Love Letters from God | Review

I was recently sent a copy of the book Love Letters from God: Bible Stories by Glenys Nellist and illustrated by Sophie Allsopp. I will tell you all about this book, but let me just start out by saying that when your 3 and 6 year old ask if you can read them the "Love Letters" book throughout the day, you know it is book that kids "get" and truly love.

There are children's Bible story books a plenty, but Glenys Nellist has taken a completely unique approach to sharing these Bible stories. Much in the way that I retell Bible accounts, Glenys shares the accounts from the point of view of the characters in the story- not as an outsider looking in. What might Jonah have been thinking when he ran away from God? What might Eve have thought as she touched and ate the fruit? Might David have had the courage to go against Goliath because he knew that God was with him?

Each account walks children through the Bible account in a way that they will understand and gives them a Bible verse (God's Wonderful Words to You) which carries on the main theme or even a phrase that Glenys made sure was a part of the account.

However, the part that my children loved the most, was the "Love Letter from God." At the end of each account is a little flap that opens up to a "letter" which starts out "Dear ____________." The first time I read it and added my children's names in, they both sat up a little straighter and their eyes got bigger! The letter goes on to make the Bible account applicable to the child's life and shares how they can also have what these Bible characters and heroes had because God gave them the courage, strength, protection, etc. and He will give them those things as well.

The words are beautifully written and stand on their own quite well, but there is truly nothing like a well-written book with beautiful illustrations. Sophie Allsopp has done a superb job in her illustrations. This is an example of illustrations being beautiful enough to stand on their own, yet support the words in every way.

I am so glad that I was able to review "Love Letters from God: Bible Stories." It is definitely one book that we will be keeping in our library for years to come.