PBT Redux Series #8 - Ruth and the Green Book

To continue my series in which I post again some of the best PBT books published in this century, I chose a story from American history that I believe the whole world should know. This picture book will offer another opportunity to explore how spiritual values can be tied to important historical phenomena. This book also reminds Americans how things used to be here. I believe remembering our history (especially our mistakes) is especially important politically and spiritually.

My impetus for posting this particular book today is an announcement I heard on Central Alabama's public radio WBHM. A play has opened in Birmingham that explores the relationship between black people and Jewish people during segregation. Highlighted in this drama is The Green Book, the title of the play and a publication for African Americans who were traveling through the segregated south. The WBHM article explains that The Green Book was inspired by a similar book published for Jews. Here's the story I heard and details about the play if you'd like to learn more. Below is my previous PBT post describing a fabulous picture book which tells the importance of The Green Book through the eyes of a young girl. 

Picture Book: Ruth and the Green Book

Author: Calvin Alexander Ramsey with Gwen Strauss

Illustrator: Floyd Cooper

Summary: Ruth is excited because she and her parents are driving from Chicago to Alabama to visit her grandmother. It’s the 1950s so before the trip, Ruth’s mother spends days cooking meals knowing there will be few restaurants willing to serve Negros. After being rejected from various gas stations, hotels, and restaurants, Ruth’s family spends the night it their car. Eventually they learn to look for Esso stations where they will be welcomed. At one Esso, they purchase The Negro Motorist Green Book, a guide to places that would welcome black travelers. Ruth learns to use the book and is so happy to experience the hospitality of fellow African Americans.

Hanna’s Comments: I am a passionate advocate of the spiritual practice of hospitality so I especially loved the part of this story where Ruth’s family is welcomed into a “tourist home.” These were homes listed in The Green Book where travelers were warmly welcomed, in this case for no charge and a fun night’s sleep. In the back of the book, find The History of The Negro Motorist Green Book. 2014 was the 50^th anniversary of the Civil Rights Bill which outlawed Jim Crow Laws and therefore also the anniversary of the last edition of The Green Book. Thank goodness, this book is now a relic of the last century and no longer necessary for black individuals to comfortably travel for long distances. It is my prayer that families in our country will never have to travel in fear, surrounded by hatred.

Original Publisher & Date: Scholastic, 2010

Age & Grade Appropriateness: 6 and up, 1^st and up

Formats other than Book: Tablet

Scripture Connections: Treat the stranger as the native among you (Leviticus 19:34); the Good Samaritan parable (Luke 10:30-37); seek to show hospitality (Romans 12:13); do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers (Hebrews 13:2); show hospitality to one another (1 Peter 4:9)

Idea(s) for Application: Use this picture book in a lesson or sermon on how scripture, like The Green Book, can be a comfort, a safety net, and a guide. Also, consider that the author of The Green Book might have been inspired by God’s desires for humans to be safe and hospitable in all situations.

A Picture Book a Day for a Year: Day 262

Picture Book: On Earth

Author & Illustrator: G. Brian Karas

Summary: In this smart picture book, the author/illustrator depicts our Earth in a way that young children can easily understand. Although the children on Earth’s surface are shown to be about the side of a small country, your young audience won’t mind. They’ll be gleaning important scientific concepts to help them visualize and understand our vast and well-designed solar system and the forces that affect them.  Concepts such as the Earth’s rotation, revolution around the sun, and our place among our planetary neighbors are wonderfully shown. Daylight moves from shadow into night. Seasons in both hemispheres are explained, and months are delineated. Gravity is given the credit it is due, and key concepts are defined on the last page.

Hanna’s Comments: This book would be great to read to a group of young students in a homeschool or private school where beliefs in God’s creation can be paired with some basic planetary science. Focus on the beauty and awe we have when personally discovering and considering these extraordinary gifts from God. Then consider talking about our God-given responsibility for caretaking and conservation of Earth and Earth’s resources.

Publisher & Date of Publication: G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 2005

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: Non-fiction

PBT Topics this Book Connects with: abundance/bounty, awe, beauty, creation, dependence/interdependence, directions/maps, geography, heaven/sky, home, humanity, land/mountains/soil, life, moon/space/stars/sun, wonder

Scripture Connections: In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1:1); he set the earth on its foundations (Psalm 104:5); You, Lord, laid the foundations of the earth in the beginning, and the heavens are the work of your hands (Hebrews 1:10)

Idea(s) for Application: Read this book to a group of young children who are just beginning to understand God’s creation, our human home, and our place in the solar system.

A Picture Book a Day for a Year: Day 136

Picture Book: Ruth and the Green Book

Author: Calvin Alexander Ramsey with Gwen Strauss

Illustrator: Floyd Cooper

Summary: Ruth is excited because she and her parents are driving from Chicago to Alabama to visit her grandmother. It is the 1950’s so before the trip, Ruth’s mother spends days cooking meals knowing there will be few restaurants willing to serve Negros. As they are rejected from various gas stations, hotels, and restaurants and spend the night in their car, they eventually learn to look for Esso gas stations where they will be welcomed. At one of these stations, they purchase The Negro Motorist Green Book, a guide to places that would welcome black travelers. Ruth learns to use the book and is so happy to experience the hospitality of fellow African Americans. Eventually she makes it to the loving arms of her grandmother.

Hanna’s Comments: I am a passionate advocate of the practice of hospitality so I especially loved the part of this story where Ruth’s family is welcomed into a “tourist home.” These were homes listed in The Green Book where travelers were warmly welcomed, in this case for no charge. In the back of the book you’ll find The History of The Negro Motorist Green Book. 2014 was the 50^th anniversary of the Civil Rights Bill which outlawed Jim Crow laws and therefore also the anniversary of the last edition of The Green Book. Thank goodness this book is now a relic of last century and no longer necessary for families of color to comfortably travel for long distances.  

Publisher & Date of Publication: Scholastic, 2010

Age & Grade Appropriateness: 6 and up, 1^st and up

# of Pages: 32

Available in Spanish? Not at present

Formats other than Book: Tablet, Amateur videos on Youtube.com

PBT Category: Post 2K

PBT Topics this Book Connects with: bonds/connections, bullying/martyrs/persecution/oppression, civil rights, community, conflict, dependence/interdependence, difference, directions/maps, exclusion/inclusion, geography, hospitality, injustice, journeys/pilgrimages/migrations/quests, race relations/racism, safe place/sanctuary, segregation, social justice, travel, veterans

Scripture Connections: Treat the stranger as the native among you (Leviticus 19:34); the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:30-37); seek to show hospitality (Romans 12:13); do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers (Hebrews 13:2); show hospitality to one another (1 Peter 4:9)

Idea(s) for Application: Use this in a lesson or sermon on how Holy Scripture, like The Green Book, can be a comfort, a safety net, and a guide. Also, consider that the author of The Green Book might have been inspired by God's desires for humans to be safe and hospitable in all situations.