A Picture Book a Day for a Year: Day 353

Dynamic Duo: Book 2

Picture Book: The Trellis and the Seed: A Book of Encouragement for All Ages

Author: Jan Karon

Illustrator: Robert Gantt Steele

Summary: This story is from the point of view of a moonflower seed who has doubts about her potential. The seed has heard that she will become a vine and blossoms, but she doesn’t see how. Planted beside a white trellis by a “nice lady” who has faith the seed will transform, the seed waits and experiences changes described as a tickle and a kiss. Earth encourages the seed when she has doubts, saying that “God has planned something beautiful for you.” After struggling to the top of the trellis and sensing the blossoms of the many other plants, she becomes discouraged that she has no blossoms. Again Earth advises, “God’s timing for you is different.” When a full moon appears, the nice lady comes out to investigate the amazing new fragrance that comes from the seed’s many moonflower blossoms. The nice lady exclaims that she knew the seed would be “wonderfully different.”

Hanna’s Comments: Besides an informative lesson on the process of growing a climbing vine, this second offering of a PBT Dynamic Duo of books about seeds offers several metaphorical lessons on issues such as doubt, faith, vocation, patience, transformation, and personal potential. As the subtitle implies, both children and adults will enjoy this story. Scripture connections abound!

Original Publisher & Date of Publication: Viking, 2003

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

# of Pages: 32

Available in Spanish? Not at present

Formats other than Book: Audio cassette

PBT Category: God Book, Post 2K

PBT Topics this Book connects with: babies/children, beauty, beginnings/morning, calling/call/vocation, care of creation, covenant/promises/vow, differences, doubt, eggs/seeds, encouragement, the environment/nature, faith/faithfulness, flowers/leaves/trees, gardening/planting/pruning/sowing, God’s presence, God’s nature, God’s will, growing up/growth, life, moon/space/stars/sun, nurturing, patience, prophesy/prophets, purpose, reflection, self-discovery, surprise, transformation, word of God

Scripture Connections:  Trust in the Lord with all your heart (Proverbs 3:5-6); the seed parables (Matthew 13); for nothing will be impossible with God (Luke 1:37); if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience (Romans 8:25); faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1)

Idea(s) for Application: Read this book to a group of children or adults when talking about spiritual issues of personal potential, self-doubt, faith, vocation, transformation, or patience (aka God’s timing versus our timing).