The Watcher Hardcover – Picture Book, October 9, 2017

This book is an amazing work of art. Nikki Grimes has created golden shovel poems using the words of Psalm 121 to tell how three children learn kindness, confidence, and trust in the Lord as they internalize the psalm and live it out in their interactions with each other. I have been using it with a small class of elementary age children as they memorize the psalm. They love it, and they get it! “Don’t forget to read us more of that book!” they remind me every Sunday. I think it is really making a difference in their lives. The illustrations by Bryan Collier are just right as they stimulate thought and discussion.

I used this when my children were learning how to write poems in school. The story was beautiful and allowed us to expand on the themes of individual pain and connection. We used it to inspire us in our own poem writing too. Having a blended family with various backgrounds, this book hit on numerous themes that were important for my children- even the tonsils! Nikki is a favorite author in this house, and this was a delight to discover!

I was looking for a book to help my 5 year old understand getting along with people who are different than him, from a Biblical perspective. He is fascinated by poetry, and picture books really capture his imagination. This book was exactly what I hoped it would be and more.

This lovely, touching, thoughtful and very relevant book is perfect for reminding us to call on the Lord when we're frightened, angry, tempted and filled with uncertainty. The use of Psalm 121 as the basis for the story of Jordan and Tanya works beautifully. Nikki Grimes has taken fear, friendlessness, kindness, faith, compassion and acceptance and given us Jordan's reliance on the Lord and Tanya's growing ability to hear His voice. I have used it most recently with 3rd-5th graders at my church's evening program and it started thoughtful questions. I highly recommend it.

The story was engaging and probably allowed young people to identify with the characters. The additional way that the highlighted words formed a Psalm introduced another perspective. The artwork was actually powerful, in a positive way.

Excellent story to guide upper elementary and middle grades discussion on acceptance and bullying.

Awesome poetry style.

Not what I expected.