Starting with the concept of dreams as “powerful tools… [that] often lead us to areas in our lives to which we might not otherwise venture,” Pitts first retells Jesus’s earthly mother Mary’s dream, in which the angel Gabriel informed her that she would “conceive and bring forth a son, and you shall call his name Yeshua.” From there, Pitts launches into Jesus’s childhood, young adulthood, and early miracles, eventually moving on to his crucifixion and resurrection. He recaps the stories in chronological fashion, deviating somewhat from the order of their biblical presentation, to offer a narrative “more readily understood by novice readers.”
Pitts’s writing is easy to follow, showcasing an uncomplicated message with illustrations of the stories’ events sprinkled throughout. Specific Bible verses kick off each section, and Pitts recommends anyone who wishes to “delve deeper into the story” follow up with a biblical volume of the New Testament. Pitts is careful to maintain a welcoming tone throughout, and he includes stories that consider the other people in Jesus’s life—his earthly parents, disciples, and the people he was sent to teach and lead. This is an appealing introductory Christian debut that captures Jesus’s teachings of kindness, love, and fellowship.
Takeaway: Illustrated life of Jesus for young readers, emphasizing love.
Comparable Titles: Marc Olson's The World Jesus Knew, Sally Lloyd-Jones's The Jesus Storybook Bible.
Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: B
Illustrations: A-
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A-
