Your Magnificent Chooser by John Ortberg

Your Magnificent Chooser, written by John Ortberg and illustrated by Robert Dunn, teaches children the power of a person's will using whimsical rhymes and delightful illustrations. Starting with the premise that your will – aka your “chooser” – is a God-given gift, the narrative continues by emphasizing the importance of this gift and presenting some ideas of how this gift is used. It then addresses mistakes and new starts as well as boundaries to be respected. Appropriately, the book ends with an encouraging “find something great / For your Chooser to do.”

I have an almost-five year old who, since starting VPK last August, has been working to learn some challenging social concepts. I requested this book, hoping to empower her to see that she can make her own decisions instead of imitating others. To that end, this book fit the bill. I liked how it addressed situations with friends who might not want to do the same thing. I do wish it had addressed more how to respond to a parent who asks you to do something (like cleaning your room) when you'd rather play. The issue was brought up in the book, but it wasn't immediately resolved as the next page moved into the concept of clashing wills with a friend – and that was resolved by choosing to be friendly again.

I recommend this book to Christian parents (as it does mention God) who want to instill in their children a sense of self-responsiblity and empower them to make their own firm choices.

Visit the publisher's website for Your Magnificent Chooser to find related resources!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."