Author Jaime C. Finn is the founder and president of Foster the Family, a U.S.-based national nonprofit that serves vulnerable children and the foster families with whom they find shelter, and other initiatives to assist foster families. God Loves Kids is based on her experiences as a foster parent and an adoptive mother.
Illustrator Juliana Oakley’s bright, enthusiastic pictures capture the joyful truth that God loves kids and always wants what is best for them. Finn explains, “He loves them so much that he makes them in his image, carefully knits their bodies together with his hands, and writes their stories in his book. He loves them so much that he made a really good plan for them.” Finn adds that God’s plan includes that every child will grow up in a loving family.
Oakley’s artwork takes on a darker hue to portray the consequences of sin for children and the families into which they are born. In an age-sensitive way, Finn shares what that brokenness might look like, but, encouragingly, she adds how God works through churches, social workers, judges, foster families, and other helpers to help children process trauma and provide the safety and love they need to flourish. Finn explores the feelings with which foster children and their foster parents might struggle and encourages them to feel free to express those emotions.
Finn concludes her book with the story of Jesus’ death on the cross, his resurrection, and his victory over sin and death. She assures children that “the gospel can make the broken world whole. The gospel can fix broken families. The gospel can forgive broken people. The gospel can heal broken hearts.”
God Loves Kids is a wonderful resource for foster families and for the purpose of teaching children in any situation to be sensitive to kids who are in foster care.
(Baker Books)
About the Author
Sonya VanderVeen Feddema is a freelance writer and a member of Covenant CRC in St. Catharines, Ontario.