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| Convergent Children's Books ISBN: 9780593580660 Hardcover - Ages 3-7 |
My thoughts: As school nears closure for another academic year and children's attention turns to summer activities including participating in softball and baseball team sports in their area, excitement builds. Boys and girls alike love the fun and the challenge of this; and they desire praise and support from their parents and family as they, hopefully, hit a home run or baseline hit.
Young Isaiah Johnson is no different. He was excited about this big game with his team's rivals and his part in the game for his team. He was excited, too, because his family was there to see him play. But his father has not yet arrived.
The story goes on with Isaiah's dad showing up a bit late, but he did show. He asks his son's forgiveness for being at work "when he should have been at the game." Personally, I don't think the son needs to forgive the father for being at work instead of the child's ball game. That is, unless the father promised to be there or unless the father deliberately stayed at work when he had free time to be at the game. Not all fathers can get off work to attend a child's ball game, etc. However, it is wonderful when fathers can be available to watch their child in their growing up activities - ball games, recitals, school or church plays.
The lesson taught and learned that day on the ball field is well explained in the story, and it is a lesson well learned. We forgive and we are forgiven. The author explains forgiveness and explains God's forgiveness of us as well as our forgiveness of others. I think, too, that parents need to realize that they, as adults, need to seek their children's forgiveness when the parent's actions need to be acknowledged and forgiven. A good lesson for children and parents is taught in the story.
The illustrations are bright, cheerful, and show family participation. The illustrations are digitally created by Emmanuel Boateng (*see more about artist below).
About the book: Isaiah Johnson and the Big Game is a thoughtful picture book for ages 3-7 about how we all need forgiveness—even parents—with illustrations by Emmanuel Boateng. Isaiah's baseball team has made it to the championships, and he's up to bat! When his dad shows up late, he apologizes for his absence and asks for Isaiah's forgiveness. But Isaiah is still hurt and isn't sure if he can forgive.
Readers who loved McCaulley's previous titles featuring the Johnsons—Josey Johnson's Hair and the Holy Spirit (a finalist for the Jerry Pinkney Children's Book Award) and Andy Johnson and the March for Justice—will delight in this latest installment about the loving and close-knit family who tackle answering big questions with care, intention, and faith. As a dad who's made plenty of mistakes himself, Esau McCaulley has crafted a biblically-informed story that offers plenty of avenues for discussion on the power of forgiveness.
About the Author: Esau McCaulley is the Jonathan Blanchard Associate Professor of New Testament and Public Theology at Wheaton College and the pastor of All Saints Anglican Church in Naperville, Illinois. He hosts the Esau McCaulley Podcast for Holy Post Media, and is the author of numerous books, including How Far to the Promised Land: One Black Family’s Story of Hope and Survival in the American South, Reading While Black, and the children’s books Josey Johnson’s Hair and the Holy Spirit and Andy Johnson and the March for Justice. A contributing opinion writer for The New York Times, McCaulley has also been published in The Atlantic, The Washington Post, and Christianity Today.
About the Illustrator: Emmanuel Boateng, popularly known as Mind of El, is a Ghanaian self-taught digital artist. He was born and raised in the city of Kumasi in the Ashanti region. Emmanuel has created artwork for a variety of British and African celebrities, but now focuses all his attention on doing illustrations for children's books.
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