Max Lucado's "Coming Home": new children's book!

 

 

    Twin brothers Arion and Argo are scared. They have spent most of their lives shipwrecked on the lonely, gray island of Terrene with their ship's captain, and now he is leaving and they cannot imagine life on Terrene without him. He is going to Bluestone, a place where the birds always sing and the grass is ever green. He tells them he is going to prepare a place for them in Bluestone. Then he will come back for them, and they will all go to Bluestone together.

    Though Bluestone sounds like a wonderful place, the boys find it difficult to wait for the captain on Terrene. The island is so gray that it is hard for them to imagine the vibrant colors of Bluestone. Soon they grow tired of watching and waiting for their captain, and it is hard for them to remember his voice. Can they really believe that he will come back for them? To do so they must have faith-they must see with their hearts, not their eyes.

    Will the captain really come back for Arion and Argo like he promised? And will the boys be ready for his return?

Are you familiar with Max Lucado?

    Max Lucado has been a pastor, speaker, and author since, well, before I graduated from high school!  I've heard him preach on the radio, and as a family, we've enjoyed some of his many books together.  He is an author who writes with purpose.  Even his children's books aren't written to be "fluffy" and meaningless.  Each page has definite meaning and purpose, and I love this!  If I wrote children's books, this is the style in which I would write them!

    Most importantly, Max Lucado's books point people to God in a way that makes a person really ponder and meditate.

About the author, Max Lucado:

    Max’s writings have been published in a wide array of formats including adult books, gift books, children’s titles, Bibles, commentaries, calendars and devotionals. He is also the author/creator of “Max Lucado’s Hermie & Friends” brand family, one of the most popular animated DVD series in the marketplace, with more than 5 million units sold to date. His words have also inspired a branded line of greeting cards and gift books for Hallmark/Dayspring that has sold more than 15 million copies since its 2001 debut.  He is currently serving as a contributing editor for Leadership Journal magazine.

    Max Lucado is a Minister of Preaching at Oak Hills Church in San Antonio,where he has served since 1988. He has been married to Denalyn Preston Lucado since 1981, and they have three grown daughters—Jenna, Andrea and Sara—and one son-in-law, Brett.

Here's a list of just the CHILDREN'S books that Max Lucado has written.  I think this is impressive!  (The titles in bold are books that either our family owns or has read from our church library):

• Just in Case You Ever Wonder
• Tell Me the Story
• Tell Me the Secrets
• The Children of the King
• The Crippled Lamb
• The Song of the King
• Alabaster’s Song
• You Are Special
• Jacob’s Gift
• Because I Love You
• Just the Way You Are
• All You Ever Need
• Small Gifts in God’s Hands
• With You All the Way
• You Are Mine
• He Chose You
• If I Only Had a Green Nose
• Best of All
• Just Like Jesus for Teens
• Hermie:  A Common Caterpillar

• A Hat For Ivan
• Flo, The Lyin’ Fly
• Punchinello and the Most Marvelous Gift
• Punchinello, One of a Kind
• Webster, The Scaredy Spider
• Lucia and the Razzly Dazzly Wemberry Pies
• The 12 Bugs of Christmas
• A Fruitcake Christmas
• The Way Home:  A Princess Story
• Stanley The Stink Bug
• Your Special Gift
• The Oak In The Acorn
• Coming Home
• Milo The Mantis Who Wouldn’t Pray
• You! God’s Brand New Idea
• Buzby and The Grumble Bees
• Tallest of the Smalls
• One Hand, Two Hands
• Thank You, God, for Loving Me (Hermie)
• Thank You, God, for Blessing Me (Hermie)
• God Listens When I Pray (Hermie)

    We've enjoyed every single Max Lucado book we've ever read.  He often writes about heaven in terms that children can understand. 

    Coming Home is 32 pages filled with beautiful artwork and text.  Here are two samples, but please note that these are not quite as vibrant as the actual book pages' colors:

    The biblical message found within the 32 pages of Coming Home is that Jesus has returned to heaven, is building a heavenly home for us there, and will return for us in the future to bring us to heaven with Him.  It is a delightful picture of the emotions a child or an adult will go through when choosing to wait and follow Christ or decide to choose a worldly lifestyle and not follow Christ. 

    It would be nice to have a family library full of Max Lucado's books!  In handing down our Christian faith to our children, it is a blessing to be able to surround them with biblical, thoughtful books to help renew their minds and then their hearts.

    I thoroughly enjoyed reading through this short but beautiful book.  I know you'll enjoy Coming Home, too! 

    Do you have a favorite biblical children's author or set of titles that you enjoy sharing with your children or grandchildren?

Julieanne
Joy In Our Journey.com

I was provided with one hardbound copy of Coming Home in exchange for my honest review of this book.  No other compensation was provided.

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