Jesus Can Help Us Face Every Problem (Kids books)

Jesus Can Help Us Face Every Problem
The Good News for Little Hearts series helps children
apply biblical truth to the challenges they face
Greensboro, NC—Even little children can have big feelings they don’t know how to handle. Yet, it’s never too early to teach them to turn to Jesus when things get hard. The Good News for Little Hearts series equips children so they can apply biblical truth to whatever situations they face, growing in their individual relationships with Jesus.

Good News for Little Hearts is a children’s book series edited by members of the Christian Counseling & Education Foundation (CCEF) faculty, aiming to provide grace-based and biblical counsel to families. The series of hardback, full-color illustrated children’s books are geared toward three- to eight-year-olds, and each story focuses on an animal family facing real-life issues. Through each struggle or hardship outlined in the individual stories, the characters model hope in Jesus. Parents and caretakers are encouraged to enter into meaningful conversations with their kids, teaching them to live by faith in the details of everyday life.

The last page of each book contains information for parents on how to use God’s Word to help children apply biblical, gospel-based truths to specific issues. Enriching for both parents and children, the Good News for Little Hearts series is based on CCEF’s model of hope and help that encourages a growing relationship with Jesus.

The series launched in October 2018 with three stories focusing on the topics of anxiety, anger and failure. This fall, the series continues three new adventures examining temptation, sadness, and loneliness.

Edited by David Powlison, Gus Loses His Grip: When You Want Something Too Much is the story of Gus, a raccoon who loves all things sweet. He learns what happens when you want something too much. After Gus gets caught taking candy from the store, Papa reminds him that temptation might be strong for us, but it’s not too strong for Jesus. Both Gus and Papa can ask Jesus for help when they want something too much.

Henry Says Good-Bye: When You Are Sad, edited by Edward T. Welch, is the story of a hedgehog who loves his pet ladybug. She keeps him company and entertains him, his family, and his friends with her flying tricks. But one day, he has to say good-bye to his ladybug. Henry and his whole family are sad, but they learn to go to Jesus with their sadness and ask him to comfort them.

Tori Comes Out of Her Shell: When You Are Lonely, edited by Jayne V. Clark, features Tori, a turtle that feels all alone. She has just moved to a new pond and a new school with her family and it seems like everyone has a friend except her. Her teacher notices she feels alone and helps her remember Jesus is always her friend and then along the way she makes some new friends.

Each story in the Good News for Little Hearts series helps children process challenging situations through a biblical lens, demonstrating practical ways to follow Jesus in the midst of hardship. Instead of moralism, each book focuses on grace and the hope we have in Jesus, not an ability to change on our own or a desire to change behavior alone. Each character depends on Jesus and, in turning to him, lives by faith.

Through the animal characters, colorful illustrations, and situations children can identify with, young readers will be captivated throughout the stories, paving the way for Christ-centered conversations on important topics

About the Editors:

David Powlison, MDiv, PhD, (1949–2019) was a teacher, counselor, and the executive director of the Christian Counseling & Educational Foundation (CCEF). He wrote many books and minibooks, including Speaking Truth in Love, Seeing with New Eyes,The Biblical Counseling Movement: History and Context, Good and Angry: Redeeming Anger, Irritation, Complaining, and Bitterness, Making All Things New: Restoring Joy to the Sexually Broken,God’s Grace in Your Suffering, and Safe and Sound. David was also the editor of The Journal of Biblical Counseling.

Edward T. Welch, MDiv, PhD, is a licensed psychologist and faculty member at CCEF. He earned a PhD in counseling (neuropsychology) from the University of Utah and has a Master of Divinity degree from Biblical Theological Seminary. Ed has been counseling for over thirty years and has written extensively on the topics of depression, fear, and addictions. His biblical counseling books include: Shame Interrupted; When People Are Big and God Is Small; Addictions: A Banquet in the Grave; Depression: Looking Up from the Stubborn Darkness; Side by Side: Walking with Others in Wisdom and Love; and A Small Book about a Big Problem: Meditations on Anger, Patience, and Peace.

Jayne V. Clark, MAR, is the Chief of Staff at CCEF. She is also a counselor with thirty years of experience, a frequent retreat and conference speaker, and the author of the minibooks Single and Lonely: Finding the Intimacy You Desire and Healing Broken Relationships: What to Do When You’ve Been Hurt and many counseling articles.

About the Illustrator:

Joe Hox was raised on a farm in southern Iowa where he doodled whenever he wasn’t spading thistles or feeding pigs. Everyone knew by his crooked hay rows that he would choose art over farming. Hox earned his BA in Art and Education from Dordt Col­lege, and his MA from the University of Nebraska. Today he lives with his wife and four children in Pella, Iowa, where he illustrates and teaches art. He has illustrated all of the books in the Good News for Little Hearts series and The Moon is Always Round.