God's Little Seeds: A Book of Parables [Hardcover]

Bijou Le Tord (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1998 | Age Level: 2 and up

With bold, bright illustrations, Bijou Le Tord brings fresh life to Jesus' parables for young readers. In simple language, Le Tord explains how Jesus used everyday images from life and nature to teach his listeners about God's kingdom and God's love. By focusing on the Parable of the Sower and the Parable of the Mustard Seed, Le Tord shows how "God's little seeds" can take root and grow in our hearts and lives.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In this gentle gem of a book, Le Tord (The River and the Rain: The Lords Prayer) introduces children to two favorite parables of Jesus, "The Parable of the Sower" and "The Parable of the Mustard Seed." Following a brief description of the word "parable," Le Tord retells the two stories. In the first, a farmer sows seeds which the wind scatters and birds eat; the few that fall on fertile ground thrive, just as humans thrive on God's love. The second story compares faith to a tiny mustard seed that "grows to be a tall and graceful tree." Le Tord's spare writing presents the sometimes complicated biblical symbolism in the simplest terms ("He said such wise things that all people who listened to him opened their ears, their eyes and their hearts"); the result may well be powerful for readers. While young children may still struggle with such aspects of faith as "God is within us, always," Le Tord's confident tone offers reassurance. Her bright, sweet watercolors, in cheery shades of yellow, green and blue, suit the two tales of seeds taking root and growing in the sun. Ages 2-6.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 2ABeginning with an explanation of parables, Le Tord then relates "The Sower" and "The Mustard Seed." Several of the sunlit, impressionistic watercolors are marvelous. The double-page spread that shows the seeds falling on "good earth" is ablaze with gold and yellow patches of color and an overlay of sketched stalks suggesting wheat. Many of the paintings, however, look very similar, with little visual action to maintain children's interest. In "The Sower," four seeds land on different types of ground, but the art is so subtle that the distinctions are not always clear. The significance of a seed falling outside a furrow, for example, is lost because the furrow is indistinguishable from the rest of the scene. Only the impact of one of the seeds is picked up in the exegesis: the author compares God's nurturing love to the "good earth." The second parable is followed by the conclusion: "God's words are his little seeds. He is our Father. Listen in your heart for his joy and songs." The total effect of all the seed imagery is likely to fall on deaf ears; the connections are loose and the language abstract. Still, Le Tord's book glows with warmth and good feeling. Teachers and parents intent on conveying the messages behind these stories may wish to use Tomie dePaola's The Parables of Jesus (Holiday, 1987) or The Children's Illustrated Bible (DK, 1994).AWendy Lukehart, Dauphin County Library, Harrisburg, PA
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 2 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company (June 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 080285169X
• ISBN-13: 978-0802851697
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 8.9 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,089,825 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A book to treasure!, July 15, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: God's Little Seeds: A Book of Parables (Hardcover)

This is a must book for all parents who believe in the power of God to touch the lives of children. The illustrations are magnificent - the words are simple and meaningful. This is truly a book that will be read again and again!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Illustrations not appropriate for young children, May 10, 2010

By 

Aelfwyn (Ohio, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: God's Little Seeds: A Book of Parables (Hardcover)

I got this book from the library because I wanted to take a look through it before committing to buying it. I'm glad I did. The parables themselves are reasonably well-told, the text flowed nicely.

The problem to me was the pictures. I was reading it to my 3-year-old, and perhaps she's younger than it's intended for, but I couldn't figure out what I was seeing half the time. I had trouble pointing out seeds or sprouts because it was so hard to distinguish which plants were just supposed to be "around" and which were the seeds we planted. The colors were indistinct dabs. She's certainly mature enough to enjoy watercolor illustrations in general (in other books), but this one didn't hold her interest. I'd save this book for older children who can imagine the story themselves with the pictures just as suggestions, rather than needing the pictures to understand the story.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a book of beauty, August 19, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: God's Little Seeds: A Book of Parables (Hardcover)

Jesus' teachings are beautiful to learn; however, for most, they are difficult to share with a young child. But Gods Little Seeds makes sharing Jesus that much easier. The beautiful and simple pages retell the parable of the mustard seed and the sower in a way that any child can understand. The warm illustrations will captivate children's imaginations and the parables themselves will bring a new understanding of Jesus.

This book not only nurtures the soul but the mind as well, and should become a part of every child's book collection. It is a book which can be passed down from one generation to the next because the story will never grow old.