As reported by Mark Koopmans, reporter for The Hometown News

Children are curious by nature and as they grow up, many eventually come to a point when it seems natural to ask what it was like before God said, "Let there be light?"

Of course, parents have the luxury of answering that particular question any way they see fit. However, local author Frank Cavalli offers thought-provoking answers for young and old alike in a beautifully illustrated children's book called "Before the Beginning Began."

"We have all wondered what God is like; why did Hhe create everything and why do we exist," Mr. Cavalli said. "So I decided to suggest answers for these difficult questions with a childlike simplicity." He said his purpose in writing his book, which premiered in January, is to help parents with the difficult task of introducing young children to God.

"Throughout the story, God's acts of love unfold step by step and example by example, instilling in both the child and their caregiver the desire to love God in return," he said. "I regularly do readings, and after reading the story one time, a 7-year-old child said 'The story makes me want to hug God.'"

But, he said, the hardcover book also goes beyond children. Reading "Before the Beginning Began" can give clarity to the meaning to life, regardless of the age of the reader. "This simple-to-read and easy-to-grasp book speaks to all of us," he said. "In fact, I dedicate it to the children in your life and to the child within your heart.'"

What's more unusual about the book is that it does not end with a big bang on the last page. The Suntree resident decided to go a step fuarther than most by adding more than 50 questions for children and adults to discuss once they finish the story. "By going through these extra pages together, children, their parents, guardians or teachers can learn about each other while learning about themselves," Mr. Cavalli said. "My questions encourage a strong sense of self-worth, confirming that God made us all because of his wondrous love for us."

Once parents and caregivers finish the book, they are invited to send their children's comments from the included workbook section, which he calls "Precious answers - Precious thoughts," to his e-mail address. These comments will be forwarded to the Web site in order to share them with the world," he said.

"Before the Beginning Began" is intended for ages three and older and is available through Star Dome Publishing, P.O. Box 411300, Melbourne, FL, 32941. The hardcover book retails for $15.95 plus $3.95 shipping and handling, or Mr. Cavalli said, it is available online at www.amazon.com, or at local book stores such as Melbourne's Barnes & Noble and Books-a-Million in Viera.

The author is available to read and discuss the book with groups of all ages and donates 10 percent of the proceeds from each book sold to quality children's charities. He also supports local children's organizations such as Devereux in Viera and Children's Home Society in Suntree. For Easter this year, he donated enough books to each organization that each child in their systems could have his or her own copy.

Recently, Mr. Cavalli said, he got a phone call from a mother who shared her story about his story. "It was about a week after one of my readings - this mother just called me and she was in tears," he said.

She said her son had been afraid of sleeping alone in the dark for weeks until he heard Mr. Cavalli read the lines that say, "God was all alone in the dark but He was happy because His heart was filled with the greatest love." This small child explained that if God was alone, and was happy, well then, he needn't be scared, because God was with him every night as he went to bed," Mr. Cavalli said. "Mom was in tears because her child had slept through every night for the last five nights.

"That's the simple power of this book, and I'm on a mission to simply help spread the news."