Depths of Grace ~ The Life of John Newton is written by Thomas Luttmann and published by Bible Visuals International. This five-chapter, ninety-two-page paperback visualized biography has forty full-color illustrations. The end of the book lists review questions for each chapter with answers. There is also a map showing where John Newton lived and traveled during his lifetime. In addition, I received a forty-page spiral-bound visualized flashcard booklet, also entitled, Depths of Grace ~ The Life of John Newton. Each forty-page illustration is the same as the ones found in the storybook.

Along with the flashcards, I received a stapled, fifteen-page paper version of the book. The page will list the chapter and illustration(s) that go with the text. The Depths of Grace ~ The Life of John Newton visualized biography storybook is $15.00. The spiral-bound teaching flashcard illustrations booklet that comes with the paper version of the book is $19.00.

The Depths of Grace ~ The Life of John Newton, a visualized biography book, targets children ages 8-12. However, a much broader age range can most definitely use this biography. This book is perfect for reading to your children. Homeschoolers could easily read this book and then do further research into John Newton's life, such as studying the period in history and the geographical area where John lived and traveled throughout his life. The book could also be read to children in a group setting. As stated above, there are review questions at the end of the book. The questions are very straightforward and are taken directly from the text. One such question in Chapter 1, "What did John's mother teach him as a young boy? (The Westminster Shorter Catechism; questions and answers about God)." The answer for each question is in parentheses directly after each question. Each chapter has eight questions. The spiral-bound flashcard set is geared for the classroom, church, backyard Bible club, mission field, or similar settings. Bible Visuals International "is a ministry that exists to produce and provide visualized curriculum to ministry partners worldwide to help children see Jesus!"

I read Depths Of Grace ~ The Life of John Newton as I sat at the hospital anxiously awaiting the birth of my first grandbaby. I mention this because as I began reading, I got so caught up in the story that I honestly forgot what was happening around me. By the time I completed the book, all I could say was, "Wow!" Even though the book was written for children, it most definitely touched my heart. I had my 13-year-old read the book to see what she thought. She does not particularly enjoy reading but liked that there was an illustration with every turn of the page. After reading the book, she commented how they were able to fit in John Newton's entire life story with so much detail in ninety-two pages, and half of those are full-page illustrations. I cannot wait to share this book with those in charge of education at our church. The book's cover is of a ship crashing on ocean waves in a storm. I rarely comment on this aspect of a book when reviewing, but it is the first thing that drew me in. John Newton finally understood the Depths Of Grace that God had for a wretched sinner such as he while aboard a ship called the Greyhound that got caught up in a horrific storm. If God could save him from the storm, he knew that this same God would save him from his sin. It is so vital for children to hear the transforming work in the lives of those such as John Newton or the story of the prodigal son found in the book of Luke mentioned briefly in the book.

"We then, as workers together with Him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain…behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation." 2 Corinthians 6:1-2 (KJV)

Above is the memory verse to go along with the book, Depths of Grace ~ The Life of John Newton. 2 Corinthians 6:1-2 is such a fitting verse to share with children after reading the book.

I highly recommend this book.

-Product review by Jennifer Ladewig, The Old Schoolhouse® June 2022