This month, we have some book reviews for the highlight of June — Father’s Day.
Two of them are books that fathers can read to their children. One that can help a man become free, to better parent those children. Plus, one born of heartbreak that’s just a lot of fun and will make them laugh.
“The Beginning of You” – Laine Lawson Craft; illustrated by L. Star
Just as the title suggests, the board book “The Beginning of You,” is about how special each child is in the eyes of God. Through its brightly colored illustrations, simple, rhyming text and age-appropriate concepts, it begins to teach children from an early age that they have purpose and a reason for being.
“Today’s parents are watching toddlers handed screens that whisper confusion about gender, worth and purpose before they can even speak full sentences. Grandparents are heartbroken. Educators are overwhelmed. And everyone is asking the same question: “How do I protect my child’s sense of who they are before the world tells them who they should be?” Craft said.
“This isn’t just a book launch. This is a movement, a chance to put Heaven’s voice in a child’s heart before the world’s noise reaches their ears.”
“God Loves Me” – Kristen Wetherell; illustrated by Grace Habib
“God Loves Me” is more than the cute, rhyming board book that looks like at first glance. One volume in the “For the Bible Tells Me So” series — where “everyone is a theologian, even your little one” — “God Loves Me” shares the gospel in language little ones will enjoy as they begin to learn about traits of God.
Using the repeating phrase, “Who was there?” it explains the Trinity using key Bible stories including creation and Easter.
After explaining “who was there” in Scripture, the book addresses how the Trinity will be there for a child’s need. The last page of the book includes a mirror so that the children can see just who it is that God loves — themselves.
“Breaking Through: How Ordinary Believers Experience Extraordinary Freedom” – John Parr
“Freedom isn’t just reserved for the spiritually elite Christians; it’s for you!” said Parr. However, he didn’t write this book out of head knowledge; it was written from his heart. As a pastor who wasn’t married, but felt called to it, he didn’t know what to do with the desires that should only be met within marriage. So, he did other things to compensate for that loss.
This led to addiction, shame and discouragement. Through the process of becoming free himself, he learned principles that will help others join him in becoming free.
Parr divides the book into “Part 1: Understanding the Problem,” “Part 2: Walking Through the Process,” and “Part 3: Embracing the Promise.” Each part builds on the one before and each chapter ends with reflection questions that can be used personally or with a group.
“So, I invite you to embrace the journey! … I pray you won’t have just read about freedom by the end of this journey; you’ll be living it. This is your official invitation to transformation.”
“Incredibly Bad Dad Jokes: A collection of original, silence-inducing Dad jokes to worsen the days of your unsuspecting children” – Jesse Joyner
Jesse Joyner wears many hats: he’s a professional Christian juggler; the podcast co-host of “Holy Fools and the Soul of Craftwork;” and an adjunct professor of Bible and ministry at Ascent College.
But his favorite role is being a dad.
Bad dad jokes come naturally to Joyner, as he includes that kind of fun in his juggling act. He has great comedic timing (which unfortunately he can’t include in the book) and can make a crowd of wiggling young Upward basketball players or a group of kids at camp laugh hilariously using the same punny humor as is included in his book.
However, don’t believe that Joyner’s humorous side means he’s had it easy.
“Last year, our 8-year-old daughter was hospitalized with a rare neurological disease for six weeks. Her condition put her in a wheelchair and started a year-and-a-half journey of recovery. She lost her ability to walk, talk and move her arms almost overnight.
“During her hospitalization, I was overcome with sadness. As I stayed by her side day and night (taking turns with my wife), something deep inside of me was just looking for a way to cheer us up. I really just wanted to connect with her and see her smile.
“That’s when the Dad jokes came to me, in a flood. I just wrote them down. Thus, most of the jokes in this book were ironically born of a sad Dad just trying to cheer up his kid.
“I hope it cheers up your kids too. I’m also happy to report that Annie (our daughter) is doing miraculously better now after 18 months of recovery and rehab. She is walking, running, and talking again!” Joyner said.
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