By Gary Bower
Storybook Meadow Publishing Company
www.bowerbooks.com
7700 Timbers Trail
Traverse City, Michigan 49684
231-941-0899
"I'll praise Him with others in great jubilee.
The music is catchy. The concert is free . . . with everyone finally
singing on key in Heaven!"
Heaven is a tough concept for children to understand. Quite honestly, it's a hard concept for adults to understand too, simply because "no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him." (1 Cor. 2:9) Gary Bower and his wife, who illustrated the book, are quick to admit this was a humbling topic, and they're absolutely sure they haven't begun to capture what Heaven is really like. However, through this simple children's book, they have portrayed a joy, excitement, and hope about Heaven unlike any other book I've read for children.
Written in rhyming text from the perspective of a child, the book tells of many wonderful things to look forward to in Heaven. Meeting Jesus, being reunited with our loved ones, being completely well and happy, feasting, and singing are just a few of the images presented. The oil paintings that accompany the rhyming text are full of light and peace and joyfulness, which adds a beautiful touch to the book.
Mr. Bower has also delicately added Scripture references to each page. For older children or adults reading the book, these Bible verses add a dimension of "proof" to the text. It's nice to know that all the wonderful things the author and his wife have portrayed are clearly taught in the Bible, and we don't have wonder if the text is really accurate.
Shortly after we received this book for review, a little girl in our church lost her three-year-old brother to a complication from spina bifida. I wanted so badly to do something to comfort her. My daughter said, "Mom, that book we just read about Heaven would be perfect." She was right. We took this book as a gift to the little girl at her brother's visitation. My prayer is that someday she reads the words Mr. Bower has written and takes comfort in the fact that her brother is already enjoying Heaven and that she will someday be able to wrap her arms around him again.
I only tell you that story to let you know that this is one of those books that is worth sharing. Share it with your children. Share it with the grieving. Share it with the lost.
Product review by Cindy West, The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine, LLC, April 2010
|
|
|
|
