Monday, February 19, 2007

Children's Book Monday - Shhhhh!


Written by Nancy Sweetland
Illustrated by Rick Stevens








"O Lord, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!
You have set your glory above the heavens.
When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,
what is man that you are mindful of him?
The son of man that you care for him? Psalm 8:1, 3-4

Shhh - this is a quiet book, meant to be read in a whisper. The wonders of God's creation are all around us, but somehow, we seem to miss the quietest beauty in the midst of our busy-ness. So smoosh together, lower your voices, and read this precious book, which reminds us that God made quiet things.

Clouds drifting by. Butterflies, fluttering their wings. Grasses moving in the breeze. Inchworms inchings, spiders spinning. Can you hear them, little one?

The darkness falls, morning dew glistens. Did you hear them come, my darlings? Night and day, sun and moon.

We searched the beautiful watercolor pictures and listened, hard. It made us long for spring a little bit! I found myself wishing we were lying on a blanket in the park across the street, gazing up at the sky, listening - for nothing. Feeling the sun caress our faces, the breeze tickle our noses...

I hope to hold on to this memory when spring does arrive - perhaps we could slow down once a day, quiet our voices, and sit outside, listening. God's quiet things are always there.

Just as He is, yes?

"By day the Lord directs his love, at night his song is with me - a prayer to the God of my life."Psalm 42:8

Okay, shhhh...thanks to the lulling, poetic cadence of this book, I convinced my children that they can be God's quiet creatures, too...and they're resting on their beds. I think perhaps this Mama can find her quiet creature deep inside and join them...

Happy Reading! And please visit my friend Kelly at A Spacious Place to read her very first review!

For past Children's Book Monday reviews, click on the graphic in the sidebar.

7 fellow travelers shared:

Kelly said...

Hi Elise,

This book sounds wonderful! Another new discovery on your blog.

I just posted my first Children's Book Monday-so excited!

Blessings.

Hooper said...

I'm reading your review, and the house is...quiet. All except for the annoying dog next door that barks at every butterfly and gnat that flies by! Maybe tomorrow we can have a quiet moment together?

Anonymous said...

I love the idea of finding God's quiet things. As an adult I have to really stretch myself to find it--life is too hectic sometimes!

Thanks for the review!

bluemountainmama said...

i'm in the midst of my little one's "quiet time", too. and what a good thing to come and read as all is quiet and still in the house. yes....may we savor it and hold onto it in the midst of busyness. thanks!

Maxine said...

Elise,
Thanks for posting this. In the day in which we live, with all the violence and loudness and so forth, this book has to be refreshing. I hope someday I can read this to our grandchildren. Quietness is so needful in our lives! Blessings.

Beverly said...

Elise ... this sounds like a wonderful quiet time book. It will surely set the tone for those times of peace, times that are often too few and far between! Another book for my wishlist. Hope you get a quiet moment with your husband today!

Christine said...

You so made me want to read this!! Or am I just longing for the kids to be quiet for a moment....

Probably both!

:)

Love you!

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