Once upon a time, probably 30-something years ago, I read the stories of Ruth and Esther onto a casette tape and gave it to my niece. She listened to it until she wore it out.
Based on her interest, I decided to re-create the experience for other youngsters, but I expect girls may enjoy these particular stories more than boys. I told them in the first person, as if Ruth and Esther were talking. Therefore, it was necessary to fill in some plausible details not provided by Scripture. However, I have kept as close as possible to the Bible versions of the two stories.
You probably already know that Esther’s story includes some rather brutal violence. I’ve tried to tone it down as much as possible, but it’s impossible to remain true to the storyline without including these unpleasant facts. Therefore, the story is not ideal for very young children.
Just a quick note for purchasers of the audiobook: Because the story is told by Esther, a Jew, the reader uses Hebrew pronunciation of names. It has taken me awhile to get used to two of these – Haman and Uriah (husband of Bathsheba.) Haman is pronounced just like the terrorist organization Hamas, except for ending in “n” instead of “s.” And the accent is on the first syllable in Uriah, instead of the 2nd, which is the westernized pronunciation.
Esther: If I Perish, I Perish is available on Sqrindle as an illustrated ebook and as an audiobook.
Here’s the link to my Ruth: Finding My True Love page.