Big Thoughts for Little People: ABC's to Help You Grow [Hardcover]

Kenneth N. Taylor (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 21, 2009 | Age Level: 3 and up

Ken Taylor’s best-selling book is now updated with all-new bright and colorful illustrations and a larger trim size. Using the alphabet as a learning tool, the easy-to-use format of this beloved picture book connects Bible themes and verses that teach kids ages 3-7 Christian values. Each spread represents a letter of the alphabet and a Christian value or moral lesson beginning with the same letter. Kids are encouraged to find the lesson being modeled (or not) in the illustrations. They are also asked questions to help them apply the lesson to their lives. This book is sure to win the hearts of kids and parents alike.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 3 and up
  
• Hardcover: 64 pages
• Publisher: Tyndale Kids; Reprint edition (October 21, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1414333102
• ISBN-13: 978-1414333106
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 10.4 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #38,534 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars There's a reason it's a classic!, November 6, 2009

By 

Jennifer Bogart "@ Quiverfullfamily.com" (Alberta, Canada) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Big Thoughts for Little People: ABC's to Help You Grow (Hardcover)

Kenneth Taylor - well known as the author of The Living Bible, and founder of Tyndale House publishers - was a man dedicated to conveying the Christian message to children (he had 10 himself) in simple, understandable truths. Big Thoughts for Little People, a much-loved, best-selling picture book has now received fresh new illustrations while maintaining Taylor's text from the original edition.

Many readers my age may be familiar with the original version of this classic title, which was wildly popular during the `80s, and be looking forward with nostalgic fondness to sharing this new release with their own children. I however, missed out on the first edition as a child, so it was with fresh eyes that my daughters and I dug into it together. My first impression was that this vibrantly illustrated hardcover filled with bright, action-filled paintings of children with simple text and discussion questions might appeal to my three-year-old, I was wrong. Every time I open its pages I'm surrounded by a flock of eager faces - 6, 3, and 1, as all of my children adore this newly revised classic.

Arranged around the letters of the alphabet, each letter features a lesson relating to Christian character and moral development. A is for Asking, B is for Behave, C is for Crying and so on. Introduced by a four lines of rhyming verse:

D is for doing

What needs to be done.

So please do it cheerfully.

Then you'll have fun.

At this points all parents are saying, "Huzzah!" Who can argue with reading this to their children? But, how do the children react? I was afraid that the simple, direct, and pull-no punches moral teachings might be considered boring for my little ones, but if we take it one letter at a time and allow the lessons to sink in, they eat it right up.

A paragraph discussing the concept and relating it to the accompanying illustration follows the rhyme. Three brief, age-appropriate questions are then asked. At times these questions encourage children to examine and interact with the artwork ("What are some good things the children are doing? Tell about each one."). At other times the questions encourage the child to engage in personal reflection and encourage brainstorming ways to do better ("What kind of thing could you do to help someone?"). Each letter closes with a scripture verse from Taylor's own The Living Bible.

At times my three-year-old needs some guidance through the more contemplative questions, my six-year-old dives right in (they actually can't wait for their turn to tackle each question), and my one-year-old slaps at the bright illustrations and tries to turn pages (I have the page tears to prove it). Who would have guessed? My children have been captivated by this seemingly simple formula that repeats throughout the book.

Does it work? If taken a letter at a time and reinforced by the parent, I'm going to say yes! After reading, "C is for Crying", in which Taylor explains that crying isn't really necessary unless an injury has been sustained, I started asking my three-year-old if she'd been hurt when she was sniffling to herself. Sometimes she said yes, I kissed her better, and she went on with her day happily. Other times she didn't say anything, thought about it, and stopped crying. Wow.

Andrea Petrlik Huseinovic new illustrations for the classic text certainly provide much of the appeal found within the pages of Big Thoughts. Her use of thickly layered bright paints, and `toothy' paper lend her bold palette a highly developed sense of texture and motion. Busy paintings filled with a plethora of active children, activities and objects that start with the target letter, and hidden ladybugs to count give equally busy eyes something to keep them busy while little minds absorb the lesson embedded in the text.

Big Thoughts for Little People can easily serve as a comprehensive, back-to-basics course in proper behaviour for preschoolers, and a launching pad into further discussions with any early-primary students who may want to listen in and chime in when it's time to answer the questions. Ken Taylor went home in 2005, years after the first edition of this enduring title was published. One of his life's goals was to reach children with the knowledge of God and instruct them in Christian living. It's clear that his vision is an enduring one which will continue to reach many children for years to come.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Same text, new illustrations, October 22, 2009

By 

Rachelle Dawson - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Big Thoughts for Little People: ABC's to Help You Grow (Hardcover)

Using the ABCs, Taylor devotes each letter to one aspect of the Christian life. (A is for asking in prayer, B is for behaving, and so forth.) Each letter receives a two-page spread with text on one side, and illustrations on both sides of the text. Taylor shares a four-line rhyme for each letter of the alphabet. A short paragraph follows that explains the concept. Taylor then wraps up each discussion with three questions and a short Bible verse that touches on the theme he's chosen for the letter.

This book teaches children about characteristics, activities, and manners that most Christian parents probably wish for their children. Taylor uses simple language that young children can grasp, and his questions can help children grasp the concept as well as interact with it. For instance, the questions often ask what someone is doing in the picture or how the child can act on the concept. The book is very practical in nature and would make a good book for family devotions with young children. (The publisher recommends the book for ages three to seven.) Each lesson is short enough that young children can pay attention.

The text in this edition is the same as in the first edition of this book, but if you've seen the first edition, you'll notice that this new edition contains a new cover and all-new interior illustrations. The new pictures are brighter, and more cartoonish than the original illustrations, which contained a more muted color palette and realistic look. Depending on your taste in illustrations, you may prefer one edition over the other.

This book would work well for parents to read aloud to children during family devotions, before bedtime, or at breakfast. Reading children could certainly handle the language in this book by themselves, but I think a lot of the value comes in the interaction between a child and an adult as they read the book together.

Rachelle Dawson

No-Spoilers Book Reviews

Tyndale House Publishers has provided me with a complementary copy of this book.

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing Little Devo for Kids, December 13, 2011

By 

Emily - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Big Thoughts for Little People: ABC's to Help You Grow (Hardcover)

This is my first review because I just have to say that my 2 year old and my 4 year old LOVE this book! We received it a few days ago and have already finished it because they kept wanting me to read more than one page. The artwork is very good; my daughters look at the pictures and are really engaged in talking about them. We're going to enjoy using this for morning family time!