One of my favorite things about a good book is that it gives us somewhere to begin.
We meet someone whose life looks different from ours. We imagine a place we’ve never been. We watch a character make a hard choice, try something that doesn’t work, or discover something beautiful.
And somewhere along the way, we start making connections.
I’ve felt that way before.
Why did she do that?
What would happen if we tried?
That’s part of what I love about stories. They give us a way to explore things with our children that can be hard to explain on their own: courage, contentment, perseverance, generosity, and what it looks like to love someone well.
At SkyTree, we want to help families carry those connections into their lives. We think about that through three simple words: Read. Wonder. Do.
Read: Begin with a good story
We believe the stories we put in front of our children matter.
What kind of world does a story invite them into? What does it celebrate? Who do they find themselves cheering for? What possibilities does it help them imagine?
These questions guide the books we create and share. Our mission is to enrich children’s imaginations and root them in Truth. As a Christian, I believe imagination is a gift from God, and I care deeply about what helps shape it.
I want children to encounter stories full of beauty, humor, adventure, and hope. Stories that are honest about difficulty and give them reasons to keep going. Stories they ask to hear again because they love spending time inside them.
That enjoyment matters. Before we ask a child what they learned from a book, we can simply enjoy reading it together.
Wonder: Leave room for questions
Children are often very good at wondering. They ask questions we wouldn’t have thought to ask and notice details we’ve read right past.
We need to make room for that.
Sometimes it sounds like, “Why do you think he did that?” or “Have you ever felt that way?” Other times, it means listening when a child interrupts the story with something that seems unrelated—and finding out how they got there.
Wonder gives children space to think about what they’re encountering. They can consider a character’s choices, connect a story to their own experiences, and imagine another possibility.
We don’t have to pull a perfectly worded lesson out of every book. Some questions stay open for a while. Some conversations happen later, when we’re driving somewhere or getting ready for bed.
Our part is to stay curious with them and help them think through what is good, right, and true.
Do: Give the idea somewhere to go
A story can stir something in a child that wants to become action.
A book about an inventor might lead to a cardboard creation on the kitchen floor. A story about generosity might help us notice someone we could share with. A character who keeps trying might come to mind when a drawing doesn’t turn out the way our child hoped.
That’s what we mean by “Do.”
It can be making, exploring, practicing, serving, or trying again. It can be a small choice that nobody else sees.
As a mom, I know how quickly a helpful resource can become one more thing to accomplish. So when we create something to accompany a book, I want it to offer an accessible starting point. Something a family can pick up and make their own, with the time and energy they actually have.
Sometimes that will be a hands-on project. Sometimes it will be one good question at dinner.
Why this matters to us
When I think about what I hope SkyTree helps grow in children, I think about curiosity, creativity, character, and conviction.
I hope they learn to pay attention. To ask thoughtful questions. To recognize goodness and have the courage to practice it. To imagine something and be willing to try, even when their first attempt falls apart.
Good books give us so many opportunities to nurture those things together.
Read–Wonder–Do is the rhythm behind how we hope to connect children with stories—through our books, school visits, and resources for families. We begin with something worth reading, leave room to think and imagine, and offer a way to respond.
Over time, my hope is that these small moments become familiar: sharing a story, having a conversation, trying something new.
A book gives us somewhere to begin. We get to discover where it takes us together.
The Canopy
Each month we produce The Canopy where we tackle a new topic and give parents stories to instill Truth in their kids. We give you a simple to follow monthly calendar that follows this rhythm of Read-Wonder-Do. Our hope is that you don’t just have another list of books to read, but a real way to connect with your kids over quality stories.
