What do you think?
Rate this book
Tales That Tell the Truth
The Big Wide Welcome: A True Story About Jesus, James, and a Church That Learned to Love All Sorts of People
Jesus knows that everyone needs him to rescue them from their sin, and he welcomes anyone who is sorry and asks to be his friend. In this book, children will learn that Christians and churches are called to be like Jesus: to give a big, wide welcome to all kinds of people so that they can hear the good news for themselves.
32 pages, Hardcover
Published January 1, 2022
1 person is currently reading
163 people want to read
About the author
Trillia J. Newbell
43 books250 followersTrillia Newbell is the author of Enjoy: Finding the Freedom to Delight Daily in God's Good Gifts (2016), Fear and Faith: Finding the Peace Your Heart Craves (2015), United: Captured by God's Vision for Diversity (2014), a children’s book, God’s Very Good Idea: A True Story of God’s Delightfully Different Family, and a six-week Bible study on Romans 8, If God is For Us: The Everlasting Truth of Our Great Salvation (releases January 2019) . Her writings on issues of faith, family, and diversity have been published in the Knoxville News-Sentinel, Desiring God, Christianity Today, Relevant Magazine, The Gospel Coalition, and more. She is currently Director of Community Outreach for the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission for the Southern Baptist Convention. Trillia is married to her best friend, Thern, they reside with their two children near Nashville, TN. You can find her at trillianewbell.com and follow her on twitter at @trillianewbell.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
May 9, 2022
Love it! Another home run from the team that produces the Tales That Tell the Truth series.
3/18/22 Read with Naomi & Julia
4/3/22 Read with my preschool class
5/8/22 Read with the primary class
3/18/22 Read with Naomi & Julia
4/3/22 Read with my preschool class
5/8/22 Read with the primary class
January 31, 2022
The Big Wide Welcome by Trillia Newbell is a gorgeous book with some great practical teachings woven into the story. "Do you have a favorite food, or toy, or teddy?. . .It's fine to play favorites with things but we should not play favorites with people. I love the message of this book and I think it is well worded. The Big Wide Welcome is aimed at children ages three to six. It is a 32 page book measuring 8.75 by 10.25 inches. The pages are thick and the illustrations are simply gorgeous. The book tells about Jesus and James based on the Bible. I think it is a great book for little ones to learn from both at home and it could be used at church meetings for young ones. I like how both the words and pictures go together to illustrate how Jesus truly loves us all, no matter what our social standing, color, age, size, etc. Then the children are encouraged to treat others the way Jesus would treat them.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions within this review are my own.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions within this review are my own.
January 21, 2022
Great book for kids based on the teachings of James!
January 8, 2022
Great book for little ones! It teaches them not to be partial and show others the love of Christ.
Do you view yourself as welcoming? Do you treat others differently based on their social status? Often times we can play favorites without even realizing it. This is not the example scripture sets for us, we know this because James 2 instructs us to not show partiality. The Big Wide Welcome encourages children to love like Jesus loves, not playing favorites but inviting every and all people into knowing the love of Christ and the Gospel.
What a timely read! During a time where division is rampant, pressures to pick a side and play a favorite are everywhere we turn ( think television, social media, even in our own churches at time, sadly), we can encourage our children and our own hearts to welcome others like Jesus did.
*Contains images of Christ
Do you view yourself as welcoming? Do you treat others differently based on their social status? Often times we can play favorites without even realizing it. This is not the example scripture sets for us, we know this because James 2 instructs us to not show partiality. The Big Wide Welcome encourages children to love like Jesus loves, not playing favorites but inviting every and all people into knowing the love of Christ and the Gospel.
What a timely read! During a time where division is rampant, pressures to pick a side and play a favorite are everywhere we turn ( think television, social media, even in our own churches at time, sadly), we can encourage our children and our own hearts to welcome others like Jesus did.
*Contains images of Christ
February 19, 2022
In this new installment in the Tales that Tell the Truth series, Trillia Newbell addresses the issue of favoritism, sharing the message of James 2:1-26 at a child-friendly level. She provides context for the time period, for ways that people show favoritism today, and for James's relationship with Jesus, who loves everyone without partiality. The book ends on a joyful note, emphasizing that we can choose to be like Jesus in our interactions with others because of his love for us.
As usual, Catalina Echeverri's illustrations are colorful, diverse, and inviting, and they help visualize the text. Even without an adult present to read the book aloud, a young child can easily see the story and concepts represented through the art. I am always impressed with the quality of the books in this series, and The Big Wide Welcome is no exception. I especially appreciate it in contrast to other books about kindness and diversity, which tend to argue for good behavior because it's nice, or because it makes you feel good about yourself. This book clearly grounds everyone's value in the love of Christ.
Secular picture books about kindness and inclusiveness vary widely in quality, but they tend to be very abstract and can't anchor their positive messages in a higher reality. This book shares concrete, specific, and vivid examples of both favoritism and welcoming love, making it easy for children to understand the message, and the author provides a reasoned explanation for why everyone matters, instead of just making the assertion. This book is a wonderful resource for families, churches, and Christian schools, and I highly recommend it.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
As usual, Catalina Echeverri's illustrations are colorful, diverse, and inviting, and they help visualize the text. Even without an adult present to read the book aloud, a young child can easily see the story and concepts represented through the art. I am always impressed with the quality of the books in this series, and The Big Wide Welcome is no exception. I especially appreciate it in contrast to other books about kindness and diversity, which tend to argue for good behavior because it's nice, or because it makes you feel good about yourself. This book clearly grounds everyone's value in the love of Christ.
Secular picture books about kindness and inclusiveness vary widely in quality, but they tend to be very abstract and can't anchor their positive messages in a higher reality. This book shares concrete, specific, and vivid examples of both favoritism and welcoming love, making it easy for children to understand the message, and the author provides a reasoned explanation for why everyone matters, instead of just making the assertion. This book is a wonderful resource for families, churches, and Christian schools, and I highly recommend it.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
July 6, 2022
The Big Wide Welcome is the second children’s book by author and Bible teacher, Trillia Newbell. This title is one of many in the wonderful Tales That Tell the Truth series from The Good Book Company. Its content is essentially a kid-friendly adaptation of the book of James. The Big Wide Welcome helps young readers recognize the sin of partiality by explaining what was occurring in James’ church and provides modern examples to help children learn what exclusion looks like and why it is wrong.
Trillia writes in a way that is easy for children to understand and relate to. She uses the idea of favorites to demonstrate that while everyone has favorite things, it is not okay to play favorites when it comes to people. Young readers are reminded that instead of treating some people preferentially, we ought to treat all of them with the same love that God shows for His people in Christ. Although this is a children’s book, my heart was greatly encouraged as Trillia wrote about how churches ought to be the most welcoming places and it made me consider what role I have to play in welcoming others into the church. We really enjoyed The Big Wide Welcome and look forward to reading more books in the Tales That Tell the Truth series.
I received The Big Wide Welcome compliments of The Good Book Company in exchange for my honest review.
Trillia writes in a way that is easy for children to understand and relate to. She uses the idea of favorites to demonstrate that while everyone has favorite things, it is not okay to play favorites when it comes to people. Young readers are reminded that instead of treating some people preferentially, we ought to treat all of them with the same love that God shows for His people in Christ. Although this is a children’s book, my heart was greatly encouraged as Trillia wrote about how churches ought to be the most welcoming places and it made me consider what role I have to play in welcoming others into the church. We really enjoyed The Big Wide Welcome and look forward to reading more books in the Tales That Tell the Truth series.
I received The Big Wide Welcome compliments of The Good Book Company in exchange for my honest review.
November 5, 2024
With James 2 as the biblical foundation, this story explores of how Jesus loves everyone and doesn't show favoritism (prejudice or discrimination), how He calls us to do the same, and what that can look like on the playground and in our churches.
This is the best book for kids I've seen on loving others and not showing discrimination based on looks, or abilities, or socioeconomics, or anything. It tackles racism and trying to hang out with the cool people in ways kids can understand, and with the solid biblical basis of the example from James 2 and how Jesus loves everyone and hung out with rich and poor, cool and uncool, and people from different ethnicities in other Bible passages (references provided in the book). The wording chosen talks about showing favoritism, but that really puts a lot of the -isms in terms kids can totally grasp. Highly recommended to Christian families and schools.
This is the best book for kids I've seen on loving others and not showing discrimination based on looks, or abilities, or socioeconomics, or anything. It tackles racism and trying to hang out with the cool people in ways kids can understand, and with the solid biblical basis of the example from James 2 and how Jesus loves everyone and hung out with rich and poor, cool and uncool, and people from different ethnicities in other Bible passages (references provided in the book). The wording chosen talks about showing favoritism, but that really puts a lot of the -isms in terms kids can totally grasp. Highly recommended to Christian families and schools.
February 11, 2022
The core message of this book comes from James 2 and the warning against the sin of partiality or favoritism. It is just fine to have favorite foods, toys, and the like, but we are taught that we should not play favorites with people. We are to choose to love and welcome all as Jesus welcomes all who will trust Him in the offer of His love. This book is a part of the Tales that Tell the Truth series for young children (ages 3-6) from The Good Book Company. This series is among my absolute favorites for my little kiddos.
November 25, 2024
Based on James 2, this book explains how Jesus did not show favoritism among people. He actually loved and cared for those that were intentionally disregarded or marginalized. In the same way, we shouldn't show favoritism depending on a person's wealth, skin color, abilities, or friend group. Since Jesus died on the cross to save all people, and all people therefore can be friends with Him, we too, can choose to not show favoritism, but choose to love.
January 3, 2022
A children's book with a message for all Christ followers. Trillia has a gift for taking important truths and making them relatable and relevant. I love this book and will be keeping it in my household library, as well as giving it as a gift to other families!
December 24, 2021
Great new children’s book from Trillia that reflects on the Book of James, biblical hospitality, and welcoming people on the margins. I just gave a copy to my niece for Christmas.
January 6, 2022
Be like Jesus. Don't play favorites. Choose to love. Because . . . . He first loved us.
Wonderful children's book with practical applications.
Wonderful children's book with practical applications.
April 26, 2022
We love this series however this book was a miss for us. Message had too much of a universalist message. Also the changing of James story rubbed me the wrong way.
December 10, 2023
A good and simple kids book that helps us love everyone.
December 29, 2023
7/10
Physical
Physical
November 12, 2025
A lovely message that when it comes to loving people, Jesus doesn’t play favorites, so neither should we. References parable in James.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews