Wow! The Good News in Four Words by Dandi Daley Mackall

“Wow! The Good News in Four Words” starts with the first word, “Wow”. When God created the world, it was a big wow! Everything God put it the world also deserves a wow!

The next word is “Uh-oh”. Eve listened to the snake. Uh-oh. She took a bite. Uh-oh. We are helpless and in need of God’s grace.

“Yes” is the next word. God loved us so much that he sent his son, Jesus, whose life was perfect. He died on the cross, but rose from the dead. He is the way, the truth and the life. Say “Yes” to receive him today for a new life.

The fourth word is “Ahh”. Jesus sent his Spirit to be with us and someday we’ll join the angels in heaven praising Him. “Ahh”, this is a great gift!

The word “Wow” comes back again at the end because once you except Christ, you start to become more like Him. Sharing this Good News with others also helps your faith to grow- wow!

This unique and fun picture book is a wonderful way to help young people remember how to share the gospel. The author did a good job of choosing words that are easy to remember and yet will help kids (and adults!) to walk through the story of God’s love, grace, and salvation for everyone. I love how the end of the book talks about sharing this Good News with others.

There is a lovely illustration of people all over the world talking to one another and sharing the Good News. The illustrations throughout the book are engaging and funky, with people’s facial features looking like a child has drawn them. There is also a section at the back that lists Bible verses for each of the words for further study.

A small note: Adam is depicted as a bit feminine. I don’t think this is intentional, but rather a matter of the illustrator’s style. Also, on page 12, the text personifies God by saying, “I’ll save the whole world…by becoming a man.” I do not think universalism was in mind here because later in the book it says, “For Christ is the Life and the Truth and the Way for all who believe and receive him today.” This could have been worded better, but I think it shows the author wasn’t promoting a universal mindset. They also include many verses to help with further study and those verses include Ephesians 2:8-9 as well as several other verses that clearly oppose a universal philosophy.

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1. Explain to me the first “Wow” in this book. “Uh-oh”? “Yes”? “Ahh”? Second “Wow”?
2. Which is your favorite part in God’s story?
3. Why is it important to tell other people about this Good News?