3 Books for Winter Solstice

Some churches are having Winter Solstice or Longest Night worship services. They view this as an opportunity to acknowledge the darkness of the season, particularly for those who have experienced loss or those who don’t find the hope of Advent as easily as our culture expects. 

Below I give you links to a couple of PBT books that could inform your worship planning. Also, these books could be read or their stories told to worshipers. 

Next, I feature an extraordinarily beautiful new book about darkness and light. It nicely connects to Jesus’ lost parables, but it could also be read aloud on Winter Solstice, when a conversation about holy darkness is potent with meaning.

Owl Moon, a beloved classic, amazingly could be read anytime during Advent (It is about longing and involves patience and silence.) and for Epiphany (It is about a journey in the dark.) On the longest night, it has particular resonance because of the family's milestone ritual - a dark search for an owl.

Singing Away the Dark is the author's very personal childhood story about how darkness on her way to school was frightening, but singing helped her manage her fears.

Picture Book: Dark on Light

Author: Dianne White

Illustrator: Felicita Sala

Summary: This book begins and ends with the same view: The first at sunset & the last at sunrise. 

But the point of this story is "Even when it is dark outside, there is still so much light."  Three young children look out the window as the sun goes down. 

The 3 go out the front door despite the darkness, flashlight in the hand of the oldest, with no adults. With poetic verse, the book celebrates what and who (Many animals & plants!) are sensed on their night journey. Are they exploring? On a night hike? No. It becomes apparent they are searching, at least the 2 oldest are. The youngest is distractedly playing! 

Earlier, on the 2nd double page spread, a dog has wandered from the home. This is who the children are seeking! This is who they were looking for through that window!

The beloved dog is found and greeted. 

Then all are made aware of the glorious sky! (See image at top.) All 4 head home and are lovingly greeted by the 2 adults (parents? grandparents? You decide.), who take them straight to their shared bedroom. There loving security is present in every nook and gesture so that a sleepy peace comes to all, especially the one lost then found.

Hanna’s Comments: The goal of finding the missing dog can be easily missed at a first reading. Once the dog was found, I realized they had snuck out to search. I went back to earlier pages and saw what I had missed. I suggest you introduce the book by reading the author & illustrator's names (Always do this!). Then say, "This is a book about 3 children who decide to go out at night because someone they love is missing." 

As you read, point to the details you don't want missed and teach some new vocabulary (sage, noble, sapphire...). With young children, together count the animals before turning the page. Choose 1 animal to say a quick prayer of thanks or praise to God. 

Encourage natural wonder about other living things, the darkness, and God's mysteries. Components of the story that you might want to use in a lesson include flashlights, sage, and lavender. An experience with essential oils would be a nice touch! End with an imaginary journey prayer about the dark. Encourage being mindful of God's treasures in darkness and thankful that God is with us always, everywhere, in light, dark, and when both are present, as is often true. 

Update: This author has published a similar book about the cycle of a day. It’s called Blue on Blue. It would be a great book for teaching gratitude practices across a typical day.

Her book Green on Green moves through a traditional North American seasonal cycle, including Thanksgiving and Christmas traditions. Those holidays are not named. However, the usual rituals are evident. Therefore, this book would serve well as a component of a lesson on the importance of seasonal and holiday rituals. Be sure to tie such rituals to God’s provisions.

Original Publisher: Beach Lane Books, 2022

Age Appropriateness: 4 and up

Formats other than Book: Tablet

Scripture Connections: Jesus' 3 lost parables (Luke 15:1-2) or any scripture about searching such as the "pearl of great price" (Matthew 13:45-46) OR how the light of love gives us courage in metaphorical or real darkness such as Ruth and Naomi must have experienced on their journey to Israel. 

PBT Applications: Read this book on the Winter's Solstice or to a group of children anytime of year to explore Jesus' lost parables. Spend extra time on pages that show the children's bedroom. Discuss the comforts of bedtime rituals & objects that help us feel safe and loved. Ask about feeling God's presence in bed.

4 Snow Books

It’s a tricky matter to feature books about snow, but such stories are often fun and illustrations are usually striking. Thus is the case for the 4 books featured below. You may not be experiencing snow or even the winter season right now, but it was time for me to spend a little time connecting the joys of snow to faith. Have these books in your wheelhouse for when the flakes fall or when it’s hot outside and thoughts of snow would be particularly refreshing to your faith family. The first book is the story of a child's prayer. The next two books share the title Snow, with one being about patience and the other about snow's variety, beauty, and fun. The last book is about perseverance. All are full of sacred themes. But first, [here's] a PBT post about a "snowy" book that you all know already. 

Picture Book: Before Morning

Author: Joyce Sidman

Illustrator: Beth Krommes

Summary: Upon arriving home, a young girl realizes her airline pilot mom will be leaving soon. She is not happy about this. As she prepares for sleep, she offers an invocation, a prayer of sorts, for a snow day to keep her family together. She gets her wish and love abounds! The joys of a snow day are abundant.

Hanna’s Comments: The text in this book doesn’t occur for several pages so this is a quiet book that demands attention to the illustrations. Be sure to offer it in small groups and explain the illustrations when they are hard to follow. The time and effort are worth it for this gorgeous book is all about familial love and a desire to be present. This would be a great choice for a conversation in your faith family about prayers of petition that are purely selfish. Does God mind them when they are motivated purely by love? Then spend some time talking about the joy of snow days and how they are blessings for some and hardships for others.

Original Publisher & Date: HMH, 2016

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

Formats other than Book: Tablet

Scripture Connections: The psalms are full of petitionary prayers. Some are less selfish than others. 

Idea(s) for Application: Read this book to a group of children or adults and embark on a discussion about the appropriateness of prayers founded on selfish desires. 

Picture Book: Snow

Author & Illustrator: Sam Usher

Summary: Sam awakes to a blanket of snow, but he must wait for his grandfather to step outside. Eager to be the first to make footprints, he's stands at the door calling for Granddad, but Granddad is slow. Then Sam watches as another child has that privilege. He keeps waiting and waiting, watching more folks and creatures (some ridiculous - the result of Sam’s imagination) walk about having glorious fun. After an agonizing wait, the two step out and join the fun. 

Hanna’s Comments: This book is part of a series called Seasons with Granddad. Other titles are Sun, Rain, and Storm. This would be a perfect book to share with children in a church family that wants to increase and improve  multi-generational interaction. Let it be a catalyst for a discussion about The Fruits of the Spirit (particularly patience, joy, and love) and how these might be needed on both sides of the age spectrum. Recognizing and exploring differences are the best way to eventually celebrate them and reap the benefits of all being respected and affirmed for their part of The Body of Christ.

Original Publisher & Date: Templar, 2015

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

Formats other than Book: Tablet

Scripture Connections: The Fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23)

Idea(s) for Application: Read this book to a group of children and talk realistically about how patience is required when interacting with people who are elderly. Then spend time talking about the gifts the older generations have given your church. Have some important stories to share about individuals your children know.

Picture Book: Snow

Author: Cynthia Rylant

Illustrator: Lauren Stringer

Summary: In this beautiful book of rhythmic prose, this prize-winning writer evokes all sorts of feelings from a variety of snow experiences thanks to a young girl who greets snow like a friend. She tells us that snow is best enjoyed WITH a friend too. Snow gives us permission to be happy! Delicate snow is lightly described, but sometimes snow is a heavy burden. This entire book is a child’s wisdom (they do experience snow better than us adults!) to savor snow and the experiences it offers for “nothing lasts forever except memories.”

Hanna’s Comments: Anytime you earnestly consider the beauty and treasure of one of God’s gifts in nature, you are engaged in contemplative prayer. This is certainly something children do already so label it as a spiritual practice and encourage more of it. Because this book is full of gratitude, you could read it in a lesson on the spiritual practice of gratitude. Share some scientific findings about how this orientation inclines us toward health and joy. Then encourage a gratitude journal. [Here] at PBT, I featured Cynthia Rylant and mentioned a few of her many books. She is a treasure that I am grateful for!

Original Publisher & Date: Harcourt, 2008

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

Formats other than Book: Tablet

Scripture Connections: In the perfection of beauty, God shines forth (Psalm 50:2); To everything there is a season and a time for every purpose under heaven (Ecclesiastes 3:1); God has made everything beautiful in its time. (Ecclesiastes 3:11); How great is God’s goodness and how great is God’s beauty! (Zachariah 9:17)

Idea(s) for Application: Read this book to a group of children who are learning about how to pray contemplatively or who are writing gratitude journals.  

Picture Book: Blizzard

Author & Illustrator: John Rocco

Summary: The author shares a story from his Rhode Island childhood about the blizzard of 1978. From the first flakes to the first snowplow many days later, Rocco’s family rises to the challenges of the deep snow. On day 6, their food has run out. Hot cocoa made from water has its limits. John is the lightest (and he’s the only one who has read a survival guide), so he sets out on top of the deep snow trudging toward the neighborhood store. Comically, he meets and helps neighbors along the way while taking their requests from the store. Finally, he arrives at the store and piles the supplies onto his sled. Racing against the sun, he delivers the requests to his grateful neighbors and returns home with groceries – a hero to all.

Hanna’s Comments: The themes of this fun story are hard work, kindness, perseverance, and being oriented to the needs of the community as a whole. Kids become heroes with such biblical values and such stories help them see the connections between real life and scripture, faith and action, love and work, service and joy.

Original Publisher & Date: Hyperion, 2014

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

Formats other than Book: None at present

Scripture Connections: Scriptures about heroes such as Young David in 1 Samuel 17 and the boy who shares his lunch in John 6.

Idea(s) for Application: Read this book to a group of children and talk about attributes of heroes and what motivates them to do good.

Fruit of the Spirit: Love

This is the last of the books highlighting one of the Fruits of the Spirit listed by Paul in Galatians. It’s a great book to end on because love under-girds all the ways God inspires us to add to the kindom (sic). If one of your parents are due a gift soon, consider this story of messy but rewarding parental love. I have a couple of more general books to feature. Then I’ll give you a handy list of all the books in this series with links to their posts.

Picture Book: Love is…

Author: Diane Adams

Illustrator: Claire Keane

Summary: This is a common story of a love found, invested in, freed, and then returned. The verses have a simple structure of declaring what love is while telling of a girl, her unexpected pet, and the difficult decision she makes at year's end. It begins subtly on the title page with a baby duck being distracted from its mother because of a butterfly. 

Then the opportunity for love begins the verses, "Love is… holding something fragile, tiny wings and downy head.” 

The hard work of love is comically portrayed again 

and again in ways your children will enjoy. 

Comfort and companionship is central to this relationship! 

Joy and purpose are throughout. 

As the duckling grows, it's troublesome ways grow also. 

Common human experiences incorporate the little duckling in surprising ways. 

So many of these illustrations will directly relate to raising human children, 

like playing Hide & Seek 

and pushing to new heights and strengths with growing bodies. 

Some situations won't translate to typical childhood messes. 

As months go by, this little mother struggles with the limits of her parenting. Between the poetic lines are confusing questions of freedom versus protection. 

Later in the park, she lets her duckling decide. 

I especially appreciate the verbs in this text: nudging, tugging, coaxing, getting to the edge, hoping, and letting. These capture the active work of good loving

and the heartbreak it inevitably encompasses. 

Absence is felt in the words and the illustrations as the girl longs for her duck.  

The seasons change and hope is revived. 

Here love watches, wonders, waves  

remembers and... 

grows!

Hanna’s Comments: This may be a common story, but it’s a story that children will never tire of experiencing because it is so relatable. They can consider how they have been nurtured and be encouraged to develop their own nurturing skills. Pets are obvious subjects of such skill building, but be sure to broaden your conversation to ways of nurturing other human beings and even groups such as your faith family. This kind of loving loyalty is crucial for the future. Also, the theme of letting go that is central to this story is an important one for children. Spend some time on how hard that is for parents and their children. Connect these milestones to stories in scripture and popular media. Lastly, emphasize the joy that is even present in the required work and inevitable difficulties of nurturing and letting go.

Original Publisher & Date: Chronicle Books, 2017

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

Formats other than Book: Tablet

Scripture Connections: In addition to The Fruit of the Spirit verses in Galatians 5:22-23 and stories of biblical parenting such as Jesus' separation from his parents or Hannah's letting go of Samuel… love your neighbor as yourself (Leviticus 19:18); A new commandment I give you that you love one another (John 13:34); The Love Chapter (1 Corinthians 13); Let all you do be done in love. (1 Corinthians 16:14); Above all these, put on love which binds everything together (Colossians 3:14); Above all, keep loving one another earnestly (1 Peter 4:8)

Idea(s) for Application: Read this book to a group of children and talk about how love is the foundation of all sorts of nurturing, risk-taking, longing, and adventure. Tie these to the building of God’s kindom (sic) and a better world for everyone. 

Resurrection Turtles

Today I showcase 2 secular books about resurrection. (Well, they’re really about hibernation.) These 2 books are very similar so I’m offering them together. They are delightful but deep. Your audience might never look at turtles the same!

 

Today begins PBT’s 5^th year! Like my work? Consider showing your gratitude with a PayPal donation via the button in the upper right corner and my email hannschock@bellsouth.net. This is a labor of love and a load of work! 

Picture Book: Alfie (The Turtle That Disappeared)

Author & Illustrator: Thyra Heder

Hanna's Comments & Summary: My favorite aspect of this story is how it switches points of view in the middle. At a pet store on her 6th birthday, Nia falls for Alfie. Apparently, Alfie is 6 too so they are perfect for each other.  

Alfie is crazy about Nia but he's not so great at displaying enthusiasm for their relationship. This disappoints Nia who is very focused on Alfie at first. 

She introduces him to her friends. 

 

Decorating, dancing, stories, jokes, and presents are Nia's way of showing her love, but...  

Alfie doesn't do much until Nia's 7th birthday when Alfie's voice tells us how special Nia is

and describes her loving ways. 

She makes him a wonderful home. 

 He's so glad to know he's 6 too! And he loves dancing (inside his shell!). 

Apparently, Alfie laughs and laughs!

When Nia tells Alfie they are soon going to be 7 together, he gets excited! He must get her a gift.

The hidden puzzle piece is too fuzzy. 

Toby strongly suggest going outside where the best presents are.

Getting to the ground via a fire escape is quite a daring adventure that yields no obvious present. 

A fabulous blue cap is found, but it's too small for Nia. 

Discouraged, Alfie decides to rest. A nice pond is recommended by a snail. 

 Alfie naps while the seasons change...

 and change.

When he wakes, he finds the perfect present for Nia's 7th birthday, a turtle key chain. 

 Alfie "rushes" to Nia's party and is "right on time."  

He sees that Nia is surprised he's brought her such a perfect present now that they are 7 together!

This beautiful story is inspired by the author's real pet Alfie and a friend's pet turtle. From the Author's Note: The lucky thing about turtles is their lifespan is long enough for you to fall back in love with them.  

Original Publisher & Date: Abrams, 2017

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

Formats other than Book: Tablet

Scripture Connections: Any scripture about resurrection, renewed relationships, gift giving, or misunderstanding. 

Idea(s) for Application: Read this book to a group of children or adults in a lesson about resurrection or misunderstanding in relationships. 

Picture Book: Turtle Spring

Author & Illustrator: Deborah Turney Zagwyn

Summary & Hanna's Comments: I love this initial illustration which gives you a hint that the there are several layers to this story of seasons and beginnings in particular. There is also a science lesson in these pages about the work and gifts of compost.   

When Clee's baby brother comes, she loves having extended family over but... 

not the attention they give the baby. 

 Fortunately, her uncle brings Clee a present. 

Clee enjoys the turtle and keeps it in a compost heap near the sandbox. The turtle is good company when Clee's father has to go away for work. 

When the cold comes, Clee's mother suggests she bring the turtle inside, but Clee resists. The house if full of baby brother! Then Clee forgets. 

A feeling of forgetting brings Clee outside where she remembers her turtle and feels so guilty that she didn't bring it inside. She finds the turtle shell and is heartbroken.   

Clee confesses to her mother and tells how she buried the turtle in a deep hole in the compost heap. 

Winter has Clee and mother missing their loved ones. The house "grew a shell of snow" with only the baby happy and lively. 

Clee's relationship with her brother transforms. You might say it comes alive!

As they play, Clee avoids the place of the turtle's burial. 

Spring comes with promises that her father will be home soon. 

Eventually, Clee must take her brother to the sandbox, but she is wary. 

She tries to avoid looking at the compost pile but sees movement... 

 Baby brother sees the turtle first.    

All are thrilled! A Note to the Reader at the end explains how the compost heap is a perfect place for turtle hibernation.

Original Publisher & Date: Tricycle Press, 2004

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

Formats other than Book: None at present

Scripture Connections: Connect this book to scriptures about resurrection, seasons, surprises, absence, guilt, and transformation in relationship.

Idea(s) for Application: Read this book to a group of children or adults in a lesson about resurrection, waiting, seasonal changes, or transformation in relationships.