“God Loves Me Such That He Would Give:” The Little Book that Can

Cover art of the new book, available at Mize Family Books,
Ad Crucem, and Amazon

Copyright © Edward Riojas

I can still see my Dad loading up his briefcase – the one he would often take to congregational meetings or on the trips he had previously taken to St. Louis for Hispanic Outreach meetings. At times my late father would load his briefcase with a few copies of a newly-published book that I illustrated, trying to impress everyone with his son’s talent, and selling one or two in the process. That he did so showed fatherly pride – the kind that I dearly miss.

That was 1991, and the book testified to the fact that I was eager for illustration work in the form of a book deal. In theory, that book was a testament to the saving Grace of God. In theory. The book was a reprint of John Calvin Reid’s “The First Rainbow,” a Bible story book that was now lavishly illustrated by a little-known Lutheran artist and given a slightly longer shelf life. The author’s name should have been a clue and probably was, but I was ready for illustrating experience and, apparently, wasn’t quite so ready to be more discriminating.

I did gain experience, however, and it taught me to expect silly things from some Christian quarters. Images of skulls, for example, were a no-no in the book, even where illustrations of Goliath were concerned. Skulls, you must know, are of the devil. I never did quite figure that one out.

That first book. I didn't even
get credit on the cover.

What was worse, there was too much beating around the Scriptural bush where writing was concerned, and the Bible story book was obviously moralistic instead of being Christo-centric. I had sense enough, finally, to refrain from reading it to my own children. If you are willing to dig through the bargain corners of the internet, that sad book can now be had for nearly a nickle.

Now there is a much better book written by Rev. Gaven and Ashlee Mize. For its brevity of words, the contents of their little book, “God Loves Me Such That He Would Give,” far outweigh Reid’s attempt to catechize children. It is, above all, Christo-centric. Moral components tag along, faintly shadowing, but never outshining, the work of Christ Jesus on the cross and His continuing work in the life of the Church.

The illustrations I executed for the book work in a similar way. Utmost respect is given to the images of Christ’s birth, death, and resurrection, but the illustrative technique also carries a nostalgiac, retro feel that compliments the major visual character in the book – a small boy. There is an additional layer of characters  – the boy’s playthings – that endear the boy to us and serve as an extension of the boy’s personality. I will admit I walked a rather fine line between “cute” and “catechisis” where the illustrations are concerned.

Yet it is the words that serve the book well and make it worthy of a book collection. Consider the following excerpt:

“The types and shadows from of old
were imaged in the Lamb foretold.
When Jesus died upon the cross,
His death, our gain, was Satan’s loss.”

There is heavy theology packed with economy into that verse and the rest of the pages, making “God Loves Me Such That He Would Give” not only fun to read, but well worth the time invested. Hopefully, my efforts in illustrating serve to underscore both. I know parents will be pleased.

And yes, I know Dad would be proud.
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"God Loves Me Such That He Would Give" is available in hard and soft cover from Mize Family Books, Ad Crucem, and Amazon.