Holding On to Grandparents

With gratitude practices as favored health regimens, Thanksgiving plans upon some (sorry I'm too late for countries who had Thanksgiving already), and legacies of our saints remembered in early November, this book seems perfect to feature. Meaningful rituals, issues of memory, a grateful orientation, profound joy, and loving grandparent legacies (think Lois mentioned in 2nd Timothy 1:2) are obvious scripture connections!

Picture Book: Holding On

Author: Sophia N. Lee

Illustrator: Isabel Roxas

Summary: This book begins: There is always singing in Lola’s house. From the point of view of a granddaughter with her grandmother only in summer, this book celebrates the pure love that skips a generation. 

Within sentences describing grandmother fun are profound statements of deeply meaningful love held with ritual. Lola tells her granddaughter: 

If you want to hold on, you gotta sing your songs.

The granddaughter explains how her grandmother holds on. Tokens from her childhood are treasured. Outgrown clothing is transformed into quilts. Photographs and framed childish drawings are dusted. 

The narrator holds on to all that her grandmother has taught her and “carries it in her heart.” Their loving rituals include singing, listening to music, dancing, cooking special recipes, even playing the lotto. Stories of her grandfather Lolo and the narrator’s infant ways are ritually shared too. 

When Lola no longer remembers some things, the granddaughter sings for her. She explains: 

It is my way of letting her know that’s it's okay if she doesn’t remember sometimes. I’ll remember for her.

Hanna’s Comments: Oh, how I wish I had grandmother memories like these! My sister is such a grandmother to my children. She tells me, “There is no love like grandmother love!” These lessons ground children with love of course, but also identity and meaning. They can be soothing in childhood and offer inner strength in adulthood. Encourage children who don’t have grandmothers in their lives to think about people who are invested in them unconditionally. Hopefully, they will think of people in their church family.

Original Publisher: Antheum, 2022

Age Appropriateness: 4 and up

Formats other than Book: Tablet

Scripture Connections: Any scripture about generational rituals or beliefs such as 2^nd Timothy 1:5 where Paul affirms the legacy of sincere faith from Timothy’s grandmother Lois. And there is Proverbs 22:6 which instructs us to train a child in ways that will not be lost when they are old.

More generally, this story connects to scriptures about gratitude, joy, and grandparents. Because so many Psalms were initially sung with sincere faith and with great joy, they too connect with this book and could lead to a powerful conversation about music and other worship rituals that are reminders of grandparents’ faith.

Connections to The Revised Common Lectionary: This book is listed in my Trinity Treasures preschool curriculum in Year C (theme: Faith from Family) on a week which lists the 2^nd Timothy scripture mentioned above.

PBT Applications: Read this book to a group of parents of young children. Help them identify the gifts and values their parents are passing or would want to pass on to future generations. Consider asking participants to bring a treasured item from an ancestor that symbolizes a particular legacy of faith from family.  

OR

Read it to a group of young children and ask them to draw or dramatize the ways their grandparents (or others in your church) show love.

If you are interested in learning more about Trinity Treasures, a scripture based preschool Sunday school curriculum that features picture books & children’s Bibles, contact me at hannaschock@bellsouth.net. Right now, free lessons are emailed if you agree to fill out the monthly feedback form.

PBT Redux #26 - Flossie and the Fox

Picture Book: Flossie & the Fox
Author: Patricia McKissack
Illustrator: Rachel Isadora
Summary: In rich dialect, McKissack offers a folktale from her story-telling grandfather. Big Mama asks young Flossie to deliver some eggs to the neighboring farm. Flossie begins her journey wondering what a fox looks like. When Fox introduces himself hoping for the eggs, he is puzzled that the little girl isn't afraid. Flossie insists she'll not be afraid until Fox offers proof that he is indeed a fox. Fox's pride is hurt so he lists all the reasons he is a fox. For each argument, Flossie insists that Fox is instead another animal. Eventually, Flossie lures Fox to the road where a neighbor's hound is waiting. As Fox runs from the hound, Flossie confesses that she recognized Fox all along. She heads toward the neighbor's farm with the eggs, having outfoxed the fox.

Hanna’s Comments: I love a tale with a smart female at the center! Her youth is an additional benefit. Even young children will identify with her. Consider steering your audience’s conversation towards issues of bravery and intelligence in the face of evil. Then take Fox's point of view and talk about how temptation and pride lure us into trouble. Flossie handles her fears cunningly, but the fox’s greed and pride tempt him to wander into a dangerous situation. 
Publisher & Date of Publication: Dial Books, 1986
Age & Grade Appropriateness: 4 and up, Pre and up
Formats other than Book: None at present

Scripture Connections: Eve’s conversation with the snake (Genesis 3); Be strong and courageous… for the Lord is with you wherever you go (Joshua 1:9)
Idea(s) for Application: Consider using this picture book when teaching the story of Eve’s temptation by the snake in Genesis. Draw connections between the fox’s pride and Eve’s pride. Praise Flossie’s self-determination and cleverness.

PBT Series: God Book #8

Here is the last of the Old Turtle series.  

Picture Book: Old Turtle: Questions of the Heart

Author: Douglas Wood
Illustrator: Greg Ruth 

Summary: Earth’s people have so many questions for Old Turtle. They ask an old woman if Old Turtle is real and how to find her for it was the old woman’s own grandmother who, as a little girl, found Old Turtle. The old woman says to “follow the whisperings of your heart” along the old, overgrown paths to find Old Turtle. Then she says she wants to come along. After a long journey, they find Old Turtle who encourages their questions:

What is our purpose in life?

How do we find happiness?

What about family?

Can you tell us about play?

What is evil?

And the old woman’s question: What of death?

Old Turtle wisely answers each and tells them of another, more important question:

Who are you and how will you live this day?

Once they understand this last question, the party leaves with this comfort from Old Turtle:

There is no question the heart can ask for which it cannot find the answer.

Hanna’s Comments: This book was published to commemorate the 25^th anniversary of Old Turtle. It is dense with philosophical and spiritual ideas as Old Turtle answers each question over several pages. If you are going to present this book to an audience of young children, paraphrase rather than read all the text. They will love the illustrations. For older children or adults, consider reading this book over a series of lessons.

Original Publisher & Date: Scholastic, 2017

Age & Grade Appropriateness: 7 and up, 2nd and up 

Formats other than Book: Tablet

Scripture Connections: Each question offered to Old Turtle has connections with scripture, particularly in the wisdom literature: Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and more in the Apocrypha. Asking questions of wise ones is a long-standing religious ritual that is evident in stories throughout the Bible. 

Idea(s) for Application: Read this book to continue an Old Turtle series of lessons while exploring important spiritual questions and emphasizing the developmental importance of doubt and questioning.

PBT Blog Series: Theological Statements for Young Children #7

Illustrations from Yo! Yes? by Chris Raschka

Generosity and hospitality are the spiritual practices encouraged in the 7^th PBT theological statement for young children: God/Jesus wants you to share with and include others. 

Illustrations from Little Nelly's Big Book by Pippa Goodhart & Andy Rowland

These include behaviors that parents and teachers of young children very much want to encourage. I’m simply suggesting that you use these opportunities to help your children understand that God/Jesus (your word choice) wants them to do these as well.

Illustrations from Can I Play Too? by Mo Willems

I’m offering 4 new PBT books and then as usual I list below the best of the PBT books (and the dates of each post about that book) that connect with this statement.

The first picture book involves a young elephant, Nelly, who has some identity confusion. 

She reads about a mouse in a book and is convinced she is a mouse. She goes in search of a mouse family. Despite her size, the mice welcome and include her. 

Nelly’s size and the food situation continues to bother her. Eventually Nelly’s mice take her to live in the zoo with other big  mice.

The story ends with Nelly’s mouse friend, Micky, looking in the book and discovering that he is an elephant. 

Nelly responds, “But, Micky, even though you aren’t a mouse like me, I’ll still be your friend.”

Picture Book: Little Nelly’s Big Book

Author: Pippa Goodhart

Illustrator: Andy Rowland

Original Publisher & Date: Scholastic, 2012

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

Formats other than Book: Tablet

The next book offers a bit of a mystery. Thomas is enjoying his blanket cave. 

Each time he steps away, a bear invades. The cave is too small for two. Besides, do you want to share with a bear? 

Thomas does his best to lure Bear away with food and other things bears like, but Bear keeps coming back to Thomas’ cave. 

The mystery? Bear seems to be in costume, and you never see his face until the end when it is revealed that Bear is Thomas’ little brother! Then the story makes sense!

Eventually Bear’s tears convince Thomas to build a bigger cave to share so they can both enjoy the things that bears and humans love.

Picture Book: How to Share with a Bear

Author: Eric Pinder

Illustrator: Stephanie Graegin

Original Publisher & Date:

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

Formats other than Book: Tablet

The next 2 books are from Mo Willems’ Elephant and Piggie series which I highly recommend for toddlers & preschoolers. What Willems does so well with these books is offer funny situations with very human-like animals. 

His drawings and situations are simple but the facial expressions are crucial and often funny. Getting your children to mimic these faces and labeling those feelings is a fun and important social-emotional skill for young children to be learning.

In the first, Elephant and Piggie are about to play catch. When Snake asks to play too, they are reluctant and confused. How do you play catch with a snake? 

First there’s some hilarity. Then they try to include Snake, but it doesn’t go well. 

Eventually, they come up with a creative way to play catch together and fun follows.

Picture Book: Can I Play Too?

Author & Illustrator: Mo Willems

Original Publisher & Date: Hyperion, 2010

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

Formats other than Book: None at present

The other Elephant and Piggie book has Elephant conflicted. 

He has an ice cream cone and wonders if he should share with his good friend Piggie. 

He rationalizes and debates himself for so long that the situation changes.

Fortunately, Piggie comes along with just the treat that Elephant wants.

I encourage you to look at other Mo Willems books for potential PBT lessons. I love his sense of humor. Your kids will too!

Picture Book: Should I Share My Ice Cream?

Author & Illustrator: Mo Willems

Original Publisher & Date: Hyperion, 2011

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

Formats other than Book: None at present

Other PBT books that connect with links to posts:

Xander’s Panda Party - 5/28/14  

And Away We Go! - 3/8/15

Shoebox Sam - 12/15/14       

Curious George Saves His Pennies - 6/2/14

But Not the Hippopotamus - 8/29/14    

Cat and Bunny - 2/24/15

A Good Trade - 5/7/14

Sick Day for Amos McGee - 4/28/14

Say Hello! - 12/19/14

Yo! Yes? - 9/11/14

Rainbow Fish - 12/3/14

Virgil and Owen - 4/5/16

PBT Blog Series: Theological Statements for Young Children # 1

Illustration from cover of Me I Am by Jack Prelutsky & Christine Davenier

Over the course of several blog posts, I’ll be presenting my approach for connecting theological ideas to young children’s secular literature. My premise is that there are several specific theological statements that can be easily adapted and incorporated into a discussion of many secular books for toddlers and preschoolers.

For each blog post, I’ll offer the theological statement, ways you can adapt it for your particular use, a list of PBT books that connect to the statement, the date I posted about each of those books, and at least one new book. To find my detailed post about each book, simply click on the date.

The first theological statement is: 
You are a one-of-a-kind, precious child of God.

There are many books for young children that celebrate the fact that they are unique, valuable, and wonderfully made. I'm simply proposing that you offer your view that God made them that way. When doing so, point out positive aspects of each child and affirm those character traits while giving God the credit. Try not to focus on outward appearances, especially for your girls who might be too often told they are pretty but less often told they are brave or smart.

Today’s feature book is hilarious! What Baby Wants offers a story that children will love in which the title is a mystery to every one of Baby’s huge extended farm family except for his brother. While Baby’s mama gets some much-needed sleep, Baby screams and screams and no wonder! The strategies used to calm him are ridiculous. No baby wants flowers tickling his nose or sheep nibbling his hair. Finally, Baby’s brother feels empowered. He cuddles and kisses him, wraps him in a quilt, and sings him a lullaby. That’s what Baby wants!

Use this book as an invitation for your young audience members to tell you what they can do really well. Be sure to affirm them for their great problem solving like the brother demonstrates in this story. Your children will be delighted and you’ll have the opportunity to give credit to God who created each one-of-a-kind, precious child of God who is getting to hear this silly story.

Picture Book: What Baby Wants

Author: Phyllis Root

Illustrator: Jill Bartow

Original Publisher & Date: Candlewick, 1998

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

Formats other than Book: None at present

PBT books that connect with links to posts:

The Big Orange Splot - 7/16/14

Stand Tall Molly Lou Melon - 7/25/14

Chrysanthemum - 8/24/14

Me I Am - 9/24/14              

Spoon - 10/22/14

I Like Myself! - 12/31/14             

I’d Know You Anywhere - 1/31/15

Only One You - 4/11/15

A Picture Book a Day for a Year: Day 327

Picture Book: I Have an Olive Tree

Author: Eve Bunting

Illustrator: Karen Barbour

Summary: Sophia, age 7, is puzzled that her grandfather has given her an olive tree for her birthday. Even more puzzling, the tree is on an island in Greece, where the family lived before coming to California. Her grandfather explains that those who purchased their house let them keep the tree as a symbol of their family’s rootedness to Greece. When Sophia’s grandfather dies, he gives Sophia her grandmother’s string of pearls and asks her to go to Greece and hang the pearls on the olive tree. Upon arrival, they are dazzled by the strangeness of Greece as they wait for the ferry to take them to the island. As they approach the family home and tree, Sophia begins to have strange feelings. The tree was not as Sophia imagined, but it moves her emotionally. She pulls the pearls out of her backpack and her mother lifts her up so that she can hang the beads on a high branch. Sophia realizes that the trip is not just about the beads. It is also about her mother’s memories and Sophia gaining an understanding of her roots. As Sophia considers coming back someday, she says, ”I have an olive tree.”

Hanna’s Comments: This is a rich story of family heritage and origin. Because our Holy Scriptures are often about these same themes, you should have no problem connecting this story to a variety of religious topics such as memory, the power of place, altars, reverence, family bonds, or inheritance. Besides connections to scripture, tie this story and a scripture to an aspect or person in your local family of faith as well. Creating strong connections to the people and place where you worship is invaluable and important for the future of your spiritual community. Another direction you could take is to consider the spiritual symbolism of trees in general. 

Original Publisher & Date of Publication: Harper Collins Publishers, 1999

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

# of Pages: 32 

Available in Spanish? Not at present

Formats other than Book: Audio Cassette

PBT Category:  Pre 2K

PBT Topics this Book connects with: acceptance, action, adventure, ancestors/patriarchs & matriarchs, babies/children, belonging, birth/birthday, bonds/connections, change, death/loss/grief, Europe, exile/separation/walls, family, fruit/fruit of the spirit, grandparents, heritage, home, identity/names, journeys/migrations/pilgrimages/quests, land/mountains/soil, love, memories/remembering/ritual/tradition, reverence, self-discovery, travel, worship

Scripture Connections: I am like a green olive tree in the house of God, I trust in the steadfast love of God (Psalm 52:8); your children will be like olive shoots around you (Psalm 128:3b); a good person leaves an inheritance (Proverbs 13:22); the word of God’s grace is able to give you your inheritance (Acts 20:32); so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith – that you may be rooted and grounded in love (Ephesians 3:17); rooted and built up in him and established in the faith (Colossians 2:7); work heartily as for the Lord, knowing that you will receive the inheritance as your reward (Colossians 3:23)

Idea(s) for Application: Read this book to a group of children or teens who are learning about their religious or spiritual heritage or origins. 

A Picture Book a Day for a Year: Day 324

Picture Book: Feel Confident

Author: Cheri J. Meiners

Illustrator: Elizabeth Allen

Summary: From the point of view of a young girl in preschool or early elementary, this book has her asserting her value, skills, and confidence. She begins by looking at her baby photos and declaring, “I like being me - a very important person.” Then she quickly adds, “At every age, each person is important and has something to say.” Her comments range from embracing her strong body and mind to promising to try many new things. Specific skills are addressed such as looking people in the eye, saying “thank you” when given a compliment, and asking for help when a problem is overwhelming. She ends by explaining that she can feel confident about becoming the person she wants to be because in many ways she is already that person.

Hanna’s Comments: Psychologists are finding overwhelming evidence that building social-emotional skills, such as those addressed in this book, can simultaneously build their academic functioning. Likewise, connecting those skills to spiritual or faith-based values increases a child’s resilience and encourages positive outcomes like high school graduation and successful job entry. My hunch is those faith-based values are reinforced as well. So many concepts and skills are addressed in this book that there are many possibilities for connections to our Holy Scriptures.  In the end papers of this book, you’ll find a section called Ways to Reinforce the Ideas in Feel Confident! The material offered here includes a list of 10 confidence skills, vocabulary, discussion questions, and activities. This book is part of the Being the Best Me series of books. Twelve books are planned. Two of the other titles available now in that series are Bounce Back! A Book about Resilience and Have Courage! A Book about Being Brave. This author and publisher also have a Learning to Get Along series. Two titles in that series are Reach Out and Give and Respect and Take Care of Things.

Original Publisher & Date of Publication: Free Spirit Publishing, 2013  

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

# of Pages: 40

Available in Spanish? Not at present

Formats other than Book: Tablet

PBT Category: Fresh off the Press 

PBT Topics this Book connects with: abilities, acceptance, authenticity, babies/children, body/body of Christ, challenges, choices/decisions, communication, community, confidence, emotions/feelings, family, growing up/growth, identity/names, image of God, individuality/uniqueness, participation, pleasing God/the Shema, self-acceptance/self-image/self-esteem, self-reflection, strength/strength in God

Scripture Connections:  Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength (Deuteronomy 6:5 & Mark 12:29-30); be strong and courageous (Joshua 1:9); I praise you for I am fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14); your body is a temple (1 Corinthians 6:19)

Idea(s) for Application: Use this book in a program for preschoolers on being a beloved and unique child of God or on the Shema (the Deuteronomy scripture above) aka the Great Commandment. 

A Picture Book a Day for a Year: Day 317

Picture Book: The Sneetches and Other Stories

Author & Illustrator: Dr. Seuss

Summary: The Star-Belly Sneetches brag about their stars and look down upon the Plain–Belly Sneetches, excluding them from games, parties, and feasts. Then Sylvester McMonkey McBean shows up with a contraption to put stars on the bellies of the Plain-Belly Sneetches for a low price of course. All pay the price and enter the machine. The Star-Bellied Sneetches react with concern that they may not know who has the natural star-bellies. Just in time McBean convinces them that “Belly stars are no longer in style,” and offers, for a price of course, to remove their stars. This pattern repeats until none of the Sneetches are quite sure how they started and all their money is spent. McBean departs with a laugh, “They never will learn.” However, the Sneetches do learn. They decide that “Sneetches are Sneetches. And no kind of Sneetch is the best.”

Hanna’s Comments: I didn’t dare try to summarize a Seuss book with clever rhyme although I was tempted. Many folks the world over would agree that Seuss was a genius of whimsical verse and manufactured words. Today is the birthday of the late Dr. Seuss, born Theodor Geisel, one of my heroes, so I’ll be offering his books all week. This story has much to offer children and adults in faith communities because it humorously offers some of our most frustrating human qualities: our tendency toward acquiring status, creating cliques, and jealousy. McBean, like so many humans, is ready to take advantage of our faults. He gets rich off the Sneetches, but the Sneetches do learn in the end. If only it was that easy for us humans.

Publisher & Date of Publication: Random House, 1961

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

# of Pages: 25

Available in Spanish? Not at present

Formats other than Book: Tablet, There is a video of this story on Youtube.com and in the video collection Green Eggs and Ham and Other Stories (also includes The Zax and Too Many Daves). Random House has created a website full of Dr. Seuss activities and information. Here’s the link: www.seussville.com.

PBT Category: Classic

PBT Topics this Book Connects with: aspirations/dreams, beauty, belonging, change, competition, conformity, consumerism/consumption/riches, coveting/envy/jealousy, differences, exclusion/inclusion, humanity, identity/names, judgment/judges/judging, prejudice, pride, race relations/racism, religious differences, segregation, social justice, suspicion

Scripture Connections: You shall not covet anything that is your neighbor’s (Exodus 20:17); judge not, and you will not be judged (Luke 6:37); do not judge by appearances (John 7:24); so where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder (James 3:16)

Idea(s) for Application: Use this picture book or its video format in a program for adults or children that tackles issues such as status, exclusivity, division, or marginalization in response to our Holy Scriptures which direct us to refrain from judging others. Also, for adult or youth programming, consider checking out The Gospel According to Dr. Seuss by James W. Kemp.