This nonfiction picture book teaches kids about putting their identity in what God says about them. The author emphasizes that even though people might mean or discouraging things about us, the person who gets to name something is the creator who made it. She teaches kids about different things that God says about us, like us being masterpieces, God's friends, and beloved children.

The illustrations are bright and colorful, and the text expresses ideas in a simple, kid-friendly way. I like that this book doesn't lean into metaphors or flowery writing, but teaches important truths in a straightforward way. Also, the author shares Bible verses at the end of the book, showing her sources for what God says about us. These Bible verses also share specific messages about Jesus.

This book will appeal to Christian families, and it's also a great read-aloud for Sunday school or Christian classroom contexts. This book is a great way to teach kids about how God sees them, building their self-esteem based on God's love instead of how others see them, or how they see themselves. This will also be especially meaningful for kids who have experienced harsh words and bullying in their relationships with other people.

The illustrations are lovely and the premise is good. I found the rhyming lovely but somewhat inconsistent (could be my accent though). I liked the bible references in the end. This is a thought provoking book that would probably fit well into a Religious Education curriculum.

Love how the words are integrated into the background—illustrations lovingly created by illustrator Liz Brizzi.

Author Hosanna Wong uses thoughtful rhyme to weave together a story of God’s love for us and the ways and reasons why.

Recommended for ages 4 to 8.

What God Says About You will be published August 26, 2025

Thank you to NetGalley, Tommy Nelson, Hosanna Wong (author), and Liz Brizzi (illustrator) for this free, advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you Netgalley for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for a honest review. I promise my review is 100% accurate to me.

Although I'm not the target audience, I was left feeling joy and loved after finishing the book. I also very much enjoyed that the Bible verses associated with the names were found in the back of the book. Very helpful

Wonderful children's book about who God is and who we are when we know Him. I absolutely loved this and would definitely think about gifting it to children in my life. Thanks to netgalley and Tommy Nelson Publishers for the advanced copy of this book. All thoughts are my own.

This was a beautifully illustrated book about the names God calls us.

I can’t wait to share it with my grandchildren.

I received an advance reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.

What God Says About You is a beautiful, rhyming picture book for children to boost self-esteem, self-worth, self-love and confidence for young children.
This would be a perfect book for classroom story time and discussion, as a bedtime story or to read with/to your child during times that are hard for them (e.g. if being bullied). There's much to take away from this book and I feel its one of those books that lifts your spirit and that you can take something new away from it with you each time you read it.
The illustrations are inclusive and diverse and are really sweet to look at throughout the story.

Sometimes, we all need to be reminded who we really are. The encouraging and affirming nature of this book provides just that, challenging children to push away negative messaging and comfort themselves in the beautiful things God says about them, and how His words will never change. Wong deliberately doesn't go inot detail about the nature of those negative messages; children will get the general idea of what they are and recognize the feelings associated with them. Instead, she focuses strongly on the counter-messages from Scripture, and how children can lean on those messages as a way to encourage themselves. I really liked the selection of Bible verses used to illustrate the point, with a mixture of ones that may be familiar to kids versus others that they may not have known about. The framing of said Scriptures will cause children to view themselves in a new way, while thinking about the myriad ways that God shows His love for them. There's a message of purposefulness and kindness that runs throughout the book that is reassuring for readers.

The illustrations are soft and clear, with bright colors and a variety of environments while showing a diverse range of children. It was a pleasure to see children with disabilities represented, and Brizzi shows the children in a constant state of joy by themselves and each other, secure in the knowledge of who and what they are. The language is clear without any extra embellishments, using definitive statements. The rhyming scheme doesn't always work; the story would have worked just as well were it written in free verse. The text was also hard to see on a few pages, particularly those with a dark background, and I do think that the book overall could benefit from a larger font. But this was a heartwarming read nonetheless, one that readers will enjoy gifting and sharing with others to help lift them up.



Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, Tommy Nelson, for this DRC in exchange for a fair and honest review. The thoughts and opinions expressed her are my own.

As a momma of four, this book is just the most precious thing out there. I love a great kids books that talks about God and this melts your heart!

You have a name that teachers call you, but sometimes people call you by a name that hurts. But
you are God's friend, you are chosen, God's masterpiece, his temple, his messenger, a child of God, greatly loved, free indeed, and brand new. 'With God as your friend, you are never alone'
The illustrations by Liz Brizzi are simple, perfect in bright colors, and joyful.
Well suited for reading WITH someone any age including ESL, and great for gifting to everyone, but especially to a school, waiting room, or your local public library. Pub Date Aug 26, 2025
I requested and received a temporary uncorrected readers' proof on Thorium PDF from Tommy Nelson via NetGalley. ***** review #bookbub #goodreads #storygraph @childrensbookcouncil
#WhatGodSaysAboutYou by @hosanna.wong and @illobylizzie #NetGalley @tommynelsonbooks #childrensbookillustration #kidlit #ParentingTools #BooksForKids #whatsinaname #Godlovesyou #ChildrensBooks #MindfulParenting

What a gem this book is for kids (and adults too!) of all ages!! It's filled with the beautiful truths and assurances of who we are as God's children, and contains a compilation of scripture at the end to support each identity named. With so much out there these days in the world of children's literature that is filled with garbage and lies to confuse kids, there needs to be more books like this!
The illustrations are also beautiful and include children of multiple races and various physical disabilities which I really appreciate.
I will read this one over and over with my kids and I trust God will use it to train them from a young age to rehearse these truths to themselves.

*I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review
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I received a copy of this eBook from netGalley for a honest review.

This picture book is a wonderful story about God's love for each of us. It gives us multiple ways to hear God's calling to us be loved in God's eyes always.

This book is sweet, but it's not the pleasure I'd like. Compared with books like those by Matthew Paul Turner and Glenys Nellist, it just lacks on artistic execution. The rhyme scheme and rhythm is inconsistent, but present enough to be distracting. I also don't love that it starts off with a message that others may not be kind, before pivoting to the truth of who God knows the child to be – we haven't even heard the good things yet, and that negativity sets the tone.

I really enjoyed What God Says About You by Hosanna Wong. It was well rooted in Scripture. While it was repetitive in the message, so children should have it grasped by the end of the book, it was also fresh with how many different ways Wong worked the message into the book. The illustrations were also beautiful. I received an eARC from Tommy Nelson through NetGalley. All opinions are 100% my own.

I loved the message in this book. It is rooted in scripture and has great reminders about who we are in God’s eyes. I feel like finding strong biblical books for the elementary age can be a challenge but this book fills in that gap a little more. Can’t wait to purchase it for my family!