Also by this author: The Easter Fix, The Little Man Whose Heart Grew Big, The Dad Who Never Gave Up, The Dad Who Never Gave Up, The Little Man Whose Heart Grew Big, The Christmas Surprise, Little Me, Big God: Stories about Jesus: Eight True Stories from the Bible
Series: Little Me, Big God
Published by Good Book Company on February 1, 2021
Genres: Children's, Bible Stories
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An engaging retelling of the feeding of the 5,000 that helps young children discover how Jesus gives life that lasts for ever, not just for now!
Thousands of people came to Jesus—and they were all hungry. But one boy had a sandwich to share. So Jesus prayed and then shared the sandwich with the huge, hungry crowd. Everyone was amazed and wanted him to be King.
But Jesus said, “You’re just thinking about getting your dinner, which is all finished now. I’ve come to give you something that’s never finished and always enough!”
In this engaging retelling of the feeding of the 5,000 from John 6 v 5-35, young children discover how Jesus gives life that lasts for ever, not just for now!
Notes for parents at the back help explain what Jesus says about himself in John 6 v 26-27 and 35.
This small, staple-bound paperback tells the story of Jesus feeding the five thousand, and does so in an unusually engaging and memorable way. The author and illustrator, Steph Williams, presents the story in a way that feels direct and immediate, revealing people’s feelings and reactions through their facial expressions, posture, and gestures. As I read this, I realized how static many of the Bible-based picture books that I read as a child were. This one captures a sense of the participants’ humanity, and I absolutely love the little boy’s shocked face on one page after he has observed the miracle.
The Boy Who Shared His Sandwich also goes beyond the event of the miracle to explore its implications, covering the part of the story where the people in the crowd wanted to make Jesus king, and he resisted their pressure and told them that he had come to bring eternal life. At the end of this book, there is a note for parents that provides additional context, and the following page reprints the biblical narrative from John 6:5-35. This is a great book for families and churches, and even though the book is fairly small for a Sunday school storytime, it is the best picture book version of this story that I have ever read.
This book is simple and easy for children to understand, while still being faithful to the nuances of the biblical story. It focuses on the true message of Jesus’s miracle, instead of treating it as an end to itself, and this can start great conversations with slightly older children. Even those who have progressed beyond picture books may still enjoy this one because of its especially active and engaging illustrations. I highly recommend this, and greatly enjoyed it.
