FAITHFUL FEET

The author looks at feet as the vehicle for spreading God’s love.

Sure, feet can be stinky or dirty or funny, but God loves all our feet because they help us spread his grace to those around us. After making that point, Sassi considers the feet of many prominent Biblical characters and how they helped their owners to build (Noah), stand strong (Daniel), confront bullies (David), and share joy (Mary, when she visited Elizabeth to announce “she was having God’s own boy”). Jesus’ feet took him all over while he taught people, healed the sick, helped the lost and those astray, and ultimately “paid sin’s debt” on Calvary. Though several of those topics are on the more serious side, the bouncy rhyming couplets, two to a spread, keep things from getting too heavy for the youngest listeners (though their adults may keenly feel the dichotomy). Di Donna’s seemingly digital illustrations are bright and cheerful, with smiles even on the animals’ faces. The biblical characters are olive-toned, while present-day folks are diverse in skin color and ability. One elderly character uses a cane, a child with a cast on a foot relies on a crutch, and another youngster uses a wheelchair. This tale could be a good choice to share with children just starting to do outreach or volunteering.

A solidly presented, surefooted message rooted in the Christian faith.