Book Review- When God Created My Toes

When God Created My Toes by Dandi Daley Mackall is a children's book based off Psalm 139:13-16, which reads, "For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well."

It is a light hearted read, with a series of questions set to rhyme. They are cute musings that I could easily imagine my children asking or coming up with on their own. They are sweet inquiries into what God knew when he created each of us. That being said, I couldn't get away from the fact that not a single question is answered with the book. Certainly, they leave room for good discussion between parent and child, but what about the child reading on their own or the child who doesn't have a parent familiar with the truth of scripture. A few questions seem to be thrown in more for rhyming sake than common sense, such as "Did we sing our ABC's when God created my knees?" (what!?) and some are frankly theologically off base, such as "Did we cheer for Angel bands when God created my hands?" It almost reads at times as if the child was created in heaven before being placed in the mother's womb. Quite frankly, it's a bit weird if you don't treat the questions as silly.

The illustrations (by David Hohn) in the book are AMAZING. They are charming and full of joy and wonder. They are filled with color and expression. I couldn't say enough about how lovely they are!

I probably wouldn't recommend this book, nor will I keep it myself. In my opinion, it's one thing for my children to ask silly or innocent questions, it's another to read them to my kids. They put stock and trust in books. I just find it too off based to keep reading to them, though it did lead to a lovely discussion on God's great care in creating them during our initial read. I also am bothered that the book doesn't answer any of the questions posed, but particularly that it ends with a question- a major question "Was he pleased as he could be when God created me?" I personally would have made that a stated fact. "He WAS pleased as he could be when God created me?" Despite my reservations, however, the decision to fore go keeping this book is not easy because of the insanely good illustrations:) For me, I'll pass on this book, but definitely look for more books illustrated by David Hohn.

*I have recieved this book free from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.