02: Picture Books That Nurture Your (Child's) Spirituality

I am a firm believer in picture books. And I believe that all of the books introduced below have the potential to nurture your soul as much as they have the potential to nurture the soul of any child. Just like C. S. Lewis wrote,

“A children's story that can only be enjoyed by children is not a good children's story in the slightest.”

Children and Images Faith development theorists have observed that children (3-11y) crave for acceptance and affection, have vivid imaginations, explore purpose, and understand the hidden meanings that are hidden in images, stories and symbols. All these qualities make for a fertile ground for life-lasting active spiritual habits to grow.

Images and symbols are the language of the soul. It is as if God made children to yearn for images and stories in order to make Himself known to them. Reading children stories with profound meaning, beautiful images, and relatable characters enable them to see and hear God.

A while back I wrote a blog post titled 15 Picture Books That Nurture Your (Children's) Spirituality. It was so well received, and because I keep coming across wonderful books that are simply too good not to share, I decided to review a few of my other favorites. Some of them are all-time classics, some new releases, and some well-hidden treasures!

1. To Everything There Is a Season by Jude Daly

The mystery-embracing Scripture of Ecclesiastes 3 is not only comforting to adults but also profoundly so to children. It reminds us that life is a mystery to be lived rather than understood. Perhaps with a help of a beautifully illustrated book like this we can stay a little better present to ourselves and children in the midst of the unknowns, and the unexplainable facts of life, and rest in the assurance that "to everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven."

2. Maybe God Is Like That Too

The book starts with a little boy's question to his grandmother, "does God live in the city?" The grandmother's answer, "Yes,God is here. You just need to know where to look." is an introduction to the boy's journey of looking for God in all places in the middle of the buzz of the city. The story is a lovely reminder, or an invitation to a discovery of how God can be found in so many places and people right in front of us.

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