The Story Of God's Love For You

Madeline L’Engle, author of A Wrinkle In Time, was once asked, “Why do you write for children?" Here’s her reply: “My immediate response to this question is, ‘I don't.’ ... If it's not good enough for adults, it's not good enough for children. If a book that is going to be marketed for children does not interest me, a grownup, then I am dishonoring the children for whom the book is intended, and I am dishonoring books. And words. Sometimes I answer that if I have something I want to say that is too difficult for adults to swallow, then I will write it in a book for children. This is usually good for a slightly startled laugh, but it's perfectly true. Children still haven't closed themselves off with fear of the unknown, fear of revolution, or the scramble for security. They are still familiar with the inborn vocabulary of myth. It was adults who thought that children would be afraid of the Dark Thing in Wrinkle, not children, who understand the need to see thingness, non-ness, and to fight it.”

Sally Lloyd Jones must believe that as well.

In 2007 she published a beautifully written storybook Bible for children. This storybook Bible traced the story of Jesus all through the Bible, tying things together. Whereas most storybook Bibles simply pick the most popular or most entertaining stories and feature a couple pages on them with no connection, this one actually showed young children how the Bible stories fit together. It was written as one complete story more than sporadic individual stories. 

What does that have to do with her new book,

The Story of God's Love for You

It’s the same thing.

Yes, you read that right. A book for toddlers has been turned into a book for teens and adults. It’s just that good.

Mind blown, right? Who would take a toddler’s book and rebrand it as a teen and adult book? Sally Lloyd Jones is who! And she does a great job of it! Honestly, if you did not know this was once a toddler’s book, you would not figure that out from reading it. Just like Madeline L’Engle said – “If a book that is going to be marketed for children does not interest me, a grownup, then I am dishonoring the children for whom the book is intended, and I am dishonoring books. And words.” 

I highly highly highly recommend this book. If you’re a toddler, I recommend the Jesus Storybook Bible with the illustrations geared at toddlers. If you’re a teen or an adult wanting something that appears more cool, I recommend The Story of God’s Love For You. It’s the same story, but formatted for the appropriate age group. Go check it out. It will be the coolest Bible your toddler owns. And probably the coolest storybook you own.

Book: The Story of God’s Love For You by Sally Lloyd Jones, Zondervan, 2016

Spiritual Content Recommendation Scale: 5/5

Quality Scale: 5/5

Awesomeness Scale: 5/5

Reviewer: J:-)mi

 Galatians 4:4-5 -But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship.

Thank you so much to the publishers for providing me with a free review copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion! I am so excited to own this! I’ve wanted to own a copy of The Jesus Storybook Bible for a long time! I even ordered 5 at Christmas… but gave them all away!