Review of Most of All, Jesus Loves You, written by Noel Piper, illustrated by Debby Anderson (Crossway Books, 2004)
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This 16-page children’s book is written by Noel Piper, wife of John Piper, and illustrated by Debby Anderson. The dedication to the book gives a little glimpse into their household and sets the stage for the book.
To Talitha Ruth
When you were small,
I would tuck you into your crib and say goodnight.
Then as I stepped away, I could hear you mulling over what you’d heard—
“Ma-ma . . . Da-da . . . mo-o-O-OH, D’SUS!”
You’ve outgrown baby talk now.
But may you never outgrow the truth.
The format is quite simple: Mommy,
My 23-month old daughter absolutely loves this book. She now repeats every line, with a hilarious giggle sound added to the end of it!
In reading it aloud, there’s almost a sing-song rhythm to it. And like most books of its genre, it’s quite easy to memorize! The illustrations are delightful. Debby Anderson has a unique way of illustrating childlike joy.
Highly recommended.
Review of God Knows My Name, written and illustrated by Debby Anderson (Crossway Books, 2003)
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This 30-page book is both written and illustrated by kindergarten teacher and mother of four, Debby Anderson. The theme is God’s omniscient care for us. Scripture is not quoted directly; rather, each page summarizes a few key Scripture passages on God’s omniscience, totaling 50 Scripture passages in all.
I became more impressed with the book once I actually took the time to look up the passages that were referenced. For example, here were the passages cited in one of the sections:
Hebrews 4:13 And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
Psalm 139:9 If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
Job 38:8 "Or who shut in the sea with doors when it burst out from the womb, 9 when I made clouds its garment and thick darkness its swaddling band, 10 and prescribed limits for it and set bars and doors, 11 and said, 'Thus far shall you come, and no farther, and here shall your proud waves be stayed'?
Job 38:16 "Have you entered into the springs of the sea, or walked in the recesses of the deep?
Here is the entry in the book:
When I hide in my favorite hiding place,
God can find me! Nothing can hide from God!
Even if I float far across the ocean, God knows.
He tells the waves where to stop.
He’s touched the very bottom of the sea!
Can you find the crab, octopus, starfish, snail, anemone, sea slug, and jellyfish?
It is a theologically accurate, colorful, entertaining book. And it passed the 22-month-old daughter test. Recommended.
