The genre for which Timothy Robinson is best known (at least around BYU) is the personal essay. Robinsons essays In the Bleak Midwinter and Time and Chance Happeneth to Them All both won awards in the David O. McKay Essay Contest and were published in The Restored Gospel and Applied Christianity.

However, with his latest work, A Night without Darkness, Robinson writes a childrens book telling the story of the days preceding Christs birth, a story modeled after the Book of Mormon account. The story is accompanied by beautiful illustrations done by Jim Madsen, and opens with recollections of the predictions of Samuel the Lamanite as seen from the perspective of a child: Momma and the other women told stories about Him. They spoke of One who would bring peacethe One who Samuel said would come when Samuel stood upon the wall and arrows could not harm him. Some of the women doubted and said they were just stories. But others said He would come and make the mighty and the wicked men leave (1). This same child then witnesses the persecutions of the believers and their anxiety of waiting for the sign of Christs birth. The climax, of course, is when there is a night without darkness and the believers faith is vindicated.

This book could serve multiple functions. First, it is an appealing juvenile book with its illustrations. Children who have not begun reading can still follow the story visually. The text is simple enough that many children will be able to read it alone as well. A second use of the book is as a teaching tool. Each passage is accompanied by a cross reference to the Book of Mormon story. For example, the passage quoted above is followed by the reference Helaman 13:1-4; 14:2; 16:2. Parents could easily use this book as a way to introduce their children to the Book of Mormon.

The book is also attractive from the perspective it takes. Because it is written through the eyes of a child, the story puts an interesting twist on the scriptural story. And at this time of year, the book also gives an interesting view of the nativity from the American continent; in this version the wise men [and women] are the ones who believe in Christ.