God and Goodnight Moon; Finding Spirituality in Storybooks for Children
Open Waters Publishing
Pandemic life has taught us many lessons; one of them being we stick with what matters most. One of the biggest comforts I have found for children and families is sinking into excellent children’s literature. Time spent in story, connected with the characters and those you are reading with, provide shalom to all involved. It enriches our understanding of other’s lives, it helps us see new possibilities, and allows us to enter new worlds. I have been using children’s literature for decades in my work in children’s and family ministries, so when God and Goodnight Moon came across my desk from Pilgrim Press, I snuggled up on the couch, ready for an invigorating visit with some old friends.
This book is a curated collection of high quality literature for children, compiled alongside suggestions on how to use each book for spiritual reflection and application. I have read and used each of the thirty one titles in various educational settings, save for God’s Paintbrush by Sandy Eisenberg Sasso. Each of them are available through my public library consortium or through interlibrary loan, which should mean that they are equally available for you. The associated activities require materials that most people would already have on hand, and the spiritual reflection questions would be used well both in small and larger group settings. I also appreciate that the books that are highlighted provide a diverse representation of those that are part of God’s Kingdom. This collection was published in 2014, and I am eager to see if they will publish a second volume!
I see this resource used in many ways. This would be a valuable resource for those that lead children’s moments in worship services. It would be an excellent resource to give to new parents, along with a few of the titles. I would absolutely include it in a children’s and family ministries lending library, paired with the titles. (Imagine how beautiful that bookshelf would be! I would put several copies of this resource, all the titles included, a few stuffed animals to travel home with the books, and some hot cocoa packs for the families to enjoy together as they peruse the books at home.) Perhaps your congregation hosts families that experience homelessness. A welcome basket with some of the titles included in the resource, along with a sticky note with a discussion question and bedtime prayer on each book’s cover, new pajamas for the family, and some new toothbrushes and toothpaste would be amazing. Of course, it’s a wonderful partner for those that run a Bedtime Stories and Prayers ministry, for those that read to nursery school children that are in their congregation’s facilities, and for midweek ministry enrichment.
I must admit that I have 12 floor to ceiling bookshelves in my home and we need to purchase at least two more in order to house all of our books. We read a LOT in our family and we are pretty discerning about what titles we purchase and keep. I’ve made a spot on my shelf for this title, but I think I need another copy to pair with a shelf just for all the titles referenced. The thought of that makes me sigh with contentedness.
