QUINN'S PROMISE ROCK

A little owl who’s nervous about losing her way accompanies her father on a journey that helps her understand the nature of God.

While out hunting for dinner one night, Quinn confesses that she is nervous that she will be left behind or lost. Her father instructs her to fly with him to the top of a mountain, where he talks about how God is as immovable as a mountain. When a storm strikes, Quinn and her father seek refuge in a mountainside cave. Her father explains that God is also a safe place to seek shelter. Finally, he passes her a small pebble and tells her to keep it tucked in her feathers as a reminder that God is always with her. Soft watercolor illustrations rendered in a nighttime palette of blues and greens convey the fluffy owls’ adventure. The muted colors and blurred details of both the owls and the landscape invoke a feeling of quiet introspection. Written to help children with separation anxiety, as a closing note explains, this story explains that while God is both as great as a mountain and as strong as a cave, he is also with each person like a small pebble that may be carried in one’s hand. Bible verses included at the end further describe the personal nature of God.

A simple, calm story written from a Christian perspective that may help assuage young children’s fears.