4.5 (Little Blessings) What about Heaven? Kathleen Long Bostrom Tyndale Kids No. Pages: 32 Ages: 4 to 8
………………………….
From Back Cover: ……………………….. Heaven—
………………….We love it when they ask. We struggle when they do.
………………………….When they ask what we’ll do in heaven,
………………………………How on earth do you respond?
………………………………….
What about Heaven contains typical questions children ask about heaven. The second half of the book contains the answers to those questions. The author bases her answers on the Bible and gives scriptural references at the top right of each page. The text rhymes and when read aloud has the singsong effect I like so much. From one verse to the next, the meter is the same.
The questions are simple ones.
………………………………..What food will I eat,
……………………………………and what clothes will I wear?
But the answers most often are not.
………………………………In heaven God serves you
……………………………………………….the very best meal.
……………………… …….You’ll never be hungry—
……………………….. ………………now that’s a good deal.
…………………… ……..The clothes that you’ll wear
………………………… ………..will be white and so clean;
……………………. ……In heaven you won’t need
…………………………… ……………..a washing machine!
The illustrations of the children often times remind me of Precious Moments™ because of the round angelic faces and bright-eyed expressions. Representing the typical blond-hair, blue-eyed boy; red-haired, rosy-cheeked girl; curly-haired,
black child, and a black-haired, oriental child, these kids ask a variety of questions.
I like the questions and the answers. I also like the rhyming, which is easy to read and rolled right off my tongue. I like the multinational kids and the way they are illustrated. What I do not like is the thin paper of the paperback edition I received for this book tour. Children will repeatedly want to read What about Heaven. This will include the youngest children. I think the pages need to be thicker for those little fingers to grasp and not tear. The hardback edition may address those problems. I do not know, as I have not seen one.*
What about Heaven will be loved by Christian families, church Sunday school programs, and by anyone who works with kids in a religious setting. The questions are common ones that even adults may have and the answers are soothing. Plus, scripture references are included with the answers. This book represents no one particular faith. Anyone with questions about heaven and what it will be like, will find not only answers, but scripture references which give more in-depth answers to those questions.
I think a child with questions about heaven, or what happens when someone dies, may find some comfort in What about Heaven, no matter the age. The text is easy to read, the illustrations are wonderful, and the topics answer many good questions. If the paperback edition had stronger pages this would easily be a five star book.
What about Heaven? (Little Blessings)
Author: Kathleen Long Bostrom website
Illustrator: Elena Kucharik website
Publisher: Tyndale Kids website
Release Date: October 2012
ISBN: 978-1-41443-7520-6
Number of Pages: 32
Ages: 4 to 8
*While at Amazon I found the hardback edition. This edition has 50 addition pages, some due to verses being more spread out and some because the author expounded the scripture references, making them easier for kids to understand.
Great post! I like this book’s idea because it is a question almost every kid has.
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The book answers many questions. What do you wear in heaven, what do you eat, is my pet going to be here. (horrible “sentence”). Questions I had not thought about.
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I think this book will be useful in a lot of homes, religious schools, and programs. I agree with you. It would need to be read over and over at different stages.
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There are so many places that would love this book for many reasons. Your right, reading it just once will not do. I think kids and adults need to refresh themselves to what they believe. It certainly helps in good times and bad to have your beliefs to hold you steady.
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Kids always have questions about heaven, and sometimes those questions are not easy to answer. This would be a great book to start the conversation with your child.
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It definitely is a great book for kids. I had forgotten some of the answers and didn’t know a couple of them. This little book can do a lot of good in the right hands.
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