Holy Week: An Emotions Primer

Baby Believer

by Danielle Hitchen, Jessica Blanchard (Artist)

Emotions are Good and Made by God Your family will love this unique board book! Using colorful, engaging artwork, Holy Week introduces little ones to a wide range of emotions as they follow Jesus through the final week of His life. Children will delight in the beautiful illustrations and learn about basic emotions, such as joy, anger, sadness, fear, and more. And they will become familiar with one of the final chapters in Jesus's story here on earth. You will appreciate the artistic design, theologically sound content, and helping your little one understand that emotions are created by God and that they are good. *** Baby Believer® primers are designed to grow with children, from early infancy through elementary school. In addition to basic Bible theology, Baby Believer® board books are filled with quotations from the Bible, creeds, hymns, church fathers, and other articles of faith to help reinforce the content and provide intellectual handholds for older children who possess a greater capacity for learning and memorization.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Christian, Faith, Kids

20 pages, Board Book

Published January 8, 2019

Reviews

[Sarah Hartman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy Week: An Emotions Primer is an exploration of different emotions, portrayed through the lens of events leading up to and including Jesus’ death and resurrection.
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I like to think that I do a pretty decent job utilizing emotional vocabulary with my children, but this book still is amazing. The benefits for my kids (and I’m reading it to all of them, ages 2-9) include:
🌱Discussing concepts like overwhelmed and frustrated and joyful (not words normally used in my house).
🌱Linking events that they have heard of their whole lives to real emotions they experience (and hopefully giving them a new way to experience the facts so they don’t become rote).
🌱Pictures of Jesus and his friends that aren’t white!! (So glad to see the people actually have middle eastern skin tones).
🌱Digging deep in theological concepts, for example, serving others (Jesus washing the disciples feet), and gratitude (the last supper, etc).
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We also have two others of the Baby Believers series, and this one does not disappoint. Same great vibrant artwork, colors, and simple (yet deep) concepts.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really interesting idea for a board book. Each spread is a simple scene from Holy Week that depicts someone experiencing an emotion (ie. excited-triumphal entry, angry-cleansing the temple, loved-washing disciples feet, thankful-prayer during last supper, overwhelmed-Gethsemane, frustrated-Pilate, scared-soldiers, sad-death and burial, surprised-women at the tomb, and joyful-apostles with Jesus). There is also a simple description/scripture verse about the scene. So you can discuss emotions with very young children and have them pantomime what that emotion looks like or talk about what it feels like. You can talk about the various stories in simple terms and build familiarity with those stories. Parents could tell the stories in greater detail or read the full scriptural accounts as children get older.
Note: the book I ordered from Amazon arrived very warped in shape and I suspect it was a manufacturing error, so there was likely a large batch with similar issues.

[J. Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a solid series for the little ones.

[Danette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Each page has an emotion felt by someone in the Biblical account of Jesus' life from the Triumphal Entry to His Ascension and the corresponding verse. The pictures are beautiful too. We are loving this series of board books.

4/30/19 Read with Julia.
4/3/22 Read with my preschool class
3/30/25 Read with my preschool class

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy Week: An Emotions Primer has become my favorite book in the Baby Believer book line! The colors and artwork are striking and gorgeous. But more than that, God’s redemption story, beautifully depicted in Holy Week, is the story every child needs to hear. Parts of the narrative of Holy week are intelligently paired with the teaching of specific emotions—this not only makes Holy Week more relatable to children, but also allows the events of Holy Week to come to life. I love that scripture is marked at the bottom of each page where words are written. Elements of Holy Week such as Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem, Jesus washing his disciple’s feet, and Jesus being overwhelmed in the garden are included in this book. In my experience, many children’s books shy away from the horror of the crucifixion and the ugliness of sin. However, Holy Week tells the Truth of the gospel while making the events of Holy Week digestible for children. This book will forever by my favorite book to read to my children during Holy Week and to give as gifts to friends and family. If you are new to the Baby Believer books, I would look to getting this one first!

[Lauren DuPrez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy Week: An Emotions Primer is the 5th book in the Baby Believer series by Catechesis Books. Each illustration in this book corresponds to a different emotion and each page includes a passage of Scripture that details the events that occurred during Holy Week. I really enjoyed reading this with my toddler and we had fun making different faces to express the emotions that were described on each page. Holy Week is a fun way to engage little hearts in learning about the good news of the Gospel as well as teach them about emotions. I love that this book consists of various Scripture passages because each reading presents the opportunity for Scripture memorization. Our family loves the Baby Believer series and we are so excited to add Holy Week to our collection. Be sure to look for the 6th Baby Believer title releasing this fall! I received Holy Week: An Emotions Primer compliments of Harvest House Publishers in exchange for my honest review.

[Gwendolyn Shearrow · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love how this book and the series of Baby Believer books use biblical truths to break down age appropriate concepts for my children to learn about. We already own Let There Be Light: An Opposites Primer and decided this book would be the perfect addition to our Easter books. While it doesn’t tell in full the Easter story, it’s purpose is conveyed with short chronological tableaus from Holy Week and the emotions that were present. It not only shows humanity but also relatability that’s easy for children to comprehend and connect with. (My son kept saying “I feel that way sometimes too!”) The book provides the scripture verses so you can reference those if you like as well. Last but not least, the artwork, it’s colorful and modern/simplistic, which lends itself to focus in on each emotion as conveyed by the characters described in Holy Week. Overall, I’d recommend this book to anyone with children, especially those with preschoolers as we have been focusing a lot on emotions lately.

[Cory&Bri · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been a huge fan of the Baby Believer books for a while now and Holy Week didn't disappoint. As an emotions primer, it works through feelings like excitement, anger, love, frustration, etc. through the lens of Scripture. What better way to teach our little ones how to work through their very strong emotions than the Bible?! The illustrations are gorgeous with a beautiful use of color and expression to display the emotions. I love that the pages are thick so my 19 month old can easily turn the page without bending it. I also love how the book starts on the first page and doesn't force you to flip through title pages to get to the main content. This book (or any in the series) would make an incredible baby shower, birthday, Christmas, or Easter gift and you might as well buy one for your kids too because I promise you'll want one! Forever fans of these books!! Can't recommend enough!

[Kylie · Rating 5 out of 5]

We are big fans of Danielle Hitchen's Baby Believer books, and this one did not disappoint! What a wonderful idea to pair a board book about emotions with Holy Week. For younger children, you can simply label the emotions (excited, loved, sad, thankful, frustrated, joyful, etc.), and as your child grows, they provide perfect talking points to discuss the ideas of Holy Week and Christ's resurrection. I love how the pictures are beautiful and meaningful, and how the colors used portray the emotions as well. Emotions are so important for our little ones to learn to identify and recognize, and to use emotions to illustrate the events of Holy Week is powerful, for readers of any age. I am so thankful that Danielle and Jessica created such a wonderful resource for families to teach their children about Christ. This is certainly a book we will read all year long!

[Bruce · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the earliest and most successful of the Baby Believers series. Baby Believer is designed as a series of board books with a dual purpose as concept books for children ages birth to four years old and a catechesis. This one fully succeeds at both. To convey the concept of emotions the subject is aptly Passion Week, the last week of Jesus’s life on earth ending with his execution by the Roman authorities. It is filled with emotions from excitement to despair, more gently described as “overwhelmed” in the NIV English translation of the gospel of Mark quoted in this board book. In the well chosen and scripted text by Hitchen and Blanchard’s superb art and design it ends with the surprising joyful reception of the risen Christ by his followers.

[Kate M. Colby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jack borrowed this book from the Canal Winchester Library. I picked it because I have written some children's board books and wanted to see how these compare.

As with the rest of the series, the illustrations are beautiful and inspiring. The words rely heavily on Scripture, with not much original writing, which seems to be the point of the series. I appreciated that the emotions were more complex and much different from what you normally read in books for small children.

Jack seemed to like the vivid colors, and I know he recognized Jesus and the story, because he's already familiar with Scripture.

[E & E’s Mama · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series of books and own most of the collection now. This one is focused on emotions displayed during the week leading to Easter, such as the overwhelming sorrow of Jesus in the garden (“Not my will, but Yours..”, surprised women at the empty tomb, scared soldiers at the foot of the cross after the earthquake, etc.

[Katie - Mud Pies with Sprinkles · Rating 5 out of 5]

This Easter board book invites young children to explore the many emotions as they follow Jesus through Holy Week. The vibrant and bold illustrations help convey each emotion, while the story is interwoven with Scripture. Great book to add to your Easter collection.

{I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.}

[Cherish Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

(5☆ Would recommend & would read again)
Great book for kids. It talks about the events of holy week, in a way that kids can understand, while helping kids learn about emotions. It creates an opportunity for parents to talk to their kids about faith.

[Pinky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Scripture and verses that go through the emotions of the Holy Week.

[KhiN’Millie Friesen · Rating 5 out of 5]

(hundredth time reading this book) Why is there holes in Jesus hands Mama? (pause to explain) I really love that Jesus felt lots of emotions. - Khi 3

[Laurie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book would be good Holy Week reading for a person of any age.

[Renee Masterson Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received 'Holy Week' as a gift to share what I really thought about it. I know it can be a little misleading to get a free product and then tell you what I think, like I am not in some debt to share over-the-top words about the goodness and greatness of the product. However, that is not one of those moments I felt like I needed to be in someone's debt to share something I didn't truly and wholeheartedly agree with. This book, it's content, it's design: it all speaks volumes for itself.

'Holy Week' is a book about the week leading up to the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ in orthodox Christianity. Not only does the book provide scripture (NIV), but it also walks through different emotions those in Biblical narrative of the Holy Week would have experienced. Everything from EXCITED that Jesus is coming to Jerusalem to SURPRISED that Jesus is not in the tomb. I have 3 kids (3.5, 2, 7 months). My older two loved acting out the emotions, we talked about the colors on the pages, and I had them find Jesus on the applicable pages. We read this every night during Holy Week. It's a beautiful thing to listen to your children mumble through the gospel, what Jesus accomplished on the cross, and at the hope we have because of an empty grave.

I recommend getting this book for Easter, a birthday, just because gift, or other holiday. You will be grateful to have such a beautiful, user-friendly resource to walk through the gospel with your children. I recommend this for all ages: newborn to elderly. I was in tears reading some of the books and just marveling at the simplicity of the gospel.

-Renee Y (Richmond, VA)

[Martha · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great way of journeying through Holy Week in a way that's digestible to very little kids. And a beautiful book.

[Elizabeth Mayberry · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Baby Believer book series from Catechesis Books are some of our family favorites and we own them all to enjoy again and again. Holy Week: An Emotions Primer not only marks the Biblical progression of Holy Week, but assigns emotions with each step of the way - excited on palm Sunday, thankful on the last supper, surprised on the empty tomb. Complete with scripture verses for each page, this is a great companion for walking through Holy Week with littles and as kids get older, they can read themselves! It is a great book to start family discussions around the emotions of this emotional season.

[Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pairing Holy Week with teaching little ones about emotions -- I can't think of a more perfect match. Add in artwork that pulls you right into the page, no matter your age. I purchased this (and all the rest of the Baby Believer books) for both my "nephew by love" and our "quiet room" at church. Our Pastor was so taken with them when I showed him, he later said that if he comes up missing during the day, to check the quiet room because he is probably flipping through these books.