I could stay busy all day long. My kids can become something I have to do, instead of a relationship I have the blessing to build.  One thing I have found, to slow down the busy in our home, is reading books aloud to them.  It pulls my heart into the moment. And if I’m lucky, I get a hug and they share their snacks with me.

Some books I read because they love them.  Others I read because they have stood the test of time.  Still some, have language that hangs int he air and delights our hearts. For my littlest book lover, I frequently reach for Margaret Wise Brown. She is a classic in every way.  I think I can quote Goodnight Moon by heart.  Many times, when I’m reading this to her before nap, my other girls come running.  They know it, and they love the slow down, too.

Recently I found this book, also by Margaret Wise Brown:

The story behind this book is as beautiful as the book itself:

The Moon Shines Down is being published for the first time 56 years after the death of the beloved children’s author Margaret Wise Brown.

Amazingly, this unpublished manuscript lay incomplete and forgotten in a cedar trunk in a Vermont barn. When it was discovered, the onionskin paper had yellowed and the paperclips that held the pages together had rusted. Children’s book publisher, Laura Minchew, a longtime fan of Brown, took on the challenge to complete the work.

Based on the New England Sampler prayer, “God Bless the Moon and God Bless Me,” this soon-to-be bedtime classic is a prayer for God’s blessing on all the world’s children.

Are you in need of a slow down too? Do you have a little one you would like to pull into your lap to read to today? Well, the kind book lovers at Tommy Nelson would like to share a copy of this soon to be treasure with you.  The Moon Shines Down is perfect for little people.  Or big people who enjoy a quiet moment with an old friend.

I will pick one lucky person who leaves a comment to win a copy of this book. All you have to do, is share your favorite book to read aloud to your kids.  Feel free to fill up Facebook and Twitter with news of this book release as well.  For each action you take, be sure to leave a comment.  I’ll close comments on Sunday and announce the winner next week. So comment, share, read, enjoy!

***Special thanks to Tommy Nelson for sponsoring this giveaway and providing me with a review copy of this new family favorite.