Global Hymns of Praise

Picture Book: A World of Praise

Author: Deborah Lock

Illustrator: Helen Cann

Summary: This book begins and ends with psalms! Between those pages, experience simple poetic verses integrated with beautiful scenes of diverse children enjoying the glories of God’s creation all over the world! You’ll see mountains & flatlands, cityscapes & rural spaces, contemplative children & dancing animals. Quiet praise alternates with glorious joyful noises.

Hanna’s Comments: For a children's lesson, have a globe handy and before reading, invite them to ask you where the scenes are. You’ll find a diagram in the back that identifies each of the 16 countries/regions, but you’ll need to do a bit of prep to locate all those countries on the globe. Consider placing sticky notes on the globe to make this process easier for you or for your children to do the searching. This will encourage your children’s curiosity about their world (God's world) and build their globe skills, an added benefit. Too old school for you? Add an internet component with a tablet or laptop. Repeatedly emphasize God is everywhere and the source of all!

There are not a lot of these books on the market so check with your local library system. If your library doesn’t have the book, ask if they will order it.

Original Publisher: Eerdmans, 2020

Age Appropriateness: 4 and up

Formats other than Book: None at present

Scripture Connections: You’ll find in these pages the following scriptures, but any verses about the glory, gifts, and/or beauty of nature will connect here:

Psalm 24:1-2 is on the 1^st page. 

These are on the last pages:

Psalm 67:6

Psalm 113:3

Psalm 148:7-12

PBT Applications: Amidst a recording of quiet nature sounds, invite children to lie on the floor, close their eyes, and imagine portions of this book that you choose to read aloud slowly. Adapt the length of the reading so that listeners, no matter their age or attention span, can attend well and imagine fully.

For very young children, I would open this book to some favorite double page spreads and ask the children to tell you what they like and who made it. Talk about sensory experiences, especially sights/colors, textures, and sounds. Say together simple sentences, like Thank you God for birdsong! OR Thank you for making the stars so beautiful, God!

PBT Grab & Go #4 - A Cool Drink of Water

Here’s another high quality picture book that makes for a really easy theological lesson. Just read it, talk about the book, and connect it to scripture. However, if you want a longer or more substantial lesson with specific supplemental activities, I've written a lesson for you. 

 Lesson Available for just $3! Details below.

Picture Book: A Cook Drink of Water

Author: Barbara Kerley

Photographs from Multiple Photographers

Summary: Water is so crucial to life that it unifies people all over the world. This photographic essay beautifully reveals the variety and commonality of drinking water in various geographic cultures. How water is accessed is the central subject here as well as numerous means of holding water in places as varied as the Canadian Rockies, an Australian desert, and an island in Indonesia.  

Hanna’s Comments: This author has a series of educational picture books comprised of stunning National Geographic photography. Be sure to check out the map in the back of this book as well as the article on water conservation. You can also visit www.natgeoed.org. 

I’ve created a lesson to go with this book that works with elementary aged children, tweens, or teens. The supplemental activities are fun and build on the concepts in the book and the scriptures connected in this post. If you’re interested in purchasing it for just $3, email me at hannaschock@bellsouth.net. We’ll arrange payment. Then I’ll send it to you electronically. The book, used or new, is easily available for purchase on-line.

Original Publisher & Date: National Geographic, 2006

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

Formats other than Book: None at present

Scripture Connections: With joy you will draw water (Isaiah 12:3); Living water/Woman at the well (John 4:4-42)

Idea(s) for Application: Use this book as part of a scripture lesson in which water is a key component or in a lesson on how our basic human needs connect us globally. 

A Picture Book a Day for a Year: Day 350

Picture Book: The World is Waiting for You

Author: Barbara Kerley

Photographers: various 

Summary: Beautiful photos from around the world make connections here between fun children’s activities of exploration, adventure, and discovery to adult passions and professions. The book begins with a promise that right outside a child’s window or around the bend of a path possibilities in the natural world abound. Those experiences might awaken a passion that carries a child into adulthood and beyond. Scanning the night sky might be the first step to becoming an astronaut. Tree climbing could lead to scaling a mountain. Hands in the mud are how many budding archeologists begin. The book ends in this way: “The whole wide world is waiting for you. Ready. Set. Go.”

Hanna’s Comments: True of all of Barbara Kerley’s wonderful National Geographic books for children, end papers detail the photos, giving places, names, and explanations. Along with a Bible, this would be a great book to give children in your faith community who are transitioning to a higher level. The day the books are given, read this one in a lesson that focuses on how exploring the Bible can lead to adventures as well. Give examples such as missionary work, biblical archeology, or inventing green technology.

Original Publisher & Date of Publication: National Geographic, 2013

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

# of Pages: 48

Available in Spanish? Not at present

Formats other than Book: None at present

PBT Category: Fresh off the Press, Non-fiction

PBT Topics this Book connects with: abundance/bounty, attentiveness/observation/seeing, awe, beauty, blessings, body/body of Christ, creation, culture, diversity, Earth/world, the environment/nature, exploration, geography, gladness/happiness, humanity, joy, legacies, preparation, presence, renewal, restoration, variety, witness, wonder

Scripture Connections: This book connects to Bible stories that involve adventure, discovery, or exploration such as when Jacob left his parents’ home, when Joseph is sold into slavery and then discovers his new life in Egypt, or Paul’s three missionary journeys.  

Idea(s) for Application: Read this book to a group of children in a lesson on how exploring the Bible can lead to future passions that linger throughout adulthood.  

A Picture Book a Day for a Year: Day 283

Picture Book: Same, Same but Different

Author & Illustrator: Jenny Sue Kostecki-Shaw

Summary: Two boys, living a world apart, can be best friends. In this picture book about pen pals (actually picture pals), Elliot, an American boy, and Kailash, who lives in India, share their lives through words and pictures. They discover that they have much in common (same, same) even though their worlds look very dissimilar (but different). Both love to climb trees, have pets, ride buses to school, and deal with too much traffic. Much is different about their worlds though. Their alphabet is different, as is the number of people in their town and family members in their home. They both greet people, but very differently.   

Hanna’s Comments: The author learned the popular saying, “same, same but different” while in Nepal and India. Native Nepalese and Pakistanis use this saying when comparing cultures. You might want to spend some time with your audience looking at the illustrations closely so that you can explicitly compare and contrast these two boys. Be sure to look at the postage stamps on the end papers. Maybe your children can guess in which country the stamps originated.

Publisher & Date of Publication: Henry Holt, 2011

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

# of Pages: 36

Available in Spanish? Not at present

Formats other than Book: Tablet, There are videos of this book on Youtube.com, but note that there is a different live-action movie with the same name.

PBT Category: Award Winner, Post 2K

PBT Topics this Book Connects with: abundance/bounty, America, art, Asia, blessings, body of Christ, bonds/connections, communication, culture, differences, diversity, exile/separation/walls, friends/friendship, geography, humanity, identity/names, openness, relationships, unity

Scripture Connections: Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone. (1 Corinthians 12:4-6)

Idea(s) for Application: Read this book to a group of children who are studying diverse cultures that are united in their religious beliefs.

A Picture Book a Day for a Year: Day 273

Picture Book: If You’re Happy and You Know It

Adapted by: Anna McQuinn

Illustrator: Sophie Fatus

Summary: This traditional song is delightfully illustrated with a diverse collection of children representing 36 of the world’s cultures. Gestures called for vary from the usual “clap your hands” and “stamp your feet” to the less traditional “point your toes” and say, “Hello.” There are many translations of “hello” in the back of the book along with a drawing of each of the children that make an appearance. Their names and countries are listed too. A note says, “To add words to this song from each of the languages featured in this book, please search for “If You’re Happy and You Know it” at www.barefootbooks.com. The musical score is in the back as well.

Hanna’s Comments: In this version, the lyrics are a little different than what I learned. Rather than the words I sang as a child, “Then your face will surely show it,” this book reads, “And you really want to show it.” That‘s an easy change! Your book may include an enhanced CD with video animation and audio sing-along. I never have a problem with the idea of singing “secular” songs in a faith context especially when that song is celebratory. Music and song are wonderful gifts from God as are our well-designed bodies. This book celebrates all of these and the beautiful diversity of our world. There are two other books with this title that I ran across. One calls itself the “Jungle Edition”. It incorporates jungle animals and what they might do to show their happiness. That book is by James Warhola. The other is more of a narrative that features this song. Animal characters talk about how they choose to sing it. This version is by Jan Ormerod and comes with a CD.

Publisher & Date of Publication:  Barefoot Books, 2009

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

# of Pages: 24

Available in Spanish? There are other picture books with Spanish versions of this song’s lyrics.

Formats other than Book: Audio download, Your book may include an enhanced CD with video animation and audio sing-along.

PBT Category: Song Book, Post 2K

PBT Topics this Book Connects with: celebration/party, choir/music/singing/songs, culture, dance/dancing, difference, diversity, gladness/happiness, joy, variety

Scripture Connections: Clap your hands, all you peoples; shout to God with loud songs of joy (Psalm 47:1); this is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it (Psalm 118:24); but the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy… (Galatians 5:22); rejoice in the Lord always (Philippians 4:4); count it all joy (James 1:2)

Idea(s) for Application: Sing or read this song to your children when you want to celebrate and rejoice in the Lord!

A Picture Book a Day for a Year: Day 244

Dynamic Duo: Book 1

Picture Book: Say Hello!

Author & Illustrator: Rachel Isadora

Summary: Carmelita is very friendly to those in her diverse neighborhood. She has even learned to say “hello” in many languages. As she and her mother walk to Abuela Rosa’s, she does just that. Other words and visual cues such as signs, dress, and food give more information about the culture of her neighbors. Amazingly, Manny, Carmelita’s dog, has a “woof” that can be understood by everyone as well especially Carmelita when he wants some ice cream from the ice cream truck.

Hanna’s Comments: Be sure to check out the helpful pronunciation guide in the back of the book before reading aloud so that you can teach your children how to say these important words. Then talk to them about the essential spiritual practices of hospitality and empathy and the joy of language and communication. This is the first in a PBT Dynamic Duo of 2 books with the same name, both emphasizing the importance of being friendly to others.  

Update: This book comes in board book form if you want a book better for little ones to handle.

Publisher & Date of Publication: Scholastic, 2010

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, but there are some videos on Youtube.com that demonstrate saying “hello” in many different languages.

PBT Category: Post 2K

PBT Topics this Book Connects with: abilities, abundance/bounty, acceptance, attentiveness/observation/seeing, belonging, communication, community, culture, differences, diversity, golden rule, hospitality, language/literacy/reading, neighbors, neighborhood, openness, pets, pleasing God/the Shema, relationships, variety

Scripture Connections: For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: ”You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Galatians 5:14)

Idea(s) for Application: Being friendly is a concept understood by children, but sometimes they need to be taught exactly how to go about it, why it’s important, and how it relates to their faith. Emphasize God’s desire for them to be empathic, sensitive, and welcoming members of your faith community as well as their neighborhoods and schools. 

A Picture Book a Day for a Year: Day 182

Picture Book: You and Me Together: Moms, Dads, and Kids Around the World

Author: Barbara Kerley

Photographs from multiple photographers are used.

Summary: This book uses photographs to depict the universal love, rituals, play and daily tasks of global children and their parents. The bonds between parents and children of all cultures are celebrated.

Hanna’s Comments: I am rejuvenated by Barbara Kerley books! At a time when so many international stories are full of violence, illness, oppression or heartache, this book can remind you that the love between parent and child is still ever present and our best hope for the world. This author has a series of educational picture books comprised of stunning National Geographic photography. Be sure to check out the map in the back that explains the contexts and locations of the photographs. Then read A Note on the World’s Children by Marian Wright Edelman, President of the Children’s Defense Fund. You can also go to www.natgeoed.org for more information. 

Publisher & Date of Publication: National Geographic, 2005

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

# of Pages: 32

Available in Spanish? Not at present

Formats other than Book: None at present

PBT Category: Nonfiction, Post 2K

PBT Topics this Book Connects with: abundance/bounty, acceptance, affection, babies/children, beauty, belonging, blessings, body of Christ, bonds/connections, comfort, commitment, community, companionship, culture, dependence/interdependence, differences, diversity, family, fathers, God’s nature, goodness, humanity, individuality/uniqueness, joy, life, love, nurturing, parents/parental love, presence, satisfaction, security, sharing, unity, variety

Scripture Connections: Love is patient and kind (1 Corinthians 13:4); let all that you do be done in love (1 Corinthians 16:14); put on love which binds everything together in perfect harmony

Idea(s) for Application: This book would be a nice gift for new parents in your community of faith. You might also read this book to children when you want their global views to expand and their empathy to cross international boundaries. Emphasize the ways all these families are like the ones in your faith community.