My friend Sharon Deur recently published a delightful book of devotions for kids ages 5-10 (although kids as young as three and as old as 12 have enjoyed it). The title is Victor Discovers Treasure–45 Daily Devotional Digs for Kids. It’s published by EA Publishing and illustrated by Deborah Smith, a former artist with Walt Disney World whose kid-friendly illustrations brought a donkey named Victor to life.

I asked Sharon a few questions about her new book and am pleased to share her answers:

Every book begins with an idea. Please tell us your idea which evolved into this fun devotional book for kids.
I was a teacher for 24 years. When I taught Bible stories or biblical truths to students, I became animated and creative in helping children understand the stories and mysteries of God’s Word. On a leisurely walk one day early in retirement, “Victor the donkey” was miraculously implanted in my brain. As I dug deep into the Bible, I found out that donkeys are mentioned more than 100 times in Scripture. The name “Victor” was affirmed because of 1 Corinthians 15:57—“But we thank God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (ICB), and 1 John 5:4—“Every child of God can defeat the world [Satan], and our faith is what gives us this victory” (CEV).

Also, when I was a teenager my mother encouraged me to read, Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan (©1678). That book had a profound impact on my love for biblically based allegories and metaphors that help us “unpack” the mysteries of our Christian faith.

What are the unique features of this book?
Donkeys have many unique characteristics and habits. I used those to flesh out each biblical metaphor in way that engages kids.  Each discovery is a treasure—some are well known, others more hidden. They have to be unearthed—unpacked to realize the privileges, responsibilities, and joy that are ours if we love Jesus! Every entry features a shovel, a treasure chest activity, a summary called the “Treasure Talk,” and Scripture references that are written out in their entirety in the back of the book (“Dig Deeper”).

What do you hope children will learn from reading these devotions?
My prayer is that children will be able to grasp the meaning of the Bible’s mystery language, understand that they are God’s treasure, and begin to comprehend the richness of a life believing and trusting in Jesus. I also pray that every reader will keep digging in God’s Word!

Where can readers find the book?
The book is available on Amazon and Ingram Spark.
Readers may like and follow Victor’s Facebook page (Victor the Donkey).   
Coming Soon: Victor Discovers Treasure website and Book Two

Thank you, Sharon, for this great information about Victor the Donkey. I know that families will enjoy reading this together, and I heard that even a grandpa gave it a high-five!

Here’s to learning about donkeys and Jesus!

Crystal

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