God Made Me AND You: Celebrating God's Design for Ethnic Diversity
God Made Me AND You: Celebrating God's Design for Ethnic Diversity book cover

God Made Me AND You: Celebrating God's Design for Ethnic Diversity

Price
$15.99
Format
Hardcover
Pages
32
Publisher
New Growth Press
Publication Date
ISBN-13
978-1948130134
Dimensions
8.7 x 0.3 x 8.7 inches
Weight
10.4 ounces

Description

“This is a wonderful resource for teaching our children about God’s heart for the nations. Shai rightly reminds us that we are all united in Adam and that we ought to rejoice in ‘saints of all colors.’ Diversity, rightly understood, is not a PC slogan; it’s a biblical hope and expectation. I’m excited to share this book with my own kids.” Kevin DeYoung , Author; senior pastor, Christ Covenant Church, Matthews, NC; assistant professor of Systematic Theology, Reformed Theological Seminary, Charlotte, NC “O what a difference it would make if every family would pick up this book and take to heart its message, starting at a young age! This is biblical theology for kids—and all of us!—on God’s beautiful design of ethnicity, as winsomely told and displayed through creative and faithful artist theologians. I recommend it with great gratitude and enthusiasm!” Justin Taylor , Managing Editor, ESV Study Bible “Thoughtfully-written and whimsically-illustrated, this resource will help children (and those who love and lead them) learn to identify thinking and behavior that diminish humans made in the image of God, see ethnic and other differences through gospel eyes, and celebrate the diversity he has created for his glory.” Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth , Author; teacher; host of Revive Our Hearts “Shai Linne has given us a beautiful story that will not only captivate little hearts and minds, it will help parents clearly explain biblical reasons for why we can and should celebrate God’s design for ethnic diversity. But don’t think the story is all Linne has for you—read the back to be inspired to continue the conversation when the book is closed. Well done!” Trillia Newbell , Author of God’s Very Good Idea: A True Story of God’s Delightfully Different Family “The reality that all people—with their vast array of diversity—are made in the image of God is foundational for how children will relate to others and calls them to respect the dignity of all people. Shai and Trish have captured beautifully God’s design for ethnic diversity. Children will be drawn to this book.” Justin S. Holcomb and Lindsey A. Holcomb , Authors of God Made All of Me: A Book to help Children Protect Their Bodies “Shai Linne poetically guides us through the biblical pattern of creation, fall, redemption and glorification,unfolding the grand story of the Bible. As he reveals each step in bite-sized chunks, he also teaches the character of an infinitely creative God—One who delights in building a diverse and set-apart people to live with Him forever. This is a great addition to every child’s bookshelf.” J. A. Ellis , Cannada Fellow for World Christianity, Reformed Theological Seminary “Shai Linne is a pastor at heart. And it shows on every page as he brings all of his talent as a theological wordsmith to bear on this simple story of God’s delightfully diverse design. Get this book to remind yourself and the little ones you love of the glorious message of Jesus that is bringing together people from every tribe and tongue.” Dan DeWitt , Author of Life in the Wild ; associate professor of Applied Theology and Apologetics at Cedarville University; director of the Center for Biblical Apologetics and Public Christianity "God Made Me AND You by Shai Linne is a theologically sound resource for parents and teachers to raise a new generation who will honor God’s gift of human diversity. With his poetic gift, Shai wonderfully displays the glory of God right where we need to see it afresh—in how he made me and you!” Ray Ortlund , Pastor of Immanuel Church, Nashville, TN; author of The Gospel: How the Church Portrays the Beauty of Christ “We read this book to our four daughters. They loved it. So did we! It’s biblically driven, pastorally careful, lyrically beautiful, and, frankly, just inspiring. Use this book to establish good foundations for your children in how to think about God's plan for diversity and then to praise him for it.” Jonathan and Shannon Leeman , Author; editorial director of 9Marks; elder at Cheverly Baptist Church “Shai Linne’s new book, God Made Me AND You: Celebrating God’s Design for Ethnic Diversity , is a gift. It teaches kids that God making people different is something we can delight in, not fear. More importantly, it shows how our differences are for the purpose of magnifying Jesus, who died to save all kinds of people. Beautifully illustrated and creatively written, I can’t wait to read this to my grandkids.” Bob Kauflin , Director of Sovereign Grace Music “The first time I heard Shai Linne’s song ‘Penelope Judd,’ I knew he had a beautiful father’s heart and a keen ability to communicate deep ideas in simple ways to children. God Made Me AND You applies these gifts to the vitally important topic of race. It is biblically grounded, and therefore God- and gospel-centered, and provides a joyful and unifying perspective on a divisive topic. I want every child and adult I know to read this book!” Erik Thoennes , Professor, Biola University; author of Life’s Biggest Questions: What the Bible Says about the Things That Matter Most “ God Made Me AND You is a book for every family bookshelf. This colorful, poetic presentation of ethnic diversity shouts the truth of God’s creative design as found in Scripture. God Made Me AND You is more than a storybook; it is a teaching tool designed to bring a biblical worldview of humankind into your living room.” Marty Machowski , Family Pastor; author of The Ology , Long Story Short , and other gospel-centered resources for church and home “The rhythm of words and the magic of rhyme will open your child’s eyes to the beauty of race in God’s good design. In God Made Me AND You , Shai Linne has created a masterpiece of biblical truth that your child will love and all of us need. I look forward to reading it with my own family. It’s the perfect gift to spread the unifying message that Jesus brings to our divided culture.” Champ Thornton , Pastor, author of The Radical Book for Kids and Pass It On: A Proverbs Journal for the Next Generation Shai Linne is a recording artist who has released numerous acclaimed Christian hip-hop albums, including The Atonement and The Attributes of God . After completing a pastoral internship at Capitol Hill Baptist Church in Washington DC, Shai co-founded Risen Christ Fellowship, an inner city church in his hometown of Philadelphia, PA. He lives in Philadelphia with his wife Blair and their three children, Sage, Maya, and Ezra. Shai is the author of God Made Me and You: Celebrating God's Design for Ethnic Diversity and co-author of It Was Good: Making Music to the Glory of God Trish Mahoney is a graphic designer and illustrator in Seattle where she runs The Mahoney Studio with her husband, Patrick, also a designer and illustrator. They have two children both budding artists, too. Trish is also the illustrator for God Made All of Me: A Book to Help Children Protect Their Bodies and The Beginner's Gospel Story Bible.

Features & Highlights

  • This beautifully illustrated children's book invites kids to explore God's design for ethnic diversity and challenges readers both parents and children to learn and live out counter-cultural, biblical views, fostering a lifelong celebration of diversity for the glory of God. Designed for four to eleven-year-olds,
  • God Made Me and You
  • by Shai Linne is the second book in the
  • God Made Me
  • series, starting with
  • God Made All of Me
  • by Justin and Lindsey Holcomb.
  • Because biblical Scripture teaches that ethnic diversity is not something that should be tolerated but rather enthusiastically embraced, Christian hip hop artist Shai Linne helps children, parents, and caregivers to celebrate this biblical truth through a lyrical, rhyming style and colorful illustrations.
  • God Made Me and You
  • is an approachable guide for Christian families to begin conversations about cultivating a God's perspective on ethnic diversity, confronting the sins of racism, bigotry, and ethnic pride.
  • Because children learn from family members, media, or peers, Christian parents and caretakers have a responsibility to teach their children what God has to say about the beauty of diversity in his image-bearers, with a particular focus on ethnic diversity.
  • This colorful and compelling children's book serves as a resource and lifelong gift for children and parents, helping families understand diversity from a biblical perspective and with a clear picture of the beauty and glory of God.

Customer Reviews

Rating Breakdown

★★★★★
60%
(142)
★★★★
25%
(59)
★★★
15%
(36)
★★
7%
(17)
-7%
(-17)

Most Helpful Reviews

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Captivating, Timely, and Important

You may be familiar with Christian artist Shai Linne by way of the rap music he's produced over the years. My husband and I have enjoyed his songs are thankful for his being a light in a dark industry. We were especially thrilled when we found out that Shai Linne had a children's book coming out and couldn't wait to read it with our daughter. God Made Me and You: Celebrating God's Design for Ethnic Diversity tells the story of young students whose teacher helps them understand diversity from a biblical perspective. This book is fun not only because of the captivating illustrations but because, in true Shai Linne form, it is written in rhyme. I am thankful for the timely and important message of God Made Me and You which is that all humans have been created as image bearers of God and have equal value, dignity, and worth. This is an especially important resource because it allows parents to make diversity one of the earliest values they instill in their children. The way in which Shai Linne writes about diversity is easy for children to understand and his approach to the topic is unique as it points to God as the author of diversity. Prior to reading God Made Me and You I hadn't really considered diversity as a mark of all creation but looking at plants, animals, and people, it is clear that a caring Creator is at work and this is a fact that individuals of all ages can rejoice in. My family enjoyed God Made Me and You and I believe that you will too! I received God Made Me and You compliments of New Growth Press in exchange for my honest review.
2 people found this helpful
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A Great, Sound, Biblical, Book for Children

This is a much needed entry (especially in these times of racial/ethnic divide). Shai Linne provides a great way to introduce diversity to kids in written form. My 8-yr old daughter loves it. The illustrations are really good too. The best part is that the book demonstrates the biblical nature of ethnic diversity as something binding upon all men—not for goodness sake, but because it’s in the Script (rf Rev. 7:9-10).
2 people found this helpful
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A Helpful, Gospel-Centered Conversation Starter

My preschoolers and I enjoyed God Made Me and You. The combination of colorful illustrations and lyrical rhyme make this book a lot of fun. Shai Linne communicates that His readers are image bearers who exist for God's glory, love, praise, etc. God Made Me and You primarily focuses on externals (tall/short, hair/eye color, disabilities, etc.) and would serve as a good starting point for further conversation(s) highlighting what it means to be made in the image of God. Most of all, I appreciate that this book follows the redemptive story line (creation, fall, redemption, consummation) and has a clear Gospel message. God Made Me and You is a useful picture book to help preschoolers appreciate the diversity of God's design in creation.

*Many thanks to New Growth Press for sending me a complimentary copy of this book! This is my honest opinion.
1 people found this helpful
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Kids book that hits home for adults as well

There surely could not be a more timely written book that a kids and adults can learn from. Shai knocked this one out of the PARK ! If you want your kids to understand what diversity really is according to our maker instead of the news and social garbage out there, THIS IS THE BOOK !!!
1 people found this helpful
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Good message and art

Parents appreciated their family received this book.
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SO Amazing!

Amazing book!
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Great book about diversity!

God Made Me and You: Celebrating God's Design for Ethnic Diversity is an incredibly timely book for our family. Matt and I have been aiming to talk to our boys more about diversity and this book has been an incredible resource for that.

This book is a rhyming book which is always engaging for kids, especially my boys! The book is set in school where some rude characters are introduced. The boys were rude to various children because they were different (i.e. clothes, hair, different color skin.)

As the book goes on, the teacher addresses the rules of the classroom and discusses what the Bible says about where all of us came from, how God created us, etc. This book does not mince words but shares this information with grace.

The last portion of the book is a song that the class sings about differences and I loved that. The end has some pointers includes six ways to help children appreciates God's design for ethnic diversity. Very good and helpful information.

This is a great great book!!

**The publisher sent this book to me. Thank you!**