PBT Grab & Go #16 - Extra Yarn

Here’s another gem in the PBT series I call Grab & Go in which I feature again secular books that are extremely easy to use in sacred settings. I don’t recommend this, but you could literally grab one of these books and go to your audience. The rich sacred connections will easily rise to the surface. Your job is simply to encourage your listeners as they find a godly character, spiritual practice, holy idea, or scripture connection. The book below is a favorite! In fact, I sell a lesson for elementary-aged kiddos connecting this book to the story in Acts of Dorcas/Tabitha’s resurrection. Contact me (see left column) if you’re interested in purchasing for just $4!

Picture Book: Extra Yarn

Author: Mac Barnett

Illustrator: Jon Klassen

Summary: In a colorless world, Annabelle finds a box filled with multi-colored yarn and begins knitting for herself and others. Miraculously, the yarn never runs out. As Annabelle faces criticism for her knitted pieces, she knits for the one who is criticizing and all are converted to the beauty and transformational nature of her work. When a rich archduke wants to purchase the extraordinary yarn and Annabelle refuses, he steals the box. Once in his castle, he opens the box to find it empty. Angrily he throws the box out into the ocean where it floats back to Annabelle so that she can continue her knitting.

Hanna’s Comments: This metaphor of how a young girl’s loving creativity can transform a community is beautifully intriguing. I especially like the way the illustrator shows yarn attaching a character to another character, demonstrating the loving bonds Annabelle is creating with her generosity.

Original Publisher & Date: Balzer + Bray, 2012

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

Available in Spanish? Yes

Scripture Connections: Jesus’ healing power, Tabitha’s good works (Acts 9:36-42), Body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12); Gifts of the Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:8-10)

Idea(s) for Application: This book offers a beautiful metaphor for spreading love with your giftedness. Use it with a lesson on the transformational & healing power of generosity and good works. Tie it to the work of knitting or sewing ministries.

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.

PBT Stories #4: Singing Our Faith

A favorite memory at my church happened when I taught Music Play. It was time to demonstrate what the children were learning in a worship service. I had about 12 children (all post high school now!) standing across the front ready to sing and do their motions with great enthusiasm. 

Suddenly, I felt terribly privileged. I had the opportunity to teach these children songs that could spiritually ground their faith for a lifetime. They sang lyrics like…

My God is so great

So strong and so mighty

There’s nothing my God cannot do.

AND

Be strong and courageous.

Do not be terrified.

Do not be discouraged

For the Lord, your God is with you wherever you go.

AND

O God, you are my God

And I will ever praise you….

I will seek you in the morning

And I will learn to walk in your ways.

And step by step you’ll lead me.

And I will follow you all of my days.

My children still remember many of these song. I hope their memories will serve them well as they face adulthood.

At present, I’m writing a Sunday school curriculum for our children (age 1 through 5). It is called Trinity Treasures and is tied to The Revised Common Lectionary. Lessons use picture books, readings from particular children's Bibles, and activities to learn more about a key idea or story from the Bible. Yesterday I wrote a lesson for October 22. The Trinity Idea for that lesson is

No one is like God. With your special voice, sing praise songs to God. 

Again, I'm privileged to encourage our children to understand the importance of singing praise to God. 

Today's post is pulled from PBT archives of my first year in which I posted about a new PBT book every day. Your children will love this story about an African girl who wants to find out what to do with all of her happiness. After seeing the many ways her family members show joy, she finds her own special way. I be you can guess what she does! 

Picture Book: Anna Hibiscus’ Song

Author: Atinuke

Illustrator: Lauren Tobia

Summary: Anna Hibiscus is an African child who loves to sit in a mango tree and watch her extended family in their daily tasks. She becomes so happy she doesn’t know what to do with her joy. She comes down and begins asking a series of relatives how she might express her happiness. Each of them has a suggestion (counting the reasons why she’s happy, dancing, tumbling, whispering in an ear “I love you”…) all of which she tries, but her happiness only grows. After her mother confesses to sitting quietly when happy, Anna Hibiscus settles into her mango tree again, but she is still about to burst with happiness. Then the birds inspire her to open her mouth wide and sing. Oh how she sings!   

Hanna’s Comments: Besides the overall delight of this picture book, I especially like the way the love of these extended family members shines through. Also, I am always glad to see various skin colors in picture books. Lauren Tobia has chosen to give us a bi-racial Anna Hibiscus. Anna’s mother appears light-skinned. Anytime book illustrators offer non-white characters, especially protagonists, their offerings are especially appreciated by those of us who hope to see more diverse characters in children’s books. Note and Helpful Hint: There are several Anna Hibiscus books. Some are picture books and some are early chapter books. If you are looking on-line, you can usually tell this by the photo of the book. Picture books are usually more square than chapter books.

Original Publisher & Date: Kane Miller, 2011

Age & Grade Appropriateness: 3 and up

Formats other than Book: None at present

Scripture Connections: Let us sing to the Lord (Psalm 95:1); O Lord, You are my God. I will exalt you and praise your name. (Isaiah 25:1); Rejoice in the Lord always (Philippians 4:4)

Idea(s) for Application: The concept of worship is often difficult for children to understand. This book offers a wonderful demonstration of why and how we worship God in various ways. Sometimes praise and thanksgiving to God is the most natural human response we can make. 

Finding a Happy Home at the Altar of the Lord

Picture Book: Cathedral Mouse

Author & Illustrator: Kay Chorao

Summary: After escaping a pet store and being chased from a meat market, Mouse scampers into a nearby cathedral. He is at first afraid of the odd sounds and strange sights of the unique space. As he begins to explore the vast and beautiful rooms, he hopes to make it his new home, but he meets hostile resident mice who don’t invite him into their community. He is determined to stay however. He especially enjoys the light from the stained-glass windows and a friendship with the stone carver who creates a special place for him and declares him to be Cathedral Mouse. Mouse has found a home.

Hanna’s Comments: Whether or not your place of worship is a cathedral, a house church, or a store front, your children can benefit from the reading of this beautiful picture book. Certainly Mouse is intrigued and wooed by the beauty of this cathedral, but it is the hospitality and friendship of the stone carver who encourages him to stay despite the resistance of the resident mice. Do you know anyone in your family of faith who is resistant to newcomers? Perhaps they are upset when visitors sit in “their seat” at worship. This book is appropriate for adults in your faith family too for it invites us all to consider the perspective of strangers who wander into our midst, sometimes running from and carrying human fears and hopes for community. The hospitality and encouragement of the stone carver is what God wants us to offer to strangers.   

Another important emphasis you can give when presenting this book is in talking about the importance of a family of faith that feels at home. Connect positive aspects of home to your family of faith and encourage your listeners to have a faith home all their lives. The first verses of Psalm 84 (see below) describe this beautifully.

Original Publisher & Date of Publication: E. P. Dutton, 1988

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

# of Pages: 32 

Available in Spanish? Not at present

Formats other than Book: None at present

PBT Category: Pre 2K

Scripture Connections: Treat the stranger who sojourns with you as a native among you (Leviticus 19:34); even the sparrow finds a home and the swallow a nest for herself …Happy are those who live in your house (Psalm 84:3-4a); do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers for thereby some have entertained angels unawares (Hebrews 13:2); show hospitality to one another without grumbling (1 Peter 4:9) 

Idea(s) for Application: Read this book to a group of children or adults when presenting a program on the importance of finding a home in a family of faith or a lesson on the spiritual practice of hospitality. 

A Picture Book a Day for a Year: Day 334

Dynamic Duo: Book 2

Picture Book: You are My Sunshine

Author: Jimmie Davis

Illustrator: Caroline Jayne Church 

Summary: This is a board book with the lyrics of the chorus to this fun song. In case you don’t know it, here are those lyrics:

You are my sunshine,

My only sunshine.

You make me happy when skies are gray.

You’ll never know, dear, how much I love you.

Please don’t take my sunshine away.

Hanna’s Comments: This is a 2^nd PBT Dynamic Duo offering. The subtitle of yesterday’s book is the title of today’s book and a popular American song. Long ago, I learned this fun song at church camp where we loved to sing it in a variety of silly renditions. The song was first recorded in the 1930s as a country song, but it has been covered by so many singers and sung in various contexts that it is more like an American folk song now. The verses are a little more mature than the chorus and are about romantic love so it makes sense that only the chorus would be offered for young children, but don’t limit the application of this idea to just young children. If a board book is inappropriate, simply offer the song via a different method. We sang the first verse at my church camp. It was a fun, non-threatening way to sing about romantic love with fellow adolescents in an environment awash with Christ’s love. Check out the verses by watching one of the many versions you’ll find on Youtube.com.

I don’t say this often enough: Many of the books I offer and conversations I encourage here at PBT can be enjoyed at home with a parent/grandparent and child. This is a perfect example. Read the Toot and Puddle Book offered yesterday. Sing You are My Sunshine, if you have the book or not. Then talk about how God’s love shines on and through all of us when the skies outside are gray or blue and whether we are feeling blue (or even a little gray).

Original Publisher & Date of Publication: Cartwheel Books, 2011

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

# of Pages: 12 

Available in Spanish? Not at present but there is a nice video of the song being sung in Spanish on Youtube.com.  

Formats other than Book: There are many videos of this song on Youtube.com though they are not related to this book.

PBT Category: Song Book, Post 2K 

PBT Topics this Book connects with: affirmation, bonds/connections, choir/music/singing/songs, commitment, dependence/interdependence, gladness/happiness, joy, love, moon/space/stars/sun, parents/parental love    

Scripture Connections: The Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you (Numbers 6:1b); arise, shine, for you light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. (Isaiah 60:1); Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. (John 8:12a); …now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light. (Ephesians 5:8b);   

Idea(s) for Application: Read this book when doing a young children’s lesson on how God’s light shines through us, Jesus is the light of the world, or how love between people can be like a sunshine.

A Picture Book a Day for a Year: Day 300

Dynamic Duo: Book 2

Picture Book: Where Do Giggles Come From?

Author: Diane Muldrow

Illustrator: Anne Kennedy 

Summary: This fun rhyming book is comprised of a series of animal parents commenting on how they enjoy it when their children giggle. There’s an affectionate declaration: “I love to get your giggle going every single day.” Giggle-evoking situations vary from funny faces to chasing butterflies. At the end, you’ll find a version of the title question and an answer: “From deep inside your belly!”

Hanna’s Comments: This is the 2^nd offering in a PBT Dynamic Duo of Little Golden Books. Look back at yesterday’s offering for details and links to search more Little Golden Book titles for use in ministry or to read to your own children/grandchildren. There is also a fun link to a history of Little Golden Books. This book would be a wonderful way to acknowledge God’s gift of joy (and giggles) with very young children. As you read, simply tell them several times, especially at the end, that God (or use a name for God that you prefer) is the one who created our bodies so that they would be ready to giggle. Add that God loves it when we giggle. If you are in a school or church setting, don’t worry that this book seems to be designed for parents to read. It’s so fun, children won’t notice, and many of these situations you might share with your students.  

Original Publisher & Date of Publication: Random House, 2011 

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

# of Pages: 24

Available in Spanish? Not at present

Formats other than Book: Tablet

PBT Category: Post 2K

PBT Topics this Book connects with: action, affection, babies/children, communication, emotions/feelings, gladness/happiness, joy, love, nurturing, parents/parental love, play, pleasing God

Scripture Connections: And Sarah said (regarding the birth of her son), “God has made laughter for me; everyone who hears will laugh with me. (Genesis 21:6); a joyful heart is good medicine (Proverbs 17:22); rejoice in the Lord always; again I say rejoice. (Philippians 4:4); count it all joy (James 1:2).

Idea(s) for Application: Read this book to a group of young children while acknowledging God as the source of our laughter and joy.

A Picture Book a Day for a Year: Day 273

Picture Book: If You’re Happy and You Know It

Adapted by: Anna McQuinn

Illustrator: Sophie Fatus

Summary: This traditional song is delightfully illustrated with a diverse collection of children representing 36 of the world’s cultures. Gestures called for vary from the usual “clap your hands” and “stamp your feet” to the less traditional “point your toes” and say, “Hello.” There are many translations of “hello” in the back of the book along with a drawing of each of the children that make an appearance. Their names and countries are listed too. A note says, “To add words to this song from each of the languages featured in this book, please search for “If You’re Happy and You Know it” at www.barefootbooks.com. The musical score is in the back as well.

Hanna’s Comments: In this version, the lyrics are a little different than what I learned. Rather than the words I sang as a child, “Then your face will surely show it,” this book reads, “And you really want to show it.” That‘s an easy change! Your book may include an enhanced CD with video animation and audio sing-along. I never have a problem with the idea of singing “secular” songs in a faith context especially when that song is celebratory. Music and song are wonderful gifts from God as are our well-designed bodies. This book celebrates all of these and the beautiful diversity of our world. There are two other books with this title that I ran across. One calls itself the “Jungle Edition”. It incorporates jungle animals and what they might do to show their happiness. That book is by James Warhola. The other is more of a narrative that features this song. Animal characters talk about how they choose to sing it. This version is by Jan Ormerod and comes with a CD.

Publisher & Date of Publication:  Barefoot Books, 2009

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

# of Pages: 24

Available in Spanish? There are other picture books with Spanish versions of this song’s lyrics.

Formats other than Book: Audio download, Your book may include an enhanced CD with video animation and audio sing-along.

PBT Category: Song Book, Post 2K

PBT Topics this Book Connects with: celebration/party, choir/music/singing/songs, culture, dance/dancing, difference, diversity, gladness/happiness, joy, variety

Scripture Connections: Clap your hands, all you peoples; shout to God with loud songs of joy (Psalm 47:1); this is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it (Psalm 118:24); but the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy… (Galatians 5:22); rejoice in the Lord always (Philippians 4:4); count it all joy (James 1:2)

Idea(s) for Application: Sing or read this song to your children when you want to celebrate and rejoice in the Lord!

A Picture Book a Day for a Year: Day 256

Picture Book: I Like Myself

Author: Karen Beaumont

Illustrator: David Catrow

Summary: This picture book delightfully invites listeners to celebrate who they are uniquely made to be. The little girl on the cover and throughout the book has confidence in who she is, even with beaver breath, messy hair, or hypothetical horns. She doesn’t care what others think of her or call her. She likes her insides and her outsides. No matter how others view her, she knows there is more to her than what can be seen. The book ends with these words, “I like myself because I’m ME!”  
   

Hanna’s Comments: To counteract what the media tells them and the sometimes stringent expectations of teachers and parents, children need to hear that they are each lovingly made, unique children of God, full of unusual mixtures of gifts, inclinations, and possibilities. With a connection to the scriptural truth of being made in God’s image or likening our bodies to one of God’s temples, this book will offer such a lesson. Your listeners should be encouraged to discover and claim their own unique identities. What better place to affirm them than in a faith community that is invested in the welfare of each child? 

Publisher & Date of Publication: Scholastic, 2004

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

# of Pages: 32

Available in Spanish? Not at present

Formats other than Book: Audio CD, amateur videos are on Youtube.com

PBT Category: Post 2K

PBT Topics this Book Connects with: abilities, acceptance, authenticity, beauty, confidence, creativity/imagination/ingenuity, differences, emotions/feelings, gifts/talents, gladness/happiness, goodness, image of God, individuality/uniqueness, joy, self-reflection, self-acceptance/self-image/self-esteem

Scripture Connections: Made in God’s image (Genesis 1:27); to get wisdom is to love yourself (Proverbs 19:8a); your body is a temple (1 Corinthians 6:19); I praise you for I am fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14)

Idea(s) for Application: Read this story to young children when celebrating how all of us are different and uniquely made in God’s image. 

A Picture Book a Day for a Year: Day 195

                        

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: There are numerous resources, including other picture books, about this concept of bucket filling as a metaphor for the importance of loving attention. I chose this book because it teaches children how to fill others’ buckets and focuses on how our actions influence others’ well-being, important aspects 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

# of Pages: 32

Available in Spanish? Not at present

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

PBT Category: Award Winner, Post 2K

PBT Topics this Book Connects with: affection, affirmation, body of Christ, brokenness, caring/tending, choices/decisions, dependence/interdependence, emotions/feelings, encouragement, gladness/happiness, golden rule, goodness, joy, kindness, love, nurturing, perspective, power, relationships, satisfaction, self-acceptance/self-image/self-esteem

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.

A Picture Book a Day for a Year: Day 184

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 the peacock visit the owls and ask. When the peacock asks why they are always happy, the owls suggest he bring all his feathered friends to hear the reason for their happiness. Once the birds arrive, the owls explain their attentiveness to and gratitude for the details of nature season by season. These practices leads to their happiness. They 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 the fowl go back to their farmyard life as before. The 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 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 version 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

# of Pages: 32

Available in Spanish? Not at present

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

PBT Category: Classic

PBT Topics this Book Connects with: abundance/bounty, adoration, arguing, attentiveness/observation/seeing, awe, beauty, blessings, companionship, conflict, creation, discord, disputes/fighting/opposition, emotions/feelings, the environment/nature, gladness/happiness, gratitude/thankfulness/thanksgiving, greed/selfishness, joy, neighbors, openness, pacifism/peace/peacemakers, perspective, prayer, resisting evil, reverence, satisfaction, security, sin, unity, wisdom, wonder, worship

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.

A Picture Book a Day for a Year: Day 178

Picture Book: The Stray Dog

Author & Illustrator: Marc Simont from a true story by Reiko Sassa

Summary: On a family picnic, 2 children discover a stray dog and play with him. They name him Willy. When it is time to go, the children want to take him home, but the parents fear Willy belongs to someone nearby. All week each family member misses Willy. On Saturday they return to the park hoping to meet Willy again. Willy does come, but he runs quickly past their picnic table because he is being chased by a dog catcher. Willy is caught. When the dog catcher declares that Willy has no collar or leash, the children take off their belts and declare that his name is Willy. They take Willy home, clean him up, and introduce him to their neighborhood’s dogs. Willy easily settles into his new home.

Hanna’s Comments: Books about adoption, both pet adoptions and adoptions of children, relate easily to the heart of the Abrahamic faiths in which caring for orphans is not only a mandate but an extension of the hospitable love we see affirmed in our scriptures. This book speaks specifically to our human desire to help and even rescue those who are in dire circumstances. This is the best human beings can give one another, and this book offers a fun way to talk about such an important subject.

Publisher & Date of Publication: Harper Collins, 2001

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

# of Pages: 32

Available in Spanish? Yes

Formats other than Book: Audio CD, There is an amateur video on Youtube.com.

PBT Category: Post 2K

PBT Topics this Book Connects with: acceptance, adoption, affection, animals, choices/decisions, chosen, emotions/feelings, exclusion/inclusion, family, found, gladness/happiness, grace, guilt, homelessness, hospitality, image of God, kingdom of God/reign of God, mistakes, orphans, pets, play, pleasing God/the Shema, prevenient grace, regret/repentance,  rescue, safe place/sanctuary

Scripture Connections: Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression (Isaiah 1:17); whoever welcomes a little child welcomes me (Matthew 18:5); adoption through Jesus (Galatians 4:5 & Ephesians 1:5)

Idea(s) for Application: Read this book to children when talking about Jesus’ inclinations to include or heal those who were powerless, weak or outsiders such as children, women, the sick or handicapped, and Gentiles.

A Picture Book a Day for a Year: Day 129

Picture Book: Anna Hibiscus’ Song

Author: Atinuke

Illustrator: Lauren Tobia

Summary: Anna Hibiscus is an African child who loves to sit in a mango tree and watch her extended family in their daily tasks. She becomes so happy she doesn’t know what to do with her joy. She comes down and begins asking a series of relatives how she might express her happiness. Each of them has a suggestion (counting the reasons why she’s happy, dancing, tumbling, whispering in an ear “I love you”…) all of which she tries, but her happiness only grows. After her mother confesses to sitting quietly when happy, Anna Hibiscus settles into her mango tree again, but she is still about to burst with happiness. Then the birds inspire her to open her mouth wide and sing. Oh how she sings!   

Hanna’s Comments: Besides the overall delight of this picture book, I especially like the way the love of these extended family members shines through. Also, I am always glad to see various skin colors in picture books. Lauren Tobia has chosen to give us a bi-racial Anna Hibiscus. Anna’s mother appears light-skinned. Anytime book illustrators offer non-white characters, especially protagonists, their offerings are especially appreciated by those of us who hope to see more diverse characters in children’s books. Note and Helpful Hint: There are several Anna Hibiscus books. Some are picture books and some are early chapter books. If you are looking on-line, you can usually tell this by the photo of the book. Picture books are usually more square than chapter books.

Publisher & Date of Publication: Kane Miller, 2011

Age & Grade Appropriateness: 3 and up

# of Pages: 38

Available in Spanish? Not at present

Formats other than Book: None at present

PBT Category: Post 2K

PBT Topics this Book Connects with: abundance/bounty, adoration, affection, Africa, art, authenticity, babies/children, belonging, blessings, body of Christ, bonds/connections, celebration/party, choir/music/singing/songs, community, creativity/imagination/ingenuity, dance/dancing, differences, diversity, emotions/feelings, encouragement, exploration, family, flowers/leaves/trees, free will, gladness/happiness, gratitude/thankfulness/thanksgiving, joy, mentors/teachers, pleasing God/the Shema, prayer, response to God, self-discovery, variety, worship

Scripture Connections: Let us sing to the Lord (Psalm 95:1); O Lord, You are my God. I will exalt you and praise your name. (Isaiah 25:1); Rejoice in the Lord always (Philippians 4:4)

Idea(s) for Application: The concept of worship is often difficult for children to understand. This book offers a wonderful demonstration of why and how we worship God in various ways. Sometimes praise and thanksgiving to God is the most natural human response we can make.