This ends the PBT December Holiday Books series. I hope
you’ve enjoyed it and found the books to be helpful in your ministry, teaching,
or parenting.
Please consider donating to PBT via PayPal in the right top margin where it says “Show your gratitude. Buy me a picture book.” I invest long hours for you as a labor of love and hope for high quality
spiritual learning. Any amount would be appreciated. Thank
you! Hanna
Author: Linda Sue Park
Illustrator: Bagram Ibatoulline
Summary: This clever book offers a back story to the gift
of myrrh, the 3rd offering the magi give Jesus. A young boy is learning his
father’s trade, collecting and selling hardened tree sap. He calls these pearls
of sap “tears” and “the blood of the tree.” The tears emerge after his father
has cut the shape of an X into the bark. The resin inside dries as the tears
dry in the hot sun. Once dry and sold to spice merchants, they are sold again
to be used for medicine or flavoring wine. The best tears are mixed with oil
which is used to wash a body before burial. When the boy harvests a tear as
large as a hen’s egg,
it is sold to 3 men wearing fine robes in the spice
merchant’s tent. They explain they already have 2 gifts, gold and frankincense,
to give a particular baby. The boy thinks it strange to give such a gift to a
child. The story ends with him wondering about the child.
Hanna’s Comments: There is
nothing overtly religious in this story, but spiritual ideas can be found under
the surface. Talk about the importance of offering gifts to God or others that are of high
quality and sincerely given. Mention the boy's godly desire to learn from his
father. Find the subtle connections to Jesus’ death. There is an extensive Author’s Note in the back to give you some
great context to help make this book even more meaningful to your audience.
Original Publisher & Date: Clarion Books, 2011
Age & Grade Appropriateness: 6 and up, 1st
and up
Formats other than Book: Tablet
Scripture Connections: The scripture story of
the Wise Men and their gifts are in Matthew 2:1-12.
Idea(s) for Application: Read this book to a group of children in a lesson about the Magi’s visit and the 3 gifts for Jesus.
Picture Book: The Story
of the Three Wise Kings
Idea(s) for Application: Read this book to a group of children in a lesson about the Magi’s visit and the 3 gifts for Jesus.
Retold & Illustrated by Tomie dePaola
Summary: In this traditional story of the Magi who visited
Jesus, the three kings are named and come from different places:
Melchior of Arabia
Gaspar of Tharsis
Balthazar of Saba.
They are all stargazers compelled to follow the new star that
signifies a new king would be born. Each sets out to honor the young king, carrying
one of the traditional gifts. They meet along the way. As they approach
Jerusalem, they lose sight of the star so they go to King Herod. The rest of
the text corresponds to the scripture in Matthew. This story ends with the exit
of the kings “by another way.” Joseph’s dream and the family’s rush to Egypt is
not in this book.
Hanna’s Comments: I like this version of the magi story because it is simple
and straightforward. It doesn’t have the magi at the nativity. Jesus is a
little older and in a home. This corresponds well with the Epiphany season, the
liturgical period that follows Christmas. Traditionally Epiphany is on January
6. The art here is beautiful and unusual as well. At the beginning of this book
you’ll find A Word about the Kings
which gives some literary and historical context. The last paragraph explains
that dePaola has chosen to paint Mary and Jesus in a traditional pose found in many
Roman paintings of the Magi story.
Original Publisher & Date: Putnam’s Sons, 1983
Age & Grade Appropriateness: 4 and up, Pre and up
Formats other than Book: None at present
Scripture Connections: The scripture story of
the Wise Men and their gifts are in Matthew 2:1-12.
Idea(s) for Application: Read this book to a group
of children in a lesson about Epiphany or the Magi’s visit and gifts to Jesus.
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