Audrey Bunny sits in a barrel of toys day after day— she waits and watches. Audrey Bunny has a smudge right over her heart and believes this imperfection makes her unworthy to be loved. God aligns Caroline, a sweet red haired girl, to be the one to help Audrey Bunny understand that the spot over her heart makes her beautiful and is ultimately the reason she is chosen.
Psalms 139:13-16
13 For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.
14 I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.
15 My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth.
16 Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.
Smith’s and Brookshire’s collaboration are a perfect pairing of text and illustration. The soft colors and detailed facial expressions enhance the reader’s imagination response to the story. Caroline’s vibrant red hair stands out beautifully.
This is the type of book that I personally love for children. It underlines a simple storyline with biblical concepts such as character, morals and meaning. When it comes to children’s literature, I look for books based on a dual metaphor; stories with a clear message that young children can understand and a more profound one parents can interpret. The message of this story is one every child should know—our worth is found in and through God.
Let’s talk about the author’s inspiration for Audrey Bunny—a story of hope transformed through loss. When Angie Smith and her husband Todd Smith were expecting their fourth child, they received devastating news. Their unborn daughter “had several conditions that deemed her incompatible with life.” Doctors told Angie that her daughter could die in the womb or only live a few minutes after birth. She was advised that it would be best to terminate the pregnancy, but Angie chose to trust God in the midst of heartache and grief. Audrey Caroline Smith was born on April 7, 2008, weighed three pounds and lived for two and a half hours.
The backstory of this book is one that tugs deeply at my heart, for I miscarried at ten weeks with my second pregnancy. It was the most difficult trial of my life. A season where I clung to the following verses.
Isaiah 66:9-10
9 Shall I bring to the point of birth and not cause to bring forth?” says the Lord; “shall I, who cause to bring forth, shut the womb?” says your God. 10 “Rejoice with Jerusalem, and be glad for her, all you who love her; rejoice with her in joy, all you who mourn over her;
Every time my boys and I read this book, I can’t help but think of sweet Audrey Caroline. Her short life was filled with immense purpose through our Creator. She left the most incredible mark on this world and will transcend time through Audrey Bunny. I pray she makes her way into your home and children’s hearts.