Want to get your 8- to 12-year-old boys into the habit of devotions? Featuring stories about everything from sports to superheroes, this colorful resource addresses a variety of boyhood-related themes---including bullying, being a good sport, generosity, and church participation. Each meditation also includes Scripture, illustrations, a game/activity, quotes from well-known people, and more. 256 pages, softcover from Tyndale.

No Girls Allowed Devotions for Boys is the companion devotion to the popular For Girls Only! Devotions (2009). The devotion books follow the same format: a story related to a scripture theme, a game/activity, a list of things to do, and quotes from people and the Bible that reinforce the theme. Each of the 60 devotions is 4 pages long (2 complete spreads) and includes original single-color art that will attract and engage boys ages 8-12. The illustrations are more like cartoons—each has a caption that relates to the theme. Some of the themes addressed include bullying, being a good winner, generosity, church participation, worship, and creation. The devotions use a wide range of examples. The author uses original stories, but he also uses things familiar to boys (G.I. Joe, Transformers, sports figures, superheroes, comics, video games, etc.) to illustrate his point.

Jayce O'Neal offers a series of devotionals for boys in No Girls Allowed. Employing a friendly, conversational tone, he addresses many struggles common to boys and delivers sound advice on how to deal with them. Through short, relatable anecdotes full of Batman and Star Wars references, he attempts to gain the reader’s acceptance before gently explaining how the stories can apply to real life.

Each of the fifty-plus devotionals contains a brief narrative-style lesson and illustration that hammer home the main point. A math or word game follows, then a behavior checklist, and a group of applicable Scripture verses and quotes. As an adult, I found the latter section to be most interesting and beneficial. However, I suspect a young boy might prefer the story and games. By including all of these, O'Neal successfully balances the book and broadens its appeal.

Depending on age and reading experience, parents might expect a child to read the book on his own, or with the aid of the father (remember, No Girls Allowed). I am certain God can speak to a young heart through the words of these devotionals, for "The Lord is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him" (Ps. 103:13). O'Neal, with master's degrees in both counseling and communication as well as a doctorate in strategic leadership, certainly qualifies as an effective conduit for the gospel.

The book's strengths lie in its content's relevance to boys and its practical advice about how to live out biblical principles. Because of its solid foundation in the Scriptures and personable attitude, I think it can be nothing but a positive influence on its audience. I recommend it for boys ages 6 to 11. – Daniel Morton, www.ChristianBookPreviews.com

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