Review Tour – If Jesus Came to My School – picture book

Graney, April. If Jesus Came to My School. Illustrated by Yana Kozak. New York: Multnomah, 2025.

Guide to categories: Kid Review – review of books for elementary-aged and younger children

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In this beautifully illustrated picture book, a young girl learns how Jesus’s love can shine at school through her compassion, kindness, and inclusion.

In this whimsical tale, a young girl imagines what it would be like if Jesus visited her school as a boy. She would show Jesus around her classroom, introduce her friends and teachers, listen to story time, and eat lunch together! But Jesus wouldn’t stop at learning and sitting in class. He’d invite the lonely to join in on games and find a way to love and get along with everyone. Soon the young girl realizes that even though Jesus doesn’t attend her school, he can live through her:

I can be his hands and feet

To spread his love to all

I can share and help and give

So no one feels too small!

Through rhyming text and vibrant illustrations, children will be inspired to make a difference in their schools through their actions. Because as they treat each other right and classes become families, Jesus truly will be in their school.

My Kid Review

If Jesus Came to My School would be a wonderful read-aloud for young children. In it April Graney shares ideas of how children can be “Jesus” in their schools. The story starts with the main character imagining that Jesus went to school with her. It ends with her realizing that Jesus can’t come to school with her but that she can act like Jesus would in her interactions with others. 

Yana Kozak created illustrations that expand the text. They have a bit of a cartoon feel to them. She also chose to use many different skin tones for the children in her illustrations.

If Jesus Came to My School could be a good book for parents to share with their children who are headed to school for the first time. 

The book would make a great addition to the picture book section of a K-12 Christian school library. It is appropriate for pre school and primary-aged children. 

I received a complimentary copy of If Jesus Came to My School. This is my honest review.

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