Book Review - Sammy and His Shepherd: Seeing Jesus in Psalm 23

Sammy and His Shepherd: Seeing Jesus in Psalm 23 was written by Susan Hunt and illustrated by Cory Godbey. This outstanding book takes young readers on a fun and faith-filled journey through the twenty-third Psalm.

This book walks through Psalm 23 phrase by phrase in an enjoyable story, helping children to better understand this familiar psalm. The title of each chapter of the book includes one phrase taken from Psalm 23 and goes on to expound on that phrase through the story of Sammy the sheep and his experiences. 

Sammy is a joyful sheep who is happy to be under the care of a good shepherd. He encounters a sad and dejected sheep living on the other side of the fence. This sheep, which does not even have a name, belongs to a bad shepherd, and her needs are not being met. Sammy befriends this sheep, and Sammy’s good shepherd later purchases her. She is given a new name, Precious, and becomes part of the flock. As they journey together, Sammy patiently helps Precious understand what it means to live as part of this flock.

The story is a wonderful parable of the Christian life, living as part of the flock under Jesus, our Good Shepherd. Although this book is intended for children, even adults can learn valuable lessons from the simple truths of the faith that are presented. At the end of each chapter, readers are pointed to a "Talk About It" section located at the end of the book. These questions and thoughts are important to help young readers connect the story of Sammy and Precious with the real-life idea of Jesus as our Good Shepherd. One thing I might change about this book is the consistency of these sections in regards to the type and number of questions and activities. The "Talk About It" section for some chapters contained several questions, Bible verses, and thoughts, while others contained only a few. Some sections featured questions requiring higher levels of thinking, while others included mostly simpler comprehension and review questions.

The illustrations in this book were very well done. The excellent use of light and color in the illustrations helps to capture the mood throughout the story. Dark hues are used to show the depression, misery or hardship experienced in the story, while lighter colors are used to illustrate the hope radiating on the better side of the fence. The newfound joy and peace of Precious are evident throughout the pictures, as her ears appear to perk up little by little throughout the book.

Many children are encouraged to memorize Psalm 23, and this book would be a good resource in helping children to comprehend the meaning of the words they are learning. This book will help readers to understand some of the background information relating to sheep and shepherds that formed the basis for such biblical passages. Many children love animals, so this book will connect with children and help to illuminate biblical truths.

Disclosure: I am to receive a free copy of this book from Reformation Trust Publishing as compensation for my review.

"The Lord is my Shepherd...."
Click here to read the rest of Psalm 23.