Wonderfully Made: Hope

Wonderfully Made: Hope
by Christina Andersen
Pub Date 01 Feb 2022 |
PenLit Publishing
Children's Fiction | Christian



I am reviewing a copy of Wonderfully Made: Hope through PenLit Publishing and Netgalley:


In this adorable book we meet Lyla, the Caterpillar and Selah the Butterfly. In this book we walk as she endures hardship after hardship. Even though we go through hard things in life we can rest in the hope we have in Jesus Christ.



Selah tells Lyla about Jesus, the person who gives her hope and the promise of a new life and a new hope.




I give Wonderfully Made: Hope five out of five stars!



Happy Reading!

'Wonderfully Made: Hope' - written and illustrated by author Christina Andersen - is a truly inspirational and beautiful children's story. In it we learn about Lyla the caterpillar, who cannot find her parents, and feels terribly alone. Along the way she meets Mazzy, a friendly bee who befriends Lyla and gives her some respite from her hopeless feeling of aloneness. For a few days they have fun playing and enjoying each others company. That is until Mazzy has to leave to be with her family and find flowers and sunshine. Now Lyla was feeling really stuck and weighed down with anger and bitterness. She doesn't understand how the ladybugs she comes across can be so carefree and happy. She never felt so distraught and felt even more dragged down with negative feelings and wonders why she can't be happy like all of the creatures she is encountering. That is, until she decides to try her hardest to pull herself up a hill and - with the encouragement of a gentle voice - makes it to the top. She cannot believe her eyes and wonders at all the beauty. For the first time sees the voice of the kind encouraging creature as belonging to a most ravishing butterfly who introduces themself as Selah. Lyla wants to understand what it is that has brought Selah to be so happy and serene. Is it friends? Family? A home? All of which Selah replies: "No." It is Jesus. Being willing to unburden all your hardships and negative feelings on him. It takes Lyla eight days to finally gain the willingness and when she finally does all of the heaviness she had been carrying is finally lifted from her back and she, too, emerges a beautiful butterfly.

The illustrations by Ms. Andersen are wonderful in bringing to life the journey of Lyla for the imagination.

Christina Andersen explains the moral of the story as realizing human beings are people fallible and imperfect. To rely on other humans for our joy will often lead to disappointment and resentment. Turning to God - or our "Higher Power" - during our moments of disappointments and feeling of ill-will towards our fellow mankind and sharing them with him will always lead us out of the darkness if we are only willing to seek out his help and love. This is a perfect story for not only young ones, but all of us. A good reminder that all we have to do is turn to our 'Higher Power' and He will gladly take the "muck" which is weighing us down off our backs.

With much appreciation to author Christina Anderson, PenLit Publishing, and NetGalley for this free download in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. #ChristinaAndersen, #PenLitPublishing, #NetGalley, #WonderfullyMade:Hope