"Do YOU want to meet my best friend?"
The McDougal twins are excited to meet their new neighbor, Abby, who has just moved in next door. Poor Abby is sad that she had to leave her friends behind when she moved. To cheer her up, the twins lead Abby on a crazy hunt to meet their best friend--one that can go anywhere they go. But first Abby has to find it! With plenty of quirkiness and delightful illustrations by Sarah Horne, this picture book has an important message about how and why the Bible can be the best friend we have.
Meet My Best Friend is the first title in the new The Bible Is My Best Friend brand by best-selling author Sheila Walsh.
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About the Author
Sheila Walsh is a powerful Bible teacher and best-selling author from Scotland with over 5 million books sold. Her international ministry has reached more than 5.5 million women by combining honesty, vulnerability, and humor with the transforming power of God’s Word. Calling Texas home, Sheila lives in Frisco with her husband, Barry, her son, Christian, and three little dogs. You can reach her at braveheartsisterhood.com.
Sarah Horne grew up in Derbyshire, England, where she spent much of her childhood scampering in the nearby fields with a few goats. Then she decided to be sensible and studied illustration at Falmouth College of Arts and gained a Masters degree at Kingston University. Now into her fourteenth year as an illustrator, Sarah lives in London and specializes in funny, inky illustrations and words for children’s books.
My Thoughts
As I thought about how to write this review, I struggled with my feelings on the book. While I enjoyed almost every part of the book, there was one thing that caught my attention and made me unsure of how I felt about it. To be honest, I actually thought this book was going to be a book about how to be kind to others. While that was an element to the book it wasn't the main theme.
First off I want to start with all the positives this book has to offer. It is very well illustrated with cute, kind of crazy art work that is sure to make kids excited to read it. I also enjoyed the two dogs the twins in the book had as pets. They were quirky and talked to each other throughout the book while the children were playing together. I also liked that the children were very open to being a friend to someone new to their neighborhood. The twins in the book are friendly and want to make their new neighbor feel welcome.
With all of these positives in the book it is hard for me to say that there was something I had a problem with. This book is the story of twins Emma and Liam. They meet a new friend Abby, who is new to their neighborhood. They decide to play the Hot and Cold game with Abby to show her who their best friend is. When the game is finished Abby learns that the twins' best friend is the Bible. Now to most this doesn't seem like a bad thing. The Bible is an awesome book! It's powerful and can teach us about Christ and about how we should act and live. But, the Bible isn't our best friend. Jesus is our best friend. Now all that being said, I do understand where Sheila was trying to go with this and I understand that she is trying to encourage children to read their Bible and study it. But I feel if you don't give Jesus his place then others can fill in the gaps with what they feel is good. While the end of this book puzzled me somewhat, I am not discouraging you from buying it. If it does indeed cause children and parents to read and study the Bible, that is an awesome thing. I just want all readers aware to make up their own minds.
I received this book from the B&H blogger program in exchange for my review. A positive review was not required.
My twins would love this.
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