by Callie Grant ; illustrated by Jodie Stowe ‧ RELEASE DATE: Jan. 26, 2014
The inferior book design and dense text do not serve this Bible verse well.
An exegesis of John 10:14-16 for toddlers.
The biblical text, which begins “I am the good shepherd,” is meted out in short lines on the right-hand side of each double-page spread, written in type meant to look like a child’s handwriting. Below the Scripture on each spread there is a paragraph explaining what a shepherd does, how Jesus is a shepherd and that his followers are his “sheep.” On each facing page is a large photo illustrating the ideas in the text with images of sheep, shepherds and ethnically diverse children at play. The cover, as well as the first two and last two pages of the book, features amateurish cartoons of young children, likely composed on a computer, which jar startlingly against the photos. A note for grown-ups appears at the end describing how to share the book with children of different ages and encouraging parents to let the book grow “with your child.” This suggestion is helpful, since much of the text will likely go over the heads of typical board-book readers. Literal-minded toddlers may be confused by such assertions as, “You—and other people who believe in Jesus are His sheep!”
The inferior book design and dense text do not serve this Bible verse well. (Board book. 2-4)Pub Date: Jan. 26, 2014
ISBN: 978-0-9854090-2-9
Page Count: 18
Publisher: Graham Blanchard
Review Posted Online: March 2, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2014
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by Callie Grant ; illustrated by Suzanne Etienne
by Pamela Kennedy & Anne Kennedy Brady ; illustrated by Lisa Reed ‧ RELEASE DATE: Feb. 7, 2017
For VeggieTales fans; others may be mystified by the reverent rhubarb and pious peas
A collection of 30 Christian devotions re-enacted by the anthropomorphic vegetables and fruits from the animated VeggieTales films.
Each page includes one line of a Bible verse, a short exegesis, and a prompt to “Pray Today” with a one- or two-sentence prayer relating to the devotion’s theme. The verses stretch from Genesis to the letters of Paul, and they focus on doing good deeds, God’s love for us, praising God and “his” creation, obeying parents, etc. While most of these are developmentally appropriate, this is a lot of text for young children, and it tends to sound repetitive from the explanation to the prayer. Those unfamiliar with the VeggieTales characters may be confused as to why fruits and vegetables are acting out each devotion and how they negotiate the world without arms and legs. The brightly colored, friendly cartoon art, which resembles stills pulled from the VeggieTales videos, illustrates the scenes lightheartedly, but a smattering may produce some head-scratching; why does a baby carrot gaze at a bee to depict the verse from Mark in which Jesus says: “Let the little children come to me”?
For VeggieTales fans; others may be mystified by the reverent rhubarb and pious peas . (Board book. 2-4)Pub Date: Feb. 7, 2017
ISBN: 978-0-8249-1997-9
Page Count: 32
Publisher: WorthyKids/Ideals
Review Posted Online: March 14, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2017
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by Pamela Kennedy ; illustrated by Claire Keay
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by Charles Dickens & adapted by Pamela Kennedy & illustrated by Carol Heyer
by Jennifer Hilton & Kristen McCurry ; illustrated by Natasha Rimmington ‧ RELEASE DATE: Feb. 7, 2017
A slight but pleasant faith-based morning story
Anthropomorphized animals follow typical morning routines including play and prayers.
A dog, goat, hedgehog, sheep, and dove greet each new activity cheerfully. Then, with eyes closed and paws, hooves, and wings folded, they thank God “for food to eat and friends who share.” After washing up in a river and then wiggling, stretching, and jumping in a meadow, they celebrate: “God has made today. Hooray! Good morning, God!” Pastel backgrounds are vaguely reminiscent of stereotypical images of the Holy Land, with sandstone-colored buildings and a domed tower. The rising sun becomes increasingly prominent, finally appearing as a yellow half circle on the final spread. Toddlers will soon chime in on the “Good morning” refrain. Designed as curriculum for Christian churches, the message is clear and consistent. The best thing about the book is the final message addressed to parents: a gentle assurance that “It’s not easy being a toddler—or the parent of a toddler,” along with advice on how to establish routines and the importance of making one-on-one time part of that routine almost make up for the unsubtle animal illustrations and slight and preachy storyline. Parents seeking such support might do better to sign up for the online newsletter advertised on the back of the book.
A slight but pleasant faith-based morning story . (Board book. 2-4)Pub Date: Feb. 7, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-5064-1785-1
Page Count: 22
Publisher: Sparkhouse
Review Posted Online: March 14, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2017
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by Jennifer Hilton & Kristen McCurry ; illustrated by Natasha Rimmington
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by Jennifer Hilton & Kristen McCurry ; illustrated by Natasha Rimmington
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