Teacher. Spy. Believer. Bonhoeffer.
Not every hero story includes a world war, a cruel enemy, daring secret missions, and a hidden code for you to uncover. But Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s story does.
In this unique picture book, Shep the sheepdog puppy narrates the powerful tale of how one man bravely followed Jesus during a dark time in world history. Hear how Bonhoeffer the teacher loved his students and warned people of danger. Then discover how Bonhoeffer the spy used clever thinking and crucial codes to defy the Nazis, protect his country, and love God and his neighbor, even when it cost him his life.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s story helps children understand faith, perseverance, and suffering in an approachable way. Readers will be inspired, as he was, to enjoy life during good times and to stand firm in faith during the hardest of times.
This book is the first in the Here I Am! biography series, which highlights fascinating and faithful Christians in history. Don't miss the next two books, which will explore the stories of C. S. Lewis and Lottie Moon.
About the Author
Molly Frye Wilmington creates unique picture books using humor, animals, and suspense to explore more complex ideas of courage, faith, suffering, and love. Molly studied English and children’s literature at Baylor, ethics at Notre Dame’s Vita Institute, and theology at Duke. Originally from Texas, Molly now lives in Montana with her husband, David who is a theologian and musician, their two children, Luke and Anna Grace, Oliver the shepherd-lab, Sadie the Goldendoodle (Oliver's best friend and now adopted sister), and Ranger the bearded dragon. The family enjoys soccer, hiking, music, and cracking up over each other’s clever stories.
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Endorsements
“The life of Dietrich Bonhoeffer is a difficult story to tell, and the team of Wilmington and Piwowarski have done it with great care and beauty. This telling of his bravery and the evils he faced down is appropriate for all ages and is a great introduction to Dietrich’s life of sacrifice.”
— JOHN HENDRIX, New York Times Bestselling illustrator and author of many children’s books, including, The Faithful Spy:Dietrich Bonhoeffer and the Plot to Kill Hitler, a middle grade comic book.
“Children’s books too often are childless because they underestimate what children are able to comprehend. This book does not make that mistake. Not only is this an introduction to Bonhoeffer but to what it means to be Christian.”
— DR. STANLEY HAUERWAS, Duke University Professor Emeritus of Divinity and Law is an American theologian, ethicist, and public intellectual. A prolific writer who recently published, Performing the Faith: Bonhoeffer and the Practice of Nonviolence. His book, A Community of Character: Toward a Constructive Christian Social Ethic, was selected as one of the 100 most important books on religion of the 20th century
“Deftly written and absorbing, The Teacher Who Became a Spy: Dietrich Bonhoeffer puts just the right spin of hope on a tragic but inspiring biography.”
— KATHY TYERS, 2019 Christy Award Recipient and New York Times Bestselling Author of Star Wars: The Truce at Bakura and the Firebird Series.
Read more of what people say:
Thomas Hibbs, Todd D. Still, Matthew Lee Anderson, Elizabeth Corey, Barry Harvey, Albert Reyes, Broose Johnson, Wilson D. “Bill” Miscamble, Kurt Kaiser, Andrew Root, Alex Leighton
