A Picture Book a Day for a Year: Day 200

Picture Book: Bread Comes to Life: A Garden of Wheat and a Loaf to Eat

Author: George Levenson

Photographer: Shmuel Thaler

Summary: This informative book in verse illustrates with vivid photographs the stages from sowing the wheat grass seed all the way to slicing the bread. In the back is more information about wheat, including a recipe for baking bread.   

Hanna’s Comments: I didn’t know until I saw the photo in this book that “each new grain of harvest wheat looks just like loaf to eat.” It really does! Bread is such a ubiquitous part of cultures all over the world, sacred and secular. Helping children understand its source and steps necessary before they bite into a slice will help them appreciate its value at home, school, church, and all over the world. 

Here's another picture book about bread. I like this one because it emphasizes how a large variety of bread is eaten throughout the world. 

Publisher & Date of Publication: Tricycle Press, 2004

Age & 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: Nonfiction, Post 2K

PBT Topics this Book Connects with: abundance/bounty, blessings, body of Christ, bonds/connections, communion/Eucharist, eggs/seeds, feasting/food/hunger/nutrition, gardening/planting/pruning/sowing, God’s care/providence, harvest, labor/work, manna, memories/remembering/ritual/tradition, at table, temptations, time/timing/over time, transformation, worship

Scripture Connections: Go eat your bread with joy (Ecclesiastes 9:7); man shall not live by bread alone (Matthew 4:4); various communion scriptures found in all 4 gospels; because there is one loaf, we who are many are one body for we all partake of one bread (1 Corinthians 10:17)

Idea(s) for Application: Consider using this book when teaching children about communion practices or the symbolism of Body of Christ. Do some baking in the room beforehand so the children can experience the bread in multi-sensory ways.

A Picture Book a Day for a Year: Day 168

Terrific Trio: Book 3 

Picture Book: The Fall of Freddie the Leaf: A Story of Life for All Ages

Author: Leo Buscaglia

Photographs from multiple photographers are used in this book.

Summary: Freddie and his other leaf friends enjoy hanging from their tree and watching the people below. He especially enjoys Daniel, the largest and wisest leaf on his branch. Daniel explains things to Freddie like the concept of purpose. Freddie’s purpose is to make things more pleasant for others like giving shade. When the first frost comes, Daniel continues to explain the autumn changes, the new colors, and the falling of the leaves in the wind. Daniel says, “It’s the time for leaves to change their home. Some people call it to die.” Freddie pours out his fears to Daniel as they watch their friends fall, but Daniel reassures Freddie with a reminder that he didn’t mind the other natural changes the seasons had brought. Freddie’s questions continue until Daniel lets go and says, “Goodbye for now, Freddie.” The only leaf on the branch, Freddie clings to the tree even into the first snowfall. When a breeze takes him from the tree, Freddie is able to see the whole tree for the first time and is proud to be a part of something so strong and beautiful. He lands on a clump of snow and peacefully falls asleep not realizing that plans of spring, in which he will have a part, have already begun.

Hanna’s Comments: Buscalia was one of the first American educators who spoke of the importance of talking about death and dying. This book helped me realize the power of picture books, even for adults, for grappling with difficult subjects in a way that was less threatening and consoling. My own father died of cancer just a year after this publication; this book was a comfort to me as it has been for thousands since its publication. Buscaglia’s dedication reads: “To all children who have ever suffered a permanent loss and to the grownups who could not find a way to explain it. “

Publisher & Date of Publication: Charles B. Stack, 1982

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

# of Pages: 32

Available in Spanish? Not at present

Formats other than Book: Audio cassette, Several video versions are on Youtube.com.  

PBT Category: Pre 2K

PBT Topics this Book Connects with: anxiety/worry, death/loss/grief, endings, fear, flowers/leaves/trees, life, purpose, questioning/questions, reassurance, time/timing/over time, wisdom

Scripture Connections: Dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it (Ecclesiastes 12:7); whoever believes in Him will not die (John 3:16); he will wipe away every tear… death shall be no more (Revelation 21:4)

Idea(s) for Application: This would be a perfect book for a pastor to read to the children and adults in a family who has experienced a death. Theological details that match your faith can be easily added to the conversation as you read.

A Picture Book a Day for a Year: Day 68

Picture Book: The Giving Tree
Author & Illustrator: Shel Silverstein 

Summary: “Once there was a tree and she loved a little boy.” So begins the story of a lifelong relationship. At first the 2 friends delightfully play together, but as the boy grows, he is often absent, his desires change, and the tree sacrifices parts of herself so that he will be happy. But he doesn’t stay happy. Eventually the tree is just a stump, and the boy is an old man, once again satisfied with just her company. “And the tree was happy.”

Hanna’s Comments: This tender story of loving sacrifice was introduced to me at church camp as a teen. When asked about an example of a secular picture book with potential for ministry, this is usually the example I offer. All those years ago, I viewed this story as a metaphor for Jesus’ crucifixion. As a parent, this story seems all too familiar. Introduce the youth & children in your faith community to the power of Silverstein’s illustrations and storytelling. Then offer your own interpretations and listen to those of your audience.

Publisher & Date of Publication: Harper & Row, 1964                

Age and Grade Appropriateness:  6 and up, 1 and up

# of Pages: 64
Available in Spanish? Yes, and there is a Hebrew version

Formats other than Book: tablet, audio CD, videos on Youtube

PBT Category:  Classic

PBT Topics this Book Connects with: affection, bonds/connections, brokenness, care of creation, commitment, consumerism/consumption/riches, disabilities/handicaps/limitations, the environment/nature, flowers/leaves/trees, friends/friendship, generosity/giving/offering/stewardship, gifts/giftedness/talents, God’s care/providence, God’s nature, growing up/growth, helping, hospitality, humanity, kindness, loneliness, love, manna, parents/parental love, perseverance, relationships, sacrifice, steadfastness, time/timing/over time, transformation, treasure, unity, victims

Scripture Connections: Christ died for us (Romans 5:8); the sacrificial willingness of Mary, mother of Jesus (Luke 1:38); present your bodies as a living sacrifice (Romans 12:1-2)

Idea(s) for Application: Use this book in a lesson on how relationships, particularly our relationship with God, offer life-long satisfaction in contrast to the short-term pleasures of consumerism.