Mateo's Choice
Summary
Mateo’s Choice: Basic Discipleship for Children written by Anne Marie Gosnell and illustrated by Emily Heinz is, essentially, a Christian primer for young children. Its goal is to teach kids about Christianity, how to become a Christian, what sin is, what God expects from us, and what we can expect after accepting Jesus. This illustrated book follows the fictional story of Mateo, a young boy who contemplates and then decides to give his heart to Jesus as an example for making that choice and living a godly life.
Assessment
Everything from the artwork to the book structure to the writing and organization of these Christian concepts is fantastic. The message is clear, with room for any parent or church leader to answer question or expand. It presents the core truths of Christianity in a way that is perfectly straightforward for children but doesn’t present a watered-down version of what it is like to follow Christ.
The artwork itself is adorable and charming with a sort of sketchy-water-color-esque style that is appealing but doesn’t distract too much from the overall message. It provides context and an example of what the accompanying passage is describing. Everything from showing kindness to others to praying for one’s enemies to forgiving is depicted in quaint scenarios that will be highly relatable to children.
Light-o-Meter
Artwork: 7 out of 7 Little Lights
Writing: 6 out of 7 Little Lights
Age-Appropriateness: 7 out of 7 Little Lights
Theological Message: 7 out of 7 Little Lights
Overall: 6 out of 7 Little Lights
Talk
Mateo’s Choice is an excellent Christian primer for kids! Written in a simple, but easy to understand way, it tackles major theological points about salvation, who we become in Christ, and why a renewed heart is a good thing. I like the fact that it doesn’t shy away or try to dilute difficult concepts, as a lot of kids’ theological books tend to do. There is no “Christianity is all about doves and sunshine and flowers” angle to it. This book is intended for the serious (but excellent!) business of leading children to Christ.
The Bible verses mentioned are on-topic and well-chosen, with plenty of room for parents and church leaders to expand and answer questions as needed. I particularly liked the fact that the Bible verses were not paraphrased or simplified but presented straight from the Bible. While there is obviously a certain amount of need to make things age appropriate, I’ve noticed that there is a tendency to simplify Biblical and Christian topics a bit too much for children. This book balances the need to simplify with the need to present the entire truth excellently.
One of my absolute favorite parts is the artwork. Mateo and the other characters’ faces are so adorably expressive! You could easily recognize every emotion that was conveyed on their faces and how it relates to the context of the lesson, which is super helpful for littles that may not understand all of the words that are being said, but can instinctively recognize the characters' emotions.
Wrap-up
For children that are curious about accepting Christ into their hearts or have questions about Christianity or how we are to live as Christians, this may be an excellent resource! It translates complex concepts into a more child-friendly fashion, well but presents the truth of Scripture in a charming and relatable way without watering it down.
Where to Enjoy
Future Flying Saucers Website: Mateo's Choice Book for Children - FutureFlyingSaucers Object Lessons
Amazon: Mateo's Choice: Basic Discipleship for Children Ages 5 - 8
Disclaimer: This review is for this specific product and this product alone. In no way, shape, or form is this review meant to be an endorsement of the private lives, individual choices, lifestyles, or behaviors of those company(ies), publisher(s), creator(s), producer(s), author(s), artist(s), etc. associated with this product. It is God's sole providence alone to judge, and we make no claim to this right. With our reviews, we're simply looking at the value and merits of this specific product alone through the content and perspective of a Christian worldview. We pray you find it helpful and useful.
