Name of Book: No Matter What

Author: Debi Gliori

Illustrator: Debi Gliori

Publisher:  Harcourt, Inc

ISBN: 0-15-202061-6

Audience: PreK – 2nd

Summary: Small is questioning if Large loves him at all.  He is doing this by question after question like a typical child does.  Large continually reassures Small that a parent’s love is always unconditional.

Literary elements at work in the story: This fictional story is told through rhyme and pictures.  It is told in first person, switching continually between Small and Large.

(How) does the perspective on gender/race/culture/economics/ability make a difference to the story? This story is a humorous fictional tale which has illustrations that will engage the reader. The lyrical rhythm of the story will reassure children that a parent’s love will always be there for them. It can represent any culture as the characters are illustrated as animals which will appeal to the younger reader.

Scripture:  Genesis 3, John 3:16, Romans 8:38,39

Theology:  Absolutely nothing can separate believers from God’s love.  With God with us, then our security in God is absolute.  Sometimes people struggle for words to describe this absolute certainty of God’s love for believers, but as soon as you become a parent you understand. God showed this parental love when Adam and Eve disobeyed Him.

The illustrations throughout the book can also be used to discuss the creation story. There are animals from the land, animals from the sky (insects), animals from the water, days, nights, etc.

Faith Talk Questions:

1.  God loves us as God’s children.  How does Large explain this love to Small?

2. What does Large keep repeating?

3. What have you loved that much?

4. God loves us that much; do you remember the Bible verse John 3:16?

5. When do you feel the most loved by your parents? By God?

6. Have you ever felt so grumpy you felt nobody could love you? Don’t worry, your parents get grumpy too, you still love them and they will still love you too.

7. God created the world in seven days; can you remember something you did for seven days?

This review was written by Union Presbyterian Seminary student Cyndi Beerbower.

No Matter What by Storypath is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.