“I’m going on a book hunt!
I’m gonna find a good one…”

I wonder if you’ve ever found yourself in the following situation: wandering through the bookstore in search of a particular type of book, seeing so many lovely illustrations and seemingly cute titles but not quite being able to find what it is you want?
I’m often in that situation. In fact, I’m probably worse. I don’t know if it’s because I spent many years of my life with limited shopping experiences, or because I’m trying to make sure my kids don’t destroy the stock, but sometimes when I’m in a good bookstore it’s as if the stimuli is just too much and I’m left in a continual state of wonder with indecisiveness.

Recently I decided to begin a collection of children’s books, picture books in particular, that taught about the love of God. But I didn’t want expositions, I wanted stories that reached into the heart and taught the lesson about a Heavenly Father’s unconditional, sacrificial, never ceasing love. Big ask I know. Especially if you tend to lose track of what you entered the store for!  But I was determined, so I wrote my task on a notepad (so I could remember that I wasn’t actually after the latest YA novel by Rosanne Hawke, I’d look that up another day…) and I headed to the bookshop alone.

After what might have been over an hour I left the store with a few books under my arm. This was less than I had hoped to purchase (my husband was probably very happy about that). I had found it harder than expected to find books about God’s love. It was like the bear hunt that faces pages of “Uh oh…” scenarios to wade, trip and climb through before the success of the find.
Sure writers write ABOUT God’s love all the time, but I wanted stories that illustrated it through their characters. I didn’t want preaching, recounts of conversations with  Grandma, or cute pictures with Bible verse back-ups. I wanted hearts’ truth.
Since that day I try to keep my hunt in mind whenever I enter a bookstore, any bookstore and occasionally I stumble into just the sort of book I’m after.

Here are a few that sit on my shelf at present:

You are Special by Max Lucado and Sergio Martinez – because it’s a beautiful parable tackling our heart insecurities.

God Knows all About Me by Kate Toms– because it’s age appropriate, fun, realistic and true.

Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney and Anita Jeram – because it’s the best portrayal of God’s Father like heart, and our utter security in it, that I’ve met yet.

If you’ve managed to get your paws on a fantastic book that fits my book hunt definition then please let me know in the comments below and I’ll write it on book hunt list for next time!

(And if you have no idea what bear hunt story I’m referring to, here’s the book. It’s a good one, but a simple warning: you’ll be rereading it over and over and over again!)

Penny Reeve is a children’s writer from Australia. More information about Penny and her books can be found at www.pennyreeve.com