Customer Reviews

Because I Love You (Board Book)

5 star:		(21)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This book sent chills up my spine! I read it to my children, gave it to my Godchild as a gift, passed it around my bible study class, and gave it to my 21-year-old brother. If you ever wonder how much God really loves you, just open this book for a great reminder. The book gently explains to children that God gives us the "choice". He knows every decision we make before we make it. And He is right there beside us, whether we make a good decision or bad decision. Everytime I read it I find something new. While the book is written for children, it's a must read for every adult. This book reminds us that God is just one prayer away, and all we have to do is ask, no matter how much trouble we get ourselves into. Absolutely incredible.

This is a great book that speaks to young children about God's love, mankind's freewill and God's forgiveness. I have never seen my four year old so intent as when we read this book together; he actually had tears in his eyes. It is a simple story told in a way that kids can grasp. The illustrations are also wonderful, my child pointed out characters that resembled a number of his friends. This is a good book to help build the fundamentals of faith, and a good addition to a family library. I have also caught my pre-teen kids reading and enjoying it.

Shaddai lived in a "wonderful village. It was more than any child could dream." (I'll leave the descriptions to Max--I can't say it any better.) But the thing that made it most special of all was the fact Shaddai was always near. The children listened to his terrific stories and songs and loved his smile and the way he made them laugh. But most of all the children loved the way he made them feel--understood, loved and accepted for who they were. "His giant heart had a hundred strings--each held by a different child. And Shaddai loved each one the same."

That's why he built the wall.

He warned the children that they weren't made for the the terrible land beyond the wall and to stay where they'd be safe and where they belonged--with him.

One child, Paladin was a very curious child. He questioned Shaddai about the wall and then told Shaddai that if he didn't fix it the children might leave. Shaddai replied, "I know, Paladin. But I want the children to stay because they WANT to, not because they HAVE to."

The ending is beautifully poignant. Please get this book for your child. It's a great start or reinforcement for helping them understand that God has chosen them but THEY have to choose whether or not they want God. God loves us enough to give us free will.

If you are looking for a book to teach your child of the love of God, look no further. This is one of the best writings to help teach our children the plan of salvation. I want to buy this book as a gift for all of the children I love.

The book is wonderfully simple in its depiction of God's love. While it is certainly geared toward children, its message can touch adults. .................. a book that can be read out-loud in under ten minutes.

This is an incredible book. It was given to me when I was suffering severe depression and doubting that anyone...especially God even cared about me. I cried and bought the book for all of my friends! This book is a book that will leave you with ultimate peace in a world that doesn't really understand!

At the time that I read this I was in the middle of a missionary training school. I was learning so much. It was at night and my group was staying in our director's house. This book was on the table beside where I was sleeping. For some reason I was unable to sleep and I thought that this would help relaxe me. Instead this book made me think. I learned so many things that night about God and His great love for me. This booked put many of the things that I had learned about being God's child into ways that even a child can understand. This book allowed me to "become like a child" and come closer to Christ adn understand more of His love for me. This book is a must for anyone who is having trouble understanding why God allows some things to happen

You can't deny the love that this book protrays. It is very warm and comforting. The analogy was good, but it was missing a very special character, Jesus. Shaddai represents God the Father, the children represent mankind, and the dark forest represents sin. These are all good representations. However, I would liked to have seen Shaddai have a Son who guides the lost boy back to the Father. "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." I don't think that you can adequately represent the love of the Father if you omit His Son.

While Max Lucado is a great author, I'm not a fan of this book. I like the overall idea of it, but there are a few things that make this book a negative read for me.

1. Shaddei is described as a white man talking with only white children.

As a former foster-mom, I find this a book that some children couldn't relate to. While I'm not a fan of using race as a crutch to get ahead, how can a child relate to someone telling them he loves ALL when there is only one stereotypical type addressed in the book? A child of color or another race may think the only person God may love is those who are just like Him in the book. Where we know that this is far from truth. We also know that Jesus was of Middle-Eastern descent. I would have liked to see Shaddei more of a person ALL kids could relate to. Unsure how this could be pulled off, but while I get the theme, I just ended up disappointed.

2. There is a dedication to all handicapped children, yet no handicapped child was either referenced nor pictured. My thought is we are ALL children with a handicap and there are some folks with physical/mental/emotional handicaps that look BEYOND their handicap to become who they are even with their handicaps.

3. This has to be an age-appropriate book. There's a whole lot of explaining to do about the meaning of this book. It's basically an allegory used to teach truth but has too many underlying descriptions for it to be simple for many children to understand on their own.

All in all, not one of my favorite books, but I can see Max Lucado's idea. I just don't think it was very well put together for a young child.

My sister-in-law gave me two Max Lucado books for my birthday and I couldn't be happier. This is a story of Shaddai, a wise and nurturing old man, who lives in a village of children. He builds a wall surrounding the village so as to protect the children from the dark and dangerous forest that surrounds the village. Paladin, the most curious boy of the lot, wonders why the wall is there and proceeds to explore beyond. Shaddai, knowing of the boy's curiousity, had already left to find the boy as soon as he left his line of sight. A wonderful story for children. I can't wait to get more Max Lucado books.