Penny Preaches is Perfectly Precious
Book by Amy Dixon and Rob Dixon, Illustrated by Jennifer Davison
It’s not often that I get teary-eyed at a children’s book, but this book is absolutely wonderful.
Penny Preaches is a book about a little girl named Penny who loves church and all the interesting things about it. She especially loves the sermon and wants to preach!
The story tells the tale of her calling and giftedness, and her excitement for sharing the Word of God. Unfortunately, it also tells the very real story of meeting resistance because she’s a girl. But ultimately, a woman pastor named Sarah not only serves as an example for Penny, but even empowers Penny to develop and share her gift.
I love everything about this story. I love that it encourages children to love church, all the parts of church. It encourages them to love sermons and even appreciate the craft of creating a sermon. It envisions a church where children are involved in the whole life of worship. How many churches shuffle the children out of the sanctuary before the sermon? But this story reminds us that the children are watching and taking it all in. They are learning about worship and seeing the examples of the adults in their lives. They are learning how to go to church and how to serve in church.
It reminds us that representation matters. When Penny’s parents realize she is called and gifted, they seek out a role model for her. The children who haven’t seen women preach don’t understand Penny, but her parents don’t let that be the end of her story. They give her a way to see herself as a preacher and a pastor!
And it reminds us that God calls all kinds of people, even little girls.
As a pastor it reminds me that I am showing the next generation of boys and girls that they are equally called and gifted to share the Word of God.
I absolutely love it. The illustrations are fantastic, big, bright, and colorful. Penny’s role model, Pastor Sarah, has brown skin like Penny. And pastor Sarah has the best thing of all, a tiny microphone.
For those of us women with tiny microphones, let’s find ways to share them with the Pennys in our lives!
Buy this book for your children, grandchildren, friend’s children, nieces, and nephews. Buy it for boys and girls. Donate a copy to your church or your children’s school. It is adorable, important, and encouraging. It’s perfectly precious.