3 Books for Winter Solstice

Some churches are having Winter Solstice or Longest Night worship services. They view this as an opportunity to acknowledge the darkness of the season, particularly for those who have experienced loss or those who don’t find the hope of Advent as easily as our culture expects. 

Below I give you links to a couple of PBT books that could inform your worship planning. Also, these books could be read or their stories told to worshipers. 

Next, I feature an extraordinarily beautiful new book about darkness and light. It nicely connects to Jesus’ lost parables, but it could also be read aloud on Winter Solstice, when a conversation about holy darkness is potent with meaning.

Owl Moon, a beloved classic, amazingly could be read anytime during Advent (It is about longing and involves patience and silence.) and for Epiphany (It is about a journey in the dark.) On the longest night, it has particular resonance because of the family's milestone ritual - a dark search for an owl.

Singing Away the Dark is the author's very personal childhood story about how darkness on her way to school was frightening, but singing helped her manage her fears.

Picture Book: Dark on Light

Author: Dianne White

Illustrator: Felicita Sala

Summary: This book begins and ends with the same view: The first at sunset & the last at sunrise. 

But the point of this story is "Even when it is dark outside, there is still so much light."  Three young children look out the window as the sun goes down. 

The 3 go out the front door despite the darkness, flashlight in the hand of the oldest, with no adults. With poetic verse, the book celebrates what and who (Many animals & plants!) are sensed on their night journey. Are they exploring? On a night hike? No. It becomes apparent they are searching, at least the 2 oldest are. The youngest is distractedly playing! 

Earlier, on the 2nd double page spread, a dog has wandered from the home. This is who the children are seeking! This is who they were looking for through that window!

The beloved dog is found and greeted. 

Then all are made aware of the glorious sky! (See image at top.) All 4 head home and are lovingly greeted by the 2 adults (parents? grandparents? You decide.), who take them straight to their shared bedroom. There loving security is present in every nook and gesture so that a sleepy peace comes to all, especially the one lost then found.

Hanna’s Comments: The goal of finding the missing dog can be easily missed at a first reading. Once the dog was found, I realized they had snuck out to search. I went back to earlier pages and saw what I had missed. I suggest you introduce the book by reading the author & illustrator's names (Always do this!). Then say, "This is a book about 3 children who decide to go out at night because someone they love is missing." 

As you read, point to the details you don't want missed and teach some new vocabulary (sage, noble, sapphire...). With young children, together count the animals before turning the page. Choose 1 animal to say a quick prayer of thanks or praise to God. 

Encourage natural wonder about other living things, the darkness, and God's mysteries. Components of the story that you might want to use in a lesson include flashlights, sage, and lavender. An experience with essential oils would be a nice touch! End with an imaginary journey prayer about the dark. Encourage being mindful of God's treasures in darkness and thankful that God is with us always, everywhere, in light, dark, and when both are present, as is often true. 

Update: This author has published a similar book about the cycle of a day. It’s called Blue on Blue. It would be a great book for teaching gratitude practices across a typical day.

Her book Green on Green moves through a traditional North American seasonal cycle, including Thanksgiving and Christmas traditions. Those holidays are not named. However, the usual rituals are evident. Therefore, this book would serve well as a component of a lesson on the importance of seasonal and holiday rituals. Be sure to tie such rituals to God’s provisions.

Original Publisher: Beach Lane Books, 2022

Age Appropriateness: 4 and up

Formats other than Book: Tablet

Scripture Connections: Jesus' 3 lost parables (Luke 15:1-2) or any scripture about searching such as the "pearl of great price" (Matthew 13:45-46) OR how the light of love gives us courage in metaphorical or real darkness such as Ruth and Naomi must have experienced on their journey to Israel. 

PBT Applications: Read this book on the Winter's Solstice or to a group of children anytime of year to explore Jesus' lost parables. Spend extra time on pages that show the children's bedroom. Discuss the comforts of bedtime rituals & objects that help us feel safe and loved. Ask about feeling God's presence in bed.

Beautiful Praise

Here's a book similar in theme to last week's repost of a favorite PBT God Book. This book is for audiences who are a little older. There are many other books at PBT about praise and thanksgiving. Simply type those words into the search engine or click on those particular search words at the bottom of the page. If you're on your phone, you'll need to click on the "web version." 

Picture Book: Sing Praise

Authors: Rhonda Gowler Greene

Illustrator: Janet Broxton

Summary: In this gorgeous book, rhyming verse encourages songs of thanksgiving and praise to God as demonstrated by all sorts of God's creatures and even celestial beings. Singing and ...

dancing are given priority as these pages remind us that God wants to be worshiped by all that God has created. 

Our beauty and worthiness lie in the simple fact that we are creatures of God giving voice (and dance) to the glory of our uniqueness and diversity. 

Our various abilities, beautiful faces, and playful natures are celebrated here. 

From jungles to oceans, 

bird-filled skies to farmland, 

creatures great and small are shown delighting in their createdness and praising the One who is responsible for their joy. 

The variety of song and movement is celebrated 

and will surely delight God as it should delight and inspire us humans. 

Our world, which I have lately heard is the first of God's scriptures, is the backdrop of this book's lesson in two of the easiest spiritual practices to learn.    

Praise and thanksgiving are natural expressions of our humanness and should be encouraged, expected, and never judged in our places of worship. 

Seasons are celebrated here 

as are the collective ways we praise God in community. 

One benefit of these pages is the way in which they offer hope and courage to us all to do that which we were meant to do: Be who you were created to be 

while giving back the praise and gratitude that is due our Creator.

Hanna’s Comments: This book is sure to be a future entry in the PBT Grab & Go list. Simply read it and have your audience engage in some silly imitating of various creatures in these pages who scripture says are offering praise and gratitude to God simply by being who and what God created them to be. You might want to have some nature sounds playing as folks enter and play a guessing game about what they are hearing. What a great lesson for all those who doubt their worthiness! Children (and adults) need to be reminded that God mostly wants to be worshiped, not feared, and certainly not ignored. 

Original Publisher & Date: Augsburg Fortress, 2005

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

Formats other than Book: Tablet

Scripture Connections: The Psalms have many examples of praise to God and exhortations to do so. This book is primarily inspired by Psalms 140 and 150.

Idea(s) for Application: Read this book to a group of elementary aged children who are learning about how all of nature, alongside human beings, can and do worship God through praise and thanksgiving. 

This author has another beautiful book (illustrated by Anne Wilson this time). It's about the story of creation in Genesis. Both man and woman are made in God’s image. It uses a repeated rhyme form like The House the Jack Built but does not build too much text so preschoolers can be attentive. The days are not numbered but the Genesis sequence is there. It is a big book with bold illustrations that reflect the spherical nature of Earth. 

PBT Series: God Book #13

This is a repeat of a post from the first year of PBT when I offered 1 picture book a day for a year. Spring has sprung here in Alabama so animals and plants are singing God’s praise all about me! Most of the 700 or so books at PBT are secular, but I have over 80 God books! This series has the best of them. I include God Books because they are treasures that would be hard for you to find if you didn’t know about them already. They are generally about the nature of God so applications in ministry are obvious. This one is particularly beautiful and perfect for young children. Enjoy!

Picture Book: Let the Whole Earth Sing Praise

Author & Illustrator: Tomie de Paola

Summary: Here is the text of this beautiful book:

Sun and Moon, Stars and Comets in the Heavens.

Praise God.

Light and Darkness, Day and Night, 

Showers and Frost, Ice and snow.

Bless God.

Fire, Heat, Lightning and Clouds, 

Mountains, Hills, Seas, Rivers, and Fountains,

Praise God.

Fruitful Trees, Cedars, and all that Sprout upon the Earth,

Whales, Fish, and all Creatures that Move in the Waters,

Bless God.

Birds, Everything that Flies in the Air,

Dogs, Cats, All Animals and Creeping Things on Earth,

Praise God.

All People, Young and Old, Let Everything in Heaven and on Earth

Bless and Praise God.

Hanna’s Comments: In the Authors Note, de Paola explains that his book was inspired by two pieces of Old Testament scripture: The Canticle of the Three Young Men from the Book of Daniel and Psalm 148. He has purposefully made it like a children’s song. The illustrations are inspired by folk art designs of the Otomi people of Puebla, Mexico. When presenting this book, consider the question of non-human entities being able to praise God. Have fun with the movement and sounds in nature. Delight in all the diversity God displays on our great Earth. Most importantly, have your kiddos engage in lots of praising of God during your lesson. 

Original Publisher & Date: G. P. Putnam’s Sons, 2011

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

Formats other than Book: Tablet

Scripture Connections: Praise the Lord…Praise him, sun and moon… (Psalm 148); let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name (Hebrews 13:15)

Idea(s) for Application: Read this book to children when teaching them about worship and praise to God. Consider presenting the ideas of this book to older children to consider in a lesson on praise in nature.