Zoe's Hiding Place: When You Are Anxious

Zoe’s Hiding Place was a very cute and well told children’s story about a little mouse by the name of Zoe who has an issue with being anxious. She is a little mouse with a big imagination, love’s fairy tales, and sometimes just has a hard time keeping focused as she gets lost in said imagination. As a mother I completely understand as I have children who can relate. However, due this lack of focus and attention sometimes Zoe becomes anxious as she has not listened or understood the directions. I thought this had great lessons at learning to control anxious thoughts and how to handle them when they come. Bringing key verses from the Bible dealing with worry, we have a mouse that is finally beginning to understand that we do not have to be anxious for anything. This is another book I shared with my eight year old son who again really enjoyed the story and the lessons. Our favorite part was seeing how the book art showed how everyday household objects were being used for the mouse’s home. We both got a chuckle out of those. I received a complimentary copy of this book. I was not required to post a positive review and all views and opinions are my own.

Both of my daughters (ages 6 and 3) claim Zoe's Hiding Place: When You Are Anxious as their favorite book of the Good News for Little Hearts series. They like the character of Zoe and the colorful illustrations hold their attention while I read the narrative. As the title indicates, this book deals with fear and anxiety. I absolutely love two things in this book. First, that Zoe and her mom talk openly about the anxiety she experiences. Second, that Zoe's fear actually happens – because Zoe has to experience the fear, remember what to do, and work her way through it. I want to teach my children to deal with anxiety in a healthy way now so that when they are older, they know how to do it. This book is an excellent teaching tool for that purpose. Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

There is always a need for biblical counseling in the church. Whether it is a couple trying to save their marriage or parents dealing with their wayward teenager, the ministry of biblical counseling serves as a guide to counsel from God’s Word. Married couples and parents need it. Teenagers ought to heed it. But what about younger kids? Oftentimes, the scope of biblical counseling seems to apply only to adults and teenagers. Yet, as Christians who believe the Bible applies to all of life for all stages of life, doesn’t God’s Word give direction and counsel for children too? The publishers of New Growth Press believe so and have put forth biblical counseling for kids in their new “Good News For Little Hearts” children’s book series. Zoe the Anxious Mouse In this volume of the series, Zoe’s Hiding Place: When You Are Anxious, we meet Zoe, an anxious mouse, who is afraid to take a field trip with her class because of what happened before when she was left behind and lost. As the story plays out, Zoe’s parents assure her with a verse from the “Great Book”. When Zoe decides to join her classmates on the field trip, she faces the same fear as before: she has left behind and lost. Yet, she remembers her Papa Mouse giving her a note placed in her back pocket. She pulls it out and her anxiousness turns into peace as she remembers God is her refuge and safe place from trouble and fear. Creatively Counseling Children on Anxiety Zoe’s Hiding Place, edited by David Powlison and illustrated by Joe Hox, uses this story about a mouse’s fear and anxiety to creatively counsel children from God’s Word when they are anxious. This tale does not end with a mere moral lesson either. Biblical counselor David Powlison makes sure to highlight the Good News of Jesus in addressing Zoe’s anxiety. The gospel is on display in Zoe's story. This book and series show biblical counseling is not just for big people; it is for little hearts as well. It is biblical counseling for elementary-aged kids. This book is so much more than a book, though. Parents will appreciate the resources found in the back of the book, including a list of how to help their child with anxiety as well as back pocket Bible verses to cut out or copy for their children to use. If you are a parent who desires to counsel your anxious child from God’s Word and are struggling to guide them in a creative and engaging way, then listen to this counsel and get a copy of Zoe’s Hiding Place: When You Are Anxious today! 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.

Zoe's Hiding Place: When You are Anxious is one of three new releases in the Good New For Little Hearts series from New Growth Press and CCEF. As a member of a church that is very committed to Biblical Counseling I was very intrigued by this new series. CCEF has produced many quality resources for adults that have been very beneficial to me and countless others. The idea that these same truths would now be made available to kids in story book form had me very excited for their release.  The series brings gospel truth to children by "focusing on an animal family's real-life issues, encouraging young readers toward a growing relationship with Jesus in the midst of challenging circumstances." Zoe's Hiding Place brings to children a story of Zoe the mouse and her struggles with anxiety. Zoe is faced with the difficulty of going to a place, the Art Museum, that has caused her great anxiety in the past. During a previous trip she got lost when she didn't pay attention to her class leaving. Zoe was very anxious that this would happen again and dreaded going. After telling her parents about her fear and worry, she is directed by them to truths from Scripture. God is a refuge and help and she can go to him in prayer when she starts to fear. Sure enough, on the class trip to the Art Museum Zoe gets lost again, only this time she prays and remembers that God is near (through a note that her dad gave her) and then calmly finds her way back to her class.  The book closes with a section called Helping Your Child With Anxiety. Here the author gives 10 points from Scripture to further discuss with your children. This is where the biblical counseling influence of CCEF is most clearly seen. This section definitely turns the book into a resource to be used over and over again with your children. There is also a Back Pocket Bible Verse section with Bible verses for kids to carry with them for when they are anxious. This is a very nice addition to the book. The illustrations of the book are also very well done.  Zoe's Hiding Place is a wonderful resource for parents, teachers, and churches to connect the truths of Scripture with different struggles that children will face. The writing style is engaging, the illustrations are wonderfully done, and the biblical truths are clearly communicated. I would highly recommend this book to any Christian that regularly interacts with young children.  I received a copy of this book from New Growth Press in exchange for an honest review.

The entire Good News for Little Hearts series is a wonderful collection of children's books that touches up on real life situations and the best way to handle them as Christians, with faith and grace. Jax's Tail Twitches touches up on ways to deal with anger and even has a lesson on sharing. Buster's Ears Trip Him Up teaches about humility and how to cope with failure. Zoe's Hiding Place discusses fear and anxiousness, and what God says about these things. The illustrations throughout are fantastic! With the turn of each page, not only does the illustrator tell the story with his artwork, but he was also sure to incorporate all kinds of neat and interesting details in the background to really help give each story depth and life. Each book is meant to strike up meaningful conversations between parents and their children as they read about the difficulties the characters face in their own individual situation, and how they learn to live in faith and follow what God's word says. As the plot of each book progresses and the main character comes face to face with a unique challenge, Bible references, prayers, and scripture are introduced to show them what to do next. In turn, this teaches young children how to deal with their own emotions and what to do when all odds seem against them. It's definitely a series that I hope will eventually expand to include additional stories. I received an advanced copy of the book, however all views and opinions are purely my own.

The third book in Good News for Little Hearts talks to kids about how to deal with anxiety. I like how this book not only addresses it, but also helps give kids practical tools on how to face what they are anxious about and help them overcome their fears. These books have been wonderful for my children and I to read through, since they enjoy the stories and illustrations, and they work as great conversation starters on talking about emotions. I highly recommend this series! I received this book from the publisher. This is my honest review.