Iowa Presentation: Book #3

This simple but profound book was a favorite at my 2 CEF conference presentations in Iowa! Check out the PowerPoint for that presentation in the "Presentations & Resources by Hanna" tab above. Here's my original post with some additional scripture connections: 

This brand-new picture book is about empowering positive responses to the anger and hatred we see in media. It will prompt meaningful faith-based conversations with children and adults about how together our small actions will make a difference. This story ends with an invitation to you!

Picture Book: Come with Me

Author: Holly M. McGhee

Illustrator: Pascal Lemaitre

Summary: A little girl is fearful while watching the stream of news. The anger and hatred that she sees - "people against people"- is troubling.

She asks her papa how she could help. His response? "Come with me." They go to the subway. 

While there, the girl notices her father tips his hat to everyone he meets so she does the same. 

As they ride the subway, they are willing to risk kindness and connection. 

These small acts help them overcome their fears and connect them to each other and the people in the world. 

The news of violence and hate doesn't end. 

The girl turns to her mama next, asking how to make the world better. 

 

Her mama says, "Come with me." This time the journey is to their local grocery store where they see the bounty and diversity of our world. 

The little girl realizes that a person she has seen on the screen doesn't tell her about one person or one family or one race or one people. 

Once home, the ritual of setting the table and eating a meal are grounding to her as is the company of her parents and her dog.

She becomes inspired and more confident! She asks if she can walk her dog so she can do something on her own to make the world better. 

Her parents consider this. It's risky, but they decide to let her go, another sort of message to the world - a refusal to live in fear. 

Just as the little girl exits, a neighbor asks where she is going. 

She decides two people are better than one. Like her parents, she offers an invitation, "Come with me." 

He does come and together they discover that it's good to be outside. 

They see the world is not so bad. All living things deserve their bravery, gentleness, strength, and kindness.  

They see simple ways they can respond with goodness 

and learn that even small gestures matter to the world. 

Everyone's small contributions matter too. They can even come together for more goodness.

To end the young hero speaks to the reader, "Your part matters, too. Come with me."

Hanna’s Comments: This timely story proclaims that hiding in fear and homogeneity is not going to make our divided world better. It's a clarion call to action for children that will be heard by adults who will be reminded that children watch what they do and mimic their approaches to the world. I love that these small acts are doable - goodness in simple and hopeful ways. It's reassuring to consider how simple gestures matter too. The author & illustrator offer a dedication explaining that this book was written "in honor of friendship, bravery, and the fact that we aren't powerless, no matter how small and insignificant we may feel." The scripture connections are so many! 

Original Publisher & Date: Putnam’s, 2017

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

Formats other than Book: Tablet

Scripture Connections: Diversity in Creation (Genesis 1:20-25); Learn to do good; seek justice; correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless; plead the widow’s cause. (Isaiah 1:17); We are the work of your hand (Isaiah 64:8); The grounding of rituals (Matthew 7:24-25); Jesus says, "Come follow me." (Matthew 4:19); Parable of the Mustard Seed (Matthew 13:31-32); Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. (Romans 12:9); Extend hospitality to strangers (Romans 12:13b); Diversity in The Body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:15-19); Who is wise and understanding among you? By your good conduct show works in the meekness of wisdom. (James 3:13)

Idea(s) for Application: Read this book to begin a conversation with your faith family about responses to anger, hatred, and violence in our world. This book would be especially great for parenting class or a small group of parents.

Fruit of the Spirit: Kindness

Here’s another newly published book that directly relates to one of The Fruits of the Spirit listed in Galatians. This story mostly takes place in a classroom so elementary age children will especially relate and see ways they can become more kind.

Picture Book: Be Kind

Author: Pat Zietlow

Illustrator: Jen Hill

Summary: This story begins with Tanisha's accident.

Then the unnamed narrator's words of compassion are misunderstood. 

Empathy for Tanisha builds thanks to the illustrator. The narrator struggles with what to do. 

She paints a purple picture for Tanisha but is afraid she will hurt her again so she imaginatively explores what kindness looks like.

She considers spilling her own juice, just to be more helpful. 

What is it to be kind? Cookies for a neighbor? 

Passing on some outgrown shoes?

Helping at home? 

Caring for the class pet? 

Perhaps just paying attention to her classmates with affirmation 

or invitation. 

Listening can even be an act of kindness, especially when you've heard the stories before. 

She believes being kind should be easily done throughout the day. 

And her mom suggests that using someone's name is especially kind. 

Kindness sometimes requires a lot of patience. 

The hardest (and scariest) of kindnesses is sticking up for a friend. Now, back to Tanisha. 

She decides that she can't solve Tanisha's problem (such great insight!), but she can offer her gift knowing that Tanisha likes purple too. 

Then her insight becomes broader. She realizes that her small gesture can grow just as she imagines how a kindness to a grandmother 

spreads to a granddaughter and then to a granddaughter's friend. 

Kindness can spread throughout her community, 

her country, 

and her whole world 

while still helping Tanisha experience kindness 

and helping her learn to be kind again and again. 

Hanna’s Comments: This is a great PBT book for lots of reasons. The narrator is authentically exploring ways to be kind. She is a wonderful model for that growing edge of spiritual formation. Be Kind offers so many relevant situations in which children can directly see kindness put into action. Many examples are tucked into the illustrations so point those out. Also, this book captures how simple acts of kindness can grow and positively affect a whole community in time. Lastly, this book highlights the spiritual practice of imagination. In just a few moments at her art desk, this narrator has some amazing insight. You might want to do this with your kiddos. Consider offering new scenarios of potential kindness to your children after reading the book, but be sure to address (as this book does) when kindness is hard. Be Kind could be read to adults if you quickly translate the situations into adult contexts. Surely adults need to be talking about kindness, particularly in such politically divided and uncivil times.

Original Publisher & Date: Roaring Brook Press, 2018

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

Formats other than Book: Tablet

Scripture Connections: In addition to The Fruit of the Spirit verses in Galatians 5:22-23…One who is kind is benefited (Proverbs 11:17); She opens her mouth with wisdom; the teaching of kindness is on her tongue (Proverbs 31:26); Love is patient and kind (1 Corinthians 13:4); Be kind to one another (Ephesians 4:32); Put on then… compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience…(Colossians 3:12)

Idea(s) for Application: Read this book to group of elementary-aged children and help them see ways they can build their kindness skills and why this is pleasing to God.

PBT Question #4 to Ask about Any Secular Book

   

Does the book contain or encourage a spiritual practice? 

(Compassion, Generosity, Gratitude, Prayer, Praise, Hospitality, Peacemaking, Reconciliation…)

This PBT question is a little easier to grasp. Do keep an open mind about what defines a spiritual practice. These are not just spiritual disciplines, like praying or fasting, nor are they always specific behaviors such as peacemaking. A spiritual practice might be an orientation towards others as in the case of compassion. You may know someone who is very generous of spirit, but they have little money to give.

When approaching a picture book with this question, consider what in the picture book would please God. That question might help you focus on a spiritual practice. Then read the picture book to a group of children or adults and help them learn more about that practice in a context that is very real. Here’s an example: Contemplation is a fuzzy word. Contemplative prayer is hard to define and impossible to perfect. Contemplating God’s amazing world is a spiritual practice that we often engage in spontaneously and momentarily without identifying it as a spiritual practice. Think of when you arrive at the beach or when you see a full moon. Just because you don’t express your joy with words doesn’t mean you aren’t moved and thankful.

Contemplation is beautifully abundant in the title character of The Incredible Peepers of Penelope Budd. Check out that PBT post [here.] 

In these two illustrations, Penelope is being especially observant. First she delights in a butterfly.

Then she contemplates her own image in a puddle of water.

Tie her orientation to delighting in God's creation and you have a model of a spiritual practice that even the youngest child can relate to. Add gratitude to God to such experiences and you have an integrated practice that can be theologically sustaining and grounding throughout a lifetime. 

Here is a link to a PBT post that features another book about contemplative practices. This one has the children being more active and purposely going into nature to find the wonder of the world - the wonder of God.

Wonder Walkers

Helping children and adults identify what spiritual practices look like will affirm their good inclinations and behaviors while offering rich information for potential spiritual growth. 

Here are links to more books in the PBT archive that directly connect to spiritual practices:

Creation Care - Here: The Dot We Call Home

Praise - I Love Our Earth!

Lamentation - several books

Hospitality - Hello World

Fruits of the Spirit, Courage, & Confidence - 2 Hische books

Listening - The Man with the Violin

Generosity - Mama Panya's Pancakes

Love - Love the World

Prayer or Social Justice - Say Something!

Gratitude - The Happy Owls

In a week or so I’ll be wrapping up my explanation of the 5th question you can ask about a secular picture book. May your spiritual practices delight God!