October 2025 | LISLE, IL—InterVarsity Press (IVP) is pleased to announce that Charlie Can’t Sleep!, Kaylee Prays for the Children of the World, and The Common Rule Youth Edition have all been honored with 2025 Moonbeam Children’s Book Awards.
Charlie Can’t Sleep! Trusting God When You’re Afraid of the Dark by Rachel Joy Welcher won first place in the religion/spirituality picture book category. Beautifully illustrated by Breezy Brookshire, this bedtime story not only acknowledges a child’s fear but also equips them with a biblical, comforting approach to tackle it. Charlie Can’t Sleep! reassures little ones that even in the quiet, scary moments, God sees them, hears their prayers, and stays by their side.
“Welcher’s good work provides a script for parents and other caregivers to vulnerably share that they also need to keep handing over their own fears to the God who never sleeps,” said Michele Morin, Bible teacher and writer. “Meeting our children’s fears with both sensitivity and good theology sets the stage for future conversations when bigger fears and more consequential issues are at stake.”
Kaylee Prays for the Children of the World: God Hears Every Prayer, written by Helen Lee and illustrated by Shin Maeng, won second place in the religion/spirituality picture book category. This book follows Kaylee and her grandfather, Halbi, as they read the morning newspaper. While reading they look for ways to pray for the children of the world. Featuring a Korean American family, this story gently guides children to recognize the brokenness in our world and to turn their hearts to God with the assurance that He hears every prayer—even when words feel hard to find.
Kirkus Reviews wrote, “Kaylee’s desire to be aware of the world around her, and to empathize with the suffering of others, is a beautiful model for young readers. . . . Maeng’s appealing cartoon images highlight Kaylee’s earnestness, and the ‘Kim Family Prayer Map’ gives their prayer practice a well-drawn sense of practicality. Children from many disparate places affected by both tragedy and joy are shown, giving a sense of how big and diverse the world is. An affecting story that will resonate with the faithful.”
The Common Rule Youth Edition: Growing Your Faith in a Distracted World by Justin Whitmel Earley won second place in the religion/spirituality chapter book category. This nonfiction book equips young people with tools to help them find peace and fulfillment through simple, intentional habits designed to foster freedom and rest. Earley draws on his own experiences to illustrate how small actions can lead to significant transformation.
Brook Mosser, president of Intentional Parents International, said, “In The Common Rule Youth Edition, Justin Whitmel Earley helps young readers by providing a practical and inspiring framework for navigating a noisy and distracting world. This resource will speak directly to the hearts of young people and give them fundamental tools for productive habit formation in life and faith.”
The Moonbeam Awards are intended to bring increased recognition to exemplary children’s books and their creators, and to celebrate children’s books and lifelong reading. The purpose of the Moonbeam Awards is to highlight books that encourage children to be generous, compassionate, and to stand up for the rights of themselves and others. This year’s judges chose gold, silver, and bronze medalists in forty-five categories, covering the full range of styles and genres in English and Spanish.
For a complete list of IVP award winners visit ivpress.com/award-winners.
Contact: Anna Tjernstrom | atjernstrom@ivpress.com
