Friday Book Recommendation: Room for a Little One

by Martin Waddell

illustrated by Jason Cockcroft

A beautifully (LOVE it!) illustrated picture book that more accurately depicts the birth of the Savior not in December, but on a cold spring night.  

Kind Ox invites Old Dog in from the cold, telling him, "There's always room for a little one here."  

Old Dog passes on the kindness to Stray Cat, and so on through barn animals who would not normally treat each other with such kindness.  

Tired Donkey comes bearing a precious load.  He is also welcomed, "There's always room for a little one here."  

And so it was there that "a Little One came for the world."

May we all make room for the least of these this Christmas.

Teaching by bringing extra to the ordinary:

Use the following poem with a little bag of M&M's and you'll find your kids will never see those little candies the same way again.

More Than Colors

These special little candies,

Come in colors bright and fun.

There’s more than color to be found;

A story of God’s Son.

The M’s turn into W’s,

If you turn them upside down.

A few more turns and E and 3’s

Are waiting to be found.

M is for the manger,

Where Mary laid her precious boy.

Little did the world know,

This baby would bring great joy.

The W is for the Wise men, 

Who followed a bright star.

The star revealed a king was born,

They came but, oh, so far.

In Bethlehem they found Him,

Just as they had been told.

3 is for the gifts they brought;

Frankincense, myrrh and gold

W is also for their worship,

As they bowed before their King,

Salvation is the promise given,

There’s nothing we can bring.

Faith alone is how we come

He died to set us free.

E is for eternity,

God’s gift to you and me.

Barbara Hooks' Version of a poem by Pam Ridenour

image via simonsays.com

poem via daniellesplace.com