Remember my post about the nooks and crannies of Scripture? Well, no passages are more nook-and-crannyish than genealogies. And if you can’t think of an author bold enough to turn a geneaology into a children’s book, then you, my friend, underestimate Andrew Peterson.
The Ballad of Matthew’s Begats pairs Jesus’ geneaology from Matthew 1 with Cory Godbey’s animated illustrations and puts the whole list to music: the book comes with a CD of Andrew Peterson’s musical interpretation of that famous list of names (this song also appears on his Christmas album, Behold the Lamb of God).
We have enjoyed all that, but more than anything, I love the fact that simply owning a book that makes a story (and song) of a genealogy gives our kids the idea that every part of the Bible is worth exploring—even long lists of names we can’t pronounce.
The Ballad of Matthew’s Begats: An Unlikely Royal Family Tree
Andrew Peterson, Cory Godbey (2007)
Nelleke Plouffe says:
What a great idea! I’ve heard sermons on the Matthew genealogy several times, but never seen a book for children.
October 11, 2015 — 1:45 pm
Thea Rosenburg says:
Isn’t that a great idea? There are so many fascinating, humbling stories tied into that genealogy, and they’re so easy to overlook. I’m thankful for a book like this that draws them out and reminds us that Jesus didn’t come from a pristine family line, but from one that shows how God truly uses the weak and foolish of the world to accomplish his purposes.
October 12, 2015 — 6:52 am
stephanie says:
We love this book. My husband (who leads music at our church) actually did this song as a special music at the request of one of our daughters. : )
October 18, 2015 — 6:25 am
Thea Rosenburg says:
Oh my goodness, that sounds like so much fun!
October 19, 2015 — 6:08 am