You may have noticed a new section in recent newsletters – Our Bookshelf – and there are few things I find as much pleasure in cultivating. After all, I was an English major whose primary childhood occupation was spending days at the library with my grandmother. In more recent years, I’ve participated in numerous book launches for progressive, Christian projects, which has helped me keep up with the latest resources, and now I get to share them with you here.
While you can always take note of the books in the newsletter, watch this space, and the “books” tag, for a central hub. And, of course, let me know what types of resources you’re looking for and I’ll share them here.
Getting To Know Godly Play
Godly Play may be new to St. John’s, but the program is over 40 years old. These books can help you learn more about the practice and approach and engage it in your life at home:
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Stories of God at Home: A Godly Play Approach by Jerome Berryman
Written by the founder of Godly Play, Stories of God at Home is a practical guide to using Godly Play methods, specifically storytelling, to support your child’s spiritual growth and tackle the big questions that shape our lives as we move through the seasons.
I Wonder: Engaging a Child’s Curiosity about the Bible by Elizabeth Caldwell
If you’ve listened in on a Godly Play session, you’re likely to hear the phrase “I Wonder” a lot. That’s because this is the open ended form that we use to explore big ideas – but really if you talk to me at all, you’ll often encounter “I wonder” questions because they are capacious and make room for uncertainty and questions and imagination. Whether you’re reading the Bible with very young children or older, more independent readers, this book can be a helpful guide and point of entry for exciting conversations.
Silence by Jerome Berryman
In theory, ”Silence” is a children’s book, at least in the sense that it is short and full of pictures. In practice, though, grownups have a much harder time with silence than children do, especially when it comes to serious things. Godly Play stories often move slowly. They’re full of silence. This book is a lesson on occupying that still space without being overwhelmed by the anxiety of a noisy, non-stop world.