The Oak Inside the Acorn

We read this book multiple times. Beautiful story about search of purpose and belonging! Good story, gorgeous illustrations! Looking for more books from the author!

The Oak Inside the Acorn is a definite must read for anyone (ages 4-440) who needs some encouragement to follow his / her own inner nature, embracing the potential within, becoming what he / she is truly meant to be. In today's, fast-paced, media driven world, it is hard for human beings to identify and to appreciate themselves. This story speaks to those confusions and personal questions. It's the story of growing up. It's the story of courage, patience, and acceptance. Like "The Giving Tree," this book depicts the rhythms of the world...the cycles of life and the subtle, enduring connections among living things. Lucado celebrates the virtue of small things: small things have BIG potential. I loved the line in the story spoken by the Mother Tree: "Within you is a great oak. Just be the tree God made you to be." How many people suffer because they try to hard to be something that they were not designed to be just like the Little Acorn? The message is very powerful--striking deep into the soul. The book is beautifully illustrated. My favorite panels are the ones that depict the passage of time. Readers can feel like they are moving through the lives of the characters within. This book is well worth the purchase price, and it is a wonderful edition to any library. The story lends itself to a great discussion with young people--Sunday school classes, youth groups, home-schoolers, etc.

I bought this book for one of my nieces and it is perfect for her! The first time I read it, it brought me to tears because the message is so beautiful. I would recommend it for anyone!

Letting go of your childhood is hard to do, and a bit scary. In The Oak Inside the Acorn, nature forces Little Acorn to let go of his mother's nurturing branches and begin a life of his own. Little Acorn is not sure what he is suppose to be. He can't bare fruit like the orange trees and he has no beautiful blooms or sweet scents like the flowers. A farmer plants him in the family's back yard, and there he grows bigger and taller every year, right along with a little girl. When the little girl grows into a young lady, Big Oak uses one of his own little acorns to teach her to be what God wants her to be. What I Liked: I like the lesson, to be what God intended us to be. What I Disliked: I was a little disappointed with this book. This author is one of my favorites, but the message in this book was simply not as strong as I had anticipated. The message was clear, it just didn't reach out and grab me like most of his other books do. Age Appeal: 4-8 Overall Rating: Very Good. Loretta from Christian Children's Book Review

This is a really great book. Max Lucado has done it again. Anyone, any age, facing decisions can appreciate this story. The little acorn fears leaving its comfortable home. But in leaving finds out that even though it does not offer fruit or flowers it has a lot to give. Great book for going to kindergarten, college, or a job change.

This is a beautifully illustrated book. The text reveals how we as parents, and teachers can teach children to let go of us and learn to grow based on those things they have learned. It also reveals the parental responsibility to teach and prepare our children for the world in which they live, giving them strong roots and support. I loved it. Karen