Worship & Picture Books That Would Please MLK

It’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Day here in the states. To honor this man and the strides we have made in Birmingham, my church, First United Methodist, and Saint John’s African Methodist Episcopal Church, worshiped together yesterday. The music and message were so inspiring. I was especially moved when MLK’s I Have a Dream speech was recited by various congregants from both churches.

We have come a long way in downtown Birmingham and in my church where African American children and adults are beloved members and involved in planning and worship. Dr. King once said, “it is appalling that the most segregated hour of Christian America is eleven o’clock on Sunday morning.” If only he could have been present to witness the love and joy in our sanctuary yesterday and in the reception afterwards where we enjoyed one another.

Today’s books are offered in memory of Dr. King who I believe would have enjoyed reading them to his children.

The first book is a celebration of the ingenuity, determination and faith of pilot James Banning & mechanic Thomas Allen, the first African Americans to fly across the US. Despite the hardships of the Great Depression and the limits of segregation, these 2 men repaired a rundown plane. Friends, family, and people they met along the journey from Los Angeles to Harlem signed their names on the wings in exchange for food, supplies, and fuel. This story is a testament to what community, bravery, and perseverance can achieve.

The illustrations here are dazzling! You feel like you are riding beside them and you see some highlights of American geographical beauty. Children will especially love to hear that when it got really hot, the men rode in just their underwear! Be careful not to assume only African American children would enjoy this story, and please don’t set it aside because it is not February, Black History Month. You’ll find a Note from the Author who is amazed that he didn’t know more of this story since he is a student and teacher of history. He explains that the book is fiction but based on historical record.

The theological connections here are obvious. Both men say “Hallelujah!” when touching down safely and when lifting off the dirt of particularly racist locales. This flight could easily be connected to Biblical stories such as the journeys of the Israelites in the Wilderness, Jesus & his disciples, or Paul and other missionaries.

Picture Book: The Hallelujah Flight

Author: Phil Bildner

Illustrator: John Holyfield

Original Publisher & Date: G. P. Putnam’s Sons, 2010

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

Formats other than Book: Tablet

The other book I offer today has significantly more text, reads at a much higher level, and would be perfect for a private school or homeschool that is studying Christian perseverance or American heroes.

I confess I had not heard of Howard Thurman until I was in my 40s despite the influence he had on so many Christian theologians and ministers, including Dr. King who he mentored. 

Here we read Howard Thurmon’s life as having a continual thirst for knowledge, intellectual achievement, and opportunity. Despite living in segregated Daytona, Florida where there was one school for African Americans and it went only through 7^th grade, Howard did become highly educated. His intelligence and passion for learning encouraged those who met him to facilitate his education. He became an influential theologian, minister, advocate for civil rights, and Dean of the Chapel at both Howard University and Boston College.

The most pivotal moment in this story occurs when Howard’s dreams are almost derailed by an unexpected expense at a railroad station while he was traveling out of town to attend a private high school. An African American bystander in overalls gives Howard the coins he needs to continue his journey.

Like the PBT book above, this book is a testament to the value of a spiritual journey and the support of community. In the story you’ll find phrases from Howard’s mother and grandmother that offer much in the way of theological discussion. They are:

God will take care.

Make a way, dear Lord, make a way.

God had made a way.

Picture Book: Howard Thurman’s Great Hope

Author: Kai Jackson Issa

Illustrator: Arthur L. Dawson

Original Publisher & Date: Lee and Low Books, 2008

Age & Grade Appropriateness: 7 and up, 2 and up

Formats other than Book: None at present

A Picture Book a Day for a Year: Day 198

Picture Book: Fu Finds the Way

Author & Illustrator: John Rocco

Summary: Fu is an inattentive and apathetic Chinese boy. While planting rice, he imagines himself battling dragons. His father tells him to re-plant the crooked rows and exhorts him to care more because that is ”the way.” Fu’s anger and impulsivity causes him to insult a Chinese warrior who then challenges Fu to a duel the next morning. Frantic, Fu grabs his father’s sword and goes to the Master, but he is confused by the Master’s methods. Instead of teaching Fu how to battle, he teaches him how to serve tea. The instructive tea ceremony is slow-paced, repetitive, and leads Fu into imaginative dreams that teach him to have purpose, flow, and patience. When morning comes, Fu grabs the tea set rather than the sword, meets the warrior, and serves him tea. The warrior is so moved by the beauty of Fu’s tea ceremony that he does not want to fight. Instead he says, “You have the way.”

Hanna’s Comments: This book reminds me of the movie, Karate Kid except for its setting and pace. Fu has only an evening to prepare for his confrontation. His anxiety lessens as he allows the Master to help him become more contemplative and fully present in the moment. This is a good lesson for all of us, particularly when caught up in the fast-pace of modern life or the inner world of our imaginations. Neither allows for self-contemplation and being fully present with others in our community who need us. I was also struck with the use of the phrase, “the way.” Early on, Christianity was referred to as “The Way.” Early Christians were “People of the Way.” Consider finding the connections between the 3 goals of the Master’s teaching (to acquire purpose, flow, and patience) and the ways of early Christians. See the Author’s Note for the inspiration for this book.

Publisher & Date of Publication: Hyperion Books, 2009

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

# of Pages: 40

Available in Spanish? Not at present

Formats other than Book: None at present

PBT Category: Post 2K

PBT Topics this Book Connects with: abilities, anxiety/worry, Asia, bravery/courage, challenges, commitment, conflict, consequences/punishment, disputes/fighting/opposition, doubt, drink/thirst, education/learning/school, encouragement, fear, gentleness/meekness, humility, mentors/teachers, mistakes, non-violence/peaceful resistance, pacifism/peace/peacemakers, patience, power, preparation, presence, pride, purpose, quiet/silence, reverence, risking, safety, at table, transformation, underdogs, waiting, water, wisdom

Scripture Connections: David and Goliath (1 Samuel 17:1-58)

Idea(s) for Application: Consider reading this book to a group of older kids when you are presenting a lesson on David and Goliath. Then talk about how David might have acted differently. 

A Picture Book a Day for a Year: Day 141

Picture Book: For Every Child: The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child in Words and Pictures

Text Adapted by: Caroline Castle

Forward: Archbishop Desmond M. TuTu

Illustrators: Each double page spread has a different illustrator.

Summary: In 1989 the United Nations adopted the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, a document comprised of 54 principles. This picture book highlights the 14 most relevant principles for today’s international children. As a declaration of human rights, this book will inspire and dishearten your listeners for it will become clear that the rights of many children are forgotten and ignored. 

Hanna’s Comments: Now and then I run across a picture book that I must own. This is one of them. I urge you to consider designing a program that allows you to engage in conversation with your community of faith about the rights (and present day treatment) of children all over the world. As a Christian, there are few issues that so clearly speak directly to my faith. Jesus urged us to minister to the least of these. Despite his culture, Jesus took time to interact with children, heal children, and proclaim their great value. I know this value is shared by many other religions as well. Our news headlines are full of displaced families, children caught in the abyss of war, and children living in oppressive regimes or slave conditions. As a species, we can do better and must do better. It sounds clichéd, but they are our future.

There are two similar books that I would recommend. We are All Born Free: The Universal Declaration of Human Rights in Pictures. All royalties for the sale of this book go to Amnesty International, the organization that is its author. The pages in the featured book as well as this book are illustrated by series of internationally respected artists. 

The other book I want to highlight is I Have the Right to Be a Child by Alain Serres with illustrations by Aurelia Fronty. This book takes the perspective of children who declare their rights in moving ways within the parameters of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. It ends with details about this document and a list of the countries that are party to this document as of its publication, 2009. It troubles me that the United States of America is still not on this list.

Publisher & Date of Publication: Phyllis Fogelman Books in association with UNICEF, 2001

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

# of Pages: 40

Available in Spanish? Not at present

Formats other than Book: Two different videos are on Youtube.com that have this same subject but in different words. They are well produced and very inspiring.

PBT Category: Non-fiction

PBT Topics this Book Connects with: adoption, babies/children, caring/tending, care of creation, citizenship, civil rights, comfort, dependence/interdependence, disabilities/handicaps/limitation, diversity, Earth/world, education/learning/school, equality/inequality, ethics, family, freedom, growing up/growth, helping, healing/healthcare, home, humanity, identity/names, image of God, individuality/uniqueness, intercession, justice, land/mountains/soil, language/literacy/reading, nurturing, outreach, play, pleasing God/the Shema, protecting/protection, religious differences, respect, safety, safe place/sanctuary, security, violence, vision, war/war veterans

Scripture Connections: Whoever welcomes a little child welcomes me (Matthew 18:5); Jesus said, ”Let the children come to me” (Matthew 19:13); the least of these (Matthew 25)

Idea(s) for Application: Consider using this book in a program for children or youth in which you talk about the ways children in various circumstances around the world are not secure in their human rights. Then talk about how your faith community is engaged in efforts to improve these situations.