Loved this story! The illustrations were so cute (my daughter loved George!). The message is one that will stick with both kids and adults. Highly recommend!

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

The Good Shepherd and the Stubborn Sheep is a humorous and heartwarming picture book about God's unconditional love. This story beautifully captures the essence of Psalm 23, showing the importance of trusting God, our Good Shepherd, with our lives. We are His stubborrn sheep and I can relate so much with the story.

This book is for kids who have ever felt afraid or like they were covered in mud or bobbing helplessly in a river. So this book is for every kid (and probably the person reading the book to them as well). Hannah Harrison’s charming book The Good Shepherd and the Stubborn Sheep introduces young readers to the comfort that comes from following The Good Shepherd.

This short book revolves around George, a sheep who runs away from his shepherd because he does not want his hair to be cut. As he continues to wander, and his hair continues to grow, George finds himself in scarier and scarier situations until he thinks he is a goner. Then his shepherd shows up and rescues him from the danger, and George sees the things his shepherd does for him through new eyes (and a new haircut).

This story beautifully blends together Psalm 23 and Jesus’ parable about the lost sheep. It gives life to how carefree we can feel when we are in green pastures and beside quiet waters. It reminds of the comfort, and also validity, of the fear we may feel during hard moments of life. This comfort is especially seen on the final page where George is smiling as he follows the shepherd, completely unaffected by the wolf hiding in the shadows. There are several moments in this book which could be used to start a conversation about how we experience life and who Jesus is.

Another thing which I appreciated about this book was the change in tone. At the beginning of the book, George makes several fourth wall breaks by writing on top of the beautiful illustrations to highlight different sheep or point out his lack of top teeth but as the story progresses these go away. It is as if George begins to recognize the validity of his needs and becomes grateful, rather than apathetic, about how his shepherd cares for him.

I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a good tool for bringing Psalm 23 to life for younger kids and the idea of Jesus being the Good Shepherd.

Thank you Zonderkidz for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Cute! It teaches about sheep and why they need a shepherd in the first place, and then follows a sheep as he learns to trust his shepherd. The back includes scripture reference to Psalm 23, and other biblical references of sheep. Would be a good book to accompany a bible lesson.

Psalm 23 is my favorite passage in the Bible so I was delighted to find a children's book that so well portrayed it. This would be the perfect book to add to your children's Easter basket!

This book is absolutely fantastic!

The story, the illustrations, the book design and cover, I love it all.

It presents the parable from the Bible of the Good Shepherd and the Lost Sheep in a more modern, casual, and sometimes humorous way.

The little sheep George decides he doesn't want a haircut, so runs away. His wool grows and grows, soon he is too heavy to move properly and gets stuck in a thornbush. Just as the sheep thinks all hope is lost, the Good Shepherd appears calling him by name, saving the little lost sheep.

It's a beautiful story and very well executed. Children will love this adaptation of the age-old tale.

This is an excellent story of comparing sheep and shepherds in an analogy with people and God. The little sheep, George, did not want to follow the shepherd at first because he was uncertain of getting a haircut and he liked his hair. George defied the shepherd and ran away, but even when George was in trouble the Shepherd came for him and helped him. This would be a great story to read to a young child who is learning about God. I would recommend this book to ages 2-8. The illustrations are very nicely done and my young children really enjoyed the pictures along with the story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Zonderkidz for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was such a cute little story on a shepherd and his sheep meant to be metaphorical for how we as Christians are symbolically often referred to as sheep and Christ is our Good Shepherd even when we go astray and don't listen, God watches out for us. Cute illustrations and loved all the bible verse references at the end. Thank you netgalley for my arc this is my honest review.

Lovely! A beautiful book with an even more beautiful story of God’s love and care for us! Thank you NetGalley and Zonderkidz.

I am so happy I stumbled upon this book. It grabbed me from the first page and never let go of my heart. The illustrations are perfect to go along with the story of the good shepherd and his lost sheep while also adding some humor along the way. This would be a fun add to any home library!

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the advanced e-copy of this picture book in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts are my own.

What a wonderful story about putting your faith in another. I actually had no idea it was a religious story until the final page. I think this story can resonate with others, whether they are religious or not.

I am always looking to add more stories about God to our bookshelves, but I often find religious books for children to be extreme or use extreme language. I would definitely recommend this story to anyone looking for the same type of story as I am.

I have no negative notes about the story. I love the illustrations; they are wonderful and really pull you into the story with soft colors. I also always appreciate when authors make use of different typography throughout the book, and I thought that was a highlight. It makes reading aloud much more enjoyable for both parents and children.

Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher, for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

With Him, I have nothing to fear.

A very endearing book about Psalm 23. And the New Testament, the lost sheep. Our sheep in our story is named George. He is a very funny sheep. Your and your child will laugh about his silliness. You both will also be reminded again what the good shepherd means for each of us. Loved this one. Getting this for my grandson.

A special thank you to Zonderkidz and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review

And you think you've had a bad hair day? Check out this sheep's journey back to the arms it trusts.

Beautifully illustrated, this sweet story modernizes the parable of the lost sheep with George, who definitely likes to do things his way. George realizes in the end that his shepherd is truly looking out for his best interests.

Thanks to @NetGalley for sharing this DRC with me for an honest review.

I actually think this would be a good story to help any children who are a bit defiant when it comes to having a hair cut. I loved that it was a cute little tale about a sheep, was a beautiful story with a lovely ending.

Hannah E. Harrison's The Good Shepherd and the Stubborn Sheep: A Story of God's Redemptive Love teaches children about God's unending love. During the first part of the book, the sheep get into all kinds of trouble. The mighty shepherd soon arrives to rescue and guide his sheep. One sheep runs away from the shepherd after deciding he doesn't want to be sheared. It doesn't take him long to realize that things aren't so good without his shepherd. He is threatened one night by a lone wolf while tangled in a bramble of thorns. In the face of an angry wolf, he is defenseless. When all seems lost, the sheep sees a bright light in the distance. His sheep cried for help, so the shepherd came to his rescue. In no time, the sheep understood that he was lost without the guidance and care of his shepherd. This story teaches children the importance of trusting and relying on God's guidance. It illustrates that even when they stray or make mistakes, they can always return to the loving embrace of the Father who want the best for them. The tale reinforces the idea that seeking help and trusting in a protector's wisdom leads to safety and happiness. The book is based on Psalm 23.

A stubborn sheep can get himself into all kinds of trouble very quickly, but the shepherd is always searching for the lost one, ready to help at just the right time. Sound familiar? As this lovely story shows, sheep are completely helpless to care for themselves (as are we), but they have a caring shepherd.
The artwork is gorgeous as well as humorously accurate. George is just adorable, and children will quickly relate to him and his story. The tie-in to Psalm 23 and other scripture gives the adult reader an easy way to teach children about the Lord, their Shepherd. This book would make a beautiful gift. Highly recommend!
“He’s a good Shepherd.
He’s MY Shepherd.
And I’ll follow him for all of my days.”
*I received a complimentary copy of this e-book courtesy of Zonderkidz through NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Good Shepherd and the Stubborn Sheep is an absolutely precious, fun, and appropriate way of communicating Psalm 23 to children in a very tangible way. The subtext among the sheep added an element of humor. The illustrations were cute and engaging, and the storytelling was perfect. However, I wish more parallel was pointed out regarding us as Christians/people as the sheep and the Lord as the Good Shepherd - even just a two-sentence paragraph near the end. The text of Psalm 23 and other scripture references on page 37 were appreciated.

I did note a few grammatical errors, but overall, this is a fantastic book for children, and I will be buying a hard copy to read to my grandchildren.

Thank you to NetGalley, Zonderkidz, and Hannah E. Harrison for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

I loved this cute story. I cannot wait to buy a copy for my nephews because they will love it too. Great message being taught. The illustrations we absolutely adorable and precious.

Go ahead admit it, you’ve been that stubborn sheep at least once in your life.

This lovely picture book will capture your heart as author Hannah E. Harrison upfolds the biblical message in the familiar passage of Psalm 23.

Meet George the sheep with frizzy hair, a poor sense of direction, no top teeth and he cannot even growl or roar. It’s wool shearing time and George runs off and hides, all because he doesn’t want a haircut. George thinks he knows what’s best but he’ll soon find out otherwise.

Things aren’t going so well for George and he realizes he should have listened to his shepherd, and now he’s facing down a wolf with only his cute little hooves and a quiet baaa as defense.

Of course we know the shepherd finds George and cradles the shivering lamb in his arms back to the safety of the fold.

Children will fall in love with George and become completely absorbed in this beautifully illustrated picture book.

The text and pictures aren’t frightening and one may even find them to be at times a bit humorous.

The hero is the shepherd embodying out Lord and Savior who is always there to help us. And boy don’t we all need Him!

I like how the shepherd knows his sheep by name and calls George by name, reminding us that our relationship with God is personal.

You can further the message by reading on the last page the text of Psalm 23.

For further reference, is a list of relatable biblical passages.

The end pages portray a knitted green background putting one in the mind of a knitted woolen scarf.

The Good Shepherd and the Stubborn Sheep: A Story of God’s Redemptive Love
by Hannah E. Harrison
Publisher: Zonderkidz
Series: None
Rated: 3
Obtain: Borrow
Back of the Book: “The Good Shepherd and the Stubborn Sheep is a humorous and heartwarming picture book about God's unconditional love. This story beautifully captures the essence of Psalm 23, showing the importance of trusting God, our Good Shepherd, with our lives. Meet George, a silly and sometimes stubborn sheep living happily under the care of a Good Shepherd. But when shearing time comes, George decides it’s time to make a run for it, and soon finds himself on a journey full of unexpected disappointment, discomfort, and danger. Ultimately, he finds rescue and learns why he really does need a shepherd. The Bible is full of references to sheep and shepherds, but what does it mean to be a good shepherd? And how are we like sheep? The Good Shepherd and the Stubborn Sheep uses an unforgettable character and riveting story to bring biblical truth to life for kids and illustrate the many comforting and loving attributes of God.”

Impressions: This entertaining, fun story shares why sheep need a shepherd. I was disappointed however that it didn’t make note of who the sheep and shepherd are in this metaphor. We are the sheep, and the Lord is our shepherd. Psalm 23 is shared on the last page but for little ones, the connection might not be made. This was a fun story to read but it was not intentional enough to put it on our bookshelf. I do love the illustrations and fun added blurbs.

Thank you NetGalley for an ARC to review. All opinions are my own.