Review
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Title: When I’m a Missionary
Artist: Merrillee Boyack
Publisher: Deseret Book
Genre: Non-fiction
Year Published: 2015
Number of Pages: 32
Binding: Hardcover
ISBN10: N/A
ISBN13: 978-1-62972-100-2
Price: $18.99
Reviewed by Elizabeth W. Roach for the Association for Mormon Letters
“When I’m a Missionary” is the newest family life title from the prolific author Merrilee Boyack. She has written several books about creating happy, stable families, including one for wives: “Strangling your Husband is Not an Option.” In the current title, Elliott, the older brother in the story, has just returned from serving a mission, and Lacey and Julian are eager to learn all they can from him. There are several lessons presented using *I can* statements, that help prepare Lacey and Julian to be effective missionaries.
The lessons cover physical, mental, spiritual and social aspects of development and are applicable to adults and teens as well as the target audience of under-12-year-old children. Learning self-care is as important as learning to talk to adults and inviting people to church. I could see a younger child using a part of this book as a family home evening lesson to teach one of the skills.
The self-care section could also include getting enough sleep and healthy amounts of exercise, and taking time for daily planning and meditation. The section about talking to adults had me a little nervous at first. We teach our children not to talk to strangers and then expect them to serve missions and talk to everyone – who are all strangers. That can cause a lot of confusion and frustration. Boyack gives several ways to create safe situations for children to practice talking to adults they do not know: ordering their own food at restaurants with the family, making appointments, talking to cashiers at stores, etc.
The book is positive and upbeat without being sugary. It does include disclaimers that not every day as a missionary is joy-filled from beginning to end. The kids are disappointed at one point and get to learn the lesson, “I can keep trying.” I think it is important to show a balanced view and Boyack does this beautifully.
There is a section in the back with helpful hints for ways adults can use this book. I could see these lessons becoming various stations at a Primary mini-training center activity where children get an item at each stop: a name tag, a planner, scriptures, etc. until they finish the circuit and get their mission calls. This is a friendly book that kids might like to read on their own or with loved ones in their families.
The illustrations by Brian Call are realistic and show elder and sister missionaries in a variety of situations as well as the younger children, Lacey and Julian, who are learning how to be like them. The people look positive and approachable. The illustrations give additional support to how to learn and live the missionary prep lessons. All of the lessons are good life lessons – “I can work hard”, “I can keep trying”, and “I can be kind to people who are not like me” are lessons we can use at any point in our lives.
I would recommend this book, especially for the 6-10 year old group and their families.