“When I was growing up I had lots of Bible storybooks, but I had never seen a children’s book on theology or the Lord’s Supper,” said María Cornou, program manager for international and intercultural learning at the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship. Cornou said she and cowriters, John Witvliet and Carrie Steenwyk, wanted to write a book that intentionally invites children into the discussion about communion.
En la Mesa de Dios At God’s Table is a Spanish-English children’s book that explores the richly symbolic practice of the Lord’s Supper in Christian worshiping communities. This vividly illustrated book celebrates the Lord’s Supper as a multifaceted event in a way that seeks to appeal to both children and adults.
The authors intentionally chose to put the two languages side by side rather than in two books. “It was a strategic decision to work more cross-culturally and be more hospitable to other cultures,” said Cornou. “We also wanted to be aware and understanding of the dynamics of many mixed-culture families.” Publishing the languages together just made sense, said Cornou.
“We believe that this could be a good resource not just for families but for children’s pastors, Sunday schools and Christian classrooms,” she said, suggesting that the book could even be used in college-level Spanish courses.
