This simply written children’s picture book is based on author Daniel Darling’s adult version of his book The Characters of Christmas (Moody Publishers, 2019).
Darling begins by pointing out that, though there are many interesting stories children enjoy, the story of Jesus is the greatest story of all. As he introduces Abraham, Rahab, Ruth, David, Mary, Joseph, the shepherds and the wise men, he points out that Jesus was “born among unlikely people in an unlikely place” and that “God uses regular, ordinary people to do incredible things.”
As Darling shares God’s salvation plan, he explains that all the characters he introduces make up part of Jesus’s story. Then he makes a connection between Jesus’s story and his readers: “Would you believe that you can be part of Jesus’s story too? It’s true! No matter where you’re from, who you are, or what you do, you can play a role in the greatest story ever. You can be part of God’s family when you do like Mary did and believe Jesus paid for your sins, and when you do like the wise men did and bow down and worship Him as Lord.”
Darling concludes by inviting children to share the good news: “So, go! Like the shepherds, share the amazing story of our Savior, inviting even more unlikely characters to be part of the story too.”
Recommended as a devotional resource for Christian families and as a gift for children and their families who are curious about Jesus and his gospel of salvation. (Harvest Kids)
About the Author
Sonya VanderVeen Feddema is a freelance writer and a member of Covenant CRC in St. Catharines, Ontario.