17. We Are Home When We Are Together: Trusting God Through Life's Changes. Jean Stoffer and Grace Start. Illustrated by Megan Lindsey. 2026. 32 pages. [Source: Library] [3 stars, Christian picture book, moving]
First sentence: "An exciting change is coming," says Mom,
"a change bigger than the weather.
And just in case you don't remember,
we are home when we're together.
"Families move from time to time
from one place to another.
They pack their things, head on their way,
and PLANT NEW ROOTS together.
"God is calling our family
to move to a different home.
"We chart our course.
We plan our steps,
but HE makes them His own."
If this wasn't a Christian book written by I'm assuming Christian authors and published by a Christian publishing house, then I probably wouldn't be as generous in giving it three stars.
Not every picture book needs to rhyme. Join me in saying it again, not every picture book needs to rhyme. If you don't understand even a smidgen about rhythm, then it's best you don't write in rhyme. This book lacks rhythm. It painfully lacks rhythm. If it wasn't trying to rhyme, rhythm wouldn't even be an issue at all.
The forced rhyming--which is unnecessary--also keeps the conversation (the dialogue) from having any natural flow to it. Is it important for dialogue to sound natural???? I will say when dialogue sounds more natural, more true to life, more authentic then it is less distracting to the reader. It just feels right.
The premise of this one is simple. A family is moving. The parents--mom does most of the talking, I think--want their children to know that moving can be a great thing, a wonderful thing, a God-thing. The message isn't a bad one. In fact, if it wasn't trying so hard to rhyme, forcing the rhyme into dialogue where it doesn't fit or belong, the message would be more impactful. I do like seeing families pray together in books.
The three stars is not because I disagree with the Christian message. It is not because I dislike Christian books for children. It is not because I want to keep God out of picture books. None of those things are true. I just wish that the book didn't try so hard. Relax with the narrative.
18. You Always Belong: Knowing God's Love and Finding Your Place. Jinger Duggar Vuolo and Jeremy Vuolo. Illustrated by Sara Romero. 2026. 32 pages. [Source: Library] [picture book, 4 stars]
First sentence: Look all around you--what do you see?
A world filled with wondrous things,
Like oceans and mountains and big hairy beasts
And colorful creatures with wings.
And there at the center is little ol' you--
God's greatest creation by far.
Created to be part of his family,
Made to be loved just as you are.
If this one was a song instead of a picture book, the chorus would be, "You were made to be part of God's story, a beautiful note in his song. So let his light shine as you walk through the world, and remember....you always belong.
You Always Belong is another rhyming book. Is it made better by the rhyming? I wouldn't go so far as that. BUT it does manage to a fair, decent, respectable job with creating rhythm with the rhymes.
This one has dozens of little insights that might be just what a child needs to hear in that moment. In some ways, it is "another" picture book about self-confidence, self-esteem, about building up one's sense of self. HOWEVER, I think this one differs in that while it does do that to a certain extent, God is never far away. God is not pushed completely to the side of self. The message is we are made IN GOD'S IMAGE. We are GOD'S CREATION. We are CHILDREN OF GOD. We were created to do God's work in this world--to be his HANDS and his FEET. We were meant to shine as a light in this world TO POINT OTHERS TO JESUS CHRIST. So while there are a few lines here and there that might be misunderstood as puffing up egos because you are the most awesome thing ever and God is in awe of you. I think taken as a whole, the message works for the most part. HUMANITY was made in the image of God. And every single person has VALUE and WORTH and should be treated with kindness, respect, love, compassion.
One small insight that I loved was when a girl is being laughed at, and the rhyme goes, "Remember that God isn't laughing. He's there by your side day and night. So say a quick prayer...and trust in the Lord...that he will make everything right."
That is just one of many insights in how to live the Christian life as a child.
Readers should know this is a Christian book with a Christian message. It is written by a Duggar, yes, but shouldn't be bought for that reason. And the reverse is also true. Completely ignore who the author is and judge the book by what it is.
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