A Picture Book a Day for a Year: Day 342

Picture Book: The Whispering Town

Author: Jennifer Elvgren 

Illustrator: Fabio Santomauro

Summary: In their basement, Anett and her parents are hiding two Jews from the Nazis in 1943 Denmark. When Anett brings their breakfast down, she relies on their whispers in the dark to guide and comfort her. As she desires items for them from the town’s merchants, she whispers, “We have new friends. Then the merchants give a few items. Each time Anett ventures outside, she sees Nazi soldiers looking for hidden Jews. The Nazis threaten to arrest anyone who is hiding Jews. Because the Nazi presence is increasing, the Jews must leave at night with no local escort to the harbor where a boat will be waiting for their escape. How will they find their way? Anett remembers how the whispers guide her to the basement and suggests that the townspeople, along the desired route, stand at their doorways and use whispered voices to guide the Jews to the harbor. This plan works. “This way,” is repeatedly whispered and guides the Jews as they walk to the harbor.

Hanna’s Comments: The Author’s Note in the back of the book gives the historical context of this story and explains that it is based on true events in the small fishing village of Gilleleje, Denmark. I have considered featuring a book on Anne Frank this month because it is the 70^th anniversary of her death. However, I couldn’t find a picture book that balanced her heartbreaking story with her own statements of hope and faith in people. I encourage you to continue to look for that kind of book in your local library or simply tell Anne Frank’s story as a supplement and contrast to the book featured here. Anne Frank hid in an upper set of rooms in Amsterdam, Holland. Tweens and teens easily identify with Anne Frank’s story. There are reference books about her that will help you tell her story and show pictures. Also, there are many videos including the only known video of Anne Frank. She is looking out a window. Find it on Youtube.com. It is quite moving. Miep Gies, one of the protectors of Anne Frank and her family, has been interviewed many times. You'll find her story on Youtube as well. It is one of courage, humility, and sacrifice.   

Original Publisher & Date of Publication: Kar-Ben Publishing, 2014

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

# of Pages: 32

Available in Spanish? Not at present

Formats other than Book: Tablet, Audio CD 

PBT Category: Fresh off the Press, Non-fiction

PBT Topics this Book connects with: abuse/abuse of power, action, adaptation/assimilation, aliens/immigrants/refugees/strangers, anxiety/worry, body/body of Christ, bravery/courage, bullying/martyrs/persecution/oppression, caring/tending, challenges, commitment, communication, community, cooperation, cruelty, danger, darkness/evening/night, dependence, difficulties, encouragement, enemies, ethics, Europe, evil, exile/separation/walls, fear, goodness, helping, hiding/isolation, homelessness, hospitality, listening, neighbors, partners/teamwork, presence, prisons/prisoners, problems/problem solving, protecting/protection, rebellion, resisting evil, risking, safe place/sanctuary, secrets, sharing, unity   

Scripture Connections: I will hope continually and will praise you yet more and more (Psalm 71:14); abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good (Romans 12:9); welcome one another… for the glory of God (Romans 15:7); if one member suffers, all suffer together (1 Corinthians 12:26a); now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1)

Idea(s) for Application: Read this book and consider telling the story of Anne Frank to older elementary or youth who are learning about concepts of faith, hope, and reliance on others in difficult times. This book also easily connects with spiritual concepts such as discernment, particularly discernment through the guidance of others, and the power of community.   

A Picture Book a Day for a Year: Day 297

Picture Book: Be Gentle

Author & Illustrator: Virginia Miller

Summary: Bartholomew loves his new little black kitten, but he’s not yet learned how to handle his new pet. George, an adult bear, tells him to “be gentle because she is only little.” After some squashing, scary rides, and a surprise with the garden hose, Bartholomew is reminded to be gentle. Each time he says, “Nah!” Bartholomew plays the drums for the new kitten, but she runs away. Then he is sad and sorry so he goes to his secret hiding place, where he finds the little black kitten. He handles her gently, and she purrs. He is learning.

Hanna’s Comments: Gentleness is one of the fruits of the Spirit mentioned in Paul’s letter to the Galatians. Gentleness has many forms besides what is represented here, but this is a great first lesson for very young children in how to treat others, not just pets. Note that a board book publication of this book has a different cover than the one you see photographed here.

Original Publisher & Date of Publication: Candlewick Press, 1997

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

# of Pages: 32

Available in Spanish? Not at present

Formats other than Book: None at present

PBT Category: Pre 2K 

PBT Topics this Book connects with: action, adaptation/assimilation, affection, animals, babies/children, caring/tending, care of creation, comfort, companionship, conformity, education/learning/school, fear, fruit/fruit of the Spirit, gentleness/meekness, God’s will, golden rule, goodness, hiding/isolation, mistakes, noise/sound/voice, nurturing, pets, play, power, regret/repentance, respect, victims

Scripture Connections: The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22); the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason… (James 3:17)

Idea(s) for Application: Read this book to a group of very young children who are learning how to care for and respect God’s creatures or the fruits of the Spirit. 

A Picture Book a Day for a Year: Day 216

Terrific Trio: Book 3

Picture Book: Thank You, Mr. Falker

Author & Illustrator: Patricia Polacco

Summary: Little Tricia loved books and couldn’t wait to learn to read. It didn’t happen in kindergarten though she did get to show off her drawing skills. In first grade Tricia couldn’t get beyond the first basic reader so she began to feel dumb. After her beloved grandparents died, school seemed even harder. Reading numbers was hard too. By third grade she was getting teased and called dumb, and by 5^th grade she hated school. A classmate, Eric, began to bully her. During recess, Tricia would hide under the stairwell. Her new 5^th grade teacher, Mr. Falker, explained that she didn’t see numbers and letters the way others do, but he was determined to teach her to read. After school everyday, she met again with Mr. Falker and a reading specialist who had her doing reading and writing exercises. After many months, she was able to read sentences. Thirty years later, an adult Patricia Polacca met Mr. Falker again and introduced herself. He asked what she did for a living. She was pleased to tell him with much gratitude that she makes books for children.

Hanna’s Comments: This story begins and ends with a family ritual involving pouring honey on a book and declaring that “knowledge is as sweet as honey, but it has to be chased through the pages of a book.” This autobiographical picture book, PBT’s 3^rd in a Terrific Trio, again tells the story of one of Polacca’s teacher heroes. This one may have made the most influential difference in her life by protecting her from bullies and teaching her to read. Polacca seems to have had dyslexia or some other type of learning disability. This is a surprisingly common problem among school children that deserves supportive conversation in religious communities where too often differences are viewed as shameful or simply ignored. 

Publisher & Date of Publication: Philomel, 1998

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

# of Pages: 40

Available in Spanish? Yes

Formats other than Book: Audio download, Audio cassette

PBT Category: Pre 2K

PBT Topics this Book Connects with: abilities, ancestors/patriarchs/matriarchs, art, brokenness, bullying/martyrs/persecution/oppression, caring/tending, challenges, community, differences, difficulties, disabilities/handicaps/limitations, education/learning/school, encouragement, gentleness/meekness, goodness, grandparents, gratitude/thanksgiving, helping, heroes, hiding/isolation, individuality/uniqueness, kindness, language/literacy/reading, loneliness, memories/remembering/ritual/tradition, mentors/teachers, obstacles, transformation

Scripture Connections: Train children in the way they should go (Proverbs 22:6); we who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak (Romans 15:1-2)

Idea(s) for Application: Use this book to inspire adults in your faith community to make it a priority to encourage and positively influence the children in your family of faith. 

A Picture Book a Day for a Year: Day 95

Picture Book: Washing the Willow Loon

Author: Jacqueline Briggs Martin

Illustrator: Nancy Carpenter

Summary: This is a beautiful story about one willow loon who becomes covered in oil from an oil spill. A driver notices the loon in the shallows but thinks, “What’s one bird? It’s not my worry,” and drives past. A house painter tries to net her, but she swims away. Eventually a baker gently nets her and takes her to a place where a series of trained workers, including a barber, a teen, an old woman, and an artist, carefully clean her. Ultimately she is released into the wild. Throughout the book, there is a refrain from the volunteers, “I have work to do.” The detailed regimens of these important tasks are described with reverence for the birds and the work. 

Hanna’s Comments: I especially like the contrast the author draws between the rationalizing driver who passes by the loon and the volunteers who have obviously invested time and training to learn how to deal with this unusual need. The focus on the one loon gives this story a great deal of emotional heft. Also, the many steps of the rehabilitation process for the bird are enlightening.

Publisher & Date of Publication: Simon & Schuster, 1995

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

# of Pages: 32

Available in Spanish? Not at present

Formats other than Book: None at present

PBT Category: Pre 2K

PBT Topics this Book Connects with: action, animals, attentiveness/observation/seeing, baptism/washing, beach/ocean/sea/shore, body of Christ, brokenness, caring/tending, care of creation, dependence/interdependence, disaster, the environment/nature, fear, found, fruit/fruit of the Spirit, generosity/giving/offering/stewardship, gentleness/meekness, gift/giftedness/talents, God’s care/providence, God’s nature, God’s will, goodness, helping, healing/healthcare, heroes, hiding/isolation/walls, holiness, humanity, image of God, intercession, kindness, labor/work, nurturing, outreach, partners/teamwork, pollution, power, prayer, problems/problem-solving, renewal/restoration, rescue, safe place/sanctuary, searching, servant hood/service/serving, sin, survival, transformation, trust/trustworthiness, underdogs, unity, victims, water, wisdom, works vs. faith/grace

Scripture Connections: the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:30-37); washing Jesus’ feet (John 12:1-8) or head (Matthew 26:6-13)

Idea(s) for Application: Use this in a lesson or sermon on healing or transformation.  

A Picture Book a Day for a Year: Day 69

Picture Book: Unlovable

Author & Illustrator: Dan Yaccarino 

Summary: Because of how he looks, Alfred, a pug, has to put up with the taunts of his family’s cat, bird, and neighborhood animals. The cat has even taught the bird to call Alfred, “Unlovable.” Alfred comes to believe he is unlovable. When a family moves in on the other side of the tall fence, Alfred communicates with a potential new dog friend, Rex. Relieved that he can’t be seen and desiring a friend so badly, Alfred says he is a golden retriever. Once their friendship grows, Alfred regrets his lie. When Rex digs under the fence to meet Alfred face to face, Alfred’s lie and their shared breed is revealed. The 2 pugs then discover what true friendship is all about.   

Hanna’s Comments: This simple tale has a lot to say about how words can hurt and shame can jeopardize potential friendships. Too often harsh words & negative labels are accepted in families and in religious communities. Shame is a heavy burden that affects long-term. This book offers an opportunity for children to talk about social bullying and the harm it can do. Having these kinds of conversations in your religious community offers a way to frame this issue with your community’s values in mind. 

Publisher and Date of Publication: Scholastic, 2001

Age and 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: Post 2K

PBT Topics this Book Connects with: abuse/abuse of power, acceptance, anxiety/worry, beauty, bonds/connections, brokenness, bullying/martyrs/persecution/oppression, cruelty, depression/despair/sadness/sorrow, difficulties, disception/dishonesty/lies/lying, exclusion/inclusion, friends/friendship, hiding/isolation/separation/walls, identity/names, injustice, insecurity, intolerance, judgment/judges/judging, justice, loneliness, neighbors, prejudice, relationships, secrets, self-acceptance/self-image/self-esteem, surprise, truth

Scripture Connections: God’s instructions to Samuel to not judge based on looks but based on the heart instead (1 Samuel 16:7); Judge not that you will not be judged (Matthew 7:1, Luke 6:37)

Idea(s) for Application: as part of a lesson on judging others and the harm it can do to individuals and community; part of a lesson on unconditional love 

A Picture Book A Day for a Year: Day 22

Picture Book: The Runaway Bunny

Author: Margaret Wise Brown

Illustrator: Clement Hurd

Summary: A young bunny decides to run away, but his mother explains how she will always find him. In the imaginary game of chase that follows, the bunny proposes taking various forms, but she explains that no matter where he goes or what form he takes she will always finds him.

Hanna’s Comments: The author of this classic as well as others such as Goodnight Moon and The Big Red Barn had astounding skills for writing simply but in ways that strongly connect with young children’s needs & interests.

Publisher & Date of Publication: Harper Collins, original edition 1942

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

# of Pages: 48

Available in Spanish? yes

Formats other than Book: Youtube video, Audio CD, Audible 

PBT Category: Classic

PBT Topics this Book Connects with: babies/children, bonds/connections/connectedness, choices/decisions, exile/separation, found, God’s care/providence, God’s nature, God’s presence, hiding/isolation/separation/walls, home, journeys/pilgrimages/migration/quests, love, mothers, new home/relocation, nurturing, parents/parental love, prevenient grace, steadfastness

Scripture Connections: Jonah tries to run away from God (Jonah 1), boy Jesus at the Temple (Luke 2: 41-49)

Idea(s) for Application: as part of a sermon explaining God’s prevenient grace