Buy Sensei – $15.95

About Sensei

A faith-filled children's book based on a true family story. For ages 3 to 8.

Sensei by Sheryl Knotek
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Sensei

by Sheryl Knotek  |  Illustrated by Brooke Knotek

★★★★★ 5.0 / 5 on Amazon
$15.95 $18.95 on Amazon Save $3
Age Range: Ages 3 to 8
Format: Illustrated paperback
Pages: 30 pages, full color
Ships from: St. Paul, MN
Delivery: Within 2 to 3 business days
Order Direct from Sheryl View on Amazon – $18.95

Ordering directly supports Sheryl personally and saves you $3 vs Amazon.

What Is Sensei About

A story that starts with a storm

After a storm rolls through St. Paul, four-year-old Brooke steps outside with her family and finds a small, hurt parakeet sitting on a branch. They rescue the bird together. And in that tender moment, her mother Sheryl tells her something she will never forget: God sees every sparrow that falls. And He sees you, too.

Sensei is a short, beautifully illustrated faith book for young children. It is based on a true moment from Sheryl and Brooke's family life. The story is gentle, honest, and deeply warm. It gives parents and grandparents a natural way to talk with children about God's love and care without it ever feeling forced or heavy.

Brooke drew every illustration herself. That alone makes this book unlike any other Christian children's book on the market.

The True Story

This really happened

Brooke was four years old. A storm came through St. Paul, blew out a window in the house, and knocked down trees across the yard. When the family went outside to look at the damage, Brooke spotted something small and hurt on a branch: a parakeet, alone and grounded after the storm.

They brought the bird inside and cared for it. And Sheryl saw the moment for what it was: a chance to plant a seed in Brooke's heart that would grow for the rest of her life.

She told Brooke that God notices even the smallest sparrow. He knew that bird was on that branch. And He knows us, too. He never stops watching. He never stops caring.

Brooke never forgot. And years later, she drew every illustration in the book that tells that story.

Sheryl and Brooke Knotek
The Faith Lesson

What will my child learn from Sensei?

Sensei teaches one truth in a way a young child can hold: God sees even the smallest sparrow. He knows when a bird falls to the ground. And if He cares for a sparrow, how much more does He care for you?

That is the message of Matthew 6:26 and Matthew 10:29-31, drawn out of scripture and placed into a real moment from a real family. The book gives parents and grandparents a natural, gentle way to start that conversation with a child who may not yet have the words for faith but is ready for the feeling of it.

"Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?"

Matthew 6:26

"Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father's care. So do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows."

Matthew 10:29-31

For Children

Why children connect with this book

Children understand animals before they understand theology. A hurt bird is something a four-year-old can see and feel and respond to. Sensei meets children exactly where they are and uses something real to point them toward something eternal.

The illustrations are hand-drawn by Brooke, which gives them a warmth and honesty that printed or digital art simply cannot match. Children sense authenticity. They recognize that these pictures were made with care, not manufactured for a market.

The language is simple. The story is short. And the message is one that a child can carry in their heart without needing to fully explain it yet.

For Parents and Grandparents

Why parents and grandparents value it

Sensei gives you the opening you may not always know how to create on your own. The story does the work. You just read it aloud, and the conversation follows naturally.

It is short enough for a bedtime routine. It is deep enough to come back to. The faith message is rooted in two of the most comforting passages in Scripture, and it never feels preachy or heavy for a young child.

Several Amazon reviewers specifically mentioned that they bought multiple copies to give as gifts. One reader said Grandpa David read it aloud to his church kids and approved it immediately. That kind of recommendation from within a faith community says more than any marketing could.

The Illustrations

Brooke drew every picture herself

What makes Sensei unlike any other children's book in this category is not just the story. It is the art. Every illustration in this book was drawn by Brooke Knotek, and she drew them as a child.

Children's books illustrated by children have a quality that no professional artist can replicate: they feel true. The lines are honest. The shapes are real. When a child looks at Brooke's drawings, they are looking at the work of another child who felt this story in her own hands.

That is something parents and grandparents may want to mention to a child before they read the book together. Brooke drew these pictures. And she grew up carrying the same truth that is on every page.

Amazon Rating

Every single reviewer gave Sensei 5 stars

5.0
★★★★★

7 ratings
100% five-star
Zero negative reviews

That is a rare thing for any book. Every parent, grandparent, and church reader who bought Sensei gave it the highest rating possible. None of them left anything less.

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Questions

Frequently asked questions

Sensei is ideal for children ages 3 to 8. It reads well as a bedtime story for younger children and works equally well for early readers at the older end of that range. Several reviewers have noted how well it reads aloud.
Sensei is available as a softcover paperback. For questions about the specific format or edition, feel free to contact Sheryl directly.
Yes. When you contact Sheryl to place your order, mention that you would like a signed copy and she will personally sign it before it ships. A signed copy makes a particularly meaningful gift for a baptism, baby shower, or holiday.
Shipping cost is calculated based on your location. Sheryl ships from St. Paul, MN and most domestic orders arrive within 3 to 7 business days. Contact her directly for a shipping estimate before placing your order.
Contact Sheryl directly for international shipping options and pricing. She is happy to discuss what is possible for your location.
Absolutely. Sheryl welcomes bulk orders from churches, Sunday school programs, Christian schools, and homeschool co-ops. Use the contact page to reach her directly and she will discuss quantities and pricing for group orders.
Yes, Sensei is available on Amazon at $18.95. However, ordering directly from Sheryl at $15.95 saves you $3 and supports the author personally. Every direct order goes through Sheryl herself.

Ordering for a church, Sunday school, or school?

Contact Sheryl to discuss group quantities and pricing for Sunday schools, Christian schools, homeschool co-ops, and church gift shops.

Contact for Bulk Orders

Order Your Copy of Sensei

Contact Sheryl directly to place your order. She ships from St. Paul, MN within 2 to 3 business days. Mention if you would like a signed copy.

Price: $15.95 per copy     Signed copies: Available on request

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