Book: The Sparrow who fell to the ground

My grandson recently had a shock when a sparrowhawk flew down into the garden and just failed to grab his budgerigar who was enjoying the afternoon sun. This incident underlined for me how comprehensive and yet how individual is God's love for all his creatures. Not even a pet budgie falls to the ground, or escapes from certain death, without His knowledge.

Then along comes Anthony deStefano's tale of one particular sparrow who falls to the ground, repeatedly. This is a refreshing introduction for children to the little parable in Matthew 10:29-31.

It is a gripping story, told in satisfying rhyming couplets, but DeStefano and his illustrator, Richard Cowdrey, have also introduced several themes which a parent or teacher could amplify when passing to the next page or in discussion with children. These include disability, failure, loneliness, hope, unanswered prayer, and the Kingdom of Heaven, or should I say the Garden of Eden?

These may be grown-up realities but they will impact every child's life; this book will enable children and adults to address these difficult issues and vulnerabilities while enjoying a bright and colourful picture book.

Children aged up to and beyond seven years should enjoy this page turner; certainly my six year old grandson was 'very interested' in reading the story and talking about it later.

The Sparrow who fell to the ground by Anthony DeStefano, author and Richard Cowdrey, illustrator, is published by Parable - See: https://parable.com/product/9798889114048