So you want more Jesus? My two-year-old granddaughter loves to be cuddled and rocked to sleep. I know she is big enough to fall asleep alone in her “big-girl” bed. However, this grandmother always takes advantage of an opportunity to rock and sing her lullabies. One song I’ve been singing since she was born is Jesus Loves Me by Anna Bartlett Warner. I never knew she was listening until the past few months when she told me she wanted “More Jesus.”

As we sat in the rocking chair and I started to sing a different lullaby, she put her little hand over my mouth and said, “No, Nana! Sing Jesus! More Jesus!” At first, I was confused, but then I began to sing Jesus Loves Me, and she nodded and grinned. Now, she never lets me sing anything else and sometimes sings along with me. It’s the sweetest moment as I hear her little voice sing about how Jesus loves her. My heart melts when she says, “More Jesus, Nana!” It makes me realize how we all need a desire for more Jesus.

The History of “Jesus Love Me.”

I’m sure you know the song. But did you know that the lyrics began in a novel? They were written by Anna Bartlett Warner in 1859 and published as a part of a novel called Say and Seal. In 1862, William Bradbury composed the tune for the poem and published it in his Sunday School Song Book. Here’s a video that explains the history of this well-loved song.

The lyrics that my two-year-old granddaughter and I sing are:

Jesus Loves Me This I Know
For the Bible tells me so.
Little Ones to Him belong.
They are weak but He is strong.
Yes, Jesus Loves Me
Yes, Jesus Loves Me
Yes, Jesus Loves Me
For the Bible tells me so.

The lyrics teach her that the Bible is how she can know about Jesus’ love. However, I want her to know that the whole world God made tells her how much Jesus loves her. Consequently, I was excited to find this new Christian children’s book by Clay Anderson, published by Swing High Children’s Books.

This I Know

The book is called “This I Know.” This sweet rhyming story follows a family’s vacation and camping trip where they see God’s love in the sunrise, a baby, butterflies, the ocean, and a puppy; they even discover God’s love in thunder, a rainbow, the mountains, snowflakes, and fireflies. They know of God’s love through something as big as the universe and as small as crickets.

Now, when my granddaughter asks for “More Jesus,” we don’t just sing a lullaby. Together, we read the book, “This I Know.” Here is a video where Christian children’s author Clay Anderson shares the book.

This book had beautiful illustrations by Natalie Merheb. My granddaughter looks for details on each page. Consequently, we can discuss how God made all these things and how each is another way for her to know that Jesus loves her.

More Jesus as our creator

I think it is essential that our children see Jesus as their creator and friend. Therefore, I sing, read, and write to know more about Jesus. My Christian children’s books have clay vessels as the main characters. They each discover the Potter’s love through the different creations He makes and how He cares for them. As you seek to add Christian children’s books to your children’s and grandchildren’s libraries, I highly recommend purchasing “This I Know” by Clay Anderson and “The Little Pot” books by me,

Dawn Stephens

Be sure to sign up for updates on each new post on our Christian Children’s Authors blog. Follow us for recent book news, free resources, parenting tips, and encouragement!

#christianchildrensauthors #christianchildrensbooks #christianbooks #jesuslovesme #thisiknow #dawnstephensbooks #dawnstephens #picturebooks #clayanderson