FAITH NEWS SERVICE – Quiet time comes with multiple benefits, including enhanced creativity and self-awareness, and reduced feelings of stress. But the secret is finding a quiet space in this increasingly busy world.
Do we need to pick a spot that’s removed from the hustle and bustle? Or can it be as simple as setting aside listening time wherever we may be?
A new picture book release, Listen to the Silence, by Marjean Brooks (Redemption Press), portrays what readers might discover when they remove themselves from the noise that constantly demands attention.
The story and illustrations reveal how to discover or create a quiet listening space in many different settings. Whether inside or outside, in the city or in the country, there are always opportunities to focus on the silence and listen to the sounds around us as well as in our own thoughts.
Using tranquil wording to match the title, this picture book explains how to create a quiet place and tune in to our inner and outer world. The result could be as simple as hearing the chirp of a cricket or as significant as discerning the whisper of God.
By listening to the silence (which isn’t really silent at all), we better equip ourselves to commune with God and nature and to hear the natural symphonies that make up our world. The author says, “The practice of intentional quiet needs to start early. My prayer is that this message will not only reach children, but the adults who read the story to them. Hopefully they will participate in the art of listening together.”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Always passionate about books, nature, children, and faith, Marjean Brooks has combined these elements into a charming story for young readers. The Birmingham, Alabama, resident continues to share her love of books and learning with her eleven grandchildren and the young moms she mentors at her church. A contemplative at heart, she practices daily what she teaches in this story. Marjean won Writer of the Year at the Write to Publish Conference in 2014 for her work on The Way of Grace; Finding God on the Path of Submission (Glandion Carney/Marjean Brooks, IVP Books). Listen to the Silence is the author’s first picture book.
For interviews, contact: marjeanbrooks@icloud.com
Facebook: Facebook
Instagram: Marjean DuBois Brooks (@mjbrooks1) • Instagram photos and videos
Suggested Interview Questions
- When did you first realize that many of us need a reminder to listen to the silence?
- How did you choose wording to match the story’s tone?
- What do we miss when we don’t occasionally shut out the noise of the world?
- You use a variety of settings in the illustrations. Can you explain the importance of showing we can listen to the silence in more than just one place?
- Why do you think this message is important for readers of all ages?
- What tips do you have for readers who are having a hard time tuning out the noise?
- What led to your decision to write the book in rhyme?
- How can parents continue this practice with their children or make it part of their daily routine?
