PBT Redux #17 A New Year's Hope & Prayer

Picture Book: Let There Be Peace on Earth                                                                  and Let It Begin with Me

Authors: Jill Jackson & Sy Miller

Illustrator: David Diaz

Summary: This picture book’s text is a song familiar to many. Written in 1955, the song has been recorded by many singers throughout the world. It is a clarion call for world peace and interpersonal peace. Besides the song lyrics, you’ll find an audio CD which includes 11 other songs by these writers. The illustrations feature international symbols of peace which are explained in the back of the book. Other features include historical aspects of the song and its writers as well as the musical score.

Hanna’s Comments: If you are bothered by the masculine terminology, particularly “With God as our Father, brothers all are we.” adapt to “With God, our creator, children all are we.” Change “Let me walk with my brother,” to “Let us walk with each other.” Use sticky notes to replace the words on the pages. Simply explain to your audience that the meaning and use of language changes sometimes. Then give your personal reasons for making the changes.

Publisher & Date of Publication: Tricycle Press, 2009

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

Formats other than Book: None at Present, On the internet, there are many videos of this song being performed.

Scripture Connections: Those who plan peace have joy (Proverbs 12:20); live peaceably with all (Romans 12:18); blessed are the peacemakers (Matthew 5:9); strive for peace with everyone (Hebrews 12:14)

Idea(s) for Application: Consider reading this book or singing along with it as a part of a lesson on the beatitudes in the Gospel of Matthew or as part of a lesson on issues of peace, conflict, and reconciliation. 

PBT Series: Picture Book Classics #2

Here’s another one of my early posts that is worth sharing again. This little book is a treasure! It’s been in print for over 70 years and is typically read to very young children. In the post below, I suggest you consider a broader audience and give your faith family a chance to see the connections between this little guy's faith in a carrot seed and their own faith.  

Picture Book: The Carrot Seed

Author: Ruth Krauss

Illustrator: Crockett Johnson

Summary: This classic has a simple story but a powerful message about a lone boy’s faith in a carrot seed, which he planted and nurtures despite family members saying repeatedly, “It won’t come up.” Eventually the greens pop above the soil’s surface. Then the boy pulls a huge carrot out of the ground and loads it onto a wheel barrow. I wonder if he shared the carrot with his family. Ask your audience!

Hanna’s Comments: This picture book classic has a simple message of faith and nurturing that is universal and timeless. I think it should be in every toddler and preschooler’s library. Certainly it should be in your faith community’s nursery, preschool rooms, and community-wide library. Don't limit it's audience to just little ones. With elementary children and adults, use it as an intro. to a talk about naysayers and critics of faith and hope. Emphasize patience! Discuss the concept of tending your own personal faith like the boy nurtured his carrot seed. Point out that the carrot seed might have died had the boy not been so faithful to it. Ask: “What are some ways we “water” and “weed” our faith gardens?” Offer more personal examples of your faith practices. You might even describe your faith garden. Where is the beauty? What are the pests? How do you harvest and what do you glean from your faith garden?

You'll find a similar book with a more complicated plot and more text in a book by Pat Brisson and Maryann Cocca-Leffler. Wanda's Roses highlights a girl's determination to nurture a thorn bush in a vacant lot. She is sure it is a rose bush. She, and eventually some neighbors, clean up the lot. Through her many days of faithful hard work, Wanda keeps saying to naysayers the lot will be filled with roses. Wanda is right!

Publisher & Date of Publication: Harper & Row, 1945

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

Formats other than Book: There are several videos to choose from including “Uncle Wally” Amos reading this book as a part of the Read it Loud library program on Youtube.com, Audio cassette

Scripture Connections: Other seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. (Matthew 13:8); If you have faith the size of a mustard seed (Matthew 17:20) 

Idea(s) for Application: Because the concept of faith is so abstract, children (and sometimes adults) have difficulty understanding it. This little book offers a delightfully simple, but profound explanation of faith that is easy to relate to. Read this book in a Sunday school or other small group context and explore the concept of faith and how to "tend" and "nurture" it. 

PBT Grab & Go #8 - Just a Dream

Below is a revised post featuring my favorite PBT book about environmental concerns. Tomorrow is Earth Day and here in The States there will be a nation-wide (perhaps world-wide) March for Science. Here are links if you want to know more about [Earth Day] or [The March for Science]. 

Picture Book: Just a Dream 

Author & Illustrator: Chris Van Allsburg 

Summary: Walter is a present-day litterbug with futuristic optimism grounded in his love for science fiction (SF). He doesn’t bother to recycle and sneers at Rose next door who has asked for a tree for her birthday. Then a dream has his bed traveling through a series of scenes in the future. Walter doesn’t find the SF-infused future he longs for but a polluted, ugly, and treeless future instead. Walter wakes converted and immediately begins sorting the trash. He even asks for a tree for his upcoming birthday. Later he has another dream with a revised future in which he and Rose’s 2 trees thrive under a clear sky, thanks to the behavioral changes humans have made to preserve the environment.
Hanna’s Comments: Though this message is heavy-handed, its simplicity will speak to children who, for developmental reasons, tend to view controversial issues such as environmental issues like climate change with black & white tones. As expected from Van Allsburg, the illustrations are striking and offer much potential for conversation about our God-ordained role in environmental concerns and God's hope for our planet and all its creatures. I recently heard an interview with biblical scholar and seminary professor Ellen Davis on On Being, my favorite podcast. Dr. Davis and host Krista Tippett discuss Genesis 1:26, where we read the command God gives humans at their creation. 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 act as a sort of craft or art in which we are privileged to have responsibility for our earth. [Here's] the link to that interview entitled The Poetry of Creatures. Fascinating and inspiring because along with it you get to hear some of Wendell Berry's beautiful poetry!

Publisher & Date of Publication: HMH Books, 1990 

Age and Grade Appropriateness: 4 and up, Pre and up 
Formats other than Book: None at present
Scripture Connections: Humankind has been blessed with the role of exercising skilled mastery over creation (Genesis 1:26); God gives…and it was good (Genesis 1:29-31), Zacheaus converts (Luke 19:1-10) 

Idea(s) for Application: Read this book to a group of children in a private school’s Arbor Day program or at a kickoff for a church’s recycling program.

Lunch Counter Resistance

Picture Book: Sit-In: How Four Friends Stood Up                                               by Sitting Down

Author: Andrea Davis Pinkney

Illustrator: Brian Pinkney 

Summary: This historic story is beautifully rendered in verse. Civil rights issues are cleverly explored metaphorically through lunch counter items (a doughnut, coffee, & cream). 

On February 1, 1960, four college students sat down at a lunch counter in Greensboro, NC. When they were ignored, they politely refused to leave and stayed until Woolworth’s closed. 

News spread and more students joined them the next day. Still ignored, they did homework. 

Lunch counter protests began in several southern towns. 

Angry white people poured drinks down their backs and flung food in their faces, but they didn’t respond. 

“Practicing peace while others show hatred was tougher than any school test.” The Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) was formed; their slogan became, “We are all leaders.”

Other groups began to oppose segregated libraries, buses, parks, and pools. Some were arrested, but they didn’t resist, instead some sang. 

Eventually many businesses integrated just to stay open. In 1964, The Civil Rights Act banned segregation in public places. 

Hanna’s Comments: This book has a treasure trove of supplemental material at the end. There’s a timeline, a photo of the original 4 students, and more info. and references. My favorite is the “right recipe” for integration, 10 pieces of practical advice that could benefit us all.

As Black History Month ends here in the States, I wanted to highlight this important book to help you delve into faith-based resistance in your congregations. I also wanted to give you a link to a disturbing report that I heard from NPR this week about the low percentage of children’s books that feature characters of color. Check it out [here]. This data is troubling, but you’ll find a much higher percentage on this website. At PBT, I make a point of featuring picture books that highlight non-white characters, diversity, and 1960s civil rights history since I worship mere blocks from where some of the most vivid atrocities occurred.

Original Publisher & Date: Little, Brown, & Co., 2010

Age & Grade Appropriateness: 7 and up, 2^nd and up

Formats other than Book: None at present

Scripture Connections: Like a polluted fountain is a righteous person who gives way before the wicked (Proverbs 25:26); What does the Lord require of you but to do justice (Micah 6:8); Jesus said to a disciple, “Put your sword back into place.” (Matthew 26:52); Don’t be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God (Romans 12:2)

Idea(s) for Application: Read this book in a lesson for children, youth, or adults on Jesus’ nonviolence and/or the Christian church’s modern methods for doing justice and resisting injustice.  

A Picture Book a Day for a Year: Day 293

Picture Book: The Yellow Star:                                                The Legend of King Christian X of Denmark

Author: Carmen Agra Deedy

Illustrator: Henri Sorensen
Summary: Before and during World War II, Nazis used the Star of David to segregate and alienate the Jews. As Germany conquered other countries, these terrible policies crossed borders too. Legend has it that Denmark's beloved King Christian the 10th, who was committed to keeping all Danes safe, defied the Nazis. First he ordered that the Nazi flag, which had replaced the Danish flag above the palace, be brought down. When he was told that a repeat of this act would result in the execution of the one who took down the flag, he proclaimed that he would be the one to do so. The Nazi flag did not fly over the palace again. Likewise, when the decree came from Germany that all Jews in Denmark must wear a yellow star, King Christian defied this requirement by wearing a star himself as he paraded through Danish streets each morning. This act of benevolence encouraged all Danish citizens to wear a yellow star. Many did. For a while, the Jews of Denmark were not easily singled out.
Hanna’s Comments: Carmen Deedy beautifully tells this complicated story of a king’s determination to protect all of his people. The response of the non-Jewish Danes is inspiring. There is much in this story that can resonate for those in faith communities who are looking for historical inspiration to encourage biblical values of non-violent acts of social justice and protection of those who are most vulnerable.     
Original Publisher & Date: Peachtree Publishers, 2000
Age & Grade Appropriateness: 6 and up, 1^st and up
# of Pages: 32
Available in Spanish? Not at present
Formats other than Book: There is a short trailer for this book on Youtube.com that shows photographs of King Christian. Note: There are other short videos about a book titled Yellow Star but it is about a young girl in Poland.

PBT Category: Non-fiction
PBT Topics this Book connects with: abuse/abuse of power, belonging, bonds/connections, bravery/courage, bullying/martyrs/persecution/oppression, call/calling/vocation, challenges, citizenship, commitment, communication, community, conflict, conformity, danger, discord, disobedience/obedience, Europe, evil, exclusion/inclusion, God’s nature, heroes, identity/names, intercession, leadership/servant leadership, legends/myths, non-violence/peaceful resistance, power, protecting/protection, rebellion, religious differences, resisting evil, risking, unity, wisdom
Scripture Connections: Greater love has no one than this, that you lay down your life for friends (John 15:13); I urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love (Ephesians 4:1-2); whatever is true, honorable, just… if there is any excellence and anything worthy of praise, think on these. (Philippians 4:8)
Idea(s) for Application: Consider reading this book to a group of children learning about modern heroes who face evil because of injustices to those who are oppressed.

A Picture Book a Day for a Year: Day 282

Picture Book: Mrs. Biddlebox

Author: Linda Smith

Illustrator: Marla Frazee

Summary: Mrs. Biddlebox is having a bad day, but she is determined to deal with it in her own very bewitching way. First she gathers it in a big pot, requiring lots of energy. She even twirls it with her broomstick like spaghetti. She reaches up and hooks some sunrays to add to the pot and rolls up the cloudy gray sky like a vast carpet. Finally, she whips it, whisks it, beats and bakes it. Then Mrs. Biddlebox eats her bad day, every last bite of it. When the meal is finished, she opens her door to welcome in a shining night and goes to bed. It is inspiring to note that the author was a sort of Mrs. Biddlebox in her own right who battled cancer for two years before dying of that disease in June of 2000.

Hanna’s Comments: If you are having trouble visualizing the events in this book, then you will be fascinated by the imaginative illustrations. I was also struck with the emotional tone here and the determination of this unusual character. I can see this book creatively used in a variety of settings in which your audience is dealing with a difficult and dark situation that requires energy, stamina, and determination such as a terminal illness, chronic pain, or depression. This picture book could also be used to motivate a religious community who is suffering through a particularly difficult problem such as large debt or a great loss as in a natural disaster or fire. My last idea is to talk about this book as a metaphor for battling evil, whether you see evil personified as the Devil or you see evil in more general, ambiguous terms. Note that the cover of this book as shown above may be different from the one on the book you find.

Publisher & Date of Publication: Harper Collins, 2002

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

# of Pages: 32

Available in Spanish? Not at present

Formats other than Book: None at present

PBT Category: Post 2K

PBT Topics this Book Connects with: action, anger, challenges, change, depression/despair/sadness/sorrow, difficulties, dying, emotions/feelings, endings, enemies, evil, feasting/food/hunger/nutrition, hope, intolerance, labor/work, lamentations, light/morning, perseverance, power, problems/problem solving, rebellion, resisting evil  

Scripture Connections: Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me, your rod and your staff, they comfort me (Psalm 23:4); for I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope (Jeremiah 29:11); get thee behind me, Satan (Matthew 16:23)

Idea(s) for Application: Consider reading this picture book at a support group for people with situations of clinical depression, chronic pain, or terminal disease. 

A Picture Book a Day for a Year: Day 270

Picture Book: The Story of Ferdinand

Author: Munro Leaf

Illustrator: Robert Lawson

Summary: Unlike a typical bull in Spain, Ferdinand is content to sit quietly in a field and smell the lovely flowers, whereas his peers prefer butting other bulls and hope to be picked for the bull fights in Madrid. When men come to choose the biggest, toughest bull for the bull fights, Ferdinand wanders away to his favorite tree to sit and smell flowers. When he sits down on a bumble bee and is stung, the men are delighted by Ferdinand’s behavior. He butts and snorts fiercely. The men take Ferdinand to Madrid. Because of his size and rumors, Ferdinand is feared by the bullfighters, but he goes to the middle of the ring, sits down, and smells the lovely flowers in the ladies’ hair. The violence-hungry bullfighters are all very angry, but not Ferdinand so they take him back home to his field of flowers where he is content.

Hanna’s Comments: Banned in many countries, this book has an interesting political history which you may want to check out on the internet and mention when you offer it to your audience. It was published just prior to the Spanish American War while WWII was raging.

Publisher & Date of Publication: Viking, 1936

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

# of Pages: 32

Available in Spanish? Yes

Formats other than Book: Video, Audio CD

PBT Category: Classic

PBT Topics this Book Connects with: authenticity, beauty, differences, the environment/nature, Europe, evil, gladness/happiness, goodness, individuality/uniqueness, joy, non-violence/peaceful resistance, pacifism/peace/peacemakers, passion, resisting evil, reverence, steadfastness, worship

Scripture Connections: Blessed are the peacemakers (Matthew 5:9); seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness (Matthew 6:33); do not be conformed to this world (Romans 12:2)

Idea(s) for Application: When studying peacemaking or non-violence, consider reading this book to the children in your family of faith. It also has clear connections to the Romans 12 verse above. 

A Picture Book a Day for a Year: Day 209

Picture Book: Bully

Author & Illustrator: Patricia Polacco

Summary: On her first day of school, Lyla meets Jamie a new 6^th grade boy. When Lyla makes cheerleader, she must keep her friendship with Jamie secret because of her new popular friends. When Lyla witnesses cyber-bullying with Jamie as one of the targets, she is ashamed and tries to distance herself from the girls. When she defends eating lunch with Jamie, Lyla becomes the target of their cyber-bullying.

Hanna’s Comments: The context of this book will be very familiar to older elementary and middle school students. It should serve as a great tool for discussion because the modern characters are well-developed and this issue is very pertinent to many teens and pre-teens. Do note the length of this text and allow time for discussion. Cyber-bullying has become a serious issue of concern for too many students and adults. Its effects can be devastating and permanent. Families of faith are not immune. In fact, it behooves those of us who have influence on youth to offer a place for honest discussion and the teaching of coping strategies, proactive approaches, and moral guidance before this issue detrimentally affects our communities. This book ends the PBT focus on bullying. I hope that you find these books to be helpful resources.

Publisher & Date of Publication: G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 2012

Age & Grade Appropriateness: 7 and up, 2^nd and up

# of Pages: 48

Available in Spanish? Not at present

Formats other than Book: Tablet

PBT Category: Post 2K

PBT Topics this Book Connects with: abuse/abuse of power, belonging, betrayal, bullying/martyrs/persecution/oppression, challenges, choices/decisions, commitment, communication, conflict, discord, education/learning/school, emotions/feelings, enemies, ethics, evil, exclusion/inclusion,  friends/friendship, injustice, new school, peer pressure, power, relationships, resisting evil, righteousness, victims

Scripture Connections: A friend loves at all time (Proverbs 17:17); whoever pursues righteousness and kindness will find life, righteousness, and honor (Proverbs 21:21)

Idea(s) for Application: Consider reading this book to tweens or junior highs in your faith community when talking about issues surrounding bullying or cyber-bullying.  

A Picture Book a Day for a Year: Day 205

Picture Book: Say Something

Author: Peggy Moss

Illustrator: Lea Lyon

Summary: This elementary-aged female protagonist witnesses bullying, but she never intervenes. When she is bullied, she realizes how desperately she wishes one of her friends, many of whom were there to witness it, would intervene. When she tells her brother how mad she is at her friends, he says, “Why? They didn’t do anything.” She sees herself in his response. The next day she befriends one of the bully victims.

Hanna’s Comments: An African proverb begins this book: “If you think you are too small to make a difference, try sleeping in the room with a mosquito.” Resources at the end of the book will encourage conversation with children and offer more information. Since its publication, this book has inspired “Say Something Weeks” in schools all over the world. The tenth anniversary edition has an author’s note. Anti-bullying Week is November 16-22, 2014.  You can check it out at: http://www.bullyingawarenessweek.org/ . For the next several days, I will be offering books on bullying. For an explanation, see my comments on Day 196.

Publisher & Date of Publication: Tillbury House, 2004

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

# of Pages: 32

Available in Spanish? Not at present

Formats other than Book: None at present

PBT Category: Post 2K

PBT Topics this Book Connects with: abuse/abuse of power, action, belonging, betrayal, bravery/courage, bullying/martyrs/persecution/oppression, challenges, conflict, discord, education/learning/school, emotions/feelings, exclusion/inclusion, friends/friendship, injustice, power, relationships, resisting evil, victims

Scripture Connections: Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression (Isaiah 1:17); as you did it to one of the least of these, you did it to me (Matthew 25:40)

Idea(s) for Application: Read this book to school age children in your faith family when doing a lesson on seeking justice for others. 

A Picture Book a Day for a Year: Day 187

Picture Book: Strega Nona

Author & Illustrator: Tomie dePaola

Summary: Everyone goes to Strega Nona for cures and magic. She is getting old enough to need some help to keep her house and yard so she hires Big Anthony and warns him to never touch her magic pasta pot. He overhears her spell song that gets the pot producing pasta, but he doesn’t notice the 3 kisses necessary to stop the pot. When Strega Nona is away, Big Anthony can’t resist the temptation and sings the pasta pot spell. He invites the townspeople to come join him for pasta. They do, and when all have eaten, Big Anthony tries to stop the pot to no avail. Just as the town is about to drown in pasta, Strega Nona comes back. She blows the 3 kisses, the pot stops making pasta, and punishes Big Anthony by telling him to start eating.  

Hanna’s Comments: “Strega Nona” means Grandma Witch, but this witch isn’t a bit evil. In fact, she’s pretty merciful to Big Anthony and gives him a punishment that fits the crime. This is a funny tale all about temptation and gluttony which is a wonderful book to read to children in faith communities where good behavior is important.

Publisher & Date of Publication: Simon & Schuster, 1975

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

# of Pages: 40

Available in Spanish? Yes and there is a video of this version in the collection below

Formats other than Book: Tablet, Audio CD, Videos, both the English and Spanish versions, are in the collection: Strega Nona & More Stories about Magic.

PBT Category: Award Winner, Classic

PBT Topics this Book Connects with: consequences/punishment, disaster, deception/dishonesty/lies, disobedience/obedience, evil, feasting/food/hunger/nutrition, greed/selfishness, listening, mistakes, rescue, resisting evil, saving/savior, secrets, self-control, sin, temptations, trust

Scripture Connections: Be not among gluttonous eaters (Proverbs 23: 20-21); watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation (Matthew 26:41); their god is their belly and they glory in their shame (Philippians 3:19); the testing of your faith produces steadfastness (James 1:3)

Idea(s) for Application: Read this book to children when talking about the difficulties of temptation and/or gluttony.

A Picture Book a Day for a Year: Day 185

Picture Book: My Mouth is a Volcano

Author: Julia Cook

Illustrator: Carrie Hartman

Summary: Louis has a lot to say. People say he erupts (interrupts) a lot, but all of his words are very important to him. Louis’ explains: as other people are talking, his words pop into his head and slide down his tongue. His tongue pushes those words up against his teeth, and he erupts! He blames it on the volcano in his mouth. He gets timed out, but it doesn’t help. Eventually the tables turn. It’s Louis’ day for sharing his poster of favorite things. When his classmates interrupt him, he can’t believe how rude they are being. He talks with his mom, and she helps him see that others feel the same when he interrupts. His mom tells Louis to bite down on his pushy words and take a deep breath to push his words out through his nose instead.  Then he can breathe the words back in when it is his turn to talk. Louis tries it at dinner and it works!

Hanna’s Comments: Yay Louis’ mom! Any book that can give such a practical and concrete strategy to a common, social problem deserves your attention. When reading this to children in your faith community, tie in the Latin word “pneuma” which means both breath and spirit. Talk about how the Holy Spirit is our counselor and sometimes the best counsel is to listen rather than speak.

Publisher & Date of Publication: National Center for Youth Issues, 2005

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

# of Pages: 32

Available in Spanish? Not at present

Formats other than Book: There is an activity and idea book that goes with this picture book.

PBT Category: Award Winner, Post 2K

PBT Topics this Book Connects with: breath/breathing/wind, choices/decisions, education/learning/school, God’s presence, greed/selfishness, Holy Spirit/spirit, humility, listening, mothers, noise/sounds/voice, parents/parental love, perspective, quiet/silence, resisting evil, respect, self-control, sin

Scripture Connections: A babbling fool will come to ruin (Proverbs 10:8); I will ask the Father to give you another counselor (John 14:16); aspire to live quietly and to mind your own affairs (1 Thessalonians 4:11)

Idea(s) for Application: Use this book in a lesson for children on the benefits of breathing deeply to be more centered in the Holy Spirit. Tie in the loving response and value of listening to others as opposed to talking at others.  

A Picture Book a Day for a Year: Day 153

Terrific Trio: Book 2

Picture Book: Desmond and the Very Mean Word
Authors: Archbishop Desmond Tutu                                                                  & Douglas Carlton Abrams
Illustrator: A. G. Ford
Summary: This story from Bishop Desmond Tutu’s childhood is a very honest look at the obsessive desire for retribution when wronged and the struggle to forgive. While riding his new bike, Desmond is called a mean word by 3 white boys in pre-Apartheid South Africa. Desmond's response of shouting at them with mean words is not satisfying to him. Father Trevor Huddleston, mentioned as a mentor in yesterday’s biography about Bishop Tutu, counsels Desmond to try to forgive the boys rather than contributing to an escalation of hatred. Father Trevor says, “When we hurt someone, it hurts us too.” Desmond struggles with how to forgive them when they are not sorry. After Desmond witnesses one of the boys being mistreated, he decides to try an apology and forgiveness. The white boy doesn’t apologize, but Desmond experiences a sense of relief and freedom from his anger and obsession. Note: the “mean word” is never revealed.
Hanna’s Comments: What I especially admire about this story is the detailed way in which Desmond’s feelings are honestly explored over a period of days. The tender care and counsel that Father Trevor offers Desmond is mirrored in this text as the struggle and change in feelings on the part of both boys is explicit. This is rare in children’s books especially with boy protagonists. Also, there is not a “happily ever after” ending. The cultural limits of racism in South Africa are still very real for the two boys as this story ends. Tomorrow’s post of the 3^rd book in this Terrific Trio, offers Archbishop Tutu's beliefs about God’s dream for us to be empathetic, forgiving, and joyful human beings.
Publisher & Date of Publication: Candlewick, 2012
Age & Grade Appropriateness: 6 and up, 1^st and up
# of Pages: 32
Available in Spanish? Not at present
Formats other than Book: Tablet
PBT Category: Non fiction
PBT Topics this Book Connects with: acceptance, action, Africa, anger, brokenness, bullying/martyrs/persecution/oppression, call/calling/vocation, challenges, choices/decisions, conflict, cruelty, differences, difficulties, discord, emotions/feelings, encouragement, enemies, forgiveness/justifying grace/mercy/redemption, freedom, golden rule/great commandment, hatred, joy, judgment/judges/judging, pacifism/peace/peacemakers, perspective, power, race relations/racism, relationships, resisting evil, self-control, temptations, victims, wisdom
Scripture Connections: Peter asks how often he should forgive (Matthew 18:21-22); Be kind, tenderhearted, & forgiving of one another (Ephesians 4:32)
Idea(s) for Application: Forgiveness is an important subject for children to honestly explore in the safety of their faith communities. This book would be a valuable addition to any lesson relating to forgiveness. Consider explaining the remarkable Truth and Reconciliation Commission on which Bishop Tutu was a member.

A Picture Book a Day for a Year: Day 130

Picture Book: The Carrot Seed

Author: Ruth Krauss

Illustrator: Crockett Johnson

Summary: This classic has a simple story but a powerful message about a lone boy’s faith in a carrot seed, which he planted and nurtures despite family members saying repeatedly, “It won’t come up.” Eventually the greens pop above the soil’s surface. Then the boy pulls a huge carrot out of the ground and loads it onto a wheel barrow. I wonder if he shared the carrot with his family. Ask your audience!

Hanna’s Comments: This book was published 70 years ago, but its simple message of faith and nurturing is universal and timeless. I think it should be in every toddler and preschooler’s library. Certainly it should be in your faith community’s nursery, preschool rooms, and community-wide library. Don't limit it's audience to just little ones. With elementary children and adults, use it as an intro. to a talk about naysayers and critics of faith and hope. Emphasize patience! Discuss the concept of tending your own personal faith like the boy nurtured his carrot seed. Point out that the carrot seed might have died had the boy not been so faithful to it. Ask: “What are some of the ways we “water” and “weed” our faith gardens?” Offer more personal examples of your faith practices. You might even describe your faith garden. Where is the beauty? What are the pests? How do you harvest and what do you glean from your faith garden?

You'll find a similar book with a more complicated plot and more text in a book by Pat Brisson and Maryann Cocca-Leffler. Wanda's Roses highlights a girl's determination to nurture a thorn bush in a vacant lot. She is sure it is a rose bush. She, and eventually some neighbors, clean up the lot. Throughout her many days of faithful hard work, Wanda keeps saying to naysayers the lot will be filled with roses. Wanda is right!

Publisher & Date of Publication: Harper & Row, 1945

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

# of Pages: 32

Available in Spanish? Yes

Formats other than Book: There are several videos to choose from including “Uncle Wally” Amos reading this book as a part of the Read it Loud library program on Youtube.com, Audio cassette

PBT Category: Classic

PBT Topics this Book Connects with: beginnings/morning, care of creation, doubt, eggs/seeds, faith/faithfulness, family, gardening/planting/pruning/sowing, harvest, land/mountains/soil, patience, perseverance, resisting evil, transformation, water

Scripture Connections: Other seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. (Matthew 13:8); If you have faith the size of a mustard seed (Matthew 17:20) 

Idea(s) for Application: Because the concept of faith is so abstract, children (and sometimes adults) have difficulty understanding it. This little book offers a delightfully simple, but profound explanation of faith that is easy to relate to. Read this book in a Sunday school or other small group context and explore the concept of faith and how to "tend" and "nurture" it.