Helping Children Flourish: The Story Behind Belmont's New Children's Book

From Little Bruins Preschool to a new children's book, Belmont's Christ-centered commitment to children continues to take shape through programs, partnerships and opportunities that help young people thrive

Throughout the Gospels, Jesus repeatedly welcomes children, blesses them and places them at the center of some of His most important teachings. In a culture that often overlooked children, Jesus elevated their value and reminded His followers that they had much to teach the adults around them. 

Today, Belmont seeks to embody that conviction through programs and partnerships that support children and families. 

From preparing future educators and supporting foster and adoptive families to launching Little Bruins Preschool and initiatives like Bridges to Belmont, the University is creating opportunities for young people to grow, learn and thrive. 

One of the newest expressions of that work is “B Is for Bruin,” a children's alphabet book created through a uniquely Belmont collaboration. 

An Idea Born on the Morning Commute 

After helping launch Little Bruins Preschool, Cara Davis, Belmont's director of digital communications, found herself reflecting on how early children begin developing a sense of identity and wonder. 

What if Belmont had an ABC book? And what if Bruiser was the preschooler, imagining a different future with every letter? 

"I began thinking about how wonderful it is to help children understand from an early age that they are loved by God and filled with potential," Davis said. 

That idea eventually became “B Is for Bruin,” co-written by Davis and Belmont First Lady Rev. Susan Pendleton Jones, senior fellow of Christ-centered visioning, and illustrated by Watkins College of Art alumna Marina Ibrahim ('24). 

Each page pairs a letter with a different career, inviting children to imagine futures as artists, entrepreneurs, gardeners, nurses, pilots, teachers and more. 

But career exploration was never the primary goal. 

"This book can help families connect around those ideas and plant seeds that encourage curiosity, imagination and a sense of possibility," Davis said. 

More Than a Children's Book 

For Jones, the project reflects something larger than a literacy initiative or campus keepsake. 

"Jesus personally blessed three things with His own hands: bread, wine and children," she said. "For Christians, bread and wine are sacred symbols, and Jesus' blessing of children reminds us that they too are worthy of our care, attention and investment." 

Jones believes those stories challenge adults to rethink assumptions about value, success and significance. 

In multiple Gospel accounts, Jesus points to children as examples for His disciples, highlighting qualities such as humility, trust and dependence on God. Rather than treating children as peripheral to His ministry, Jesus places them at the center of important lessons about the Kingdom of God. 

That example continues to inform Belmont's approach to serving children and families today. 

"Blessing children is sacred work," Jones said. "It's one way we live out our Christ-centered mission." 

A Community Commitment 

Little Bruins Preschool was created with that vision in mind. 

More than a childcare program, the preschool was designed as a place where children can grow and learn while also enriching the broader Belmont community. It reflects a belief that formation happens across generations and that children are not simply recipients of care but active participants in the learning process. 

The preschool is just one example of Belmont’s broader investment in serving children and families. Across campus, the University prepares future teachers, supports foster and adoptive families and partners with organizations creating opportunities for young people throughout Middle Tennessee. 

Viewed in that context, “B Is for Bruin” becomes more than a children's book. It serves as another reflection of Belmont's desire to help children flourish and to remind them of their inherent worth. 

A Belmont Story on Every Page 

Original illustrations by Watkins College of Art alumna Marina Ibrahim bring Bruiser's world to life with vibrant scenes inspired by Belmont's campus. 

Readers will find nods to Belmont traditions and landmarks throughout the book, from an artist painting the Bell Tower to a coach wearing Rick Byrd's signature red vest. 

The project itself became a uniquely Belmont collaboration, bringing together staff, alumni and supporters around a shared purpose. 

Grant funding from the Kern Family Foundation helped make the original illustrations possible, and all proceeds from the book support Little Bruins Preschool. 

Helping Children Flourish Today 

While “B Is for Bruin” encourages children to dream about the future, its deeper message is rooted in the present. 

Before children become teachers, artists, nurses, entrepreneurs or pilots, they are already loved by God. They are already worthy of encouragement, belonging and opportunity. 

That belief continues to shape Belmont's work through Little Bruins Preschool and other initiatives supporting children and families across the community. 

And in that sense, the story of “B Is for Bruin” is not really about a book at all. 

It's about helping children know they are seen, valued and loved from the very beginning.