Customer Reviews

Am I Forgiving?

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While geared toward children ages 4-8, Am I Forgiving? is an engaging story with an important lesson for kids of any age. It deals with emotional reactions to teasing and the games kids play (like ignoring you when they are with other kids) that hurt feelings. I remember having two friends when I was five and six. We could never all three be friends at the same time, but it was me with one of them or them leaving me out. Must be things kids do at that age. I would've loved to have learned a similar lesson about forgiving or I wouldn't have spent so much time being mad at them for not including me.

Developmentally this is a perfect story to read to any child before they start school or to prepare them regarding friendship problems and how to deal with rejection and teasing. The core lesson in the story is about what true forgiveness is and what it isn't. Having worked with abused kids for many years, I found this particularly beneficial.

There is a parents' guide at the end that gives parents suggestions on how to explain the lesson to their children. It says this... Forgiveness does not require that you to trust or become good friends with the person who you. Excellent advice! This should prevent victimization due to ignorance of the meaning of true forgiveness. And some of the words are hard enough that the story will expand the kids vocabulary, too. But beyond the storyline, the best part of the book is the adorable pictures. The author has inserted random cute animals throughout the pages and some illustrations are downright hilarious!

These books are fun to read & great value teachers. Very appropriate for pre-k and school age kids...but even good for mommy : )

AM I FORGIVING? - CCBR
- Posted review on CCBR 6/21/10
- Posted review on Amazon.com 6/21/10
- Didn't post review on ChristianBook.com as this review is too long for their format
No need to send the author an email about the review as this is a book Kristina sent me.

Written and illustrated by Jeannie St. John Taylor, Am I Forgiving is a story about two good friends, Erik and Chuck. The two of them usually play and have fun together. But, one day when there is snow on the ground and school has been called off, Chuck ignores Erik and spends the day playing with another friend, Todd who has spent the night at Chuck's house. They don't invite Erik to play with them.

Erik feels a bit lonely because his best friend isn't spending the day with him, but he doesn't want to hold a grudge against Chuck, so Erik says to himself, "That's forgiving, isn't it?" When he sees Chuck and Todd together, and he's ignored, he decides to shrug it off and not be mad at Chuck. Again, he says to himself, "That's forgiving, isn't it?"

Todd and Chuck play a prank on Erik while Erik is sledding down a hill. This causes Erik to ride his sled into a tree, resulting in a broken arm. Chuck and Todd laugh and run away while Erik is in pain. Erik asks God to help him to forgive Chuck and Todd for laughing at him. Then, when Todd calls Erik a baby, and Chuck doesn't say anything, Erik says, "I don't have time to stop crying and forgive anyone."

A couple of kids who are also out playing help Erik get home. On the way to the doctor's office, Erik sees Chuck and Todd having fun together in the snow. Erik ignores them and says to himself, "I'll make them sorry. I'll never let Chuck be my best friend again."

When he gets home and is watching TV, Erik thinks of many ways he can get even with his "friends." But then he realizes that if he doesn't forgive Chuck and Todd, the Bible says God won't forgive him. So, he prays the prayer "...I don't want to forgive them, Jesus, but I will if you help me. I can't do it if you don't." Praying makes Erik feel better although he is still upset.

Chuck shows up at Erik's house and says he's sorry. He wants to be friends again. For a moment, Erik hesitates, but he says simply, "I forgive you."

The illustrations are very kid-friendly: They're bold, bright, expressive and somewhat cartoonish - and sure to please.

A note "For Parents" is included at the end of the book with ideas and instructions for reading the book and doing some activities together to help kids understand the concept of forgiveness. Some Bible verses are given for reference to the story.

What I Like: This is a good lesson for kids (as well as adults) to learn about forgiving and forgiveness. Even though the Bible tells us we must forgive one another, it's not always an easy thing to do (it's not usually an easy thing to do). And, sometimes when we forgive someone who has hurt us, we don't always feel better right away. We don't want to say that "It's okay" or "I know you didn't mean it" because our hearts are still hurting. Forgiveness is a continuing thing, something that doesn't just happen once and then is finished or forgotten. The Bible tells us to forgive "seventy times seven." That's what this story is about.

What I Dislike: Nothing.

Overall Rating: Excellent.

Christine M. Irvin - Christian Children's Book Review

Written for young readers age four to eight, Am I Forgiving? is a children's picturebook about the Christian value of forgiveness. When young Erik's best friend Chuck ignores him to play with another boy, and pelts Erik with snowballs (causing Erik to run his sled into a tree and break his arm!), Erik resolves never to forgive either of them. But then Erik remembers what the Bible says about the virtue of forgiving, and prays to Jesus for help in overcoming his own bitterness. "I don't say, 'That's all right' or 'You didn't mean to.' I just say, 'I forgive you.' That's okay, isn't it? God doesn't expect me to pretend Chuck didn't do anything wrong." The bright, colorful illustrations bring to life this simple parable, ideal for parents to read aloud to their children.