Good Good Father

by Chris Tomlin, Pat Barrett

Overview

Inspired by the #1 hit worship song by Chris Tomlin, this precious story teaches children about our Father God's unconditional love and acceptance and that the only gift God wants is our hearts.

Grammy Award-winning music artist, Chris Tomlin, and Pat Barrett (Housefires) team up to tell the story of a little bear named Tucker whose life is forever changed when he learns just how great the King's love is for him. When Tucker's friends need help, he journeys to see the King who lives in a castle where the door is always open. Along the way, Tucker encounters a variety of humorous animals filled with ideas about what the King is like. Then finally, he meets the King who runs to him with open arms.

This read-aloud storybook for 4- to 8-year-olds:

• Shows young children the character of God through a fun adventure story
• Teaches that God loves His children no matter what
• Encourages kids to have a relationship with their Heavenly Father and to ask for His help in prayer
• Sparks family discussions about who God is
• Makes a calming bedtime read with its warm message of God's caring heart

With whimsical art created by Lorna Hussey, this inspiring story will leave children, young and old, reassured that God is a good, good Father, and they are loved by Him.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780718086954
Publisher:	Nelson, Thomas, Inc.
Publication date:	10/04/2016
Pages:	32
Sales rank:	197,070
Product dimensions:	8.20(w) x 10.20(h) x 0.50(d)
Lexile:	AD520L (what's this?)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

With 12 albums, 16 #1 radio singles, a Grammy Award, 21 Dove Awards, and two platinum and five gold albums to his credit, Chris Tomlin is among the most well-known and influential artists in music. His songs include “How Great Is Our God,” “Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone),” “Our God,” and most recently, “Good Good Father,” to name a few. It is estimated that each week 20–30 million people sing one of Tomlin’s songs in worship. He also cowrote the bestselling children’s book, Good Good Father. More than anything, Chris loves being a husband to Lauren and a daddy to Ashlyn and Madison.

Pat Barrett is a husband, father, songwriter, and worship leader based out of Atlanta, Georgia. He is the worship pastor of Grace-Midtown Church and cowriter of the #1 song “Good Good Father.” Pat also travels with Housefires, a worship expression based out of the Atlanta area.

Read an Excerpt

CHAPTER 1

A colorful kite soared in the sky, and then whoosh! — it caught on an oak tree branch.

"Don't worry. I can help!" Tucker called, tugging the kite this way and that.

Tucker was a little bear. Helping others made him happy ... and his friends needed lots of help.

Some bears were always fighting ...

some bears were sick ...

some bears couldn't read ...

some bears were hungry ...

and some bears were sad.

Tucker didn't know how to help his friends.

"I could ask the King for help!" Tucker cried. "Maybe, just maybe, if I give him the perfect gift, he will help us."

So off Tucker went on a journey to see the good King who lived in the castle where the door was always open.

It wasn't long before a group of big, strong raccoons blocked Tucker's path.

"Stop!" one raccoon ordered. "What do you want?"

"I w-w-want to take the King the perfect gift, but-but-but I don't know what to choose," Tucker explained.

"The King is a good warrior," the raccoon said. "Why don't you give him this shield?"

"The King will keep you safe!" cheered the other raccoons.

Down the road, an owl swooped down in front of Tucker.

"Hoot, hoot!" the owl called out. "What would you like to learn?"

"I'm trying to figure out the perfect gift to take to the King," Tucker replied.

"The King teaches from his wise book," the owl told him. "I'm certain the King would be pleased if you gave him something to read."

As Tucker walked away, the owl hooted, "Go see the King. He is a good teacher!"

As he walked, Tucker spotted foxes wearing long white jackets.

"How are you feeling?" asked a concerned fox. "I feel fine, but some of the bears in my town are sick," Tucker replied. "I'm on my way to see the King and ask for his help."

"Here, take these bandages as a gift," the fox said. "The King is a good doctor."

(Continues…)

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Excerpted from "Good Good Father"
by .
Copyright © 2016 Chris Tomlin and Pat Barrett.
Excerpted by permission of Thomas Nelson.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.

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Editorial Reviews

09/12/2016
Christian recording artist Tomlin and pastor Barrett debut with a story inspired by a song, cowritten by Barrett, that appears on Tomlin’s forthcoming album. Rather than rely on the song’s lyrics, the authors compose an original tale set in a kingdom ruled by a king in a hilltop castle “where the door was always open.” A kindly bear named Tucker, eager to help creatures in need, seeks the king’s assistance: “Maybe, just maybe, if I give him the perfect gift, he will help us.” Various anthropomorphic animals offer gift ideas that underline how the king cares for his people: an owl gives Tucker a book, since the king “is a good teacher,” and other gifts reflect the king’s role as warrior, doctor, farmer, and musician. Hussey (Not This Bear) creates a cuddly kingdom filled with friendly animals, portraying the king as a kindhearted lion who reveals that, naturally, Tucker himself is the perfect gift. Though the story is firmly planted in instructional territory, it’s an easily comprehended allegory that should serve as a fine resource for adults looking to explain a multifaceted deity. Ages 4–8. Illustrator’s agent: Eunice McMullen. (Oct.)

Publishers Weekly

2016-08-02
This Christian allegory presents a little bear who asks an all-powerful lion king for his help in solving the problems of other bear cubs.Tucker is a cub who likes to help others, but his young friends have all sorts of deep-seated troubles, ranging from illness to hunger to aggression. So Tucker sets off on a journey to see the king, who lives in a hilltop castle “where the door was always open.” The bear cub wants to take along a “perfect gift” for the king to elicit his help, and in familiar fashion, he meets animals along the way who give him additional information about the king and items to take along as presents. Tucker takes all these items to the lion, who explains that as king he can fulfill these roles because he is a good father. The king returns to the town with Tucker, magically solving everyone’s problems with unexplained help and lots of love. Tucker concludes that the king is a “Good Good Father,” and Tucker’s seeking his help was the perfect gift. God is not mentioned in the text, and younger children will need an adult’s assistance in understanding the symbolic meaning of the lion and his multifaceted powers. Pleasant though unnuanced watercolor-and-pencil illustrations of appealing animal characters add some spunk to the story. The lofty symbolism of this allegorical tale may be above the comprehension level of literal-minded children. (authors’ note) (Picture book/religion. 4-8)

Kirkus Review