Resource Corner: An Insightful Surprise and Two Delights for Kids

Claire Krantz is back this month to share a new Resource Corner. She’s offering reviews, ideas and recommendations about books, music and movies of interest to special needs families. Claire recently pulled some books from Walk Right In Ministries’ Lending Library and found some surprises for herself and the Church as well as a couple of favorites for kids.

Follow @readingwithcb on Instagram.

Mental Health and the Church

As I’ve been reflecting on this book and thumbing through the borrowed pages, I am struck by the enormous dream Dr. Grcevich invites us to envision with him. In being trained in general and child psychiatry, Dr. Grcevich stands in the gap for the families he treats as well as the church he serves.

I thought the medical jargon and statistics would be too much for me but they complemented each other nicely and seemed much less intimidating since they were spread throughout each chapter. While sharing but not focusing on those things, Dr. Grcevich shows his heart and longing for what the Kingdom could look like on this side of Heaven.

Mental Health and the Church is a book to learn more about serving a community on both the large scale of the church but also a small scale in our homes as well. There were many things I could share with you but with the fear of becoming too long winded, I will leave you with this striking quote:

“Who might Jesus bring to faith if the people in your church resolve to work together to remove whatever obstacles are getting in the way for many of your friends and neighbors who need to experience Jesus?”

Dr. Stephen Grcevich, Mental Health and the Church

God’s Very Good Idea

Lisa recently bought this book for Carly at an Usborne Books online party and shared it with me. We were both intrigued and expectant by the premise — that all people are created by God with celebrated purpose. We assumed the story would represent people of different kinds and colors and hoped it would also represent people with special needs.

I just say, this book is so sweet! Trillia J. Newbell essentially shares the gospel through colorful and representative artwork. God’s Very Good Idea always comes true when He creates his children. Each and every one with purpose, on purpose.

My one thought upon finishing it was that I wish there was as much inclusive language as there was illustration. It would be easy enough though, while you’re reading with a child, to add your own narrative about more people God wants in His family. Adding specific diagnosis or characteristics would be a fun way to engage young and young at heart people.

The Jesus Storybook Bible

I’ll be the first to say that I tend to complicate the gospel but each and every story in this book is condensed and still has the depth and clarity of my own NIV bible. One of my favorite things that makes this bible different is that Jesus is the center and ending every time. Sally Lloyd-Jones has written The Jesus Storybook Bible to be simple.

Occasionally the pages are oriented from left to right but other require you to flip the book sideways. Small differences like that have kept me engaged and it is so fun to flip through. I sometimes get lost in the history and sheer length of the Old Testament but circling the story back around to God and the Rescue Plan makes things less daunting and much easier to understand.

Referencing this special book has been helpful to me when it’s my turn to share the Club Talk (devotions) as a leader with Young Life Capernaum. No matter what actual or developmental age a person may be, this Bible helps us all see Jesus’ presence throughout history, from the very beginning to the end of time.


Claire Krantz is a blogger, reader, hiker, camper, game-player, puzzle nut, music fan and general lover-of-people. She speaks in exclamations points — which is her friends’ way of saying she exudes cheer, encouragement, hope and fun. She grew up and lives in the Midwest where she is personally and professionally dedicated to living among friends of all abilities and celebrating God’s unique and purposeful design of every person. 

Follow more of Claire’s reading adventures on Instagram @readingwithcb.

0 Comments

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *