Sacred Places x 2

The picture books below are unusual for PBT. Typically, I connect secular books to scriptures or spiritual ideas derived from texts in the Old or New Testaments. The books below are about sacred places in a variety of religious contexts. They are both beautiful and informative and therefore worth exploring for possible applications in ministry settings and classrooms where various religions can be freely discussed.

Picture Book: Sacred Places

Author: Jane Yolen

Illustrator: David Shannon

Summary: Fortunately, this book begins with a simple map of the world for locating each of the 12 religious sites (some ancient, some both ancient and still in use). 

Additionally, you'll find an introductory painting and poem that introduces the idea of a sacred place. A similar poem ends the book. 

What follows is a series of groups of 3: a painting of a sacred site/practice, a poem, and a symbol specific to that religion. Here are some of my favorite paintings: The Wailing Wall in Jerusalem, 

Stonehenge,  

Ganga (Ganges River) in India, 

a representative image for all cathedrals, 

and Four Corners in the United States, 

Hanna’s Comments: If you’re not interested in the poetry aligned with each illustration, that’s fine. Here the images are what’s provocative. Make sure your audience can see the illustrations easily. For a richer learning experience, consider pairing some images with photographs that may be easily accessed on the internet. An appendix gives a nice summary for each sacred place. 

Original Publisher & Date: Harcourt, 1996

Age & Grade Appropriateness: 8 and up, 3rd and up

Formats other than Book: None at present

Scripture Connections: You’ll find 1 image of The Wailing Wall and 1 image for Christian cathedrals (both above).

Idea(s) for Application: Read this book to a group of adults in a small group and explore their understanding of what defines a sacred versus a secular place. Be sure to encourage them to share their own experiences with these and other sacred places.

Picture Book: Sacred Places

Author: Philemon Sturges

Illustrator: Giles Laroche

Summary: A Note to the Reader begins this book. It lists 3 questions people throughout history have asked:

Where did I come from?

How should I live my life?

What happens to me when I die?

You'll find cut-paper illustrations of 28 places inspired by the faith of 5 of the world’s most prevalent religions (3 from the Abrahamic tradition, Hinduism, and Buddhism). There's a caption that gives dates and explains specific religious practices for each site. Additionally, there is larger text for reading aloud. The cover image above is of  Shore Temple in India. The image below is of Chartres Cathedral in France. 

My favorites illustrations? Great Mosque (Niger), 

The Abbey of Mont Saint-Michel (France), 

Sokkuram Grotto Shrine (Korea),

the Kaaba (Saudi Arabia), 

and Concord Baptist Church (United States).

Hanna’s Comments: These images are busier and less ethereal, but the variety of places is nice. Unfortunately, sacred sites on the continents of South America and Australia are not included. I love the ending that says, “some sacred places aren’t made by people at all.” 

It closes with a map and legend to mark all 28 sites.

Original Publisher & Date: Putnam & Sons, 2000
Age & Grade Appropriateness: 6 and up, 1^st and up

Formats other than Book: None at present

Scripture Connections: You’ll find several sites inspired by the Old or New Testaments.

Idea(s) for Application: Read this book to explore the spiritual practice of pilgrimage, the Celtic concept of thin places, and/or the questions, “What makes a place sacred?” and “When have you felt a sense of awe because of a place?" Be sure to allow time for personal storytelling.  

A Picture Book a Day for a Year: Day 327

Picture Book: I Have an Olive Tree

Author: Eve Bunting

Illustrator: Karen Barbour

Summary: Sophia, age 7, is puzzled that her grandfather has given her an olive tree for her birthday. Even more puzzling, the tree is on an island in Greece, where the family lived before coming to California. Her grandfather explains that those who purchased their house let them keep the tree as a symbol of their family’s rootedness to Greece. When Sophia’s grandfather dies, he gives Sophia her grandmother’s string of pearls and asks her to go to Greece and hang the pearls on the olive tree. Upon arrival, they are dazzled by the strangeness of Greece as they wait for the ferry to take them to the island. As they approach the family home and tree, Sophia begins to have strange feelings. The tree was not as Sophia imagined, but it moves her emotionally. She pulls the pearls out of her backpack and her mother lifts her up so that she can hang the beads on a high branch. Sophia realizes that the trip is not just about the beads. It is also about her mother’s memories and Sophia gaining an understanding of her roots. As Sophia considers coming back someday, she says, ”I have an olive tree.”

Hanna’s Comments: This is a rich story of family heritage and origin. Because our Holy Scriptures are often about these same themes, you should have no problem connecting this story to a variety of religious topics such as memory, the power of place, altars, reverence, family bonds, or inheritance. Besides connections to scripture, tie this story and a scripture to an aspect or person in your local family of faith as well. Creating strong connections to the people and place where you worship is invaluable and important for the future of your spiritual community. Another direction you could take is to consider the spiritual symbolism of trees in general. 

Original Publisher & Date of Publication: Harper Collins Publishers, 1999

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

# of Pages: 32 

Available in Spanish? Not at present

Formats other than Book: Audio Cassette

PBT Category:  Pre 2K

PBT Topics this Book connects with: acceptance, action, adventure, ancestors/patriarchs & matriarchs, babies/children, belonging, birth/birthday, bonds/connections, change, death/loss/grief, Europe, exile/separation/walls, family, fruit/fruit of the spirit, grandparents, heritage, home, identity/names, journeys/migrations/pilgrimages/quests, land/mountains/soil, love, memories/remembering/ritual/tradition, reverence, self-discovery, travel, worship

Scripture Connections: I am like a green olive tree in the house of God, I trust in the steadfast love of God (Psalm 52:8); your children will be like olive shoots around you (Psalm 128:3b); a good person leaves an inheritance (Proverbs 13:22); the word of God’s grace is able to give you your inheritance (Acts 20:32); so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith – that you may be rooted and grounded in love (Ephesians 3:17); rooted and built up in him and established in the faith (Colossians 2:7); work heartily as for the Lord, knowing that you will receive the inheritance as your reward (Colossians 3:23)

Idea(s) for Application: Read this book to a group of children or teens who are learning about their religious or spiritual heritage or origins. 

A Picture Book a Day for a Year: Day 201

Picture Book: The Tsunami Quilt: Grandfather’s Story

Author: Anthony D. Fredericks

Illustrator: Tammy Yee

Summary: This story is from the point of view of Kimo, a Hawaiian child, whose grandfather takes him on a pilgrimage each April 1st to a memorial monument at the edge of an ocean cove, but Kimo’s grandfather won’t explain until Kimo is older. His grandfather dies so Kimo asks his father to take him to the memorial and explain. His father does. At that cove on April 1, 1946, a tsunami killed 24 students and teachers, including the grandfather’s younger brother. Kimo’s grandfather witnessed the event from higher ground. Later, Kimo is taken to a museum where there is a memorial quilt of the event. Each square is for one of the victims.  

Hanna’s Comments: This is an emotional book. The violence of the deaths are handled well and are visually no more extreme than that which is found on the cover. However, I strongly suggest you read it beforehand, as I always recommend, but with your children’s sensitivities in mind. Be sure to check out the historical information in the book and a Pronunciation Guide in the back. I think the value of this book lies in how it demonstrates the importance of remembering, pilgrimage, and memorials, and especially a memorial such as a quilt that allows for therapeutic creative artistry. Rituals, for children and adults, can be very powerful and healing while helping to build resilience and ease grief.

Publisher & Date of Publication: Sleeping Bear Press, 2007

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

# of Pages: 32

Available in Spanish? Not at present

Formats other than Book: Tablet, Amazingly, there is video of this tsunami on the internet, but I don’t recommend showing it to children.

PBT Category: Nonfiction, Post 2K

PBT Topics this Book Connects with: America, ancestors/patriarchs & matriarchs, art, beach/ocean/pond/river/sea/shore, brokenness, comfort, companionship, depression/despair/sadness/sorrow, disaster, fathers, grandparents, healing/healthcare, heritage, journeys/migrations/pilgrimages/quests, memories/remembering/ritual/tradition, parables/stories, presence, reverence, tragedy, victims, worship

Scripture Connections: This day shall be for you a memorial day (Exodus 12:14); blessed are those who mourn (Matthew 5:4); Do this in remembrance of me. (Luke 22:20)

Idea(s) for Application: Use this book with children when an event occurs in your family of faith or in current events that encourages people to create memorials or  engage in rituals of remembrance such as pilgrimages.  

A Picture Book a Day for a Year: Day 48

Dynamic Duo: Day 1

Picture Book: The Gardener

Author: Sarah Stewart

Illustrator: David Small

Summary: Because of her family’s poverty during the Great Depression, Lydia Grace Finch is off to the dull city to stay with her uncle, a baker who never smiles. With her she brings her passion, flower seeds. Through her gardening, Lydia’s new friends and city are transformed, gradually brightening the bake shop, then her secret place, the roof top. The text is a series of letters emphasizing the bonds that Lydia Grace still has with her parents and grandmother.

Hanna’s Comments: This book, like its Dynamic Duo partner offered tomorrow, Miss Rumphius, is all about spreading joy with flowers. Leaving marks of beauty and love in concrete ways and with a spirit of generosity & vocation that is transformational is the powerful theme here. Also highlighted is a generational legacy that Lydia Grace’s grandmother has instilled in her. This legacy is a love of gardening which can serve as a discussion tool for exploring possible legacies that are left to next generations.  

Publisher & Date of Publication: Farrar, Straus, & Giroux, 1997 

Age and Grade Appropriateness: 5 and up, K and up 

# of Pages: 40 

Available in Spanish? Not at present 

Formats other than Book: Audio cassette, video on Youtube & for purchase with 2 more of this author/illustrator duo's other books
 

PBT Category: Award Winner (Caldecott Honor), Pre 2K

PBT Topics this Book Connects with: abundance/bounty, action, ancestors/patriarchs & matriarchs, beauty, blessings, call/calling/vocation, challenges, eggs/seeds, flowers/leaves/trees, gardening/planting/pruning/sowing, generosity/giving/offering/stewardship, gifts/giftedness/talents, gladness/happiness, goodness, gospel/good news, grandparents, heritage, home, image of God, journeys/pilgrimages/migration/quests, joy, life, mission, neighborhood, power, purpose, satisfaction, sharing, surprise, transformation

Scripture Connections: Parable of the mustard seed (Luke 13:18-19), whoever sows bountifully (2 Corinthians 9:6)

Idea(s) for Application: give to inspire clergy & lay persons in their ministries as they “plant” and “sew” beauty

A Picture Book a Day for a Year: Day 1

Picture Book: The Little Engine that Could, Deluxe Edition

Author: Watty Piper

Illustrators: George & Doris Hauman

Summary: After several big engines don’t help a stranded train full of toys, a small engine volunteers and manages to pull it over the mountain while saying to herself, “I think I can. I think I can. I think I can.”

Hanna’s Comments: There are multiple publications of this story going back to 1930.

Publisher & Date of Publication: Grosset & Dunlap, 2009

Age and Grade Appropriateness: 3 and up, preschool and up

# of Pages: 48

Available in Spanish? yes

Formats other than Book: tablet, dvd, streaming, on-line

PBT Category: Classic

PBT Topics this Book connects with: abilities, action, bravery/courage, challenges, commitment, difficulties, faith/faithfulness, generosity/giving/offering/stewardship, gifts/giftedness/talents, helping, heroes, hope, journeys/pilgrimages/migration/quests, kindness, labor/work, land/mountains, leadership/servant leadership, mission, patience, perseverance, pleasing god/the shema, problems/problem solving, purpose, rescue, response to god, self-discovery, servanthood/service/serving, steadfastness, strength/ strength in god, travel, underdogs

Scripture Connections: faith the size of a mustard seed (Matthew 17:20), the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25), the humble will be exalted (Matthew 23:11), the least is the greatest (Luke 9:48)

Idea(s) for Application: Children’s Giftedness Celebration