God Rescues Me – Kristen Wetherell and Grace Habib

God Rescues Me by Kristen Wetherell, Grace Habib
Also by this author: God Speaks to Me, God Hears Me, God Cares for Me, God Came Near to Me
Series: For the Bible Tells Me So #5
Published by Crossway on March 19, 2024
Genres: Children's
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four-half-stars

Interactive Board Book Teaches Children How God Rescues Us from Our Sins

Everyone is a theologian―even your little one. Each board book in the For the Bible Tells Me So series offers kids ages 0–4 an introduction to key facets of the gospel and a glimpse at the joy found when children embrace Christ as their Lord and Savior. In God Rescues Me, kids will learn how Jesus―through a sacrificial life of love―saves his people from their sins.

This board book uses repetition and interactive elements such as call-and-response language and a lift-the-flap surprise at the end to keep kids engaged and coming back again and again. Author Kristen Wetherell presents the good news of the gospel in a clear and understandable way for children as they learn the importance of confessing their sins and praising their good shepherd who lays down his life for his sheep.

Gospel-Centered Board Book: Teaches kids how Christ saves his people through his sacrificial life, death, and resurrection
Created for Kids Ages 0–4: Thoughtful language, colorful illustrations, and interactive elements keep kids engaged
For the Bible Tells Me So Series: Each book in this series teaches kids the gospel through an important biblical doctrine
Makes Great Gifts: Perfect for children, grandchildren, loved ones, or church ministries

This board book is a new installment in a series that introduces young children to key themes from Christian theology. Each book features simple rhyming text from Kristen Wetherell and soft, colorful illustrations from Grace Habib. God Rescues Me focuses on explaining the gospel. Although two of the previous books have briefly touched on aspects of the gospel, this book further addresses the whole story of the gospel, introducing the problem of sin, Jesus’s sacrificial death on the cross, and his resurrection. The book also introduces him as a good shepherd and our high priest, briefly explaining those concepts, and teaches kids about confessing sin, asking Jesus to save us, and thanking him.

On the final page, there is a flap to lift, revealing a mirror. The mirror paper gives a a surprisingly clear reflection, which is an improvement over the first books in the series. It is also a nice touch that personalizes the message for the child reading the book, underscoring the final message that Jesus’s love rescues them. There is also an afterword for parents that explains the teaching in grown-up terms, references Scripture passages, and offers additional ideas for how parents can engage with their kids on this topic.

Although some parents may not be ready to talk about Jesus’s death with very young children, God Rescues Me is a great board book for parents who are looking for a simple way to explain the gospel to their children. The rhymes flow well for the most part, and the message is clear and enthusiastic, especially since children get to get to do a countdown and shout out, “GOOD NEWS!” with their parents. This book introduces complex ideas in a way that kids can follow, and adults may also find this encouraging. I would recommend this whole series to Christian families and for church contexts, because the books are so grounded in truth and convey it with joy.

four-half-stars