Write2Ignite

Wild Faith Devotional for Kids is written by Valerie Ellis, illustrated by Jen Bricking, and published by WaterBrook, an imprint of the Penguin Random House Christian Publishing Group. This is a beautiful devotional, and, depending on who you ask, it is recommended for children 4-12 years old. I personally recommend it for ages 5-100. It is that good.

Review

Do your kids/grandkids love animals? If yes, they will be in heaven with this devotional. But, even if you’re not sure, I think they (and you too) will love this. It is so creatively done. Valerie and the people at WaterBrook have done their homework and then some. I loved how they combined the beautiful illustrations by Jen Bricking and photography. When completed by your child, this devotional can easily become a special childhood keepsake.

There are 52 devotionals, so it’s perfect to use once a week if you’re a busy parent or, if you’re like me, a grandma who plans to do one devotional a week with her grandchildren. They are even short enough that you can do one over a FaceTime call.

Remember how I said it was so creatively done? Here’s an example: one of the entries, entitled Shining Inside and Out, was on a Comb Jelly. Valerie uses the verses Matthew 5:14,16 (NIV):  “You are the light of the world… Let your light so shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”

Valerie tells first about the Comb Jelly and how on the surface it creates a rainbow effect, but in the depths of the ocean, it glows a bright blue or green, shining in the darkness. She expounds, then goes on to connect that thought with a Bible concept – we have a light that shines in the darkness, and it’s Jesus!

Besides the devotion itself, each entry has a short “Make it Stick” section where the child (or adult) is prompted do something to reinforce what they’ve learned. On the Comb Jelly story, there is a fill-in-the-blank of the featured verse.

After that is a “Live it Out” section that might ask a question, suggest scripture for memorization, or ask kids to reflect on how they can apply what they’ve learned this week.

And, lastly, there is a “Fun Fact” about each animal. For instance, did you know a Comb Jelly is not a jellyfish? You may have. I didn’t. But I bet you didn’t know they poop differently! You’ll have to get the book to find out how. Haha. The kids (and silly grandmas) will love this one.

I wholeheartedly recommend Wild Faith.

In Case You Missed It…

Wild Faith was released last fall, and our very own Sue Irwin shared her interview with Valerie on the blog. You really should check it out here.

Barb Seregi is a Christ-follower from Kansas City. She is a mother of two and grandmother of four. Years ago, after completing Priscilla Shirer’s Bible study on the Armor of God, all she could think of was the different armor pieces and what each meant. Those pieces gave her a confidence she’d never had. One evening, while reading picture books to her friend’s kids (the real Oliver and Hazel), she excitedly imagined how the Armor of God could give kids confidence, too. So, after many prayers and support from family and friends, Barb launched the book series (each book highlights one piece of Armor) to teach kids the concept of putting on the full Armor of God while still young. She hopes that knowing what the Armor does will give them the confidence when facing trials she wished she would have had!