Review of 'When God Made You' by Matthew Paul Turner. Illustrated by David Catrow

I must admit this book had me from the cover - what stunning colors and illustrations!  The illustrator has successfully utilized complementary colors making the whole thing SO beautiful! You open up the cover and there's more beautiful artwork straight away on the opening page and it continues all the way through. (Sorry the artist in me is in raptures about this book! Love it)

Now, onto the actual story.  The story is a rhyming style - reminiscent of Dr Seuss.  It starts off like this, for example:

You, you, when God made you,
God made you all shiny and new.
An incredible you, a you all your own,
a you unlike anyone else ever known.

It is a sweet, encouraging, uplifting story.  What comes to mind is similar to 'Oh The Places You'll Go' by Seuss.  It reminds the child how important he/she is to God, how God knows everything about him/her, how He made him/her unique.  It goes on to encourage the child that God has placed in them everything they need and to live their life to the fullest using every gift God has given.  To create, to imagine, to help.  It tells how we are made in the image of God.

Rhyme-wise the rhythms all work well throughout, which was impressive.  The only one I'm not 100% on is the last page, but it is passable.  It stretches a little to fit the rhyme on the previous page and is a little unnatural 'Over you, God was smiling and already dreaming.'  But at least the metre is correct.

This is a great little book with a great message for kids.  I don't think there can ever be enough of these books reinforcing our worth in God's eyes for children.  I definitely recommend this one.  Not only for the story but it's a piece of art in itself thanks to David Catrow's masterful work.

Please note that I was sent a copy of this book for purposes of review, however the opinions expressed are entirely my own.