Chris’s rocket ship is made out of a cardboard box. He dreams of being an astronaut, saving Earth from aliens and traveling to Mars. Though he’s brave during the day, at night his courage evaporates as his fears of the dark take over and aliens seem to multiply in his bedroom.
When Chris, his family, and their neighbors gather around a television to watch the Apollo 11 moon landing, Chris notices something that changes his life—“the darkness of the universe was so much bigger and deeper than the darkness of his room” and he “could see the power and mystery and velvety black beauty of the dark.” After that, Chris was no longer afraid of the dark.
Based on the life of astronaut Chris Hadfield, this inspiring children’s picture book—including muted illustrations by Terry and Eric Fan that contrast a boy’s small world with the vastness of the universe—invites children to dream big dreams for their futures. When adults read The Darkest Dark to children, they can point out the majesty of God’s creation and how our lives, including our dreams, are for God’s glory. Ages 4 and up. (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers)
About the Author
Sonya VanderVeen Feddema is a freelance writer and a member of Covenant CRC in St. Catharines, Ontario.