"Colton Burpo came back from his trip to heaven with a very important message: Jesus really, really loves children. In effort to reach even more families with this eternally significant story, this runaway bestseller is now told from Colton—kid to kids! Children will receive the same comfort and assurance that so many adults have received from the trade book."
I reviewed Heaven is for Real on my blog previously. This time, Booksneeze provided me with a free copy of Heaven if for Real for Kids in exchange for my honest review. I'd like to tell you I am going to give away this book on my blog, but unfortunately, I cannot do that. I just loved it too much and I definitely want to keep it in my library.
What did I love? Well, firstly, the illustrations were remarkable. Simply breathtaking and beautiful.
Secondly, was the way that what I read in the "grown-up" book was brought down to an innocent and applicable level. To be honest, I almost think this book is a better one to keep long-term. You can flip through it and get quick summaries of the things that four-year-old Colton witnessed while in heaven.
This is the moment in the book where Colton meets his older sister, lost to miscarriage -- a pregnancy he never even knew about until he talked to his parents about it later. An incredibly powerful image for those who have lost children before meeting them in this world.
The only issue with the book for me is that I am really not sure what age is a good one to let kids read this book (or have it read to them.) My boys (ages 3.5 and 4) loved the book. However, it spurred on very difficult questions about death. Is that a good thing or a bad thing? I am not sure. Children need to understand the reality of forver but at what age should that be addressed? Parents will have to decide for themselves.
Every child (and grown-up!) will want to have a copy of this book in their library. There's a reason it's on the New York Times bestseller list. Awesome!
2 comments:
Thanks Wendi for sharing this review. I have read the adult version and I was really moved by it and I have gotten some challenging questions from Jack lately about heaven and death. I will add this to my library and share it with him.
We haven't read that book to the boys yet, but I can tell you that those questions about death will come anyway. I remember the boys asking about dying and heaven (wish that book was out sooner). When I would tell them that heaven is just a wonderful place and you get to live with Jesus forever they were ready to head there right now. As a mom it's wonderful to hear how much they love Jesus (around the age of 4 they would often ask other daycare kids if they loved God more than their mom and dad. They wouldn't even wait for a response {since most kids didn't know how to respond} and firmly say "you should.") yet I'm not quite ready for them to leave me for a better place (a fear of mine is losing the children I so desperately prayed for - wonder if that's a product of years of infertility.) Anyway, I can't wait to read that book.
Bethany
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