All Creation Waits ― Children's Edition: The Advent Mystery of New Beginnings for Children

by Gayle Boss, Sharon Spitz (Illustrator)

"Beautiful, beckoning, and brimming with hope and promise, wonder and love!" — Sy Montgomery , New York Times bestselling author of How to Be a Good Creature

From bestselling author Gayle Boss, a stunningly illustrated picture book edition of her beloved Advent book, All Creation Waits . Now young readers too will be caught up in the wonder of 24 woodland animals adapting to the season of dark and cold. Each day of Advent a different animal shows children its own amazing way to meet the dark and cold. Wood Frog freezes into a frog-shaped cube of ice! For six months Painted Turtle doesn’t breathe! Woodchuck can’t be wakened, even if shaken! With each creature, children hear the The dark is not an end. It’s a door. It’s the way a new beginning comes. Here is the ancient truth of Advent enacted in the lives of 24 common woodland animals and culminating in the birth of the Human One who perfectly lived that truth. Children open the book’s double-page spreads as they would the doors on an Advent calendar—one, and only one, each day. “Animal wonderment” reflection questions at the back of the book help children stay with just one animal, one page spread, each day. In an often chaotic “holiday season,” children learn to slow down and wait with all creation. Written in lilting poetic lines, children ages 5 to 10 will delight in the sounds of the words as well as the vivid descriptions of animals’ winter lives. They’ll learn the elegant intricacies of creatures as small as honeybees, as large as black bears. Original watercolor paintings by award-winning artist Sharon Spitz convey the radiance of each creature. With this beautiful picture book, adults and families who have loved the original edition of All Creation Waits can now welcome younger children into the practice of reflective waiting-with-creation through Advent. Perfect for grounding young ones in the wonder of wild things.

Learn more about All Creation Waits—Children's Edition and find free resources at

Genres: Christmas, Picture Books, Childrens

64 pages, Hardcover

Published October 3, 2023

About the author

Gayle Boss writes from West Michigan, where she was born and raised. Her lifelong love of animals and her immersion in spiritual texts and practices have melded in writing that explores how relationships with animals specifically, and an attentive presence in the natural world generally, restore us to our deepest selves. Also the mother of two grown sons, Gayle shares her home with her husband and Welsh corgi rescue.

Reviews

[Hope · Rating 2 out of 5]

When I saw this gorgeous book in a Christian book store catalog, I was anxious to get my hands on it. I'm so glad I previewed it before buying!

Each page is dedicated to a specific animal and their winter habitat. The writing is poignant and explains how each animal prepares to survive the winter. (The inclusion of their "bathroom" habits will probably have your children giggling.) Each page ends with the mantra, "The dark is not an end. It’s a door. It’s the way a new beginning comes."

If you are like me, you might be hoping the word "advent" in the title indicates a book that would help prepare hearts for the true meaning of Christmas. Frankly, when Jesus is finally introduced on day 25, it is a bit jarring. To make Him fit into the animal narrative, Boss writes, "Creation was waiting for a human at home with all creatures as kin" as if Christ's coming was so that animals and people could be at one.

If you want a beautiful, cozy book about animals, this is for you. If you want your children to spend each day of advent anticipating the coming of the Christ child for the redemption of the world, you will need to look elsewhere.

[Cindy Costanza · Rating 5 out of 5]

Twenty-five beautiful illustrations for children and poems about the preparation for and survival through winter of 25 various animals/insects. It matches the adult version of the book where readings are 2 pages long. Great for having discussions with your kids about winter and waiting. Day 25 is devoted to the birth of Christ.

Beautiful picture book that I love to read during Advent. In my 2nd year of reading it, it has become a tradition that I will continue.

[Emily Foster · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a BEAUTIFUL book full of nature and life and really fun facts about animals in the winter! We will be reading this one each winter/December.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly enjoyed. A very different type of Advent devotional. It follows 24 animals through their preparations and endurance of winter. They are teetering on the edge of survival for months and it’s really amazing and eye opening to think about this struggle for life that is happening in my backyard. There is a lot of knowledge in this tiny book and it was a very useful tool while reading its children’s version to my kids. It has certainly inspired me to refill my bird feeders regularly and throw out some corn for the turkeys and squirrels. The forward is an important part of understanding the motivation and purpose of this book so don’t speed to day 1 and skip it.

The children’s version is very simplified and removes the really dire, close to dying information. The pictures are full page and full color. A feast for the eyes. Every day ends with “The darkness is not an end, but a door. This is the way a new beginning comes.” By the end of Advent my kids would chime in and say that line with me while I read it. They retained a good bit of information especially since we made peanut butter bird feeders and they got to observe our backyard birds eating. Its message is beautiful and hopeful with the promise of the coming Jesus Christ and hope for a new start and spring. With that said though I definitely needed the information from the adult version to help me elaborate on the day’s reading and answer their questions. Each day is short and sweet. It took less than five minutes to read and discuss. We’ll probably revisit this next Advent.

[Annette Bourland · Rating 5 out of 5]

All Creation Waits Children's Edition is remarkable and unlike any other Advent book I've ever seen or experienced for young children and families. It's a brilliant pairing of nature facts and poignant reflection on what animals can teach humans about enduring (and embracing) winter when daylight is limited (in the northern hemisphere!) and temperatures drop. A daily reflection for each day of Advent highlights a different animal and how it exists during a bleak season that anticipates spring breezes. The vivid and detailed illustrations by award-winning artist Sharon Spitz are captivating! And more "Animal Wonderment" is provided by the author for those wanting to share discussion and discover more animal facts. I highly recommend.

[Reading Fury · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolutely beautiful and unusual advent book. This is the children's edition. I will absolutely be looking into getting the adult version. Each day introduces us to the winter habits of different animals, from turtles to foxes. Boss's gentle narratives show many means of survival, and Spitz's artwork is exquisite, very beautiful, even moving. As an added benefit, at the end of the book are daily discussion or writing prompts to consider what we have learned about each animal's winter experience, and how we might learn from their habits. This is a super nice book to hold in your hand and just enjoy looking at it.

[Michele Thrailkill · Rating 2 out of 5]

Previewed this for Advent. Each day, 1 - 25, has a poem about one animal and its winter habitat. There are pretty illustrations. Each poem ends with the same closure "The dark is not an end. It's a door. It's the way a new beginning comes." There are some discussion prompts in the back for each day related to winter animals.

I didn't feel this was a good "advent" book but definitely liked it for a "winter" book.

[Kristin Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Audiobook. Children learn about the habits of animals preparing and living through winter. They are asked questions which can foster curiosity and conversations. The 25th chapter is about Jesus being born. This book can be used as an Advent "devotional" by starting conversations of wonder, thanks and praise for how God created each animal's body to survive the winter, as well as how to prepare for winter. Simply awe inspiring!

[Vonnie Skaggs · Rating 5 out of 5]

I discovered this book to late for this Advent, but I will be buying several copies of it for family next Christmas.

As well as the adult version for my self.

It is purely lovely!

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really cool book about animals preparing for winter, but very limited in its connection to Advent. We will read it again, but this time in January.

[Cassidy T]

Excellent family advent read!

[Dylan Teut · Rating 5 out of 5]

Profound- Wonderful and beautiful. Read the author's note before beginning the journey.

[Dani Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

4✨ a lovely advent book I read with my son this Christmas. “The dark is not an end. It’s a door. It’s the way a new beginning comes.”

[Carmen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonder-ful adaptation of this book form children! I
Read along this year to experience it myself and it is amazing!

[Lacey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely book for Advent. My entire family enjoyed this nightly read aloud.

[Gretchen Biere · Rating 5 out of 5]

just finished crying at the last entry in this one too... will be thrilled to revisit yearly with the kids for advent

[Josie Siler · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a delightful book! I highly recommend it for kids and adults alike.

[Darla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautifully illustrated, Advent of nature, even includes an activity to go along with each animal.

[Paula White · Rating 5 out of 5]

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