Blue Like Play Dough caught my attention for two reasons. First, I read Tricia Goyer’s blog and heard lots about her books, so I was interested in finally reading one. Second, I’m a sucker for books about motherhood, especially ones that promise to be inspirational and encouraging.
I wasn’t disappointed. Blue Like Play Dough is almost an autobiography, chronicling Goyer’s journey to faith and what God taught her through her children. She is honest and refreshing, admitting her weaknesses and mistakes as well as her successes.
This book was provided for review courtesy of the publisher or publicist. This post contains affiliate links; as an Amazon associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
More about Blue Like Play Dough
Goyer talks about having her grandparents move in with her family, caring for a dying grandfather, starting a pregnancy care centre, dealing with the pain of an abortion, being a single teen mom, finding the perfect church home, and other topics. The book became a great pick-me-up in the middle of mothering messes or a fussy baby.
As a young mother myself, I appreciated Goyer’s reminder that motherhood is about more than accomplishing tasks or meeting expectations. Her stories encouraged me to slow down and pay attention to the relationships being built in the midst of daily routines. Even when I didn’t share every one of her experiences, I found myself relating to her desire to follow God faithfully while raising children.
One chapter that stood out to me was the chapter on homeschooling. Goyer talks about meeting the family who inspired her to homeschool:
What I noticed first was how their teenagers behaved. They enjoyed playing with the younger kids. They enjoyed talking with adults. They liked spending time with their parents. They were respectful and fun to be around. They set themselves apart, not because of how they dressed or how they ate, but because of how they loved
That captures most of the homeschoolers I grew up with, and what I hope to achieve by homeschooling Sunshine.
Goyer admits that homeschooling wasn’t easy, telling how observing a spider spin a web sent them on a search for more information about spiders that made learning fun:
We even went to the library and checked out books about spiders. And as we rode home singing ‘The Itsy Bitsy Spider’ at the top of our lungs, I felt this inner voice telling me, This is what it’s all about. Not that I didn’t need lesson plans to teach math and science and writing, but that I could view our learning as a time of bonding and fun. It wasn’t just about inserting facts into my kids’ brains. It was about connecting with their hearts.
What ties these stories together is Goyer’s emphasis on finding God in everyday life. Whether she is writing about major life events or ordinary moments with her children, she continually points readers back to God’s faithfulness. Rather than presenting herself as a parenting expert who has everything figured out, she shares her experiences with humility and honesty. That transparency made this book feel more like a conversation with a trusted friend than a how-to guide.
Who should read this book?
Blue Like Play Dough is a book that I want to lend to all my mommy friends—on the condition that they give it back when they’re done reading it, because I know I’ll want to read it again myself. I would especially recommend Blue Like Play Dough to mothers who are feeling overwhelmed, discouraged, or unsure of themselves.
Goyer doesn’t offer quick fixes or perfect solutions. Instead, she offers encouragement rooted in her own journey and points readers toward God’s grace. The chapters are short enough to read during naptime or in a few spare minutes, making this an easy book to pick up and return to throughout the week.
More about Tricia Goyer
Tricia Goyer is the author of more than 85 books, both fiction and nonfiction, related to family and parenting. A USA-Today best-selling author, Tricia has also won two Carol Awards and a Retailer’s Best Award. She’s written Amish fiction as well as Christian romance novels, including The Promise Box and A Christmas Gift for Rose.
She has spoken at events such as MomCon, Raising Generations, and Teach Them Diligently conferences and is the host of the podcasts The Tricia Goyer Show and Daily Bible Podcast that she co-hosts with Michelle Hill. A homeschooling mom of ten, including seven by adoption, Tricia is also a grandmother of four and wife to John.
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3 Comments
This does look like a wonderful book.
Blessings,
Janis www.janiscox.com
Thanks about the bit on homeschoolers 😉
This looks like a great book!