Global Hymns of Praise

Picture Book: A World of Praise

Author: Deborah Lock

Illustrator: Helen Cann

Summary: This book begins and ends with psalms! Between those pages, experience simple poetic verses integrated with beautiful scenes of diverse children enjoying the glories of God’s creation all over the world! You’ll see mountains & flatlands, cityscapes & rural spaces, contemplative children & dancing animals. Quiet praise alternates with glorious joyful noises.

Hanna’s Comments: For a children's lesson, have a globe handy and before reading, invite them to ask you where the scenes are. You’ll find a diagram in the back that identifies each of the 16 countries/regions, but you’ll need to do a bit of prep to locate all those countries on the globe. Consider placing sticky notes on the globe to make this process easier for you or for your children to do the searching. This will encourage your children’s curiosity about their world (God's world) and build their globe skills, an added benefit. Too old school for you? Add an internet component with a tablet or laptop. Repeatedly emphasize God is everywhere and the source of all!

There are not a lot of these books on the market so check with your local library system. If your library doesn’t have the book, ask if they will order it.

Original Publisher: Eerdmans, 2020

Age Appropriateness: 4 and up

Formats other than Book: None at present

Scripture Connections: You’ll find in these pages the following scriptures, but any verses about the glory, gifts, and/or beauty of nature will connect here:

Psalm 24:1-2 is on the 1^st page. 

These are on the last pages:

Psalm 67:6

Psalm 113:3

Psalm 148:7-12

PBT Applications: Amidst a recording of quiet nature sounds, invite children to lie on the floor, close their eyes, and imagine portions of this book that you choose to read aloud slowly. Adapt the length of the reading so that listeners, no matter their age or attention span, can attend well and imagine fully.

For very young children, I would open this book to some favorite double page spreads and ask the children to tell you what they like and who made it. Talk about sensory experiences, especially sights/colors, textures, and sounds. Say together simple sentences, like Thank you God for birdsong! OR Thank you for making the stars so beautiful, God!

Ecological Praise

If like me, you're worried about the future of Earth and you see it as a spiritual issue, then this book about the glories of our Earth is a great tool to begin that conversation with your faith family, particularly your youngest children.

Picture Book: I Love Our Earth

Authors: Bill Martin Jr. & Michael Sampson

Photographer: Dan Lipow

Summary: In this beautiful book, photographs of international children accompany text that declares the gorgeous variety of Earth's environs. 

I love the beaming smiles on these kids' faces, 

the variety of spaces, some your children may not have imagined,  

the diverse faces so that all can find a bit of themselves in the pages,  

and the distinctive textures of Earth. 

The phrase, "I love our Earth," repeats several times

as we see reasons for our gratitude in details  

and wide spaces.  

Surprising aspects of Earth that we don't think to be grateful for are here 

along with more expected images.  

The 4 seasons are mentioned, 

but this is a celebration of year-round Earth!

Hanna’s Comments: Ecology has been a common concern for people of faith throughout the ages. For some religions, such as The Jewish Faith, practices are built on reverence and stewardship. But ecological stewardship is a relatively recent topic for Christians, particularly for those in more conservative churches. 

Check out these links to more PBT books about ecology. There's a book here at PBT called Glory that looks at this issue more theologically (and with very different images). Chris Van Allsburg's classic Just a Dream is such a powerful story! Because environmental concern is growing, you'll find many newly published books (secular and sacred) addressing this topic from various angles. This is a great topic for  engaging teens & young adults who are often more engaged in (and worried about) Earth's future. What a pragmatic faith issue! 

Why this book today? I like the simplicity of the text, especially for toddlers and preschoolers who respond strongly to photographs of other children. They can begin developing an ability to see God in nature. This skill is so important in spiritual formation. If you're looking for adult books about ecological stewardship (I've also heard it called Christian Environmentalism and the spiritual practice referred to as "creation care"), I suggest checking out the books of Matthew Sleeth. Here's his website www.blessedearth.org. 

Original Publisher & Date: Charlesbridge, 2009

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

Formats other than Book: None at present

Scripture Connections: Any scripture that praises God's creation of or glory in nature or the beauty of Earth such as Nature Psalms (8, 33, 95, 102...) or  creation verses in Genesis. In an interview with biblical scholar Ellen Davis on On Being, my favorite podcast, Genesis 1:26 is discussed. Dr. Davis explains that the verb in the Hebrew language that has traditionally been translated "to have dominion" actually means "to exercise skilled mastery." She describes this idea as a sort of craft or art in which we are privileged to have responsibility for Earth. [Here's] a link to that interview entitled The Poetry of Creatures. This episode is fascinating and inspiring because along with it you get to hear some of Wendell Berry's beautiful poetry!

Idea(s) for Application: Read this book to a group of young children and talk about gratitude and seeing God in nature. Offer a simple gratitude prayer that will begin their understanding of ecological stewardship. 

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.

Prayer Every Which Way

Picture Book: Every Which Way to Pray
Author: Joyce Meyer
Illustrator: Mary Sullivan
Summary: With a cast of characters at the Everyday Zoo, prayer is examined in a way that is both fun and very wise. Each book in this series begins with a map and a character list.

Hayley and Harley see an angel-like figure in the distance. They think the angel is closer to heaven because it is so high and wish they could fly. 

Pouch, a pelican, introduces himself and helps the children understand that being high in the air does not mean you are closer to God. "That's what prayer is for." 

But the hippos have thought of prayer as too hard, not something they can do. They've been reading The Rules of Prayer, a book that they happen to have handy. Other characters join in their discussion about prayer. 

The librarian assures them that prayer doesn't have to be "just right." And prayer can happen in places other than church. You can pray anytime, anywhere. You don't even have to be dressed up and you don't have to kneel and fold your hands. What a relief! Folding hands could be a problem! 

You can pray in all sorts of positions and while you are doing other things. For example, Bob and the bat gang pray upside down.

The book says you should pray in a soft voice, but Pounce demonstrates a powerful contrast. 

 

Prayer doesn't require any sound. See what the fireflies can do. 

Harley continues to read silly rules from the book about prayer. It says you should use "special holy words." But Pouch tells the zoo animals to simply talk to God like a friend. God even wants to hear the silly stuff. Pouch thinks God enjoys it and laughs at our silliness. You can talk as long as you want. A prayer may be no words or one simple, important word.  

Sarge comes along and offers more wisdom. He says: Prayer is simple. You talk. You listen. You praise. You thank. You ask advice. You stay in touch with your Maker.

Then Sarge explains something very important. Prayer has to come from your heart. That's it. 

Hanna’s Comments: I very much like the content and overall message of this book. It reminds me of the teachings on prayer of Anne Lamott, one of my favorite spiritual writers. However, these characters and setting won’t be so appealing to older elementary children and beyond. You might tell the story in a way that is less juvenile and therefore more appealing to older audiences. I would spend more time talking about what it means for prayer to "come from your heart." We hear this phrase often, but it is rarely explained. Talk about authenticity and vulnerability - two concepts important for spiritual formation. Use the fireflies page as an opportunity to talk more about nature and how it evokes and demonstrates prayer. Joyce Meyer is a prolific spiritual writer for adults. This is the first in her Everyday Zoo series and is based on her adult book The Power of Simple Prayer. There are several in the Everyday Zoo series including a Christmas book. Another I also liked is titled Wonderfully Made. 

Original Publisher & Date: Zonderkidz, 2012

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

Formats other than Book: None at present

Scripture Connections: Keep your heart with all vigilance… (Proverbs 4:23); Call to me and I will answer you (Jeremiah 33:3); I will give you a new heart and a new spirit…I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh (Ezekiel 36:26); Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. (Matthew 5:8); When you pray, go to your inner room… (Matthew 6:6); When you pray, do not heap up empty phrases… (Matthew 6:7);  … the Spirit intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. (Romans 8:26); I urge that supplication, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people… (1 Timothy 2:1-4)

Idea(s) for Application: Read this book to a group of kindergartners who are learning that prayer is something they can do anytime and anywhere. OR Use the ideas in this book to create a lesson for a group of older individual.