Seed Parables

Picture Book: The Tiny Seed
Author & Illustrator: Eric Carle

Summary: It's autumn and a group of seeds begin their journey via the wind from tree to destiny. Carle asks if the tiniest of them will be able to keep up. 

One seed flies too close to the sun.

 One lands in ice that never melts.

 Another seed falls into the ocean. 

A hot dry desert is too much for one seed. Meanwhile, the tiny seed is pushed on with the others. 

When the seeds fall to the ground, one is eaten, but not the tiny seed. It is so small. It isn't seen. 

The tiny seed also avoids being a mouse lunch. 

It's spring; the seeds transform into plants. 

One plant is trampled.   

One is picked... 

to become a gift.

Amazingly, the tiny seed becomes a tremendous flower, taller than a nearby house - a giant! 

Birds and bees visit all summer. They too are surprised by its size. 

When Autumn returns, the wind blows petals (and seeds) about, continuing the circle of life.  

Hanna’s Comments: I hope you see the direct connections this book has to Jesus' seed parables. Those seeds metaphorically represented the gospel, the church, or The Kingdom of God. In each case, the giant flower offers a nice point of discussion about the growth and influence of these throughout history. A board book is photographed above, but because of the amount of text, this book is better for older children who might not like being read a board book. Instead choose a larger version or the video which is very well done and free if you are an Amazon Prime member. If you’re an Eric Carle fan, find more of his books at PBT [here] and [here.] There are many books here at PBT about seeds. Besides the direct connections to seed parables, they offer aspects of transformation & resurrection and a need for tender care. My 2 favorites which are very different in tone are [here] and [here]. Find a fabulous book about the mustard seed [here]. If you want to see many more books about seeds, use the search word "seeds."

Original Publisher & Date: Little Simon, 2009

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

Formats other than Book: Video

Scripture Connections: The seed parables particularly The Parable of the Sower (Matthew 13:1-23, Mark 4:1-20, & Luke 8:4-15) and The Parable of the Mustard Seed (Matthew 31-32) Any Bible story about resilience or starting out small. 

Idea(s) for Application: Read this book to a group of children when studying one or more of the seed parables.

Mustard Seeds are Marvelous!

This and the next PBT post feature a couple of authors who bring with their picture books a great deal of substance and authority. Levine is a Professor of New Testament & Jewish Studies at Vanderbilt University. Sasso is a well-known rabbi and author of many books for adults and children. You’ll find my favorite Sasso picture book in a couple of versions [here] at PBT. My photos below are from a pre-publication copy of this book so they may not match what you find.

Picture Book: The Marvelous Mustard Seed

Author: Amy-Jill Levine & Sandy Eisenberg Sasso

Illustrator: Margaux Meganck

Summary: This book is based on the parable Jesus tells about a mustard seed. Together two children plant a seed that has great potential even though it is very tiny. They tend it in rain and shine. All it's really good for is planting. No matter the weather, it will grow.  

The critters in the soil see it growing. This tiny seed becomes an amazing tree where birds nest, people marvel, and all enjoy it and each other. Some people touch this great tree to be assured that it's real while others simply enjoy its shade. The marvelous thing about this tree is that it has so many uses. Besides its beauty, shade, and gathering space, its pods can make spices and its leaves and seeds can make medicine. This tree is a symbol of The Kingdom of God, growing and growing, and growing! Now you can't miss it! 

The Kingdom of God is a great big surprise and marvelous wonder! Like this extraordinary tree, it leads us to "imagine what can be."

Hanna’s Comments:  The scholarly grounding of these 2 authors becomes obvious in their Note to Parents and Teachers at the end. Be sure to read it. They explore the concept of parables and how they would have been received when Jesus spoke. They offer some of the many interpretations of this parable. Then they list a series of questions and ideas to consider with your audience.

Original Publisher & Date: Flyaway Books, 2018

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

Formats other than Book: None at present

Scripture Connections: Jesus’ parable of the mustard seed is found in Matthew 13:31-32, Mark 4:30-32, and Luke 13:18-19. The Matthew and Luke passages mention the seed becoming a tree.

Idea(s) for Application: Read this book to a group of any age or use it in a children's sermon experience to explore the meaning of the parable of the mustard seed. 

Grab & Go #13: Little Apple Goat

Picture Book: Little Apple Goat

Author & Illustrator: Caroline Jayne Church 

Summary: In this story, an ordinary goat has quite an extraordinary appetite. 

Wednesday's laundry isn't appetizing to her. 

Instead she loves fruit! Each autumn, Little Apple Goat patiently waits for fruit to fall before she munches and munches. 

Any fruit will do: cherries, pears, and especially apples.

For years, Little Apple Goat spits the pits and seeds over the hedge on her way home from the orchard. 

On one particular day, the breeze is strong. 

It picks up to a bluster and then a storm, a terrible storm. 

The animals gather in their barn, huddled together while watching and hearing the terrible wind. 

Once it's safe, Little Apple Goat hurries to see her beloved fruit trees.

Every tree is destroyed! 

As the farmer cuts and drags debris away, the animals are sad. They agree that the farm "just won't be the same without the orchard." 

When winter comes, Little Apple Goat thinks how the logs from the orchard trees are keeping the farmer warm. 

Spring comes, and Little Apple Goat notices blossoms peeking out over the hedge. She wonders about them.

"Then one Autumn" the fruit trees are back and their yummy fruit! The animals wonder who could have planted all the new fruit trees. 

We know who!

Hanna’s Comments: I'm amazed at the emotion this illustrator is able to capture with simple marks! Spend some time discussing the characters' feelings in this story. Recently I’ve heard several radio stories about the destruction of fruit crops in Florida because of Hurricane Irma. This book seems perfect for children or families in congregations who have experienced the destruction of recent hurricanes because it offers a comforting long view, a hopeful view that seeds (even Fruit of the Spirit seeds) are already planted for their recovery. Fruit is coming - sweet, juicy fruit and the fruit we see in the generous goodness of others who have compassionately responded to pain and loss. Picture books are a non-threatening and comforting tool for difficult subjects, even for adults. Having a faith orientation that helps with this kind of hope builds resilience and sustains in the difficult work and wait ahead. Read this book to other groups as well because we all suffer through disasters or tragedies and need to lean on our faithful hope to wait and endure. Seeds are planted without us knowing. Later we enjoy their goodness and sustenance.  

Original Publisher & Date: Eerdmans, 2007

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

Formats other than Book: None at present

Scripture Connections: They who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength… (Isaiah 40:31); Behold, for I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth. Do you not perceive it? (Isaiah 43:19); 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); Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation… Romans 12:12); What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. (1 Corinthians 15: 36); the Fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. (Galatians 5:22-23)
Idea(s) for Application: Read this book to a group of children in your faith family and talk about recent natural disasters. Help the children view those negative consequences with hope that is found in their faith. OR Tie this book to Paul's Fruit of the Spirit by considering those in your audience's lives who generously plant such fruit.

Seeds

Picture Book: What Will Grow?

Author: Jennifer Ward

Illustrator: Susie Ghahremani

Summary: It's almost spring here in Alabama so it's time for folks to plant seeds.

This gorgeous book introduces young children to the idea that seeds are varied and determine what will grow. In the back you'll find lots of information about common seeds 

and the 4 stages from seed to plant.

The title question is asked and answered after each seed is described in a fun rhyming couplet. 

Sometimes the seed is described, the question asked and then ...

you are treated to an extra, fold-out page.  

Big plants for climbing are here. 

 

The origins of common flowers are considered. 

And an uncommon flower is featured  

with a surprising fold-out treat! 

But this book is not just about the plants we expect to enjoy in spring and summer. 

Some we harvest in autumn

and some we celebrate in winter. 

Here's another gorgeous surprise. 

You'll find animal interactions which you can expand on with more science, helping children understand the God-ordained interactions of plants and animals. 

The parts of a plant are mentioned 

as well as the different directions of growth. 

The wrap-up shows the busyness of the underground 

and the results of all that work and time. 

Hanna’s Comments: Because the Bible was written in an agrarian culture and a simpler time, seeds are used repeatedly as literary illustrations of godly potential. Their symbolism is straightforward and relateable to young and old. Each seed has the godly wisdom to grow in its own way just as we have God's image in us to bless the world. Although we are each a unique seed with varied potential, our genetics tie us to other humans, particular animals, and the plants we depend on.   

The first book in Ward & Ghahremani's series is What Will Hatch? 

Likewise, in that book the author/illustrator duo transform a set of simple scientific ideas about eggs into beauty we can then use for spiritual metaphors. The beautiful pages in both books (my photos don't do them justice) are thick for little hands to turn. 

Original Publisher & Date: Bloomsbury, 2017

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

Formats other than Book: None at present

Scripture Connections: Scriptures about the image of God in us, seed parables, and our connections with plants and other animals

Idea(s) for Application: Read this book during a lesson for young children in your faith family and link to scriptures in which seeds symbolically represent potential.