Meet Jesus: The Life and Lessons of a Beloved Teacher is a picture book that introduces young children to Jesus’ lessons of love, kindness, forgiveness and peace. The book focuses on Jesus’ humanity rather than divinity, giving it broad appeal for people of many faiths -- as well as those who aren't religious at all. Read more about Meet Jesus.
I am a liberal religious parent. Although I’ve chosen not to bring my children up in the Christian church of my childhood, I want them to know Jesus and his lessons of love, kindness, forgiveness and peace.
Growing up Catholic, I found great comfort in Jesus. I loved the inlaid-wood portrait of Jesus with kind eyes that hung over the family room couch. I marveled at Jesus’ wondrous deeds, brought to life in the vibrant colors of our family’s children’s Bible. I begged my parents to let me go to Vacation Bible School at the local Baptist church. They relented, and I joyfully sang songs like Jesus Loves Me and colored ceramic crosses with fragrant magic markers.
My beliefs about Jesus have changed a lot since those days. But still, I want my children to know the kind, loving Jesus I knew as a child.
At Christmastime a couple of years ago, I looked everywhere for a book about Jesus for my daughter and son, who were 2 and 4 at the time. I searched book stores, toy stores, and religious stores but found only traditional Christian tales with more supernatural elements than I was comfortable with. I wanted something factual and historical, but still warm and fun for children to read.
So I decided to fill that gap. I wrote Meet Jesus to introduce my children — and hopefully, many others — to the historical Jesus and his timeless lessons of love, kindness, forgiveness and peace.