Today’s post is not typical of PBT. I’m featuring 2 books based on an ancient Indian tale traditionally
called The Parable of the Blind Men and the Elephant.
This elephant parable is about the human tendency to make judgments and argue based on our limited experiences and perspectives. Both experience and perspective are crucial, but they can
be misleading and righteous judgments can cause division.
Faith families struggle
with these issues. Too often people of faith think they have God all figured
out when they simply have projected their experiences and perspective onto a
limited image of God. Divisions are often due to such
stalwart and narrow thinking. This old story is applied to theology often. In his most recent book about The Holy Trinity, The Divine Dance, Father Richard Rohr says, "We are like blind people touching the side of an elephant, describing the tiny portion we feel with all the conviction we can muster."
Delving in to this
human tendency would be beneficial for children and adults in your faith
family, but let them decide what the story is telling them about human nature.
Don't impose onto them your interpretation of the book or you'll be
demonstrating this human tendency yourself!
I’ll explore why either of these books would be fun and beneficial for a faith family. The labels at the bottom of this post will give you some ideas as well. You might even find another picture
book based on this tale. Separately, I’ll give you
some details for both books. The first book featured would be more appropriate
for preschoolers or young elementary children. The second book attributes the
story to Rumi, a wonderful 13th century Persian poet who wrote The Elephant in the
Dark as a part of a lengthy book of poems.
Picture Book: Seven Blind Mice
Author & Illustrator: Ed Young
Summary: One by one, seven blind mice explore a strange "something." After each excursion, the mouse gives a different explanation. It’s a pillar…
It’s a snake…
It's a fan...
This book ends with a “Mouse Moral”
Knowing in part may make a fine tale,
but wisdom comes from seeing the whole.
Original Publisher & Date: Puffin, 2002
Age & Grade Appropriateness: 3 and up, Pre and up
Formats other than Book: Tablet, Audio
Scripture Connections: Trust God; don’t try to lean on your own understanding (Proverbs 3:5); … but some doubted (Matthew 28: 17b); If I understand all mysteries but do not love, I am nothing (1 Corinthians 13:2)
Picture Book:
Elephant in the Dark: Based on a Poem by
Rumi
Retold: Mina
Javaherbin
Illustrator: Eugene
Yelchin
Summary: Rumi’s
poetic tale The Three Blind Men and the
Elephant is beautifully illustrated here.
Villagers hear of a magnificent creature that has
been brought from India by a traveling merchant.
When they confront the merchant and demand to see the creature, he tells them to let him sleep.
The villagers decide to inspect the creature themselves.
One by one, several people sneak into the dark barn where the creature is being kept, but they inspect the creature only in part and with haste.
One man says it’s like a snake.
After wrapping his arms around the elephant's leg,
one man says it's a tree.
But, the children notice and are fascinated!
This book has in the back an Author's Note and an Illustrator's Note. Check them out before reading to your audience.
Original Publisher & Date: Scholastic, 2015
Age & Grade Appropriateness: 4 and up, Pre and up
Formats other than Book: Tablet
Scripture Connections: Trust in the Lord; do not lean on your own understanding (Proverbs 3:5-8); … but some doubted (Matthew 28: 17b); If I reveal all God’s mysteries but don’t love, I am nothing (1 Corinthians 13:2)
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