Title: When I am Afraid Jesus Calms the Storm
Series: God Cares
Author: Debbie Duncan
Publishers: Lion Hudson Books and Candle Books
Format: Ebook
Pages:48
Genres: Religious, Non-Fiction, Children’s, Picture Books, Mental Health
Rating: 4/5
Release Date: 17th April 2020
Where To Buy: Amazon UK, Wordery, Book Depository
Summary: An illustrated reader retelling the story of Jesus’ friends being afraid in the storm even though Jesus was in the boat with them. But God cares and Jesus woke up and told the storm to be still. A reassuring story to help young children talk to parents or those who care for them about their fears, when they are afraid, and that Jesus is always with them.
The ‘God cares’ series provides a Biblical approach to discussing emotions and behaviour with children to nurture an attitude of wellness. Children at different ages approach things differently in their stages of emotional development, so this series works at two different levels: illustrated Readers aimed at 6-8 year olds and Chapter books aimed at 8+ years.
Please note that children progress at different reading abilities and stages of emotional development so the age ranges are only a guide for parents and carers.
The Bible stories are retold reflecting on the emotions and encourages children to discuss and relate this within their situations. Sections at the back provide a reflective space for children and practical advice for parents and carers.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Lion Hudson for the e-arc copy to read and review.
Review: This was a very short but very sweet book. I loved that the author took the biblical story and made it firstly easy for younger children to understand but also wrote it in a way that explains the people in the stories feeling during everything they were going through.
In this particular book Jesus was tired after so many people being around him, he just wanted to sleep and finally found the time too, but then his friends got incredibly scared on the boat and had to wake him up. Though he was there with them they forgot.
While showing in this book that even Jesus felt exhausted emotionally sometimes, it also showed that his friends got scared, that they needed him and the reminder of him to calm down. This book offers a wonderful helping hand to anyone wanting to teach about God, who believes in God or who wants to find an easy way to talk about being Scared with a child. It’s got questions asked through it and it has sections for adults to use to engage in conversation about it.
It was such a sweet read, the pictures were so vibrant and beautiful, it offers so much for such a short book. I really enjoyed getting to read it and it’s a wonderful book for young children.
About Author: Debbie Duncan is an advanced nurse practitioner and lecturer in nursing; a church leader and minister’s wife. She is married to Malcolm and has a busy family life that includes being mum to their four grown up children. The family is ever growing with weddings and engagements! She is an author of over 50 professional nursing journal articles and two text books in nursing. She co- author of Life lines with Cathy Le Feuvre- a novel of emails between friends. She has also written ‘The art of daily resilience’ and ‘Brave’, courage through the seasons of our lives published by Lion Monarch. Debbie writes on a range of issues that often reflect her professional life and personal faith. With an MSC in strategic leadership and expert practice, lead nurse in the NHS for many years and church leader she is in a good position to write Gifted.
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