Daddy, What Does Faith Look Like?

In the book, Daddy, What Does Faith Look Like?, written by Amanda Peterson, a young girl wants to know what faith looks like. She asks her dad, “Is it fuzzy like a kitty? Is it shiny as a bike? Can it tell me I am pretty? Is it something I should like?”

Other similar questions are asked before her dad responds, “Faith isn’t something you can see, but it is something that can grow. God gave us faith so we could believe in Him, in Jesus, in winds that blow.” He continues with a more complete description of faith.

Then the child shows she understands what faith is when she says, “I have faith when I believe the stories from God’s word. I have faith even when I don’t see, even when his voice isn’t heard.”

The illustrations by Marla Heidt are colorful and expressive.

What I Like: I think the lesson is a good one: Faith isn’t something you can see or hear or taste or smell. It’s something that you believe in your heart.

What I Dislike: As you can tell, the text is written in rhyme. And, as many of you know, I’m not a big fan of rhyming verse because it’s so difficult to write it and do it well. Unfortunately, this is a case where many times the rhyme is forced and the meter of the verse is off. I think the use of rhyme detracts from the message when it’s not well done.

Also, the layout of the books is rather monotonous as all of the pages have an illustration with text underneath. There is no variation from this on any of the pages.

Overall Rating: Good.

Age Appeal: 8-12.

Publisher Info: CreateSpace, 2012; ISBN: 9781466457096; Paperback, $10.99.

Buy now at Amazon.com $9.89!

 

Special Info: Read our reviews of other books illustrated by Marla Heidt.

I'm Looking for God Today

In I’m Looking for God Today, written by Amanda Peterson, a boy searches for God. He looks for God everywhere he can think of: at home, at school and in the backyard. He’s upset because he can’t find God anywhere.

His mother makes him feel better when she explains that God is everywhere.

The watercolor illustrations by Marla Rae Heidt are colorful and expressive, but the boy pictured looks too old for this type of book.

The text is written in rhyming verse and is illustrated for the first 34 pages of the book. Then, most of the text is repeated, written like a poem, filling up the last six pages of the book. This last section is not illustrated.

What I Like: The story conveys a good message: God lives within our hearts.

What I Dislike: As mentioned, the text is written in rhyme. This is very difficult to do and do it well. Unfortunately, the rhythm of the lines is off in many places and the rhyme scheme is forced in others.

Also, I’m puzzled as to why the author chose to repeat the text at the end of the book without illustrations, and why, if the text was going to be repeated, not all of it is there.

Overall Rating: Okay.

Age Appeal: 6-12 years.

Publisher Info: CreateSpace, 2013; ISBN: 9781482621372; Paperback, $12.99.

Buy now at Amazon.com $11.69!

Special Info: This is the second book in a series by the author.