There is a new children’s book that is about to hit the scene written by my friend Tim Davis.
Squiggly’s Race to the Ark is chock full of encouragement, and a great resource for parents who desire to see their kids look beyond life’s challenges and see the fruit of perseverance.
Squiggly is a seemingly ordinary snail. He’s slow, he’s small and he leaves a slimy trail wherever he goes. I would imagine that if you were choosing friends among the mollusks of the world, Squiggly wouldn’t be your first choice. Who wants to hang with the guy who’s parents can always find him because of his mucus trail? Squiggly does make some very good friends though and as he races to the ark he’s informed, encouraged, protected and commended for doing what only he could do.
As a parent, I enjoyed sharing this book with my boys because it challenges them to think about what God put inside of them that might not seem like their best feature, but is possibly just the thing God needs to fulfill His purposes. All they need to do is be willing and obey. Just like Squiggly, they will face adversity and discouragement along the journey, but God always makes a way. For Squiggly, he brought a friend with the right words at the right time. This provided a way for me to talk about friendships as well. Who is in my child’s life that will listen to God when they need encouragement or protection? Who of their friends will encourage them and who will put them down? I was able to use Squiggly as an example of choosing friends wisely, it could be the difference between fulfilling God’s purpose or losing our way.
If you have young children, I encourage you to get a copy of this book. It’s an opportunity for dialogue and encouragement between you and your child. They will love the full color illustrations and a perspective on the story of Noah and the ark that they’ve never heard before. There’s no better way to bring Bible stories to life than to hear a personal account of being there. Squiggly’s story is fictional, of course, but it has a real message that will brighten your child’s day.
I also love that Tim has not simply written a little story and left you to sort out the details. The back of the book has resources for parents. I encourage you, along with Tim, to take the gift assessment provided on the website to help you better grasp what God has placed within your child. What a great opportunity to get a clearer picture of how God wants to use your child.
I hope you enjoy Squiggly and his friends.
Squiggly’s Race to the Ark
by: Tim Davis
Art by: Kenny DeWitt
www.squigglyandfriends.com
If you are a local reader you will be able to purchase a first run discounted copy of Squiggly’s Race to the Ark at Cornerstone Church this weekend in the main lobby.