It is imperative for adults to encourage the spiritual practices of mystery and wonder in children. One of the best ways to do this is to stimulate their interest and curiosity about the natural world. Tell them we are all detectives trying to locate the natural and supernatural beings that are often hidden in trees, woods, fields, and meadows.

Reading Daniela Drescher's What's Hiding in There? is a great beginning with its flaps to lift up to reveal more of the pictures. Join the bear cubs in the forest who are looking for raspberries but come upon others hidden in three places. The jay loves acorns but he isn't the only one who likes them. The wild pig is looking for her piglets but there are others in hiding who may have seen him. We can't see everything even when we try to stay alert. But we can keep looking and one day soon we may come upon fairies and elves who are undercover in our world doing good things in secret.

One of the many nice things about this children's book designed for 4 to 8 year olds is that there are no "bad" animals and even those in hiding are not doing so to scare us. Drescher only wants us to walk in nature with wonder.