My first christian children’s picture book review! We have SO many picture books in our personal library. I like to collect classic picture books, board books (both classic and contemporary, if they are humorous or lovely), and we now have a small collection of christian children’s picture books as well to read to our wee ones. We do a lot of reading, and picture books are perfect for those times when the children are just getting a bit on the cranky and unsettled side, just pull them in tight, and enjoy the beautiful pictures and wonderful story.

Because I Love You! By Max Lucado / Crossway Books & Bibles A long time ago a wise man named Shaddai built a wonderful village for the children to live in. He talked to them and sang for them, and even told them stories. Shaddai gave them everything they needed. And with his own hands, rock by rock, he built a protective wall around the village.One day Paladin, the most curious child in the village, discovers something troubling about the wall. Something that made him doubt about Shaddai’s love. Could there be a mistake? Would Paladin be able to discover the answer and understand how deeply he is loved? Recommended for ages 4 and up.

*Start of Review*

I must warn you, whenever I read this book I cry.  Somehow that never deters my children from asking me to read them this story, again, and again.  And it isn’t just the pregnancy hormones talking either.  Even before I was expecting our third daughter this book brought tears, and sometimes downright unconsolable sobbing from me.  Now, how can that be?  Can a children’s picture book really be that moving?  That emotionally stirring?  Yes, emphatically, Yes.  This may be because as a new believer (Fall 2006) what Jesus has done for me is still so fresh in my mind.  The redeeming changes that He has worked in me so recent.  But I don’t know if it will ever change, He continues to change me and work in me each day.

The simple, flowing text of this book clearly illustrate God’s love for each of His children.  How He has His ear turned toward us, and is so attuned to us, wanting to be beside us every day, in every step of our walk in faith with Him.  The Shaddai mentioned in the below quote is the character in this allegorical tale who is meant to represent God, he is sometimes referred to as the Maker, the one who created a perfect city for his children to live in.

“When one of them called his name, he droped whatever he was doing and turned.  His giant heart had a hudred strings – each held by a different child.  And Shaddai loved each one the same.”  Excerpt from Because I Love You by Max Lucado

Oh!  That I could love my own children the same way!  That my love for them would be an echo and a reflection, however small, of the love their heavenly father has for them.

The illustrations are remarkable, life-like and realistic with no hint of comedy or cartoon.  Executed masterfully by Mitchell Heinze, you really must take a peek at the book link above and look inside the book to see the beautiful work.  The use of light gives a feeling of surrealism within a very realistic enviroment, and the landscapes are simply gorgeous.  My 5 year old daughter tells me “They are so so bright, whoever painted the must have gone to painting school.  Whew, that’s a lot of work.”

A beautiful parable told simply, in child friendly, yet lyrical language that presents the story of the Gospel from the perfection of creation, through the fall, and Christ’s redemption of us.  This book has created so many opportunities for me to discuss the gospel with my children, my tears always prompt conversation – “Why are you crying Mommy?”, “Because God loves us so very much, even when we were turned against Him that He comes to rescue us, to save us when we call out for Him”.  Perhaps this is the gospel in a nutshell, and it is what this book presents in story form in a way that a child can understand.  As you can tell from my review, I have likely received more benefit from this book as a new believer than my children have at this point, but it will stay on our bookshelf for years to come so that they too can glean it’s deeper truths as they mature.  Every new Christian or child in your life can benefit by reading Because I Love You.  This is truly a masterpiece of a book, and is destined to become a classic.