A parent might reach for this book when their family is facing a big change, an uncertain future, or wants to explore the concept of adoption in a gentle, hopeful way. This beautiful retelling of the biblical story of Moses focuses on the profound love of a family trying to protect their newest member. When a cruel pharaoh declares that all baby boys must be taken away, one mother makes a brave choice, placing her son in a basket on the river. His sister, Miriam, watches over him until he is found by the kind princess. The story highlights themes of bravery, hope, and the powerful bonds of family, making it an excellent resource for discussing how love can find a way even in scary times. Its soft, reassuring tone is perfect for young children ages 3 to 8.
A mother must give up her baby to keep him safe. The separation is brief and resolved happily.
Sensitive Topics
The core conflict involves the threat of state-sanctioned infanticide and forced family separation. The book handles this very gently, focusing on the mother's love and protective actions rather than the explicit violence of the decree. The approach is metaphorical, framing the conflict as a 'cruel king's rule' that a family must cleverly navigate. The resolution is entirely hopeful, emphasizing the baby's safety, his adoption into a loving new situation, and the miraculous reunion with his birth mother as his caregiver.
Ideal Reader
This book is ideal for a 4 to 7 year old child being introduced to stories of faith, or for a family navigating the topic of adoption or foster care. It's particularly powerful for a child who is an older sibling, as it models the important, protective role they can play. It would also comfort a child feeling anxious about a new or uncertain family situation.
Parent Prep
A parent should be ready to answer simple questions about why the king was so mean. The book likely does not go into detail, so the parent can keep the explanation simple (e.g., 'He was afraid and making an unfair rule.'). The concept of giving a baby away to keep them safe is the central point, so a parent should be prepared to discuss that with gentleness and clarity. No major prep is needed to read it cold. A parent overhears their child expressing anxiety about a new baby's safety or asks questions about why some children don't live with their birth parents. The parent is looking for a gentle, narrative way to open a conversation about protection, separation, and different forms of family.
Age Experience
A younger child (3-5) will connect with the sensory elements: the baby, the basket, the water, and the kind princess. They will understand the core idea of keeping a baby safe. An older child (6-8) will better grasp the danger, the sister's bravery, the mother's sacrifice, and the cleverness of Miriam's plan to reunite mother and child. They may have more complex questions about fairness and leadership.
What Makes It Special
Unlike many retellings of this story that focus on Moses as the hero, this version uniquely centers the agency, love, and bravery of the female characters: Jochebed and Miriam. It's less a story of a future prophet and more an intimate story of maternal love and sisterly protection. The gentle, lyrical tone makes it feel more like a comforting fable than a history lesson.
Read plot summary
A retelling of the biblical story of Moses's infancy. In ancient Egypt, a Hebrew mother saves her newborn son from the Pharaoh's deadly decree by placing him in a waterproofed basket in the Nile River. His courageous older sister, Miriam, watches from the reeds as Pharaoh's daughter discovers the baby. The princess feels compassion and decides to adopt him. Miriam cleverly steps forward to suggest a nurse for the baby, who is, of course, the baby's own mother.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.
Discussion Prompts
1
Miriam bravely watched her brother's basket from a distance. What do you think she was feeling while she was hiding and watching? What makes her a good big sister?
2
When the princess found the crying baby, she decided to save him. Why do you think she made that choice? What does that tell us about her?
3
The baby's mother made a very hard decision to let him go so he could be safe. How did Miriam help make sure their mother could still be part of the baby's life?
4
The family worked together to protect the baby. The mother built the basket, and the sister watched over it. Can you think of a time our family worked together to solve a problem?
