Dear Child of God,

Do you know that God loves you?

The Bible says that each and every one of us- every girl and every boy- is a very special person. God says, “Before you were born, I knew you.” God made you just as you are, so you could be your own unique and precious gift to the world.

So begins Desmond Tutu’s Children of God Storybook Bible, a one-of-a-kind contribution to children’s literature.

Written by the 1984 winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, one of the most unique features of this book is its use of twenty different illustrators to depict fifty-six stories. Artists from Russia, South Africa, Europe, China and the United States contribute their unique styles to make this book dynamic and diverse.

In an attempt to create the first truly global Bible for children, the artists have been invited to portray the stories with the style and richness of their own culture. (FROM THE JACKET FLAP)

Couple the wonderful illustrations with the wisdom of Desmond Tutu’s words, and you have a Storybook Bible that is a joy to share with children. One of my favorite stories is Jesus Teaches the Secret of Happiness, where the author pens his rich understanding of the Beatitudes:

Blessed are you who are poor, for all God’s world is yours.

Blessed are you who are hungry, for God will feed you.

Blessed are you who are sad, for God will comfort you and you will laugh again.

Blessed are you who feed the poor, for you are the hands of God.

Blessed are you who comfort the sad, for you are the arms of God.

Blessed are you who work for peace, for you are the voice of God.

Blessed are you who are loving and kind, for you are the heart of God.

It seems to me that now, more than ever, we all need to be the hands, the arms, the voice, and the heart of God. How wonderful to have such a rich text that ushers our children towards love, justice, and kindness in a world where it is so desperately needed.

A worthy five stars.

Glenys