This is a great way to introduce Christian children to meditation. The exercise is detailed and well thought through. It will help to activate a child's imagination, even as it soothes their anxiety.

I like the way that the child is reminded that they are always safe, and that they can communicate with Jesus just by sharing their thoughts instead of needing to speak to him.

The detailed instructions at the back of the book also offer alternative options for how to do the meditation with children.

Christian book helping with guided meditation for kids. It makes things very simple and there is a foreword and afterword with instructions on how to use it with a child. It was very easy to follow and the illustrations were nice.

This was an interesting book. I liked the meditation due, it was very easy to follow. I think it could’ve been slightly longer and introduced a bit more, but otherwise I would definitely use this.

A beautifully written book about a guided faith meditation.

The meditation is even a wonderful read for adults, with beautiful illustrations and heartfelt faith messages.

In a world where mindfulness and meditation are heavily practiced, this book sets itself apart by introducing the Christian dimension.

As someone who works with teachers, this will be a book that I will be referring to them as a necessity for their classroom bookshelf.

Thank you to NetGalley and Loyola Press for the opportunity to read this ARC and provide my honest opinion.

This was a definite case of “I should have been paying better attention.” I saw the cover art and that this was a “guided meditation for children” and was instantly sold. I missed that it was about Jesus, or I would have skipped it.

That said, setting that aside best I can, I absolutely loved the beautiful illustrations in this book, provided by Carrie Schuler. The story, on the other hand, seemed very text-heavy and serious in tone for little ones. But others may love it.

Thank you Marlene Halpin, Loyola Press, and NetGalley and publisher for providing this ARC for review consideration. All opinions expressed are my own.

This story gets a huge thumbs up from me. It's so simple yet so to the point for helping any child to understand Jesus loves them and wants a relationship with them, that it's easy to talk with Jesus. I love the red ball of string idea of how a child can follow where it leads as it unravels and rolls along, leading - so to speak - to find Jesus and commune with Him.

At the end of the book, there are great suggestions on how Sunday School teachers, carers of children and I suppose, even parents, can use the story to greater effect in teaching children to talk with and listen for Jesus' answers, even if it is all silent communication. Excellent, excellent book!

Illustrations in muted colors add extra garnish to the story.

A definite 5-Star rating from me!

~Eunice C., Reviewer/Blogger~

Disclaimer: This is my honest opinion based on the complimentary review copy sent by NetGalley and the publisher.

What a beautiful guide on how how to spend time with Jesus.

I really look forward to using the at home adaptation that is listed in the back on the book with my seven year old daughter.

The book starts out relaxing your mind while finding your way to "your hearts home." Jesus is there waiting for you. It helps younger children understand how to speak to Jesus and how to listen for him as well.

This book is an amazing resource accompanied by multiple studies and examples on how to use it.

This picture book about prayer and meditation is great for families, churches, and religious education settings. The content is non-denominational, and it invites children to imagine a journey to meet Jesus in their "heart home." The story helps kids picture the process of traveling to meet Jesus, and then it guides but doesn't dictate their experiences talking to him. The illustrations are lovely, and I like how they don't visualize Jesus directly, showing him in shades of dark or light instead of picturing an artist's imagination of what he looks like.

The book includes a note for parents and educators at the end. It explains how they can use the book with kids, suggests ways to modify the material, and shares further encouragement for helping kids connect with Jesus. I particularly liked the detail that what kids choose to discuss in prayer is private, and that adults should respect this. This is a helpful guide for building children's relationships with God, and I recommend it.

The Ball of Red String is a lovely guided meditation for kids. The illustrations are beautiful, the prose is perfect, and this will help kids understand that they can talk to God any time. This is a wonderful resource for Christian kids and their caregivers.

Thanks Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to review this advanced review copy (ARC) in exchange for my honest review on the book!

Oh my goodness this book! I can't wait to read it with my kids. There is a guide in the back that is helpful to read ahead of time on your own. The story itself starts by talking about your "heart home" and how to find it. We are given a ball of red string which leads us tangibly through different obstacles. Eventually we reach our "heart home" which is Jesus and the wording when you meet Him is so simple yet profound. It teaches kids (and adults!) how to talk to Jesus, listen, and how to keep finding Him. I love that it says to listen with your heart and you might not hear words but might still know what He's saying. What a wonderful and practical guided meditation! The illustrations are also beautiful watercolors.

I love the multiple resources and multiple uses for the story. The story itself is easy to follow and is accessible to its audience.

Love this book! I am a huge mediator and looking for ways to introduce meditation to my family. This is there perfect book to help beginner mediators understand the importance of disconnecting for the outside world and reconnecting with our inside world 🌎

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the eARC!!

Although my personal religious beliefs do not align with the author, this book is charmingly written and illustrated. The story is simply told with sweet images to follow with the story to build on the tale being told but without being distracting. The alternative methods for use in groups or other settings is wise as well. Good resource for religious educators or anyone that wants to include meditative prayer into their child's life. This is a book that should be read as hard copy or in a way that preserves the formatting- the Kindle version was a mess while the original is lovely.

The Ball of Red String is a fantastic resource for a Sunday school/mentoring programme or just at home with any children you want to help learn how to meditate and become closer to Jesus. The book gives helpful tips on how to facilitate a powerful meditation/prayer session and, even just reading this, I got a lot out of it. It encourages the child's imagination and adventure, whilst helping them draw closer to God. The illustrations are lovely too.

This book is so beautiful it made me want to cry. What a wonderful way to teach children to find their way to Jesus. I absolutely love this book and meditation. We need more books like this for children and for adults too.