PBT Techniques #6: Illustration Inspiration

Now and then I read a book with amazing illustration techniques that can be explored by children. I’m not big on crafts in children’s faith lessons because I find that too often they are super simple (pencil, glue, paper, scissors, etc.) or they reinforce the concepts only at the surface (color a sheep after The Parable of the Lost Sheep). Now and then the techniques in a craft or art experience can be another way to get across the message of the lesson. Think coloring mandalas or praying in color - see Praying in Color: Kid’s Edition [here]. 

The book below offers illustrations that would be fun to create. As I read, I imagined a table overloaded with discards and debris being used by children to create some fish. 

The inspiration for your children is all over the pages, but be sure to make some rain fish beforehand so you can guide them through the process. You might want to have some images of actual fish around so they can see the varying shapes, sizes, features, and colors. Also, you'll likely need to make fish cooperatively together or with you modeling, particularly at first.  

The concept of fish is found many places in our scriptures. While the children are making fish, continue talking about the concepts you want to reinforce and tie them directly to the making of the fish if you can. But your lesson doesn’t have to be connected directly to scripture. Your faith family’s history (ancient or more recent) is always another source for lessons. The symbol of a fish was and still is an identifying mark for Christians and an important story for Christian children to hear. There are many reasons a fish was used. The history behind this symbol will intrigue your kids. Check it out [here].

Picture Book: Rain Fish

Author & Illustrator: Lois Ehlert

Summary: Mixed-media collage artist and picture book author extraordinaire Lois Ehlert offers an art lesson within a tale of redemption. 

The illustrations are stunning and messages of hope, resilience, freedom, and transformation after diversity are hidden between the lines as the debris and discards from a rain storm are transformed into rain fish. Here’s a bit of the text:

When blue sky turns gray

and it rains all day,

that’s when rain fish come out and play.

They hide in debris

until rain sets them free.  

Hanna’s Comments: In the Author’s Note, Ehlert explains that she collected her art materials from drains after storms. This took her a year so don’t have high expectations for the beauty of your children’s creations. Here the process will be much more important than the product, as is true in life. 

After reading, encourage your children to talk about the kinds of things that happen after a storm and then broaden those concepts into conversation about the positive effects of adversity. Mention that excellent art often comes in turbulent times. Also, people become more resilient and able to persevere when they have been in difficult situations. There are many examples in scripture.

After telling your children one or more of the scripture or historical connections of fish, have them make a fish or two from discards and debris you have provided. 

If you choose to tell them about the Christian Fish Symbol, teach them to make that symbol again and again with tools like paint brushes or calligraphy pens (it’s tricky but fun), until they have some mastery. 

Leaf Man is another of Ehlert’s books with similar illustration strategies. Other excellent Lois Ehlert books can be found at PBT [here] and [here].

Original Publisher & Date: Beach Lane Books, 2016

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

Formats other than Book: Tablet

Scripture Connections: The disciples were called to be fishers of people (Matthew 4:19); feeding loaves and fishes to the crowd (Mark 8 & John 6); All things can work together for good… (Romans 8:28)

Idea(s) for Application: Use this book to inspire a lesson about the positive effects after a “stormy” situation or the history of the Christian symbol of a fish. 

                              

Sunrise Hope

Picture Book: Where the Sunrise Begins

Author: Douglas Wood

Illustrator: Wendy Popp

Summary: This beautiful book continually asks the question, “Where does the sunrise begin?” 

Focusing on one child at a time, the illustrations gently discount possible geographic locations as the place where the sunrise begins. This happens at first with a child at the beach, 

then with a child each in particular environs such as a wood and a lake, and then with a child in Africa,

Asia, 

and the Middle East. 

To wrap up the initial child is shown with his parents, 

and an explanation follows. Every moment brings the sunrise to someone in the world. “Wherever there is a heart that loves the light, that holds a place for hope, and feels gratitude for each new day, in that heart the sun is always rising and helping to fill the world with light. Where does the sunrise begin? The sunrise begins in you.”

Hanna’s Comments: This misty morning picture book encourages its readers to realize that each new day, for everyone in the world, there is an opportunity to embrace joy and look at the world through fresh eyes, with renewed hope. Note that this is a book written from a particular locale in the world, using the words “our own native land” and Asia, Africa, and the Middle East are away.

Original Publisher & Date: Simon & Schuster, 2010

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

Formats other than Book: None at present

Scripture Connections: The steadfast love of the Lord is new every morning; great is your faithfulness (Lamentations:22-23); Jesus said, “I am the light of the world.” (John 8:12); Connect this story to any Bible story that is about hope or a new day such as the Christmas or Easter events, Jeremiah 29:11-12, 2 Corinthians 5:17, or Revelation 21:1.

Idea(s) for Application: Read this book in a lesson for children about the hope and possibilities that each day brings because of your faith. This would be perfect for a lesson soon after Christmas Day or before or on New Year’s Day. 

PBT Blog Series: Theological Statements for Young Children #9

Illustration from Beautiful Oops by Barney Saltzberg

The ninth entry in this series of simple statements that you can say while reading the particular books below involves the heart of God’s love and Jesus’ mission.

There are many secular books for young children that involve a poor decision and end in forgiveness and mercy. While reading one of these books, simply say or paraphrase, “All bad choices can be forgiven. God/Jesus loves us no matter what we do.”

The first PBT offering is a great story about 3 young bears who live by the sea. When they accidentally break their mom’s prized blue shell, they naively venture off in a boat to find a replacement.

They encounter several sea vessels with interesting characters that seem to have some familiar literary or artistic significance. See how this crew of characters is in a boat named Melville? 

I assume this is a tip of the author/illustrator's hat to Moby Dick. I didn’t get all the allusions, but I sure enjoyed puzzling over them. This is not for your children to do however. Back to the story…

When told by a sea captain where to find such a shell, they venture off to “an island shaped like a lumpy hat.” Before they leave he explains, “if you look in the right place, I reckon you’ll find it.”

They pass a number of interesting islands and have some memorable experiences, eventually making it to their island destination. However, after looking high and low, no shell is found. 

They return to their boat, grumpy, disappointed, and missing home. Then the blaming begins. 

Meanwhile, a storm comes and tosses them so that they no longer care about blame. Instead they confess while clinging to each other for safety.  

The storm ceases, and they see their home island ahead. As they pull their boat onto shore, they find a beautiful blue shell. Home was the right place after all. 

Mama greets them at the door with a face and posture all little bears fear, but they confess and offer her the new shell. 

Forgiveness, hugs, kisses, supper (but no dessert) provide the happy ending you and your children will desire for these 3 little bears.

Besides the great story with simple but profound lessons, this is a really big book with many beautiful double page illustrations so it’s perfect for reading to a group.

Picture Book: Three Bears in a Boat

Author & Illustrator: David Soman

Original Publisher & Date: Dial, 2014

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

Formats other than Book: Tablet

My other PBT offering that connects to this statement is from the Curious George series. Keep in mind that many Curious George books would connect to this statement for he does have a way of making a mess of things, but loving forgiveness often ends George’s adventures.

In this Curious George episode, he is invited to a pizza party. Since George loves parties and pizza, he is especially excited. 

The man with the yellow hat reminds George to be on his best behavior before sending George on to the party.

Upon arrival, each child and George is given an apron, chef’s hat, and a piece of dough to make his own pizza. While the children leave the room to play Pin the Pepperoni on the Pizza, George stays in the kitchen since he’s curious about the pieces of dough. 

He gathers all the children’s dough together and begins making a giant pizza.

A mess ensues and George realizes he should have left the dough in the original small pieces so he gets scissors and cuts the dough into shapes.

Eventually the mom discovers the mess and threatens to send George home, but the children like the idea of making uniquely shaped dough and help him clean up so that he can stay. 

The children are inspired to make various shaped pizzas of their own and even the mom is thankful to George for the great-looking pizzas.

Curious George is a great character to help children connect with their life in God because George is delightfully innocent and troublesome, kind of like most children, and redemption, in some form, always follows.

Here at PBT I offered another Curious George book (Curious George Saves His Pennies) and tied it to faith concepts of stewardship and generosity. Find that post [here].

Picture Book: Curious George and the Pizza Party

Author: Cynthia Platt

Illustrated in the Style of H.A. Rey by Mary O’Keefe Young

Original Publisher & Date: HMH, 2010

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

Formats other than Book: Tablet, downloadable audio

Other PBT books that connect with links to posts:

When Sophie Gets Really, Really Angry - 6/3/14

Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse - 6/23/14    

Beautiful Oops! - 8/12/14

I Love You, Stinky Face - 9/3/14

Rainbow Fish - 12/3/14

You are Not My Friend But I Miss You - 1/16/15

It's Okay to Make Mistakes - 1/4/16   

Too Tall Houses – 3/22/16

Virgil and Owen series (2 bks) – 4/5/16