This series is wonderful and I have thoroughly enjoyed them. I bought my own copies for my children and have recommended them as gifts to others as well.

I love this entire series! The illustrations are beautiful and stories of heroes of the faith are told in an easy to understand manner for children. Pick up a copy for your family or church today! Thanks NetGalley for an early release copy.

This was a great introduction to a man who I’ve always appreciated but didn’t know very much about. I liked the simplicity of the story, while still sharing details about Bonhoeffer’a life. I look forward to reading more in this series with my children.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer by Molly Frye Wilmington was an engaging story about the life of Bonhoeffer and a great introduction to war history as well. My daughter was so engaged in the story and loved looking at the illustrations as well!

I absolutely love Dietrich Bonhoeffer by Molly Frye Wilmington! I’m relatively new to Dietrich Bonhoeffer and I felt that this book is a great introduction to learning about this great man. If you are a fan of Mr. Bonhoeffer and want to introduce the kids in your life than I highly recommend this book. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book. My review is also on Goodreads.

Learning about his inspirational man was very enlightening. I didn’t know what to expect but was extremely impressed. I read it with my grandchildren. What a great way to introduce the subject of WWII. It provoked thoughtful questions from the 6 and 9 year old and led to a good discussion. Thank you for the opportunity to broach this subject with the boys.


I received an ARC from B&H Publishing Group/B&H Kids through NetGalley. This in no way affects my opinion or rating of this book. I am voluntarily submitting this review and am under no obligation to do so.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.

What a great learning tool! I found the story to be age appropriate, it told the story and conveyed the danger of what the resistance was doing without going into details.

I also enjoyed the code being used in the book and the pronunciation of the German names being used.

This book does a really good job of telling the story of Dietrich Bonhoeffer at an appropriate level for children. I enjoyed it more than any of the lengthy Bonhoeffer biographies I have read. Throughout it points to Christ as his motivation and it highlights the children in his life and how they furthered the mission. It also holds a great trick in the hidden cipher throughout the pages of the book. Great read!

• If you aren’t familiar with Dietrich Bonheoffer, this book is a great introduction to his life. Yes, this is targeted to young readers, but everyone should know about this man and what he did during WWII. There are a lot of bios and nonfiction books available if you are interested in learning more details about him. I’ve read one about him called The Plot to Kill Hitler: Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Pastor, Spy, Unlikely Hero by Patricia McCormick and thought it was good.

• This children’s book is gorgeously illustrated and provides some high-level information about Bonhoeffer’s life. The book discusses his actions during the war to thwart the Nazis, and it includes how his faith gave him the confidence and courage to help others during a time when it was very dangerous to do so.

• I appreciated that the book didn’t leave out that Bonhoeffer was ultimately captured and killed for his actions, but it explained it in a way that should be understandable and not scary for children. Bonhoeffer’s bravery when faced with his death was emphasized.

• I love books like this that introduce children to amazingly brave human beings who changed, or tried to change, the world for the better. This book is part of the Here I Am! series. I’ve previously reviewed the C.S. Lewis book in this series.

• The book is 32 pages long and is targeted to readers 6 to 8 years old.

Thank you @netgalley and B&H Publishing Group/B&H Kids @bhpub for an eARC of this book, which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer was an inspiring individual. I'm glad to see more resources shedding light on his life and work.

This is a great book to introduce young children to solid Christian role models. Bonhoeffer’s story can be a difficult one, but this book handles it gently. Wonderful illustrations, an animal narrator, and a secret code to solve all add to the story, making it one parents and children alike will enjoy. I look forward to more in this series.
*I received a free copy of this e-book from NetGalley and B & H Publishing. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

As you know if you have read very many of my reviews, I really like picture book biographies. Esther, my daughter who runs this site, noticed Dietrich Bonhoeffer: The Teacher Who Became a Spy on a site from which we get a lot of our review books, and told me about it in case I would like to read it. While I have conflicting feelings about Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s actions, I think it is important for our children to know about the famous people in history and what they did, so I requested this book and, when I got it, read it to my children for our history class one morning.
The children’s attention was immediately focused on the book when, on the first page, we were told that there is a secret code in the book! Their eyes remained focused on each page as we read. They were delighted to crack the code and find the secret message.
The story is narrated by Shep the Sheepdog, who compares Dietrich to a sheepdog who followed the best shepherd, Jesus. Not much of Dietrich’s early life is shown; this book describes his life and actions during the time when Hitler was in power in Germany. Dietrich worked as a spy against the Nazis, both while he was free and after he was imprisoned by them. He felt that this was the best way he could love his fellow men.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer: The Teacher Who Became a Spy is illustrated with beautiful pictures. This book is a great introduction to this famous man for children. I still don’t approve of the way Dietrich worked against the Nazi regime, because I don’t believe it is right to lie, but I can see why he did what he did. Children who like stories about spies, or secret codes, will enjoy this book.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley, and these are my honest thoughts about it.
WARNING: As mentioned in review.

An excellent resource for teachers. I tested it on students, and they were interested and engaged. These stories of great deeds need to be remembered and passed on to the next generation.

This is an excellent short biography of Dietrich Bonhoeffer. I hope this is just the beginning of many other Christian hero biographies in picture book form!

I had never heard of Dietrich Bonhoeffer until a few years ago while reading a WWII-era novel, and that made me interested in checking this book out. I like how the book included a "secret code," which I'm sure will appeal to many young readers and help them understand what Bonhoeffer did while in prison. This is the first book in the "Here I Am!" biography series, and I look forward to checking out future installments.

One of the greatest modern heroes of the faith comes to life in the pages of this delightful children's book as Shep the sheepdog narrates the true story of Dietrich Bonhoeffer.

Shep explains that Bonhoeffer followed the best shepherd of all, Jesus, and that Bonhoeffer was a "sheep dog." Bonhoeffer herded and protected sheep from Adolf Hitler, whom Bonhoeffer recognized early as a “wolf.”

Artfully illustrated, the book covers Bonhoeffer’s early life and how Bonhoeffer began to warn people of danger as Hitler rose to power.. Bonhoeffer became a spy for other countries, knowing that it was the best way for him to follow God’s commandments to love God and your neighbor.

Young readers will learn about Bonhoeffer’s first secret mission as a spy and how he helped his Jewish friends escape Germany. Also a clever “spy trick” with jelly jars. The text reminds young readers that the Lord is our Shepherd, providing comfort and rest and leading us through hard times.

While Bonhoeffer’s efforts to oppose Hitler cost him his life, readers are reminded that for the Christian, death is not the end. It’s the beginning of life with Jesus, the Good Shepherd.

The book also includes a “secret code.” Children solve the secret code to decipher a message, like the codes Bonhoeffer used to communicate while in prison.

Masterfully written and expertly paced, Dietrich Bonhoeffer: The Teacher Who Became a Spy is a keeper! It will certainly appeal to its target audience of children ages six to eight.

This is the first book in the Here I Am! biography series, which highlights fascinating and faithful Christians in history. I can’t wait for the next one!

This was a great story about a teacher and spy who, guided by his faith, helped save many lives during World War II. Students will enjoy this picture book biography.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer
By Molly Frye Wilmington
Pub Date: April 14, 2023
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion!
This was a great children’s book with wonderful illustrations on a remarkable man of God!
I highly recommend this selection for your Christian biography collection!
5 stars

This book was not formatted well for the Kindle. I was unable to enjoy it as it did not translate well to my device. I would love to provide further feedback if this could be corrected.

Sometimes, regardless of one’s age, the best way to learn something is to watch someone else do it. This can be true for learning how to make jam, play ping-pong, or follow God. Molly Wilmington’s engaging biography Dietrich Bonhoeffer: The Teacher who Became a Spy shows kids what it looks like to love God and love their neighbor.

Shep the Sheepdog tells the reader about Bonhoeffer’s journey from teaching students to hiding secret messages in jars of jam. Throughout the book he includes helpful explanations, so the reader is able to pronounce some of the strange names or understand some new words as well as additional background information to what is happening in Bonhoeffer’s life as he secretly fights against the Nazis. The illustrations beautifully convey the seriousness and joy of the various events which Bonhoeffer finds himself in.

Another thing I enjoyed in this book is the mirroring of Bonhoeffer’s use of secret codes by including their own secret code throughout the book for the reader to figure out.

I would recommend this book to anyone who is wanting to get their kids excited about Church history or to encourage them to think about how their faith impacts their interactions with others.

Disclosure: I received this book free from B&H Publishing through their blogger review program. The opinions I have expressed are my own, and I was not required to write a positive review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255