Basil and the Secateurs (Lost Sheep Series)

With bright, colourful, bold, fun illustrations and brilliantly written stories, the Lost Sheep books will forever be favourites - both of my young kids and me as their mum. I love how the author takes adult concepts - like God growing us through difficult situations - and makes them simple enough for a young child to relate to. Like Basil, so proud of his grapes and luscious leaf and terrific twirly tendrils until the day the secateurs come and cut them off. He's devastated, until the vine reminds him that the gardener prunes every plant so that next summer they'll grow even better. Simple, funny, repetitive phrases, perfect for reading with your young kids. And with a parents' page at the end with helpful questions to use to talk with the kids about the story as well as the original Bible passage the story is taken from. Brilliant. Couldn't recommend more.

This book is part of a lovely book series for children. There are a couple of sentences for each double page, so these books are suitable for both young kids and contain messages appreciated by older kids too. The story is written by an Aussie. The pictures are very simple but extremely bright and colourful. In short, this book sees the return of Basil (the grapevine branch from 'The gardener and the vine' story) and emphasises the need to have courage and trust in Jesus.