Who Was Born This Special Day?

Who Was Born This Special Day?, by Eve Bunting
Illustrated by Leonid Gore
(Atheneum, 2000), hb., 32 pp.
Ages 3-5

This book is nicely illustrated and simple. There is not much to the book. The title question is asked through the book going through various animals as not the one born this day. On the last page it is noted that the child was the one born this special day. So, this is a fine picture book if you are looking for something simple. There is nothing objectionable in it but neither is there anything very noteworthy.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas from

the Van Nestes!

Sammy and His Shepherd

Sammy and His Shepherd: Seeing Jesus in Psalm 23, by Susan Hunt
Illustrated by Cory Godbey
(Reformation Trust, 2008), hb., 50 pp.
Ages 3-8

My family has appreciated Susan Hunt’s other books for children so I was excited to see this one. She works through the 23rd Psalm line by line, with each chapter illustrating one line with the narrative of a sheep named Sammy. The story is engagingly written and Mrs. Hunt has obviously done some research on Psalm 23. Sammy meets a sheep from another fold where the shepherd does not care for his sheep. This reminds Sammy of the great care he receives. Eventually Sammy’s shepherd purchases this other sheep even though the other sheep seems likely to die and to be of little worth. The emphasis on free grace is clear and helpful. The story does a good job of encouraging children to deeply trust the Lord, to know of His deep love, and to desire to love and follow Him.

The book is also nicely illustrated and discussion questions are given for each chapter. Mrs. Hunt’s brief preface is also a good encouragement for reading with your children. I commend this book to your family and as a good gift for others.