Ronnie Wilson's Gift

Ronnie Wilson’s Gift, written by Francis Chan, the best-selling author of Crazy Love, is a touching story of a young boy’s wish to give a special gift to God.

When Ronnie Wilson learns the reason Jesus came to earth, he is amazed. He thinks God’s gift is so amazing he wants to give God an amazing gift in return.

But what can he give? His teddy bear is old and worn out, and he has only six dollars and forty-seven cents in his piggy bank. But, he has something truly special, something he loves more than anything else - his baseball glove, signed by his uncle, a player in the big leagues. He wants to give it to God.

He tries to mail it to Heaven. He can’t do that, but on the way home from the post office, he meets a man who is hungry. So, he gives the man some of the money he was going to use for postage so the man can buy a hot dog. Later, when he’s jumping on the trampoline in his backyard, trying to jump high enough to get to Heaven, he sees that his neighbor, Jesse, is playing by himself. So, he invites Jesse over to jump on the trampoline with him. And, the next day, when a little girl loses her balloon at the carnival, Ronnie gives her the balloon he just bought for himself, even though he was going to tie his baseball glove to it to see if it could float to heaven.

Ronnie is discouraged that he hasn’t found a way to get his ball glove to Heaven. But, in a dream, God tells him that when he fed the hungry man, played with the lonely boy, and gave his balloon to the little girl, he was not only helping them, he was helping God. Ronnie understands that he doesn’t have to send his ball glove to Heaven to give to it to God; he can give it to someone else and that, in turn, helps God. So, the next day he gives it to his friend Keith, who has always wanted to play on a real team but never had a glove. Ronnie knew his gift would be special that way.

The author includes this verse from Matthew 25:40 at the end of the story: “And the kind will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’” The author also includes a letter parents at the end of the book explaining the importance of the parents’ responsibility to teach their children about God.

The illustrations by Jim Madsen are colorful and expressive and kid-friendly.

What I Like: Everything.

What I Dislike: Nothing.

Overall Rating: Excellent.

Age Appeal: 5-9.

Publisher Info: David C. Cook, 2011; ISBN: 9780781404778; Hardcover, $12.99.

Buy now at ChristianBook $9.99!

Or buy at Amazon.com $10.39.

Special Info: Read our reviews of other books by Francis Chan. Read our reviews of other books illustrated by Jim Madsen. Visit the author’s website.

The Little Shepherd Girl

For a little different twist on the familiar Christmas story, The Little Shepherd Girl by Juliann Henry is an attractive choice.

Richly illustrated by Jim Madsen, The Little Shepherd Girl introduces us to a little girl from biblical times asking - once again - if she can tend the family's flock of sheep that night. "No, Sarah," her father says. "Daughters are meant for weaving and baking flat cakes. Only sons can protect the flock from a hungry wolf. That is just the way of things." Not long after, we find Sarah pretending to shepherd a flock...but her father calls her home to perform more feminine chores. Then one day Sarah's father - who clearly loves her a great deal - decides he'll let Sarah tend the flock with her male cousins. Sarah is thrilled, and works harder than the boys that night, enjoying every moment.

But as she lives her dream of tending the sheep, something wondrous happens. Stars begin falling to the ground...then speak! "Gloria! Peace on earth!" They are angels, and they announce the birth of Jesus Christ. Sarah tries to find her cousins so she, too, can see the Christ child, but in the confusion of the angels' announcement, they have run off, forgetting her. All alone, Sarah takes the sheep into town, trying to find Jesus. Just as she's about to give up, Sarah spots a bright star directly over a stable. When Sarah's cousins finally arrive, they see Sarah holding the baby King.

Dawn breaks, and Sarah heads her sheep home. Sarah's father has been worried, but he rejoices in the news of Jesus...and he's certain one of those stars that turned into an angel lead his little shepherd girl safely home.

What I Like: Madsen's illustrations are beautiful. They do a terrific job of showing a little girl's frustration, determination, confusion, and joy - and her father's great love for her. The story is unique in that a female character is central. In an interview with Novel Journey, the author said: "I wrote this story so that young girls would find their place in the biblical story. As a child I remember grumbling to my mother that I didn’t like Bible stories because 'all the good parts are taken by men.'"

What I Dislike: Nothing, really, although the author's note at the beginning of the book confuses me. She writes that contrary to popular modern belief, girls were frequently shepherds during biblical times. This is an interesting fact that I didn't know...but it does make me wonder why the protagonist in The Little Shepherd Girl is struggling to break into an occupation the story itself claims was for males only.

Overall Rating: Very Good.

Age Appeal: According to Amazon, 9 - 12, but I'd say more like 2 - 10.

Publishing Info: David C. Cook, 2007, ISBN: 0781445132; hard back, $14.99.

Buy Now from Christianbook.com for $11.99

Or order from Amazon.com for $10.19

Special Info: Read an interview with the author at Novel Journey, and receive free coloring book pages and Sunday school lessons at the publisher's website.