Alexander's Bad Day Buddies

Wise authors are looking back at classic children's literature and realizing their value. Below I have for you 3 recently published books with plots and themes very similar to Judith Viorst's 1972 classic Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day. Don't know Alexander? Here's my PBT post about this classic! 

The healthy messages of these books are particularly important during this global pandemic! Acknowledging our feelings (confusion, anger, grief, sadness...) at home, school, and in religious settings will lead to better mental health for everyone. Here's a PBT post about that. It addresses the social-emotional needs of very young children via a theological statement that can be inserted into a secular book about feelings, BUT many books I feature there work for older children as well.

Also, I want you to know about 2 other books here if you only want to talk about sadness. Perhaps your congregation is grieving a loss or significant change. Click on titles to read posts about these very different PBT books: 

The Blue Day Book for Kids

When Sadness is at Your Door

Now back to Alexander's literary influence... 

Below find some information about how the 3 new books photographed above are different from Viorst's classic. In general, there is less text in all 3 books so they are quicker reads. From the covers, you'll see the diversity they offer. At the bottom, I give a few ideas about how these books tie to scripture and might be used in ministry.

Picture Book: Keep Your Head UP

Author: Aliya King Neil

Illustrator: Charly Palmer

Summary: This beautiful book is quite similar to Alexander, but it has the wisdom of some modern psychology. D. is a little older, a tween or young teen. D. reminds himself that "Any day can be good if you try." And he does try, but the frustrations of home and school pile on him. When D. has a "meltdown," he is sent to the principal's office, where he is greeted by Miss King, who has been helping him. Her role is unclear, likely a school counselor or school psychologist. D.'s family is also helpful. They set reasonable limits, talk openly about his feelings, and encourage him to "Keep his head up." When he doesn't want to, D. knows he can at least try.

Hanna’s Comments: In addition to the very real details and modern school setting, loving home, and non-white characters, what I like most about this book is the way D. is perceptive about his feelings and specific about their effects. He says he feels scrunchy and describes his face changes (scrunchy eyebrows). He even describes a meltdown! (see image above) There is some great information for discussion here! Do tell your audience that we can't always be expected to keep trying to feel better. Sometime we have to accept our feelings while maintaining control of our behavior. Offering ideas of "loving our neighbors" is important to add here.

Original Publisher: Simon & Schuster, 2021

Age Appropriateness: 5 and up

Formats other than Book: Tablet

 

Picture Book: Benji, the Bad Day, and Me

Author: Sally J. Pla

Illustrator: Ken Min

Summary: Here the most significant and welcome difference from Viorst's classic is that the main character is an older brother to a child on the autism spectrum. This difference offers opportunities to talk about the importance of empathy, prioritizing people's needs, and concepts of fairness & justice. Although the older brother's  day has gone terribly, his mother is very focused on her younger child's significant needs. It is the younger brother who finally offers comfort to the main character. Then mom, who no doubt needs comfort too,  joins in, and the story ends beautifully.

Hanna’s Comments: It is the younger brother who is named Benji. This is confusing. Benji is a pivotal but mostly peripheral character. The older brother, who is telling the story, is Samuel. I suggest giving their names when showing the cover before reading. Whenever I find myself occupied with trying to figure out who is who, I am not able to focus on a story. 

Original Publisher: Lee & Low, 2018

Age Appropriateness: 5 and up

Formats other than Book: None at present 

Picture Book: Kevin the Unicorn: It’s Not All Rainbows

Author/Illustrator: Jessica von Innerebner

Summary: Alexander and Kevin's worlds are about as different as they can be! Kevin is expected to be perfect and everyday is expected to be sparkly - "filled with MAGICAL AWESOMENESS!" But Kevin, like Alexander, D. and Samuel, is having a bad day. Although he tries to be joyful, the constant barrage of positive messages in Kevin's world only confuse him. Eventually, he can no longer hide his feelings. His declaration invites others to be more honest about the bad day they are having. Kevin is not alone in his feelings. Such connections are crucial to humans and even unicorns, I suspect!

Hanna’s Comments: I must admit, this cover and title turned me off. But then I read the story! What wisdom there is between the lines of this silly and saccharine book! As an Enneagram 7, it is a story I needed. You have children who need to hear that it is acceptable and inevitable to be imperfect and upset, and to have a bad day. This book is full of funny word play. Read it with drama and silliness. But before reading, invite your audience to notice minor characters and consider how their days are going. Turn pages slowly so they can comprehend detail. 

Given the color palate, I hope you won't assume this is a book for girls only. The main character is named Keven, after all. At present, there is another book about Kevin the Unicorn: Why Can’t We Be Bestie-Corns?

Original Publisher: Dial Books, 2019

Age Appropriateness: 4 and up

Formats other than Book: Tablet

Scripture Connections for these 3 books: Any scripture that involves Lamentation or Complaint to God connects to these books.

OR Bible stories about characters that are suffering, such as Job, can be particularly powerful. Try not to get into why bad things happen. 

OR Get into the details of The Great Commandment. What does it means to love yourself AND love your neighbor when you are having a Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day?

PBT Applications: Read any of these books to dive into what lament looks like. Legitimize it as an important kind of prayer. Talk about how there is a whole book in the Bible named Lamentations and how many of the Psalms include  complaints to God. More importantly, emphasize that God and those who love us most, want to know our real feelings. They can handle our negative feelings and can likely help us understand or move through them better. Sometimes just saying, "I am having a bad day!" is enough to help us feel better!

The Picture Book Legacy of Archbishop Tutu

I waited a few days after Archbishop Tutu's death to offer this post because I saw there was a children's book by Bishop Tutu that I did not know. When it came in yesterday, I realized I had been tricked. I had hoped for new stories! The book photographed above is simply some (18) of the New Testament stories in the fabulous Bible below. 

The words and images are the same, though they are slightly bigger in the book above. The Bible below is out of print! Get your hands on a copy if you can! 

Below you'll also find links to other PBT posts about Archbishop Tutu books! And check out the ABC book by Tutu at the end of this post. 

I don't usually post about children's Bibles, but this one (and its author of course!) are exceptional. I highly recommend this Bible for its diversity of images and the pure godly love within its pages. I'm sorry there will not be another from this great man of God. 

I recently heard again the interview Krista Tippett did with Archbishop Tutu in 2010. Her On Being radio show/podcast played that wonderful conversation again. Here is the link if you don't have the On Being app. My favorite quote from that interview is when he said this about African missionaries: If these white people had intended keeping us under, they shouldn't have given us the Bible.   

Picture Book Bible: Children of God Storybook Bible

Author: Archbishop Desmond Tutu

Illustrators: There are photos in the back of the 20 illustrators whose works grace these stories. The first page has these words from Tutu: In the spirt of celebrating children all over the world, the artists in this book have been invited to draw on their own unique and rich cultural heritage in illustrating these biblical stories. Their art is truly a marvelous reflection of how we are all made in God's image. 

Summary: You'll find 24 Old Testament stories & 32 New Testament stories. Images are diverse in style, as you would expect from so many renown illustrators, but there is also diversity in human figures, including many children in unexpected places. This Bible's promo says that it is truly a global Bible. 

Hanna’s Comments: Both this book and the book above begin with a letter from Archbishop Tutu in which his joyful love for all children shines. It begins: Dear Child of God, Do you know that God loves you?

Besides the beauty and diversity of these pages, I like it because it is not too much text. Often that is the case for children's Bibles. This book can be easily read aloud to a group (it's not too heavy) and snuggled with at bedtime. 

Encourage your children to talk about the images. On familiar stories, you might ask them how the images are different from what they had imagined before seeing this book. If it's a first reading, be sure to read the letter.  

Original Publisher: Zonderkidz, 2010

Age Appropriateness: Preschool and up

Formats other than Book: When I bought the book a decade ago, there was a sticker that said free downloads were available. The website mentioned on the sticker no longer exists. Amazon does have Audible and CD versions. 

Scripture Connections: A few surprising stories are here, surprising because they are not usually included in Bibles of this length. You can read about Naboth's Vineyard from 1 Kings 21 and A Woman's Love for Jesus from John 12.  

3 PBT posts about more picture books from Tutu:

Desmond and the Very Mean Word

God's Dream

Let There Be Light  This book about creation is featured with several others.

Here's another book by Archbishop Tutu! It is an ABC book, another category of books that I don't usually post about here at PBT. 

Picture Book: My Siblings & I: Easy as ABS's

Author: Archbishop Desmond Tutu

Illustrator: Widya Arumba R. L. 

Summary: This ABC book has such positive words for children to learn! When I look at an ABC  book, I'll often look to the back to see what the author did with X,Y, & Z. For this book, X is for Xenial. Archbishop Tutu has taught me a new word! It means hospitable. 

Hanna’s Comments: This is a secular book. God is not mentioned. If I read this book to preschoolers at church or in a church-based school, I would encourage them to wonder what God or Jesus would think of the words and images. Love is repeatedly captured here so there would be a lot to consider!

Original Publisher: Akwaaba Publishing, 2021

Age Appropriateness: Toddler and up

Sadness as a Companion

Today is Good Friday, the day we remember the crucifixion of Jesus. I've never understood why we call it good. It seems like a very sad day to me. This newly published book could be used throughout the year in your ministry or at your home or school, particularly when a sad event occurs and affects many. In American culture, we run from sadness. Today I want to feature this intriguing book that teaches us to acknowledge and befriend sadness. We might even need to invite sadness to stay for a while.

Picture Book: When Sadness is at Your Door
Authors  & Illustrator: Eva Eland
Summary: Striking illustrations of sadness personified are found immediately in the inside covers to begin and end Eland's book.

Sadness enters a child's home unexpectedly. At first the child is unsure and puzzled.

Sadness follows and seems to need comfort in a way that is uncomfortable and even scary.

Hiding it doesn't work,

because in some sense you've become sadness yourself.

Perhaps it is best to face it, name it, and listen. Ask it what it needs. It's okay if you don't understand or can't help it just now.

You might have to simply be a companion 

or sadness might just need time and beauty

and welcoming attention.

Someday it will be gone and you will have a new day.

Hanna’s Comments: During my 2 year Academy for Spiritual Formation, a book was assigned in which personification of personal issues - everything from emotions to addictions - was explained as a powerful tool for spiritual growth and healing. The question, "What does it need?" was crucial. Elizabeth Gilbert, author of Eat, Pray, Love speaks of such personification in a delightful TED talk and writes about it in her book on creativity Big Magic. I have experienced such healing myself. Social science has long said that emotional literacy is crucial for emotional development. Our places of worship and families of faith are important environments for this kind of learning and healing to occur, but they must be safe, trustworthy places. 
When might this book be appropriate? 

When a much-loved member or teacher dies

When a national tragedy occurs as in Paris this week

When a pastor struggles with clinical depression or terminal illness

When many in your church are near the end of their lives

When a global church makes a decision that shuts-out many

When much has been lost across a congregation as in a major change or disaster

When your client or spiritual directee is stuck and needing a creative invitation

When Good Friday is not really so good

Demystifying sadness can be a gift to your children and all members of your classroom or congregation if handled delicately and respectfully, with no judgement or impatience. Don't view this as a way to get over sadness but as a way to companion it and be mindful of it. Find personal connections in the loss, fear, and confusion. Offer hints of hope. For this book, I would simply read it and then listen. Some gentle questions and art supplies might be good to have handy too.

Original Publisher & Date: Random House, 2019

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

Formats other than Book: Tablet

Scripture Connections: There are many Bible stories that have elements of sadness besides those we hear in anticipation of Good Friday. Consider the sadness that must have been felt by Ruth, the friends of Tabitha/Dorcas, David at the death of Jonathan, and Martha, Mary, and Jesus upon Lazarus' death. Sparingly use scriptures about hope such as I am making all things new (Revelation 21:5) since this is a book about sadness being acknowledged and respected in the present.

Idea(s) for Application: Besides the ideas mentioned above, read this book to a group of children when learning about God's presence when we are sad. 

Are All Welcome at Your Church?

Don’t read either of these 3 books to your faith family unless you are prepared to talk honestly about whether your faith community, without judgement and with fears in check, is willing to welcome anyone and everyone.

Picture Book: A Church for All

Author: Gayle E. Pitman

Illustrator: Laure Fournier

Summary: In simple rhyming verse, an inclusive worshiping community is celebrated. This book starts with a panoply of people anticipating a gathering at their church, a church for all. There they find joyful noises, laughing voices, weak and healthy, plain and dressy. All are embracing and "The Spirit is gracing," even the wailers and the wigglers. This church is full of "hearts believing" and "hearts accepting." 

Hanna’s Comments: Inspired by a visit to Glide Memorial Church in San Francisco, this picture book is a challenge! Visually it is full of diversity, a loving and active sort of diversity. People who are young, old, gay, straight, physically able and not. Those who have differences are not just included; they are the heart of this godly community of Christ. The sanctuary of the church is shown with posters of progressive messages all over the walls. This is not your grandparent's church!

Original Publisher & Date: Whitman & Co. 2018

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

Formats other than Book: Tablet

Scripture Connections: Any scripture in which Jesus crosses societal boundaries such as conversations, meals, and the healing of women, tax collectors, and gentiles.

Idea(s) for Application: Read this book to a group of preschoolers and older. Encourage them to consider this vision of church and how your church is similar or different.

Picture Book: All Are Welcome

Author: Alexandra Penfold

Illustrator: Suzanne Kaufman

Summary: This delightful story is about a diverse classroom (not a church classroom) where everyone is welcomed and encouraged to grow. More importantly, it is a place where fears are lost and hope is found. Music, art, and stories are explored and celebrated together. No one is left out. Even bread is served in all its cultural diversity. The text emphasizes that strength is found through diversity so that these children learn from each other and enjoy time together.

Hanna’s Comments: Despite this secular setting, there are many parallels to church, particularly in the text. When we enter a church, what we want are our fears lost and hopes found. We want to sing together and tell some stories – Bible stories and personal stories. Two fun bonuses: The center is a big fold out page that captures the glory of diversity. If purchased new, inside the book jacket you'll find a poster!

Original Publisher & Date: Knopf, 2018

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

Formats other than Book: Tablet

Scripture Connections: Do not judge (Matthew 7:1-5); The Body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:27 & Ephesians 4:16); Show no partiality (James 2: 1)

Idea(s) for Application: Read this book to a group of elementary-aged children and talk about how your church compares with this classroom and neighborhood.

2022 Update: This author-illustrator duo have 2 more books. More may follow. All 3 have the big foldout at the center of their stories and a poster inside if purchased new. All involve the same young characters. 

Big Feelings is about how these children manage responses when things don't go as planned while they renovate a deserted plot in their community. Talking things through, apologizing, and adapting plans are 3 of the many social-emotional skills recommended. So many of these skills are biblical! Feelings are identified throughout the pages. This is such an important skill to teach children! Exploring feelings in church allows you to remind all that God loves and accepts every feeling.

In All Are Neighbors, a newbie to the neighborhood is welcomed. The concept of "community" is explored while the children show their new friend her new neighbors and neighborhood. A repeated sentence is: We all are neighbors here. There is a surprising number of scriptures that encourage the spiritual practice of hospitality! Be sure to have your audience reflect on how hospitable their communities are and your shared faith community.

Picture Book: Everybody’s Welcome

Author: Patricia Hegarty

Illustrator: Greg Abbott

Summary: This story begins with one little mouse who is determined to have a “great big happy house.” The mouse encounters a series of animals in distress and invites them to help build a home they will live in together. Some animals have had homes destroyed. Some have been chased from their homes. One bear just doesn’t fit in anywhere. He scares others because of his great size. A snail arrives very late but is welcomed just the same. All need healing and want a home that is secure. I couldn’t help but think of parallel human stories of folks walking into the doors of a worshiping community. Some of these characters' troubles are directly linked to scripture. Think Jesus healing the woman with the issue of blood (does she have a home or community?) or the man who is mentally ill and living among the tombs. The snail is like the workers in the vineyard who arrive late but are still generously rewarded. Lots of connections here!

Hanna’s Comments: Here you have a metaphor for church or any community where Christ is the center. My favorite aspect of this story is that news of these animals’ work and manner spreads and more animals come to be healed and included. This is what’s happening at my church. Every Sunday I see new faces who have been hurt by the church. They enter with trepidation but are eager for acceptance and longing for love meaning. It feels so good to greet them and tell them they are welcome.

Original Publisher & Date: Little Tiger Press, 2017

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

Formats other than Book: None at present

Scripture Connections: Jesus heals the woman with the issue of blood (Matthew 9:20-22); Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard (Matthew 20:1-16); Jesus heals the man who lives among the tombs (Mark 5:1-20)

Idea(s) for Application: Read this book to a group of children and help them imagine people who are like these animals, longing for a new church home. Then talk about what it looks like when a church community is a place of healing, safety, and stories.

PBT Series: Picture Book Classics #3

Below I'm featuring again a favorite discovery during my first year of PBT. Because that year I posted about a book everyday, you don't get as many photos of illustrations, but all the usual content is here. This is a beautiful classic that I encourage you to read for yourself if you don't know it. It's central message is needed more than ever across ages and in sacred and secular communities.  

Picture Book: The Happy Owls

Author & Illustrator: Celestino Piatti  

Summary: A pair of owls lives happily all year long. Their neighbors, barnyard fowl, are constantly eating, drinking, and fighting. The preening peacock wants to know why the owls seem to always be content. The other birds suggest that he visit them and ask. When the peacock asks about their happiness, the owls suggest he bring all his feathered friends to hear how they can be so content. Once all the birds are together, the owls explain and demonstrate their attentiveness and joy at seasonal details of nature. These practices of attention and gratitude lead to their happiness. The owls find joy and revel in the beauty of each season. What is the response of the barnyard animals? “What nonsense!’ and “Do you call that happiness?”  Then they return to their farmyard life, unpersuaded and unchanged. In contrast, the two owls snuggle in for winter, looking into one another’s wise owl eyes.

Hanna’s Comments: My library system has only one copy of this book, a 1964 publication. However, this classic has been reissued and can be easily purchased on-line. The price varies a lot so you may want to watch it for a while. I did not know of this classic which was initially published in Switzerland. When I saw the video in the collection mentioned below, I knew it must be one of my PBT daily offerings. What a treasure! What a beautiful message of contentment as a result of attention and gratitude, what we would call “mindfulness” today. If you like old books and styles of art, then you’ll especially like this picture book. Find a blog post about it on The Art of Children's Picture Books, which I've added to My Blog List to the right.

Publisher & Date of Publication: Artemis Verlag, 1963

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

Formats other than Book: Audible, A video version is in the collection Corduroy & More Stories about Caring

Scripture Connections: This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be thankful (Psalm 118:24); let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken and let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe (Hebrews 12:28)

Idea(s) for Application: Reverence is a difficult but important concept to teach children in a worshiping community. Use this book to help your children understand the benefits of being mindful of God’s generosity and reverent when worshiping.

Grab & Go #14 – Have You Filled a Bucket Today?

A PBT Grab & Go book requires little planning because its content aligns obviously with theological ideas from The Bible. Bucket Filling is all about love. There are numerous resources, including other picture books, about the concept of bucket filling as a metaphor for the importance of loving attention. I've scattered a few covers of some of those resources in this repeated post from 2014. 

Picture Book: Have You Filled a Bucket Today?                                                     A Guide to Daily Happiness for Kids

Author: Carol McCloud

Illustrator: David Messing

Summary: Based on the adult book How Full is Your Bucket? by Tom Rath and Donald O. Clifton, this picture book puts those authors’ ideas in an inviting format for children. The guiding metaphor here is that each of us has been carrying an invisible bucket since birth. The purpose of the bucket is to hold good thoughts and feelings about yourself. You need others to fill your bucket by being loving to you, and they need you to fill their bucket by being loving to them. What’s wonderful is that the act of filling someone else’s bucket fills your bucket as well. You feel good when you help others feel good. However, you might sometimes be a “bucket dipper.” Bucket dipping occurs when you take away someone’s good feelings by saying or doing mean things to them.

Hanna’s Comments:  I chose this "bucket" book because it teaches children how to fill others’ buckets and focuses on how our actions influence others’ well-being. This is an important aspect of any faith community. Another strength of this book is the way in which it teaches empathy, an important skill for personal resilience and functional community. Find an introduction by the author. For more information and resources including free downloads, visit www.bucketfillers101.com.

Publisher & Date of Publication: Ferne Press, 2006

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

Formats other than Book: Tablet, Amateur videos on Youtube.com where there is also a song about being bucket fillers.

Scripture Connections: This is my commandment that you love one another (John 15:12); rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep (Romans 12:15); be kind to one another (Ephesians 4:32); all of you have unity of mind, sympathy, love, a tender heart and a humble mind

Idea(s) for Application: Read this book when doing a lesson for children on your faith community’s loving interdependence and God's call to live in this way.

Psalms for All Ages #2

As in my previous post, today I feature 1 of 3 books from French author Marie-Helene Delval. These books have been beautifully published for English speakers. Today's book offers 40 Psalms, chosen because children will especially relate to the emotions expressed.  

Picture Book: Psalms for Young Children

Author: Marie-Helene Delval

Illustrator: Arno

Summary: The Psalms are listed in order. As in Images of God for Young Children, the text is on the left and the gorgeous illustrations are on the right. Here's Psalm 1: 

When I listen to you, God, 

when I do what you ask me to,

I am like a tree

planted by a river,

a tree full of fruit

with leaves that are always green.

Here's an illustration I love with text from Psalm 8: 

People are so small

next to you, God.

You put the stars and the moon

in the sky, and the birds in the air

above the cows and horses in the fields, 

and the fist that swim in the seas.

You created all the beauty

in the world!

Complex emotions are in these pages. For Psalm 13... 

Sometimes, when I'm very sad,

I worry that you will

forget about me, God.

But then I remember that

you love me always.

So I will sing and be happy!

Direct questions and lamentations are here: For Psalm 28... 

God, can you here me calling out?

Listen to me,

I'm crying for you!

I know that you are not deaf;

I know you can hear me.

Already, in my heart,

I'm saying thank you for listening.

Here's the familiar Psalm 42 that your children will enjoy: 

A thirsty deer looks for water,

for a river to drink from.

I need God that way.

I'm thirsty inside.

God, send me your light,

show me the way to your house,

high on your mountain!

Children often struggle with fear. This version of Psalm 46 will be particularly meaningful: 

If the ground starts to shake,

if the mountains break into pieces

and fall in the ses,

if the waves grow big as giants,

I'm not scared.

God is with me.

God provides a safe place for me to hide.

Here's Delval's version of "Create in me a clean heart" from Psalm 51: 

When I do something wrong,

forgive me, God.

I want to feel like

I've just been washed in clean water.

I want to be like brand-new snow.

I feel so happy when you forgive me!

God's biggness is celebrated in Psalm 95 with praise and joy: 

Let's shout out loud

with joy to God!

Because God is a really big God.

He can hold the world

in his hands,

 the deep caves, 

the mountaintops, 

the blue seas - 

and you and me too!

This powerful image offered for Psalm 125 is a favorite.

When I trust God,

I am strong, like a city

built on top of a big,

talk mountain!

I trust God, because 

he protects me

always.

For my favorite Psalm, # 139:

God, you know me so well,

You always know what I'm thinking

and feeling. You know what I am 

going to say before I say it!

Even in the night, you can see me - 

you know my secrets,

you know my fears.

I praise you for making me

who I am. 

Hanna’s Comments: There are many ways you can use this book a few pages at a time. You could build a whole lesson out of one psalm or a few. These pages should invoke some strong feelings and verbal responses from your children so plan activities for their ideas to be expressed in writing (group or individual) or conversation (whole group or pairs). Having this book handy, offers opportunities to pull it out and read to a child individually when that child is in crisis or for a simple and easy children's sermon. Be sure to talk about the illustrations. You might want to have children imagine or draw other illustrations. If it's age-appropriate, pair these with the more traditional versions of the verses. If you believe the masculine gender of God in these texts limits God, simply use some small sticky notes to change the words as you see fit. Do emphasize that this book is a version of the Bible so that it will be viewed with reverence and approached with an open heart.

Original Publisher & Date: Erdmans, 2008

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

Formats other than Book: None at present

Scripture Connections: Each page notes the psalm that has been paraphrased.

Idea(s) for Application: Read 1-3 psalms from this book to children at home or in a faith family and explore ideas about why someone would write such a psalm to God.