Finding Wonder Through Adventure

A Pocketful of Wonder book launch , Q&A with Amanda Dykes, & book review

Mar 19, 2025

Amanda Dykes has been a favorite author of mine for so long. The first book I read by her was Whose Waves These Are, which was absolutely gorgeous! Since then, I’ve been slowly reading through her written works and have not been disappointed by any!

One thing I love about Ms. Dykes is that she instills wonder in everything she writes. Through her words, she breathes awe and respect into readers - awe at who God is and respect for what He has done and is doing.

Wonder is a beautiful feeling and is something I feel some have lost. It is with wonder that we learn, discover, and grow. It’s a sad thing indeed when a person becomes indifferent to the wonders of this world - the green-blue mountains of the Smokies, the crystal-clear waters of the Caribbean, and the people who reside in them.

And that is why I’m so delighted by Ms. Dykes’ newest work: A Pocketful of Wonder: “a family-friendly and hope-filled field guide offering 50 low-prep or no-prep, hands-on activities that invite children and their caregivers to spot the wonders of God’s creation.”

Doesn’t that sound amazing? Imprinting “feelings of surprise mingled with admiration, caused by something beautiful, unexpected, unfamiliar, or inexplicable” (thanks, Oxford dictionary 😅) on a child as young as a toddler…well, that is something special and a gift waiting to be opened.

Perhaps you know of a little one who might enjoy A Pocketful of Wonder. Guaranteed, they’re going to have a blast going through the activities. I know I definitely would if I ever tried them with my young nephews!

I was so happy when Ms. Dykes said she would be willing to answer some questions about the mission and her heart behind A Pocketful of Wonder. You can find my questions and her answers below!

As a member of her launch team, I got to read an excerpt and oh wow, it was amazing.

Here’s my Goodreads review if you would like to read it.

Q&A with Amanda Dykes:

What inspired you to write an interactive field guide for kids and their caretakers?

So many things! Most of all, it’s the idea that as caregivers, we have an immense gift in our hands, and that is the gift of the moment. No matter what else is going on in the world, how busy we are, what’s on our minds or hearts, we can always, always take a moment to kneel down, look the kids in our care in the eyes, and place wonder at the center of that very moment.

Fostering a sense of meaning doesn’t have to be daunting, and as words began to rain into my mind during time spent with my own kids, God impressed it upon my heart that perhaps they were meant to be shared. That perhaps I wasn’t the only one who needed the reminder that connection- while deep and life-changing—is also made in small moments, and there is no barrier to entry. We just get to seize that moment, meet God there, and see what wonder unfolds.

As a former teacher and a mom, you know well that kids each have their unique personalities and learning types. How do each of the hands-on activities in A Pocketful of Wonder cater to a wide variety of learners?

Kids (and all people!) are gloriously unique. Some are hand-on (kinesthetic) learners, some auditory, some visual, and many, many kids retain memory when they can connect something to a lived experience. The activities in A Pocketful of Wonder seek to touch on each of those needs in hopes of engaging every learner at every stage.

What elements from your own life experience (including raising your own four kids) helped you write this book as a resource for others?

I drew deeply from my own experience learning to fight for the light and to pay close attention not only to the wonders of this world, but to what they testify about the God who made them. I’m not the first one to do this- not by any means! Psalm 8 comes to mind as a prime example. Look what David says:

When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him? …O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!” (Psalm 8:3-4,9)

This is David, who has known relentless battle and hardship- and yet look at what he chooses to do: place his gaze on God’s creation, and let his thoughts (and heart) dwell on what this says about God: He is mighty. Majestic. Faithful. Caring. Personal.

It's a transformative habit, wonder-spotting is, and we, just like David, need it. Not only because of what it does for our hearts—but because it’s a worshipful posture, giving praise to the One who made us, places us here, and will see us through anything that comes.

It leads us to a place of joy, hope, and intimacy with God.

Do you have to go through the book chronologically (in order)?

No, it’s topical- so for example, if it’s windy outside, you can quickly flip to the “wind” entry and find a poem, an activity, a prayer and devotional thought, and a piece of music to pair the activity with. The hope is that it’s a practical resource that parents/caregivers can quickly grab, flip open, and have something fun and meaningful to do right at their fingertips.

What is the significance of wonder and fostering a “wonder-spotting lens”--as you call it--with kids?

It’s something that can far outlast any of the activities of this book. Yes, the hope is to create memories and share meaning together- but beyond that, for years afterward, the hope is that we will have given kids a foundation of hope they can stand on much later in life. That when the going gets rough, they’ll have a built-in ability to look beyond the circumstances and see the God who is carrying them through it. To look at anything around them and ask, “where is God in this?”, to know He’ll see them through it, that there is nowhere on earth they can go that His love and strength can’t still reach them.

In essence…my prayer is that this book gives kids a hope-filled life and lifeline, far into their adulthood and even generations to come.

A Pocketful of Wonder releases Tuesday, March 25th and if you would like, you can pre-order the book here at Baker Book House (currently the best deal. If you order now, you’ll get 40% off and free shipping if purchased by the 24th), on Amazon, or visit Wonderwood Adventures for more information and extra goodies!

Get in touch with Amanda Dykes through her website or Instagram.

Thanks for reading today’s post! Don’t forget to ❤️, comment, and share. See you next week. <3