Glory

Glory Nancy White Carlstrom and Debra Reid Jenkins Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, 2001 “Glory be to God for dappled things,” wrote Gerard Manley Hopkins in “Pied Beauty,” a paean to the unchanging God who is nevertheless author of “all things original, counter, spare, strange”. Creation, in its dazzling multiplicity, calls us to praise in [...]

Let the Whole Earth Sing Praise

Let the Whole Earth Sing Praise Tomie DePaola Putnam Juvenile, 2011 This Christmas my daughter was given a copy of one of Tomie DePaola’s most recent books, called Let the Whole Earth Sing Praise, and after a single reading I knew I wanted to review it here.  It’s a wonder that we haven’t reviewed more [...]

We Three Kings

We Three Kings Gennady Spirin Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2007 As Sarah wrote last week, Epiphany is the season between Christmas and Lent in which Christians through the ages have traditionally pondered Christ’s identity and mission.  So, while I did intend to review this particular book two weeks ago (oops), I gave myself permission to go [...]

The Nativity

The Nativity Julie Vivas Gulliver Books, 1988 I’ve been thumbing through a handful of nativity story books for the past few weeks, agonizing over which one to review first.  It’s a tough decision (they really are all quite good), but I finally decided on Julie Vivas’ excellent book, The Nativity. Many nativity books seem to use [...]

In Your Own Words

A couple of weeks ago I had a wonderful conversation with a friend about what kinds of theological books work well with 2 1/2 year olds.  I mentioned that we weren’t having luck yet with The Big Picture Story Bible and I was wondering if she had any suggestions for Bible story books that resonated with [...]

All Things Bright and Beautiful

All Things Bright and Beautiful Ashley Bryan (and Cecil Francis Alexander) Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2010 For some strange reason, it took me a long time to warm up to the idea of songs-as-picture-books.  Earlier this year, though, I found one that I loved, which made me think that maybe there might just be [...]

Morning Has Broken

Morning Has Broken Eleanor Farjeon and Tim Ladwig Eerdmans, 1996 When I was in high school, my dad used to wake us up on Sunday mornings by bursting upstairs with an ear-splitting rendition of Eleanor Farjeon’s hymn, Morning Has Broken. (And I do mean ear-splitting. My dad is a wonderful man, but vocal solos are [...]

Why Do You Love Me?

Why Do You Love Me? Martin Baynton Greenwillow Books, 1990 Why Do You Love Me isn’t overtly theological, so it’s quite different than any of the other books Sarah and I have reviewed here on the blog.  But after I tracked down a copy in our county library system I knew we had to feature it [...]

At Your Baptism

At Your Baptism Carrie Steenwyk and John D. Witvliet, illus. Linda Saport Eerdmans, 2011 A couple of months ago, I was sitting amidst the variously strewn odds and ends of my life, trying to organize it into boxes, and chatting with the children’s pastor from our church. She asked if we had come across any [...]

He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands

He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands Kadir Nelson Dial Books, 2005 Today I’m serving myself a nice, big helping of humble pie because He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands is exactly the kind of book that I tell myself I don’t like.  But I love it. It’s one of the books [...]