If you have never encountered this book, I would say that you have missed something special. It is not my favourite Five in a Row book (FIAR) but it is certainly amongst my top ones.
The story starts with a child, we find out later that it is a boy, asking his father who owns the sun, the stars, the flowers and so on. The pictures are stunning and the explanations given as reasonably good. The freedom of these natural wonders is there for all to see – no man can hold them captive. Although no man owns such things in creation, as a Christian, I would say that God does "own" these things. That would probably be the only difference I would have with the author.
That "no man holds the works of creation captive" is the argument that is slowly built up, page by page, as this young son tries to make sense of his world. The trust, respect and love he has for his father shows through deeply as well.
The book then shifts slightly, for the young reader. Older readers will pick where this supposed "aside" is going… The story then centres on the father, Big Jim and his work in the fields, the pride his son has of his father’s reputation and finally, the betrayal and humiliation that is felt as this son realises that his father, and therefore, he, is a slave on a plantation, supposedly "owned" by a man.
The father, somewhat bowed, is also courageous as he speaks to his son of the inner man that still is captive to no one.
These truths are told simply and yet profoundly through the rich pages of this picture book. Whether you use the Five in a Row program or not, I would heartily recommend reading this book with your children and talking through the issues it raises about captivity, freedom and the spiritual side of our existence.
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