A New PBT God Book!

Picture Book: When God Made You

Author: Matthew Paul Turner

Illustrator: David Catrow

Summary: Through charming rhyme and hilarious illustrations, this picture book celebrates when God made "an incredible you," 

a you that the world needs. 

You were in God's mind long before you were born. 

God imagined how you would look, 

what you could do, and how you would respond to the world. 

With this illustration, I think David Catrow is having fun with Michelangelo's painting of God touching Adam's hand, found on the ceiling of The Sistine Chapel. 

The diversity of human-kind is celebrated, and God gets credit for making us all! 

God knew your name all along. You are an important member of God's family who brings "color and rhythm and rhyme to God's story." 

Perhaps it's with paint, amazing tricks, a make-believe story, or the beauty of a dance, 

 but for sure God is pleased, for you are an image of God! 

God dreams about you, especially "all that in you that will be true." 

God knows your potential to be "a lover of nature", a "peacemaker," and a "builder of dreams." 

And you definitely can learn to view other children of God as a part of your family, ready to be loved by you. 

 "You being you is God's dream coming true."

Hanna’s Comments: This is a brand-new God Book! Picture books about the nature of God featured here at PBT I call God Books. I especially like the non-gender nature of God here. At first I thought the artist was a God-figure, but he seems so surprised by the child’s art that I think he is a bystander. This book is a jewel because it emphasizes each person’s value as a uniquely created, child of God, made in God’s image and loved beyond measure. In this oh-so-colorful book, you have encouragement for children (really people of all ages) to explore their gifts and abilities while considering how they might make the world better. You may recognize the art. David Catrow’s PBT books about Molly Lou Melon, have a similar look and a delightful little girl with similar imagination and enthusiasm but in a secular setting. Check out Molly Lou’s books [here] and [here]. 

Original Publisher & Date: Waterbrook, 2017

Age & Grade Appropriateness: 4 and up, Pre and up

Formats other than Book: Tablet 

Scripture Connections: Made in the image of God (Genesis 1:27); for I am wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14)

Idea(s) for Application: Read this book to a group of children or adults to remind them that they are all unique children of God and made in God’s image.