God is at work in all of creation, performing wonders: some we
can see with our eyes, and others we can't. In this short children's
story, a little boy--based on the author's own grandson--learns
about life and nature. But more importantly, he learns some of
God's ways by observing the life cycle of a caterpillar. Over the
course of the story, the caterpillar transforms into a butterfly,
and the boy is able to see connections to how God is able to transform
his life as well. The text is rhythmic and lyrical and, admittedly,
a bit cheesy at times. The storyline focuses so much on the butterfly
that the parallels with salvation and sanctification can be a bit
vague. But the story has a simple, concise way of showing how God
does beautiful things with all of His creations, including His
people.
With warm colors and eye-catching brightness, the watercolors
really show the simple beauty of the world around us. Many of the
illustrations serve to bring the reader into the boy's mood and
thoughts by portraying emotions and expressions through his actions
and face, although the boy himself doesn't always actually look
consistent from page to page.
While the book is designed for the younger range of 3 to 5-year-olds,
younger children will love the story--especially the colorful illustrations--and
6 to 10-year-olds will find it fun to read on their own. The format
is easy to follow, although the font is a little frilly for very
early readers. For a small paperback children's book, it is a little
bit of an investment. But it really is a good book suggestion for
Christian homes, libraries, and classrooms; it aims to introduce
some of the life-altering transformations Jesus Christ performs
as He makes brand-new, beautiful things out of old, familiar vessels.
Product review by Melissa Cummings, The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine,
LLC, October 2011
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