Jesus came for us. Because Jesus was born at Christmas, we can know that he is with us always. This board book by author Jared Kennedy helps toddlers and preschoolers understand the true meaning of Christmas in a personal, memorable way.
Jesus Came for Me is part of The Beginner’s Gospel Story Bible series. For children ages three to five, this beautifully illustrated book begins with the announcement of John the Baptist’s birth to Zechariah and ends with the visit of the wise men. Jesus, our great God, was born as a little baby, and his birth is good news and great joy for all people—including your child!
Help your little one know that Jesus is always present, and he helps us believe and wait for him. Because of the compelling content and modern, vivid illustrations, children will live in the joy of the greatest truth of all: Jesus is with us!
This conversational book simply tells the story of the gospel and invites children to respond. Jesus Came for Me helps toddlers and preschoolers celebrate the true meaning of Christmas.
AUTHOR
Jared Kennedy, MDiv, ThM, is the cofounder and managing editor of Gospel-Centered Family, a ministry that helps churches and families share Jesus with the next generation. He also serves as the Children's and Family Ministry Strategist for the Harbor Network, and is an adjunct professor at Boyce College. He is the author of The Beginner's Gospel Story Bible, Are You Close to God?, Jesus Rose for Me, Jesus Came for Me, and God Made Me for Worship, and has developed two VBS programs, Proof Pirates and Clap Your Hands, Stomp Your Feet. He blogs regularly at Gospel-Centered Family and contributes to @TGC, @ERLC, and @HeReadsTruth. You can follow him on Twitter @jaredskennedy. He and his wife, Megan, have three girls, Rachael, Lucy, and Elisabeth.
ILLUSTRATOR
Trish Mahoney is a graphic designer and illustrator in Seattle where she runs The Mahoney Studio with her husband, Patrick, also a designer and illustrator. They have two children, both budding artists too. Trish is the illustrator for the God Made Me series and The Beginner's Gospel Story Bible.
“Children will really enjoy this book! Jesus Came for Me recounts the Christmas-season stories in such a simple, satisfying, and memorable way. Kids will ask for it to be read over and over again. Along with these wonderful stories are beautiful illustrations that capture the drama of Jesus coming into the world as its Savior. A delightful book!”
Gregg R. Allison, Professor of Christian Theology at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary; elder at Sojourn Church East; author of 50 Core Truths of the Christian Faith
“One of the most important messages we can communicate to our children is the message of Christmas. Jared’s ability to teach the essential and wonderful stories from the Bible in the clearest and truest ways is why his writing is a gift to us all. We can celebrate Emmanuel, God with us, with every member of our family this Christmas using Jesus Came for Me.”
Sandra Peoples, Author of Unexpected Blessings; special-needs ministry director at Heights Baptist Church, Alvin, TX
“This book is a welcomed addition to our family’s library. Being beautifully illustrated and thoroughly gospel-focused, I am so thankful to be able to share the message of Jesus’s incarnation with our children through this fantastic work. Our toddlers hang on every word and can easily remember these rich stories that point us to the One who came to rescue us all.”
Jason Thacker, Editor, Creative Director, and Chair of Research in Technology Ethics for the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission
“When your young children or grandchildren snuggle close this Christmas, you’ll want to have this beautifully illustrated board book close at hand. Jesus Came for Me will remind them of the greatest Christmas gift ever. With the freshness and clarity that we’ve come to expect from this acclaimed children’s author, Jared Kennedy brings the story of Jesus’s birth close to heart and home.”
Champ Thornton, Pastor; author of several books including The Radical Book for Kids and Why Do We Say Good Night?
“If there is such a thing as an elegant children’s book, Jared Kennedy has delivered it in Jesus Came for Me. He tells the story of Jesus’s birth with clarity and simplicity, conveying the key truths of the biblical story. All of that makes this a must-have Christmas resource for every family. The vivid graphic design and age-appropriate content will have kids begging, ‘Please, read it again!’”
Tim Beltz, Father and grandfather; retired Captain (United States Coast Guard); retired executive pastor; church consultant with Ten Talents Consulting; author of Charting the Course
“Jesus Came for Me is a simple but clear presentation of the gospel story. Beautifully illustrated and written for children of all ages, it will open the door for gospel conversations with your child and help them to see and understand the story of our Savior’s birth.”
Lance Howerton, President/CEO, Crossings Ministries
“The message of this short book is something every kid needs to hear over and over again: ‘God helps us, God is with us, and Jesus is our King.’ It is the message of Christmas and the message that every heart longs for. Jared delivers this message in a seed form that will go deep in your child’s heart and do what only the gospel can do. I pray that you buy this book, read it to your children, and allow our Good King to do his work.”
Sam Luce, Pastor of Families, Redeemer Church, Utica, NY
“The incarnation of Christ and his coming to earth is one of the most amazing and exciting stories in the history of the world. Jared communicates it simply and faithfully from God’s Word. The included illustrations and application questions make this memorable and interactive, and this will quickly become a family favorite.”
Peter Swift, Executive Director, Camp Susque, Trout Run, PA
“One of the challenges of biblically-based children’s literature is keeping the truths of the gospel simple, practical, and relatable. In Jesus Came for Me, Jared Kennedy not only achieves this challenging task but he models how we can read and understand God’s Word in the same way. This beautiful book will be a delightful resource in our efforts to shepherd our family to read, love, and obey God’s Word!”
Seth York, Host of the From the Beginning Podcast; associate property director, Crossings Ministries, Louisville, KY
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Loved it
This is a straightforward and Biblical version of the Christmas story. I love the Dig Deeper questions built right into this book! It’s even easier to start conversations with your children when the questions are included. The brightly colored and simple illustrations are pleasing to your child’s eye and include appropriate skin tones. I highly recommend this for your Christmas reading! Find all my reviews at GoodBookMom.com.
Jesus Came for Me is a wonderful board book that shares the true reason for Christmas. Colorful illustrations enhance the text. This is a perfect early Christmas gift for a pre-school aged child. While this complimentary book was provided for review by New Growth Press, no other compensation was given. All remarks are my personal and honest opinion. « Way Back Wednesday ~ A Magical Christmas – Claire Freedman Way Back Wednesday ~ Star Bright: A Christmas Story ~ Alison McGhee » Jesus Came for Me – Jared Kennedy Jesus Came for Me is a wonderful board book that shares the true reason for Christmas. Colorful illustrations enhance the text. This is a perfect early Christmas gift for a pre-school aged child. While this complimentary book was provided for review by New Growth Press, no other compensation was given. All remarks are my personal and honest opinion. Jesus Came for Me Book Cover Title: Jesus Came for Me Author: Jared Kennedy Release Date: October 5, 2020 Pages: 20 December 14th, 2020 | Category: 0-2 Years Old,
Jesus Came for Me is the latest title by author, pastor, and father Jared Kennedy. This beautiful board book includes 3 stories from The Beginner's Gospel Storybook Bible. The stories included are centered around the birth of Jesus and help little ones understand why He came. I love that the stories are brief yet full of substance. Although this book, along with the other title in the series, Jesus Rose for Me, is for children, I find my heart comforted by the timeless truths contained within. This adaptation of the events of the Bible is paraphrased for children, yet I appreciate that it mimics the Bible in that the stories complement each other. Each story concludes with questions to help children better understand the story and to help them understand the person and work of Jesus. I'm thankful for the questions because as my daughter grows older, they will be a helpful way to assess what she's learning. Trish Mahoney did a wonderful job on the illustrations which are colorful and pleasing to the eye. I appreciate the aesthetic value of the cover and have enjoyed adding this title to the basket of Christmas books that I've set out for my children to enjoy. This book is one of a few that my one year old enjoys reading for her Bible storytime and I look forward to reading it with her in the years to come. I really enjoy Jesus Came for Me and am pleased to give it my highest recommendation.
What I like about this book: Jared Kennedy does an excellent job sharing the biblical events in an engaging, educational, age-appropriate manner. I enjoy all that he has developed for children. Questions at the end of each section, that build connections with the child and the learning concept. Scripture References to look up the event in your own Bible. Clear, concise, child-friendly images that enhance the book. Concept/Vocabulary Emphasis: Wait, Believe, Immanuel-God with Us, temple Word choices enhance and connect to the Bible text as well as key concepts that reoccur in the Bible, it's understandable for the toddler/preschool audience, but it's also building literacy skills for the children and biblical literacy. Developmental concepts: young/old, Good News, emotions- angry, selfish, gifts, Jesus is the best gift. Wonders: How many people will be disappointed if they own the Beginner's Gospel Story Bible and realize that the three stories are the same? Of course, a board book serves a different audience and setting. I don't have a physical copy of the board book, so I wonder about the quality of pages, durability, etc.
'It's hard to wait when you are standing in line'. This was the phrase that caught my attention the most in the children's book Jesus Came for Me. I found myself going over and over it again; maybe it's because I have had a series of waiting seasons and so I could relate well with it. This book is a story about the birth of Jesus, but it includes several lessons. The lessons are targeted at children and written in simple and understandable terms for them. My 3-year-old daughter understood the message of the book and, in fact, remembers the phrase: Jesus is the best king. I loved that the book started with John, as he is the forerunner of Christ, and that provided a very good background to the story. Also, the illustrations are really beautiful and very catchy to young eyes. Jesus Came for Me will attract toddlers and also older children. FindingGodAmongUs.com Reviewer: Oluwapelumi Boluwaji.
