Book Zone Reviews
Written on Aug 8, 2022
Karen Ferguson does it well in the first book of her series Guess How Much God Loves You.
Lucy has been told by her classmates that no one likes her. That is hurtful at any age, but especially confusing for Lucy who loves and trusts her Papa Joe who says that he loves her and God Loves her very much.
Like anyone presented with things that don't add up, Lucy heads to her trusted source, her grandpa, who then turns to his trusted source, the Bible. As he reads from the bible to Lucy, Papa Joe emphasizes the love and care God takes with His creations, of which she is one.
This increases Lucy's curiosity and she wants to know more, but then it's bedtime. So, Papa Joe assures her that there's more to the story which will be read another day.
I love how the pictures show that grandpa is in his wheelchair and Lucy is sitting on his lap. It doesn't look awkward it looks natural and it is not mentioned to take away from the purpose of the story. It sends an underlying message that you don't need much to have and share faith.
What I liked
- The age appropriate telling of the story
- Papa Joe's faith and love for God and Lucy
- The progression of the images that enhanced the storytelling
- The beautifully whimsical quality of the images
What Gave Me Pause
- While I love the idea of playing up the gold decorations on the bible because gold signifies divinity. Considering how literal children's minds are I was not a fan of the Bible glowing to describe the draw or awe it inspires in Lucy.
That being said, overall this book is an excellent pick to introduce a child to God. It also emphasizes that grandparents have a role to play in the rearing of their grandchild, and gave me the perfect series to start collecting for my grandson, who is just about to turn two.
I loved it and gave it 5 of 5 stars
I received a complimentary copy of this book and this review was written voluntarily.