New PBT God Book

Picture Book: God’s Great Love for You

Author: Rick Warren

Illustrator: Chris Saunders

Summary: This beautiful picture book represents central ideas of all 3 Abrahamic faiths: God’s love is vast, perfect, very personal, and never ends. 

The book begins by emphasizing that God's love created everything in the universe, the gorgeous and the delightful. 

The very intriguing illustrations are open to interpretation. 

The central character is a girl who almost always is shown with 3 features which I, as a Christian, choose to view as The Trinity. These unusual elements are never explained, but they are evocative and mysterious and will lead to great conversations.

She has a very long sash that seems to have a personality all its own. 

A small white bird is a constant companion. And surrounding her are pink petals, almost like bubbles. 

The text is brief but complete. It alludes to God's mystery 

and God's diverse creation. 

God's presence is a given, even on days of great wandering,

days of success, 

and days of sorrow and silence. 

God's love is deep, high, and wide. 

Such love is perfect 

and unending.

Hanna’s Comments: This is not the book I would have expected from Rick Warren, author of the very successful book for adults, The Purpose-Driven Life. The ambiguity of the illustrations and the broad ideas mean this book could be used my most faith families and many home/private school libraries. Avoid being sidetracked by the mysterious sash, bird, and petals. Before reading, invite your audience to be open to possible meanings of the illustrations and to hold those ideas until after the reading. Warren has also written a children’s Bible God’s Big Plans for Me which is based on his best seller. 

Original Publisher & Date: Zonderkidz, 2017

Age & Grade Appropriateness: 4 and up, Pre and up

Formats other than Book: Tablet

Scripture Connections: I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you (Jeremiah 31:3); Nothing can separate us from God’s love (Romans 8:38); See what kind of love God has given us that we should be called children of God (1 John 3:1); God is love. Whoever abides I God, God abides in them (1 John 4:16)

Idea(s) for Application: Read this book to any audience in a faith family or private/home school situation and talk about God’s great love for each person and the entire world. Be sure to consider what the 3 elements in the illustrations might be.