Fruit of the Spirit: Self-Control

Today begins a series of PBT posts featuring books that are about 1 of the 9 Fruits of the Spirit listed in Galatians 5:22-23: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. We need an abundance of these in our world today! 

Picture Book: Katie Loves the Kittens

Author & Illustrator: John Himmelman

Summary: Katie is thrilled when Sara Ann brings home 3 new kittens. 

You can tell because of her happy howl 

which doesn’t go over so well with the kittens. 

Sara Ann strongly suggests that Katie stay away until the kittens get used to Katie’s enthusiasm. 

Katie is very sad. 

But Katie wants to play with those kittens so much! Later she sees Sara Ann playing with the trio. 

She tries to control herself, but... 

chaos ensues and Sara Ann reprimands her again. 

Katie misses the kittens terribly when they sleep in Sara Ann’s room that night.  

She must see them so she goes outside, 

finds the window, and looks in. 

Katie really wants to smell those sweet kittens,  

but they are too far away. Here she goes!

Sara Ann thinks Katie doesn’t like the kittens. 

Katie is very, very sad. 

The next morning, Katie finds 3 bowls of breakfast! Yum! Yum! Yum!

When Sara Ann finds her,  

Katie realizes she has done wrong.

She goes to her bed and stays there all day, very sad. Eventually she falls asleep. When she wakes…

the kittens are snuggled in with Katie! 

She wants to howl. She wants to jump. She wants to chase! But Katie doesn't. Katie has self-control! The kittens love her!

Sara Ann adds to the joy with some praise.

The story ends with more joy and not much self-control from anyone!

Hanna’s Comments: Think this book is just for kids? Imagine reading it to a group of adults and then tiptoeing into issues of self-control regarding screen time, junk food, sports, and other adult obsessions. Explore why these issues are about faith and devotion to God. Consider why God is pleased when we demonstrate self-control. Your children will relate to this book. Adults will find the conversation more meaningful if the subject is handled sensitively. You may want to begin with a confession about one of your own self-control struggles. That will leave the humor of the book behind and steer the conversation to a level of seriousness ripe for vulnerability. 

There's a sequel that has Katie once again struggling with her self-control when a neighbor dog "invades" her home. 

By the way, if you're a student of the Enneagram (big fan here!), Katie is definitely a 7 (so am I)!

Original Publisher & Date: Henry Holt, 2008

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

Formats other than Book: Tablet, video, audiobook

Scripture Connections: In addition to The Fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23, A person with no self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls (Proverbs 25:28); For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control (2 Timothy 1:7); Supplement your faith with virtue, your virtue with knowledge, your knowledge with self-control… (2 Peter 1:5-7)

Idea(s) for Application: Read this book to a group of any age folks in your faith family and consider how self-control relates to our devotion to God. 

Resurrection Turtles

Today I showcase 2 secular books about resurrection. (Well, they’re really about hibernation.) These 2 books are very similar so I’m offering them together. They are delightful but deep. Your audience might never look at turtles the same!

 

Today begins PBT’s 5^th year! Like my work? Consider showing your gratitude with a PayPal donation via the button in the upper right corner and my email hannschock@bellsouth.net. This is a labor of love and a load of work! 

Picture Book: Alfie (The Turtle That Disappeared)

Author & Illustrator: Thyra Heder

Hanna's Comments & Summary: My favorite aspect of this story is how it switches points of view in the middle. At a pet store on her 6th birthday, Nia falls for Alfie. Apparently, Alfie is 6 too so they are perfect for each other.  

Alfie is crazy about Nia but he's not so great at displaying enthusiasm for their relationship. This disappoints Nia who is very focused on Alfie at first. 

She introduces him to her friends. 

 

Decorating, dancing, stories, jokes, and presents are Nia's way of showing her love, but...  

Alfie doesn't do much until Nia's 7th birthday when Alfie's voice tells us how special Nia is

and describes her loving ways. 

She makes him a wonderful home. 

 He's so glad to know he's 6 too! And he loves dancing (inside his shell!). 

Apparently, Alfie laughs and laughs!

When Nia tells Alfie they are soon going to be 7 together, he gets excited! He must get her a gift.

The hidden puzzle piece is too fuzzy. 

Toby strongly suggest going outside where the best presents are.

Getting to the ground via a fire escape is quite a daring adventure that yields no obvious present. 

A fabulous blue cap is found, but it's too small for Nia. 

Discouraged, Alfie decides to rest. A nice pond is recommended by a snail. 

 Alfie naps while the seasons change...

 and change.

When he wakes, he finds the perfect present for Nia's 7th birthday, a turtle key chain. 

 Alfie "rushes" to Nia's party and is "right on time."  

He sees that Nia is surprised he's brought her such a perfect present now that they are 7 together!

This beautiful story is inspired by the author's real pet Alfie and a friend's pet turtle. From the Author's Note: The lucky thing about turtles is their lifespan is long enough for you to fall back in love with them.  

Original Publisher & Date: Abrams, 2017

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

Formats other than Book: Tablet

Scripture Connections: Any scripture about resurrection, renewed relationships, gift giving, or misunderstanding. 

Idea(s) for Application: Read this book to a group of children or adults in a lesson about resurrection or misunderstanding in relationships. 

Picture Book: Turtle Spring

Author & Illustrator: Deborah Turney Zagwyn

Summary & Hanna's Comments: I love this initial illustration which gives you a hint that the there are several layers to this story of seasons and beginnings in particular. There is also a science lesson in these pages about the work and gifts of compost.   

When Clee's baby brother comes, she loves having extended family over but... 

not the attention they give the baby. 

 Fortunately, her uncle brings Clee a present. 

Clee enjoys the turtle and keeps it in a compost heap near the sandbox. The turtle is good company when Clee's father has to go away for work. 

When the cold comes, Clee's mother suggests she bring the turtle inside, but Clee resists. The house if full of baby brother! Then Clee forgets. 

A feeling of forgetting brings Clee outside where she remembers her turtle and feels so guilty that she didn't bring it inside. She finds the turtle shell and is heartbroken.   

Clee confesses to her mother and tells how she buried the turtle in a deep hole in the compost heap. 

Winter has Clee and mother missing their loved ones. The house "grew a shell of snow" with only the baby happy and lively. 

Clee's relationship with her brother transforms. You might say it comes alive!

As they play, Clee avoids the place of the turtle's burial. 

Spring comes with promises that her father will be home soon. 

Eventually, Clee must take her brother to the sandbox, but she is wary. 

She tries to avoid looking at the compost pile but sees movement... 

 Baby brother sees the turtle first.    

All are thrilled! A Note to the Reader at the end explains how the compost heap is a perfect place for turtle hibernation.

Original Publisher & Date: Tricycle Press, 2004

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

Formats other than Book: None at present

Scripture Connections: Connect this book to scriptures about resurrection, seasons, surprises, absence, guilt, and transformation in relationship.

Idea(s) for Application: Read this book to a group of children or adults in a lesson about resurrection, waiting, seasonal changes, or transformation in relationships.