Global Hymns of Praise

Picture Book: A World of Praise

Author: Deborah Lock

Illustrator: Helen Cann

Summary: This book begins and ends with psalms! Between those pages, experience simple poetic verses integrated with beautiful scenes of diverse children enjoying the glories of God’s creation all over the world! You’ll see mountains & flatlands, cityscapes & rural spaces, contemplative children & dancing animals. Quiet praise alternates with glorious joyful noises.

Hanna’s Comments: For a children's lesson, have a globe handy and before reading, invite them to ask you where the scenes are. You’ll find a diagram in the back that identifies each of the 16 countries/regions, but you’ll need to do a bit of prep to locate all those countries on the globe. Consider placing sticky notes on the globe to make this process easier for you or for your children to do the searching. This will encourage your children’s curiosity about their world (God's world) and build their globe skills, an added benefit. Too old school for you? Add an internet component with a tablet or laptop. Repeatedly emphasize God is everywhere and the source of all!

There are not a lot of these books on the market so check with your local library system. If your library doesn’t have the book, ask if they will order it.

Original Publisher: Eerdmans, 2020

Age Appropriateness: 4 and up

Formats other than Book: None at present

Scripture Connections: You’ll find in these pages the following scriptures, but any verses about the glory, gifts, and/or beauty of nature will connect here:

Psalm 24:1-2 is on the 1^st page. 

These are on the last pages:

Psalm 67:6

Psalm 113:3

Psalm 148:7-12

PBT Applications: Amidst a recording of quiet nature sounds, invite children to lie on the floor, close their eyes, and imagine portions of this book that you choose to read aloud slowly. Adapt the length of the reading so that listeners, no matter their age or attention span, can attend well and imagine fully.

For very young children, I would open this book to some favorite double page spreads and ask the children to tell you what they like and who made it. Talk about sensory experiences, especially sights/colors, textures, and sounds. Say together simple sentences, like Thank you God for birdsong! OR Thank you for making the stars so beautiful, God!

3 Ellie Holcomb Books (1 for December)

You may know Ellie Holcomb as an award-winning Christian singer/songwriter, a solo artist and a member of her husband Drew Holcomb's band. Her books share several attributes: 

• They are large board books. I’ve written that too many abstract or lengthy books are being made in board book form, which will turn off a child beyond the need for those kinds of books. All are available in tablet form.
• They begin broadly with abstract possibilities that explore questions. Midway they become theological. I recommend them for age 4 and older, despite them being board books.
• The 2 non-Christmas books align with an album which must be purchased separately. There may be a Christmas album eventually.
• All are written in verse so practice before reading aloud.
• She uses masculine pronouns for God. If you choose, adapt easily with sticky notes that cue you to use the words you prefer.
• The images are of diverse children interacting with wild animals in extraordinary ways. 

These images are similar to Nancy Tillman's beautiful books. Find a few of those at PBT HERE  AND HERE.

Picture Book: Sounding Joy

Author: Ellie Holcomb

Illustrator: Laura Ramos

Summary: This book begins with the question: What does joy sound like? It answers with possibilities of child characters experiencing joy in winter. Snow sounds like the laughter of friends, deep breaths when playing games are joy sounds, and hooraying while sledding is a glorious joy noise. Next it says glorious joy long ago sounded like angels’ wings. Suddenly, the modern setting reverts to shepherd children in Bethlehem witnessing a sky full of singing angels! With reverence, the little shepherds visit Jesus at the manger where “God bent down low and sent us His son to make heaven our home.”

Hanna’s Comments: The sentence above doesn't express my theology regarding the purpose of Jesus’ birth, but I try at PBT to not limit your access to good books when they don’t line up with my personal theological ideas. What this book does offer in abundance is joy grounded in a loving God whose creation and incarnation via a human child are very much worth celebrating.

I also like how she ties the lights we see at Christmas to the glory of the angels and encourages her audience to respond to Christmas by sounding joy and being loving.

Original Publisher: B&H, 2022

Age Appropriateness: 4 & up

Formats other than Book: Tablet

Scripture Connections: There are many joyful sounds in the Christmas story. Those animals couldn’t have been quiet! And the choir of angels were the ultimate joyful noise! Also, Make a joyful noise… works well here (Psalm 100:1-5)

PBT Applications: Read this book at a Christmas day children’s church gathering. Remind all that the joy and rituals we experience this season are about God’s loving generosity. Talk about your audience's most joyful moments this season and help each find the gift God has given in each circumstance.

 

Picture Book: Who Sang the First Song?

Author: Ellie Holcomb

Illustrator: Kayla Harren

Summary: This book’s title question is directed at a group of children. In verse, it describes possibilities. Was the first song sung by the sun? Whales? Flowers? etc. Then it explains that God wrote the first song into everything and everyone. We and all creation are wonderfully made so let's sing our unique songs, while being who and what we were created to be. Good. Beautiful. A reflection of our Creator.

Hanna’s Comments: I like the possibilities that the first pages offer. These can lead to some imagination-fueled conversations. Ask what might the songs of birds say about God? When Holcomb dismisses ideas of earthly creations having  sung the first song, it's a bit jarring, but she quickly explains the goodness of creation and urges all to sing songs they were created to sing. If God sang the first song during creation, then God wrote God's own song into everything  and everyone. God's singing and our extraordinary songs continue. Psalm 150:6 exhorts all breathing creatures to praise God.

Original Publisher: B&H, 2018

Age Appropriateness: 4 & up

Formats other than Book: Tablet & and an album - Sing: Creation Songs

Scripture Connections: We are wonderfully made with an ever-present God to stir us into song (Psalm 139); Make a joyful noise… works well here too (Psalm 100:1-5); Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. (Psalm 150:6)

PBT Applications: Read this book to a group of children who are learning that worship can be noisy. And quiet. And even sad or angry as in a lament.

 

Picture Book: Don’t Forget to Remember

Author: Ellie Holcomb

Illustrator: Kayla Harren

Summary: The question that begins this book is Did you know creation is talking to you? What follows is encouragement to all to listen and remember what God teaches through creation. Creation might be heard anywhere. In the photo below, the ocean sings a reminder that God's love never ends. A sail is a metaphor for being filled with God. 

We can hear God's voice at anytime. Snowflakes whisper we too are unique. 

Each sunrise silently sings of God's loving presence. 

Hanna’s Comments: One of my favorite prayers begins, "New every morning is Your love, oh God of light. And all day long You are working for good in the world." This book reminds me of that assurance. Throughout this book implores us to be open to God's presence, listening to what God is singing and showing. 

Original Publisher: B&H, 2020

Age Appropriateness: 4 & up

Formats other than Book: Tablet & an album - Sing: Remembering Songs

Scripture Connections: The image above is a reminder of many scriptures in which God is said to be light (Isaiah 9:1, 1 John 1:5 are 2 examples). Other scriptures that would connect with this book are those about God's constant presence (i.e., Psalm 139:7-10) and instructions to listen (i.e., James 1:19) and remember (i.e., Psalm 103:2).

PBT Applications: Read this book to a group of young parents. Then spend time talking about what reminders of God they want their children to have and how they can encourage these while outside.

Another Dodd book for Christmas!

A while back, I enthusiastically told you about 9 of Emma Dodd’s books. Find that post HERE . She’s an author/illustrator of simple but profound books for young children. These larger than usual board books have a particular look. They are grounded in loving relationships. In fact, these books are in her series called “Love You Books.” This year she’s come out with a book about Christmas. Like the others, it is about animal families and secular - not about Jesus’ birth but about the season. It’s a snowy landscape so it’s for the northern hemisphere. Below you’ll see in which of my preschool lessons I recommend it.

Interested in learning more about Trinity Treasures, my scripture-based preschool Sunday school curriculum. It features picture books & children’s Bibles. Free lessons are emailed if you fill out the monthly feedback form. Contact me at hannaschock@bellsouth.net. 

Picture Book: Christmas is Joy

Author/Illustrator: Emma Dodd

Summary: A family of reindeer are celebrating Christmas in a snowy woods. The primary relationship is between a fawn and father,

but eventually you see the whole herd. Christmas gifting here may be more about snuggling and quality time than wrapped packages. Still humanlike seasonal responses abound. The book ends with an emphasis on the unity the family feels among the peaceful beauty that they share. It acknowledges that their unity and the beauty that surrounds them lasts well beyond Christmas.

Hanna’s Comments: This gorgeous book's celebratory tone has you almost hearing the giggly joy and feeling the crisp cool air! Joy abounds because of loving familial relationships. There is profound beauty in the snowy scenes and beauty in the strong connections among the reindeer. Be sure to linger there with your audience and claim the love that abounds in their own Christmas rituals with family, both biological and faith-based. Talk specifically about what love and joy look like this time of year in various places. Extend that conversation to concepts of peace, which you'll see mentioned in the last pages. See last photo below. 

Original Publisher: Candlewick Press, 2022

Age Appropriateness: Toddler and up

Formats other than Book: None at present

Scripture Connections: The Christmas scriptures are full of joy and love! To expand your focus, tie this story of wilderness living to scriptures about God's loving care when we find ourselves in chaotic stress and noise (aka the holiday season).

Connections to The Revised Common Lectionary: I listed this book in 3 of my Trinity Treasures preschool lessons for Advent (themes: Mary Sees & Sings, Jesus Teaches Love, Prepare the Way), 1 per year in the 3-year lectionary cycle.

PBT Applications: Before reading this book to a group of young elementary children, list for them the 5 Languages of Love (see Gary Chapman's adult books or  THIS BOOK  for children). Find what love languages you can among these pages. End by anticipating how your audience would be inclined to love more joyfully this Christmas season.

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.

Wonderfully Made Girls (Boys too!)

 

Here are 2 books with similar themes. Strong Suggestion: Don’t dismiss these books because there are only females in them. Your boys need to hear and will learn from books featuring only girls. Females have done this throughout literary history! Encourage your boys to use their inner voices to "translate" when necessary. Most experiences in these books will be applicable to all genders! 

There is a teachable moment here regarding the Jesus’ version of The Great Commandment which added strength to the ideas of loving God and neighbor. Tap into your boys' desire to have strong-loving minds and hearts so they will develop empathy for girls & women. That will benefit everyone! 

The 1st book is a particularly beautiful collection of diverse girls declaring female power. These declarations can be extrapolated to boys easily. 

The 2^nd book is silly and fun, but it’s rich with meaning. It's a story about choosing to be yourself, rather than pretending. Engage boys by asking how they like to dress and play in costume. There is a lot of potential here for children, teens, and adults, particularly with recent political issues regarding gender. 

Also, check out the PBT books I link to below that are similar in theme or content!

Picture Book: I Am Enough

Author: Grace Byers

Illustrator: Keturah A Bobo

Summary: This book is not a narrative. Instead it is a book of similes that describe what is LIKE us – (these beautiful young girls and all of us!). It begins, “Like the sun, I’m here to shine.” Here’s a favorite: “Like the rain, I’m here to pour and drip and fall until I’m full.” This simile deserves some group interpretation! Only girls are shown. Talk about that. Then note that their situations are not “girly” – whatever that means. 

Hanna’s Comments: These declarations emphasize loving who you are, but they also emphasize being kind and respectful to who other people are! Have your audience note how the girls are interacting. Then talk about what Godly attributes they see or ask what Jesus would think of their words and actions. Explore ideas of The Holy Spirit giving them strength and resilience. There is a lot of movement in these pages so you might read again with group gestures or a  simple dance.

 

Original Publisher: Balzer & Bray, 2018

Age Appropriateness: 3 and up

Formats other than Book: Tablet & Audio 

Picture Book: I’m Me!

Author: Sara Sheridan

Illustrator: Margaret Chamberlain

Summary: Little Imogene loves to play dress-up with her Auntie Sara! When she is greeted, it is clear that her auntie is ready to play. She keeps asking Imogen which world they will enter today. The double-page spreads become some of these imagined worlds and play-possibilities. Imogen keeps saying, "No. Today I want to be..." but then her auntie interrupts with another imaginary possibility. Finally, Imogen says that she wants to be... ME! The two playmates go have a grand and wonder - ful time at the park!

Hanna’s Comments: Practice reading this book for full impact. You want the drama of Imogen's words and your page-turning to have good effects. Ask your children about how feelings influence whether they want to pretend or be themselves in the real world. Be sure to remind them that God is always present in their imagined worlds and their real world. You might even want to talk about how God has given us humans particularly skillful imaginations for solving problems (think scientists & explorers) and for having fun (think writers & entertainers). If time allows, talk about how the practice of wonder leads people to think about God, God's world, and how we fit in to its beauty and joy.

Original Publisher: Chicken House, 2011

Age Appropriateness: 4 and up

Formats other than Book: None at present

For both books...

Scripture Connections: God created humankind in God's image (Genesis 1:27); I praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works. (Psalm 139: 14); ...the joy of the Lord is your strength. (Nehemiah 8:10); We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. (Romans 12:6); My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart. (Psalm 73:26); And other verses about strength in God and personal gifts from God. 

Connections to The Revised Common Lectionary: Both books are listed in my Trinity Treasures preschool curriculum for Year B in a lesson featuring Psalm 139.

PBT Applications: Read 1 or both of these books in an elementary Sunday school class. Talk about how Psalm 139 can be such a comfort when we are feeling unworthy and self-doubt creeps in OR when we are feeling lonely and we forget God is always with us. 

Links to similar PBT books:

Psalms for Young Children

When God Made Light

From Head to Toe God Made Me

Stand Tall Molly Lou Melon

Have Fun Molly Lou Melon

Emma Dodd books see When I Grow Up  or  Just Like You

When I Hold You

Baby Believer series see Psalms of Praise: A Movement Primer

All of Me: A Book of Thanks

If you are interested in learning more about my 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.

Paul's Letters

This unique book by a Caldecott-winning author-illustrator offers key messages from each of Paul's letters found in the Bible.

Picture Book: Paul Writes (a letter)

Author/Illustrator: Chris Raschka

Summary: Presented in the order found in the New Testament, some central ideas from these significant documents of early church history are presented, 1 book per double-page spread. They are beautifully rendered with water-color brushstrokes. Crucial words are emphasized with a larger red font. Colorful maps showing Paul’s travels are on the end pages. 

The text begins with an introduction explaining that Paul was

“a faithful and learned man... who began to believe in the story of the life and teachings of Jesus.”

Here are images of the 2 pages about Romans: 

At the end of the book, Raschka explains that Paul was “killed by his jailers with a sword.” He goes on to explain that a sword and book are historic symbols for Paul who changed the world by writing to his friends. 

Hanna’s Comments: I think there is too much information here to read in a traditional way. I would focus on no more than 3 of Paul’s books at a time. You might want to choose those books that get the least attention, such as Philemon, Titus, and the 2 Thessalonians. The author does give Paul credit for writing Hebrews. BUT he notes that “some biblical scholars doubt that Paul wrote Hebrews.” Raschka explains that he chose to summarize those verses in Hebrews that sounded like Paul. 

Original Publisher: Eerdmans Books, 2018

Age Appropriateness: 6 and up

Formats other than Book: Tablet

Scripture Connections: Specific scripture references are at the bottom of each page.

PBT Applications: Consider this a future PBT Grab & Go book! Little prep would be required. I don’t think preschoolers would find this book interesting, but there's rich potential for older church groups, even if you only show 1 double-page spread to discuss and build on. Consider having your participants build on this picture book experience by contemplating a letter they might want to be their legacy. These letters could be to their church or to someone else.  

Here are images of the 2 pages about Philippians: