Charlie Can't Sleep!: Trusting God When You're Afraid of the Dark, By Rachel Joy Welcher

Charlie Can't Sleep!

Trusting God When You're Afraid of the Dark

by Rachel Joy Welcher
Illustrated by Breezy Brookshire

Charlie Can't Sleep!
Hardback
  • Length: 32 pages
  • Dimensions: 9 × 9 in
  • Published: October 07, 2025
  • Imprint: IVP Kids
  • ISBN: 9781514010013
Other Formats:

Illumination Book Awards—Gold, Christian Children's Book

2025 Moonbeam Children's Book Award Winner

God is with us—even in the dark.

For Charlie, bedtime is the hardestpart of the day. The stillness of the night brings strange sounds, racing thoughts, and an overwhelming feeling of loneliness. But as Charlie's mother reminds him of the timeless truth from Psalm 121—that we can rest because God never sleeps—he begins to face the dark with renewed courage and peace.

This beautifully illustrated book not only acknowledges a child’s fear but also equips them with a biblical, comforting approach to tackle it. Through tender storytelling and thoughtful illustrations, 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.

Caregivers will love Charlie Can't Sleep! for its gentle blend of spiritual encouragement and practical support for children as well as its special note from the author that encourages meaningful conversations with children.

Key Features:

  • Relatable Storytelling: Helps children feel understood in their nighttime fears
  • Biblical Comfort: Draws on Scriptural truths to remind kids of God’s constant presence and care
  • Expertly Illustrated: Breezy Brookshire brings Charlie's world to life with playful artwork that will engage and delight young readers
  • Encouraging Message: A positive resource that builds faith, trust, and courage in children

Perfect for Christian families, Sunday school classrooms, and children’s libraries, Charlie Can't Sleep! will become a bedtime favorite for anyone helping little ones conquer nighttime anxieties. Discover Charlie Can't Sleep! and share with children the comforting truth that God is with us—even in the dark.

"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. 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." Michele Morin, Bible teacher and writer
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Rachel Joy Welcher

Rachel Joy Welcher (MLit, University of St. Andrews) is the author of Talking Back to Purity Culture and three collections of poetry. She works as a book editor and lives in South Dakota with her husband, Pastor Evan, and their two children, Richard and Hildegaard.