panda_incognito's review
5.0
In this new installment in the Tales that Tell the Truth series, Trillia Newbell addresses the issue of favoritism, sharing the message of James 2:1-26 at a child-friendly level. She provides context for the time period, for ways that people show favoritism today, and for James's relationship with Jesus, who loves everyone without partiality. The book ends on a joyful note, emphasizing that we can choose to be like Jesus in our interactions with others because of his love for us.
As usual, Catalina Echeverri's illustrations are colorful, diverse, and inviting, and they help visualize the text. Even without an adult present to read the book aloud, a young child can easily see the story and concepts represented through the art. I am always impressed with the quality of the books in this series, and The Big Wide Welcome is no exception. I especially appreciate it in contrast to other books about kindness and diversity, which tend to argue for good behavior because it's nice, or because it makes you feel good about yourself. This book clearly grounds everyone's value in the love of Christ.
Secular picture books about kindness and inclusiveness vary widely in quality, but they tend to be very abstract and can't anchor their positive messages in a higher reality. This book shares concrete, specific, and vivid examples of both favoritism and welcoming love, making it easy for children to understand the message, and the author provides a reasoned explanation for why everyone matters, instead of just making the assertion. This book is a wonderful resource for families, churches, and Christian schools, and I highly recommend it.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
As usual, Catalina Echeverri's illustrations are colorful, diverse, and inviting, and they help visualize the text. Even without an adult present to read the book aloud, a young child can easily see the story and concepts represented through the art. I am always impressed with the quality of the books in this series, and The Big Wide Welcome is no exception. I especially appreciate it in contrast to other books about kindness and diversity, which tend to argue for good behavior because it's nice, or because it makes you feel good about yourself. This book clearly grounds everyone's value in the love of Christ.
Secular picture books about kindness and inclusiveness vary widely in quality, but they tend to be very abstract and can't anchor their positive messages in a higher reality. This book shares concrete, specific, and vivid examples of both favoritism and welcoming love, making it easy for children to understand the message, and the author provides a reasoned explanation for why everyone matters, instead of just making the assertion. This book is a wonderful resource for families, churches, and Christian schools, and I highly recommend it.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
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