PBT Redux #25 – Our Tree Named Steve

Here's one of my favorite books from that first year of PBT when I featured a book a day. If for adults, just read it and hear them make easy connections to scripture and their personal spirituality. If for children or teens, you might need to coax a little. Like many of the other 364 PBT books that year, this book is full of inspiring illustrations. These are especially funny!

Picture Book: Our Tree Named Steve
Author: Alan Zweibel 
Illustrator: David Catrow 
Summary: A father writes his children a letter in which he celebrates all the gifts that have been given to them by Steve, the large, unusual tree near their home. Steve (how the youngest child said "tree") has become an important part of their family history: playmate, shelter, place of important milestones. Dad explains that the tree was knocked down by a storm but has been transformed into a tree house in another tree in their yard and will continue to nurture & protect them. 
Hanna’s Comments: This comical tale has such rich symbolic undercurrents and is full of potential for ties to scripture and spiritual transformation. You'll easily elicit conversations about important elements of family life such as play, ritual, protection, & sacrifice. Tie these to all that is holy at church and in nature. Allusions to Jesus' sacrifice are here as well as Steve as a symbol of God who is ever-present, ever-nurturing, and ever-loving.
Publisher & Date of Publication: Puffin, 2005
Age and Grade Appropriateness: 5 and up, K and up
Formats other than Book: None at present
Scripture Connections: God’s presence with us, giving us rest (Exodus 33:14), God’s plans for our welfare & future (Jeremiah 29:11), Jesus’ sacrifice (John 3:16), I am with you always (Matthew 28:20); Zacchaeus in the tree (Luke 19:1-10); Like the father here, Paul wrote letters to convey the meaning of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection. 
Idea(s) for Application: Consider reading this book at an Arbor Day Celebration, a faith family festival, a family reunion, or in a church Sunday school class during Lent. 

Fruit of the Spirit: Faithfulness

Ironically, the concept of faithfulness is very complex, even though it likely surrounded us our early years if we were cared for by a responsible parent. Such parental devotion serves as an obvious model for God’s faithfulness in the form of attention, promises kept, and needs met. This PBT book offers such a parental metaphor for God, but mine these pages for much more! Faithfulness is what God asks of us too!

Picture Book: I Promise

Author & Illustrator: David McPhail

Summary: This story is deceptively complex. It's child oriented without being childish. The illustrations are simply a mother and a baby bear enjoying nature in both bear and human ways.  

After being asked to sing, Mother Bear makes a promise to sing to Baby Bear later. Then she is asked, "What's a promise?" Mother Bear's first answer: "A promise is when you say you will do something and then do your very best to do it." 

If a promise isn't kept, it's a broken promise that may be hard to "fix." It might hurt someone.

Baby Bear wants to know what else Mother Bear will promise. Cloud watching is the next promise she gives. This is a promise of presence. 

Next, she promises to listen and to look and to stay when fears are pressing in.  

Beyond providing a sense of security, Mother Bear promises to provide good food. 

When Baby Bear presses for more promises, Mother Bear says she will teach her bear what is needed to be a grown-up bear, but some things Baby Bear will have to learn on his own.

Baby Bear is surprised when his mother confesses she doesn't know everything. 

When Baby Bear asks if she will promise "I will always be happy," wise Mother Bear replies that such a promise can never be made. Being happy will largely be up to Baby Bear.

As they head home, Mother Bear makes one last promise to always love her cub no matter what. Baby Bear is a bit surprised by the "no matter what" part of that promise.  

Baby Bear looks forward to the promise he will keep tomorrow to play with his friend. Mother Bear declares that keeping promises feels really good! 

This story ends with a promise from Baby Bear to be a good bear, most of the time. 

Mother Bear delights in Baby Bear's promise and then sings him to sleep, her first promise kept.

Hanna’s Comments: What makes the idea of faithfulness hard to explore is the question of its direction. We often think of faithfulness as an attribute of God, but that's not what Paul is talking about in Galatians. The Fruits of the Spirit are not simple. Paul writes about our faithfulness to God, to our family, and to our neighbor. You can expand this idea. Talk about faithfulness to work, to ideals, and certainly to a religious institutions. It’s also important to distinguish faithfulness from faith. Faith is generally thought of as a set of beliefs, whereas faithfulness is about action, orientation, presence, and commitment. One last reason I love this book? It offers a fabulous example of a deep and meaningful conversation with a very young child. The keys to such conversations are listening carefully, being empathetic to experiences, asking appropriate questions, and offering simple wisdom. Such skills are truly acts of faithfulness and must be delightful to God. 

Original Publisher & Date: Little, Brown Bks, 2017

Age & Grade Appropriateness: 2 and up, Toddler and up

Formats other than Book: Tablet

Scripture Connections: In addition to The Fruit of the Spirit verses in Galatians 5:22-23…If you faithfully obey the voice of God… all these blessings shall come upon you (Deuteronomy 28:68); A faithful person will abound with blessings (Proverbs 28:20); Who then is the faithful and wise manager… (Luke 12:42);  one who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much… (Luke 16:10); For we walk by faith, not by sight. (2 Corinthians 5:7); If you love me, you will keep my commandments. (John 14:15)

Idea(s) for Application: Read this book to a group of children or adults and then explore the very complex notion of faithfulness. It would also be a great book to read to a group attending a parenting class.

Gathering Places

Picture Book: Out of the Woods: A True Story of an                                                    Unforgettable Event

Author & Illustrator: Rebecca Bond

Summary: The author's grandfather, Antonio Willie Giroux, loved to tell this amazing story:

In 1914 when he was almost 5, Antonio lived in a lodge near the edge of Lake Gowganda in Ontario. 

He lived with his mother who ran a 3-story hotel, a primitive lodge. 

Antonio often interacted with the lodgers. They included lumber jacks, those who worked at the lodge, trappers, sportsmen, and travelers. 

Antonio especially loved the gathering places. On the first floor was the large dining room. Antonio's room was in a little alcove.  

The second floor consisted of bunks where the travelers and sportsmen would stay briefly. He was fascinated by their equipment. 

The third floor was Antonio's favorite. This was another open space that housed the trappers, lumberjacks, and silver miners who stayed for months at a time. They played cards, told stories, and made music. 

Antonio liked to wander in the woods too, but the animals were well-hidden, too many trappers around. 

One day in the midst of a very dry summer, someone on the third floor spotted smoke. 

Quickly, all were warned of the very real danger and headed for the only place where they might be safe 

Lake Gowganda. All the people stood in knee deep water hoping the fire would turn.

It was another sort of gathering place where everyone waited and hoped to be spared while they stared at the flames. 

Remarkably, they were soon joined by the forest animals that had steered clear from them before. 

The threat of fire was bringing all sorts together. Another kind of fear, a common fear was taking over.

Enemies were side by side! Trappers stood with deer and moose. Foxes were beside rabbits. 

They were close enough to touch. The sky was black, the air was gray, and the living inhabitants of Gowganda were determined to survive beside one another through the fire.  

When it was safe to leave the lake, the animals of all kinds did just that. 

The lodge had been spared. The humans went back to their usual routines and Antonio too. 

He lived at the Lodge for several more years and never forgot the fire that created such an unusual gathering place at Gowganda Lake. This story of distances disappearing between humans and animals was his favorite story to tell his grandchildren. 

Hanna’s Comments: Right now many people are struggling with wild fires in Canada and here in the US. Australians had similar challenges during their last summer so this is a picture book that is evocative and relatable to many. People all over the world have stories of gathering places during disasters. Such events tend to bring out the best of humanity and apparently non-humans too. Connecting this powerful story to biblical images of diversity brought together in community would offer meaningful conversations about how fear and empathy change us and connect us. In the back of the book, you'll find an Author's Note and a photo of Antonio made about the time of this story. 

Original Publisher & Date: Farrar Straus Giroux, 2015

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

Formats other than Book: Digital

Scripture Connections: The Lord is good to all; the Lord’s mercy is over all that God has made (Psalm 145:9); Peaceable Kingdom (Isaiah 65:25); All flesh shall see the salvation of God. (Luke 3:6)
Idea(s) for Application: People of all ages would find this story enjoyable and compelling. Encourage them to connect this story to images from the scriptures like Peaceable Kingdom, Holy Communion, and Pentecost to name a few. 

Touching Conversations

Picture Book: God Made All of Me:                                                                A Book to Help Children Protect Their Bodies

Author: Justin S. & Lindsay A. Holcomb

Illustrator: Trish Mahoney

Summary: This book begins with praise from 10 psychologists, child advocates, and theologians. Next comes a detailed letter to parents explaining the importance of the message inside. Here’s a startling fact:

 Scripture is sprinkled throughout the pages.

A story begins within the context of a traditional family with 2 very inquisitive children whose questions will encourage questions from the listeners. 

It seems the older child is very comfortable with these messages and has likely heard them before. This conversation is for the younger sister. 

Here’s the heart of the message which you’ll find in the letter to parents:

God made all of you. Every part of your body is good, and some parts are private. He made the parts of your body that other people see every day, and he made your private parts. Every part is good because God made every part and called them all good. 

I especially like the less significant message that says if you don’t want to be touched (even via a hug from a relative), that’s your choice. It should be respected.  

If you are touched anyway, tell parents, teachers, or doctors. When the child responds that these people are sometimes too busy, the children are instructed to "keep asking for help." 

Subjects like bath time and doctor visits are discussed. Anatomically correct names for body parts are used.  

The children are warned about several ploys that abusers often use. They are told that rewards and games should never be a part of touching or showing private parts. Secrets are never a good situation. 

Because this family doesn’t keep secrets, the parents explain that they should be told immediately if anyone asks the children to keep a secret. Secrets are distinguished from surprises, two easily confused concepts.

The last section is a list of 9 Ways to Protect Your Children from Sexual Abuse. The book is dedicated to Grace, an organization of professionals that provides abuse prevention training and other services. 

Hanna’s Comments: This book is designed for parents to read to 2-8 year olds and is a tool for beginning and continuing conversations and questions about sexual abuse. Typically, I feature books to read in ministry. Today I’m offering a book for those who do children’s ministry (whether ordained or not) to have handy to pass on to parents to read with their children. 

This book isn't designed for those times when a question of sexual abuse arises. Instead it is for your children’s protection from and empowerment in sexually inappropriate situations. These conversations are best done in a loving, non-threatening home and at the doctor’s office. 

If a reading is going to happen at your place of worship, parental involvement in planning is crucial. Make sure parents have read the book beforehand. I recommend having them help design the program and make all parents welcome. If parents in your faith family are suspected of such behavior, then you must report your concerns to the appropriate government authorities. 

Whoever reads this book should feel welcome to substitute gender-neutral words for God. I typically use Post-it notes to make such changes before reading. It is crucial that these conversations reflect your theological beliefs and spiritual values and your children feel positive about God. 

Original Publisher & Date: New Growth Press, 2015

Age & Grade Appropriateness: 2 and up, toddler and up

Formats other than Book: Digital

Scripture Connections: God created human beings in God’s own image and called us good (Genesis 1 & 2)

Idea(s) for Application: Loan or give this book to parents in your faith family when they want to have a conversation with young children that will protect and empower them should they encounter inappropriate sexual advances or contact.