PBT Redux #26 - Flossie and the Fox

Picture Book: Flossie & the Fox
Author: Patricia McKissack
Illustrator: Rachel Isadora
Summary: In rich dialect, McKissack offers a folktale from her story-telling grandfather. Big Mama asks young Flossie to deliver some eggs to the neighboring farm. Flossie begins her journey wondering what a fox looks like. When Fox introduces himself hoping for the eggs, he is puzzled that the little girl isn't afraid. Flossie insists she'll not be afraid until Fox offers proof that he is indeed a fox. Fox's pride is hurt so he lists all the reasons he is a fox. For each argument, Flossie insists that Fox is instead another animal. Eventually, Flossie lures Fox to the road where a neighbor's hound is waiting. As Fox runs from the hound, Flossie confesses that she recognized Fox all along. She heads toward the neighbor's farm with the eggs, having outfoxed the fox.

Hanna’s Comments: I love a tale with a smart female at the center! Her youth is an additional benefit. Even young children will identify with her. Consider steering your audience’s conversation towards issues of bravery and intelligence in the face of evil. Then take Fox's point of view and talk about how temptation and pride lure us into trouble. Flossie handles her fears cunningly, but the fox’s greed and pride tempt him to wander into a dangerous situation. 
Publisher & Date of Publication: Dial Books, 1986
Age & Grade Appropriateness: 4 and up, Pre and up
Formats other than Book: None at present

Scripture Connections: Eve’s conversation with the snake (Genesis 3); Be strong and courageous… for the Lord is with you wherever you go (Joshua 1:9)
Idea(s) for Application: Consider using this picture book when teaching the story of Eve’s temptation by the snake in Genesis. Draw connections between the fox’s pride and Eve’s pride. Praise Flossie’s self-determination and cleverness.

PBT Question #2 to Ask about Any Secular Picture Book

Is there a sacred theme to the book? (such as Fruits of the Spirit, Light, Bread, Ritual, Creation, Courage, Righteousness, Ancestors, the Least…)

This is the easiest of the PBT questions to consider when approaching a picture book. 

Often the major and minor themes of picture books are concepts of social-emotional learning that we want children to know so books on these concepts are common. Fortunately for those who want to use picture books in ministry, those same concepts are also considered aspects of an abundant spiritual or religious life. 

If you’re using the "web version" format (you may have to select this on your phone), you will see a large list of purple search labels below. On this website, I consider topics that directly connect with scriptures found in the Old Testament (Hebrew) Scriptures and New Testament Scriptures.

 You'll find fiction and non-fiction books.

I've included classics from your childhood. 

And I especially enjoy telling you about the best new books and award-winning books.

Just click on a purple word below and be taken to all the picture books I’ve connected to that concept.

To demonstrate the abundance of themes that can be found in the PBT search list, here are 10 biblical themes and links to 10 featured PBT books that connect (1 each for the first 10 letters of the alphabet):

Adoption -  MissMaple’s Seeds

Brokenness - Koko’s Kitten 

Change - Fortunately     

Discovery - TheListening Walk

Enemies - EnemyPie   

Friendship - Bear and Bird   

Generosity -  If You Plant a Seed

Healing -  How to Heal a Broken Wing

Image of God - The Colors of Us

Justice - The Day the Crayons Quit

Darkness/Fear - The Dark

Community - Little Elliot, Big City

Goodness - Most People

Resurrection - 2 books about turtles

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PBT Redux #17 A New Year's Hope & Prayer

Picture Book: Let There Be Peace on Earth                                                                  and Let It Begin with Me

Authors: Jill Jackson & Sy Miller

Illustrator: David Diaz

Summary: This picture book’s text is a song familiar to many. Written in 1955, the song has been recorded by many singers throughout the world. It is a clarion call for world peace and interpersonal peace. Besides the song lyrics, you’ll find an audio CD which includes 11 other songs by these writers. The illustrations feature international symbols of peace which are explained in the back of the book. Other features include historical aspects of the song and its writers as well as the musical score.

Hanna’s Comments: If you are bothered by the masculine terminology, particularly “With God as our Father, brothers all are we.” adapt to “With God, our creator, children all are we.” Change “Let me walk with my brother,” to “Let us walk with each other.” Use sticky notes to replace the words on the pages. Simply explain to your audience that the meaning and use of language changes sometimes. Then give your personal reasons for making the changes.

Publisher & Date of Publication: Tricycle Press, 2009

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

Formats other than Book: None at Present, On the internet, there are many videos of this song being performed.

Scripture Connections: Those who plan peace have joy (Proverbs 12:20); live peaceably with all (Romans 12:18); blessed are the peacemakers (Matthew 5:9); strive for peace with everyone (Hebrews 12:14)

Idea(s) for Application: Consider reading this book or singing along with it as a part of a lesson on the beatitudes in the Gospel of Matthew or as part of a lesson on issues of peace, conflict, and reconciliation. 

PBT Redux #15 Shooting at the Stars

Picture Book: Shooting at the Stars:                                                                   The Christmas Truce of 1914

Author & Illustrator: John Hendrix

Summary: A letter to his mother from Charlie, a fictional British WWI soldier, serves as the framework for this tale about one of many WWI Christmas Eve truces in 1914. 

In this case, the temporary cease fire begins with Christmas carols heard from the German trenches. 

Then small Christmas trees appear. Next a can of jam is thrown from the British trench. A British and a German officer meet in the middle of the battleground, shake hands, and signal their soldiers to come forward. 

Soldiers from both sides introduce themselves in “no man’s land.” Together they bury their dead. 

Then trading tokens to substitute for Christmas gifts begins. Photographs are taken. 

One is in the back of the book. 

After several hours, a furious British major arrives and orders them to separate and begin shooting. 

Charlie suspects they will aim high, shooting at the stars, at least for a while. 

Hanna's Comments: This is such an important story! It will intrigue your audience and inspire loads of comments. Insist that they connect this story to the Advent of today or your lesson won't be transformative. A glossary, bibliography, and index are in the back too. They explain that such truces didn't happen the other years of WWI. Thematically, this story and its supplemental material emphasize the contrast between the suffering soldiers stuck in the trenches who long for peace 

and the outside political and military forces that keep them there for 4 long years. It is a hard story to hear but an important one. Non-Christians should be comfortable using this book since Christian doctrine is not mentioned. 

Publisher & Date of Publication: Harry N. Abrams, 2014

Age & Grade Appropriateness: 8 and up, 3^rd and up

Formats other than Book: Tablet

Scripture Connections: When the ways of people please the Lord, he causes even their enemies to be at peace with them (Proverbs 16:7); blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God (Matthew 5:9); if possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all (Romans 12:18); let him seek peace and pursue it (1 Peter 3:11)

Idea(s) for Application: This would be a great book to read to an audience of elementary age and up during the week before Christmas. Emphasize the theme of peace and how it requires risk and trust. Consider today's battles, military and otherwise, to make this book particularly meaningful. Peace isn't easy still, but it's worth meaningful conversation, because hope for peace is what Advent is all about. 

PBT Techniques #4: Using the Whole Story

Picture Book: Beyond the Pond

Author & Illustrator: Joseph Kuefler

Summary: Ernest D. is bored and curious about the pond in his ordinary yard.

After realizing the pond is very deep or perhaps bottomless,

Ernest D. proclaims, “Oh, how exceptional!” a phrase he repeats for obvious reasons as the story unfolds exceptionally.

Ernest D. and his dog dive in. The dive begins with expected discoveries; then some surprises are within the darkest depths.  

Eventually, they see another shore – “the other side.” 

This fantastical place is “so tiny” 

and “so tall” and “every shape in between.” 

But it’s also “ghoulish and ghastly.”

And Ernest D. battles 

until “the moment between moonset and sunrise.”

Amazed that so much was hiding in an ordinary pond, Ernest D. and dog dive in again, through the dark,

back to his ordinary home which now doesn’t seem quite so small or ordinary.

Ernest D. now sees many extraordinary and exceptional places to explore at home. 

Hanna’s Comments: If you like Sendak’s Where the Wild Things Are, you’ll love this book! I see big themes of exploration, mystery, wonder, companionship, and of course praise for such an "exceptional" world - all theological ideas. 

Here’s the PBT Technique: Usually when I think about scripture connections to a featured book, I search for distinct Bible stories or a few inspirational verses. This is a traditional way to create content for spiritual experiences. Now and then a book’s story connects with the arc of a Bible character’s story, which is a different kind of connection, usually involving the character's personal attributes and life themes rather than plot details. This technique requires a little more study and a "big picture" orientation to scripture. 

Beyond the Pond connects generally with a large portion of Jacob's story in Genesis, particularly when he leaves home as a young man and returns many years later. If you don’t see those connections, let me know via a comment and I’ll gladly reply with more specifics for all to see. My Life Application Bible has a great profile of Jacob. You’ll easily find other summaries of Jacob’s life on-line.

Here are links to the other 3 posts in the PBT Techniques series. Let's call them secret treasures!

Sources for Inspiration: 9/19/16 

Choosing Portions: 10/17/16

Storytelling: 12/16/16 

Original Publisher & Date: Balzer & Bray, 2015

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

Formats other than Book: None at present

Scripture Connections: Jacob’s journey to and from home (Genesis 27-33)

Idea(s) for Application: Connect the broad story of Jacob in Genesis after reading this book to a group of children, emphasizing the draw of mystery, the desire to explore, the constant presence of God (the dog companion), and the cycle of leaving and then returning. Additionally, you’ll find 3 quote graphics on Amazon that you might want to use in a lesson. These are simply posters with a sample of the art and a quote from the book that you can print or show on a screen.

It is Not Good to Be Alone

Picture Book: Mouse Island

Author: Eve Bunting

Illustrator: Dominic Catalano 

Summary: Mouse lives alone on an island with a lighthouse that has been electrified so human operators are no longer needed. 

He is safe and comfortable, but he feels that something is missing in his life. He interacts with animals that come and go, but he is lonely. 

When Mouse sees a ship sink, he jumps into the water to help save the passengers. The humans on the ship are able to get into a lifeboat, but Cat is left in the water. 

Mouse drags Cat to shore. Once revived, Cat explains to Mouse that cats eat mice.

Mouse is stunned, but Cat reassures him that Cat will never eat Mouse. Instead, Cat wants to hear about his new home.

They begin teaching each other about their lives. Cat promises to teach Mouse to play beach volleyball. The book ends with Mouse contemplating how strange it is to find what you didn’t realize you needed.

Hanna’s Comments: Be sure to show the illustration on the title page before reading. 

It gives some perspective, showing the island and Cat before the shipwreck. The central message of this book is subtle so you may need to help your audience find meaning. Mouse needs loving companionship. Then a companion is provided by unusual circumstances. God does that sometime. Genesis 2 says we are not meant to be alone. Even though Cat is an enemy according to the world, Mouse sees Cat as a creature to save, befriend, and share the island, despite their differences. The lighthouse can be viewed as God’s light or Jesus. Lastly, you might want to discuss with your children how sometimes heroes are quite small.

Original Publisher & Date: Boyds Mills Press, 2008

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

Formats other than Book: None at present

Scripture Connections: It is not good for the man to be alone (Genesis 2:18); love your enemies (Luke 6:27); all things work together for good (Romans 8:28)

Idea(s) for Application: Consider reading this story as part of a lesson for children about the importance of close relationships, the concept of enemies and how to treat them, or God’s wise provision. 

PBT Question # 2 to ask about any secular picture book:

Is there a sacred theme to the book? (Fruits of the Spirit, Light, Bread, Ritual, Creation, Righteousness, Ancestors, Justice, the Least…)

This is the easiest of the PBT questions to consider when approaching a picture book. Often the major and minor themes of picture books are concepts of social-emotional learning that are also considered aspects of an abundant spiritual or religious life. On this blog, I consider topics that directly connect with themes found in the Old Testament (Hebrew) Scriptures and New Testament Scriptures.

On each post of the Picture Book a Day for a Year list, you’ll see a section in the middle that lists many more PBT Topics than the blog site would allow me to offer for search labels. The blogsite’s search labels are the green words at the bottom of this screen. Click on a word there, and you’ll be taken to all the books I’ve connected to that word.

To demonstrate the abundance of themes that can be found in those lists, here are 6 biblical themes and 6 featured PBT books that connect to those themes (1 each for the first 6 letters of the alphabet):

Biblical Theme     PBT Book Title              Day             Date Featured

Adoption             Miss Maple’s Seeds         38                  5/27/14

Brokenness         Koko’s Kitten                   60                  6/18/14

Change                Fortunately                     135                 9/1/14   

Discovery           The Listening Walk        227                12/2/14

Enemies              Enemy Pie                       118                 8/15/14

Friendship         Bear and Bird                 199                11/4/14

Here’s a favorite illustration from Miss Maple’s Seeds (Day 38 on May 27, 2014) and Bear and Bird (Day 199 on November 4, 2014):

Have fun exploring with this large list of PBT search labels and enjoy the abundance of PBT books that are offered here for your good work and rich conversations. In a few days, I’ll discuss PBT Question # 3.

May your exploring yield many godly possibilities, Hanna