Discovering Wonder and Gratitude in “When God Made Light”

I confess—when I first picked up “When God Made Light” I was expecting yet another children’s book about Genesis 1 or God’s creation whose language, tone, and general message would make it unfriendly to or unreconcilable with science. Instead, I was pleasantly surprised to find a book that is full of wonder and inspiration!

The book begins “Let…there be… Light!” and goes on to celebrate the many different kinds of light in God’s world. Though the book doesn’t deal with light in a scientific way, it highlights how natural light, in its various forms, blesses our lives and encourages the reader to enjoy and appreciate it. It captures a sense of wonder and expresses gratitude.

What I like best about this book is the connection it makes between the light all around us in God’s world and the light of God that shines in each one of us. To quote author Matthew Paul Turner: “And all that light—every bright golden hue—is the very same light that God put inside you.” This book is colorful, playful, wonder-filled, and points to God—and that’s why it’s on Discovery & Faith’s bookshelf!

When God Made Light by Matthew Paul Turner