From Dr. Rachel Naomi Remen, the New York Times bestselling author of Kitchen Table Wisdom, a modern retelling of a timeless story about healing the world by finding light in everyone and everything, illustrated by Rachell Sumpter. In the beginning, there was only darkness, and then a great ray of light ended the darkness and the world was born, the world of a thousand thousand things. It was filled with light. Then something unexpected happened, and the light of the world broke into millions of sparks of light. These sparks fell everywhere. They fell into everyone and everything. This is why you were born and I was born, and why everyone was born—to find the light and change the world.
The Birthday of the World is a beautiful retelling by a beloved author of a timeless story about finding light in the darkness, one spark at a time.
From Rachel Naomi Remen, the New York Times bestselling author of Kitchen Table Wisdom, comes a luminous picture book about hope, kindness, and the power each of us carries to make the world brighter.
In the beginning, the world was filled with light. But when that light scattered into countless sparks, those sparks found their way into every person, every creature, and every living thing. Now it is up to each of us to discover the light within ourselves and recognize it in others.
Inspired by a timeless teaching shared across generations, The Birthday of the World offers a gentle reminder that compassion, understanding, and connection can transform both our lives and the world around us. Through lyrical storytelling and breathtaking artwork, readers are invited to reflect on their place in a larger human story and the unique gifts they bring to it.
Illustrated by acclaimed artist Rachell Sumpter, whose radiant paintings fill each page with warmth and wonder, this inspiring picture book encourages meaningful conversations about empathy, belonging, gratitude, and purpose.
Perfect for families, classrooms, faith communities, and anyone seeking a message of hope, The Birthday of the World is a beautiful gift that will resonate with readers of all ages and become a treasured book to share again and again.
