Almost every day, one of Amy Julia’s
children says something or asks something that prompts her to think more
carefully: “Why Mommy crying?” (Marilee, when the family learned a
young boy had died of cancer); “Booful, Mommy” (“Beautiful, Mommy,” as
Penny proclaimed just as Amy Julia was looking in the mirror and
critiquing her post-pregnancy body in her head); “What lasting mean?”
(William, when he heard a song in church about God being an everlasting
God). These conversations deepen her relationships with her children,
but they also deepen and refine her own understanding of what she
believes, why she believes it, and what she hopes to pass along to the
next generation.
Small Talk is a narrative based upon these conversations. It is not a parenting guide. It does not offer prescriptive lessons about how to talk with children. Rather, it tells stories based upon the questions and statements Amy Julia’s children have made about the things that make life good (such as love, kindness, beauty, laughter, and friendship), the things that make life hard (such as death, failure, and tragedy), and what we believe (such as prayer, God, and miracles).
Amy Julia explores three parts—body, mind, spirit—as she moves in rough chronological order through the basic questions her kids asked when they were very young to the intellectual and then spiritual questions of later childhood. It invites other parents into these same conversations, with their children, with God, and with themselves. Moving from humorous exchanges to profound questions to heart-wrenching moments, Amy Julia encourages parents to ask themselves—and to talk with their children about—what matters most.
Amy Julia Becker is the author of Small Talk: Learning From My Children About What Matters most (Zondervan, 2014), A Good and Perfect Gift: Faith, Expectations, and a Little Girl Named Penny (Bethany, 2011), named one of the Top Ten Religion Books of the Year by Publisher's Weekly, and Penelope Ayers: A Memoir (2008).
A graduate of Princeton University and Princeton Theological Seminary, Becker blogs regularly for Christianity Today at Thin Places (http://www.christianitytoday.com/amyjuliabecker/). Her essays about faith, family, and disability have appeared on the Motherlode blog of The New York Times, USA Today, ABCNews.com, Theatlantic.com, The Christian Century, Christianity Today, The Huffington Post, and Parents.com. Amy Julia lives with her husband Peter and three children, Penny, William, and Marilee in western CT. Find out more at www.amyjuliabecker.com
Small Talk is a narrative based upon these conversations. It is not a parenting guide. It does not offer prescriptive lessons about how to talk with children. Rather, it tells stories based upon the questions and statements Amy Julia’s children have made about the things that make life good (such as love, kindness, beauty, laughter, and friendship), the things that make life hard (such as death, failure, and tragedy), and what we believe (such as prayer, God, and miracles).
Amy Julia explores three parts—body, mind, spirit—as she moves in rough chronological order through the basic questions her kids asked when they were very young to the intellectual and then spiritual questions of later childhood. It invites other parents into these same conversations, with their children, with God, and with themselves. Moving from humorous exchanges to profound questions to heart-wrenching moments, Amy Julia encourages parents to ask themselves—and to talk with their children about—what matters most.
Amy Julia Becker
Amy Julia Becker is the author of Small Talk: Learning From My Children About What Matters most (Zondervan, 2014), A Good and Perfect Gift: Faith, Expectations, and a Little Girl Named Penny (Bethany, 2011), named one of the Top Ten Religion Books of the Year by Publisher's Weekly, and Penelope Ayers: A Memoir (2008).
A graduate of Princeton University and Princeton Theological Seminary, Becker blogs regularly for Christianity Today at Thin Places (http://www.christianitytoday.com/amyjuliabecker/). Her essays about faith, family, and disability have appeared on the Motherlode blog of The New York Times, USA Today, ABCNews.com, Theatlantic.com, The Christian Century, Christianity Today, The Huffington Post, and Parents.com. Amy Julia lives with her husband Peter and three children, Penny, William, and Marilee in western CT. Find out more at www.amyjuliabecker.com
My Review
Small Talk
By: Amy Julia Becker
First book I have read by Amy but will look into
others. Great title for the book. This
book is full of just that small talk. You can pick up this book and read and
put it down if you have to and come back to it. The book is divided up into
small sections. excellent book for those raising a family. I loved all the conversations with the kids
and their view on things. From Christmas and santa clause to dying and being in
heaven. If only we had the faith of a
child. I know I have thought to myself
with my own kids saying things to me and thinking I never thought of it
like that. I think as a adult I tend to
think to much when if I thought as a child be so much simpler. I think we make
it hard for ourselves. Liked how Amy wrote this with biblical backing. I think
any parent would be bless reading this book.
I know I really enjoyed it. It made me laugh and shed a few tears. Even
if you don't have children right now at home, as a adult it can help also.
I hope you enjoyed this book review as much as I did. If you would like to read it I will be giving away one copy. Just enter below.
"Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials
in Advertising”): Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for
providing this prize for the giveaway. Choice of winners and opinions
are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did
receive a sample of the product in exchange for this
review and post.
Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway. If you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible
to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.” 
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