The Oak Inside the Acorn [Paperback]

Max Lucado (Author), George Angelini (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 3, 2011 | Age Range: 5 - 10 years

It was hard for Little Acorn to believe he would ever be a big, strong oak tree.

Soon Little Acorn grew into Little Oak. But now what was he to do? He couldn't grow oranges like the orange tree or flowers like the rose bush. He just grew and grew until he became Big Oak, and his branches were big and strong-but still he didn't know what he was to do. Then one day Big Oak found that his strong branches were just right for a very special purpose. The Oak Inside the Acorn is the story of the miracle inside each of us. For within every child is the special person God created, just waiting to grow.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

More than 100 million readers have found comfort in the writings of Max Lucado. He ministers at the Oak Hills Church in San Antonio, Texas, where he lives with his wife, Denalyn, and a sweet but misbehaving mutt, Andy.

George Angelini has had his work appear in magazines such as Reader's Digest and Good Housekeeping, and on book covers for major publishers and won awards from the New York Society of Illustrators and the New York Art Directors Club.

From AudioFile

Nathan Larkin reads Lucados story of Little Acorns journey of growth and development with maternal tones and appropriate sound effects. Soft music plays as Little Acorns stem breaks away from his mothers branch, and he tumbles into a farmers truck filled with orange trees passing underneath. His mothers parting words--grow and become all you can be--linger long after her leaf-filled branches disappear in the distance. Sounds of a braking truck and shovels send Little Acorn spinning into the soft dirt beside a recently transplanted orange tree, and this engaging story of what develops begins. Larkins delivery, especially his timing, enhance a tale that children will ask to hear repeatedly. G.D.W. © AudioFile 2007, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Age Range: 5 - 10 years
  
• Paperback: 48 pages
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson (May 3, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 9781400317332
• ISBN-13: 978-1400317332
• ASIN: 1400317339
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 0.3 x 9.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (30 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #16,138 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #40 in Books > Children's Books > Literature & Fiction > Religious Fiction > Christian
  • #91 in Books > Children's Books > Religions > Christianity
  • #94 in Books > Christian Books & Bibles > Children's & Teens

More About the Author

In just under two decades of writing, Max Lucado has accomplished more than most writers hope for in a lifetime. Most of his books have appeared on one or more best seller lists, including those published by the "New York Times," "USA Today," "Publishers Weekly," and the Christian Booksellers Association (CBA). Aside from hardcover books, Lucado's writings have also been published as children's books, videos, CD-ROMs, DVDs, music CDs, mass paperback booklets, apparel, giftware, bookmarks, calendars, study Bibles, workbooks, curricula, and plush products. In spring 2003, Hallmark/Dayspring Cards launched a new gift card line featuring excerpts from Lucado's writings--and has already sold more than one million cards.

All this success has drawn more than a little attention to a previously low-profile Texas author and minister. Lucado has been featured in a wide range of media, including "USA Today," "Larry King Live," and "NBC Nightly News." He has spoken at the National Prayer Breakfast before the President of the United States. He has traveled with internationally renowned musicians as a special speaker on their music tours, such as the highly successful "Come Together & Worship Tour" (sponsored by Chevrolet) with Grammy Award-winning artists Michael W. Smith and Third Day.

Journey to the Top
Lucado was born in 1955 in San Angelo, Texas, and raised in Andrews, Texas, the youngest of four children. His father was an Exxon oil field mechanic who, Lucado remembers, always smelled of grease cleaner. "It makes it easy for me to see a God who is loving and kind--because my dad was," he says. His mother was a nurse who grew up working in the cotton fields.

Lucado went through a period of rebellion against his parents' values and their God during his teens and into college. But it wasn't long before he found himself drawn back to his roots, back to God. He married, spent time serving as a missionary in Brazil, and returned to the States, where he began working as a church minister and writing on the side.

Secret to Success
From all accounts, Max Lucado is not a man consumed by sales, awards, and achievements. He often turns down media interviews since they impede on family and ministry commitments. He spends the bulk of his week serving as senior minister at Oak Hills Church in San Antonio, Texas. And he is truly surprised by his own success--more impressed by his one-in-a-million wife and three amazing daughters than by his successful writing career.

Amazon Author Rankbeta 

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#30 in Books > Religion & Spirituality

#76 in Kindle eBooks > Religion & Spirituality

#30 in Books > Religion & Spirituality

#76 in Kindle eBooks > Religion & Spirituality

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

43 of 44 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The Virtue of the Small: Potential March 21, 2008

By Arcturus70

Format:Hardcover

The Oak Inside the Acorn is a definite must read for anyone (ages 4-440) who needs some encouragement to follow his / her own inner nature, embracing the potential within, becoming what he / she is truly meant to be. In today's, fast-paced, media driven world, it is hard for human beings to identify and to appreciate themselves. This story speaks to those confusions and personal questions. It's the story of growing up. It's the story of courage, patience, and acceptance. Like "The Giving Tree," this book depicts the rhythms of the world...the cycles of life and the subtle, enduring connections among living things.

Lucado celebrates the virtue of small things: small things have BIG potential. I loved the line in the story spoken by the Mother Tree: "Within you is a great oak. Just be the tree God made you to be." How many people suffer because they try to hard to be something that they were not designed to be just like the Little Acorn? The message is very powerful--striking deep into the soul.

The book is beautifully illustrated. My favorite panels are the ones that depict the passage of time. Readers can feel like they are moving through the lives of the characters within. This book is well worth the purchase price, and it is a wonderful edition to any library. The story lends itself to a great discussion with young people--Sunday school classes, youth groups, home-schoolers, etc.

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The Oak Inside The Acorn by Max Lucado April 18, 2007

By Loretta Ann

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

Letting go of your childhood is hard to do, and a bit scary. In The Oak Inside the Acorn, nature forces Little Acorn to let go of his mother's nurturing branches and begin a life of his own. Little Acorn is not sure what he is suppose to be. He can't bare fruit like the orange trees and he has no beautiful blooms or sweet scents like the flowers. A farmer plants him in the family's back yard, and there he grows bigger and taller every year, right along with a little girl. When the little girl grows into a young lady, Big Oak uses one of his own little acorns to teach her to be what God wants her to be.

What I Liked: I like the lesson, to be what God intended us to be.

What I Disliked: I was a little disappointed with this book. This author is one of my favorites, but the message in this book was simply not as strong as I had anticipated. The message was clear, it just didn't reach out and grab me like most of his other books do.

Age Appeal: 4-8

Overall Rating: Very Good.

Loretta from Christian Children's Book Review

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A great book January 9, 2007

By R. Jessie

Format:Hardcover

This is a really great book. Max Lucado has done it again.

Anyone, any age, facing decisions can appreciate this story. The little acorn fears leaving its comfortable home. But in leaving finds out that even though it does not offer fruit or flowers it has a lot to give. Great book for going to kindergarten, college, or a job change.