A Heroic Hummingbird

Picture Book: The Little Hummingbird

Author/ Illustrator: Michael Nicoll Yahgulanaas

Summary: Based on an indigenous story, this book begins with a group of forest animals. When “the great fire” starts, animals huddle at the edge of a forest. 

They wonder what they can do, but they are afraid and feel helpless. As the forest burns, Little Hummingbird flies between the stream and the forest, carrying one drop of water per trip and dropping it onto the ferocious blaze. 

The other animals watch in amazement and offer excuses. Eventually, Big Bird asks Little Hummingbird, what she is doing. She responds, “I’m doing everything I can.”   

Hanna’s Comments: This very short book offers a straightforward message and lots to explore! Primarily there is the message of taking responsibility for what is happening in your world by doing the best you can. How do you talk to children and adults about taking responsibility? By helping them identify and emulate the heroes in pop culture and the more elusive heroes in their midst. Then find connections between ALL those heroes and your audience. Next make connections to heroes in Bible stories. Below I list a few standouts in categories I call traditional and nontraditional biblical heroes. Nontraditional biblical heroes, like the Little Hummingbird, are doing small acts, often over a long period of time. Sometimes these nontraditional are noticed and honored, but often they are not. Look at the biblical stories of the unnamed, the less dramatic acts, the people on the margins that Jesus so clearly saw. My favorite Bible hero is the woman who touches Jesus' hem. She is quiet in her courage, but nevertheless her courage is very big. Already shunned, she risks even more by entering the crowd and touching the man of the moment. She was seen and healed by Jesus because of her faith, but the healing would have never happened had she not been courageous!  

Notice that the Little Hummingbird is a female. This is a great chance for your females to hear a female hero story in this book and in scripture. Don't use the word "heroine." It implies a weaker, softer sort of hero. The word hero is big enough for all genders!

 

There are 2 enlightening Afterwards in this book. The first is by the author who explores the amazing abilities of hummingbirds. He says they often represent beauty, agility, and hope in traditional stories throughout the Western hemisphere. The 2nd Afterward is by Nobel Laureate Wangari Maathai, who taught southern Africa and later the world, that planting one tree at a time until you’ve planted millions can make a huge difference in land damaged by chronic abuse! I have 2 books about her posted at PBT. Click HERE   

and HERE TOO! There are many picture books about this great hero!

Original Publisher: Greystone Books, 2010

Age Appropriateness: 5 and up

Formats other than Book: Tablet

Scripture Connections: Any scripture about heroes in the traditional sense (David in the Goliath story - 1 Samuel 17) and nontraditional heroes who made a difference with small gestures (the woman who touched Jesus' hem - Luke 8:43-48 & the boy who shared his food - John: 6:5-14) and heroes with long term commitment (Ruth's entire story & Priscilla and Aquilla - in Romans 16:3 Paul calls them his co-workers in the ministry of Christ Jesus who “risked their necks”).   

PBT Applications: Read this book to a group of tweens or teens who you hope will become passionate about a social justice issue. Make connections to other heroes as described above. You may choose to tell this story as a parable. Then have each choose an animal and offer a plausible excuse or whine of resignation. Make connections to people who give excuses and don’t act. Tell stories of local heroes and heroes in your church family. Allow this story to motivate them to make specific plans to act responsibly and "do all they can" regarding the issue. Compel but also inspire! 

Gathering Places

Picture Book: Out of the Woods: A True Story of an                                                    Unforgettable Event

Author & Illustrator: Rebecca Bond

Summary: The author's grandfather, Antonio Willie Giroux, loved to tell this amazing story:

In 1914 when he was almost 5, Antonio lived in a lodge near the edge of Lake Gowganda in Ontario. 

He lived with his mother who ran a 3-story hotel, a primitive lodge. 

Antonio often interacted with the lodgers. They included lumber jacks, those who worked at the lodge, trappers, sportsmen, and travelers. 

Antonio especially loved the gathering places. On the first floor was the large dining room. Antonio's room was in a little alcove.  

The second floor consisted of bunks where the travelers and sportsmen would stay briefly. He was fascinated by their equipment. 

The third floor was Antonio's favorite. This was another open space that housed the trappers, lumberjacks, and silver miners who stayed for months at a time. They played cards, told stories, and made music. 

Antonio liked to wander in the woods too, but the animals were well-hidden, too many trappers around. 

One day in the midst of a very dry summer, someone on the third floor spotted smoke. 

Quickly, all were warned of the very real danger and headed for the only place where they might be safe 

Lake Gowganda. All the people stood in knee deep water hoping the fire would turn.

It was another sort of gathering place where everyone waited and hoped to be spared while they stared at the flames. 

Remarkably, they were soon joined by the forest animals that had steered clear from them before. 

The threat of fire was bringing all sorts together. Another kind of fear, a common fear was taking over.

Enemies were side by side! Trappers stood with deer and moose. Foxes were beside rabbits. 

They were close enough to touch. The sky was black, the air was gray, and the living inhabitants of Gowganda were determined to survive beside one another through the fire.  

When it was safe to leave the lake, the animals of all kinds did just that. 

The lodge had been spared. The humans went back to their usual routines and Antonio too. 

He lived at the Lodge for several more years and never forgot the fire that created such an unusual gathering place at Gowganda Lake. This story of distances disappearing between humans and animals was his favorite story to tell his grandchildren. 

Hanna’s Comments: Right now many people are struggling with wild fires in Canada and here in the US. Australians had similar challenges during their last summer so this is a picture book that is evocative and relatable to many. People all over the world have stories of gathering places during disasters. Such events tend to bring out the best of humanity and apparently non-humans too. Connecting this powerful story to biblical images of diversity brought together in community would offer meaningful conversations about how fear and empathy change us and connect us. In the back of the book, you'll find an Author's Note and a photo of Antonio made about the time of this story. 

Original Publisher & Date: Farrar Straus Giroux, 2015

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

Formats other than Book: Digital

Scripture Connections: The Lord is good to all; the Lord’s mercy is over all that God has made (Psalm 145:9); Peaceable Kingdom (Isaiah 65:25); All flesh shall see the salvation of God. (Luke 3:6)
Idea(s) for Application: People of all ages would find this story enjoyable and compelling. Encourage them to connect this story to images from the scriptures like Peaceable Kingdom, Holy Communion, and Pentecost to name a few.