*God’s Very Good Idea by Trillia Newbell and Catalina Echeverri

God’s design for diversity was beautiful from the beginning but marred by sin, requiring a Redeemer to rescue us from our mess.

*God’s Very Good Idea by Trillia Newbell, illustrated by Catalina Echeverri. The Good Book for Children, 2017. 32 pages.

Reading Level: Ages 4-8

Recommended For: Ages 4-8

What are your favorite ideas in history? Fireworks? Roller skates? Color TV? The Super Soaker? Mine would probably be chocolate chip cookies (I’m always trying to perfect the recipe!), or brownies. Those ideas are pretty good, but God’s ideas are phenomenal.

In the beginning, God planned beautiful diversity in all of creation. God made people in His image, “like mirrors, reflecting what God is like.” And they would all be full of love. God intended for the first man and woman to have a huge family and enjoy one another and His creation.

And we’re all different. Men, women, appearance, interests…no two of us are alike. Isn’t it wonderful?

Except we blew it. People chose NOT to love God, or each other. Yup, still the problem today. We ruined His beautiful idea of creating variety among people, and all of us need to be forgiven, no matter what we look like or what hobbies we enjoy.

The good news is, God wasn’t surprised that the people He made ruined His plans. He had already planned a rescue through Jesus. “Jesus loved people who were different than him. He loved people who no one else loved.”

Trillia Newbell expresses these ideas beautifully in God’s Very Good Idea, encouraging churches to enjoy fellowship in Christ with all our differences right now. I highly recommend adding this one to your home or church library.

Overall Rating: 5 out of 5

• Worldview/Moral Rating: 5 out of 5
• Literary/Artistic Rating: 5 out of 5

*indicates starred review

Related Reading From Redeemed Reader

• Lily: The Girl Who Could See by Sally Oxley and Tim Ladwig
• Why Your Church Nursery Needs a Library
• To Speak of What’s Good: Positive Developments in Children’s Publishing

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God’s Very Good Idea is also available from The Good Book Company.