Gus Loses His Grip: When You Want Something Too Much

This book is so well written and so relatable for children, as with all of the books in the Good News for Little Hearts series. Every child struggles with the lure of things- not just children!- and this book addresses their sinful desires with an understandable and gentle approach that will resonate in their hearts. The illustrations are warm and inviting and will capture your children’s imagination. There are also bible verses and a parent resource page in the back. I highly recommend this book for your family! Find all my reviews on GoodBookMom.com

Gus Loses His Grip is go-to counsel for parenting and helping young children to think through what has a hold on their hearts. The section in the back entitled “Helping Your Child with the ‘I Wantsies’” equips parents in dealing with the issue, and the Back Pocket Bible Verses will encourage the kids with this particular truth of Scripture. Whether it is a toddler asking for more food or a preschool and elementary child wanting more and more time playing games and watching videos, this book will helps kids see how problems can arise, namely that whatever it is that has a grip on the child rather than the child having a grip on it. If you are a parent who wants your young child to not be controlled by things but compelled by the love of Christ, then Gus Loses His Grip: When You Want Something Too Much edited by David Powlison is a good place to start. I received this book from New Growth Press in exchange for this review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own and are my honest review of the book.

This is another great children's book from New Growth Press that not only entertains but also teaches Godly principles. Gus Loses His Grip is the story of Gus the raccoon and his love for anything sweet. Candy, fruit, you name it..."Gus loved sweets. He loved everything sweet!" Soon, Gus finds himself hiding candy, lying, and eventually stealing to satisfy his sweet tooth. When Papa raccoon talks to Gus about letting his love of sweets cause him to do wrong, he soon realizes that he himself has been guilty of coveting fishing equipment and that this is very wrong also. Children will love the colorful illustrations as they observe the raccoon family involved in the same daily activities as humans, such as fishing, Easter egg hunts, and picking berries. They will also learn that everyone is tempted by sin and that there are many different ways to sin, but forgiveness is always possible because of Jesus Christ. This is a great book for children and adults to read together and there is also an added parent's guide in the back to help in further discussion. I highly recommend this book. I received a complimentary copy from New Growth Press but I wasn't required to write a positive review. These are my own opinions.

This children’s book is for those times “when you want something too much.” For Gus, the temptation comes in the form of sweets. Many of us can related to that, right? In this story, Gus struggles with moderation. He hides candy in his room, gobbles up his Easter candy, and steals candy from the local store. Young readers might need help understanding the correlation between Gus’s temptations (candy), Mama’s temptations (sales), and Papa’s temptations (fishing lures). Be sure to read the parent guide at the back of the book to extend the discussion to suit your own family’s needs. For our family, at this point, it’s about video games, YouTube, and shoes! I had a few issues with this story. His parents seemed largely unaware of the way Gus indulged. Young ones might be tempted to tuck candy under a pillow like Gus did, since it was never addressed in the book. Additionally, Gus did not receive a consequence after his parents caught him stealing from the store. He was forced to return the candy and offer an apology, but nothing beyond that. If my children had read this at the book’s marketed age (5-8 years), they would have been punished at home. At the very least, I wondered why the commandment against stealing wasn’t mentioned. I received a copy of this book from the publisher. Opinions shared are mine.

This storybook has a wonderful message that I think children as well as adults can relate too. How much is too much and when does it turn into greed? I think the message is a good one all year long, but maybe at Christmastime the most. (Though this book actually takes place right after Easter.) Gus is a little raccoon who has quite a sweet tooth. So much so that it becomes almost like an addiction for him until he starts losing control of himself and does something that he would not normally do. What I liked was how his parents, especially his dad handled it. This was an eye opener for sure and a great lesson in contentment. This is a really nice hardback book with the most adorable and creative illustrations. My son and I have been reading these books together, he is 9 but both he and I have been enjoying this series of little animals learning valuable lessons. I received a copy of this storybook from the publisher. I was not required to post a positive review and all views and opinions are my own.