Forever You: A Book About Your Soul and Body

For children age 4 to 8 years 

Hardcover"Your soul is in all you are and do, soul and body-forever you!"

Starting at an early age, kids are curious about their existence as human beings. At the primary stage, they wonder about where they came from, who they are as individuals, and how they fit into this world. As adults, it is often difficult to find the right words to explain these complex ideas to them in a way that they can relate to. And in this critical period of individual identity formation, finding those 'right words' is all the more essential.

At the most basic level, this resource for Christian faith formation introduces children ages 4-8 to what being human is all about. Whether you are a parent, grandparent, or catechist, you will find this resource to be helpful in explaining the concept of a "soul" to your children. Simply structured sentences, engaging text, relatable analogies grounded in nature and creation, and whimsical illustrations by Mary Rojas invite children to understand and embrace the whole human person.

Your child will learn about the soul's:

• Presence in their every moment, action, and emotion
• Spiritual nature
• Link to their body and physical experiences
• Substance and origin as a gift to them from God
• Commonality to all of humanity, but also its individual uniqueness
• Sacredness, with gentle allusions to John Paul II's Theology of the Body
• Service-directed purpose through loving and helping their neighbors
• Call to eternal life in heaven, without explicitly referencing death

  A note "For Grown Ups" explains to you that this book is a resource that sparks conversation with children about who they are, how they can love, and the eternal value of individuals. In this conversation between you and your child, you can lay strong foundations for their spiritual formation.

  Features & Benefits:
  

  • Authored by a religious educator who is active in faith-based initiatives
  • Paves the way for understanding the theology of the body, and moral and sacramental theology
  • Introduces children to the concept of eternal life without referencing death
  • Provides children with a foundational view of the human person
  • Offers support to children with terminally-ill loved ones
  • Read aloud-friendly format

    About the Author:

     

    Nicole Lataif is the founder and editor of KidsFaithGarden.com and has extensive training in writing for children. She has been active in various children's writing circles, including membership in the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI). Nicole currently leads a children's picture book writers group in Boston, MA.

    Over the past eight years, Nicole has been involved in faith-based initiatives for the Catholic Church. She served as the project lead for Boston's Papal Pilgrimage to attend Holy Mass with Pope Benedict XVI in 2008, edited and taught a high school chastity curriculum, organized conferences, founded two young adult Catholic groups, and taught Sunday school at parishes in Florida and Massachusetts.

    Since graduating from Florida Atlantic University with a degree in Rhetorical Studies, Nicole has also worked in marketing, event planning, media relations, and public speaking with various organizations, including the Archdiocese of Boston, the Symphony of the Americas, and a law firm. She currently lives in Boston near her wonderful family.

    Nicole is available for speaking engagements, school visits, interviews, and guest blogging.

    About the Illustrator

     

    Mary Rojas has been working as a freelance illustrator for more than 10 years. Her work is joyfully colorful and often whimsical. Mary has illustrated many children's educational and story books for a wide variety of publishers. Forever You is Mary's first Pauline Kids picture book. Mary lives in San Antonio, Texas, with her husband and son.