November 12, 2019. One year of missing our little lady. ⁣⁣⁣⁣
⁣⁣⁣⁣
Ellis was born at 12-13 weeks along. The doctors couldn’t give us any reason for her sudden death. I have a picture with her, but I prefer to think of her like this. Healed. Whole. Held by the one who made her. ⁣⁣⁣⁣
⁣⁣⁣⁣
Loss is a funny thing. Sometimes things seem normal and other times all the emotions are triggered. ⁣⁣
⁣⁣
I’m not the only one who has missed our baby girl. Eleanor was with me at the ultrasound where they told us that the heart had stopped beating. She has grieved. I’ve held her and stroked her hair while she cried over losing her sister. ⁣⁣⁣⁣
⁣⁣⁣⁣
Im thankful for the hope of the gospel. I’m thankful for people who wrote books like “Inheritance of Tears” and “The Moon is Always Round” because they talk about tough topics like miscarriage and infant loss. They extend an invitation to wrestle through the tensions of loss and God’s goodness. ⁣⁣⁣

Even kids want answers to the hard questions of life. They are curious about God’s goodness and suffering. The Moon is Always Round is a helpful tool for talking with children. It’s true, we can’t always see the whole story, just like we can’t always see the full moon. But God is always good. He is there even if we can’t see it. Even kids can get that. ⁣⁣⁣

Jonathan Gibson uses vivid imagery that kids can understand. His book is beautiful, colorful, and gripping. As the reader we get to overhear conversations he had with his son and hear his responses in the midst of losing his baby sister.

This book is helpful for anyone who is helping a kid walk through the grief of losing a sibling.
⁣
I can’t wait for the day when we see Jesus face to face. And we see that He was good the whole time. The moon is always round.

Beautiful illustrations. A wonderful message about God's love no matter the situation. There are things that are constant like the moon - no matter how it looks - and God's presence. This book is sensitively written about a subject that is not easy to handle especially in the case you of discussing it with children.

“The Moon is Always Round”, written by Jonathan Gibson and illustrated by Joe Hox, is a beautiful tribute to a stillborn daughter that teaches children (and adults alike) that God is always good, regardless of circumstances. The words are easy to understand. The theology is huge! The drawings are colorful and engaging.

This is a wonderful book that brought tears to my eyes and filled me with hope and compassion for the author and his family. The message that God is always good is something we all need to remember….especially in the tough times. My only issue with the book is how it reads in .pdf format. This should really be read in print, where the side-by-side artwork makes more sense.

The Moon Is Always Round is a beautifully illustrated children’s book that helps them with questions they may have about grief. I thought this book was pretty good at answering some questions. I found it to be sad but brings reality to children. I liked that the book includes some useful resources at the end that parents can use.
I am giving The Moon Is Always Round four and a half stars. I recommend it.
I received this book from the publisher. This review is 100% my own honest opinion.

This book is fabulous is so many ways. I was curious at first to see what way the story would develop and what teaching it would contain. Without giving the story away - it will bring such comfort and reassure so many children, especially those that have faced those circumstances but also a good way to deal with other issues. It would also be great to teach children about what their friends may be facing it. The pictures are so good and all the colours and illustrations.

On saying that I know it is a child's book but I also think it is a great reassurance to adults, no matter our circumstances or what we face in life 'The moon is always round'

I would highly recommend this book and would encourage others to purchase it too.

I suggest parents read this book through one or two times themselves before they share it with their child(ren) because it’s an emotional read.

The Moon is Always Round is a story with beautiful illustrations of a family of three rejoicing in their upcoming addition. When their joy turns to sorrow, Dad reminds his son that even in the hardest times, God is always there. God is always good.

Using the symbolism of the moon, which is always round even when we only see parts of it, Gibson walks little readers through a painful truth of life. There are things we will never understand, but through it all, God is good.
The resources at the end of the book include a couple lessons, scripture verses, and Gibson’s personal story.

Disclosure statement:
I receive complimentary books from publishers, publicists, and/or authors, including NetGalley. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

Based on a true story, this children's picture book shows a family of three—a father, mother, and young son. The father is teaching his son that even though you don't always see all of the moon, it is always round. Later the young boy finds out that his mother is pregnant with his baby sister, which the family is so happy about, and later... the mother has a miscarriage, which is heartbreaking. In this heartbreak the father reminds his wife and son that like the moon's roundness, "just because we cannot always see God's goodness during difficult times, this does not mean that God is not good in those times." This is an important message to remember. "For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations" (Psalm 100:5).

The story in this book is so touching and its illustrations are beautiful.

I looove the illustrations that the father uses with the moon. It is easy to use with children and to help them understand this valuable truth.
This book is. Great resources for teachers and parents.

This is such a beautiful book on God's promise to always be with us! The illustrations in this book are realistic and stunning. Loved that the author used his own experience to tell this story. The book came with a lesson guide at the end which will really be helpful for children ministry workers who want to use this book for teaching.

I teach in my church's Sunday school (pre-school) and am definitely getting a copy of this to share with my children!

“For the Lord is good;
his steadfast love endures forever,
and his faithfulness to all generations.”
Psalm 100:5

A Catechism of the Moon. Knowing God's goodness at times can be difficult and more difficult when tragedy strikes. A family that went thru the death of their child finds a way to instill a simple truth of God's goodness to their three year old as he deals with his baby sister not coming home from the hospital.

Simple. faith. of a three year old has he understands that moon is always round. Tonight it might be a sliver or a half moon. We can't always see the full moon just as we cannot always see God's plan, but we know that the moon is full and that God is good. The book starts with a little boy curious nature of the moon with questions why and the wisdom and love of a father has he guides his son to God's simple truth. This is priceless. The little boy understanding that his sister is on the way and the anticipation of someone new to love and to play with. However, when his sister is not able to come home, his father reminds him of the moon and the son remembers that God is good.

This may seem deep for a little one however, it has been done with integrity of the truth and sensitivity of a little heart that is looking for comfort. I cried reading this as it is vulnerable and precious! If you as a family have gone thru this, this may be a way of healing for all of you and to guide you to the simple faith that God is good.

A Special Thank you to New Growth Publishing and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review