After telling his mother he wants a big brother, Ryan's puppy, Bubby, runs away. Ryan is very upset, to the point he can't eat. When Gramma arrives, she brings hope: Bubby has been found by a neighbor, and shortly, Bubby is back home.
Gramma has brought her Book (the Bible) with her, and she and Ryan sit down to read. Using the day's adventures as a springboard, Gramma teaches Ryan that everyone is lost, like Bubby had been. Ryan states he doesn't feel lost. Gramma explains further: everyone is lost until they have Jesus as their friend. Using Proverbs 18:24, "There is a friend who sticks closer than a brother," Gramma tells Ryan Jesus is the ultimate big brother. Excited, Ryan says he wants to have Jesus as his big brother. After Gramma explains about prayer, Ryan prays for Jesus to come into his life.
What I Like: I love the fact this book uses a real-life situation kids can relate to in order to share the gift of Salvation. The message is straightforward, even if it takes a bit to get to.
At the end of the book, there's a short epilogue that helps kids apply what they've learned in the book. And, there's a quiz inside the back cover about the story.
What I Dislike: There are inconsistencies in the book's grammar. For instance, when referring to God, sometimes "Him" is capitalized, sometimes it's not.
The illustrations by Ms. Sager had a bit of a surreal quality to them. Faces weren't consistent, and there were some images where proportions were skewed. One image where Ryan is eating breakfast has Momma leaning over what appears to be a counter. Her position appears completely unnatural, as does the coloring on her face.
Overall Rating: Very Good, despite the problems noted above.
Age Appeal: 4 - 7.
Publisher Info: Amazing Grace Publishers, LLC, 2010; ISBN: 978-0-9631988-2-2; Hardback, 32 pages, $15.99
Buy it at Amazon.com for $15.99.
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