Growl as Gift

Picture Book: The Story of Growl

Author & Illustrator: Judy Horacek

Summary: Horacek's clever tale features a small monster named Growl, for obvious reasons. 

Growl lives in a castle at the end of her street. 

There her neighbors don’t appreciate her hyperactivity 

 or her favorite past-time. 

Growl never stops growling! 

She even has a little song she loves to sing about her particular passion! 

One day she thinks the perfect place to let go a big one is across the fence at her unsuspecting neighbors, during afternoon tea!

The neighbors are not pleased. 

They call the police who respond with swift limits. 

Growl is so sad! Time slows, and she is hyper no longer,

"Running is hard when you're trying not to cry." 

Sleeping is hard too. While awake, she spies a prowler in the neighbors' yard trying to steal the afternoon tea set!" 

  

She can't help herself! 

The neighbors are grateful, especially that she has saved their afternoon tea set! 

Maybe her growling isn't so bad after all they reason! They trash the sign. The police agree, explaining that it "was much too quiet in your neighborhood." 

Growl is so very happy. She can growl again!

And sing her little song! 

But not at afternoon tea, where instead, Growl enjoys her neighbors, their tea, and their afternoon tea set. 

After tea?

 Everybody growls!

Hanna’s Comments: I love this character! I can’t tell you how many people in my church family have a little bit of Growl in them, including myself at times. I bet you can relate. One of my church’s priorities is to “encourage authenticity.” On our website, we suggest you leave your “church face” behind and come as you are. That might result in some complaints, but even the Bible has plenty of complainers. Remember all those lamentations! And what about the prophets? I don’t imagine Isaiah or Jeremiah spoke with soft, quiet voices. I suspect they growled a lot and weren't popular in their neighborhood. What else can you do when God is no longer worshiped or justice is forgotten? The heart of this little parable is a story of neighbors trying to get along. Despite early prejudices and fearful misunderstandings, (Sound relevant?), they discover that even a growl can be a gift and a fun pastime with a friend.

Original Publisher & Date: Kane/Miller, 2007

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

Formats other than Book: None at present

Scripture Connections: I will not restrain my mouth; I will speak in the anguish of my spirit; I will complain in the bitterness of my soul. (Job 7:11); Scripture concepts of lamenting and the growling of prophets

Idea(s) for Application: Read this book to a group of children to help them understand that all sorts of people are found in the scriptures (and in faith families), even those who lament or growl for justice. God’s image is in each one, and we are called to be their neighbors.

A Tribute to Amy Krouse Rosenthal

Two bad things happened on Sunday. I learned via [this] amazing article that my favorite picture book author, Amy Krouse Rosenthal, is dying, hence a PBT tribute. Later, I fell and broke my elbow. The two don’t compare at all, but I did want to tell you to expect a lot of repeated posts on PBT while I’m healing. I wish AKR was healing too.

Please pray for Amy, her family, and friends. Her life and her writing are full of joy and hope. We need her and her work so much right now. And consider purchasing some of her books, including her two unusual and very funny memoirs for adults. [Here’s] her Amazon page. It’s no wonder I chose the following book to lament our losing her. At the end, I list AKR’s PBT books so far (there will be many more) and dates (links) to those posts. 

Picture Book: It’s Not Fair

Author: Amy Krouse Rosenthal

Illustrator: Tom Lichtenheld

Summary: In clever rhyming verse, children, 

animals, 

even planets 

and aliens 

complain about life’s injustices. The familiar refrain involves everything from turns 

to teams, 

objects 

to illness,   

to work. 

These injustices start early 

and are even inside books

and about books. 

Ridiculous? Yes, and very true.

Hanna’s Comments: One of the benefits of PBT is making "God talk" more meaningful by connecting it to the real-life situations found in picture books. Everyone knows that children complain, “It’s not fair!” Adults may not say those words so often, but we think them. Offer this book as a conversation starter; then explore how faith informs times of unfairness. Laugh at this book’s silly situations, but also talk about hard parts of life when it seems that bad things happen to good people and good things happen to those who don’t deserve them. 

Make sure your audience, young or old, doesn’t expect to always get answers. Your job is to help them realize that such answers don’t come easily and sometimes never come, but the questions are still valuable. Instead explore how faith offers mystery and comfort. I believe God is present with us in our protest, disappointment, and hurt. Being thankful for that relationship is fortifying. Talk about the importance of prayer, humility, and finding that which is good in all situations. You might even want to mention that one of the Ten Commandments is about not coveting. 

Original Publisher & Date: Harper Collins, 2008

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

Formats other than Book: Tablet

Scripture Connections: Do not covet (Exodus 20:17); All thing work together for good (Romans 8:28); rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer (Romans 12:12); God is love (1 John 4:8)

Idea(s) for Application: Read this book to a group of children when there have been many complaints about fairness or when your church family is suffering due to loss or struggle. Connect to one of the scriptures above.

AKR PBT Books & Post Dates (links):

Yes Day!                       7/5/16

Spoon                            10/22/14

Christmas Cookies     12/5/16