I’ve written another children’s book and I’m excited to tell you about it.
In our culture, identity is an important concept and a frequent topic of conversation. People often go to great lengths to determine their identity—to discover it as though it is something hidden that must be uncovered, or lost and found once again, or taken and must be reclaimed. Far too often, the places or things or circumstances in which people look to find their identity is rooted in what shifts and changes. Like the proverbial house built on sand rather than the rock. Even more, identity is often looked for in anywhere else but in one’s Maker and Creator.
In our current culture, how one feels about themselves is often the highest determiner of one’s identity. Some make significant life decisions simply based on feelings alone. And then there are the things that we do, which we often equate with who we are. Whether it is the work we do or the strengths we have or even the way we look, these things often become synonymous with our identity. “I am a doctor.” “I am a mother.” “I am a pro-tennis player.” But what happens when our feelings change? Or when we can no longer do the thing which formed our identity?
The Bible teaches us that our identity is not found in the things we do or in how we feel or even in what others say about us. Our identity is found in our relationship with God. He made us; we are his image bearers. We are his beloved children. Through faith in Christ and what he did for us at the cross, we’ve been adopted into God’s family. We are united with Christ, our elder brother. We find our identity and purpose in our relationship with him and in his calling on our life.
I wrote Who are you? to help children learn from an early age about their identity. This book is written for children ages 3-5 and uses fun and engaging prose alongside delightful illustrations that draw children in.
Here’s a description from the publisher’s website:
Deeply biblical and visually engaging, this picture book uses lyrical rhymes to help children ages 3–5 understand that their true identity is not found in their preferences, past actions, or current emotions. Instead, it is rooted in their relationship with their Creator and Savior. The one who fashioned them in his likeness and calls them to live a life for his glory. A note to parents section at the end of the book offers practical tips and additional Bible verses for instilling these truths in children as they navigate the world and build the foundation of their lives.
Explores Identity and Purpose: Helps children understand they are not defined by their preferences, actions, or emotions, but by their relationship with God as his image bearer
Written for Kids Ages 3–5: Engaging and lyrical, this book will keep kids entertained as they learn about themselves, their God, and the world around them
Practical Approach for Parents and Guardians: A comments to parents section at the end of the book provides advice for furthering the conversation on the topic of identity
Here’s what a few readers have said about Who are You?
“Perhaps my most frequent prayer for my children is that they would know―deep down ―they are the beloved children of God in and through Jesus. In a culture that tells us to find our identity in our achievements, work, personality, or feelings, Who Are You? offers a freeing and beautiful alternative rooted in the gospel: our most foundational identity is that we belong to a God who loves us! This book will be a helpful resource for parents who need to be reminded of their own identity in Christ, even as they speak and pray this important truth over their children.”
―Caroline Cobb, singer-songwriter; mom to three; author, Advent for Exiles: 25 Devotions to Awaken Gospel Hope in Every Longing Heart
“Who Are You? answers one of life’s most essential questions. It sweetly illustrates the foundational truth our children need: we are beautiful image-bearers. Christina Fox has found a whimsical way to engage the hearts of our little ones and to teach them that their identity is firmly rooted in their Creator and Savior’s love for them.”
―Darby Strickland, Faculty and Counselor, Christian Counseling & Educational Foundation; author, Something Scary Happened
“Through beautifully engaging full-page illustrations and relatable text, Christina Fox and Daron Parton ask a familiar question: Who am I? The answer to this question can only be found through a biblical lens, which is clearly relayed in this wonderful children’s book. In addition to offering a delightful opportunity for young children to understand themselves, this book also offers parents and teachers a guide for having conversations with children about the wonderful truth that they are created in the image of God.”
―Amy Bagby, Associate Professor of Education, Covenant College
Who are You? is available for preorder now. Get your copy wherever books are sold.
