For parents who have a little one that loves to play with cars and trucks, a new series of books written by Sarah Reju and illustrated by Tania Rex is sure to become an instant favorite. The Wheelies are a family of vehicles whose adventures are both fun and relatable to children ages 3–8. And when trouble finds young Coop, as it always seems to do, the truth of the gospel always steers him back in the right direction.
In book one, Coop Messes Up (New Growth Press/February 26, 2024), the youngest member of the Wheelie family learns a big lesson in forgiveness and God’s love when he breaks one of the rules. The energetic and inquisitive mini-cooper, like many little ones, he has a problem obeying the rules—and there are a lot of them! When Coop runs out of gas, his sister, Lucy, a police car who prides herself on always following the law, tries to help him learn to follow the rules.
However, in the course of trying to teach Coop every rule in the book, the sometimes-self-righteous Lucy finds herself right in the middle of the trouble too. Their Ma, a loving and gentle fire truck who is always busy, racing around to put out “fires,” comes to the rescue. In the process of getting her stranded children back home safe, she teaches Coop and Lucy about her unconditional love for them, and God’s unconditional love for all of us.
“God loves you because he loves you. God isn’t waiting for you to get your act together and stop messing up before he will start loving you. God loves you right now, and his love for you is based on his character, not your performance,” Reju shares. “Life as a mother of five has taught me a lot about the things kids struggle with, and lies they are tempted to believe about God and themselves. In this book, we’re countering the lie that they need to obey perfectly for God to love them.”
Through Coop’s story, kids will discover that making mistakes can be an important way to learn about forgiveness and the gospel. A special section at the end of the story, including a “Notes for Parents” page, helps families go deeper in talking about the good news that Jesus came to forgive us when we break God’s law. Children will learn—and parents will be reminded—that being a Christian is not about keeping all the rules.
Children’s author and The Gospel Coalition editor Jared Kennedy writes, “Sarah Reju understands young kids. She’s written a series of books that will be particularly engaging for boys and girls who love fast cars and big trucks. Sarah also gets the good news. In Coop Messes Up, she speaks directly to kids growing up in a performance-oriented, keep-the-rules world, reminding them that while the law is good, it cannot change a sinful heart. Only the love of God shown to us in Jesus Christ can bring that change. That’s a message every child (and adult) needs to hear!”
The second book in The Wheelies series, Coop Helps Out, releases September 16, 2024. As the series continues, readers will meet Pops (a humble servant garbage truck) and the rest of the Wheelie siblings: James (a reliable, hard-working pickup truck), Joy (a Jeep who loves outdoor adventures), and Nory (an artistic, animal-loving VW beetle).
Coop Messes Up
The Wheelies Book 1
by Sarah Reju
Illustrated by Tania Rex
February 26, 2024
ISBN: 978-1-64507-411-3
Retail Price: $16.99
Juvenile Fiction/Religious/Christian/
About the Author: Sarah Reju, MDiv, is a pastor’s wife and mother living in Washington, DC. She has a MDiv in Christian Ministry from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Reju is the author of the children’s books Jesus Saves, God Is Better Than Trucks, God Is Better Than Princesses, and Coop Messes Up (the first in the new Wheelies series). Sarah and her husband, Deepak, have five children.
About the Illustrator: Tania Rex was born and raised in Vilnius, Lithuania. She’s happiest when she can take an idea and turn it into a picture. Experimenting with styles and drawing is how she spends most of her spare time. Tania draws inspiration from little everyday miracles, aiming to point audience attention to the ever-present magic of real life.
For review copy and interview information, contact:
Audra Jennings – audra@newgrowthpress.com
