On board books, big theology, and hitting the mark:
One of the tragedies of no longer having toddlers in the house is that I no longer have anyone to read board books to. Which makes it hard to justify buying board books—but do I let that stop me? Of course not. We have babies and toddlers over often enough to warrant keeping a few good board books on hand, right? Perhaps board books I can then gift to some of our toddler friends?
That is how I justified buying Ox Lion Eagle Man, even though everybody in our house is way above the target age for it. And yet I found my teenage daughters reading it and laughing aloud; I found my eight-year-old poring over the illustrations, giggling.
They’re right to giggle, of course—the illustrations are delightful. But they’re also filled with good theology, as this unassuming little book traces some big images through Scripture and shows how each one connects to Jesus. What appears to be a charming, Boyton-esque romp sweeps one out swiftly into deep theological waters without ever losing sight of the shore.
Ox Lion Eagle Man possesses that rare magic of the best board books: it appeases the restless toddler, yes, but it invites older readers in, too. This book aims high—and it hits the mark.
This article first appeared on thearosenburg.substack.com.
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