A Little Boy After God's Own Heart

A Little Boy After God's Own Heart was written by Jim and Elizabeth George. Together they have written a number of titles, both for children and adults, selling more than four million copies.
This book, intended specifically for little boys, teaches them to live a life filled with the fruits of the spirit: Love, Joy and Peace, Patience, Kindness and Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self-Control. Bible verses, quoted in their entirety with references, introduce each trait of a God-like heart. Then, through rhyming verse, the authors describe what that looks like and how little boys can exemplify it. For example, the section on patience includes these lines:

"How can a guy wait when he's raring to go?
He asks God for patience and help to go slow.
When you're in a hurry, don't think of yourself.
Instead ask the question, 'How can I help?'"

Judy Luenebrink fills the book with beautiful paintings, both colorful and detailed. There are three full illustrations for each page of text. She also provided a map on the inside covers of "The Heart Land" which features "mountains of Joy", "pastures of Goodness", and the "Path of Patience", among others.
What I Like: The concept is great; the content thorough. I really appreciate the inclusion of Bible verses, ideal for memorization. My son loves the train theme that runs throughout the illustrations and borders. He also likes having a book that's "just for boys!"
What I Dislike: I think the book would have been stronger if the authors had written it in simple prose, rather than forcing awkward sentence structures or less familiar words into rhyme. Also, the illustrations are fantastic, but I wish they offered more diversity. All of the characters depicted in this book are Caucasian, which is fine if your children are blonde with fair features. But if your kids have darker features and prefer books that show children like them, this may not be the book for your family.
Overall Rating: Very Good.
Age Appeal: 4-8
Publisher Info:Harvest House Publishers, 2007; ISBN: 0736917829; Hardback; $15.99
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Special Info: You can also purchase this book in a set with its girl counterpart: A Little Girl After God's Own Heart. Take a moment to see our reviews of other books by this author.