A CUP OF LOVE

As he did with his nonfiction work for adults, Relationship Goals (2020), Christian megachurch pastor Todd shows young readers how developing a close bond with God can strengthen relationships with family and friends.

A mother encourages her daughter to talk to Jesus the same way she would to a best friend. Mom goes on to tell her daughter about relationship goals. Jesus should be first on her list of goals. A glowing, brown-skinned Jesus is depicted praying beside the young protagonist as her mother urges her to make goals. First, it’s important to wake up and thank the Lord and to pray every morning. Through it all, her parents will “help you learn what makes God glad.” The young daughter notices another kind of relationship when she sees Mom getting dressed up for a night out with Dad. When the child cries because she wants to go, too, her father uses an analogy of a faucet pouring water into cups to show how God pours love into people, who then share it with those they care about: “We can’t pour out love unless God first pours in. That’s why it’s important to spend time with Him.” Santana’s visuals are vivid, at times resembling stills from an animated movie, while Todd’s story effectively uses metaphor to make the concept of godly love accessible to a young audience—though it’s not likely to resonate with children who aren’t part of a Christian faith. The family is Black.

Tender guidance for young Christian readers.