Helping kids see Scripture’s vision of belonging

The Book of Belonging: Bible Stories for Kind and Contemplative Kids

Mariko Clark (Author),
Rachel Eleanor (Illustrator),
Convergent Children’s, 2024.

The Book of Belonging is a gentle and imaginative collection of Bible stories for children shaped by the belief that God welcomes and cherishes everyone. In her introduction, author Mariko Clark addresses her young readers and shares her hope that they will know, “God is trustworthy, and God’s names for you are true. You Belong. You are Beloved. You are Delightful.” These words set the tone for a book centered on inclusion, tenderness and belonging within God’s expansive love.

This collection features 42 stories drawn from both the Old Testament and the New Testament. Each story includes the characters’ original Hebrew names (Moshe for Moses, Mhanah for Hannah, Yeshua for Jesus etc.). Several stories focus on women, including some often overlooked in children’s Bibles. One example is the Old Testament story of five sisters – Makhlah, No’ah, Khaglah, Milkah, and Tirtzah – whom Moses advocated for after their father Tzalafkhad (Zelophead) died. “The rules in those days said that only a male could keep his father’s things,” explains Clark, “So without a brother, the girls felt their layers of belonging start to slip away.” Framing like this reminds readers that the desire for justice has always been part of God’s story and provides valuable context for some barriers to belonging.

Throughout the book, Clark’s attention to sensory detail and human emotion brings a fresh perspective even to well-known passages. The account of the angel Gabriel coming to Mary, for instance, begins: “Miryam (Mary) was a collector. Not of stones or feathers or coins but of memories. Lovely moments were uncommon in a life like hers. A poor teenage girl engaged to a poor carpenter from a poor tiny village in the grip of the new Roman power machine.” A few pages later, the story of Jesus’ birth opens with, “Snores and snuffles filled the cool night air as a flock of sheep snuggled in the grass. In the distance, the city glowed and grumbled.” Such vividness grounds readers in the world of the story, allowing them to notice and appreciate the small details of ordinary life.

Designed for ages six to twelve, The Book of Belonging is an accessible resource for family reading, classroom use or a church setting. Younger children, with guidance, may also enjoy the book and will likely enjoy Rachel Eleanor’s vibrant illustrations, which aim for historical authenticity and celebrate the diversity of God’s children.

At the end of certain stories, Clark offers short sets of questions and statements (a “Wonder Moment” or a “Mindful Moment”) that prompt readers to connect biblical themes to their own experiences – paying attention to exclusion, naming injustice and nurturing a sense of belonging. In one of these moments, she states that: “anytime we read the Bible (or anywhere!), it is a helpful practice to ask ourselves, Whose story is not being told? This is a chance to use our imaginations in a holy and compassionate way.”

The Book of Belonging is a carefully crafted, spiritually rich resource that invites children – and the adults who journey with them – to read Scripture with curiosity, empathy and the confidence that every person belongs to God.