*All Creation Waits by Gayle Boss

Each day of Advent, beautifully illustrated poems about animals of the Northwoods remind children that All Creation Waits for our Lord.

*All Creation Waits: The Advent Mystery of New Beginning for Children by Gayle Boss, illustrated by Sharon Spitz. Paraclete Press, 2023. 64 pages.

• Reading Level: Picture books, ages 4-8
• Recommended For: Ages 4-8

What do opossums, fireflies, and loons have in common? Each is the focus of a gentle Advent poem in All Creation Waits. Each day of Advent, a two-page spread greets young readers with an illustration of the day’s animal and a poem about how the animal spends its winter waiting. Some sleep, some forage, some are alone, some find others of their kind for warmth, but each poem ends with a reminder, “The dark is not an end. It’s a door. It’s the way a new beginning comes.” When young readers reach Christmas Day, they are transported from the forests of the north to another place with animals: the stable where Jesus was born. Gentle text connects Jesus to what all His creation waits for, “a human at home with all creatures as kin.”

A ONE-OF-A-KIND ADVENT DEVOTIONAL 

This children’s edition of Boss’s advent devotional is a lovely addition to the realm of Advent resources. While each poem connects to the theme of waiting, it also introduces children to the fascinating world of God’s creation. Using gentle language, Boss does an excellent job of covering all aspects of the natural world: from hibernation to age-appropriate references to mating and pregnancy, all within the context of free-verse poetry.

At the back of the book, each day has a corresponding paragraph that includes more information as well as engaging questions connecting to the lives of young listeners. (For example, day 24 begins, “In late fall, Lake Trout can’t wait to go home. When do you really want to go home?”) It’s not often a book about advent is also a resource for natural sciences, but this unique devotional is both.

An excellent resource for nature-loving children, especially those who know and love the animals of the Northwoods, with a gentle daily reminder that All Creation Waits.

Considerations:

• Animal sexuality: note comment in review

Bottom Line: An excellent resource for nature-loving children, especially those who know and love the animals of the Northwoods, with a gentle daily reminder that All Creation Waits.

*indicates a Redeemed Reader starred review, an outstanding example in its field.

Recommended Reading at Redeemed Reader

• Book Reviews: Other animal-themed Advent and Christmas picture books include The Birds of Christmas, Tully’s Christmas Mess, and The Animals Speak. Heaven and Nature Sing is another Advent devotional geared to slightly older readers.
• Book Review: Older readers might enjoy these other Advent devotionals centered on poetry like All Creation Waits: Wild Bells and Journey to Bethlehem.
• Resource: Browse our Advent Family Devotional List for more ideas!

You may purchase All Creation Waits from Amazon.

We received a free copy of this book from the publisher in return for a fair, unbiased review.