The biggest potential concern point for Christian parents is expressed in the title. The start and the end focus on the main character’s observation that his life didn’t truly begin until he had siblings. It seems this is intended to be sweet, but this is obviously not a great message to any “only child” kiddos who will hear this. At a more important level, we Christian’s want our lives to be centered around our lives with Christ, not whether or not we have siblings to help cure boredom. The other potential concern item is around the nanny. The parents, understandably, have a huge life-change when triplets arrive. Dad suggests Mom gets some additional help, which is again understandable. The concern for Christian parents is that many readers will walk away from the rest of this story seeing the primary parenting role handed off to the new nanny. She is presented as the most engaged, spending the most active time with the children. Christian parents are given an awesome responsibility with children that the world often shirks. The only other potential concerns are a couple references to “magic” and an instance of “sneakiness” being held in a positive light.
Psalm 101:3
Quick Answer: Prayerfully Consider
Concern Level: Medium-Low
The biggest potential concern point for Christian parents is expressed in the title. The start and the end focus on the main character’s observation ... → Continue reading below
My Life Begins!
VERDICT: Prayerfully Consider
Concern Level: Medium-Low
Christian Parent Review
This is a sweet story with illustrations children will really enjoy. There is a focus of love between siblings, especially an older child welcoming in new siblings. The real question for parents will be whether or not those good messages are worth the potential concerns above, especially in the home with a single child. This may be a good candidate to read to your child so you have the option to turn the points above into teaching moments.
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Use with caution
From the celebrated author of Sarah, Plain and Tall, Patricia MacLachlan, comes another humorous and poignant early middle grade novel. My Life Begins! explores how life begins for Jacob when his triplet sisters are born, and how siblings get to know each other as time, and love, evolve. Jacob is nine years old when his life changes. He wants a litter of puppies. But instead his parents have a different surprise. Jacob will be an older brother soon. And there won’t be only one new baby. There will be three! When the triplets are born, Jacob thinks puppies are cuter. The babies look identical to him and he gives them a name: “the Trips.” For a school science project, Jacob decides to study the Trips. It feels like magic as they begin to smile, talk, and grow. Slowly, he gets to know each of them. They call his mother “Mama” and his father “Da.” But what will they call him One day, one of the Trips calls him “Jay.” As each of the triplets become unique and more special with each day, Jacob starts to wonder if “the Trips” is still a good name for them. They aren’t puppies, or a bunch of bananas, and they aren’t just “the Trips” anymore. What should he call them that will show what they mean to him Can he figure out their “forever name” And will he ever get a puppy
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As soon as it was night, the believers sent Paul and Silas away to Berea. On arriving there, they went to the Jewish synagogue. Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.
— Acts 17:10-11