Song of the Seasons

Have you ever noticed how packaging can change the appeal of an item? Wrap it in sparkly paper, adorn it with a fun ribbon, and hand it to someone. I’m fairly certain they’re going to savor the item inside,even if it winds up being a box of aluminum foil. Or when you hand someone a book with no illustrations and a miniscule font, watch them pass that on like a hot potato. Presentation matters. Many people neglect to notice beauty and gloss over important details when they are intimidated by a formal packaging. This is exactly why we need Song of the Seasons by Glenys Nellist on our bookshelves. She has found a way to make Psalm 98 accessible to even the youngest readers or the most intimidated adult while simultaneously equipping us with ways of paying better attention to God’s good creation all around us.

Song of the Seasons is a beautiful book that fits right in your lap while holding a toddler, off to your side as you have an older child snuggled up next to you, or even in your lap as you read to a group of children and their parents. The story is told in a simple rhyme scheme, helping even the youngest children to interact with the words. Through the adventures of two children, we see how the world changes through the circle of seasons. It is based on Psalm 98, presenting it in a package that people are familiar with. The soft illustrations show us the beauty of the seasons and help readers to access the psalm in new ways. The words of praise and wonder are in everyday language, and together with the illustrations, create a world where people cannot help but find new reasons to praise God.

There are many ways to use this book in your ministry. It would be the perfect addition to a series of classes devoted to prayer. Imagine having the children and adults in your class walking a simple labyrinth while meditating on the words from Song of the Seasons. (Spending a session or two with the group building a labyrinth collaboratively out of stones would be a fun addition!) This book also belongs as part of your outdoor education ministry, whether that take the form of summertime faith formation, camping ministries, or a family retreat. You could read this book at several points throughout the session, having the participants focus on a new aspect each time. I am looking forward to using Song of the Seasons as part of two separate classes I have in the works; one class that focuses on different Bible translations for tweens and teens, and one class on creative writing and painting based on favorite passages from Scripture. When we intentionally create space and time for children and adults to interact with Scripture in new pathways and when we allow room for them to understand how Biblical translations and adaptations work and add meaning to our own understandings, we help to create a deeper connection and understanding of how God speaks with us. Of course, this book has been read with my youngest children nightly since it arrived (I had to snag it out of my youngest’s bed this morning) and I already am planning on reading it next month for our Bedtime Stories and Prayers ministry. It would also be a perfect addition to your shelf for those times that you need something meaningful to read with children and families or when you need to start a new series in your children’s moments. You’ll get a lot of mileage out of Song of the Seasons!