A Picture Book a Day for a Year: Day 185

Picture Book: My Mouth is a Volcano

Author: Julia Cook

Illustrator: Carrie Hartman

Summary: Louis has a lot to say. People say he erupts (interrupts) a lot, but all of his words are very important to him. Louis’ explains: as other people are talking, his words pop into his head and slide down his tongue. His tongue pushes those words up against his teeth, and he erupts! He blames it on the volcano in his mouth. He gets timed out, but it doesn’t help. Eventually the tables turn. It’s Louis’ day for sharing his poster of favorite things. When his classmates interrupt him, he can’t believe how rude they are being. He talks with his mom, and she helps him see that others feel the same when he interrupts. His mom tells Louis to bite down on his pushy words and take a deep breath to push his words out through his nose instead.  Then he can breathe the words back in when it is his turn to talk. Louis tries it at dinner and it works!

Hanna’s Comments: Yay Louis’ mom! Any book that can give such a practical and concrete strategy to a common, social problem deserves your attention. When reading this to children in your faith community, tie in the Latin word “pneuma” which means both breath and spirit. Talk about how the Holy Spirit is our counselor and sometimes the best counsel is to listen rather than speak.

Publisher & Date of Publication: National Center for Youth Issues, 2005

Age & Grade Appropriateness:  4 and up, Pre and up

# of Pages: 32

Available in Spanish? Not at present

Formats other than Book: There is an activity and idea book that goes with this picture book.

PBT Category: Award Winner, Post 2K

PBT Topics this Book Connects with: breath/breathing/wind, choices/decisions, education/learning/school, God’s presence, greed/selfishness, Holy Spirit/spirit, humility, listening, mothers, noise/sounds/voice, parents/parental love, perspective, quiet/silence, resisting evil, respect, self-control, sin

Scripture Connections: A babbling fool will come to ruin (Proverbs 10:8); I will ask the Father to give you another counselor (John 14:16); aspire to live quietly and to mind your own affairs (1 Thessalonians 4:11)

Idea(s) for Application: Use this book in a lesson for children on the benefits of breathing deeply to be more centered in the Holy Spirit. Tie in the loving response and value of listening to others as opposed to talking at others.