GOD MADE ME UNIQUE
ISBN 978-1 948 130 707
GOD MADE ME AND YOU
ISBN 978 1 948 130 134
GOD’S VERY GOOD IDEA
ISBN 978 1 784 982 218
WONDERFULLY MADE
ISBN 978 1 857 922 929
H.G. Wells said that our true nationality is mankind. Christians believe that physical attributes are just part of our true identity in Christ, because He is the creator of us body and soul.
Diversity is a word that has risen in its presence and intensity in recent years, but we can rest assured that the one who created colour and language did not make them to divide us, but for His own glory. The words of Malachi 2:10 spring to mind – ‘Do we not have one Father? Did not one God create us?’ Thankfully we have some great children’s books that back up this theology.
One Christian who testifies to God’s plan in her life, even through disability, is Joni Eareckson Tada. The new book by her mission Joni and Friends is called God Made Me Unique and is a great tool for helping children understand uniqueness and disability as part of God’s plan. Children are taught through an engaging story and excellent images that every person is valuable and to be treated with respect. Add it to your family library and perhaps donate to your school also. Older children will benefit from reading the Trailblazer on Joni’s life: Swimming Against the Tide (ISBN 978 1 857 928 334) – or even by reading the biography she has written herself Joni An Unforgettable Story (ISBN 978 0 310 215 295)
God Made Me and You by Shai Linne focuses on the beauty that God creates in racial diversity. This will give kids a Biblical world view about humanity and that we are all His image bearers. Bright illustrations with a rhyming narrative make this big topic accessible.
Trillia Newbell’s story book God’s Very Good Idea also deals with differences – how we look, speak and play differently – because God made it so. Then how human beings through their sin ruined God’s Very Good Idea. This book brings to light our problem of sin and our need of forgiveness whatever we look like.
When we thank God for our humanity it is good to focus on Psalm 139:14 – ‘I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made’. Danika Cooley’s book Wonderfully Made highlights the fact that we are made by God in His image from our very earliest days and covers the process of creation within the womb stage by stage.
The following two books are pitched perfectly for preschoolers:
God Made Me published by Matthias Media is a softback with realistic photographs and part of the Books for Little Ones series, ISBN 978 1 922 206 855.
God Made Me by Una Macleod, ISBN 978 1 857 922 929, is a sturdy little board book that introduces the fact that God made our bodies. It is part of a series which covers colours, animals, food and other things.
In addition I’d like to recommend a title that isn’t specifically Christian, but does have a good message about humanity, diversity and mortality. Peter Spier’s People is an old favourite and has some cracking illustrations. Published by Anchor books it is available in paperback or as a Kindle edition, ISBN 978 0 385 244 695.
