WonderFull: Ancient Psalms Ever New was recognized as a Young People’s Literature finalist in the 2021 Christian Book Award® program. Winners were announced on May 6 during a special online broadcast of the ECPA Awards Celebration.
The Christian Book Award® program has recognized the absolute highest quality in Christian books since 1978. Based on excellence in content, literary quality, design, and impact, the Christian Book Award® program is the oldest and among the most prestigious awards in the religious publishing industry.
WonderFull by best-selling author Marty Machowski, teaches young readers to use the whole book of the Psalms to pray, worship, and find help through the challenges life is certain to bring. Machowski doesn’t simply help kids become familiar with the Psalms; he helps them apply what they are learning to their own lives, which is a gift that will continue to deepen their walk with Christ as they mature.
“WonderFull is designed to help children grow in knowing and loving God through reading the Psalms and learning to use them to guide worship and prayer,” Machowski writes. “It is my hope that in this journey of learning to apply the Psalms to life through prayer you will be amazed at how they connect together. While each psalm carries its own message, its connection with the psalms around it add to the story.”
To help relate the Psalms to their lives, Machowski weaves a fictional story through the book as an introduction to each of the five books of Psalms. Readers will meet Oliver and his grandfather, who spend time each day sitting in front of an old oak tree, reading through the book of Psalms together. As Oliver’s curiosity about God evolves into a deep and abiding faith, his grandfather continues to read to him and pray with him, discovering together the beauty of the Psalms.
Even when Oliver’s grandpa is no longer able to read with him, Oliver continues to cherish the Psalms—especially in times of trial—and he imagines what it will be like to see God face to face and his grandfather again in heaven.
“The Psalms are a guide for how to talk to God about hopes, fears, troubles, frustrations, disappointments, and gratitude,” shares Machowski. “As you share this book with your child, you will be starting them on a lifelong journey of learning to talk to God about everything and receiving his comfort, conviction, forgiveness, help, and hope in return. The steadfast love of the Lord never fails!”
With prompts for prayer and discussion, short, gospel-focused devotions, and “A Closer Look” challenges, children will be guided to find Jesus in every psalm—a skill that will continue to develop throughout their lives. A “Going Deeper” appendix at the end of the book leads readers through a more in depth study of twenty-five selected Psalms.
WonderFull: Ancient Psalms Ever New
By Marty Machowski
September 28, 2020 / Retail Price: $29.99
Print ISBN 978-1-948130-74-5
Religion / Christian Education / Children & Youth
Marty Machowski is a Family Life Pastor at Covenant Fellowship Church in Glen Mills, Pennsylvania, where he has served on the pastoral staff for thirty years. Machowski leads Promise Kingdom, the gospel-centered children’s ministry of Covenant Fellowship. He is also the Executive Editor for Children’s Resources at New Growth Press.
He is the author of a number of family devotionals, curriculums (including the Gospel Story for Kids), children’s books and parenting titles. His latest releases include WonderFull, Brave and Bold, and God Made Me for Heaven.
Machowski and his wife, Lois, have six children and several grandchildren. They reside in West Chester, Pennsylvania.
Learn more at www.martymachowski.com. He can also be found on Twitter (@MartyMachowski).
