IF JESUS CAME TO MY HOUSE

With a first-person narration in old-fashioned, rhyming verse, a little boy imagines what it would be like if a young Jesus visited his house as a friend. The unnamed boy invites Jesus into his home and they spend an afternoon playing together. In the second half of the story the narrator describes how he can use the principles that the adult Jesus taught, by attending church and serving others in need. Though the concept of Jesus as a little boy may be a little confusing to younger children at first, there is a distinct delineation between the boy’s imaginary visitor and his real life. McElrath-Eslick’s attractive illustrations use vibrant colors and a double-page-spread format to add a contemporary balance to the text, which is still in print in an earlier edition from 1951. Although it’s regrettable that they portray an all-white cast of characters, the new illustrations make this beloved poem more accessible to today’s children while still providing a traditional introduction to applying the Golden Rule in a child’s life. (Picture book/religion. 3-5)