Book Club: Book Review: His Mercy Endureth Forever Psalm 136

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Our family was offered the chance to review a beautiful hardcover book from Reformed Free Published Association, illustrated by Kathleen DeJong. His Mercy Endureth Forever: Psalm 136 is 36 pages of colorful images that illustrate the text taken from the King James Version of the Bible. There is also a glossary in the back of the book to help identify words and people that children may be unfamiliar with prior to reading His Mercy Endureth Forever.

Each verse or selection of verses is accompanied by one full-page illustration and at least one illustration on the page with the verse(s). For example, the following verse is accompanied by two constellations on the page with the printed verse and a full-page illustration of a person stargazing into the dark, star-filled night.

What We Like 

Personally, I like that each illustration invites conversation with my children as we explore the image further to examine details. In DeJong's illustration of the Red Sea closing up behind the Israelites, we see the Egyptians sinking to the bottom of the sea. Our five-year-old son and I were able to discuss the story of Moses and the Israelites fleeing through the desert from the Pharaoh. We even talked about some of the different movie versions we have seen depicting the event.

Another illustration we discussed was that of the grapes being picked from the vines. We talked about how grapes grow, are harvested, and used.

The illustrations are so beautiful. 

How We Used His Mercy Endureth Forever 

Our children and I read through the book when His Mercy Endureth Forever first arrived for us to review. We then read through each page discussing the illustrations and verses of Psalm 136. While we have read parts of the Bible through children's storybook bibles, we haven't examined any of the Psalms in great detail so it made it nice to look at one through the use of the book.

After reading the book, I can see us discussing the Redwood forests, constellations and star gazing, the aurora borelais, Passover, the story of Moses, and other topics that are illustrated in His Mercy Endureth Forever. I love books that spark our children's interest to find out more beyond the original book.

I would recommend His Mercy Endureth Forever illustrated by Kathleen DeJong to families who are interested in starting to look at the Psalms more closely with their children. The book would also make for a beautiful gift for a baptism or celebration of the receiving of one of the sacraments.