What Is God Like? - by Rachel Held Evans & Matthew Paul Turner (Hardcover)

I bought this after seeing the front and reading the back. From now on I’ll read all the children’s books cover to cover before I buy them. I was sadly shocked by what I saw. God is referenced as “She, He and They” which is wrong. There is an image of a dog that looks to be being hypnotized by the reflection of a rainbow. And other images I don’t agree with.

God is God. God is a He. Please read your Bible to find out who is God than read this garbage.

If you believe the Bible is The Living Word of God, this isnt the book for you or your child. This book refers to God as “she” and “they.” I suppose it fits with Matthew Paul Turner’s recent coming out. It does not fit with the truth of the Word of God.

The most wonderful book about god and goodness and love.

This book calls God a "she".... that doesn't make any sense to me and I'm sad I didn't read the other review that mentioned this. What purpose does it serve to call God a "she" and ingrain that into a child's mind? Jesus was a male and he is also God, and Jesus called God his FATHER. Where does that leave room for interpreting that God is a female? Just no.

love the book, illustrations and message. we have many books to cover the Bible...which I equally love. this book feels more relatable to the every day world. thank you!

This book is beautiful, but its content is not Biblical at all. It uses "he, she, they" to describe God, and that's only from the few pages I saw. I understand some people are trying to form their own progressive form of Christianity, but for those who want to teach their children about the God of the Bible, this is not it.

This book was a breath of fresh air. It was wonderful to see diversity in a religious book.

Such a beautiful inclusive book about God and His love for us. Miss RHE’s voice so much in this world. So happy I finally got my hands on one. I’ll be sure gift it to all my nieces and nephews!

Wonderful book for children to ask questions about God

This book is beautiful, inclusive, so carefully written to reflect the tender truth of what God’s love is like. Very touched and grateful to share it with my family!

I love all of MPT's children's books as well as RHE's work - and this book doesn't disappoint! It's beautiful both with its words and illustrations. I have already bought several additional copies to gift!

This book is really great theology for kids. At its heart is an invitation to kids to consider what makes them feel brave and strong and safe: that's what God is like. Even parents who don't agree with each other on the nuances of Bible Stories (try explaining God is love and the sender of a flood that kills everyone to a preschooler!) can offer a description of God that is approachable, accessible, and steadfast. It's not a watering down of God's mystery. It's an opportunity to think big.

This book is so gorgeous and my kids were in awe while reading it. The ideas of what God is like include many non-traditional statements that will expand a child's imagination about what God is like. If you think God is a white man, you won't enjoy this book, haha.

While yes this is technically a children’s book, it is for everyone. I needed this book too and I’m 34. Matthew and Rachel put into words so many things about God’s character that I have believed for a very long time but was unable to articulate. Please buy one for yourself and everyone else in your family and friend groups.

This book is a must-have for all humans - children or adults! The illustrations are gorgeous and feature children of many colors and physical builds and abilities. The words are a gorgeous description of God and God's love for all of us. I will be purchasing this book for every new parent from now on!

There are very few people I trust unequivocally when it comes to talking about God. Rachel Held Evans, Matthew Paul Turner, Frederick Beuchner, Madeline L’Engle and Sara Bareilles are about it. And when I think back at how much of my faith has been formed by Rachel, the Jesus that I know and love the most is painted most vividly from her words-this book has instantly become a must for me. This is especially true after this year. The pandemic was hard for a million different reasons. It’s still hard. And it’s probably been the most unstable year for my Christianity yet. It’s the year where I’ve held loosely to almost everything that I held sacred. What’s meant to stay will stay. And this… this is the stuff that will stay. There’s a story in the book of Exodus that we’ve all heard a million times. The one of Moses going up the mountain to speak to God…. The text says that he would speak to God “face to face, as one speaks to a friend.” That alone is significant enough, but the Hebrew word that is used for face-panim, is one of the most prolific words in the Hebrew Bible. It’s used to describe how the presence of God illuminates what it touches (Gen 1: 1-3). Whatever God illuminates becomes an image bearer of the divine (Numbers 6:24, Proverbs 8:30) And that’s exactly what happens to Moses, his face literally glows from the presence of God-so much so that his friends ask him to cover it up because it scares them. But this passage in Exodus fully encapsulates how this book feels. It’s like speaking face to face, panim to panim, as one speaks to a friend, even if only for a little while. At the same time, the presence of God is truly there, and if you take the time to look around at what others are saying about it… they’ve become image bearers… their faces are glowing with the truth and the promise and the joy of what is good and tov and unchanging. “God is kind. God is forgiving. God is slow to get angry. God is quick to be glad. God is happy when you tell the truth and sad when things are unfair. She is your protector. He is trustworthy. They are your friends when you feel alone. God hopes. God preserves.” And all the people said Amen.

Two of the things I loved about the late Rachel Held Evans: she really knew how to tell a story and she wasn’t afraid to take on big topics and issues. Both of those traits are beautifully embodied in “What Is God Like,” co-authored by Rachel and Matthew Paul Turner. Their words are at once, both powerful and relatable. The beautiful illustrations by Ying Hui Tan are filled with representatives from throughout creation, including different species, races, genders, ages, and abilities. The book’s format invites the reader to pause every so often to take in the imagery and put themselves in the story. I found myself needing to read it aloud. Whether the reader is an adult needing reminded that they're loved or a child seeking to discover how really God feels about them, they'll read this book over and over again.

here it is. @rachelheldevans’ final masterpiece. coupled with the brilliance of @matthewpaulturner , this book answers one of life’s biggest questions in the most beautiful, honest way. it’s thoughtful, inclusive and beautifully illustrated. it’s perfect for children and for the child that we all once were. “…think about what makes you feel safe, what makes you feel loved, and what makes you feel brave. That's what God is like."

This book is beautiful. I am a mom of two young children and I am an early childhood educator. I have used Matthew Paul Turner's books before in my classes, and this book is definitely going to be used in my future curriculum. The imagery is gorgeous. The descriptions of God are inclusive, child-friendly, AND adult-friendly. I could see the questions my young children have asked me about God as I read this book. The statements about what God is like are rooted in Scripture as well as what I have wondered about in my own imagination. The imagery by illustrator Ying Hui Tan beautifully capture the essence and wonder we all have about what God is really like. I could see the inquisitive nature of Rachel Held Evans and the beautiful, poetic style of Matthew Paul Turner as I read this book. I can tell this will be one my children ask for at bedtime on a regular basis! It will be a great gift as well!