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Great message, very sad about new illustrations

Customer Rating:
I love this book. My son has had it for a few years and I enjoyed giving it away as a gift for dedications/baptisms. The message is simple, timeless, and is for every child - and adult. This is easily one of the best children's books I have ever read and can't recommend it highly enough . . .

. . . Until now!

Sadness! The illustrations have changed and, in my opinion, completely take away from the story. My boy loves the little Jesus and it gives such a good visual to see Jesus as a child. I just bought a used copy on half.com - with tape marks, shelf wear and whatnot, it still easily trumps the new illustrations! While the message remains the same, it has a different feeling. It just doesn't appeal to me as an attractive book anymore.

What a tremendous loss this story has suffered. What a suprise, too - today, everyone seems to gravitate towards the old retro graphics because they're charming and simple - it's a surprise this new version even issued.

I hope that the publishers reprint Joan G. Thomas's original soon! One can only hope.

TXMom

Customer Rating:
We received this book, the original version, from my father-in-law who passed it down from his childhood. My son loved it from about 2 months of age because it all rhymes. He is now 8 months old and much more hands on, so to protect the older "original" version from little fingers, we ordered the newer version and love it just as much. The pictures aren't quite as sweet as the original version and it seems odd that Jesus would warm his feet in front of the fire while wearing shorts and a short sleeve shirt, but all in all the message is awesome for little minds to hear and I highly recommend it.

Precious story!

Customer Rating:
Both the older edition and this newer one are just precious!I'd recommend this for families with young children. Also nice as a gift book for religios milestones in a Christian child's life.

If Jesus Came To My House

Customer Rating:
A book that should be on every child's library list. I use them for gifts for new babies.

Great lessons taught

Customer Rating:
Joan G. Thomas
HarperCollins (2008)
ISBN 9780060839420
Reviewed by Cayden (age 4) and Max (age 2) Aures and Mom for Reader Views (9/08)

In "If Jesus Came to My House," a young boy imagines Jesus coming to his house in the form of a young boy that is about the same age. The boy shares with him the best of everything that he has and treats him kindly and graciously. In the last part of the book, the boy says that he knows that Jesus will never come to his house in the way that he imagined, but he knows that he can go to church and pray and talk with him there. He can also treat others in the manner that he imagined treating Jesus.

Max: "Is that Jesus?"
Cayden: "The boy is pretending that Jesus is that other boy. He is thinking what he would do if Jesus came to his house. I don't think it is really Jesus though, Max. He is pretending."

Cayden: "He is being very nice to him by giving him his things."

Cayden: "He drinks tea? I don't think kids drink tea."
Max: "Me tea!"
Cayden: "No Max, we are too little to have tea."

Cayden: "That is a cool hiding spot in the wall!"
Max: "Good hide spot!"

Cayden: "That boy is real nice to share all of his things! I share sometimes too."

Cayden: "It is good to be nice to other people like the boy is in the book. He gave that lady flowers and shared his toys."

Parent's comments:

"If Jesus Came to My House" by Joan G. Thomas is a wonderful, wholesome book that teaches some important life lessons. The story was very interesting to my children and they could relate a lot to what the boy was doing, except for the tea drinking part. The illustrations were simple, yet complemented the story well. I really loved the messages conveyed and think that this book would make a wonderful Christening gift for any child.