Reviews: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Ages: 3 – 7 years
As a parent, we want our children to feel loved and unique enough in this big universe to spread their wings and fly.
‘’Cause when God made you, somehow God knew that the world needed someone exactly like you!’’
It’s my favorite line in the whole book and cemented the notion that this book is the most beautiful and life-affirming children’s book I have ever come across.
My kids love it for the vibrant and fanciful illustrations, and I love it for the positive message it allows me to relay to my children.
When God Made You is the perfect book for any family wanting to help their children discover their place in this world and feel deeply loved.
The first thing you will notice about this picture book are the illustrations. They are incredibly vibrant and joyful!
‘’You, you, when God made YOU, God made you all shiny and new. An incredible you, a you all your own, a you unlike anyone else ever known.’’
While the words continue with the positive affirmation, the illustrations tell their own unique story as well.
Joined by her pet dog and cat, we see the little girl sitting on a spotted couch reading a book. Her baby sister is happily playing on a mat on the floor.
She leaps off the couch to check out her face in the mirror, removing her socks to check out all ten of her toes.
Heading towards her pushbike, the dog hitches a ride in the basket, and she rides through a chaos of characters in what appears to be a park.
Coming to a quiet section, she stops by an artist painting on the ground. He seems to have artist block, so she thinks for a while before grabbing the paint and begins her own vibrant creation.
Her creation is nature inspired and takes on a life of its own. The egg she has painted cracks open to reveal a beautiful bird with a long flowing vine tail with vibrant flowers.
More beautiful birds fly out, and the artist and her pet dog hitch a ridge on the largest while she continues to paint it.
The bird is now gigantic and all three are riding peacefully on its back through the clouds.
‘’A you who views others as sisters and brothers and lives by three words: love one another.”
The final page shows the little girl with her younger sister reading a book, snuggled up on the couch which is now vividly decorated with flying birds.
Matthew Paul Turner has written an incredibly uplifting book for children that just oozes positivity and light.
David Catrow is an award-winning author and illustrator who has illustrated over 70 children’s book throughout his career. He is well known for his vibrant style and this picture book is just stunning.
Told through rhyme and vivid illustrations, When God Made You is the perfect book for any family wanting to help their children discover their place in the world as they grow and feel deeply loved.
