I could stay busy all day long. My kids can become something I have to do, instead of a relationship I have the blessing to build. One thing I have found, to slow down the busy in our home, is reading books aloud to them. It pulls my heart into the moment. And if I’m lucky, I get a hug and they share their snacks with me.
Some books I read because they love them. Others I read because they have stood the test of time. Still some, have language that hangs int he air and delights our hearts. For my littlest book lover, I frequently reach for Margaret Wise Brown. She is a classic in every way. I think I can quote Goodnight Moon by heart. Many times, when I’m reading this to her before nap, my other girls come running. They know it, and they love the slow down, too.
Recently I found this book, also by Margaret Wise Brown:
The story behind this book is as beautiful as the book itself:
The Moon Shines Down is being published for the first time 56 years after the death of the beloved children’s author Margaret Wise Brown.
Amazingly, this unpublished manuscript lay incomplete and forgotten in a cedar trunk in a Vermont barn. When it was discovered, the onionskin paper had yellowed and the paperclips that held the pages together had rusted. Children’s book publisher, Laura Minchew, a longtime fan of Brown, took on the challenge to complete the work.
Based on the New England Sampler prayer, “God Bless the Moon and God Bless Me,” this soon-to-be bedtime classic is a prayer for God’s blessing on all the world’s children.
Are you in need of a slow down too? Do you have a little one you would like to pull into your lap to read to today? Well, the kind book lovers at Tommy Nelson would like to share a copy of this soon to be treasure with you. The Moon Shines Down is perfect for little people. Or big people who enjoy a quiet moment with an old friend.
I will pick one lucky person who leaves a comment to win a copy of this book. All you have to do, is share your favorite book to read aloud to your kids. Feel free to fill up Facebook and Twitter with news of this book release as well. For each action you take, be sure to leave a comment. I’ll close comments on Sunday and announce the winner next week. So comment, share, read, enjoy!
***Special thanks to Tommy Nelson for sponsoring this giveaway and providing me with a review copy of this new family favorite.
while i don’t have children of my own, my favorite book to read to my littlest nephew is ‘Lost And Found’ by Oliver Jeffers. one day a penguin shows up at a little boy’s door, and what begins as an effort to get the penguin home turns into a beautiful friendship.
sometimes friendship comes looking for you. sometimes you find it by accident.
either way, it’s beautiful.
That sounds perfect for my 4 year old! I”ll have to check it out! Thanks so much Suzi!
My favorite book to read aloud to my daughter is There’s a Monster at the End of This Book. It’s so fun! I’ve been reading Good Night Moon to her at bedtime since she was 3 months old (she’s now 2 .5). 🙂
Another good one I have NOT read! I’m making a list! Thanks!
My boys love our animal happy and you know it book because it has lots of actions! We have also recently enjoyed “how do dinosaurs…” series. Jonathan just got his library card this week! We also love all the froggy books.
I can totally picture them jumping up and down and acting it out! So fun! They would love this book, too!
Ok…this is SO hard because I absolutely have a huge love for children’s books! So, with that said, I can’t narrow it down to just one. I’ll try to narrow it down to 2. (although you realize these are only my favorite 2 for the next 2 minutes, right?)
“A Mother for Choco” by Keiko Kasza…this is a sweet, sweet read about a little bird who couldn’t find a mommy. He searched everywhere, looking for a mommy who looked like him. In the end, the little bird found a mommy, though she look nothing like him at all. I love this book! We found this book long before we decided that one day we would adopt.
“Miss Fannie’s Hat” by Jan Karon…this is a beautiful story about an older lady who wears hats. At Easter, she wears the same hat every year. As she gives it away for her church, she realizes she is gaining more than she is giving.
I did not realize that I would be compiling such a large library list today! Love Jan Karon for big people, “Mis Fannie’s Hat” sounds sweet! And the other, already has me in tears! How do you read it without crying!?
Thanks so much for sharing!
How sweet is this that this book was finished. I can not wait to read this book. Reading with my kids has always been a favorite way of mine to slow down at the end of a crazy day. I do not know who needs this time more, me or them. My favorite book to read with my first was Goodnight Gorilla, even though we read so many this was our favorite. That then made me have to find that one favorite and special one for my son. I think it is wonderful to have one special book with each child. Thank you for this suggestion.
My girls (and I) love “Goodnight Gorilla”. How cute is that mouse carrying the banana everywhere!
My mom gave my girls a book for Christmas last year. She bought the book at a book fair. It is by far my favorite book to read to my girls. It’s called Keep Love in Your Heart, Little One by Giles Andreae. It’s about a dad, “Big”, tucking his son, “Small”, into bed one night. Big thinks his son is sleeping and starts to tell him everything that he doesn’t make enough time to tell him during the day. The book is in rhythming text and my oldest daughter knows this is mommy’s favorite book to read to her! I warn you, this book is a tear jerker! : )
Thanks for the chance to add another great book to our book collection! : )
I love this story! Must get it!! Great reminder for busy mommies and daddies, too!
No more little ones at home to read to– they’re taking the car keys, eating me out of house and home, and having endless basketball games in the driveway. I miss those days! My daughter was a Goodnight Moon child– she couldn’t sleep unless we read it to her! Then along came Cat in the Hat. There were so many we loved– too many to name. I love that this work is being published and shared… she was a genius wordsmith of simplicity.
Thanks for sharing!
As an educator, I believe that reading to your child is vital, even at the youngest of ages. We have been reading to my 9 month old since she was able to keep her eyes open! While I have too many favorite children’s books to mention, the ones I am reading to my little one are more limited since she is still young. Her favorites are any that have textures, shiny objects, flaps, etc. If I had to choose my favorite, at this moment, I guess I would say, Guess How Much I Love You written by Sam McBratney.
I think that one is secretly for parents, more than the kids! Love that one too Kristen!
Fun.
Yes! I need lots of practice on slowing down! My kids are just now becoming interested in reading, and I love books, so we would love to have this one! Thanks for the reminder to ‘slow down’!
It really is the sweetest book Beth! They would love it!
a book on slowing down sounds wonderful! so i’m in!
one of our favorite books to read is tickle monster by josie bissett. it is so cleverly written, the kids LOVE to be tickled throughout the book and the ending is super sweet (i’ll let you find out if you don’t already know).
Is that Josie Bissett the actress?? It sounds adorable!