A couple years ago, I read an op-ed in the paper where the author bemoaned how toy manufacturers always marketed their products as “educational.” Nowadays, it seems as if every dolly and digger needs some sort of salubrious rationale before a kid can play with it. What’s the problem with simply having fun? the author wondered. I share his concern, particularly when it comes to children’s publishing. When browsing for something to read to my kids, I have a hard finding much of anything that doesn’t bow to the educational impulse. There’s nothing wrong with learning, but I want them to enjoy the written word in and of itself. Of course, if every educational children’s book was as well presented as Nicole Lataif’s Forever You: A Book About Your Soul and Body, I don’t think I’d mind them one bit .
Forever You states its thesis (if one can use that term) right upfront:
Zebras have stripes.
Bunnies hop by.
Leopards have spots.
Birds fly.You have a soul.
Sounds simple, doesn’t it? It is—and it isn’t. What Lataif has done is create a primer for very young readers about Christian dualism. She starts off with our eternal existence (“Your soul is your spirit. / It’s the life in you that eyes can’t see. / Your soul will always be”). Then she discusses how the soul shines through in our talents and passions, our intellect and affections, and how it also animates our physical selves (“Your soul gives life to your body. / Use your legs to climb a tree. / Use your hands to bang the drums. / Use your arms to swing a bat”). Additionally, Forever You isn’t shy about addressing some pretty weighty theological topics. Your kids probably don’t know about dichotomism versus trichotomism, Gnosticism, soul creationism, glorification, and the resurrection of the dead, and even if though those strange words make them scrunch up their faces, by book’s end they’ll have an orthodox Christian understanding of all of them.
But you know what? Aside from all of that, Forever You is fun. Illustrator Mary Rojas alternates bright primaries with soft pastels as she portrays children doing things that kids do best. Playing with bunnies. Shaking tambourines. Building sandcastles. Spooning up ice cream. They’re a joy to look at, and you’ll probably recognize your own little ones in some of the drawings. Forever You never forgets the fundamental rule of writing for children: You have to delight as well as instruct.
(Picture: Copyright 2012 by Nicole Lataif; used under Fair Use)
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Given that (from what I can tell) most of Storywarren’s readership leans evangelical, I think I ought to mention that Forever You is published by Pauline Books & Media, a Roman Catholic publisher. That being said, I think it’s an excellent, ecumenically minded title, and that’s coming from the mouth — or, rather, keyboard — of a decidedly conservative Presbyterian.
Loren, your comment about the publisher actually helped me think better of the book. So many evangelical kids’ books are pure schlock. I’m suppose this may be true of Catholic books, too, but I’ve found many truly beautiful Catholic family resources that I’ve used with my kids over the years (even though I’m Presbyterian, too :). Thanks much for this review. I look forward to checking out this book.
Kimberlee, I remember having an interesting conversation with a Reformed seminary professor once. I asked him why so many praise songs were schlock and hymns had so much depth. He replied that there was just as much schlock in the hymns; the only difference was that (because they were older) time had winnowed off the bad ones until only the good stuff remained. I think a lot of that applies to publishers of all stripes and theological persuasions.
Now if only we could get Presbyterians to write better stories!
Hmmm…another excellent resource I need to look into…. Thanks!
Hope you like it! I sure di.
I had the privilege of editing Nicole Lataif’s book and will tell you that we made conscious decisions to present the human person in a way that was not only faithful to Catholic teaching, but accessible and not off-putting to Protestants and Evangelicals. Sure, there are differences, but they need not hinder us from teaching the foundations of Christian faith to young children. In this culture we need to emphasize what we share and build trust and solidarity among all who find salvation in Jesus Christ. The “grown-ups” page in Forever You has more information about the author’s motivation, and Pauline’s hopes, for this great little book. You may be interested that it is not the only Faith Foundations title we publish for children 4-8. Check out Shine: Choices to Make God Smile, by Genny Monchamp (one of our authors who is not Catholic). It encourages Christian virtue and the Fruit of the Spirit in a child’s daily life!
Jaymie, I was very glad that you and Nicole decided to make the book accessible for many different branches of Christianity. It deserves a wide readership.