Even young children want answers to the hard questions about God and suffering. In The Moon Is Always Round, seminary professor and author Jonathan Gibson uses the vivid imagery of the moon to explain to children how God's goodness is always present, even when it might appear to be obscured by upsetting or difficult circumstances.
In this beautiful, full-color illustrated book, he allows readers to eavesdrop on the conversations he had with his young son in response to his sister's death. Father and son share a simple liturgy together that reminds them that, just as the moon is always round despite its different phases, so also the goodness of God is always present throughout the different phases of life.
A section in the back of the book offers further biblical help for parents and caregivers in explaining God's goodness to children. Jonathan Gibson reminds children of all ages that God's goodness is present in the most difficult of times, even if we can't always see it.
The Moon Is Always Round gives children a way to understand God’s goodness in the midst of grief, the companion book, You are Still a Mother by Jackie Gibson, tells the story of loss and heartache from her unique perspective as a mom.
AUTHOR
Jonathan Gibson (PhD, Cambridge) is ordained in the International Presbyterian Church, UK, and is associate professor of Old Testament and Hebrew, Westminster Theological Seminary, Philadelphia. He is coeditor with Mark Earngey of Reformation Worship, contributor to and coeditor with David Gibson of From Heaven He Came and Sought Her, and Covenant Continuity and Fidelity: A Study of Inner-Biblical Allusion and Exegesis in Malachi. He is married to Jacqueline, and they have two children: Benjamin and Leila.
ILLUSTRATOR
Joe Hox was raised on a farm in southern Iowa where he doodled whenever he wasn’t spading thistles or feeding pigs. Everyone knew by his crooked hay rows that he would choose art over farming. Joe earned his BA in Art and Education from Dordt College and his MA from the University of Nebraska. Today he lives with his wife and four children in Pella, Iowa, where he illustrates and teaches art. Joe has illustrated all of the Good News for Little Hearts series.
“It is with the greatest pleasure and sense of privilege that I commend this book about Leila, Jonny and Jackie Gibson’s precious, stillborn daughter. As I held Leila’s tiny lifeless body in my arms, I wondered what great things God would do through her brief, mainly hidden, life in this world. May this beautiful and poignant reflection, from a loving and devoted father, bring God’s compassion and comfort to many. She being dead yet speaks—Leila the Evangelist!”
Ian Hamilton, Former minister of Cambridge Presbyterian Church, England
“The Moon Is Always Round offers gentle instruction to the hearts of our children when life in this world has broken their hearts.”
Nancy Guthrie, Author of What Every Child Should Know about Prayer
“When our children were growing up, we sought out books to read to them, and a little later, books that they could read themselves. Many of them they wore out, unselfconsciously memorizing prose and poetry alike. The Moon Is Always Round has now been added to the ‘must-read-and-cherish’ list, not only because it is a good story and a true story, but because it is an important story that they will need to think about all their lives.”
D. A. Carson, Author of How Long, O Lord? Reflections on Suffering and Evil
“It’s always best to rely on what we know to be true, rather than be guided by feelings. It’s an important lesson, especially for boys and girls, and Jonny Gibson teaches it in his wonderful, new book for children, The Moon Is Always Round. Through a tender, yet tough story—and beautiful illustrations—Jonny provides a heartwarming guide to any parent shepherding their child(ren) through times of loss and grief. I give a hearty thumbs-up to this special book!”
Joni Eareckson Tada, Author of A Place of Healing: Wrestling with the Mysteries of Suffering, Pain, and God’s Sovereignty
“This sweet and touching book is wonderfully simple without being at all simplistic. The metaphor of the always-round moon will stick with children and parents alike. The lesson here is a profound one for any family wrestling with grief, but it is also a needed reminder for every Christian who may ever doubt the goodness of God.”
Kevin DeYoung, Author of The Biggest Story
“When we experience a deep loss, it’s easy to doubt God’s goodness. But that is exactly when we need to be reminded that God’s tender, personal love for us never changes. Kids need to know that just as much as anyone else, and this beautiful book will give parents a way to help them understand that truth. But don’t think this book is just for kids. Anyone who has experienced a deep loss will be comforted by this book’s simple reminder that the moon is always round.”
Libbie Groves, Author of Grief Undone and Becoming a Widow
“Most Christian children’s books get too preachy. They say too much and see too little—like a bad sermon. Not this book. Jonny Gibson has given us a modern-day psalm for children that takes us into the depths and points us to faith in God. Thank you, Jonny. Well done!”
Paul Miller, Author of J-Curve: Dying and Rising with Jesus in Everyday Life and A Praying Life
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Jackie Gibson
David Powlison
Edward T. Welch
Marty Machowski
Joni and Friends
Marty Machowski
I suggest parents read this book through one or two times themselves before they share it with their child(ren) because it’s an emotional read. The Moon is Always Round is a story with beautiful illustrations of a family of three rejoicing in their upcoming addition. When their joy turns to sorrow, Dad reminds his son that even in the hardest times, God is always there. God is always good. Using the symbolism of the moon, which is always round even when we only see parts of it, Gibson walks little readers through a painful truth of life. There are things we will never understand, but through it all, God is good. The resources at the end of the book include a couple lessons, scripture verses, and Gibson’s personal story. Disclosure statement: I receive complimentary books from publishers, publicists, and/or authors, including NetGalley. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
It’s not often that a children’s book brings me to tears, but that is just what The Moon is Always Round does. Gibson has written to teach children the truth of God’s goodness, in the midst of especially hard times. Told in the first person by a little boy, he and his dad play a game when they look at the moon. Whatever shape it looks, when Daddy asks “what shape is the moon”, the little boy always replies “the moon is always round”, and it means that “God is always good”. It’s their little catechism to show that no matter what things look like and though it can sometimes be hard to see, God is always good. As they progress thought the months, looking at the shape of the moon, at first there is excitement about a new sister, but it changes as they realise the baby will not come home with them. The illustrations by Joe Hox perfectly match the feel of the book, and it’s particularly the mother’s face at various points of their loss that keeps moving me to tears. I am so thankful that Gibson found a simple, yet profound way to explain God’s goodness at all times to his own son in the midst of their family’s loss, and that has now chosen to share it with others. In one way it deals with a very specific subject (the stillbirth of an infant), and so would be a very helpful resource if that were needed for your own family situation. However, the idea of God being good in all circumstances, even if we don’t understand them, is relevant for young children across a whole range of circumstances, and many parents and children will benefit from this tender, gentle, yet honest story.
I have a 3-yr-old and a 5-yr-old. We had a little girl who was born into Heaven last year. My kids have asked me to read this book over and over again each day since we received it. The truths are as helpful for me to hear as it is for them.
as published at http://davidould.net/book-review-the-moon-is-always-round/ In The Moon is Always Round Jonathan Gibson has given us a fine gift – the tragedy of the stillbirth of his daughter turned into a book to help children process suffering. Illustrated beautifully by Joe Hox, Gibson takes us through the story of that loss through the eyes of his son Ben, using the waxing and waning of the moon as an illustration of something what we can’t always see but we know is always there. In the same way, God goodness is never to be doubted, even when at times it is obscured by shadow. Discerning readers will appreciate the care with which Gibson has written. This is not just a story for his own son but for every child of God that has ever wanted to have a simple but not simplistic, answer to the question of where God is in the tragedies of life. The story lands at Psalm 100:5Open in Logos Bible Software (if available), “For the LORD is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.” However, Gibson’s explanation continues in the appendix where he provides lessons for the children reading, the story behind the book and finally a brief Cathechism. It is there that we see how robustly mature the theology of the book is as Gibson takes us to the Cross as the “concrete example” of “God’s goodness in difficult times”. After further reflection it quickly becomes clear that the cross saturates the book. Hox has drawn 10 different crosses into his elegant pictures; some obvious and some discrete. But once you see them there you can’t unsee them. Which is, of course, what Gibson is intending for every person who opens this book, whether it’s a 3 year old like Ben or the adult reading along with them. The Moon is Always Round is everything that we need in a theodicy for infants. Age-appropriate yet not shying away from the pain of tragedy. Theologically precise without ever being dense. Children will enjoy reading it, parents will further appreciate the explanation and tools Gibson has provided in the appendix for teaching our children just where God’s goodness is ultimately to be always found.
