Book Review: “Tell God How You Feel” by Christina Fox

Back when I only had two little toddlers, a dear friend and I would video our kids’ emotional fits and text them to each other. It was our way of laughing at the chaos, and encouraging each other in the hard task of parenting our children’s big feelings.

Now, with four girls in the house, the outpouring of tears, the stomping of feet, the slamming of doors, and the silent pouts have only increased!

Sometimes we can laugh and joke about all the big feelings over here.  Other times we struggle to help our girls navigate their feelings in healthy ways.

As a parent I want my kids to be able to:

1. Name their emotions
2. Express their feelings in healthy ways
3. Rest in God’s provision for them

But as simple as that sounds – those can be challenging tasks!

That’s why I am so thankful for Christina Fox’s new book “Tell God How You Feel”.

The book follows one family through five different common scenarios that bring up big feelings in children. It addresses fear, sadness, loneliness, rejection, and thankfulness.

In each story, one of the children brings a big emotion to their parents. The parents in turn open their Bibles and show the child an example of that emotion in Scripture. The emotions are always named, the children are encouraged to express their feelings in healthy ways, and ultimately the parents model for their kids how to rest in God’s provision for them in the midst of those big feelings.

At the end of each section there are discussion questions that your own family can talk through. Maybe you’ll process those immediately after reading a chapter – or maybe you’ll tuck those questions away to use during a real life scenario that inevitably will emerge in your own child’s life.

Personally, I love that it is a picture book so that my younger girls are more engaged. And the scenarios presented are so universal that children of many ages are bound to relate to them. In fact – you might find that the book speaks to your adult heart just as much as to the hearts of your children!

This book would be a wonderful addition to a child’s Easter basket this year. It would also make a great gift for a family walking through a challenging season.

You can preorder the book now – and it will start shipping early March.

You can order from Amazon here:

Tell God How You Feel

If you, or someone you know, is in a challenging season right now – I encourage you to check out my resource page for more helpful resources.

You can use the resource page to assemble a care package. Make them a medical binder, order a “Waiting Room” devotional for the mom, a “Tell God how you feel” book for the kids, and throw in some yummy snacks for the whole family!

Blessings to you and happy reading!

-Marissa