Baptism Sunday

At worship this Sunday, many churches will remember the Baptism of Jesus and encourage attendees to remember their own baptism. It’s a great time to talk with your children about reasons for baptism and your memories of their own baptism if they were baptized previously. The book (and song!) featured below offers a simple introduction to this important church ritual.

Picture Book: Welcome Child of God

Author: Anne Ylvisaker

Illustrator: Claudia McGehee

Summary: In simple poetic verse, baptism is beautifully presented for very young children. Hospitality is a theme here as this ritual is described as a welcoming to the one who will receive tending and guiding from their family of faith. When talking about baptism, be sure to share your own memories from your baptism or ones of those you love. Add your theological perspective on baptism. Concrete examples will help children understand this important rite of passage. Consider having an activity involving a simple sensory experience with water.

Hanna’s Comments: This is a perfect gift for a church to give a family when a child is born or baptized as an infant. Even if your church doesn’t practice infant baptism, the song which is the text of the book, can be learned and sung to the child or used in the baptism ritual at your church. The musical score is included.

Original Publisher & Date: Augsburg Fortress, 2011

Age & Grade Appropriateness: 2 and up, Toddler and up

Formats other than Book: None at present

Scripture Connections: Scriptures about the baptism of Jesus and others by John the Baptist such as those in the gospels of Matthew (3), Mark (1), (Luke (3), and John (1) or scriptures about the disciples baptizing others. Many are found in Acts. There are also many scriptures about the theology surrounding baptism in The Epistles.

Idea(s) for Application: Give this book to a family at the event of their child’s birth or baptism or read it to a group of children learning about baptism. 

A Picture Book a Day for a Year: Day 331

Picture Book: A Bucket of Blessings

Author: Kabir Sehgal & Surishtha Sehgal

Illustrator: Jing Jing Tsong

Summary:  Due to drought, the village well and pond have gone dry so the animals are suffering as they look for water. Monkey remembers a story about how peacock dancing can bring on rain. He climbs the mountain to request this of Peacock, but Peacock needs some water to make it rain. Monkey continues searching for water. In a cave, he finds a hidden spring. He fills a bucket, but he doesn’t realize it leaks. As Monkey climbs to Peacock, he is greeted by animals who are excited about the water he has found. They do not tell him of the leak, but they enjoy the water trail he leaves behind. Upon reaching Peacock, Monkey is surprised and disappointed to see that the bucket is almost empty. “This leaky bucket is cursed!” he says. Peacock tells him to look behind him. Monkey sees that the water has transformed the path he has trod. Peacock believes that if Monkey can make flowers bloom with just a few drops, then a rain dance just might work. Monkey pours the drops of water on Peacock’s head. Peacock dances. Monkey hopes. Then clouds form and rain begins to fall. Peacock exclaims, “That leaky bucket of yours… it was a blessing to us all!”

Hanna’s Comments: I have heard the heart of this story used in a few sermons. It is a powerful message about the positive effects we can have even when we are broken and unaware of our influences. It is also a story of perseverance and hope that can be connected to many of our Holy Scriptures. In the back you’ll find an Afterward by Dr. Maya Angelou who states that in this book, “The reader is shown that it is a blessing to be a blessing.” In the Authors’ Note the symbolism of the peacock in India and Hindu mythology is explained. Below I connected this story to 2 Old Testament stories and the concept of baptism. I also thought of the story of Philip and the Ethiopian. One potentially powerful aspect of the Ethiopian story is that tradition holds (It may not be true but the story has been passed down over the centuries.) that the Ethiopian did take Christianity back to his home country where it flourished. It is fact that the Christian Church was established in Ethiopia relatively early, and the Ethiopian Christian Church’s official origin is grounded in this ancient story.

Original Publisher & Date of Publication: Beach Lane Books, 2014

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

# of Pages: 32

Available in Spanish? Not at present 

Formats other than Book: Tablet

PBT Category: Fresh off the Press, Traditional Tale

PBT Topics this Book connects with: action, Asia, baptism/cleanliness/washing, blessings, challenges, dance/dancing, difficulties, drink/thirst, drought, flowers/leaves/trees, found, goodness, harvest, helping, hope,  journeys/migrations/pilgrimages/quests, labor/work, legacies, legends/myths, miracles, perseverance, rain, survival, transformation, water, weather

Scripture Connections: Manna given to the Israelites in the desert (Exodus 16); Moses strikes a rock for water (Exodus 17:6); Philip transforms the life of the Ethiopian with scripture and baptism (Acts 8:26-39); the concept of baptism

Idea(s) for Application: Read this story to a group of children in a lesson about the concept of being blessed to be a blessing or the transformation that water can bring. 

A Picture Book a Day for a Year: Day 55

Picture Book: Knuffle Bunny 

Author & Illustrator: Mo Willems

Summary: Trixie & her Knuffle Bunny go along with Daddy on an excursion to the laundromat. After Trixie helps load the washing machine and they head for home, she realizes that Knuffle Bunny is missing. But Trixie isn’t talking yet so screams are the best she can do. Daddy is flummoxed, then frustrated, then angry. Once home, Mommy quickly realizes the problem, and the whole family frantically retrace the route. Trixie is so relieved to find a newly washed Knuffle Bunny, that she says her first words. You guessed it! “Knuffle Bunny.”

Hanna’s Comments: This is such a hilarious book that even older kids & adults will enjoy it. It will offer an opportunity to talk about losing important things (or even relationships), the emotions surrounding those losses, and why they are important to us. For another faith connection to this book, check out the Storypath blog in my list of favorite sites to the right. They suggest this book is a reminder that we have faith rooted in a trust that God will hear us and respond to us even when we can't put our longings into words. 

Publisher & Date of Publication: Hyperion, 2004 

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

# of Pages: 40 

Available in Spanish? Yes 

Formats other than Book: Audible

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

PBT Topics this Book Connects with: anger, anxiety/worry, babies/children, baptism/washing, bonds/connections/connectedness, challenges, comfort, companionship, depression/despair/sadness/sorrow, disabilities/handicaps/limitations, exile/separation, fathers, found, lost, mothers, noise/sounds/voice, nurturing, parents/parental love, renewal/restoration, searching, treasure, wisdom

Scripture Connections: Parable of the Persistent Widow (Luke 18:1-8); Where your treasure is… (Luke 12:34), Lost sheep, coin, or son (Luke 15)

Idea(s) for Application: This book would be great as a part of a lesson on the "lost" parables in Luke 15 (see above).

A Picture Book a Day for a Year: Day 53

Picture Book: Dolphins on the Sand

Author & Illustrator: Jim Arnosky

Summary: A pod of dolphins are stranded on a beach. When a kayaker spots them, he brings help, a diverse group of ordinary people who work hard to save the dolphins. Because of the dolphins' weakness and hungry sharks that are waiting for their return to the ocean, the dolphins are moved to a nearby lagoon where they grow stronger. Once each dolphin is deemed strong enough, it is released back to the ocean. A mother dolphin and her youngster offer the dolphins’ point of view.

Hanna’s Comments: This author is known for his beautiful books about nature that are filled with scientific details. This is an idealized account of an event the author witnessed. See his note in the back of the book. I was struck by the way the human community responded to this crisis, demonstrating swift determination and efficiency in saving their fellow mammals. 

Publisher & Date of Publication: Scholastic, 2012 

Age and Grade Appropriateness: 5 and up, K and up 

# of Pages: 32 

Available in Spanish? Not at present 

Formats other than Book: None at present

PBT Category: Non-fiction, Post 2K

PBT Topics this Book Connects with: baptism/washing, beach/ocean/sea/shore, danger, dependence/interdependence, dying, the environment/nature, mothers, rescue, safe place/sanctuary, savior/saving, survival, water

Scripture Connections: Good Samaritan (Luke 10:30-37), Jesus washes feet (John 13:1-38), baptism

Idea(s) for Application: Use this book as part of a lesson on the importance of water in our lives, the lives of other animals, and our religious rituals.