I feel like as a society we have moved indoors and are not enjoying the outdoors or teaching our children to enjoy it. Whether it is the bugs or the temperature, I find Hazel always has an excuse not to want to be outside. I grew up without air conditioning, so it often was cooler outside than inside during the day in the summer. We spent most of our days outside. Hazel and her friends usually do not. It saddens me. There is so much beauty outside. God has created this masterpiece of a world for us, and we do not always take the time to enjoy it or care for it. Today we are sharing a beautiful book about loving God's good Earth. It is called Abigail and the Waterfall by Sandra L. Richter and illustrated by Michael Corsini. There is a giveaway at the end of this post as well!
About the Book:
Abigail and the Waterfall Written by Sandra L. Richter and Illustrated by Michael CorsiniAges: 4-6 | 32 Pages | Publisher: IVP Kids (2025) | ISBN: 978-1514008928
Publisher’s Book Summary: Explore the wonders of creation with Abigail and learn to care for God’s good earth!
Abigail loves Saturdays—especially when her family goes hiking! Follow Abigail and her family as they hike through the lush landscapes of Appalachia, encounter fascinating animals, and marvel at a big, beautiful waterfall. On their adventure, Abigail learns about caring for creation — about loving and stewarding the world God created.
Written by parent and university professor Sandra Richter and brought to life with enchanting illustrations by Michael Corsini, Abigail and the Waterfall is more than just a storybook—it’s an invitation for families to discuss what the Bible says about caring for the environment, animals, and the beautiful world around us.
Why families will love Abigail and the Waterfall:
- A captivating story about faith, nature, and stewardship
- Thought-provoking themes to help kids learn to love the environment
- A special note from the author to encourage meaningful conversations about creation care
Purchase Links:
About the Author
Sandra L. Richter (PhD, Harvard University) is the Robert H. Gundry Chair of Biblical Studies at Westmont College, a member of the Committee on Biblical Translation for the NIV, and widely recognized for her work in Deuteronomy and the Deuteronomistic history. She is best known in the church for The Epic of Eden: A Christian Entry into the Old Testament, the video courses that have grown from that project, and Stewards of Eden: What Scripture Says About the Environment and Why It Matters. Her newest project, Abigail and the Waterfall: Loving God’s Good Earth, is a children’s book about stewarding the gifts of God’s creation.
For more information, visit
About the Illustrator:
Michael Corsini is an artist and illustrator with a BFA in illustration from Ringling School of Art and Design and an MTS from the John Paul II Institute in Washington, DC. His mission as an artist is to renew the church with works of beauty and music, and he has illustrated several children’s books including The Night the Saints Saved Christmas. Michael lives with his wife and their five children in northeast Pennsylvania where they are growing a small family homestead.
From Me:
In this book we meet Abigail who is excited to share her favorite day is Saturday and in particular first Saturdays because that is when her family hikes to their special place. The story takes the reader on the hike. Abigail explains many things like seeing other families who the forest is their home, so her family takes extra care not to disturb their homes. They walk and walk and just when Abigail is getting exhausted her father announces they are almost there, and Abigail can begin to feel the mist and hear the water. Their special place is by a waterfall in a creek. Throughout the story Abigail shares the various animals and plants they see. Her mother yells to watch out for the plants by the creek's edge and Abigail explains the fish need the plants for food and to keep the water clean. There are pages with lines of Scripture on them as well as the story. There are also labels on some of the animals and plants in the illustrations. The overall theme is that Abigail's family goes on this hike to make sure the creek and forest are taken care of for the creatures that live there. They purposefully do not leave trash of any type. They check on the wellbeing which made me think they are probably cleaning up trash if they see it. At the end of the book is the Author's Note which includes ideas for the reader's family to begin taking care of the earth if they haven't already as well as some information about waterfalls and salamander habitats.
I love the message of this book and how it is told. The images are beautiful, and Abigail's excitement is felt through the words and pictures. The scripture is there to remind the reader of God's creation and the people's job of being stewards of the land and animals. It is in the Bible that people should care for the plants and animals. This book brings the messages of the Bible with these scriptures, but it is not so much in the face for people who may not be Christian but want to read about the beauty and stewardship of the world. The scriptures are from Genesis and Psalms. Abigail's sense of wonder is also apparent and inspiring. I think this is a wonderful book to share with kids about God's creation and our stewardship of maintaining the world and hopefully getting them outside to enjoy God's masterpiece! The obvious activity with this book is to take a nature walk! We have shared a few books over the years with similar themes like the books here, God's Amazing World, All Things Bright and Beautiful, and Earth Verse.
Giveaway:
Enter for a chance to win one of five copies of Abigail and the Waterfall! Plus, one grand prize winner will receive a special Book Lover’s Bundle—complete with a Starbucks gift card and the opportunity to select a book of their choice from Amazon.com. Good luck!
