Christian Book Awards 2023 Finalist for Young People’s Literature
Marty Machowski’s Darkest Night Brightest Day shows families how Easter morning turned the world upside down and right side up.
Start a new Easter season tradition with your family by reading this beautifully illustrated “upside down” book that includes fourteen Bible stories for Passion and Easter weeks. Begin on Palm Sunday with the first side, Darkest Night, which has seven stories that recount the events of Passion week, ending with Christ’s crucifixion and burial. Flip the book over on Easter morning and continue by reading Brightest Day, featuring seven more stories that progress from Christ’s resurrection to his ascension and Pentecost.
Machowski weaves the four Gospel accounts together into one harmonized story and provides questions for family discussion. Children are sure to remember the contrast between the darkness at the death of our Lord and the light-filled events from Christ’s resurrection onward.
· This beautiful hardback book, illustrated by Phil Schorr, is sure to become a treasuredfamily favorite to be used every Easter.
· Designed for families to read one story each day for two weeks, beginning Palm Sunday.
· Targeted to families with preschool and grade school children but can used in family devotionals with teens as well.
AUTHOR
Marty Machowski is a Family Life Pastor at Covenant Fellowship Church in Glen Mills, PA, where he has served on the pastoral staff for over thirty years. He is the author of a number of family devotionals, curriculums (including the Gospel Story for Kids), children's books, and parenting titles. His latest releases include WonderFull, God Made Me for Heaven, Angels on Your Side, and Darkest Night Brightest Day. He and his wife, Lois, have six children and several grandchildren, and reside in West Chester, PA.
ILLUSTRATOR
Phil Schorr resides in southern California with his family, where he tells stories through visual mediums. He has always been fascinated with mid-century design and the use of bold yet imperfect geometric shapes. As an art director and visual designer, he brings his influence of music, animation, and global stories into his work. He has the privilege to do what he does because of the love and support of his wife, Joelle and his wildly adventurous kids. Phil is the illustrator of Jesus Saves and Darkest Night Brightest Day.
"The good news of the person and work of Christ is the most important thing we can celebrate with and teach to our children. This family devotional teaches, proclaims, and applies the things of "first importance" (1 Corinthians 15:3–4): that Christ died for our sins, that he was buried, and that he was raised on the third day."
Justin S. Holcomb and Lindsey A. Holcomb, Authors of God Made All of Me, God Made Babies, and God Made Me in His Image
"In Darkest Night Brightest Day best-selling children’s author Marty Machowski once again provides families with a devotional they can trust and enjoy together! With stunning illustrations and helpful discussion questions, this Easter devotional is a new and fresh retelling of the old, old Story. Through the cross and empty tomb, history was changed and lives are transformed. The difference is night and day."
Champ Thornton, Pastor; author of several books, including The Radical Book for Kids, The Serpent Slayer and the Scroll of Riddles,and Why Do We Say Good Night?: When You Are Afraid of the Dark
"If you’re looking for a fun and theologically sound way to teach your children about the true meaning of Easter, look no further. Marty Machowski has done it again! Darkest Night Brightest Day is an excellent resource for children."
Ginger Hubbard, Bestselling author of Don’t Make Me Count to Three and Chloe and the Closet of Secrets; speaker; cohost of the Parenting with Ginger Hubbard podcast
"Nothing is more important than introducing our children to Jesus. Nothing is more vital to know about Jesus than his death and resurrection. In Darkest Night Brightest Day Marty Machowski has given us a beautiful, thoughtful, user-friendly tool for guiding our children (and ourselves!) to Jesus in a reflective, worshipful observance of Holy Week and Easter week."
John Kitchen, Author; pastor of the International Church of Slemani, Sulaymaniyah, Iraq
"This book is a gift to both parents and children. The words, artwork, and discussion questions bring the resurrection story to life. I'm certain it will become a new Easter-season tradition in our home."
Drew Hill, Award-winning author of Alongside: Loving Teenagers with the Gospel
"If you’re having trouble convincing your kids that Easter is more than candy and egg hunts, Marty Machowki’s Darkest Night Brightest Day is here to help. Colorful and Christ-exalting, this book shows how the darkness of Calvary became the light of resurrection. Marty’s books are a treasure for parents who want their children to know the glories of the gospel."
Trish Donohue, Author of Between Us Girls: Walks and Talks for Moms and Daughters
"Darkest Night, Brightest Day is a great tool for helping young children gaze intently at Christ’s life and work. With attention to detail, Machowski carefully guides families through the events of Holy Week and the days between resurrection and Pentecost. The book will help children to see Christ’s beauty and the importance of putting faith in him."
Jared Kennedy, Editor at The Gospel Coalition; author of The Beginner’s Gospel Story Bible and Keeping Your Children’s Ministry on Mission
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Marty Machowski
Scott James
Jared Kennedy
Kate Hox
It is a well-designed and well-written book. We gave out copies to families in our church. As a father and pastor, I'm thankful for this resource.
Darkest Night Brightest Day is a beautiful family devotional. It is a perfect resource to use in preparation for Easter. This book is cleverly designed to include the final days of the life of Jesus and his crucifixion with the book oriented one way, and then the reader flips the book over to read about resurrection. This design reinforces the darkness that is transformed into ultimate hope. While this complimentary book was provided for review by New Growth Press, no other compensation was given. All remarks are my personal and honest opinions.
This is such a beautiful book, and will be treasured in our family for years to come. The content is easy for kids to understand, and has depth for parents too! The illustrations are absolutely stunning, and should be made into prints!
Love the narrative paraphrase of the Easter story. Beautiful artwork. Would have preferred a few prayer suggestions at the end instead of reading comprehension questions.
Families with primary age children are often on the lookout for resources that help them explore the Easter story, balancing both the passion week and the joy of Jesus’ resurrection. Marty Machowski has created this great book, Darkest Night, Brightest Day that does exactly that, with seven days of readings that cover the week leading up to Jesus’ crucifixion, and then seven days on Jesus’ resurrection appearances, finishing with Pentecost. The illustrations by Phil Schorr are simple, colourful and clear. Machowski has collated all the gospel readings together to make one coherent account, so it reads simply and logically, as if straight from the bible. It’s sewn together with skill, with some aspects explained further to assist with understanding. Each chapter is two to three pages of text, and would probably take under 10 minutes to read aloud. There are a few questions at the end of each chapter, with answers provided in small font if needed. It’s designed to have the Darkest Night chapters as one half of the book, with its own cover. Then after seven days of readings, on Easter morning - you switch the book over and with a new cover for Brightest Day, read the next seven days. I really like its simplicity. There are no fancy crafts or activities, no extra things to do. God’s word is allowed to speak for itself. This also means it isn’t asking too much of busy or weary parents. While it may struggle to hold the attention of pre-schoolers, it would be great for primary age kids, and even younger high schoolers would still benefit from reading this with their family over Easter. The appeal for older kids might actually be its simplicity, my children definitely grew out of devotionals that required activities around the end of primary school. This doesn’t ask much of them, but still enables them to listen to and interact with the biblical accounts. I suspect many adult readers will also see afresh how the events around the resurrection fit together, and how through Jesus we really have moved from darkest night to brightest day.
This hardcover “upside-down” Easter Family Devotional is a perfect gift or family keepsake for Christian youth. It’s one-part “Darkest Night”, which includes the story of Jesus entering Jerusalem for the final time through His death and burial. It seems to end on a sad note, but Machowski reminds the young audience “that’s not the end of the story”. The flip side is the “Brightest Day”, which includes the discovery of the empty tomb through Jesus’ ascension. The book is broken into fourteen short stories with accompanying expressive illustrations by Phil Schorr. Each story is two pages or shorter and can be read in a few minutes. The questions for discussion allow the messages to be fully absorbed and include answer prompts for parents or teachers. Darkest Night Brightest Day incorporates a healthy dose of Scripture but also includes tidbits that help children put the story in context, such as an explanation of why the leaders wanted to kill Jesus. New Growth Press website lists the age range as 4-7, but for use in families, younger or older children would still benefit from and enjoy the stories and discussion. Darkest Night Brightest Day is a beautiful way for families or classrooms to celebrate the Easter season.
I am happy to recommend this devotional to friends and families in our ministry. The action of flipping the book is a great interest keeper. The pictures and concise reading will keep the family moving toward Christ but not be bored. Great job!
