Iowa Presentation: Book #4

At the Iowa CEF conference, I shared one of my favorite picture books. I love it because it's both ridiculous and full of scripture connections! Share it with your faith family.

Picture Book: The Bear and the Piano

Author & Illustrator: David Litchfield 

Summary: This beautiful picture book involves a bear cub discovering a piano in a forest. 

He is intrigued by the sound the pressed keys make and experiments. Years later, he plays beautifully and a forest audience forms. The bear is happy and dreams of “strange and wonderful lands.”  

When a young girl and her father, hear the music and discover the artist, they lure him to the city to experience and play music . There he can perform for bigger crowds!

He is a great success, winning fame and awards. He realizes all he had hoped for in the city, but he misses the forest and his friends. 

He returns to the forest and anxiously looks for friends to tell of his success. When the piano is not where he expects, he worries that his friends have forgotten him or were hurt that he left. After encountering another bear who runs away, he follows while apologizing for leaving. Then he finds the piano. 

Behind it is an altar of sorts, with memorabilia of his musical success. The bear realizes that his earliest audience members were watching from afar and hoping for him to have success and fulfill his dreams.

Hanna’s Comments: I love this beautifully absurd book! There is so much here about the God-given desire we have to explore, create, and experience art & beauty. When you discuss this book with children or adults, don’t just focus on the bear character. Have your audience consider the perspectives of the forest audience, the daughter, and others who encourage the bear’s success in the city. Might you consider the piano similar to the burning bush? This book also relates to the homecoming of The Prodigal Son. He doesn't have to be presented as a negative character. All of us go away from our home in one way or another. Also, there's Abraham & Sarah's journey away from home and God's promise that they will be blessed to be a blessing. In a discussion with adults, end with the question, "What's your piano?"

Original Publisher & Date: Clarion, 2015

Age & Grade Appropriateness: 4 and up, Pre and up
Formats other than Book: Tablet
Scripture Connections: Made in God's image (Genesis 1:27); Abraham & Sarah leave home - blessed to be a blessing (Genesis 12:1-5); Jacob leaves home and then returns unsure (Genesis 33:1-17); The Great Commandment  (Deuteronomy 6:5, Mark 12:31); Make a joyful noise (Psalm 100:1); Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25: 14-30); the homecoming of The Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32); As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another as good stewards of God's varied grace (1 Peter 4:10)
Idea(s) for Application: Read this book to a group of elementary students or confirmands who are learning about how human artistry is the result of God’s image in us so that we may create for joy and problem solving. You can also explore the importance of a supportive community to help us realize who we are supposed to be. Adults would enjoy this book in a small group or team who is considering ways to contribute to the Kingdom of God through artistry or support of the arts. 

A Surprising Heaven

Here in The States, we have a holiday coming up. Summer holidays are often celebrated outside in community. This picture book is about one neighborhood's strange, unexpected gift. One young leader helps them choose to be open to its possibilities and come together to bring about positive change. It has all sorts of applications for faith communities too!  

Picture Book: A Bus Called Heaven

Author & Illustrator: Bob Graham

Summary: This story begins at little Stella’s house where an abandoned bus appears with no explanation.  

Taped on the front is a hand-painted saying “Heaven.” The community stops their hurrying by and gathers to puzzle over this strange gift. Stella says it's as sad as an abandoned whale. 

She goes inside and finds trash, debris, and possibilities. 

Stella says to her neighbors, "It could be ours." 

Stella's mom determines that it needs to come off the road so together they roll it into Stella's yard, but it still sticks out some. 

 Heaven becomes a gathering place for conversation 

 and play. 

 There is work to do: clearing & scrubbing.

After some graffiti artists leave their mark, they are recruited to "make the whole bus sparkle." 

 Stella gives them some of her art to copy. 

Then the neighbors bring donations including a Table Soccer set. Now Heaven is homey, 

and yummy.

Soon Heaven becomes a second home for neighbors who had never spent all that much time together. Life returns to the bus. 

Sharing and caring soars. There's music, dancing, picnics, and laughter until... 

 another surprise arrives.

Because Heaven sticks out onto the sidewalk, it must be towed. 

A question arises from the crowd:   

 They follow Heaven to a new home and lament. 

The junkyard boss shows the regulation, "Thou shalt not park on the street," and proclaims that Heaven is headed to the crusher.    

Stella challenges the driver to a Table Soccer game. If she wins, she gets the bus. 

 Victory!  

After showing the driver, a new family of birds living in Heaven's engine, the driver explains the bus must be moved to a private space. 

Little Stella has an idea and all push Heaven to a new home in the vacant lot behind Stella's house.    

 All are worn out, but they're worn out together. 

Once they recoup, there is music and dancing! Heaven for sure! 

Hanna’s Comments: A community is transformed, and a little girl finds her voice. Concepts of heaven and the Kingdom of God are all over this book as are allusions to the early Christian church's inclination to share and Jesus' teachings about loving neighbor. All of these ideas are potential for great conversation with a group of children or adults in loving faith community. If you have a big change, here's a tool for exploring meaning and possibility. If your group needs to be motivated to invest in their surroundings, this book could begin a conversation. Be specific about the differences the bus made for individuals, not just the group. Also, talk about creative problem solving being sourced by God. Emphasize the kindness and gentleness modeled in these pages as opposed to the rudeness we sometimes see in the media and even in communities of faith. 

Original Publisher & Date: Candlewick, 2011

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

Formats other than Book: None at present 

Scripture Connections: Two are better than one (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12); a little child shall lead them (Isaiah 11:6); Love your neighbor as yourself (Leviticus 19:18, Matthew 22:37-40, Mark 12:31, 1 John 4:7), Loving community (Acts 2; Hebrews 10:24-25)

Idea(s) for Application: Read this book to a group of adult leaders in a church who are dealing with a significant change. 

Counting, Counting, Counting

On Monday, I featured the newest book by these 2 religious leaders. Today’s book is a creative retelling of 3 jewels of The New Testament. Sometimes called The Lost Parables, this book considers a different emphasis from the concept of loss. Additionally, the 3 stories are beautifully rendered in a modern context. 

Picture Book: Who Counts?                                                                                    100 Sheep, 10 Coins, and 2 Sons

Authors: Amy-Jill Levine & Sandy Eisenberg Sasso

Illustrator: Margaux Meganck

Summary: As in Luke, there are 3 separate stories. The first is of a modern sheep farmer. He counts his sheep often. One day he discovers one sheep is missing. He searches and searches. The sheep is glad to be found and returned to the flock! The farmer is so relieved, he throws a party!

The next story has a woman with 10 prized coins. She enjoys counting them. One day she is shocked to realize that a coin is missing. 

She searches and sweeps. Finally the missing coin is found! At the party she throws to celebrate, she explains "Just one coin matters. Without it, something is missing. Now my coin collection is complete." The Prodigal Son story begins as expected. A youngest son spends his inheritance in a faraway place. When the money is gone, he must get work with a farmer feeding pigs. After he realizes the pigs are eating better than he is, he decides to go home, confess his mistake, and offer to work hard for his father. Despite his shabby appearance, the father happily runs to greet the son. The loving father gives the son new clothes, new shoes, and even a new ring. With great joy, the father invites his neighbors to come celebrate, 

but "when the father counted everyone who had come to the party, he realized that one person was missing." After recognizing his neglect, the father runs out to explain his joy to his older son and urges his son to join them. The older son complains that his devotion hasn't led to a party. The father confesses: "I have two sons - one, two. I paid attention to my younger son, but I discounted my older son. I didn't realize that he felt lost." 

In all of 3 stories, the emphasis is on all being together - a complete set, in the last story - all together as a complete family. 
Hanna’s Comments: My favorite aspect of this book is its focus on completeness. In the 3rd story, the one "who counts" is the older son who is missing from the party. Certainly the idea of loss is here, but completion is primary. I suggest you tie this to God's desires for  shalom. Shalom is more than peace. It's wholeness. As in Monday's book, the Note to Parents and Teachers at the end is very valuable. It explains how these parables have been misinterpreted and their new focus on completeness. You'll also find a great list of questions. 

Original Publisher & Date: Westminster John Knox Press, 2017

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

Formats other than Book: None at present

Scripture Connections: The 3 “Lost Parables” of Jesus are found in Luke 15. The Parable of the Lost Sheep is also found at Matthew 1:12-14.

Idea(s) for Application: Read this book in 1 session or 3, depending on your audience’s attention span, in order to explore the meaning behind these stories of Jesus. Emphasize the theme that everyone counts, everyone makes a difference, unless all are present, there is not wholeness. 

Mustard Seeds are Marvelous!

This and the next PBT post feature a couple of authors who bring with their picture books a great deal of substance and authority. Levine is a Professor of New Testament & Jewish Studies at Vanderbilt University. Sasso is a well-known rabbi and author of many books for adults and children. You’ll find my favorite Sasso picture book in a couple of versions [here] at PBT. My photos below are from a pre-publication copy of this book so they may not match what you find.

Picture Book: The Marvelous Mustard Seed

Author: Amy-Jill Levine & Sandy Eisenberg Sasso

Illustrator: Margaux Meganck

Summary: This book is based on the parable Jesus tells about a mustard seed. Together two children plant a seed that has great potential even though it is very tiny. They tend it in rain and shine. All it's really good for is planting. No matter the weather, it will grow.  

The critters in the soil see it growing. This tiny seed becomes an amazing tree where birds nest, people marvel, and all enjoy it and each other. Some people touch this great tree to be assured that it's real while others simply enjoy its shade. The marvelous thing about this tree is that it has so many uses. Besides its beauty, shade, and gathering space, its pods can make spices and its leaves and seeds can make medicine. This tree is a symbol of The Kingdom of God, growing and growing, and growing! Now you can't miss it! 

The Kingdom of God is a great big surprise and marvelous wonder! Like this extraordinary tree, it leads us to "imagine what can be."

Hanna’s Comments:  The scholarly grounding of these 2 authors becomes obvious in their Note to Parents and Teachers at the end. Be sure to read it. They explore the concept of parables and how they would have been received when Jesus spoke. They offer some of the many interpretations of this parable. Then they list a series of questions and ideas to consider with your audience.

Original Publisher & Date: Flyaway Books, 2018

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

Formats other than Book: None at present

Scripture Connections: Jesus’ parable of the mustard seed is found in Matthew 13:31-32, Mark 4:30-32, and Luke 13:18-19. The Matthew and Luke passages mention the seed becoming a tree.

Idea(s) for Application: Read this book to a group of any age or use it in a children's sermon experience to explore the meaning of the parable of the mustard seed. 

Fruit of the Spirit: Love

This is the last of the books highlighting one of the Fruits of the Spirit listed by Paul in Galatians. It’s a great book to end on because love under-girds all the ways God inspires us to add to the kindom (sic). If one of your parents are due a gift soon, consider this story of messy but rewarding parental love. I have a couple of more general books to feature. Then I’ll give you a handy list of all the books in this series with links to their posts.

Picture Book: Love is…

Author: Diane Adams

Illustrator: Claire Keane

Summary: This is a common story of a love found, invested in, freed, and then returned. The verses have a simple structure of declaring what love is while telling of a girl, her unexpected pet, and the difficult decision she makes at year's end. It begins subtly on the title page with a baby duck being distracted from its mother because of a butterfly. 

Then the opportunity for love begins the verses, "Love is… holding something fragile, tiny wings and downy head.” 

The hard work of love is comically portrayed again 

and again in ways your children will enjoy. 

Comfort and companionship is central to this relationship! 

Joy and purpose are throughout. 

As the duckling grows, it's troublesome ways grow also. 

Common human experiences incorporate the little duckling in surprising ways. 

So many of these illustrations will directly relate to raising human children, 

like playing Hide & Seek 

and pushing to new heights and strengths with growing bodies. 

Some situations won't translate to typical childhood messes. 

As months go by, this little mother struggles with the limits of her parenting. Between the poetic lines are confusing questions of freedom versus protection. 

Later in the park, she lets her duckling decide. 

I especially appreciate the verbs in this text: nudging, tugging, coaxing, getting to the edge, hoping, and letting. These capture the active work of good loving

and the heartbreak it inevitably encompasses. 

Absence is felt in the words and the illustrations as the girl longs for her duck.  

The seasons change and hope is revived. 

Here love watches, wonders, waves  

remembers and... 

grows!

Hanna’s Comments: This may be a common story, but it’s a story that children will never tire of experiencing because it is so relatable. They can consider how they have been nurtured and be encouraged to develop their own nurturing skills. Pets are obvious subjects of such skill building, but be sure to broaden your conversation to ways of nurturing other human beings and even groups such as your faith family. This kind of loving loyalty is crucial for the future. Also, the theme of letting go that is central to this story is an important one for children. Spend some time on how hard that is for parents and their children. Connect these milestones to stories in scripture and popular media. Lastly, emphasize the joy that is even present in the required work and inevitable difficulties of nurturing and letting go.

Original Publisher & Date: Chronicle Books, 2017

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

Formats other than Book: Tablet

Scripture Connections: In addition to The Fruit of the Spirit verses in Galatians 5:22-23 and stories of biblical parenting such as Jesus' separation from his parents or Hannah's letting go of Samuel… love your neighbor as yourself (Leviticus 19:18); A new commandment I give you that you love one another (John 13:34); The Love Chapter (1 Corinthians 13); Let all you do be done in love. (1 Corinthians 16:14); Above all these, put on love which binds everything together (Colossians 3:14); Above all, keep loving one another earnestly (1 Peter 4:8)

Idea(s) for Application: Read this book to a group of children and talk about how love is the foundation of all sorts of nurturing, risk-taking, longing, and adventure. Tie these to the building of God’s kindom (sic) and a better world for everyone.