Published by Thomas Nelson on June 9, 2026
Genres: Children's
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Explore the power of forgiveness in Pastor Joby Martin's first children's book about two siblings who discover that forgiveness, while not always easy, is a powerful way to show Jesus' love and make things right.
Twins Daisy and Dylan do everything together. But when one of them is left out at recess, they find themselves with big feelings they don't know how to navigate. Confused and hurt, the kids look to their grandpa for comfort. Papa explains how Jesus forgives us with love when we make mistakes, so we should learn to forgive others too, even when it's difficult.
Now that they're looking for it, Daisy and Dylan begin to see acts of forgiveness and kindness all around them--between strangers, friends, and family members! Inspired by others' ability to forgive and Papa's words, they finally learn to forgive each other.
Rooted in Scripture, The Big Brave Choice...
is perfect for girls and boys ages 4 to 8;
encourages kids to practice kindness and forgiveness;
draws a connection between forgiveness and Jesus; and
is a helpful resource for parents, teachers, and churches looking to raise up the next generation of believers.Forgiveness may not always be easy, but it's always worth it. Let this inspiring picture book be a gentle reminder that, just as Jesus forgave us, we can forgive others with a loving and open heart.
This Christian picture book uses a fictional story to teach a lesson about forgiveness. The main characters are twins named Daisy and Dylan. They normally do everything together, so when Dylan leaves Daisy out at recess, she feels shocked and hurt. In response, she refuses to let Dylan sit with her on the bus ride home. Later, their grandpa helps them process their feelings and talks with them about forgiveness, explaining that because Jesus has forgiven us, we can forgive others. Daisy and Dylan reconcile their relationship, and they start noticing acts of forgiveness and kindness all around them. The book focuses mostly on minor conflicts and accidental mistakes, keeping the story appropriate for preschoolers through elementary-aged kids.
Authors Joby Martin and Lori Newell wrote this book in a way that is genuinely accessible to kids. Instead of just talking about abstract concepts, they give clear and concrete examples throughout the story, showing what forgiveness looks like and why it is necessary. It is also significant that The Big Brave Choice shows Daisy’s initial retaliation towards Dylan. That puts the kids on an equal footing of both needing to forgive and receive forgiveness, and it’s also a subtle, unstated reminder that choosing to forgive can prevent ongoing cycles of back-and-forth acts of revenge.
The story acknowledges that forgiving people can be very difficult, but that Jesus can give us the power to forgive those who have hurt us. This book also has a clear evangelistic message directed towards children. Current titles from this publisher, Tommy Nelson, can vary wildly in their religious content. Some of them just have vague spiritual messages, but this one clearly communicates distinctly Christian teachings. My only suggestion for improvement is that it would have been nice for the story to give specific examples of forgiveness from the Bible.
The Big Brave Choice: Forgiving Like Jesus is a great resource for families and church settings. It teaches an important life lesson in a relatable way, and it grounds everything in the truths of the gospel. This is a helpful teaching and training tool for kids, and I hope to see more books about Daisy and Dylan in the future. Also, people who enjoyed this book may appreciate The Friend Who Forgives: A True Story About How Peter Failed and Jesus Forgave, by Daniel DeWitt.
