Science, Wonder, and the God Who Made It All with Dominique Okonkwo
A Conversation with Author Dominique Okonkwo and her book, God of Wonders, points to sweet truths kids need to know.
This post does contain affiliate links. Thanks for your support.
Every once in a while, a picture book comes along that doesn’t just entertain—it invites children (and their grown‑ups) to look at the world with fresh eyes. Dominique Okonkwo’s newest book, God of Wonders, is one of those rare treasures. It’s a celebration of the Creator woven through seashells, sand dollars, ocean waves, and the quiet mysteries tucked beneath the surface of the sea.
In this BookWorthy Podcast episode, Dominique and I explored the heart behind her book, the science that undergirds its pages, and the spiritual truths that shimmer beneath every tide pool. What emerged was a conversation full of curiosity, creativity, and a deep love for the God who made this world so breathtaking.
🌊 A Random Question… and a Wish to Record Dreams
We always begin with a random question, and Dominique’s answer was delightfully unexpected.
If she could invent any app, she’d create one that records dreams.
“I wish I could record my dreams… I know a lot was going on, but I can’t remember what happened,” she said.
Imagine the stories that would come from that.
My own answer was far more practical—an app that turns my recipe binder into a drag‑and‑drop meal planner that automatically generates a grocery list. (Because somehow, I always forget the sour cream.)
But soon we turned from dreams and dinner to the ocean—Dominique’s lifelong muse.
🌴 The Heart Behind God of Wonders
Dominique grew up in South Florida, where the beach wasn’t a vacation destination—it was home. She spent her childhood collecting seashells, sand dollars, and “rocks that are different and beautiful” along Miami’s shores.
As an adult, she watched her own children explore the beach with the same wide‑eyed wonder:
“Mom, look, there’s a crab!”
“There’s fish in the water!”
“Yuck, seaweed everywhere!”
Those moments sparked a question:
How do we help kids see the beach not just as a playground, but as a window into the creativity of God?
That question became the heartbeat of God of Wonders.
The book blends lyrical storytelling with scientific facts—six of them tucked into the back matter—explaining things like:
Why doesn’t the ocean swallow the beach?
Why hermit crabs change shells
How seaweed helps clean the ocean
It’s a book that invites children to marvel, to ask questions, and to see God’s fingerprints in every tide pool.
🐚 Whimsy, Color, and the Beauty of the Sea
One of Dominique’s non‑negotiables was that the book feel whimsical—alive with color and detail.
She described one of her favorite spreads, where the little boy snorkels beneath the waves:
“He goes to the sea floor, he finds a sand dollar, and there are crabs and fish all around… I want a child, not even reading yet, to open the book and appreciate what’s happening and let their eyes wander all over the page.”
That’s the magic of picture books: even before a child can read, they can see the truth.
Dominique wanted every page to whisper, Look what God made. Isn’t it beautiful?
🔬 Where Science Meets Scripture
One of the most compelling aspects of God of Wonders is the way it weaves scientific explanation into spiritual reflection.
For example, the book explains why the ocean doesn’t simply swallow the shore:
“The ocean is shaped in a slope… the sea floor is holding the beach for us,” Dominique said, describing how the illustration shows the ocean like a bowl cradling the sand.
It’s a simple scientific truth—but also a metaphor for God’s protection.
Dominique’s goal wasn’t to force science and faith together, but to show that they already belong together.
“Faith and science go hand in hand because they do—but ultimately God created it all for us,” Dominique Okonkwo said.
This is the kind of discipleship I love: not lecturing, not over‑explaining, but inviting children to see God in what He has made.
🐠 How Writing This Book Revealed God’s Heart
When I asked Dominique what God taught her through writing this book, her answer made me smile.
Kids ask everything.
Why is the sky blue? Why is there seaweed? Where do rainbows come from?
“Kids complain about seaweed all the time, not knowing it serves so many purposes,” she said, explaining how seaweed helps clean toxins from the water.
She shared how even teachers at her school visit say, “I learned something today.”
One of my favorite moments was when she described showing kids a real sand dollar:
“One kid said, ‘This looks like a cookie.’ I’m like, don’t eat that.”
But beneath the humor is something profound:
Dominique wants kids to see themselves as wonders of God, too.
“When I’m out in nature… I’m going to pay attention to the things around me because they are a wonder of God. Just like I am a wonder of God,” she said.
That’s the kind of truth that shapes a child’s identity.
“When I’m out in nature… I’m going to pay attention to the things around me because they are a wonder of God. Just like I am a wonder of God,” Dominique Okonkwo said
🌦️ The Wonders That Didn’t Make It In
Like many picture book authors, Dominique had to cut ideas she loved.
Originally, the book included a weather‑based storyline—a storm rolling in, clouds gathering, the sun and moon trading places. Eventually, she realized it was a separate book entirely.
“It personifies the sunray, the moon, the storm clouds, and the rainbow… and after the altercation passes, a rainbow appears,” she explained.
The story also ties in God’s promise through the rainbow.
I told her I hope that manuscript finds a home—and I meant it. It sounds delightful.
📚 Dominique’s Favorite Books
When I asked about her favorite books, Dominique lit up.
She recently reread Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston.
“There’s a lot of triumph for the main character, and I could really relate to her story,” she said.
This time, she noticed something she’d forgotten: the historical setting of Eatonville, one of the first Black municipalities in Florida.
That discovery sparked new curiosity—and even a desire to attend the annual Zora Neale Hurston festival.
For children’s books, she still loves If You Give a Mouse a Cookie.
She remembers the oversized classroom editions from her childhood:
“They were like two or three feet tall… we’d read that book a lot,” she said.
Some books stay with us forever.
✍️ What’s Next for Dominique Okonkwo
Dominique is always writing—picture books, short stories, blog posts, and now her first middle‑grade novel. “Half of it is based on real events from my life, and the other half is fictional… the made‑up parts were fun to write,” she shared.
She keeps a running list of ideas on her phone—some she laughs at later, others she rediscovers with excitement.
As a fellow writer, I felt that deeply.
Creativity rarely arrives on schedule. It comes in whispers, in notes scribbled at stoplights, in ideas jotted down before bed. Dominique captures that beautifully.
🌐 Where to Find Dominique
You can connect with Dominique and explore her books at:
Website: www.dominiqueokonkwo.com
Newsletter: for launch teams, giveaways, and event updates
Her newsletter subscribers even had the chance to join the launch team for God of Wonders—complete with a free book and a $100 Amazon gift card giveaway. (Giveaway might be concluded at the time of this post)
💛 Final Thoughts
God of Wonders is more than a picture book. It’s an invitation—to slow down, to look closely, to marvel at the world God made.
Dominique has given families a tool that blends science, beauty, and theology in a way that feels natural and joy‑filled. Whether your child is a budding marine biologist, a beach lover, or simply full of questions, this book will spark wonder.
And wonder, after all, is where worship begins.
Happy reading, friends.
Comments