How To Love Someone Very Small

Read the beginning

Your child had a baby brother, and he was the tiniest person they had ever seen.

He had little fingers that curled around their thumb. He had little yawns that made his whole face scrunch up. And when your child sang to him, soft and low, his eyes would close and he would sleep right there in their arms.

Your child loved him so much it made their heart feel full, like a cup of warm milk filled all the way to the top.

One morning, Mama sat down beside your child. Her face looked worried, but her voice was steady and strong.

"Your child, a mean king has made an unkind rule about babies. We need to keep our baby safe and hidden."

Your child's tummy felt funny. A little scared. A little tight.

Mama looked right into their eyes. "Will you help me, your child? You are brave, and I need you."

Your child swallowed hard. they looked at their baby brother sleeping in his blanket. His tiny chest went up and down, up and down.

they nodded. "I'll help, Mama."

Together, your child and Mama got to work. They wove a basket — round and snug — weaving the reeds over and under, over and under. Your child's small hands worked right alongside Mama's big ones. They tucked soft blankets inside and a little pillow too, until it was the coziest basket in the whole world.

Mama painted something sticky on the outside. "So no water gets in," she said.

Then they laid the baby gently inside. He wiggled and cooed. Your child leaned down and kissed his forehead. "Don't worry," they whispered. "I'm going to take care of you."

They carried the basket down to the river. The water was calm and sparkly in the morning sun. Tall green reeds grew along the edge, swaying back and forth like they were waving hello.

Mama placed the basket carefully among the reeds. It bobbed softly on the water, rocking the baby like a cradle.

Then Mama knelt beside your child. "Stay here and watch over him. I'll be close by. You won't be alone — God is with you too."

Your child hid among the tall reeds. their heart was beating fast — thump, thump, thump. But they stayed very still and very quiet.

A dragonfly landed on a reed near their nose. The warm sun sat on their shoulders. The water went lap, lap, lap against the basket.

Your child peeked through the reeds at their baby brother. "I'm right here," they whispered. "I'm right here."

Then your child heard something. Splash, splash, splash.

Someone was coming.

Through the reeds, your child saw a princess walking toward the water. She wore flowing robes and golden sandals that glittered in the sunlight. She was the grandest person your child had ever seen.

The princess stopped. She tilted her head. She had spotted the basket.

In the full story, your child is the star: their name is woven throughout, read aloud in a warm, engaging voice. Preview it with your child's name or read about this story on our blog.