Happy Friday, friends!
Today I’m excited to bring you my review of a new children’s book that celebrates diversity – God Made Me and You by Shai Linne (illustrated by Trish Mahoney).
About the Book
This beautifully illustrated children’s book invites kids to explore God’s design for ethnic diversity and challenges readers—both parents and children—to learn and live out counter-cultural, biblical views, fostering a lifelong celebration of diversity for the glory of God. Designed for four- to eleven-year-olds, God Made Me and You by Shai Linne is the second book in the God Made Me series, starting with God Made All of Me by Justin and Lindsey Holcomb.
Because Scripture teaches that ethnic diversity is not something that should be tolerated but rather enthusiastically embraced, Christian hip hop artist Shai Linne helps children, parents, and caregivers to celebrate this biblical truth through a lyrical, rhyming style and colorful illustrations.
God Made Me and You is an approachable guide for families to begin conversations about cultivating God’s perspective on ethnic diversity, confronting the sins of racism, bigotry, and ethnic pride.
Because children learn from family members, media, or peers, parents and caretakers have a responsibility to teach their children what God has to say about the beauty of diversity in his image-bearers, with a particular focus on ethnic diversity.
This colorful and compelling children’s book serves as a resource and lifelong gift for children and parents, helping families understand diversity from a biblical perspective and with a clear picture of the beauty and glory of God.
My Thoughts
First, I have to mention the illustrations in this sweet lesson-in-a-story. Bright, colorful, adorable, and full of diversity of all kinds! Kids of all skin colors, kids from other countries, kids with braces & hearing aids & wheelchairs & crutches & birthmarks. Everywhere you look there are examples of the beauty of God’s creative design. If you have a child who says “there are never any characters who look like me” you can probably find one in this book.
“Dark skin, light skin, and all in between / In each color and shade, God’s beauty is seen.”
Second, the text. The words are written in a delightful rhyming cadence that pulls children – and adults – into the story. The classroom setting starts off with an all-too-common scene of children teasing other children for their differences. This is a great approach because it allows children to identify with either being teased or being the one doing the teasing – or being the one who stands up for the teased. As the teacher arrives and sees what has been going on, she is able to redirect the narrative into a lesson on celebrating our differences as part of the beauty of God’s creation.
“There’s no sin in heaven, / no hating each other, / Just love from the heart / for our sisters and brothers.”
Scripture verses are woven throughout (in rhyme, of course), including one of my faves from Revelation 7. Biblical truth is on every page, giving children and adults gentle reminders of God’s design and how we should embrace our differences and love each other. Also included at the end of the story are six excellent tips to help your child appreciate God’s design for ethnic diversity.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the publisher.
About the Author
Shai Linne is a recording artist who has released numerous acclaimed Christian hip-hop albums, including The Atonement and The Attributes of God. After completing a pastoral internship at Capitol Hill Baptist Church in Washington D.C., Shai co-founded Risen Christ Fellowship, an inner city church in his hometown of Philadelphia, PA. He lives in Philadelphia with his wife Blair and their three children, Sage, Maya and Ezra. Shai is the author of God Made Me and You: Celebrating God’s Design for Ethnic Diversity and co-author of It Was Good: Making Music to the Glory of God
About the Illustrator
Trish Mahoney is a graphic designer and illustrator in Seattle where she runs The Mahoney Studio with her husband, Patrick, also a designer and illustrator. They have two children—both budding artists, too. Trish is also the illustrator for God Made All of Me: A Book to Help Children Protect Their Bodies and The Beginner’s Gospel Story Bible.
Diversity Between the Pages 