On the 14th March 2006, the Bible Society of NSW had launched a new book entitled ‘Because Jesus Loves Me’ to children aged between 0 to 18 months in what some had hailed as the ‘first of its kind designed for this age group’.
The new broad book would contain 16 colourful pages teaching them about the bible where the idea was to get them connected to meeting and knowing Jesus.
In each of these pages there would be a ‘BodySmart Actions’ to enable children to actively read the book with their parent thus helping them find meaning before they could read the words on each page.
The book would be part of a series entitled ‘Bible Beginnings’ published by Bible Society NSW, which aimed to provide opportunities to establish a faith foundation for children. The logic was by hearing the Bible, seeing the pictures, and doing simple actions, children could meet and discover Jesus.
Daniel Wills the CEO of Bible Society NSW believed children reading God’s Word early on would increase their spiritual growth. He said: “The act of reading God's Words linked with meaningful actions encourage children in their spiritual growth from an early age.”
Testimonies had been given by buyers who believed the book was beneficial to their children.
One parent wrote in saying: “I've read the book twice now with my three year old and 18 month old girls. They enjoyed it and particularly liked the mirror and the actions with my three year old asking for several reads in the one sitting. The other day I found my 18 month old sitting in the hallway with the book in her lap open at the "He rose" page, chatting away to herself with her arms in the air and squealing (copying the actions of the photo). At another time I saw her trying to hug herself round the head trying to copy the picture on the "He cares" page.”
Another dad wrote saying: “His three year old raced around the house holding up the mirror to her six month old sister's face, then hers, then her Dad's & Mum's faces saying "see... Jesus loves you and Jesus loves me & Daddy, Daddy, Jesus loves you and ...where's mummy? See mummy Jesus loves mummy!"
‘Because Jesus Loves Me’ retails for $8.95 and is available from Bible Society NSW on: http://www.biblesocietynsw.com.au/index