Teach children that genuine repentance and faith in Jesus leads to a transformed life.
Part of the Tales that Tell the Truth series.
Zacchaeus was very short, very rich and not very happy, but his encounter with Jesus changed everything.
In response to the grace Jesus showed him, Zacchaeus was transformed from the inside out. He repented, treasured Jesus above everything else, and showed kindness and generosity to others like never before.
Use this story to teach children that only following Jesus will make them truly happy and fulfilled, and that genuine repentance and faith is demonstrated by loving others.
| Age range: | 3+ |
|---|---|
| Contributors | Carl Laferton, Catalina Echeverri |
| ISBN | 9781784989934 |
| Format | eBook |
| First published | June 2024 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | The Good Book Company |
I love this book, and I love the story of Zacchaeus. We need to give every child this story to show them that Jesus came for every child. As you read this with your kids, they’ll see and feel what a joy it is to belong to Jesus.
I am grateful for books that help bring the true story of the Bible into the everyday spaces of a child’s life. This does that so wonderfully well!
The story of Zacchaeus is a wonderful story of the changed heart and life that believing the gospel requires and that trusting in Jesus brings. Carl Laferton has done a wonderful job of communicating these truths to children and parents. Make sure to add this book to your collection of Tales That Tell the Truth!
This is another book in the Tales That Tell The Truth series. They have several books and I've had the opportunity to read many of them. They are wonderful short stories for young kids that recount powerful people and events throughout the Bible.
This particular story dives into Zacchaeus and his journey to meeting Jesus. Laferton does a great job recounting the biblical story in an engaging, simplistic way that young readers will enjoy. He then relates Zacchaeus' choices and characteristics to our daily lives. We, too, make choices that are unwise and disobedient but God desires more for us just as he did for Zacchaeus. He even includes a short, simple prayer for children to pray when they have realized their need for Jesus.
Laferton concludes the book with an additional explanation on how we know about Zacchaeus. He references the Scripture passage of Luke 18:31-33 and goes into more detail regarding his repentance, Jesus' forgiveness, and the command for all of us to repent and believe in the good news.
The illustrations are, of course, just as wonderful as all the other books.
This is a great book for young children to supplement their Scripture reading.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
While I am not huge on a lot of the books I have read from Carl Laferton, this might be my favorite from him. A lot of his books seem very well loved, but I feel like he doesn't always present the Bible stories with clarity and takes some liberties with the stories.
What I liked about this one:
Firstly, the illustrations were eye catching to me! I really loved the color choices and fun depictions (especially of the peacock). I also liked that he seemed to stick closely to the story of Zacchaeus and shows children how Jesus really changed him by showing him kindness even though he was a sinner and not liked by others. I also appreciate the last part of the book that shares with children how they are in need of Jesus and how all we can do is say "Thank you Jesus. I'm sorry that I have not always obeyed you. I want to live with you as my Lord. I would love to be your friend."
What I disliked:
There is a sense I got from the book that it is focused on what Jesus does for us to make us happy. It doesn't really explain to kids that following Jesus will be hard at times or that finding forgiveness in Christ gives us peace with God. The author does state that when you are a follower of Jesus, "You can be happy deep down inside because you know the Lord Jesus loves you. And you can be kind and you can live how Jesus says because, more than anything, you love Jesus."
I just feel like this is missing elements of what it really means to be a believer. I think that in the attempt to be more understandable to children, it has lost some of the important detail of what being a follower of Jesus is all about.
I am still giving this book 4 stars though because overall I enjoyed it.
Note: there are depictions of Jesus.
Thank you @thegoodbookcompanyusa for a copy of this book for my honest thoughts!
We LOVE this series of storybooks at our church as they're not too simplistic for older primary school children but they aren't too difficult for younger children. The illustrations are very expressive and clear, and they're accompanied by a really simple but engaging retelling of the story of Zacchaeus. This would make an excellent present for a child/grandchild/godchild or an addition for your church kids' library!
