Lifeway provided me with this picture book, The Marvelous Mud House by April Granley, for an honest review.
All I can say is Yes! This is the perfect time of year for gifting this book to a child, grandchild, niece, nephew or any other child who needs a 
message on abundance. Beautifully written, it is the story of the hungry household where there is a constant want for more and the contented family in the marvelous mud house. It’s about discovery and joy and looking beyond yourself to see a greater need.
Not only is the story well done, but I was captivated by the illustrations – rich colors and appealing designs. Children will love discovering all of the interesting things on each page that point to the different cultures. And the song the mother and her son in Kenya sing declaring their great wealth (though they have little compared to the hungry household) is beautiful.
The ending is perfect. “Two houses that night rang with laughter and dance, one marvelous mud house on a mountain, and one happy house on a ranch!”
What a beautiful story to teach the value of fullness and joy. I highly recommend this book be placed under every Christmas tree, in every church nursery and on every grandparent’s bookshelf. It is sure to become a classic read.
As a worship leader this book spoke to me. The reinforcement given that singing is a vital part of the Christian life, the church and the soul was refreshing. Keith and Kristyn Getty have so thoroughly defined the premise behind why we sing our praises. It’s broken down into chapters that discuss how we are created, commanded and compelled to sing. That singing is personal but also a spiritual gift for bonding the family and for unifying the church. As you read through the book you realize why you are spurred to singing in the shower and at the top of your lungs in the car. Even the one who thinks they can’t carry a tune in a bucket will be inspired by this book and will be willing to step out and let their voice be heard. I’ve shared so many snippets from the book with my congregation and I would recommend it to every pastor and worship team as required reading.
