WINNER of the Best Children’s Hope Book Award through The Prestigious International Hope Book Awards
Chantelle Rodgers has created something truly special and deeply meaningful with God Tames The Tiger. This beautiful children’s book is far more than just a story for young readers, it is a gentle, healing, faith-filled guide that teaches children how to navigate anger, sadness, loneliness, fear, divorce, emotional pain, forgiveness, and self-worth through the comforting presence of God.
From the very first pages, I found myself emotionally connected to little Timmy the tiger. His struggles feel incredibly real and relatable for so many children growing up in broken homes or experiencing emotional confusion they do not yet know how to explain. The way Chantelle writes about Timmy moving between two homes after his parents’ divorce, feeling angry at school, misunderstood by adults, embarrassed by his emotions, and secretly hurting inside is handled with extraordinary compassion and honesty.
What touched me the most was how this story never shames children for their emotions. Instead, it gently teaches them that they are loved, heard, understood, and never alone. The emotional conversations between Timmy and Mr. Olly are some of the most beautiful moments in the book. Mr. Olly openly shares his own childhood grief, anger, loneliness, and even thoughts of wanting to die after losing his mother. That level of emotional honesty in a children’s book is incredibly rare and powerful because it gives children permission to understand that difficult emotions do not make them bad or broken.
The introduction of Miss Lilly the ladybug is absolutely magical. Her message that “God lives in everyone’s heart” becomes the emotional foundation of the entire story. I especially loved how Chantelle explains connecting to God through breathing, prayer, laughter, singing, dancing, nature, love, and joy. This is such a gentle and comforting way to introduce children to faith, emotional regulation, and spiritual connection without fear or pressure.
One of the strongest and most impactful messages throughout the book is forgiveness. Watching Timmy slowly learn to forgive himself, his teachers, his parents, and even his sister was incredibly moving. Chantelle beautifully demonstrates how forgiveness softens the heart, restores relationships, and helps children find peace within themselves.
I also deeply admired the way this story encourages children to talk openly about their emotions instead of suppressing them. The message that children can breathe, pray, and speak to God whenever they feel angry, afraid, lonely, or sad is both emotionally healing and spiritually empowering.
The personal note at the end of the book completely touched my heart. Chantelle sharing her own cancer journey, her fears as a mother, and how she and her children learned to connect more deeply to God during one of the hardest seasons of their lives adds such authenticity and emotional depth to this story. You can truly feel that this book was written from a place of real pain, real faith, real motherhood, and real love.
As someone who reads many inspirational and faith-based books, I can honestly say that God Tames The Tiger stands apart because it teaches emotional healing and spiritual connection in a way children can actually understand and apply in their everyday lives. It is comforting, emotionally intelligent, spiritually uplifting, and filled with hope.
It is my absolute honor to congratulate Chantelle Rodgers on winning the Best Children’s Hope Book Award through The Prestigious International Hope Book Awards. This remarkable and compassionate story has not only touched hearts, but has now officially secured Chantelle Rodgers a place as a Finalist for Author of the Year 2026.
This book is a shining example of what the Prestigious International Hope Book Awards stands for, stories that bring healing, hope, emotional restoration, faith, encouragement, and transformation to readers around the world. God Tames The Tiger is not simply a children’s book… It is a heartfelt ministry of love, comfort, and hope for children and families everywhere.
Your story, your voice, and your courage have touched lives and brought hope to readers around the world. Becoming a category winner is not only an honor, it is a reflection of the impact your message carries.