Love Does for Kids

Bob Goff is known for sharing about love and motivating others to love one another well. So it's great that he and his daughter wrote a children's book for kids. My first surprise was, a wonder, do I like this book even better than the version for grown ups? And I think my answer is yes. The tone of the stories, the integration of how Jesus and God fit into every type of experience and stories from the Bible seem more connected, more frequent, and deeper in this book. It totally could be me, but this book is amazing.

The illustrations are warm and beautiful. The book is 224 pages. It releases October 23. It's been a while since I read Love Does- but it seems to me that this kids version seems to be more directly connected to the Word of God and who God is, how He shows himself through His Son Jesus, and how it affects our lives.

His daughter, Lindsey, is an elementary teacher and the book shares many stories and experiences from Love Does with a whimsical flavor.

What I liked about the book

warm, child friendly colorful illustrations.
references to different bible stories and events.
Love makes the difference message connected to a message of God's work and love.
Chapters are short, quick, focused reads.
People of different races are depicted in the images.
Bob Goff's attitude and mindset is one that the world needs to emulate, and somehow he gave it to his children with such a spirit of love and joy, it seems natural, and I wonder why all of us can't always be this open minded, and open to seeing the world as a group of our friends.


What I wondered about the book

why not share or link the references to the biblical concepts. I really like the for further study or connections that some authors do.
transitions between stories were abrupt feeling at times, but the book is about love, not a sequential life story, and as the book moves on the pattern appears.
Some stories seem unbelievable- but then again the way the Goff's approach things is counter cultural- and that makes these unbelievable stories- all that much more believable.

How I might use the book:

To discuss how mindset affects everything.
To teach a lesson on how we see someone, an event, our neighbors- is all an opportunity for fun, ministry, and inclusion, instead of a mindset of that's impossible, that won't work, etc. The can do attitude developed by the Goff's is biblically driven and that's why it works.
One chapter teaches the definition of restore and justice- so a lesson intro or background info for a topic that uses one or both of those works- this could be a great hook.
Pick a chapter and use is as a writing prompt- share a similar experience you have had.
Pick a definition or connection to God and seek out verses from the Bible that show that this concept is true- or contain the same phrases. If you can't find a verse- is there a hymn, a teaching, or someplace you've understood the same concept about who God is, and how He loves us, gives us grace, and helps us?
As a read aloud in a Sunday School class, lecture, family, it would work in many scenarios.
Discussing character development, inferences, visualizing, connections, things all great readers use to comprehend a story, as well as some solid analytical skills.
Inspiration and encouragement for what a God centered, love driven mindset can do for a person. Growth-God mindset.

I love the fact that the author took time to make his book appropriate for children. Parents cand read the same book as their child and discuss it! The illustrations are great and the text is child appropriate!