Jax’s Tail Twitches helps families learn to turn to God when something important goes wrong and frustration turns to anger.
It’s a big day for the Squirrel family—the acorns are finally ripe, and it’s time to collect them for the winter. Papa, Mama, Jax, and Caspian all work together until the two brothers start picking on each other. Then another family comes along and starts picking nuts from their tree, contrary to the Squirrel Handbook. One thing leads to another, and that’s when everyone’s tails start to twitch in anger! But Papa Squirrel remembers God’s kindness to those who break the rules, and together, they ask forgiveness, making room for love and restored relationships.
Edited by counselor David Powlison, Jax’s Tail Twitches offers concrete, grace-based help for dealing with anger and is part of the Good News for Little Hearts series, which brings gospel wisdom 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 during challenging circumstances.
Joe Hox was raised on a farm in southern Iowa where he doodled whenever he wasn't spading thistles or bottle-feeding calves. Everyone knew by his crooked hay rows that he would choose art over farming. Joe taught art for twelve years before becoming a full-time illustrator. He is the illustrator for the Good News for Little Hearts series, as well as Who Is Jesus? 40 Pictures to Share with Your Family, written by his wife, Kate.
"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
"Failure, anger, anxiety—for too long we have thought that addressing these typical life experiences is only for the 'teenage' or 'adult' years. How refreshing—and wise—to see them being addressed from a gospel-centered perspective for little children. This series, Good News for Little Hearts, has the potential to produce godly perspectives and habits from the earliest years of our children's lives."
Jonny Gibson, Assistant Professor of Old Testament, Westminster Theological Seminary, Philadelphia
"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
"Jax's Tail Twitches is a tremendous resource for children and parents who struggle with anger. The endearing illustrations draw children in to a storyline that uncovers both the sin of anger, and our need for forgiveness and reconciliation. The story walks us through what a right response to our anger looks like and provides a great starting point for discussions with your children. Definitely a must-read in our family!"
Deepak and Sarah Reju, Capitol Hill Baptist Church (Washington, DC), Authors of Great Kings of the Bible and God Is Better Than Trucks
"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
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This is the first book in this series I have purchased or read & we love it! We have already added several others from this series to our wishlist. I love how the authors show how to respond biblically to our anger in a way that is appropriate for young children. I love how the father is the initiator in this and leads his family spiritually by modeling for them repentance, prayer, & the importance of Scripture. Our daughter loves this book too. It’s been helpful to apply Ephesians 4:26 & Galatians 5:22 as we talk to her about how to handle her anger in a way that honors God & how important prayer is when we are angry.
This book was the perfect follow-up to an episode of anger in our household. My 5 year old was able to answer the some of the questions in the back of the book intelligently and we had an honest discussion about her outburst and how to handle future anger issues. Those parenting moments can leave you paralyzed about what to do next, but a story like this is a great way to introduce a teaching moment that they will actually listen to, instead of a lecture from me.
This book was the perfect follow-up to an episode of anger in our household. My 5 year old was able to answer the some of the questions in the back of the book intelligently and we had an honest discussion about her outburst and how to handle future anger issues. Those parenting moments can leave you paralyzed about what to do next, but a story like this is a great way to introduce a teaching moment that they will actually listen to, instead of a lecture from me.
Such a cute book. Great pictures and such a good storyline. I love how this book takes situations that kids might actually encounter and point them to Jesus. But furthermore, I liked how this book shows that parents aren't perfect and can struggle with the same things that their kids do. I liked how the parents showed an example of repentance for their children.
Such a cute book. Great pictures and such a good storyline. I love how this book takes situations that kids might actually encounter and point them to Jesus. But furthermore, I liked how this book shows that parents aren't perfect and can struggle with the same things that their kids do. I liked how the parents showed an example of repentance for their children.
This is a a beautiful book. I didn’t realize that it was intended for older children before purchasing. I have a two and four year old. Each book has a lot of words. It’s going to be a while before we can actually get through the entire book. Right now the best thing to do is summarize each page so that my children don’t lose interest.
Everyone gets frustrated when something important to them goes wrong. In "Jax's Tail Twitches: When You Are Angry", the whole Squirrel family ends up out of sorts when acorn gathering doesn't go according to plan. Although Papa, Mama, Jax, and Caspian Squirrel all get angry, they also learn about the power of saying sorry, seeking forgiveness, remembering God's words, and praying together. Edited by David Powlison and charmingly illustrated by Joe Hox, "Jax's Tail Twitches" ends with a special section that guides parents in teaching children how the gospel of Jesus Christ changes how we respond when life goes wrong. Also included is a tear-out page of Back Pocket Bible Verses that will help children and adults remember to turn to God for help when they are angry. Intended for three-to eight-year-olds and centered on an animal family to help bring gospel help and biblical counsel to themselves and their families from a Christian perspective, "Jax's Tail Twitches: When You Are Angry" is unreservedly recommended for family, community, and Sunday School library picture book collections.
LIke the book before this - this was a huge help in teaching the boys about how to handle their anger and frustration. Life is hard. It does not always go the way we want it to. I love that these lessons are taught through scripture and with adorable animal characters.
This book is one of our new favorite books. My kids have dealt with other's opinions being pushed on them. It is a great reminder of how we need to be concerned with God's opinion of us - and not others. The boys loved this book - and they loved the animals. As a parent I loved how it tackled real world issues in a fun Godly way.
I’m striving hard to make my conversations around moral issues gospel-fluent and biblically faithful. Some of these stories, in needing to be simple enough to be grasped by the very young, can come across as “just pray, and you won’t be afraid anymore!” (I think what is intended is “when you are afraid, you should pray!”) Dealing with anger, repentance, seeking forgiveness, and reconciliation. Part of a new series of illustrated hardbacks from CCEF. As a parent of four young girls, I’m always on the lookout for reading material. Especially for my youngest, who still need/want/love to be read to. I’m very grateful for more and more New Growth Press has recently published a variety of really good options along this line. They are delightfully illustrated, cleverly told, engaging books that my youngest daughter asks for repeatedly, and my second youngest now picks off the shelf to read on her own (she’s a beginning reader.) These books provide great source material for dealing with hard topics (failure, anger, fear, ethnic diversity, and marveling at God’s creativity!) and provides parents with guides for discussion along these topics. My girls also love the tear-out pocket bible verses included in each. The best part about these stories is that they aim at pointing a child to Christ in faith, rather than simple behavior modification and moralism, in accessible ways. Oh, and the messages of the books are good reminders and encouragement for me, the parent, as well. :) A small nitpick with some of the books: I’m striving hard to make my conversations around moral issues gospel-fluent and biblically faithful. Some of these stories, in needing to be simple enough to be grasped by the very young, can come across as “just pray, and you won’t be afraid anymore!” (I think what is intended is “when you are afraid, you should pray!”) An attentive parent will be able to navigate around this, but I wasn’t always an attentive parent (and still sometimes miss here). I’m not sure how I’d improve the situation, but just something to be aware of. Perhaps just a gentle nudge that parents should pray hard about how to communicate to our kids that sometimes God does allow suffering to continue, even when we pray. Perhaps the hardest lesson of all.
