A Travel Guide to Heaven for Kids

"'Mom, where do people go when they die?' Joey asked one day. 'They go to heaven to be with Jesus,' his mother answered." So begins Anthony DeStefano's A Travel Guide to Heaven for Kids, based upon his book for adults, A Travel Guide to Heaven.

When Joey lies down in his bed that night, his thoughts about heaven are interrupted by a tap on the window - from a little girl with wings...Gabby, his guardian angel, who says she can take Joey to heaven for a little while if he'll just wear a gold "visitor's" pin. Before Joey can count to 10, the two are at heaven's "golden gate."

The first thing they see are family's greeting and hugging each other. "They're celebrating," Gabby explains. "That's what happens when people die and go to heaven. They're greeted with love by all their friends and family..." Then Gabby takes Joey soaring over a wondrous landscape, filled with rich hues, countryside, and cities. There's even an amusement park with roller coasters, Ferris wheels, and cotton candy.

Next they go into outer space. Gabby says, "All this is part of heaven...Anyone who lives here can explore the entire galaxy." When they fly back to an earth-like location, Joey notices all the animals - even tigers and zebras, dogs and cats, playing and getting along. Gabby tells him, "They never fight. They all get along." Joey even sees beautiful brontosauruses, who let him pet them.

Finally, Gabby shows Joey "the best part of heaven." She points to a bright light in the distance: God. "One day when you live here, you'll be able to go over the hill and meet Him face-to-face," Gabby says. She also says that God created all of the things they've seen so far, expressly so humans could be happy in heaven forever.

By then, it's time for Joey to go back home. As soon as Gabby disappears, in walks Joey's mom, telling him it's time to get ready for school. Joey bursts with news about heaven, informing her it wasn't merely a dream - his guardian angel really did take him to visit heaven. Joey's mother shakes her head, but doesn't want to argue - yet when she makes his bed, she finds a small gold "visitor's" pin.

"Joey just smiled at her as he rushed out the door to school."
 
What I Like: Erwin Madrid has done a fine job of illustrating this book. His images are vivid, beautiful, and sometimes fun. He makes heaven look like kid-paradise, complete with friendly dinosaurs.

What I Dislike: I'm disturbed by the addition of fantasy and extra-biblical content in this book. For example, while it's true the Bible talks about angels looking out for humans, it never once uses the words "guardian angel," even though Gabby insists, "Everyone has a guardian angel." Another example is the description of the gates of heaven being gold. The Bible says there are twelve gates and they are pearly (Rev. 21:21). I know of nowhere in the Bible where it says our relatives will greet us as we enter heaven, and while I agree that heaven will be a beautiful new earth, I'm not certain it will have amusement parks or cotton candy. There is even a non-biblical error: There is no such dinosaur as a brontosaurus.

As we read this book, my 5 year old kept asking, "Is that true, Mommy?" Sadly, often I had to answer, "no."

I also wish that, like many other children's books about heaven, the author gave Bible references for the things he is teaching.

Overall Rating: Ho-hum, due to inaccuracies and lack of biblical documentation.

Age Appeal: The publisher doesn't offer an age range, but I'd say 4 to 8 or so.

Publishing Info: Harvest House; 2013; ISBN: 978-0736955096; hardback, 32 pgs., $11.19

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Special Info: You can watch a video trailer for this book at the author's website. Also, you might read our reviews of other books by Anthony DeStefano - and check out our reviews of other kids' books about heaven.

Someday Heaven

Someday Heaven, written by Larry Libby, answers children's most popular questions about Heaven. Each two-page spread features a large illustration, a question and an answer, sometimes given through short stories. Most quote Scripture and offer Biblical references to support the answers given.

The questions tackled in this book include:

• Where is Heaven?
• How do I get to Heaven?
• How long does it take to get to Heaven?
• Who lives in Heaven?
• How long will I be in Heaven?
• Will it always be light in Heaven?
• Will anyone meet me when I get to Heaven?
• Will there be other children in Heaven?
• Will I be an angel when I get to Heaven?
• Will I need money in Heaven?
• Will I ever be sad in Heaven?
• Will my grandpa still be old in Heaven?
• Will my pets go to Heaven?
• How can I know for sure that I'm going to Heaven?

Wayne McLoughlin served as illustrator. His paintings feature life-like characters and deep contrasts.

What I Like: It answers almost every question kids have about Heaven! My favorite part: the author continually brings the focus back to the important facts. The Bible tells us so little about something so big; it would be easy to get lost in speculation. This book keeps the big issues as the big issues and doesn't get distracted by unknown details. Scripture and references are provided throughout the book.

What I Dislike: Some of the illustrations are a little boring. Great quality, but not interesting enough to keep kids listening through the longer pieces of text.

Age Appeal: 4-8

Overall Rating: Excellent.

Publisher Info: Zonderkidz, 2001; ISBN: 0310701058; Hardback; $12.99

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Tell Me About Heaven

Tell Me About Heaven, by Randy Alcorn, is a positive and uplifting story about a 10-year-old boy who visits his grandpa for the first time after his grandma has died. Jake and his grandpa spend fun summer days hiking, picking berries, going to church, and reminiscing about Jake's grandma. Jake's grandpa answers lots of questions about Heaven and shows Jake how to find out more in the Bible.

The chapters begin by describing Jake's loss, and go on to discuss what the Bible says about the Garden of Eden and the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Jake and his grandpa then imagine what life in Heaven might be like, based on the Scriptures.

The story is primarily an account of various conversations Jake and his grandpa have in different settings. It is a bit slow-moving, but includes lots of cute snapshots of Moses (their puppy), as well as descriptions of Jake and his grandpa engaged in everyday activities like star-gazing, making hot chocolate, and reading the Narnia books.

Tell Me About Heaven is vibrantly illustrated by Ron DiCianni. There are vivid, colorful paintings at the beginning of each chapter that add life to the story. Angels and children of all different races are shown, and Jesus' love is evident in His facial expressions. One of my favorite paintings shows angels carrying a joyful man home to Heaven.

What I Like: I love how positive Jake's grandpa is. Even though he misses his wife, he is thrilled to think of her in Heaven with Jesus. Hearing him describe Heaven makes us excited to go there as well. I also really like Jake. He is a sweet boy who has a lot of questions. He is a realistic mix of energy and sadness, and his relationship with his grandpa feels very genuine.

Randy Alcorn's depiction of Heaven is quite detailed, and I love the clear, thorough way he addresses even controversial issues. He rarely speaks in absolutes, but answers Jake's questions by saying, "I wouldn't be surprised." This is Jake's grandpa's response when Jake asks if pets will go to Heaven: "God's touched many people's lives through animals. God can do anything - it'd be simple for Him to recreate a pet in Heaven if He wants to." Alcorn takes a similar approach to Jake's questions about whether dinosaurs, computers, and cars may be in Heaven.

Alcorn does a good job explaining that people we love in Heaven may be able to see us sometimes, but that it's still important to pray only to Jesus.

The best part of the book is the way Alcorn always brings the discussion back to Jesus and His saving grace. There is even a beautiful Certificate of Commitment in the back of the book to commemorate a reader's salvation.

What I Dislike: Although this is a fabulous book, there is almost too much in every chapter. Because of the many theological issues Alcorn addresses, I found myself wanting to read the chapter myself before I read it aloud to my children. I did selectively edit a section in Chapter 1 and another section in Chapter 9 that talked about a 6-year-old dying and an 8-year-old dying of leukemia. Although Alcorn handled it very sensitively, my children haven't specifically dealt with children their age dying.

Alcorn has done a lengthy, fairly intellectual adult book called Heaven and a children's version called Heaven for Kids , which explain his theology, but I wish Tell Me About Heaven included endnotes or at least a list of Scripture references at the back.

The chapters are a bit long, with only one painting at the beginning of each chapter. The book reads more like a chapter book, even though it is a picture book.

Overall Rating: Very Good

Age Appeal: 8-12

Publisher Info: Crossway Books, 2007; ISBN13: 978-1-58134-853-8; Hardcover, $19.99

Special Notes: Some of the paintings depict Jesus as both an infant and an adult, hugging people, rising from the dead, and walking with children and animals in Heaven.

Read our other reviews of Randy Alcorn's books.

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Heaven is for Real for Kids

Millions of adult readers purchased the New York Times bestseller Heaven is for Real - the story of a three year old boy named Colton and his trip to heaven. And now there is a picture book version, Heaven is for Real for Kids. Written by Colton Burpo with input from Colton's parents, Todd and Sonja Burpo, the book features illustrations by Wilson Ong - who apparently had to get Colton's approval for every image, to ensure accuracy.

The picture book begins by explaining that one day Colton got sick and went to the hospital. There, he closed his eyes - and when he opened them, he was with Jesus. Then the book switches to "Colton's voice" - although parents may wish to note the story was not specifically dictated by Colton.

First, there's a description of Jesus: He really loves children, his eyes sparkle, and he has a bright smile. The accompanying picture shows Jesus with a gold crown, a purple sash, and wounds on his hands.

Colton then says Heaven has beautiful music and lots of colors, including rainbows "everywhere you look." The streets are gold and the gates are made of pearl. "There is no sun, but it never gets dark in heaven because the light of God is so bright." Everyone is happy.

Colton says that while in Heaven he met John the Baptist, King David, Samson, Peter, John, and Mary (Jesus' mother). He also met his grandfather (who died before Colton was born), and a sister who his mother miscarried. There are tons of children in heaven, and lots of angels. Michael and Gabriel "are as tall as giants" and Michael's sword "is covered in flames and is really powerful." Angels sing praises to God, "deliver messages," and "protect people on earth." The people in heaven are depicted with wings and halos, and in the notes following the story, Colton is quoted as saying, "You get to choose if you want to walk or fly." There are lots of animals in heaven, too - animals we'd recognize from earth. Jesus also has a large white horse with a rainbow colored mane.

Colton also sees God's throne. God the Father is "HUGE." Jesus sits to his right and the Holy Spirit is nearby. "A little chair was brought in for me, and I sat by God the Holy Spirit. I was praying for my dad because I knew he was really worried about me." Jesus finally says, "'Colton, you have to go back now. I am answering your dad's prayer.' Then I woke up, and was in my hospital bed again." The book ends:

"I will never, ever forget my trip to heaven...Jesus really, really loves children. And Jesus really, really loves you!"

What I Like: I can find nothing in this book that contradicts the Bible and I like that biblical quotes are included throughout.

What I Dislike: I felt cautious about introducing this book to my children. They were excited about it, to be sure. My 6 year old's eyes were as wide as saucers when I told her the little boy in the book says everything in the book is true. But I also didn't feel comfortable saying that this book presented an accurate picture of heaven. It may very well - but then again, it may not. There is plenty of information in it that's extra-biblical (that is, it includes details not included in the Bible). It's one thing for adults to read this account and use critical thinking and prayer to decide if it is accurate, but is a child looking at a picture book old enough to do this? In the end, I decided the book was a good launch pad for discussing what the Bible says about heaven, and how we might determine whether Colton really experienced heaven or not.
Overall Rating: This is a tough one to rate, but if you can accept that the account is an accurate one, I'd give it a "Very Good" rating.

Age Appeal: 4 to 8. Younger kids may like it, too, but I don't think they will have the maturity to discuss the accuracy of the account.

Publishing Info: Thomas Nelson; 2011; ISBN: 978-1400318704; hardback, 32 pgs., $14.99.

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Home Runs in Heaven

At some point in their lives, children are bound to ask questions about heaven. In Tracy Sievers' book, Home Runs in Heaven, a mother and her son speculate about what they might see in heaven.

Five-year-old Tyler Nash starts the conversation by asking, “Is there baseball in heaven?”

His mother answers, “No one really knows what heaven is like. But I believe that heaven is better than anything we could imagine here on earth… If I had to guess, I’d say yes…”

From there on, the two imagine heaven as being filled with ice cream, music, roller coasters, movies, sleepovers, jellybeans, birthday parties, a zoo, and so on.

The book layout remains consistent: two-page spreads with the illustrations, done by Trent and Kara Smith, on one side and the text on the other. Text length varies from a few short paragraphs to a full top-to-bottom page.

What I Like: The illustrations are bright and hold enough detail to keep the interest of the reader.

What I Dislike: Overall, I wish the story focused more on what Scripture does tell us about heaven (with Scripture references to back it up) and speculate less on unknown details. Or perhaps I would have been more comfortable if the author had been consistent in saying something along the lines of, "I bet..." or “The Bible doesn’t tell us, so we don’t know, but it’s possible God could…” instead of using definitive language like, “Of course” and “Definitely”.  Without Scripture references to back up the claims, I think this is somewhat confusing to kids. Does the Bible really say there are jellybeans in heaven or not? (Many other children's books about heaven give Bible references for the ideas claimed in the book, but this author does not.) So, while I agree with the author that heaven will be better than anything we could imagine, I'm not certain it will have amusement parks or jellybeans.

Overall Rating: Good.

Age Appeal: None is suggested, but I think it works for the K-1 crowd.

Publisher Info: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 2014; ISBN: 978-1499767728; Paperback, 30 pgs., $9.99

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Special Info: Read other CCBR reviews on books about heaven.

What Will Heaven Be Like?

What Will Heaven Be Like? is a question every person - young and old - wonders. While there are many picture books covering this topic, Kathleen Ruckman's new book offers a gentle and sweet way to teach younger children the basics about heaven.

As the book opens, Annie and Adam are spending an afternoon on their grandpa's farm. As they chase frogs, gather wildflowers, talk to the cows and sheep, chew on stalks of wheat, and other activities, they talk with their grandpa about heaven. Grandpa teaches them that Jesus is working on our home in heaven - right now. That no one will be sick, have pain, or feel sad in heaven. That heaven is the place where everyone who loves Jesus will go someday. That we don't have to be afraid of death, because Jesus guide us to heaven. That we may not have food in heaven, but that we'll have a grand celebration with Jesus. That we will see loved ones who've died in heaven. That we don't know if there will be pets in heaven, "but I suspect that whatever is beautiful and whatever makes us happy just might be there. We'll have to wait and see. God has been planning heaven for a very long time - and it will be more wonderful than we can imagine!"

The last page of the book offers biblical references to the heavenly facts talked about in the story.
What I Like: Ruckman does a nice job of making the conversation between grandchildren and grandfather seem natural. We get to enjoy the delights of nature and the farm while the kids talk, too. The Bible references are also indispensable. My preschooler loves this book, and asks me to read it often.
What I Dislike: Greg Hardin's illustrations aren't really my taste; they look computer generated. But by four year old is really engaged by them.
Overall Rating: Very good.
Age Appeal: 4 - 8.
Publishing Info: Harvest House, 2010; ISBN: 978-0736925716; hardback, $15.99
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God Gave Us Heaven

From Lisa Tawn Bergren's popular line of God Gave Us... books comes God Gave Us Heaven, the best book on the subject I have seen for young children.

There are a number of good picture books on the topic of heaven Including Beverly Lewis' What Is Heaven Like? and Randy Alcorn's Wait Until Then, but they are targeted toward older children. On the other hand, God Gave Us Heaven is appropriate for older toddlers and preschoolers.

With her lovable polar bear cast of characters, Bergren explains heaven in an easy to understand way. Little Cub begins with a simple question: "What's heav'n?" And Papa explains that heaven is God's home--and the most amazing place we'll ever see. We also learn that we can join God in heaven (and how), when we will see heaven, that heaven is a place of joy, that we won't need our "stuff" in heaven, that we won't be angels, and more.

What I Like: Bergen's text is straight-forward, young-child-friendly, and very sweet. Bryant's illustrations are inviting, with chubby polar bears doing everything from fishing to snuggling in bed.

What I Dislike: Nothing.

Overall Rating: Excellent.

Age Appeal: According to the publisher, 4 - 8, but kids as young as 2 will enjoy this book.

Publishing Info: WaterBrook Press, 2008; ISBN: 1400074460; hardback, $10.99

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How Far Is Heaven?

Children are curious and ask questions about everything. How Far Is Heaven?, written by Jan Muir Peine and illustrated by Doris Gabel, is a touching story about a young boy, Brady, who wants to know how far away Heaven is and how to get there. Brady’s Grandpa (Grampy) has died. Brady knows Grampy went to Heaven, but Brady wants to know more. How far is Heaven? Is it near the Milky Way or out past Jupiter? Brady wants to know how to send a letter to Heaven. Does Heaven have a postman? So, he asks his mom for advice. She tells him, “You don’t have to send a letter to let Grampy know you care. You can talk to God about him in a sweet little thing called prayer.”

The illustrations are bright and bold and full of texture and patterns. They are a great accompaniment to the text. They are also very special. Each picture contains at least one hidden Christian symbol. For example, there are three symbols on page 2: (1) A tree, which stands for the Tree of Life; (2) the sun, which stands for Christ; and (3) water, which is clean and pure like a baptism. There is a glossary in the back of the book explaining the symbols used on each page.

But, there’s more to the illustrations than that. The book is dedicated to the memory of siblings Brad and Brooke Franklin. They were each killed in separate automobile accidents on the same stretch of road. As a way to honor their memory, the artist incorporated patterns and objects from the kids’ own clothing and personal items. For instance, on pages 21-22, the illustrations of the bed pillows match the pillow made from one of Brooke’s old T-shirts. And, on pages 25-26, the pattern for Brady’s T-shirt was taken from Brad’s favorite shirt.

What I Like: I like the idea of a story about a child asking about Heaven and how to get a message to someone there. It’s important for children to understand they can talk to God through prayer and ask God for anything, even to deliver a message to someone who has died and gone to Heaven. And, they will understand that Heaven is a special place to be.

I also like the idea of a book being dedicated to someone's memory (in this case the memory of two siblings) using illustrations from their lives to enhance the book.

What I Dislike: The story is written in rhyme. There are places where the rhyme scheme and rhythm is forced, making the text less than smooth. I think the story would have been better if it had not been written in rhyme.

Overall Rating: Good.

Age Appeal: The publisher does not give a specific age group, but I believe ages 4-8 would be appropriate for a book of this nature.

Publisher Info: Ashway Press, 2008; ISBN: 0975457594; Paperback: $6.99.

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What Is Heaven Like?

At some point, every child asks about the afterlife, and with bestselling author Beverly Lewis' picture book What is Heaven Like? you'll have a great introduction to the topic.

The book begins with a little boy (perhaps seven years old) feeling sad because his grandfather has died. First, he talks to his big sister about heaven. She says the streets of heaven are gold, and that there are gates with shiny pearls. And, of course, there are lots of angels, too.

Next, he asks the adults he meets (the mailman, the librarian, the zookeeper...) what heaven is like. They tell him it's very far away, that it's a place where little boys can go outside and play all day long without ever having to go back inside, that it's a happy place filled with people who love you, that it's full of joyful noise, that you can eat whatever you want, that your body will be strong and healthy, that there may be animals there, and that the air will be beautifully perfumed.

Finally, he talks to his family about heaven. His mom assures the boy he can come to them with any questions and they will consult the Bible for answers. Together, they discuss how we get to heaven, that everyone's body dies eventually (but that their souls can live on), and what it means to really accept Christ.

Near the end of the book, we see the boy's imaginings of what heaven is like, along with a quote: "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has known what God has prepared for those who love him." (1 Cor. 2:9) On the final two page spread, we see the boy and his grandfather, reunited, as the boy proclaims that he will see his grandpa again.

What I Like: There are a number of books on this topic (notably, Randy Alcorn's excellent Wait Until Then), but Lewis' book is great for children just old enough to understand more detail than books for younger children usually include. The illustrations by Pamela Querin are soft, peaceful, and engaging, and I appreciate that every two page spread features a quote from the Bible that backs up - in some way - what the author says. In addition, the author includes a note to parents with some useful tips. She reminds us that children are more frightened by the unknown than by the truth. And she correctly states than even the greatest theologian doesn't know all the answers about heaven - therefore, parents shouldn't be afraid to sometimes say "I don't know."

What I Dislike: This is nit-picky, but I would have liked a section for parents with footnotes for all the facts given about heaven. Once or twice, I found myself wondering, "Does the Bible really say that?" It would have been nice to have a Bible reference handy to check for myself.

Overall Rating: Excellent.

Age Appeal: 4- 8

Publishing Info: Bethany, 2006; ISBN: 076420184; hardback, $14.99

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Treasures from Heaven

Do you ever wonder what Heaven will be like? In Treasures from Heaven, written by Leslie Jackson, young Christa and her mother have lots of ideas about it. Perhaps Heaven is like cotton candy or coffee. Perhaps Heaven is like a rainbow or a laugh. As the two drive along the road, they offer their thoughts in a lighthearted way.

Each two-page spread in the book has two to five lines of text on one side and simple, bright, kid-friendly illustrations on the other.

What I Like: The eye-catching illustrations are adorable and the banter between mother and child is enjoyable. To me, the best line is, “…most importantly, it [Heaven] will be filled with God’s love, and I can’t wait to get there.”

What I Dislike: While imagining what Heaven is like, Mom suggests Christa think of her favorite things. For some reason, that bothers me. Would, then, Heaven be different for everyone according to their personal preferences? Also, I would have liked some Heavenly Scripture references.

Overall Rating: Good

Age Appeal: The publisher lists ages 4-8, but to me it seems too "young" for that. I believe it's better suited for ages 2-5.

Publisher Info: Tate Publishing, 2011; ISBN:978-1617392672; Paperback, 24 PGS., $8.99

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Let's Talk About Heaven

Let's Talk About Heaven was written and illustrated by Debby Anderson. Because this is a book of doctrine, it's different from most children's books. It doesn't have a running story, but rather logically presents what we know and don't know about Heaven from Scripture.

The book answers four big questions many kids (and adults!) have about Heaven.

• Who is going to be in Heaven?
• What will I be like in Heaven?
• What will our forever home be like?
• What will we do in Heaven?

"Jesus is getting a wonderful place ready for each one of us. He has the very best planned. He knows that it's best to keep most of it a surprise ... but we can imagine what it might be like!" The author does a fantastic job weaving truths with speculation kids can understand. For example we know we will worship and rest, but "will we fly"? Will we "ride on eagles' wings"? The book concludes with this definition: "Heaven is being home with Jesus." Psalm 23 is quoted at the back and an index of Scriptural references is included for further study.

Many of the illustrations are in storyboard format, with small boxes showing different parts of the story. The colors are bold; the style simple and not too detailed.

What I Like: This book is great! I am a big advocate of solid doctrinal teaching, so this book is right up my alley. It answers tough questions with lots of details and plenty of Scriptural supports. Children and parents can learn a LOT from this book.

What I Dislike: Nothing. Better illustrations would be nice, but the content of this book more than makes up for what's missing from the pictures.

Overall Rating: Excellent.

Age Appeal: 4-7

Publisher Info: Chariot Victor Publishing, 1998; ISBN: 0781430771; Hardback; $12.99

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Additional Info: This book features people of several ethnicities and nationalities. One page features greetings in eight different languages. View other reviews of books by this author on CCBR.

What About Heaven?

What About Heaven?, written by Kathleen Long Bostrom and illustrated by Elena Kucharik, attempts to answer the many, many questions young children have about Heaven: Is Heaven a place that’s near or that’s far? Does Heaven have nighttime? What food will I eat? Does Heaven have mountains and trees I can climb?

The text is all in rhyme. A section in the back of the book, called “Bible References,” answers each question from the text. The answers are given in rhyme, also, but the biblical references are not.

Adorable watercolor pictures of boys and girls illustrate the pages, with coordinating borders on each double-page spread.

What I Like: I like the fact that the text includes a good selection of the many questions young children have about Heaven. I also like the fact that the book includes a section at the back with answers to the questions and gives Biblical references for each. The author did not just make the answers up; they were taken straight from the Scriptures.

What I Dislike: Young children like books with rhyming texts, and most of the rhythms and rhymes in this one are good. But, a few of them seemed forced. This takes a bit away from the text, although not much.

Overall Rating: Very good.

Age Appeal: 2-6 years.

Publisher Info: Tyndale House Publishers, 2000; ISBN: 1260953391; Hardcover: $7.90.

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Special Info: What About Heaven? is just one book in a long and popular series of books by Tyndale House Publishing known as the “Little Blessings” line. Some of the other titles in the series are: Are Angels Real?; Blessings Come in Shapes; God Created Me; God Loves You; Is God Always With Me?; Lullabies For Little Hearts; Prayers For Little Hearts; Thank You, God; What Is Prayer?; and Who Is Jesus?

Read our reviews for other books in the series.

You can visit the author’s website.

There's a Party in Heaven

"One day I'll look around and I'll find that I've left the sad things of  this world far behind. I'm sure there are thrills of a whole new kind - in Heaven!"

Inspired by the death of their nephew, Gary and Jan Bower poetically and humbly portray their realistic views of heaven in There's A Party In Heaven!  

"No sadness or tears will I have to endure. This place is happy! Of that, I am sure. Maybe an angel will give me a tour in Heaven."   

The lovely illustrations show people with the same bodies they had on earth, only happier and healthier. Their human forms are not transformed into angels or bright lights. You wont find anyone in this book hovering on a cloud all alone in the sky. Full paged illustrations show children playing, friends and loved ones being reunited, angels interacting with children, and everyone joyfully singing praises to God. 

There are a number of Bible verses written in small text at the bottom of every page to tell more about God's promises, what heaven is like, and what awaits us there. There are a few devotional paragraphs in the back of the book and an "RSVP to God's Party in Heaven," for your child to write his or her name and date.

What I Like:The text is very accurate with what the Bible teaches and the illustrations are believable. It is by far the best children's book I have read on the topic of Heaven.

What I Dislike: Nothing.

Overall Rating:Excellent!

Age Appeal:Recommended for children age 4-8. 

Publishing Info: Storybook Meadow Publishing, 2007;ISBN:0970462182:$11.99

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Special Info: See our other reviews of books by Gary and Jan Bower. You may like to visit their website for more info on this book and others at www.BowerBooks.com

Heaven, God's Promise for Me

“We wondered when our Granny died,/ Where did she really go?/ It’s lonely here without her,/ And we just miss her so!”

When someone dear passes away and little ones start asking questions about Heaven, where can a parent turn for help? Check out Heaven, God’s Promise for Me, by Anne Graham Lotz. Kid-friendly, whimsical pictures created by Laura J. Bryant depict children from a variety of ethnic backgrounds and animals of all kinds.

The story explores the promises God gives us about our eternal home. The book opens with a letter from Graham to parents, telling why she wrote the book and giving them some encouraging tips about how they can pass on their faith. Then the story begins. Written in rhyming verse, it follows a brother and sister as they pray for answers about Heaven, and then look for answers in the Bible. They discover that God not only has a great big house with many rooms, but that “Jesus, His Son, is preparing a place. With treasures from above--/ Our favorite foods and colors,/ And the special people we love…” Jesus will also wipe away our tears, and there will be no crying or pain or sickness or sadness or hunger!

The book goes on to describe the beauty of our Heavenly home. Finally, in the grand tradition of Billy Graham, daughter Anne Graham Lotz masterfully takes the tale to a poignant culmination by encouraging readers to put their trust in Jesus. In fact, after the story, the author includes a prayer kids can recite to ask Jesus into their hearts. The book also includes questions parents can use to help talk about Heaven (such as “Where is Heaven?” and “Will you be welcomed in Heaven? Why?”) and a helpful list of Scripture references used to build the foundation of the story.

What I Like: The book seems like a great tool to help guide children to understand eternity and how to put their faith in Christ. The inclusion of Scripture references provides both parent and child with a stepping stone to further explore the ideas presented in the story. I also LOVE the bright and appealing watercolor illustrations.

What I Dislike: Rhyming books are hard to write well. (In fact, out of the rhyming books I’ve read most recently, Crystal Bowman is one of the few authors who consistently gets the meter right.) In this book, the meter works some of the time, but sometimes it’s simply off. Because of that, when I read it out loud, I stumbled over a several verses. Still, the message and illustrations paired with the extra support (letter to parents, prayer, Scripture references) are strong enough to offset that flaw.

Overall Rating: Excellent

Age Appeal: Ages 4 and up.

Publisher Info: Zondervan, 2011; ISBN:978-0310716013; Hardcover, 40 PGS., $16.99

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Special Info: Anne Graham Lotz is the CEO of AnGeL Ministries. You can find out more information about this ministry at her website. She mainly writes books for adults. Some titles are The Magnificent Obsession: Embracing the God-Filled Life, Just Give Me Jesus, and Heaven: My Father’s House.

What's Gramma Doing in Heaven?

Cecilia's Gramma recently died. What's Gramma Doing in Heaven? is the story of a mother and daughter (Cecilia) visiting the grave of Cecilia's Gramma. It's written by Whitney Manse and illustrated by Kurt Jones.

Cecilia is curious what happened to Gramma. At Gramma's graveside, Mom shares that Gramma went to Heaven, and what she may be doing there: seeing friends and family, finding her mansion, and eating from the Tree of Life, among other things. Mom also says Gramma is in Heaven because she loved (and still loves) Jesus. Mom assures Cecilia they'll both get to see Gramma again someday since they love Jesus, and that's how you get to go to Heaven.

What I Like: The illustrations in this book are beautiful. They capture the story and what Cecilia and Mom discuss and, I think, helps demonstrate to a child the possibility of what Heaven may look like.

The story is heartwarming. I like the concept of Mom taking Cecilia to the graveside to not only place flowers, but also discuss the meaning of death, which isn't treated as a sad event - rather, a celebration.

What I Dislike: I'm very cognizant of the fact certain denominations think differently about Heaven and when one goes there. This book, while it has a list of scripture references at the back to support the story, may fail this particular litmus test for some readers since Gramma is portrayed as going to Heaven before the Second Coming.

Also, especially for younger readers, I thought seeing Cecilia's gramma as a young woman (as she's portrayed through all pages of the book save one) may be disconcerting for children who may not understand the concept of a "new body", which wasn't addressed in the book. Most children will probably be used to seeing a grandparent as older.

Overall Rating: Good

Age Appeal: 4 - 8 years.

Publishing Info: Tate Publishing, 2010; ISBN: 978-1-61566-852-6; Paperback $9.99

Buy it at Amazon.com for $9.99

Special Info: In addition to the denominational issue mentioned above, one image showed Jesus' face. He is portrayed as Caucasian.

Eternal Warriors: The War in Heaven: Book One

Eternal Warriors: The War in Heaven, book one in the Eternal Warriors series by Theodore Beale, is an older book (published in 2002), but still has plenty of appeal, particularly for the video-game playing, teen set. Christopher Lewis is misunderstood, picked on, and lonely. Although he gets along with his sister, Holli, he constantly fights with his other sister, Jami. Little does he know, a battle is being waged in Heaven and he has been chosen to play an important part.

When Christopher's guardian angel, Mariel, is lured away from Christopher's home, a mysterious stranger visits Christopher in his bedroom. Kaym is disturbing, but appealing at the same time. Kaym's promises of power and importance prove enough to overcome any misgivings Christopher feels, and Christopher soon finds himself in a downtown club, meeting the fallen angel assigned to him. Melusine is a seductive temptress, and not even her horns and tail can discourage Christopher from relishing her attention.

Kaym and Melusine bring Christopher to the Prince of Light (Satan), who charges Christopher with opening the Gates of Heaven at the appointed time. Slowly, Christopher realizes he has been brought back in time to the war in Heaven where the angel, Lucifer, challenged God's authority. Only a human may open Heaven's gates, so Kaym gives Christopher a key and special powers to assist in his mission. Christopher's transformation into the angel-like Phaeoton is intoxicating, and soon he is emulating the Prince of Light and successfully leading a host of fallen angels against the angels of heaven.

Meanwhile, Holli and Jami are being pursued by demonic forces. Their guardian angels rescue them, and bring them back in time, as well. Although Holli loves the Lord, Jami isn't sure what she believes. The sisters spend some time with the Lady of the Tower, preparing to play an important role in the battle between heaven and hell. They learn more about good and evil and are presented with many choices.

Plot Spoilers Ahead: As Holli's faith becomes stronger, Jami realizes she wants to trust God. The girls learn to trust their guardian angels and believe in the power of prayer. They also meet Jesus (Kherev) and Jami is given the choice to follow him. After the girls affirm their faith, they encounter Christopher. He has been so seduced by the fallen angels, he fails to recognize his sisters and attacks them. Only after he meets Kherev (Jesus) and returns home does Christopher realize what he has done. Happily, it is never too late for forgiveness, and Christopher repents and is reunited with his sisters. Although Melusine continues to tempt him, Christopher chooses to join Holli and Jami in church.

What I Like:  I like Beale's portrayal of the spiritual battle for the souls of humans. Readers are reminded of the importance of prayer, worship and small, everyday choices. I especially like the inclusion of song lyrics from some of my favorite 1990s worship songs.

The action is fast-paced and reads much like a video game. (In fact, the book is based on a video game of the same name, created by Beale and friends.) 

I appreciated the fact Beale made the fallen angels and Satan appealing. Although disturbing, it is  good to remember Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. The guardian angels were also appealing but trustworthy as well, so clearly a better choice. 

What I Dislike:  I had a hard time keeping all the names straight. Often the fallen angels are referred to simply as "angels," which is accurate, since technically they hadn't fallen yet, but it made some of the battles and interactions confusing. Also, the angels were characterized in very human terms. Even good angels were sometimes petty, jealous, and unreliable. However, I suppose, in order for one-third of the angels to have joined with Lucifer/Satan, they must have had shortcomings.

In this book, the line between fantasy and allegory is often blurry. Some events are clearly allegorical (for example, the beautiful, appealing Prince of Light obviously signifies Satan) but other events and characters are less clear (I am still not sure whether the Lady in the Tower represents anyone, or is just a random character).

Overall Rating:  Very Good

Age Appeal:  Young Adult (14 and up) due to language and seductive angel descriptions

Publisher Info: Pocket, 2002; ISBN:978-07-43453448 ; Kindle, 307 pages, $2.99

Buy it on Kindle at Amazon.com for $2.99.

Special Notes:  Christopher often uses the term "pissed off." Also, some chapters begin with song lyric quotations from bands such as Metallica and KMFDM.

Although not widely available in paperback, the Kindle edition is only $2.99!

Questions from Little Hearts

Kathleen Long Bostrom and Elena Kucharik's "Little Blessings" series has proven so popular, the publisher is now releasing the individual titles in collections, saving parents money. Questions from Little Hearts is one of these collections.

Featuring the previously-released titles What is God Like?, What is Prayer?, What About Heaven?, and Are Angels Real?, this collection is an excellent beginning to many children's basic theological questions. (Click the titles in blue to read our reviews of the individual volumes.)

Each title in the collection begins with rhyming verse in a child's voice, asking a series of questions. This is followed by rhyming verse in italics, meant to be either God's voice or a parent's voice, answering every question and then some. Each title ends with complete Bible references, backing up every fact in the book.

In What is God Like? we learn that no one knows what God looks like, that he's been around since the world began, knows every hair on our head, can have a soft or loud voice, that he's both strong and gentle, he's sad when we are and glad when we are, his anger is slow to come, that he's all light, that he lives in heaven and in the hearts of those who love him, and more.

In What is Prayer? we learn that God is always eager to listen to us and hears our every word, that you can pray in any position (on your knees, standing, laying down, etc.), through prayer we can ask God to forgive us and he will, that we should pray for others, God answers every prayer, why we say "amen," and more.

In What about Heaven? we learn we can't see heaven from earth, that we get to heaven by believing in Jesus, that no one will be sick or sad in heaven, that we'll be with God and Jesus in heaven, and more.

In Are Angels Real? we learn that angels serve God, angels are with us wherever we go, that we should pray to God (not to angels), that all angels fly but not all have wings, angels never die, that humans don't become angels when we die, and more.

Every title is accompanied by Elena Kucharik's famous pastel illustrations showing adorable children doing a variety of child-like things.

What I Like: I love that Bostrom emphasizes in every title that we should turn to the Bible for answers, then gives detailed notes for parents and older kids so they can fact check her writing. The rhyming verse is a big hit with young children, and every child I've read these books to loves Kucharik's illustrations.

What I Dislike: Nothing.

Overall Rating: Very good.

Age Appeal: 3 - 6

Publisher Info: Tyndale House, 2009; ISBN: 1414329989; hardback; $14.99

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OR buy it from Amazon.com for $10.19

Special Info: Read more of our reviews of Kathleen Long Bostrom's and Elena Kucharik's books.

I Don't See Heaven

In I Don’t See Heaven, written by Jennifer Adan, Isabella was looking forward to flying in an airplane. Before her grandpa died, he told her he would go to Heaven. Isabella believed if she could go high in the sky (as in the airplane), she would be high enough to see Heaven and she would be able to see her grandpa.

Of course, that didn’t happen, so she was very upset. Her parents had to explain to her that we can’t see Heaven but we can feel it in our hearts.

The illustrations by E. A. Morando are a bit cartoonish, but they are bright and colorful and work well with the text.

What I Like: I like the illustrations the best. I also like the parents’ explanation of Heaven.

What I Dislike: The layout is rather boring. All of the two-page spreads have the text on the left-hand side and an illustration on the right-hand side. I think a bit of variety would have been better.

Also, the writing is a bit weak and there are several punctuation errors throughout the text.

Overall Rating: Good.

Age Appeal: 8-12.

Publisher Info: Archway Publishing, 2013; ISBN: 9781480403077; Paperback, $9.89.

Buy now at Amazon.com $9.89!

 

Special Info: Visit the author’s website.