I have loved books since I was a little kid. And when I became a mom, I loved reading to my little kids. And when my kids grew up, I saved their books so I could read them to my little kid friends in church. And grandchildren too!

I want to share with you my favorites. I bet you have some of these on your book shelves. I bet you have read them at home or at school. When we are done, you can tell which ones are your favorites.

#1. Are You My Mother? by P.D. Eastman. The story of the baby bird who falls out of the nest and goes on a comical search to find his mom. He runs into a cat, a chicken and a Snort!

#2. Marvin K. Mooney, Will You Please Go Now! by Dr. Seuss. The story of a very little fellow who does not want to go to bed. I bet you can relate to that!

#3. Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak. Another book about a little boy “who wore a wolf suit and made mischief of one kind” who gets sent to bed without his dinner. His imagination invents a wonderful world of wild things. This was my son Zach’s very favorite book when he was two.

#4. The World of Pooh by A.A. Milne. Classic tales of Christopher Robin, Pooh, Eyore, and Piglet in the Hundred Acre Wood.

Hand in hand we come, Christopher Robin and I to lay this book in your lap. Say you’re surprised? Say you like it? Say it’s just what you wanted? Because it’s yours. Because we love you.

#5. The Lorax by Dr. Seuss. A book about saving trees. The Lorax was “shortish, oldish, brownish, and mossy. He spoke with a voice that was sharpish and bossy. ‘I speak for the trees because they have no tongues. I speak for the trees at the top of my lungs.‘”

And another great book we read every week is the Bible. Jesus is the BEST storyteller. Jesus’ stories are called parables. Jesus’ stories are short so you can remember them. And like pictures, he uses ordinary things, things you find around your house to tell his tales.

Today, Jesus tells us what the kingdom of God is like in parables. The kingdom of God are the little places here on earth where we find God’s love. And the kingdom of God is also in heaven.

He tells us that that the kingdom of God is like a little tiny seed that grows into a big and beautiful tree where all the birds of the air can live in its branches.

He tells us that the kingdom of God is like a net you throw into the sea which catches so many fish that you cannot count them.

He tells us that the kingdom of God is like yeast in the dough that makes a loaf of bread rise so big that it would it fill a house.

The kingdom of God is VERY big and VERY wonderful!

Jesus is the best storyteller. You should get his books. They are called the gospels. There are some with pictures that are just for kids.

Happy reading!

• Much love, Joani

Spirituality The Episcopal Church Children's Homily Clergy Ordinary Time Podcast The Rev. Joan L. Peacock