As a pastor and a father of a young daughter, I deeply care about the books she “reads” (she’s only 2½) and has read to her, especially the books that speak of God. I want my daughter to have an understanding of God that reflects the beauty, love, wonder, passion, and creativity we see of God in scripture. I also want her to see herself and her neighbor in compassionate and grace filled ways, as seen in how Jesus loved and called us to love.
So it matters to me what books will fill her bookshelves and be found on her nightstand. If I’m being honest I approach most Christian children’s books with an expectation that they are going to be just awful. The thing that bothers me the most about many of the Christian children’s books I have seen is the poor theology they contain and the dumbing down of the message of the Bible.
When I received this book, When God Made You to review, the gloves were off. I was ready to mercilessly pick it apart and tell you why you should never read it to your children. But instead, after reading it I couldn’t wait to read this with my daughter and I hope it becomes one of her all time favorites!
When God Made You is written by Matthew Paul Turner who has written numerous books, including: Hear No Evil, Churched, and The Coffeehouse Gospel and is illustrated by David Catrow who has illustrated more than 70 children’s books.
This book is beautiful in every way. The writing is poetic, the theology is rich, and the illustrations are absolutely gorgeous. Visually this book is stunning and unlike any other children’s book I have seen. My daughter couldn’t take her eyes off the pages as we read the story together.
The main theme of the book is celebrating and holding onto the fact that we are all uniquely created by God and we are to live and create and love in the fulness of our God ordained uniqueness. Turner writes in a way that inspires. Not only does my daughter love the story but as an adult I was taken aback by the depth of the writing. This is a book that young ones will enjoy and even as my daughter gets older I want to continue to unpack more of the beauty found in these pages.
I so badly want to quote the entire book for you, but since that breaks way too many copyright laws, here are a few of my favorite lines:
‘Cause when God made you, this much is true, the world got to meet who God already knew.
Discover. Explore! Have faith but love more.
‘Cause when God made you and the world oohed and aahed, in heaven they called you an image of God.
A you who views others as sisters and brothers and lives by three words: love one another.
Buy this book for your son or daughter, your niece or nephew, your grandson or granddaughter, your neighbors kids, or your friends who just had a baby. When God Made You is a rare find in Christian children’s literature. It’s a perfect combination of excellent writing, really sound theology, and unbelievable artwork.
* Publisher recommended age range for this book is 3-10 years old.
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From the Publisher
When I Pray for You
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All the Colors of Christmas
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You Will Always Belong
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I Am God’s Dream
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What Is God Like
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When God Made the World
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| A beautiful picture book that celebrates the dreams, hopes, and longings parents pray over their children. A book you will read to your child again and again. USA TODAY, Publishers Weekly, and Wall Street Journal bestseller. | Celebrate the Christmas season with a picture book that captures the wonder of Christmas and the joy of Jesus’ birth in a lyrical exploration of what makes the season so colorful, magical, and personal. | A heartfelt illustrated story about belonging and acceptance. Encourage children to live confidently and freely the way God purposefully designed them. This picture book also reminds us that the people who truly love us love ALL parts of us. | A deeply encouraging and affirming picture book written in first person about the unique, strong, and wonderful traits in every child. Children will see how God celebrates and adores each of us and why we should be proud to be who we are. | Help children answer the popular question: “What is God like?”. This book shows children that God is like a shepherd, a star, a gardener, the wind, and more. God is a comforter and support. #1 New York Times bestseller. | Perfect for spiritual parents who are looking for a different kind of creation book. This picture book takes little readers who love science and wonder and the beginnings of all things on a rhythmic, whimsical journey through creation. |
About the author
A Children's Book that brings Peace to the Grown-Up Soul
Be still my heart. ❤️ I am a ridiculous fan of children’s books, beautiful books with rhythmic language steal my heart. (I basically have a crush on A.A. Milne) I also adore theologians that help us explore the mystery that is our creator. Rachel and Mathew put all of that together into this beautiful book. The words are beautiful, the message invites children to learn more about God in relatable ways, and the art from Ying Huo Tan is positively joyful. I love everything about it. The illustrations are inclusive of all kinds of people, young and old, and of different colors and abilities. It was neat to see so many people included in the pages. I loved the various ways of describing God, like things children could relate to or had experienced in some way. God is all those things and so much more. This was a fitting tribute to Rachel and her legacy as a writer and as a mother. As the children's director at a church, I purchased this to add to our collection there, and although my own kids are grown, I'll be adding it to my personal collection as well.
