Also by this author: Gladys Aylward: The Little Woman with a Big Dream, Betty Greene: The Girl Who Longed to Fly, Helen Roseveare: The Doctor Who Kept Going No Matter What
Series: Do Great Things For God #5
Published by Good Book Company on June 1, 2022
Genres: Children's, Children's Educational
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Baby Frances—or Fanny, as everyone called her—was only six weeks old when she became blind. “What a pity you can’t see,” people often said. “The first thing my eyes will ever see will be the face of Jesus in heaven,” she’d reply. And this filled her with joy.
Not only was Fanny a happy girl, always looking for reasons to be thankful, she was also blessed with extraordinary musical ability.
Follow her inspirational story to discover how she wrote some of the world’s most famous hymns, such as "To God Be the Glory" and "Blessed Assurance."
This delightful new installment in the Do Great Things for God series features Fanny Crosby, a famous blind writer who wrote thousands of hymns during her lifetime. I remember learning about Crosby’s story as a child, but I believe that I learned about it verbally from my mother, not from a book. This picture book biography is a wonderful introduction for today’s children, with simple text from Laura Caputo-Wickham and charming, colorful illustrations from Jess Rose. The book acknowledges the many struggles that Crosby faced while celebrating her enduring faith in God, her educational achievements, and her immense talent.
At the end, Fanny Crosby: The Girl Who Couldn’t See But Helped The World To Sing includes a timeline and a historic black and white photograph of Crosby. I think it would have been helpful, however, if the author had included a note to explain that the reason why she isn’t smiling in the photo is because early camera technology required people to sit still for long periods of time. Her grim appearance in the photo could be startling to some young children, especially since they can’t see her eyes behind her dark glasses.
I would highly recommend this book to families, churches, and Christian schools. It shares great historical information and is very inspirational, and it would pair especially well with singing some of Crosby’s best-remembered hymns. I have been very impressed with this picture book biography series, and I appreciate the care and attention that the author puts into summarizing each woman’s life in a kid-friendly way while still giving a deep sense of what they experienced and accomplished. I looked forward to this biography because I admired Fanny Crosby so much as a child, and it is truly lovely.
