This neat little book pulls individual verses out of the Psalms that teach us about God's character, pairs them with a sweet illustration that inspires children to reflect on the ideas discussed, and then has short reading to help unpack what is meant in the verse and make it more relatable. It's a great way to expose young children to some of the ideas in the Pslams and to help them understand who God is a bit more.
Synopsis
Each entry is a single page. Each are completely isolated and do not connect to each other. Could be read daily or as one-off readings for certain days or occasions. Each is structured on a single page with the following format and paired with an illustration: Verse from Pslams, 3ish paragraphs of explanation/reflection, New Testament verse, Short Prayer. The book ends with a list of further verses in the Pslams to explore.
What I Love
I love how well this book helps children connect with the Pslams and relate to ideas in the Psalms. The illustrations and word pictures are quite helpful and the content is quite comprehensible and relatable. It's nice that each entry is stand alone so that it can be used in a variety of settings. They are also a quick read, making them great for bed time and young children.
Weaker Points
Extracting single verses from the Psalms takes away meaningful context and reduces the impact of the verses, but it does allow for a focus on God's character and for quick reads. At times the prayers can be somewhat trite, but those can easily be skipped and they offer a jumping off point. The way the book describes God as our deliver was a bit confusing to me, but it doesn't break the value of the book overall.
Details
Ages: 5-9
48 pages
The last page lists other verses in the Psalms to explore.
About the Author
William R. Osborne is a professor biblical and theological studies. He has written several helpful articles as well. https://www.crossway.org/articles/how-to-help-your-kids-love-the-bible/
Where to Find
Check your church library