There some book covers that draw you in and this is one of them. The beautifully illustrated book cover of Who Counts? captivated me. It is just the kind of colorful, “moving” book cover a children’s book ought to have. By “moving,” I mean that the illustration alone conveys a story, an action, that invites readers to find out what’s going on. A farmer going somewhere with a sheep on his shoulders? C’mon, how adorable!

Who Counts? is a modern retelling of the “lost” parables – the parable of the lost sheep, lost coin, and lost (prodigal) son from the Luke 15. It is geared for children 3-8 years of age or Preschool to Grade 2, and published by Westminster John Knox Press (released May 20, 2017). It is written by Amy-Jill Levine and Sandy Eisenberg Sasso, and illustrated by Margaux Meganck.

Just as the parables in Luke 15 are not three separate stories, but one connected story with a driving point Jesus wanted to make, Who Counts presents three interconnected stories with a driving point that everybody counts or matters, searching for what’s lost, and celebrating being whole. Although, younger children will find delight in counting the sheep, the coins, and the sons. I counted them, too, and when the story says 100 sheep, the illustration presents 100 sheep!

I absolutely loved the illustrations in this book, and I think children will, too. They are beautiful and vibrant. Children will have fun looking for the lost sheep, coin, and son in the illustrations. For example, in one illustration, the farmer is pictured looking for the sheep hiding in the bushes behind him. In another illustration, the woman is looking for the coin just outside her field of vision. It is easy to envision how well this book will do during story times for preschools or Sunday school – especially since, this modern retelling is easier for younger children to understand.

Another aspect I loved about the illustrations is the diversity of the characters. Different ethnicity groups are represented, as well as different age groups!

There are a few words or terms that I felt might fly above some young children’s heads, such as responsible, flock, drachma, and the pods that pigs ate (my urban-suburban kids won’t know this), though they should be easily explained by parents and teachers.

In the story of the lost son, one illustration shows the son in a marketplace with a booth filled with produce. In the following illustration, the story and picture says there is little food in the land where the son is at. I know it seems like nitpicking, but these are the kinds of details children actually do pick up on. That said, these are the places in the story that parents and teachers can expound on. The Bible says there was famine in the land after the son spent all he had. Adults can point this out to inquiring children, expound on the story, and have a chance to refer children back to the Biblical text.

What I liked in the retelling of the prodigal son’s story, which would be my biggest caveat for teachers and parents, is the expansion of the father and older son’s relationship. In this, the authors veer away from Scripture. The father absentmindedly forgets about his older son. Traditionally, in the parables, the father represents God, who welcomes His prodigal children (us) without making us work for His grace and favor. God also doesn’t forget about His children, unlike the father in Who Counts? who forgot about his older son.

Who Counts? has a note to parents and teachers from the authors with an explanation of how they retold the parables and how to use “Who Counts?” to have further discussions with children (including question prompts parents and teachers can use). They include an explanation for expanding their retelling of the prodigal son. I think it added depth and a fresh perspective to the story, helping readers think about people we might have overlooked and so lost. I also liked it because I always related to the older son. I was the good daughter who stays and obeys, but feels lost in my stable environment. I think a lot of children growing up in the church feels that way, and it’s important for them to know they also count/matter.

Overall, I recommend this book to parents and teachers, noting that they should read it with their children, be ready to explain some terms to younger children, and use the prompts to start honest discussions. I recommend referring back to Luke 15, and helping older children use Who Counts? to understand the original parables.

Who Counts? 100 Sheep, 10 Coins, and 2 Sons by Amy-Jill Levine, and Sandy Eisenberg Sasso is a modern version of three of the most commonly told parables of Jesus. The up-to-date beautiful illustrations makes the story real for today. When the others ask why did one sheep count or one coin count, they ask the question many have thought. The idea of everyone counts is simple but profound. The message stays the same but is clarified for young minds. The note at the end for adults is a wonderful addition.

I highly recommend this book for young children. The copy I received is digital but I will be buying the hardcover copy for grandchildren. It is exceptional.

Great short stories parables to share with your kids about how important it is to not forget even one person.

I read this book to my 3rd grade public school classroom courtesy of Net Galley. Students knew ahead of time that we would be giving it stars. A few students gave it 5 stars, and 2 students gave it 2 stars. The 5 star comments were that they loved the illustrations, they loved the message that everyone is special, if you love something take care of it, don't loose it. When I started the chapter about the two sons a girl blurted "hey, this sounds like a church story" Over all they enjoyed the book; we had wonderful deep thinking conversations about the book and the authors purpose.

Oh, NO! The man is missing his sheep! The woman is missing her coin! The father is missing his son! Can you help them find what they are looking for?

I love books like this to read with your little ones. First and foremost it is a teaching tool of the best kind. Learning about the kingdom of God. What it is like and why is it so valuable? As a parent, it is a good ideal to study up on your own on this parables to get some mileage and opportunities to teach her little ones. Another great thing is that it values learning with counting. Seeing the numbers and counting. When my daughter's were young, I was always looking for ways to teach them about counting and applying it in scripture is a bonus. The illustration is pleasant and familiar that will encourage connection to walking with Jesus. Highly Recommend.

A Special Thank You to Westminster John Knox Press and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review

This is a great story for children! It is based on Biblical stories that never grow old. The lost sheep, the lost coin and the prodigal son! Lots of lessons for everyone.

The cover made me want to look further. The artwork is wonderful.
I like the idea of this book but only the first story really interested me. The others too closely copied the first, down to certain wording.
The third story was my least favorite. Especially the part about not inviting the elder son to the party.

Alone they were OK but as a set it was disappointing.

I was excited to see a picture book about these critical parables Jesus told to help us understand the heart of God. The first parable about the lost sheep was well done. The second, about the missing coin, made me raise my eyebrows a bit when the woman chastised herself: "It's my fault." If the woman is meant to show us the heart of God, what are we to do with that?
The third parable of the two sons, unfortunately, missed the mark. The father, who is representing God, "forgot" to invite the older son to the party! Not only did he forget, but he regretted that he could have overlooked his faithful son in such a way.
I'm not sure why the author would have put this spin on the parable of the two sons, but it made enough of a difference to me that I will not be purchasing it or recommending it for purchase.