The Moon is Always Round by Jonathan Gibson

My thoughts:  A picture book about a young family, and the father in conversation with his young son sharing that even though you can't always see it, "the moon is always round." This is used to convey the concept of God's love never changing, even when you can't see all of it.

The idea is instilled repeatedly by father to child that "the moon is always round" even in the face of loss. In this book's story, the young family is expecting a new addition but there is the sadness of losing that young baby and not being able to bring it home.

So the story is a good book for one who has experienced loss, but I don't see this as a book for the typical family. Even for reading to a child who has lost a friend or a grandparent, it might not be appropriate. But for the way it is written it would be appropriate.

The overall message is very good. It is that you'll be ok ..... because "the moon is always round" and that conveys the idea that God is also unchanging.



About the book: 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.