The Awesome Super Fantastic Forever Party by Joni Eareckson Tada and illustrated by Catalina Echeverri. Published by The Good Book For Children an imprint of The Good Book Company Ltd.
Joni Eareckson Tada has written an amazing book to walk our children - really us too - through the book of Revelation. Don’t worry, it doesn’t go into detail over the stuff that even leaves adults chewing their fingernails and scratching their heads. The focus is the gift of heaven, the work of Jesus, and the “best invitation of all”: eternity with God!
Welcome to The Awesome Super Fantastic Forever Party!
“The best invitations are to unforgettable events with amazing people.”
The illustrations are exciting, just like the exciting invitation from Jesus. If you’re familiar with any of the Tales that Tell the Truth series from The Good Book Company then you know Catalina Echeverri’s work. Her illustrations pop off the page. It’s pretty amazing, her talent.
The book is bookended - give or take a couple of pages at the beginning & end - with how we can receive this wonderful invitation from Jesus.
“Everyone who believes in me as their King and Rescuer will have life, with me, forever.”
Then the story takes us to heaven next. Joni reminds us that heaven is anything but boring! It’s not playing a harp and sitting on clouds or eating your favorite meal. It’s so much more. It’s heaven on earth. It’s perfect. Better than any of our happy places here on earth. We will be without sin!
“You won’t want to steal cookies, be mean to your friend, or pretend you’ve brushed your teeth when really you haven’t.”
Don’t forget our new bodies! Echeverri depicts this with a crowd of people moving forward. Some with physical disabilities and others without noticeable disabilities. They move forward to the next page and are bathed in a beautiful, bright, shining yellow light. It’s gorgeous. All are standing, running, dancing, and elated. One thing to notice, before the new body changes all the people are already happy. There is joy on their faces because they follow Jesus and know what awaits them. Heaven. Eternity.
We are given the best part of heaven for last - JESUS. Joni gives us a concise version of the gospel because it is his death, his resurrection, that give Jesus the authority to “invite us to this amazing party”. This party will never end. There is no finish time.
The book ends with when Jesus will come - when all say “Yes!” to him. Now, what it doesn’t say is that not all will repent. It also doesn’t say that it is through believers imitating the loving sacrifice of Jesus and through God’s mercy that some (not all) will repent. I add this part because I think it’s important for parents to include it while they’re reading. All will kneel, but not necessarily out of true worship.
We end in Revelation 22.20:
“PLEASE COME QUICKLY, JESUS!”
Or as my ESV Bible says, “He who testifies to these things says, ‘Surely I am coming soon.’ Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!”
I like this book. I love that the focus is on the marriage of heaven and earth. It doesn’t talk about us going to heaven, pre-trib, post-trib, all that stuff that even aged men can’t agree upon. It shows kids (and, again, adults) why we look to Jesus. Why our hope is in Him. Why when the world, big and small, is crumbling we can and do still have joy. I’m all for that - reading hope. True hope.
If you’re looking for bible verses they are on the very last page. There are also some fun downloads to go with the book on The Good Book Company’s website. I also recommend learning more about Joni and her ministries Joni & Friends.