A Picture Book a Day for a Year: Day 134

Picture Book: Miss Fannie’s Hat

Authors: Jan Karon

Illustrator: Toni Goffe

Summary: Miss Fannie loves 2 things especially, her collection of beautiful Sunday morning hats and her church. She reads the Bible each morning and often thinks of her favorite verse: ”With God all things are possible.” She lives with her daughter who lovingly cares for her. When Miss Fannie’s minister asks her to donate a hat for the church’s auction, she asks the Lord to help her choose which hat to donate. As she wanders around her hats, she remembers stories about each one. Her most favorite hat is the one of pink straw with silk roses which she has worn every Easter morning for 35 years, a ritual the whole congregation expects. Reluctantly she decides to donate this hat because it will bring the most money. Her hat is purchased for a substantial amount which goes towards the church renovations. On Easter morning, she decides to wear no hat because her other hats just won’t do. When she arrives at the church, she is surprised to find a tribute to her generosity; the church has been trimmed in rose bushes with pink flowers so that it looks like her Easter hat.  

Hanna’s Comments: Inspired by the author’s grandmother, this is a story of meaningful sacrifice and legacy. There are many aspects of this picture book that I love: Miss Fannie’s devotion to God and her church, her fellow congregants’ enthusiasm for her Sunday hats and generous contribution, her reliance on scripture to guide her, and the way Miss Fannie’s daughter gently cares for her. There is much potential here for both children and adult programming, particularly women.

Publisher & Date of Publication: Augsburg, 1998

Age & Grade Appropriateness: 3 and up, Pre and up

# of Pages: 32

Available in Spanish? Not at present

Formats other than Book: None at present

PBT Category: Pre 2K

PBT Topics this Book Connects with: aging, choices/decisions, church building/the Temple, clothes/shoes, collections, commitment, disabilities/handicaps/limitations, disobedience/obedience, faith/faithfulness, flowers/leaves/trees, generosity/giving/offering, stewardship, gifts/giftedness/talents, gratitude/thankfulness/thanksgiving, holiness, joy, memories/remembering/ritual/tradition, mothers, pleasing God/the Shema, possessions, righteousness, Sabbath, sacrifice, satisfaction, strength/strength in God, surprise

Scripture Connections: Love the Lord your God with all your heart (Deuteronomy 6:5); Praise the Lord! Praise God in his sanctuary (Psalm 150:1); With God all things are possible (Matthew 19:26); offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God (1 Peter 2:5)

Idea(s) for Application: Consider using this story during a season of stewardship regarding your faith community and its places of worship/learning so that you may encourage others to sacrifice and leave legacies for the future of their religious community. 

A Picture Book a Day for a Year: Day 90

Picture Book: She Taught Me to Eat Artichokes: The Discovery of the Heart of Friendship

Author: Mary Kay Shanley

Illustrator: Paul Micich

Summary: The peculiar and prickly artichoke serves as a metaphor for emerging friendship in this beautiful picture book written for adult women. This is a memoir regarding a time in the author’s life when a burgeoning female friendship began with a bit of awkwardness but genuine tenderness. The author’s son is in a car accident. The neighbor she barely knows comes to sit with her at the hospital. After a few other interactions, the author is invited to the neighbor’s for a party where artichokes are served. First the host explains that the steaming has softened the prickly artichoke petals. Then she says the “best is yet to come” as the pulling of the petals eventually reveals the heart of the artichoke. Thus, this acquaintance through time and effort has become a tender, treasured friendship.

Hanna’s Comments: Picture books designed for adult readers are rare. Often they are treasures. Years ago I had an experience at a friend’s house that was similar to this author's. I had never eaten an artichoke so she taught me how. Soon after, I discovered the book and bought it for my friend. Instructions for preparing artichokes are in the back of the book.

Publisher & Date of Publication: Sta-Kris, 1993

Age & Grade Appropriateness: adults only (This book would not interest children.)

# of Pages: 32

Available in Spanish? Not at present

Formats other than Book: None at present

PBT Category: Non-fiction

PBT Topics this Book Connects with: acceptance, adaptation/assimilation, armor, beginnings/morning, challenges, communication, communion/Eucharist, companionship, discovery/invention, feasting/food/hunger/nutrition, friends/friendship, hospitality, humanity, mentors/teachers, neighbors, presence, relationships, Sabbath, sharing, at table, time/timing/over time, treasure

Scripture Connections: treat the stranger who sojourns with you as the native (Leviticus 19:34); whoever receives you receives me (Matthew 10:40)

Idea(s) for Application: This book would be welcomed by a women’s group discussing spiritual hospitality and friendship.

A Picture Book a Day for a Year: Day 85

Terrific Trio: Book 3

Picture Book: The Busiest Street in Town         

Author: Mara Rockliff

Illustrator: Sarah McMenemy

Summary: Rushmore Boulevard, where Agatha May Walker lives, is the busiest street in town. When she attempts to visit Eulalie Scruggs, who lives on the other side of Rushmore, the traffic won’t allow her to cross.  Determined to reclaim her street, Agatha parks a chair in the middle of the street. To appease the drivers, she brings her homemade ginger snaps, initially intended for Eulalie. Soon her friend joins her with a card table and a Parcheesi set. Their version of passive resistance works, and soon passersby are stopping for a chat and a cookie. Meanwhile, other neighbors join in, sharing their gifts. Eventually, Rushmore is so transformed that it is given a new name: Walker Road.

Hanna’s Comments: This is the 3^rd book in the PBT Terrific Trio featuring books in which communities become more engaged due to unforeseen circumstances. This is the most ridiculous of the 3 though it is quite charming and funny. You get the sense that these two women want the whole world to stop by for a chat and a ginger snap. If only we could!

Publisher & Date of Publication: Knopf, 2009

Age & Grade Appropriateness: 3 and up, Pre and up

# of Pages: 40

Available in Spanish? Not at present

Formats other than Book: Tablet

PBT Category: Post 2K

PBT Topics this Book Connects with: action, adaptation/assimilation, aging, belonging, bonds/connections, bravery/courage, challenges, change, choices/decisions, commitment, communication, community, companionship, difficulties, disabilities/handicaps/limitations,  home, image of God, intercession, joy, leadership/servant leadership, mission, neighbors, neighborhood, non-violence/peaceful resistance, obstacles, participation, power, presence, problems/problem solving, purpose, rebellion, renewal/restoration, risking, Sabbath, sacrifice, safety, satisfaction, surprise, tolerance, transformation, treasure, unity

Scripture Connections: scriptures about the Sabbath 

Idea(s) for Application: All 3 of these Terrific Triplet books could be used in a lesson on Sabbath.

A Picture Book a Day for a Year: Day 84

Terrific Trio: Book 2

Picture Book: On Linden Square

Author & Illustrator: Kate Sullivan

Summary: Stella Mae is bored on her first day of winter vacation. Luckily for her, she always has a perfect view into windows of neighbors across the street, and she often hears the noisy antics of neighbors in her building. Perceptive Stella Mae thinks she knows her neighbors though they are always too busy to speak. When a snow storm blankets her neighborhood and home bounds them all, she ventures out to build a snow creature. Soon she is joined by her neighbors whose creative spirit transforms the snow creature she is making and their own relationships.

Hanna’s Comments: This is the 2^nd book of this PBT Terrific Trio in which all the books involve communities becoming more engaged due to unforeseen circumstances. While reading, check out the glossary in the back of this book which defines the many interesting words used, including many musical terms.

Publisher & Date of Publication: Sleeping Bear Press, 2013

Age & Grade Appropriateness: 6 and up, 1^st and up

# of Pages: 40

Available in Spanish? Not at present

Formats other than Book: None at present

PBT Category: Fresh off the Press

PBT Topics this Book Connects with: attentiveness/observation/seeing, beauty, blessings, body of Christ, celebration/party, change, communication, community, companionship, creation, creativity/imagination/ingenuity, gladness/happiness, humanity, image of God, listening, loneliness, neighbors, neighborhood, noise/sounds/voice, participation, presence, relationships, Sabbath, satisfaction, snow, surprise, transformation, unity

Scripture Connections: Scriptures about the Sabbath

Idea(s) for Application: These 3 books would be fantastic for a literature lesson at a homeschool/religious school. You could compare and contrast the plot devices and literary elements. For this book, you already have the vocabulary listed in the glossary in the back. Then consider how these 3 communities are approaching what it means to live in the kind of intentional, loving community that your religious community holds dear.

A Picture Book a Day for a Year: Day 83

Terrific Trio: Book 1

Picture Book: Blackout

Author & Illustrator: John Rocco

Summary: After trying to engage his busy family with a board game, a boy sits in front of a screen. Then the power goes out all over the city. Because it is a hot night, the family carries the board game to the roof. Under the splendor of the stars, neighbors join them, and it’s a block party in the sky. Later the family joins the party on the street. When the power comes back on, the family resumes their normal activities, but the boy doesn’t like normal so much. He turns off the lights in their home, and the board game enthusiastically continues.  

Hanna’s Comments: This is book 1 in PBT's first Terrific Trio. All of these books begin with people who are busy and isolated. The authors of each use a different plot mechanism for bringing the communities together, each celebrating community engagement. This author wonderfully illustrates the beauty of an urban night and the love and camaraderie that can be shared in a neighborhood or family when the power goes out and when it comes back on.

Publisher & Date of Publication: Hyperion Books, 2011

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

# of Pages: 40

Available in Spanish? Not at present

Formats other than Book: Audible

PBT Category: Award Winner (Caldecott Honor), Post 2K

PBT Topics this Book Connects with: attentiveness/observation/seeing, beauty, blessings, celebration/party, challenges, change, communication, community, companionship, darkness/evening/night, difficulties, disabilities/handicaps/limitations, family, gladness/happiness, grace, home, humanity, leadership/servant leadership, loneliness, love, moon/space/stars/sun, neighbors, neighborhood, parents/parental love, participation, presence, relationships, reverence, Sabbath, satisfaction, security, siblings/sibling rivalry, surprise, at table, transformation, treasure, unity, vision

Scripture Connections: Scriptures about the Sabbath

Idea(s) for Application: There are many negatives associated with darkness. This book offers a positive view. Use this book in a lesson on how metaphorical darkness, such as illness, limitations, loss, struggle or lack of clarity, can strengthen relationships, particularly with God.