This colorful, beautifully illustrated children’s book invites children ages three through eight into Buster Bunny’s world to learn alongside him how to bring his worries and stress to Jesus.
Buster loves racing, but the more he thinks about the upcoming competition at the county fair for who will be the fastest animal in Mulberry meadow, the more stressed he gets. No matter how hard he trains, he can’t eat or sleep, and eventually he decides he wants to quit running. Buster’s parents talk with him about quieting the noise in his head so he can listen to Jesus instead of all his worries.
Parents and children will learn concrete, grace-based ways to deal with stress. Based on David Powlison’s minibook Stressed Out and edited by Nan Powlison, Buster Tries to Bail ends with a special section that guides parents in teaching their children to respond with faith when worries take hold in their hearts.
Buster Tries to Bail is part of the Good News for Little Hearts series, bringing gospel help and biblical counsel to families. Based on CCEF’s model of hope and help, each story focuses on an animal family’s real-life issues, encouraging young readers toward a growing relationship with Jesus in the midst of challenging circumstances. Each individual story guides parents toward meaningful conversations with their kids, based on what Scripture has to say about living by faith in everyday life.
By providing biblical help and hope to issues every child faces through vivid illustrations and a story based on a different animal family, even the youngest child will be engaged. Each story offers practical ways to follow Jesus in difficult situations. Instead of a moralistic message, young readers are encouraged to develop a real relationship with the God who cares for them.
Buster Tries to Bail, along with all of the Good News for Little Hearts books, will become a lifelong gift for parents and children, as well as teachers, biblical counselors, and anyone hoping to provide concrete, grace-based help for young children. Buster Tries to Bail is illustrated by Joe Hox and edited by Nan Powlison.
AUTHOR
David Powlison, MDiv, PhD, (1949–2019) was a teacher, counselor, and the executive director of the Christian Counseling & Educational Foundation (CCEF). He wrote many books and minibooks, including Speaking Truth in Love; Seeing with New Eyes; The Biblical Counseling Movement: History and Context; Good and Angry: Redeeming Anger, Irritation, Complaining, and Bitterness; Making All Things New: Restoring Joy to the Sexually Broken; God's Grace in Your Suffering; and Safe and Sound. David was also the editor of The Journal of Biblical Counseling and several of the Good News for Little Hearts children’s books.
Nan Powlison loves to write and illustrate children's books for her friends and seven grandchildren. Nan worked with her husband David to edit three previous books in the Good News for Little Hearts series—Zoe's Hiding Place, Jax's Tail Twitches, and Gus Loses His Grip.
ILLUSTRATOR
Joe Hox was raised on a farm in southern Iowa where he doodled whenever he wasn't spading thistles or feeding pigs. Everyone knew by his crooked hay rows that he would choose art over farming. Joe earned his BA in Art and Education from Dordt College and his MA from the University of Nebraska. Today he lives with his wife and four children in Pella, Iowa, where he illustrates and teaches art. Joe has illustrated all of the Good News for Little Hearts series.
"These books are a uniquely different genre from classic children's bedtime reading. They are counseling books to help children. They provide a creative avenue for children to consider how their faith is intimately relevant to their struggles. This is what makes this series of books so significant."
David Powlison, (1949–2019) was Executive Director of CCEF and editor of the Good News for Little Hearts series
"When our children were little, we read to them constantly—and had these books been available, they would have been among the favorites. With the simplicity and engaging charm of the Peter Rabbit stories, yet with the quiet grace of Christian insight, these stories stamp themselves on young minds. Text and pictures support each other tellingly. These books are destined to become favorites for young families."
D. A. Carson, Research Professor of New Testament, Trinity Evangelical School, Deerfield, IL; cofounder of The Gospel Coalition
"I love these books. My daughter Kim who struggles with a disability loves these books. She giggles all the way through them—catching all the subtle humor. I read them to my grandkids. We especially love the drawings. I buy copies for all my grandchildren. What more can I say? They are fun!"
Paul E. Miller, Director of seeJesus; author of A Praying Life and J-Curve: Dying and Rising with Jesus in Everyday Life
"So many Christian parents are looking for engaging, age-appropriate ways to help their young children learn what the Bible teaches about everyday struggles and challenging situations. This new book series edited by David Powlison and Ed Welch fits the bill! In the Good News for Little Hearts series, kids will be enthralled by relatable characters, charming illustrations, and gospel-centered lessons. These volumes would make a valuable addition to any family’s library."
Jim Daly, President, Focus on the Family
“I sat on the porch with another Christian mom and our three children and we read aloud Buster Tries to Bail, Caspian Crashes the Party, and Halle takes a Stand. What a balm to our hearts and souls these books were! The children all identified with the heart issues presented: dealing with stress, jealousy, and peer pressure. The characters – represented by delightfully illustrated animals – revealed how important children are, both to the Lord and to the world around them. A child applying faith to a real-life challenge holds the power and influence to change the world. The adult characters modeled how a parent could handle a difficult, embarrassing, and discouraging situation while applying the Bible as light to all of our steps. Indeed, and this is one of the more brilliant aspects of these books, these books show by example a hermeneutic of Biblical application that is faithful but not wooden, and powerful but not for grown-ups only. And the teaching tools in the back – questions and answers for parents and cut-out Bible verses for children – make these books hands-on treasures. I love these books and will be buying many copies for the children in my life!”
Rosaria Butterfield is married to Rev. Kent Butterfield, pastor of First Reformed Presbyterian Church of Durham, NC. She is a homeschooling mother and writer.
“For years I wished there were resources that would help equip children to face the many trials and temptations that come in this life rather than waiting till they are neck-deep in the mire before throwing them the lifeline of biblical truth. The Good News for Little Hearts series is an answer to my longing. These books communicate life-changing biblical truths through beautiful illustrations and stories that connect with young hearts in meaningful ways.”
Curtis Solomon, Executive Director, Biblical Counseling Coalition
“Wow, what a series! Within these books you meet wonderfully relatable characters with feelings and experiences readily identifiable to children of all ages, clever and creative illustrations, excellent questions that will spark meaningful conversations with your child or grandchild, and simple scriptural connections that are easily understood. Can’t wait to recommend them to our kids and read them to our grandkids!”
Dave Harvey, President of Great Commission Collective; founder of RevDaveHarvey.com; author of When Sinners Say I Do and I Still Do: Growing Closer and Stronger Through Life’s Defining Moment
"There is beauty and often deeply convicting lessons for grownups found in gospel-soaked stories for children. The Good News for Little Hearts series is a shining example of such gospel-centered story telling. With adorable illustrations and true-to-life subject matter, these books will captivate your kids and encourage your own heart."
Shelby Abbott, speaker; campus minister; and author of DoubtLess: Because Faith is Hard
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CCEF
Edward T. Welch
CCEF
David Powlison
Edward T. Welch
Paul David Tripp
Edward T. Welch
Lauren Whitman
David Powlison
Jayne V. Clark
In this well-crafted book, Buster is a very relatable character for many children. It is amazing to me how many young children now struggle with stress. I appreciate that this book shows that sometimes children’s stress can be greatly influenced by the adults in their life. I also like that they showed how the coach was struggling with stress as well and the answer to both his and Buster’s problem was Jesus. No matter the age, the answer is Jesus. I did think it was a little odd, although it is not technically illegal, that Buster’s dad wrote on a dollar bill. This beautifully illustrated, real-life applicable, truth-speaking book is one that I highly recommend for your family! Find all my reviews on GoodBookMom.com!
Buster is worried and stressed about an upcoming race where he really wants to do well. Not only are the long ears on Buster super adorable, but the subject is one I think every child could use during 2020 - with online learning and constant upheaval, most kids are likely to feel stressed out these days. This is a perfect way to start a Biblical discussion with them.
You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you. Trust in the Lord always, for the Lord God is an eternal rock. Isaiah 26:3-4... These were the words that rang in my head as I read the book Buster Tries to Bail. This is a great book designed to teach children the need to rest in Jesus, amidst the stress of life. Asides the fact that this book has been beautifully illustrated, Buster Tries to Bail has also been written in easy, clear, and understandable statements. No doubt, any child will understand and be blessed by this. The illustrations are catchy and convey the information in the written text, such that, a child who cannot read will still find it easy to comprehend. I also love the short note for parents at the end of the book. It’s so amazing how scriptural truths can be passed across in such a story form. A child gets to learn profound truths from the scriptures, while still enjoying the fun and the advantages that comes with reading a storybook. Buster Tries to Bail is one of many delightful books in New Growth Press’s Good News for Little Hearts Series. Our Christian Book Reviews: The book reviews at Finding God Among Us focus on Christian books – adult and children, fiction and nonfiction. Our specialty is books on faith and new Christian book releases. We’re proud to be included in the Top 50 Christian Book Review Bloggers. Our publisher partners include New Growth Press, Shadow Mountain Publishing, and Revell and BakerBooks, divisions of Baker Publishing Group. I chose to read this book in exchange for my honest opinion. This reviewer is Oluwapelumi Boluwaji.
As with the previous books in the series, these three each focus on some type of struggle or difficulty that is common and relevant to children (and adults alike!) This book brings to light the pressure that is often placed on young people to excel in certain endeavours. And the stress that can oftentimes come because of that pressure. The scripture shared in the book to help confront the issue of being stressed is Isaiah 26:3-4. The character in the story (and the reader) is encouraged to find rest and peace through trusting in Jesus. I also liked that the coach in the story was dealing with stress and had to acknowledge it in his own life, as well. Kids and adults alike need to run to Jesus with their burdens and rest in Him. The book concludes with more tips and scripture for parents to use when trying to help their own child deal with stress. I highly recommend each of the books in this series and believe they can be a big help to parents to open up discussions with their children about issues we all face. The stories are engaging and the illustrations fun and delightful. I love all of the scripture that is used, and that the characters are always pointed to Jesus as the ultimate help through any trial.
I have read all the previous books in this Good News for Little Hearts series and have loved every single one of them. This one, once again, meets my expectations and standards for the series. The book utilizes the following scripture throughout the story: Isaiah 26:3-4 “You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you! Trust in the Lord always, for the Lord God is the eternal Rock.” The story follows Buster as he learns the truth of this Scripture in a very difficult but real-life situation. What I love about the story is that it’s realistic. There are many children that can easily relate to Buster’s struggle with stress. I also love that the Powlisons create a story that makes emotions and struggles real and valid, but teaches healthy ways for children to handle those emotions and struggles. The story is concluded with a section for parents to help dive deeper into the struggle of stress. It provides eight practical ways to assist your child: - Everyone experiences stress when they are under pressure - Sometimes we don’t realize how stressed we are - We react to stress in different ways at different times - Encourage your child to bring all of what causes them stress to God and tell him all about it - Learn to listen to Jesus’s voice - The greatest mark of Jesus’s love and care for us is his giving his own life for his people - What we are most stressed about reveals our deepest desires, hopes and fears. - Remind your child that God is in control of the world. The illustrations throughout the book are absolutely beautiful and engaging. The details are spectacular and really capture the heart of the story. You will find so many little hidden gems in each picture that creates a fun, engaging game! I received an e-copy of this book from New Growth Press in exchange for an honest review.