Do You Want a Friend? by Noel Piper

June 10th, 2009

Piper, Noel. Do You Want a Friend? Illustrated by Gail Schoonmaker. Wheaton: Crossway Books, 2009. 34 pp. $12.99.  Purchase at Westminster Books.

Noel Piper has once again written a Christocentric children’s book. Her previous children’s book, Most of All, Jesus Loves You! has been used to introduce the One who loves with an unending love. Now, in Do You Want a Friend? our children are introduced to the One Friend who will never leave you and will always be willing and able to comfort you in times of trouble.

There are two things that I really liked with this particular children’s book. First, once the story of a boy wanting a friend is established, a series of questions about what type of friend you are looking for—One who loves you, One who comforts you, One who prays for you, etc.—is answered with a passage from Scripture

The second thing I really liked about the book were the illustrations by Gail Schoonmaker. She shows friends of every age, race and gender hanging out together on each page. Moreover, at the end of the book, you are left with an image of a family gathered together on their couch praying together with John 3:16 at the passage of choice.   The inclusion of John Newton’s One There Is, Above All Others at the very end of this book makes this a great resource for family worship.

This children’s book would make a great birthday or Christmas gift for any child under the age of seven.