Customer Reviews

Do You Want a Friend?

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

 

 

This book is very brief, but has a wonderful message for very young children. My wife really loves Noel Piper's other books.

Last month my girls enjoyed listening to Noel Piper's Most of All, Jesus Loves You!, so last night I decided to read them the sequel, Do You Want a Friend?. It is uncommon for sequels to be better than the originals, but I definitely think that is the case here.

Like in Most of All, Jesus Loves You!, the illustrations in Do You Want a Friend? are great. All kinds of people are found throughout the pages of this book. There is a child with red hair, an Asian child playing with an African-American child, people who are physically challenged and more.

The story starts off with a little boy who is lonely in his new neighborhood. He wants a friend so he starts crying out for friends. He begins to find all kinds of friends.

The story then begins to ask questions about the type of friend you would like - one who loves you?, one who comforts you?, one who helps you to be strong?, one who wants to be with you?, one who helps you know God?, one who prays for you?, one who makes you happy?, one who forgives you when you do something wrong?, one who helps you do good? and one who will save you from danger?. Verses are found after each question: Romans 8:38-39, 2 Corinthians 1:5, Hebrews 13:5, 20-21, John 3:16, 15:11, 13, 15, 17:1, 9, Ephesians 1:7, 2:10 and Matthew 1:21.

The book ends telling us that we can have a lot of friends, but that only Jesus is the perfect friend. We often sin, but Jesus is still our friend. He died for us, conquered death and saved us. He is our best friend. This is the message I want my girls to hear.

John Newton's hymn, One There Is, Above All Others, is provided at the end of the book.

Every child wants and needs friends. While most friends come and go in a child's life, there is one friend that will be a life-long companion wherever that child lives, plays, or goes to school. That constant friend is Jesus. This is the fundamental message in Noel Piper's charmingly written book for young children "Do You Want A Friend?". Wonderfully illustrated on every page by Gail Schoonmaker, this thoroughly entertaining picture book is an ideal and enthusiastically recommended addition to family and Sunday School library collections.

I am always looking for books that are a cut above to read to my grandchildren. I particularly like this book because it takes profound ideas and makes them understandable to even the very young. The carefully chosen words are blended with illustrations that bring them to life and shed light on our souls. I feel like I just want to give a hug to the little characters in this story.

I received this book from Crossway, and it is very cute. Written by Noel Piper, it's about a little boy who moves to a new place and has to start over finding friends. Thankfully he does so quickly and the rest of the book asks you questions and includes Scripture verses to answer those questions. Every answer points to Christ as our best friend. This book will be good to have in church libraries or children's areas. The illustrations are nicely done as well. It is geared for ages 3-7.

If you know a child who isn't familiar with Jesus, Do You Want a Friend? by Noel Piper (wife of author and preacher John Piper), is a nice way of making Christianity seem appealing to young children.

The picture book opens with a little boy sitting on a porch. He's just moved and he doesn't know anyone in the neighborhood. He yells out: "Friends! Friends!," hoping someone will apply for the position. Soon he has friends of all ages and descriptions. "Do you want a friend, too?" the author asks. "Do you want a friend who loves you? Do you want a friend who comforts you when you are sad or sick?" Who helps you be strong, who helps you know God, who makes you happy, who prays for you, who forgives you, who helps you do good?

"Maybe you have a lot of friends. But can any of them do ALL these things ALL the time? No. Jesus is the only friend who is everything we need. There is no friend like Jesus."

The author then explains that Jesus died for our sins and that he is "the best friend of all."

What I Like: Every page describing Jesus includes a quote and reference from the Bible to back up the claim. Throughout, colorful illustrations by Gail Schoonmaker show people of many ethnicities and abilities. On the last page of the book, the sheet music to "One There is, Above All Others" (vocal line only) is printed.

What I Dislike: The author's offers next to no explanation about why Jesus died on the cross and what that means for each of us. Do You Want a Friend? does a good job of making the idea of knowing Jesus appealing, but you will need another book to help explain why we need Jesus.

Overall Rating: Good.

Kristina Seleshanko, Managing Editor
Christian Children's Book Review