Hope for the Future via a Media Star

 

Picture Book: The World Needs Who You Were Made to Be

Author: Joanna Gaines

Illustrator: Julianna Swaney

Summary: In this beautiful book, life is explored as a metaphor, a hot balloon festival. A dozen or so children prepare to design, build, and launch their distinctive balloons into the great unknown of their future. First, Gaines emphasizes how the children do work differently. I especially like her point that some are teachers and all are learners. As the various balloons are launched into a crowded sky, Gaines points out it is their differences that make the sky (life) beautiful and interesting! The focus changes to what all the balloonists should do. She urges kindness, compassion, and courage, just to name a few. She urges each child to not hold back nor forget each is unique, needed, and gifted.

Hanna’s Comments: Like many of you, I met Joanna Gaines via the Fixer Upper TV show. Since then, she and her husband have built the influential Magnolia media empire. This book is a nice addition to her work. There are many connections to scripture since it is about the great hopes and possibilities of one person and a group of individuals. This would be a great book for a Sunday school teacher to read on the last day of teaching a group of children. Use it as a sort of exhortation and prayer that they each have agency in a better future for themselves and for the whole world. Call it their work for God's Kingdom/Kindom or the Reign of God, whichever language you prefer. Point out that it is this work that Jesus talked about most. For an OT reference, point out that it was for being this kind of blessing to the world that Abraham & Sarah were launched into their unknowns.

Original Publisher & Date: Thomas Nelson, 2020

Age Appropriateness: preschool and up

Scripture Connections: any scripture about being uniquely blessed for contribution (the boy who shared loaves & fishes, the Body of Christ) or trial (OT Joseph), being part of a beloved community (descriptions of the early church), and being oriented to love, commitment, and compassion (Jesus’ orientation)

PBT Applications: Read this book to a group of tweens who are about to start middle school. Connect it to Biblical heroes who face the unknown and are afraid and uncertain such as Ruth & Naomi, Jacob, and those walking to Emmaus.

PBT Series: For Our Youngest Children #3 Emma Dodd's "Love You" books

Picture Book Series: “Love You”

Author & Illustrator: Emma Dodd

Age Appropriateness: infant to age 5

Over the past few years, I’ve discovered a fabulous picture book series by an author/illustrator. The illustrations are beautiful in their simplicity and charm. The central focus in every book is the rich and profound love between a parent and child. At PBT, I hope you're learning to understand this: Parental love is particularly meaningful to children so it is the best comprehension connection to God’s love for us. Most children learn about loving ways from parents. These books present the daily treasures of such love by showing how God’s love for us is embodied, shared, and treasured. 

Before I give applications for ministry, let me emphasize that ALL these books would be wonderful gifts for a newborn or adopted child. The PBT bonus is parents & grandparents can simply read the book and then at the end of the reading say something like:

“God’s love is like that too.”   OR

“God loves you as much as I do.”    OR    

"All our love comes from God."        OR

“God gave us  all this love!”

The first 2 books I would not recommend for ministry, but they can be presented as explained above with a simple comment to a child in your family. One is for bedtime, so ministry applications don’t work. The 2^nd is all about intimate cuddling, which is not applicable for ministry.

 Counting Our Blessings 

Everything

All of the books below I have recommended in Trinity Treasures, my scripture-based preschool Sunday school curriculum that features picture books & children’s Bibles. If you are interested in learning about Trinity Treasures, contact me at hannaschock@bellsouth.net. For now, free lessons are emailed if you fill out a monthly feedback form. 

What Matters Most

PBT Applications: This book sees love as most important! Talk about how God is love, is the source of all love, and has given us life for loving God and loving the whole world! 

OR 

Emphasize God’s love as the same for all of God’s children. There are obvious connections to 1 Corinthians 13. Be sure to apply to other kinds of relationships besides parent/child.  

Love: I Love You All the Time

PBT Applications: This book celebrates loving moments in our interactions with nature and between a parent & child. As the creator of everything and everyone, God is the source of all these loving moments. Love is what we are created to do and be. Connect with scriptures showing loving acts of early church members such as those we see in Tabitha/Dorcas. 

Happy: I Love When You’re Happy

PBT Applications: This book celebrates the joy a parent feels when a child is happy. Note the peace at the end of the book. Peace also comes from God’s love. Any scripture about joy or peace will connect. I think of the children surrounding Jesus when he welcomed them! How happy and contented they must have been!

Together: I Love Spending Time Together!

PBT Applications: This book celebrates the loving moments of a day spent together. Emphasize that God wants us to enjoy being together, loving, hospitable, and even kind to those we don't know. Be specific when talking about behaviors. What does love look like? Jesus’ actions and parables are great connections. His disciples (I often call these his “friends”) loved spending time with Jesus! 

Forever

PBT Applications: This book is about empathy, compassion, presence, trust, unconditional love, and resilient love. These are the components of a parent/child relationship that closely relate to God’s love. Jesus’ actions make this clear. His stories of love in action, his passion for the least, lost, and poor, and even hissacrifice offer connections to this book.

The books below have multiple titles! 

Just Like You      OR    When I Grow Up

PBT Applications: This book celebrates change and growing up. Attribute these wonderful changes to God. I’ve connected it to scriptures that call for good works. Such good work is meaningful for young children in their home and classrooms now and later as they anticipate growing, changing, and learning what kind of person to become. Talk about how God’s dreams for us are about growing how we love in ways and in words. Help your children apply these ideas to their specific contexts.

                         

No Matter What      OR    Always: I Love You Always

PBT Applications: This book celebrates unconditional love, the kind of love God has for us. Every scripture that highlights an imperfect hero, demonstrates a mistake, redeems a hurtful act, or exposes a need for change connects here. Those scriptures and this book remind us all that no one is beyond God’s forever, unconditional love.

PBT Favorite Posts #5

Picture Book: Jabari Jumps

Author & Illustrator: Gaia Cornwall
Summary: It's summer and Jabari is a self-confessed "great jumper." After situating his suit and goggles, Jabari is determined to jump off the diving board this year. 

His dad is surprised. 

After swim lessons and a test, Jabari says he isn't afraid.

He watches the jumpers from the sidelines, noticing their techniques, and declares that it "looks easy," but Dad's hand feels awfully good. 

The ladder is a bit daunting,

and the crowd is more ready than he. Jabari urges them to go ahead of him so he can practice his special jump. When Jabari stalls half-way up the ladder, his dad asks if he's ok. Jabari says he just needs a rest. Dad urges him to come on down. Jabari does.

Then Jabari remembers his stretches - very important! 

When Jabari suggests that tomorrow might be a better day, his father confesses that he too is afraid sometimes, explaining that scared feelings sometimes turn into surprise feelings. Jabari loves surprises! That's when Jabari breathes deeply and does some self-talk: "I'm ready." So Jabari takes that deep breath... 

 

climbs the ladder...

walks to the edge... 

and feels ready for the surprise, not so afraid anymore.

Jabari takes another deep breath and jumps. 

 After flying, he hits the water, goes down, down, and down and then... 

and up again!

Everyone celebrates Jabari's courage! 

He's ready to go again, this time with that special jump - "a double backflip!"

Hanna’s Comments: This book offers great connections to our many scriptures about courage. Don’t let the age and cuteness factor of Jabari limit you. Sure this book is great for little ones, but Jabari can be an inspiration to us all. Adults struggle with courage and can relate to jumping off a literal or figurative diving board. The metaphors of faith and our belief in God’s (or Jesus’ presence) are evident in this story. Acts that are our next steps in faith are Jabari's slow journey to the end of the diving board. Jabari's father is an obvious image of God (or Jesus) and a role-model to those wanting to be encouraging parents. Breath is a particularly important aspect of the strategy Jabari’s father gives him to face his fears and be ready for the joys such courage can bring. Remind your audience that breath can signify God (or the Holy Spirit) and holy inspiration. I've been doing more centering prayer lately. Perhaps you do yoga. Breath is an integral aspect to such grounding practices so we can courageously jump with faith into the delights that will follow.

If it's not summertime, you might consider Chicken Chickens by Valeri Gorbachev. It is about twin chicks who enter a chaotic playground for the first time. They are welcomed well and eased into going down the slide. 

Original Publisher & Date: Candlewick Press, 2017

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

Formats other than Book: None at present

Scripture Connections: Be strong and courageous. Don’t be terrified…for the Lord, your God, is with you wherever you go (Deuteronomy 31:6 & Joshua 1:9); Where shall I go from your Spirit? Where shall I flee you’re your presence? (Psalm 139:7); When you pass through the waters, I will be with you (Isaiah 43:2); You will seek me and fine me, when you seek me with all your heart (Jeremiah 29:13); I am with you always (Matthew 28:20); God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. (2 Timothy 1:7)

Idea(s) for Application: Read this book to a group of children who are going to church camp for the first time. Relate this story to their courage when swimming but also to other activities that will be new or require risk. Emphasize the comfort that God’s (or Jesus’) presence offers. For a class on parenting, emphasize the role Jabari’s dad plays in letting him be courageous while tooling him with strategies and confidence.

Breath for Jumping Courage!

Picture Book: Jabari Jumps

Author & Illustrator: Gaia Cornwall

Summary: It's summer and Jabari is a self-confessed "great jumper." After situating his suit and goggles, Jabari is determined to jump off the diving board this year. 

 His dad is surprised. 

After swim lessons and a test, Jabari says he isn't afraid. 

He watches the jumpers from the sidelines, noticing their techniques, and declares that it "looks easy," but Dad's hand feels awfully good. 

The ladder is a bit daunting,

and the crowd is more ready than he. Jabari urges them to go ahead of him so he can practice his special jump. 

When Jabari stalls half-way up the ladder, his dad asks if he's ok. Jabari says he just needs a rest. Dad urges him to come on down. Jabari does.

 Then Jabari remembers his stretches - very important! 

When Jabari suggests that tomorrow might be a better day, his father confesses that he too is afraid sometimes. 

That's when Jabari breathes deeply and does some self-talk: "I'm ready." That scared feeling sometimes turns into a surprise feeling. Jabari loves surprises!  

 So Jabari takes that deep breath... 

climbs the ladder...

walks to the edge... 

and feels ready for the surprise, not so afraid anymore.

Jabari takes another deep breath and jumps. 

 After flying, he hits the water, 

goes down, down, and down and then... 

up again! 

Everyone celebrates Jabari's courage! And he's ready to go again, 

this time with that special jump - "a double backflip!" 

Hanna’s Comments: This book offers great connections to our many scriptures about courage. Don’t let the age and cuteness factor of Jabari limit you. Sure this book is great for little ones, but Jabari can be an inspiration to us all. Adults struggle with courage and can relate to jumping off a literal or figurative diving board. The metaphors of faith and our belief in God’s (or Jesus’ presence) are evident in this story. Acts that are our next steps in faith are Jabari's slow journey to the end of the diving board. Jabari's father is an obvious image of God (or Jesus) and a role-model to anyone wanting to be an encouraging parent. In this story, breath is a particularly important aspect of the strategy Jabari’s father gives him to face his fears and be ready for the joys such courage can bring. Remind your audience that breath can signify God (or the Holy Spirit) and holy inspiration. I've been doing more centering prayer lately. Perhaps you do yoga. Breath is an integral aspect to such grounding practices so we can confidently and courageously jump with faith in the delights that will follow.

If it's not summertime, you might consider Chicken Chickens by Valeri Gorbachev. It is about twin chicks who enter a chaotic playground for the first time. They are welcomed well and eased into going down the slide. 

Original Publisher & Date: Candlewick Press, 2017

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

Formats other than Book: None at present

Scripture Connections: Be strong and courageous. Don’t be terrified…for the Lord, your God, is with you wherever you go (Deuteronomy 31:6 & Joshua 1:9); Where shall I go from your Spirit? Where shall I flee you’re your presence? (Psalm 139:7); When you pass through the waters, I will be with you (Isaiah 43:2); You will seek me and fine me, when you seek me with all your heart (Jeremiah 29:13); I am with you always (Matthew 28:20); God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. (2 Timothy 1:7)

Idea(s) for Application: Read this book to a group of children who are going to church camp for the first time. Relate this story to their courage when swimming but also to other activities that will be new or require risk. Emphasize the comfort that God’s (or Jesus’) presence offers. For a class on parenting, emphasize the role Jabari’s dad plays in letting him be courageous while tooling him with strategies and confidence.