For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. Matthew 12:40Let’s suppose you and your family were at the beach. You saw a large fish, maybe a dolphin,. Maybe a whale. Your children were curious about the type of fish. Maybe they knew the story of Jonah and the whale and were wondering if the fish they saw could swallow a person. Could it swallow them?
Janice D. Green and Kimberly Merritt have produced not only a beautiful but accurate retelling of the account of the book of Jonah for young children. Jonah: The Fearful Prophet is written in language young children will understand. The illustrations of the ship tossing on the sea, Jonah swallowed by the whale, and a pouting Jonah under the gourd vine are both colorful and appealing for children.
Discussion questions that follow Mrs. Green’s retelling of Jonah are thoughtful, helping a child dig deeper into their own spiritual understanding. A crossword and a word search are included in the back matter as well as instructions for a Bible quilt. Children will enjoy using their crayons to make the quilt with their family. The quilt is a great way of helping young children remember and retell the story of Jonah.
I give Jonah: The Fearful Prophet 5 stars for accuracy, relevancy, and meaningful creativity.
