Right before Easter I read The Flowering Cross by Beth Ryan to my daughters (4 and 2 years old). They loved the book, easily identifying with the little girl in the story. When Katie (the main character) was encouraged to love her neighbor (Papa Jack), an old man experienced the wonder of child-like faith and encountered the beauty of a risen Savior. It’s hard to beat that message, right?
As a parent, I loved the teachable moments/suggested spiritual truths to discuss with your child (Faith Imprint) although I would recommend highlighting different points over several reads since there are so many. Second, I loved the overall theme of the book. My daughters were provided a clear example of how to love people who may not seem lovable. So, as a way to spend quality time instilling biblical truth in your children, this book is wonderful. However, as a story, it reads very choppy and is more about loving your neighbor than about Easter. Honestly, there were moments when I thought I had skipped some pages. Beth Ryan’s The Flowering Cross is written so that each page presents a spiritual truth. Again, this enables great teachable moments (which are most valuable) but not a smooth read from page to page as a story (which young children won’t mind).
OVERALL: GREAT TEACHABLE MOMENTS, CHOPPY READ
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”