Listen! It Might Be Joshua Bell!

Picture Book: The Man with the Violin

Author: Kathy Stinson

Illustrator: Dusan Petricic

Summary: Dylan and his mom hurry to the subway station. He is someone who notices things, but she does not. As they navigate the crowds, Dylan is struck by the sounds of a violinist. The music seems to be telling an exciting story! Then he hears “the saddest sound he has ever heard.” Dylan begs his mom to stop and listen, but she will not. He stretches their arms as long as possible to listen before they ride down the escalator. 

All day Dylan hears the music in his head! When he asks to return to the station, hoping the man will still be playing, Dylan’s mom asks, “What man?” That night, Dylan hears on the radio that the violinist he experienced is “one of the finest musicians in the world,” Joshua Bell, who played on “one of the most valuable violins ever made.” But still few people stopped to listen. Dylan now understands his strong response. He is swept up again, this time by the radio's recording of that morning’s music. AND this time, his mother listens and dances with him!

Hanna’s Comments: This book is a fictional story surrounding an actual event. Here is a link to a video of Joshua Bell’s performance in the Washington DC metro station on January 12, 2007. The book's last few pages have a bit about this event and Joshua Bell. The music Bell played that morning was a godly sound that Dylan couldn't forget. Talk about other kinds of godly sounds including other kinds of music and singing. Here are some possibilities: nature sounds, words of love, words that compel loving action, sounds that evoke positive memories, etc. Beforehand, contemplate godly sounds for yourself generally. Then you'll know what specific questions to prompt answers. 

Original Publisher: Annick Press, 2013

Age Appropriateness: 3 and up

Formats other than Book: Tablet

Scripture Connections: Eli told Samuel to return to bed and say, "Speak Lord, for your servant is listening. (1 Samuel 3:9); Be still and know that I am God." (Psalm 46:10); To answer before listening, that is folly and shame. (Proverbs 18:13); Jesus' transfiguration story in the 3 synoptic gospels (see next note);  Martha had a sister called Mary who sat at the Lord's feet listening. (Luke 10:39); Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry. (James 1:19)

Connections to The Revised Common Lectionary: I listed this book in Trinity Treasures (my preschool curriculum based on the RCL & picture books) for 1 of the Transfiguration lessons. In that particular lesson, I focused on listening, because the disciples are instructed by God to listen to Jesus. 

PBT Applications: Read this book to tweens or teens and talk about godly sounds. If they will not respond well to a picture book, begin a story this way: Once there was a student who had to rush to school each morning.... They will all relate! Do give the author credit for the story. Show the video and then begin a discussion as described above in my comments.

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.

Grab & Go #14 – Have You Filled a Bucket Today?

A PBT Grab & Go book requires little planning because its content aligns obviously with theological ideas from The Bible. Bucket Filling is all about love. There are numerous resources, including other picture books, about the concept of bucket filling as a metaphor for the importance of loving attention. I've scattered a few covers of some of those resources in this repeated post from 2014. 

Picture Book: Have You Filled a Bucket Today?                                                     A Guide to Daily Happiness for Kids

Author: Carol McCloud

Illustrator: David Messing

Summary: Based on the adult book How Full is Your Bucket? by Tom Rath and Donald O. Clifton, this picture book puts those authors’ ideas in an inviting format for children. The guiding metaphor here is that each of us has been carrying an invisible bucket since birth. The purpose of the bucket is to hold good thoughts and feelings about yourself. You need others to fill your bucket by being loving to you, and they need you to fill their bucket by being loving to them. What’s wonderful is that the act of filling someone else’s bucket fills your bucket as well. You feel good when you help others feel good. However, you might sometimes be a “bucket dipper.” Bucket dipping occurs when you take away someone’s good feelings by saying or doing mean things to them.

Hanna’s Comments:  I chose this "bucket" book because it teaches children how to fill others’ buckets and focuses on how our actions influence others’ well-being. This is an important aspect of any faith community. Another strength of this book is the way in which it teaches empathy, an important skill for personal resilience and functional community. Find an introduction by the author. For more information and resources including free downloads, visit www.bucketfillers101.com.

Publisher & Date of Publication: Ferne Press, 2006

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

Formats other than Book: Tablet, Amateur videos on Youtube.com where there is also a song about being bucket fillers.

Scripture Connections: This is my commandment that you love one another (John 15:12); rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep (Romans 12:15); be kind to one another (Ephesians 4:32); all of you have unity of mind, sympathy, love, a tender heart and a humble mind

Idea(s) for Application: Read this book when doing a lesson for children on your faith community’s loving interdependence and God's call to live in this way.

Healing

After re-posting on Monday a beautiful book about a flood, I thought I’d follow up with a profound book about healing. Aspects of healing are as varied and multifaceted as the people who must endure. Because the following book is child-like, you might assume it only appropriate for children. Instead, consider how this simple book can gently welcome conversations about healing in many contexts and for people of all ages. The story is mostly told through images so be sure to give ample time to show your audience the many illustrations. 

Picture Book: How to Heal a Broken Wing

Author & Illustrator: Bob Graham 

Summary: In a crowded city, 

no one sees a bird slam into a sky scraper and fall. 

It lands in the middle of a city square.

No one sees it lying near their rushing feet. 

But when Will and his mother enter from the subway 

and cross the square, Will sees the bird and immediately breaks away from the security of his mother’s hand 

to go to the hurt bird. 

He picks it up 

just as his mother comes for him.  

Seeing its broken wing, she wraps it in her scarf and places it in her purse, a makeshift nest. Meanwhile, Will retrieves a feather, just in case. 

They turn around and take the bird home, errand forgotten. 

Upon arrival, Will’s father is concerned. 

When Will gives him the feather, Will's father explains that “a loose feather can’t be put back…” 

“but a broken wing can sometimes heal.” 

The family finds a new bandage, a box, and a food dish. 

With tender, loving care they help the bird begin to heal. Both Will and bird rest well that night. 

The loving family gets a bird cage, and places it on the window sill so the bird doesn’t forget its possibilities and bird friends. 

Healing takes time so days are marked with a calendar and the moon’s phases. 

Time passes and eventually, the bandage is removed and flying practice begins. 

The first try doesn’t go well. 

But hope is not lost. 

After more healing (and likely flying practice) they decide to take the bird back to the place where Will found it, encouragement to fly high again. 

They travel back to the city square, but not before Will retrieves the lone feather, just in case. 

Will takes the bird, lifts and opens his hands,… 

and the bird is off! The family watches as it soars to heights 

and leaves them with a small reminder.

Hanna’s Comments: As I hear of the suffering in Texas, Louisiana, India, and Niger, I have thought often of my friend, Trudi Mullens, who lost her house and all its contents in Hurricane Katrina. So many veterans of storms are haunted by these present devastations. When you live through trauma, healing lasts a lifetime. Most of us are on a healing journey so a picture book about healing is for everyone. Trudi told me something profound about how tragedy always feels personal, even when it’s not, as in a natural disaster. I know this is true. Perhaps this tendency to take it personally explains why the healing journey is so long. Three weeks after the storm, when a group of strangers, a “mud out” crew, came to her home to drag away its contents and sheet rock, Trudi had a surprising rush of tears. She was no longer alone. This was a next healing step in Trudi’s long healing journey. She was to learn that healing is best done in community, community that realizes there are few quick fixes and long listening is crucial. Like in this picture book, time, tenderness, and attention are required. And like the family in this story who stands at the window with the bird, hope grounds healing for everyone involved. May it be so for all those who need healing today and all who love them.

Original Publisher & Date: Candlewick Press, 2008

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

Formats other than Book: None at present

Scripture Connections: And now, O Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in you. (Psalm 39:7); Those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength (Isaiah 40:11); I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous hand. (Isaiah 41:10) Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1)

Idea(s) for Application: Read this book to any group of people in your faith family and explore aspects of healing and hope. 

The Mysteries of an Elephant

Today’s post is not typical of PBT. I’m featuring 2 books based on an ancient Indian tale traditionally called The Parable of the Blind Men and the Elephant.

I’ll explore why either of these books would be fun and beneficial for a faith family. The labels at the bottom of this post will give you some ideas as well. You might even find another picture book based on this tale. Separately, I’ll give you some details for both books. The first book featured would be more appropriate for preschoolers or young elementary children. The second book attributes the story to Rumi, a wonderful 13^th century Persian poet who wrote The Elephant in the Dark as a part of a lengthy book of poems. 

This elephant parable is about the human tendency to make judgments and argue based on our limited experiences and perspectives. Both experience and perspective are crucial, but they can be misleading and righteous judgments can cause division. 

Faith families struggle with these issues. Too often people of faith think they have God all figured out when they simply have projected their experiences and perspective onto a limited image of God. Divisions are often due to such stalwart and narrow thinking. This old story is applied to theology often. In his most recent book about The Holy Trinity, The Divine Dance, Father Richard Rohr says, "We are like blind people touching the side of an elephant, describing the tiny portion we feel with all the conviction we can muster."

Delving in to this human tendency would be beneficial for children and adults in your faith family, but let them decide what the story is telling them about human nature. Don't impose onto them your interpretation of the book or you'll be demonstrating this human tendency yourself! 

Picture Book: Seven Blind Mice

Author & Illustrator: Ed Young

Summary: One by one, seven blind mice explore a strange "something." After each excursion, the mouse gives a different explanation. It’s a pillar…

It’s a snake…

It's a fan...

and so on until the 7^th mouse manages to investigate the whole elephant and declares what it truly is.

This book ends with a “Mouse Moral”

Knowing in part may make a fine tale,

but wisdom comes from seeing the whole.

Original Publisher & Date: Puffin, 2002

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

Formats other than Book: Tablet, Audio

Scripture Connections: Trust God; don’t try to lean on your own understanding (Proverbs 3:5); … but some doubted (Matthew 28: 17b); If I understand all mysteries but do not love, I am nothing (1 Corinthians 13:2) 

Picture Book: Elephant in the Dark:                                                                 Based on a Poem by Rumi

Retold: Mina Javaherbin

Illustrator: Eugene Yelchin 

Summary: Rumi’s poetic tale The Three Blind Men and the Elephant is beautifully illustrated here. 

Villagers hear of a magnificent creature that has been brought from India by a traveling merchant. 

When they confront the merchant and demand to see the creature, he tells them to let him sleep. 

The villagers decide to inspect the creature themselves.

One by one, several people sneak into the dark barn where the creature is being kept, but they inspect the creature only in part and with haste.

One man says it’s like a snake. 

After wrapping his arms around the elephant's leg,

one man says it's a tree. 

The elephant's ear 

convinces a woman it's a fan. 

This results in lots of arguing and name calling and even shouting and shoving. 

When the merchant arises and parades the awesome elephant through the village, the villagers are too busy fighting to notice the stunning creature or realize how wrong they are. 

But, the children notice and are fascinated! 

This book has in the back an Author's Note and an Illustrator's Note. Check them out before reading to your audience.

Original Publisher & Date: Scholastic, 2015

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

Formats other than Book: Tablet

Scripture Connections: Trust in the Lord; do not lean on your own understanding (Proverbs 3:5-8); … but some doubted (Matthew 28: 17b); If I reveal all God’s mysteries but don’t love, I am nothing (1 Corinthians 13:2)