Grab & Go #19 - I Will Love You Anyway

What's a PBT Grab & Go? These books are extremely easy to use in sacred settings. God’s holiness is all over them. The connections to sacred ideas are easy to find. You may have to be patient as your audience finds the scriptural connections you see. Give them time, and they may surprise you with holy ideas you had not seen. 

Today's book is a funny read about a misbehaving dog. Coax your audience to talk about all viewpoints. There's humor, but there is also temptation, separation, worry, shame, love, and of course, grace! 

To find more PBT Grab & Go books, make sure you're in the web version (On your phone? You must click on that version.). Then check out the Grab & Go search label at the bottom of the screen or type "Grab & Go" into the search box in the upper right corner.

 Picture Book: I Will Love You Anyway

Author: Mick Inkpen

Illustrator: Chloe Inkpen 

Summary: The dog in this story is bad, sooo bad, but lovable and loved unconditionally.  

The desire to please, to do the right thing, is evident but the follow through? Not so much.

He's adorable in his sweat bands, perhaps worn because he never stops. He's constantly running away

  or chasing

 or being chased. 

There is one lesson that Doggie seems to have learned

the hard way. 

The boy's parents plan to find another home for the dog because of all the trouble it is causing. But, a loud thunderstorm leads to another escape and a long night of missing and longing and waiting. The humans realize the depth of their attachment.

 Then there is another reunion!

The family decides to keep the mischief-maker, despite his bad behavior because they love him unconditionally. Good thing! Some things (and dogs) never change!

Hanna’s Comments: This tale of misbehavior and unconditional love is from a father (author) daughter (illustrator) duo. Makes sense! Many picture book plots involve unconditional love. I call this kind of love parental love in the search labels below. This book has the added benefit of definite connections to the Parable of the Prodigal Son (the running away, the embrace...). The overall sense is that this little pup wants to please but can’t seem to overcome urges. I can relate!

In Paul’s Letter to the Romans, similar frustrations are confessed. Paul doesn’t explain what behavior he wants to avoid, but it sure is good to know that, even a man who Jesus spoke to in a vision, never stopped struggling with temptations. 

Original Publisher & Date: Aladdin, 2015

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

Formats other than Book: Tablet 

Scripture Connections: Adam & Eve's temptations (Genesis 3), The Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32); I don’t do the thing I want and do the very thing I hate… (Romans 7: 15-17,19-20)

Idea(s) for Application: Read this adorable book to a group of children or parents in your faith family who are learning about God’s unconditional love, Jesus’s parable of The Prodigal Son, or Paul’s frustration with his own behavior. Be sure to practice reading! The rhyming rhythms are crucial for the humor.  

PBT Series: For Our Youngest Children #2

Here's another book (and series) that I discovered while writing my lectionary-based curriculum for very young children. These books offer a fun start to a growing spirituality with very basic concepts and loveable characters. Itty-bitty peeps in your home or faith family will really enjoy these books! 

If you are interested in learning more about Trinity Treasures, my 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.

Picture Book: Here’s the Reason God Made Me

Author: Mikal Keefer

Illustrator: Paula Becker

Summary: When young children experience this board book, they learn that God made them for affectionate loving. They are made for hugging,  

 snuggling,  

tickling,

and even napping - the quiet happy times. 

For children who love to dance and sing, they will be urged to do so because God wants them to.  

What's really nice is this book ends with a kiss from the child to you, the reader!

UPDATE: This post was written before the COVID pandemic.  

Hanna’s Comments: Be sure to engage in some of these affectionate and joyful behaviors when appropriate given your setting and your relationship with the child. The point is that we are made for joy! Joy in one another can be expressed in many ways! This book series is entitled Best of Li’l Buddies. Here are other titles published as of this date:

Everywhere I Go, God is with Me

From Head to Toe, God Made Me

Mad, Glad, or Sad, God is for Me

All Day Long, God Loves Me

Never Fear, God is Here

Original Publisher & Date: LifeTree (Group), 2017

Age & Grade Appropriateness: 1 and up, Toddler and up

Formats other than Book: Tablet

Scripture Connections: Make a joyful noise unto the Lord (Psalm 100:1); A joyful heart is good medicine (Proverbs 17:22); Love one another (John 13:34); ...above all these, put on love (Colossians 3:14); Rejoice in the Lord always (Philippians 4:4)

Idea(s) for Application: Read this book to very young children who are beginning to embark on their faith journeys. 

PBT God Book #13 - Glory

Picture Book: Glory

Author: Nancy White
Illustrator: Debra Reid Jenkins
Summary: Glory be to God! Creation is celebrated as an enormous variety of creatures praise God in this beautiful book. How does a butterfly, frog, fish, turtle, or rooster praise God? God is praised when God’s creatures do what they are created to do, whether flying, wriggling, making a joyful noise, singing to God in silence.... In the case of the young costumed girl on these pages, praise involves pretending to be another of Earth’s marvelous creatures. Here’s a sample of the verse:
Glory be to God for friendly fur,
For wiggling nose and racing heart,
For twitching ears and throbbing purr,
Tails that stretch and tails that wag,
Tail buttons soft as cotton…
All creatures by their being praise their Creator’s name.

Hanna’s Comments: While reading this book to your audience, pause after each double page spread and encourage them to move their bodies, acting out the motions and voices of favorite animals on the pages. At the book's ending, together verbally praise God for the abundance and beauty we see in animal life. Get creative together and praise through writing a group poem. Talk about how animal characteristics serve their survival and how that is true for humans too. Surely God’s creative love is at work in these creatures and each of your listeners. Ask them for some examples of God's creative love in them - some passions and gifts they treasure or favorite aspects of their glorious bodies. Talk about how God can be praised at church, home, and nature throughout their lives.
Original Publisher & Date: Eerdman’s Books, 2001
Age & Grade Appropriateness: 5 and up, K and up
Formats other than Book: Digital
Scripture Connections: Ascribe to the Lord the glory due God’s name; worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness (Psalm 29:2); let everything that has breath praise the Lord! (Psalm 150:6); for by God all things were created, in heaven and on Earth (Colossians 1:16)
Idea(s) for Application: Read this book to a group of children who are learning about God’s creativity, human creativity, or the spiritual practice of praise.

PBT God Book #11: When God Made You

Below I feature again a wonderful God book by Turner and Catrow. On Friday look for this pair's new book in the series, When God Made Light. 

Picture Book: When God Made You

Author: Matthew Paul Turner

Illustrator: David Catrow

Summary: Through charming rhyme and hilarious illustrations, this picture book celebrates when God made "an incredible you," a you that the world needs. 

You were in God's mind long before you were born. God imagined how you would look, what you could do, and how you would respond to the world. 

God knew your name all along. You are an important member of God's family who brings "color and rhythm and rhyme to God's story." 

Perhaps it's with paint, amazing tricks, a make-believe story, or the beauty of a dance, but for sure God is pleased, for you are an image of God!

God dreams about you, especially "all that in you that will be true." God knows your potential to be "a lover of nature", a "peacemaker," and a "builder of dreams." 

And you definitely can learn to view other children of God as a part of your family, ready to be loved by you. "You being you is God's dream coming true."

Hanna’s Comments: Picture books about the nature of God featured here at PBT I call God Books. I especially like the non-gender nature of God here. This book is a jewel because it emphasizes each person’s value as a uniquely created, child of God, made in God’s image and loved beyond measure. This is such an important message for each person in our world. In this oh-so-colorful book, you have encouragement for children (really people of all ages) to explore their gifts and abilities while considering how they might make the world better. You may recognize the art. David Catrow’s PBT books about Molly Lou Melon, have a similar look and a delightful little girl with similar imagination and enthusiasm but in a secular setting. Check out Molly Lou’s books [here] and [here]. 

Original Publisher & Date: Waterbrook, 2017

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

Formats other than Book: Tablet 

Scripture Connections: Made in the image of God (Genesis 1:27); for I am wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14)
Idea(s) for Application: Read this book to a group of children or adults to remind them that they are all unique children of God, made in God’s image with gifts to share with and for the world's other creatures. 

3 Psalms Worship Books

Below you’ll find details on 3 picture books that epitomize what I try to do for you here at PBT. Karma Wilson, a prolific picture book author, and illustrator Amy June Bates have a series of three books. Each explore a well-known psalm. If you’ll be celebrating Thanksgiving soon, you’ll be particularly interested in the first book pictured below, but they’re all great additions to any library at home or your place of worship.

Author: Karma Wilson 

Illustrator: Amy June Bates

Hanna’s Comments: This author-illustrator duo offers three delightful picture books grounded in the Psalms for teaching children aspects of worship in a way that is relevant and enjoyable. These books detail 3 important aspects of worship, not just formal sanctuary worship but also authentic, momentary worship that a child might engage in anytime of the day or night. In each of these books you’ll find young children experiencing faithful joy in daily living. They are wonderful role models for children and adults in your community who might need a little reminder of how worship is supposed to feel. Let these little ones inspire your faith family. Note: Give Thanks to the Lord may have a different cover. 

More PBT Books: Karma Wilson also has a very popular series of secular books with titles beginning “Bear....” I would recommend any one of these books for young children to explore living in loving community. Here are links to PBT posts that offer theological connections to two books in that series: 

Bear Feels Sick 

BearSays Thanks  

Original Publisher: ZonderKidz

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

Formats other than Book: None at this time

Scripture Connections: Give Thanks to the Lord (Psalm 92); I Will Rejoice (Psalm 118:24); Let’s Make a Joyful Noise (Psalm 100:1); 

Idea(s) for Application: Each of these books can easily be used with children for instruction in how gratitude, praise, and joy are all important foundations for worshiping and pleasing God.  

A New PBT God Book!

Picture Book: When God Made You

Author: Matthew Paul Turner

Illustrator: David Catrow

Summary: Through charming rhyme and hilarious illustrations, this picture book celebrates when God made "an incredible you," 

a you that the world needs. 

You were in God's mind long before you were born. 

God imagined how you would look, 

what you could do, and how you would respond to the world. 

With this illustration, I think David Catrow is having fun with Michelangelo's painting of God touching Adam's hand, found on the ceiling of The Sistine Chapel. 

The diversity of human-kind is celebrated, and God gets credit for making us all! 

God knew your name all along. You are an important member of God's family who brings "color and rhythm and rhyme to God's story." 

Perhaps it's with paint, amazing tricks, a make-believe story, or the beauty of a dance, 

 but for sure God is pleased, for you are an image of God! 

God dreams about you, especially "all that in you that will be true." 

God knows your potential to be "a lover of nature", a "peacemaker," and a "builder of dreams." 

And you definitely can learn to view other children of God as a part of your family, ready to be loved by you. 

 "You being you is God's dream coming true."

Hanna’s Comments: This is a brand-new God Book! Picture books about the nature of God featured here at PBT I call God Books. I especially like the non-gender nature of God here. At first I thought the artist was a God-figure, but he seems so surprised by the child’s art that I think he is a bystander. This book is a jewel because it emphasizes each person’s value as a uniquely created, child of God, made in God’s image and loved beyond measure. In this oh-so-colorful book, you have encouragement for children (really people of all ages) to explore their gifts and abilities while considering how they might make the world better. You may recognize the art. David Catrow’s PBT books about Molly Lou Melon, have a similar look and a delightful little girl with similar imagination and enthusiasm but in a secular setting. Check out Molly Lou’s books [here] and [here]. 

Original Publisher & Date: Waterbrook, 2017

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

Formats other than Book: Tablet 

Scripture Connections: Made in the image of God (Genesis 1:27); for I am wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14)

Idea(s) for Application: Read this book to a group of children or adults to remind them that they are all unique children of God and made in God’s image. 

I Run Away I Run Away

 Picture Book: I Will Love You Anyway

Author: Mick Inkpen

Illustrator: Chloe Inkpen 

Summary: The dog in this story is bad, sooo bad, but lovable and loved unconditionally.  

The desire to please, to do the right thing, is evident but the follow through? Not so much.

He's adorable in his sweat bands, perhaps worn because he never stops. He's constantly running away

  or chasing 

 or being chased. 

 Running away is a major issue with this little guy. 

Then there are the other problem behaviors... 

 that lead to some disgust and further chasing. 

There is one lesson that Doggie seems to have learned 

the hard way. 

The dog's master overhears his parents' plans to make a change. 

Bargains follow and all are sad. 

 But a loud noise leads to another escape, 

 a long night of missing and longing and waiting, 

 and another reunion. 

The family decides to keep the mischief-maker   

despite his bad behavior, simply because of unconditional love. Good thing, 

 because some things never change. 

Hanna’s Comments: This tale of unconditional love is from a father (words) daughter (illustrations) duo. Makes sense! There are lots of picture books that involve unconditional love, but this one has the added benefit of a plot with some definite connections to the parable of The Prodigal Son (i.e. the running away and the big embrace upon being found). Also, there’s the overall sense that this little pup wants to please its master but just can’t seem to overcome urges to make messes and run away. I can relate!

In Paul’s Letter to the Romans, similar frustrations are confessed. Paul doesn’t explain what behavior he wants to avoid, but it sure is nice to know that, even a man who saw Jesus in a vision, never stops struggling with his own temptations.

Original Publisher & Date: Aladdin, 2015

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

Formats other than Book: Tablet 

Scripture Connections: The Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32); I don’t do the thing I want and do the very thing I hate… (Romans 7: 15-17,19-20)

Idea(s) for Application: Read this adorable book to a group of children in your faith family who are learning about God’s unconditional love, Jesus’s parable of The Prodigal Son, or Paul’s frustration with his own behavior in his Letter to the Romans (listed above).