About the Book

Book: The Two-Cent Piece

Author: Dennis Conrad (Illustrated by Courtney Smith)

Genre: Children’s Picture Book (Fiction)

Release date: September 3, 2022

Anne wonders what secret her three older brothers are hiding. When she finds out they joined to fight with the Union Army and would leave the next day, she gives them each one of her favorite two-cent pieces and says, “I want you to take one of my new two-cent pieces. I learned these coins are the first to have the words ‘In God We Trust.’ I just memorized Psalm 91:2. ‘I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.’”

Out of a heart of love, Anne gives six of her special coins away hoping the message on the two-cent pieces will strengthen each person’s faith.

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My Review:

Seven-year-old Anne is at the general store buying her brother a birthday present. When she goes to pay the store clerk with two dimes and a two-cent piece. The kind shopkeeper notices the two-cent piece and tells her that it’s a brand-new coin type. He also shares with her that the coin is the very first one to have the inscription “In God We Trust”. Little Anne collected coins but didn’t know any of that. After purchasing her brother's gift the shopkeeper takes her remaining coins, and he trades them for five two-cent coins. He mentions a Bible passage from Acts 20:35. Her two-cent coins will have even more special meanings in the lives of others.

In this charming historical fiction picture book, you will see the faith of a child praying for her brothers and a stranger she gifted her two-cent pieces to as they go off to fight in the Civil War. She shares with them Psalms 91:2 as a reminder that God is our refuge and fortress when we put our faith in Him.

This is the first of a 7-part “In God We Trust” series for children. I was delighted to see a book that has a historical flare along with a message of our Savior and praying for others.

The book is appropriate for young elementary ages. The illustrations are done by Courtney Smith. The illustrations are lovely and eye-catching. The colors remind me of watercolor painting. There is a lot to explore on each page. Dennis Conrad also includes links at the back of the book on coin collecting.

The book was a huge hit for my 20-year-old special needs daughter who we graduated from homeschool recently. She has always collected state and national park coins. With her disability, she is limited in so many areas, but her mind is a steel trap with certain topics. In the last 6 months, she has really gotten into coin collecting. She loves sharing with me the facts and history of coins. Not to mention how many coins were minted within certain years much to my dismay. She has taught me a lot about coins, and I have enjoyed learning with her. She’s been enjoying learning and filling up her wheat penny, mercury dimes, and a lot of other coin folders. Not long ago she picked up a two-cent coin piece which made this book for her even more special. This was an enjoyable book for her, and she is hoping that the other books in the series include coins.

This a good book for a child who is a coin collector. Great book for homeschoolers who want to go deeper into the book. There are a lot of rabbit trails you can explore in this book.

Disclosure: I received this complimentary product through Celebrate Lit Bloggers in exchange for my honest thoughts.

About the Author

A former coin collector for over fifty years, Dennis combines his love for the Bible, children’s literature, and sharing stories about the history behind coins.

He is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators and a Fellow of the National Writing Project.

He retired as a professor of Speech Communications from Barstow Community College. He and his wife served as English and public speaking teachers ten summers overseas.

The Two-Cent Piece is Dennis’s first of seven books in the In God We Trust Series from Elk Lake Publishing, Inc.