Meet Jesus: The Life and Lessons of a Beloved Teacher

Taking a liberal approach intended to reach a potentially broad audience that includes non-Christians, Gunney presents a sweeping look at Jesus’ life. The author focuses—employing summarized parables and other lessons—on Jesus’ role as an accessible and very human teacher rather than on his divinity as the son of God. Jesus’ birth, death and resurrection are mentioned briefly in the accepted Christian contexts, including Christmas Day and Easter. But rather than a Biblical timeline, young readers will likely come away with a more general sense of how Jesus might have lived as a man sharing new ideas about kindness, love and respect. The simple presentation can serve as a discussion starter and impetus to further explore either the Bible or other texts. Conteh-Morgan’s cartoonish ink-and-watercolor illustrations keep the overall tone of this volume cheery and light. Bible passage references are included. Ages 4-8. (June)