permission of C & G News