Froodle, Tiffle, and Wuppy

Picture Book: Froodle

Author & Illustrator: Antoinette Portis

Summary: This story of authenticity, silliness, and word play begins with a variety of birds singing their usual songs. 

Then Little Brown Bird decides not to peep. She suddenly lets out an usual sound. It gets everyone's attention. 

The other birds are surprised but not too displeased, except for Crow. 

Her friends remind Little Brown Bird of their usual songs.

Disheartened, Little Brown Bird peeps as she is supposed to, but it can't last. A tiffle, biffle, and a little miffle slip out. 

Then Cardinal decides to sing her special silly song - Ickle, zickle, pickle, trickle! 

Dove, who wants to be a peacemaker at first, tries out a new song too - Oobly, snoobly. 

Crow is encouraged by Cardinal to try to be silly too, but Crow rejects such a ridiculous idea and flies off. 

Little Brown Bird wants very much for Crow to enjoy the silliness and wonders. She and some friends approach Crow with caution and many demonstrations.  

 Finally...  

everything changes. 

Even other species join in with new sounds and therefore new possibilities.

Their world was never the same. 

Hanna’s Comments: This book is very fun! You can encourage your audience to emit some silly sounds themselves. There are several connections to scripture. Paul encourages us not to be conformed to the world. Both Psalm 33 and Revelation mention a new song. Isaiah speaks of doing a new thing. Whether discussing a new song, a new thing, or (for adults) True Self versus False Self (see Thomas Merton's writings), emphasize the spiritual practice of authenticity and the courage it takes to transform. Do explore together how monotony and mindless routine can become lifeless and inauthentic. Then consider when it might be a good idea to break the rules. Because of all the nonsense words in this story, you’ll want to do a thorough practice read. The message of this book is similar to the classic The Big Orange Splot. Check out that post [here].

Original Publisher & Date: Roaring Brook, 2014

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

Formats other than Book: Tablet

Scripture Connections: Sing to the Lord a new song (Psalm 33:3); Behold, I am doing a new thing (Isaiah 43:19); Do not be conformed to this world (Romans 12:12); One who is in Christ is a new creation (2nd Corinthians 5:17); 

Idea(s) for Application: Read this book to a group of teens. Then talk about how God calls us into authentic transformation for the sake of the world.  

Perfection

Want a simple picture book that is a metaphor for life? Here you go.

Picture Book: Perfect Square 

Author & Illustrator: Michael Hall

Summary: A square begins as perfection 

and very, in fact perfectly, happy. 

But something changes it. Holes are punched. Pieces are cut. The perfect square is no more. 

It makes the best of the changes and becomes a gurgling fountain. 

 Then tearing happens. What next? 

 A garden. 

Then it is shredded into strips of itself 

which is perfect for a park.

Next comes shattering. 

 Bridge building is better. 

 Being snipped into ribbons is different. 

This leads to an unusual river. 

Next comes crumpling, wrinkling, and more ripping. 

The result looks a lot like a mountain.

The square waits.  

It's perspective is changed. It feels too limited by the corners, the 4 equal sides so... 

it becomes a window, 

a window... 

and... 

a fountain that gurgles with joy.

Hanna’s Comments: I love the creativity of this book! Oh to have such talent! If your audience is like me, they might be a little bothered that the words here don't seem quite true. Obviously, the changes are happening to multiple squares. I've represented the author/illustrator's words above, but be sure to ask your audience why Hall might have chosen to keep the story singular while the illustrations show multiple squares being transformed. Each transformations happens on a day of the week so this book can be used with young children to practice saying those words in order. I hope you see the potential here to talk about perfection & imperfection, resurrection, loss and renewal, healing, transformation, vulnerability, and resilience. Hall has another cool book about shapes titled My Heart is Like a Zoo. Every animal in the illustrations is comprised of hearts. It’s perfect if you’re looking for a lesson (or craft) near Valentine’s Day or a lesson focused on God’s heart.  [Here’s] an Amazon link. I’ll likely feature more of Michael Hall’s books later on PBT. His work is so simple but profound!

Original Publisher & Date: Greenwillow, 2011

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

Formats other than Book: Not at present

Scripture Connections: Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will the God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (Romans 12:2); If anyone is in Christ, that person is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold the new has come. (2 Corinthians 5:17); If we love one another, God abides in us and God’s love is perfected in us. (1 John 4:12)

Idea(s) for Application: Read this book to any age group and talk about how difficult experiences bring forth healing transformation. Then talk about how faith informs and directs such resilience. Christ's resurrection is an obvious connection. OR Let this book be a part of a lesson on perfection versus imperfection and pride versus humility. Check out Brene Brown’s work for inspiration, particularly her very entertaining TED Talks [here] and [here.] I recommend viewing them in this order. The faith aspects of her work are obvious.  

Was Christ Catawampus?

Picture Book: The Catawampus Cat

Author: Jason Carter Eaton

Illustrator: Gus Gordon

Summary: A cat walks into a busy town; he walks with a lean.

The first to notice him is a married couple of many years. The husband tries to straighten the cat, but...

 When they turn their heads just so, 

she spies her wedding ring and suddenly... 

with that small shift in perspective, they remember love.

Next a barber spots the cat. Tilting his head while giving a client a new haircut may not seem smart...

but she loves it! 

Throughout the town, the cat meanders while the inhabitants notice his slanted ways and do likewise. 

An unfulfilled artist making his living as a house painter watches the cat. After it passes, the painter is shocked to find his work quite original. 

The homeowner, the mayor, proclaims it a work of art! 

Even the local daredevil is distracted during a stunt. Instead of jumping Deadman's Gorge, he takes a different route. 

His stunt even more unusual, he sets a record for height. The daredevil is delighted! 

After seeing the catawampus cat inside the library, Miss Reade pulls the wrong book off the shelf, 

 and her life is changed permanently. Adventure awaits!

Bushy Brows Billiam found that he could see the classroom board when he tilted his head. Suddenly math made perfect sense! 

Soon the whole town is transformed. Even architecture changes with the townspeople's perspectives. 

Slantiness leads to all sorts of sunniness. 

Eventually, the mayor stands before the off-kilter town on Catawampus Cat Day ready to give the cat an award for his positive influence. 

When asked what he thought now that the whole town was like him, the cat's response was surprising. 

Instead of answering directly, he did some calisthenics. 

Apparently wanting to keep his catawampus status, he walked out of town, straightened but still catawampus compared to the town and its people. 

Hanna’s Comments: When I read the gospels, Jesus contrasts with the culture of his day. Likewise, he contrasts with modern culture. People responded to his message in ways that transformed their view of life and others. Today we still are transformed by his message and way of viewing life. He was both a magnetic personality and a confusing one. Like the catawampus cat here, he tended to avoid answering direct questions and offered a new perspective on many topics such as outsiders, status, worry, and even the Law. I suggest you read this book while emphasizing the way the cat is transforming the townspeople. Then say, “Jesus was sort of like the catawampus cat.” Depending on your audience, provide those connections yourself or let your audience discover them. But that’s not enough! Go deeper. Ask your audience to reflect (or answer aloud) how knowing the gospel of Jesus has transformed their perspectives and their lives. Perhaps they have experienced love, been delighted by surprise, discovered their artistry, gained an adventurous spirit, soared to new heights, or found they can do things thought impossible. Even a catawampus cat can give us insight to our spiritual growth and desires to see more like Christ.

Original Publisher & Date: Crown Books, 2017

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

Formats other than Book: Tablet

Scripture Connections: The Beatitudes (Matthew 5) and other statements from Jesus that were surprising such as “Whoever finds life will lose it, and whoever loses life for my sake will find it” (Matthew 10:39); Stories about life-changing encounters Jesus had with others, particularly when it resulted in a perspective change and transformation, such as The Woman at the Well (John 4:4-42); Mary in the Kitchen (Luke 10:38-42); and Zacchaeus, the tax collector (Luke 19:1-10). Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what are the ways of God (Romans 12:2)

Idea(s) for Application: Read this book to a group of children to help them explore how a biblical perspective can be transformative. Connect this idea to how Jesus came into a town and changed the perspective of so many he met.