About the Book

Book: I AM

Author: Diane Stortz

Genre: Juvenile nonfiction, Bible stories

Release Date: 2016

Creator, Comforter, Healer, Friend. God’s names tell us who He is, what He is like, and what He does. This beautiful book covers 40 of the Bible’s many names and descriptive titles for God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit, including Jehovah Jireh, The Lord My Shepherd, Immanuel, Rabbi, and I AM.

Through Bible stories, short devotions, and prayers, children discover the meaning of each name and how it relates to their lives. As they develop understanding of God’s character and His love for them, children will grow to know, love, and trust the great I AM more and more.

“Those who know your name put their trust in you.” –Psalm 9:10

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MY REVIEW

I must comment on the cover of this children’s book. It will catch the eye of children with the glitter that pops out and the beautiful and vivid colors that are used on the front cover. The illustrations go perfectly with each Bible story in the book. This book could be read together as a family or for an older child that is able to read on their own. I think it would make a wonderful gift and I plan on giving it to my first grandchild who was born a few days ago. Her parents will enjoy sharing these easy to understand stories as she gets older.

I liked how the author tells the stories in a simple way they will understand. I appreciate the ribbon book mark that you can use to hold your place without having to search where you left off. The book is sturdy and will last a very long time. Wouldn’t it be nice to pass this lovely book down through generations?

I did notice that there were little changes in wordings of stories that unsettled me. I first noticed when it said, “God said let us make people in our image. In the Bible it clearly states, “ God formed a man from dust.” He never said let’s make people. The next is when Eve eats from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.” In this book it says, “God says you can eat from any tree except from the good and knowing tree .” I read each chapter and there were minor word changes. Some of the stories probably should be read by older children and I think it is important to do the little exercise and prayer at the end of each chapter.

Overall I think the book is written closely to what the Bible says. As you read with your child notice anything that may not follow your own Bible. It is important for children to know what the Bible says. I understand that authors writing for younger children want to simplify words. I have no problem with that as long as it does not take away the meaning from the Bible.

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.

About the Author

Diane Stortz is a multipublished author who writes to make God’s wonders known to the next generation. Her children’s releases include the best-selling Say & Pray Bible and I AM: 40 Reasons to Trust God, both from Tommy Nelson. Diane’s books for women, A Woman’s Guide to Reading the Bible in a Yearand Encountering God’s Heart for You, both from Bethany House, encourage women to get to know God through His Word, the Bible. Diane and her husband have two married daughters and five grandchildren—all boys! Visit her at www.DianeStortz.com.

More from Diane

You can often guess someone’s age by considering their name. Diane, for example, was popular in the 1950s, so . . . that tells you something about me.

But God’s personal name? Well, it’s ageless. Just like Him.

When Moses met God at the burning bush and received the task of leading the Israelites out of Egypt, he wasn’t exactly thrilled at first. He peppered God with questions, including, “When I tell the people that I met you here and you gave me this assignment, they’re going to want to know your name. What should I tell them?”

The Israelites had just about forgotten who the God of their fathers Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob was.

But God hadn’t forgotten them. Not at all. God told Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. . . . Say this to the people of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you’” (Exodus 3:14).

I AM WHO I AM. I always have been. I will always be. I will never change.

Choosing a book title is rarely easy, and choosing a title for this book about the names of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit took a long time. I couldn’t be more grateful to the Tommy Nelson publishing team who developed and settled on the title I AM: 40 Reasons to Trust God.

My prayer for every child who reads this book and every family that goes through the book together, and for myself: May we all grow mightily in our understanding of who God is and our relationship with Him! As Psalm 9:10 says, “Those who know your name put their trust in you.”