CHILDREN’S BOOKS: Communicating powerful truths to the younger generation at their level

BY MARILYN LARGENT, vice president of sales, David C Cook

A young boy wants to give Jesus a gift. But how can he do that when Jesus is in heaven? In Ronnie Wilson’s Gift, children learn that helping others in need is a way of serving Jesus Himself. It’s a truth kids hear in other forms—but perhaps it makes its biggest impact through story.

We were thrilled to win the 2012 Retailers Choice Award for Ronnie Wilson’s Gift by Francis Chan and Jim Madsen. It’s no coincidence that this story is touching so many children and their parents. After all, Jesus Himself communicated truth through story!

From a retail perspective, modern-day parables continue to sell well in the children’s market. The demand for high-quality illustrations is high, and publishers and retailers alike are seeing how children learn through visual art—such as Jago’s and Cory Godbey’s stunning illustrations—as well as the written word.

This is one of the reasons graphic novels continue to soar in both the Christian and general markets. At Cook, we see great sales of The Action Bible, which won a Retailers Choice Award in 2011. Graphic novels are especially popular among boys—a hard demographic to reach.

We also see a trend in emphasizing the whole of Scripture for kids, not just singled-out Bible stories. Sally Lloyd-Jones’ The Jesus Storybook Bible (Zonderkidz) and Michelle Anthony’s The Big God Story (David C Cook), for instance, show how God’s plan of redemption has been evident from the beginning of time. Books like these help children see their place in God’s story from the Old Testament through the New Testament and beyond.

We’re also watching as authors of adult books, such as Chan, Kay Arthur (Harvest House Publishers) and Sheila Walsh (Thomas Nelson), take their message to young people. One thing that’s so important to these authors is that their message is not “dumbed down,” but rather is put in language that engages kids. In fact, that’s a clear difference we’ve seen in children’s books over the years: Publishers and stores realize that kids need and deserve thoughtful books that are at their learning level, but are still powerful in the truths they communicate.

One of the great things about being involved in producing books for children is that we see how these parables, visual representations and straightforward ideas speak to adults as well. We come to see that children are really the ideal readers for stories with ultimate meaning—and we often learn the most through the eyes of a child.

So, as you put books into the hands of little ones, be encouraged with the truth that you are making a difference in their lives. These are not just stories, drawings or cute thoughts. Jesus said we are to receive His kingdom as little children. The simple yet profound words and illustrations of kids’ literature today remind us that often faith starts in the pages of a children’s book.

David C Cook published Francis Chan’s Ronnie Wilson’s Gift, which received the 2012 Retailers Choice Award for Children’s Fiction.

• Prev
• Next