The Big Wide Welcome by Trillia Newbell

This picture book uses James 2:1-26 as inspiration to help children understand what favoritism is and that it is a sin. It explains that having a favorite food, toy, or superhero is fun and okay, but it is not okay to play favorites with people. It uses the illustration from James when the church was offering the seats of honor to the rich people and treating the poor poorly.  It then points to Christ as our example to choose to love people and not play favorites because Jesus welcomes anyone who asks to be His friend!

I love how this new TTTTT addition uses scripture that isn’t often the focus of children’s books. I also appreciate how Jesus is illustrated differently in each one of these books- small, but notable. I think this is a very practical problem to tackle with children because this concept goes against our sin nature right from the beginning: kids want their favorite things, but making the distinction with people will help children see this sin in their own lives and, hopefully, in turn, their need for a Savior.

I do think there were a couple of word choices that could have been better thought through, such as using phrases like, “Jesus died to be my friend” instead of actually walking through the gospel with children. There is also a sign in one of the illustrations that reads, “All Are Welcome” in regards to who is welcome in Jesus’ family. I think the intent was to show that all kinds of people will be in eternity, not all people, but it is worded poorly and could be taken as Universalism.

Overall, I like this book and will continue to read it with my children, but there are some issues to nagivate.

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclaimer for more info.

1. What is your favorite smell? Book? Song?
2. Why is it not okay to play favorites with people?
3. How is Jesus the best example for us to not have favorites?