It’s not often that an author gets the chance to rewrite a book. That’s why I am excited about the new edition of The One Year Devotions for Preschooolers that I originally wrote twenty years ago. This 365 devotional is part of Tyndale’s Little Blessings brand with illustrations by the Care Bear artist, Elena Kucharik.

The 20th anniversary edition of “The One Year Devotions for Preschoolers” was released on September 1, 2024, for a new generation of children ages 3–6 to enjoy.

While retaining the adorable illustrations, Bible verses, and rhyming prayers, the easy-to-understand devotions have been updated for contemporary preschoolers and their parents. Each page focuses on helping little ones know and love Jesus every day of the year, and to treat others with kindness.

After writing for young children for more than 30 years, I revised many of the devotions to be more age appropriate. Today’s parents want positive messages for their children about being kind and accepting our differences. With 365 devotions, I was able to address a variety of positive topics, but I did not avoid talking about doing what’s right and being sorry when we do something wrong. The important message is that God still loves us, even when we mess up–which we all do.

Since I wrote the original devotions to a volume of illustrations, one of the devotions featured the children in a cemetery looking sad as they stand by a grave marker that says Grandma. I wrote that devotion about the kids being sad that Zoe’s grandma died. When I was revising the book, that devotion struck me as being too heavy for little ones. I asked the editor if they could erase Grandma’s name from the stone and she said yes. I then rewrote it, saying that the kids are sad because Zoe’s goldfish died. That addresses the topic of sadness and loss but in a more age-appropriate way.

I did not revise all of the devotions. One of the devotions I did not revise (August 3) addresses a topic no one would have questioned 20 years ago.

Linda Howard, Associate Publisher of children’s and youth at Tyndale House Publishers, stated, “We are grateful for the biblical truth this book has provided to families around the world and excited to continue publishing it for years to come.

Here’s to having another opportunity to teach kids how much God loves them!

Crystal Bowman

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