Does God Know How to Tie Shoes? Children's Book Review

Title: Does God Know How to Tie Shows?

Author: Nancy White Carlstrom

Illustrator: Lori McElrath-Eslick

Publisher: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.

Ages: 4-8

Does God Know How to Tie Shoes? By Nancy Carlstrom is a joyful celebration of who God is and the joy that He takes with His creation. Katrina, a young girl asks her mama and papa a series of questions many young children and parents will relate too. All of the questions show the inquisitive nature of Katrina as she desires to know more about who God is. The answers provided throughout the book by mama and papa comes directly from the Scriptures. There is no parental opinion or conjecture; the responses are as dear as the questions each coming from the Psalms.

Mrs. Carlstrom does a tremendous job exploring the kinds of questions a young child would ask while providing clearly Biblical answers. The illustrations by Lori MsElrath-Eslick are gorgeous and magnify the beauty of mama and papa’s responses. The story concludes with the recognition God knows each one of His creations, including “Katrina with a “K.””

I would highly recommend this book for parents of children four to seven years old. The questions presented can easily activate the minds of children and lead to great conversations with their parents. The final two pages provide a complete list including texts of the Psalms used to answer the questions posed in the book.

There is not clear presentation of the gospel, though this was not the author’s purpose. The purpose of displaying the majesty and attributes of God and his creation to a child as they desire to learn to know Him better is clearly met.