A Family Prayer

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A Family Prayer

“A Family Prayer” by Shay Youngblood and Kristina Swarner is one of the books we have just added to the rotation. It has a rhythm perfect for bedtime and helps my child celebrate his family with prayer. It goes through mother, father, grandmother, grandfather, sister, brother, auntie, uncle, cousins, godparents, babysitters, and pets – providing an opportunity to talk about family members that may not be a part of your family or the option to skip that page.

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Jesus, the Word

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Jesus, the Word

"Jesus, the Word," by Episcopal priest Mark Francisco Bozzuti-Jones and Shelley Hehenberger, shares the basics of the Christian story in a way that invites wonder and curiosity. As we approach Holy Week and Easter, this book encourages conversations around the questions “Who is Jesus?” and “Why do we celebrate Easter?” Its lyrical words, bright illustrations, and inviting theology make it a bookshelf essential for me for any season.

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Make Space for Jesus: Learning about Lent and Easter

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Make Space for Jesus: Learning about Lent and Easter

“Make Space for Jesus: Learning about Lent and Easter” by Laura Alary and Ann Boyajian is one of the ways I am entering into Lent at home. Alary’s words are beautifully simple and accessible for children. They are clear and invite mystery. They touch on the traditions of observing Lent and tell how Jesus’s life connects to those practices. They help me find the language to share this season with my child.

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More Precious Than Gold

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More Precious Than Gold

“More Precious Than Gold” by Gillian Lobel and Julie Monks steps into this space of wonder. Lobel uses the names that tradition has given the wise men: Caspar, Melchior, and Balthazar. Her words invite us to imagine their journey to Jesus as slower than the traditional Nativity play trip down the center aisle of church. She gives the three distinct characteristics and gifts and introduces animals that Caspar met and cared for along the way.

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Waiting Is Not Easy! & Silent Night

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Waiting Is Not Easy! & Silent Night

As we move into the relatively short seasons of Advent and Christmas, I often struggle to narrow down which books to recommend. Both seasons offer us gifts on how to spend our time and so many good books. As someone who is a minimalist in decorating, one of my favorite ways to decorate is to display these beautiful books around my home. Two of the books that will be displayed this year are “Waiting Is Not Easy” by Mo Willems for Advent and for “Silent Night” illuminated by Lara Hawthorne for Christmas.

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The Song of Francis and the Animals

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The Song of Francis and the Animals

If, like me, you've ever wondered why Francis of Assisi is associated with animals, I highly recommend "The Song of Francis and the Animals" by Pat Mora and David Frampton. Mora's words and Frampton's woodcuts invite the reader into a glimpse of St. Francis's peaceful relationship with the world around him, including the Wolf of Gubbio. 

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Hats of Faith

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Hats of Faith

“Hats of Faith” by Medeia Cohan and Sarah Walsh is July’s picture book and toddler endorsed – my toddler asks for over, over, and over again… It is an introduction to the shared religious custom by many of covering their heads. The board book’s rhythmic format is simple, teaching in both word and image. Although targeted at children, my vocabulary of religious headwear has increased.

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This is the Mystery of Easter

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This is the Mystery of Easter

One of my joys this year is remembering that Easter is a whole season and that the good news of Jesus’ resurrection does not need to be crammed into only Easter Sunday. For the season, one of the books my family is reading is "This is the Mystery of Easter" by Amelia Richardson Dress and Lilly J. Moore. The strength of the book is the text. In the author’s notes, Dress shares that when writing, she considered all of the questions children (and adults) have asked her about Easter like: why did Jesus die? Did God want Jesus to die?

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In Every Life

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In Every Life

Frazee’s adaptation and illumination of this prayer is just that: a prayer for all ages that engages sight and sound. My toddler, husband, and I all sit and wonder about the moments in life and relationships that she captures… When I look at Frazee’s illustrations, I glimpse different everyday moments: blowing bubbles, playing with a friend, tears, an arm around another, potty training. I see the ordinary and I see the Holy in these moments and the relationships she has captured.

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Today Is a Baptism Day

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Today Is a Baptism Day

As much as I considered other books for November, my heart kept returning to my toddler’s baptism and therefore my own book, “Today Is a Baptism Day,” written for families like mine. Although not perfect, it is a starting point for wondering about baptism as a family. Right now we play “find Mommy” in the book. And what struck me this time was the space to personalize your family’s baptism story. Family and friends wrote and drew hopes, memories, and prayers for my toddler on the blank pages in back for him to return to over and over again. The above photo will be glued along with baptism cards within the covers. His book is becoming more than my words and Peter Kruger’s illustrations; it is becoming my toddler’s baptism story.

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Our Little Kitchen

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Our Little Kitchen

In “Our Little Kitchen” by Jillian Tamaki, a group of neighbors come together to create a meal for their community with the resources they have. There’s a chaotic intimacy among those who come together to dine that to me is a glimpse of the Holy. Tamaki’s illustrations draw me in from page one. Each time I read I find a new character or scene to wonder about. This time, it’s the character who says, “Well, it’s not perfect but it’s the best I could do…”

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Let the Children March

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Let the Children March

We remain in the season after Pentecost, a season that is often associated with green and growth. One of the ways I have heard the Holy Spirit move and encourage growth within me is in the question: How do we listen to and lift up sacred stories that are often ignored? "Let the Children March" by Monica Clark-Robinson and Frank Morrison is one of my answers to that question. It tells the story Birmingham Children's Crusade of 1963.

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Jesus is Risen!

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Jesus is Risen!

Growing up, my ideas of what happened after Jesus’ crucifixion were fuzzy. What did all of the big words mean: resurrection? ascension? Pentecost? When did they happen? Why? I did like picturing tongues of fire. What I appreciate about “Jesus is Risen!” is that it tells Jesus’ story as a single narrative from the empty tomb to Pentecost, rather than as disconnected events remembered on different days of the liturgical year.

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