Favorite Posts: Highlighting Shelly Rotner

When we think of picture books, we often think only of fiction. As I’ve delved into the treasure trove that is my local library’s picture book shelves, I’ve discovered a vast range of subjects in the non-fiction section. So many of them offer great soil for growing a garden of lessons for children in religious communities, in private schools, homeschools, or in therapeutic situations. 

As I’ve demonstrated many times here at PBT, picture books can encourage spiritual conversations and important social-emotional growth in children and adults. They can be particularly helpful when crises occur or difficult issues arise in faith communities. 

Using books (of stories, facts, or poetry) as therapeutic tools is called bibliotherapy. I learned this extraordinary word in my training as a school psychologist. I was already a lover of picture books. Because they are non-threatening, familiar, and imaginative objects, picture books can promote journeys of self-reflection and personal growth. 

Bibliotherapy is traditionally used in child therapy, but I suggest that a well-selected picture book and rich conversation with a skilled therapist or spiritual director can open a door to healing and/or better skills in adults as well. Here’s a couple of links if you want to know more about bibliotherapy:

http://www.best-childrens-books.com/bibliotherapy.html

http://www.carnegielibrary.org/research/parentseducators/parents/bibliotherapy/

Today’s featured author, Shelly Rotner, has such a wonderful array of books, each with her delightful photographs! Children love looking at photographs so these books are very appealing. You can supplement a lesson or even build a series of lessons around one or more of her books. You might want to consider taking similar photos of your children as a part of your lesson. The kids (and their parents) would love that!

Here's a partial list of Shelly Rotner's books. She is either the author, photographer, or both. The first is a PBT book with the post link:

Shades of People - check out that post [here]

Sometimes Bad Things Happen   by Ellen Jackson

The A.D.D. book for Kids

Changes    with Marjorie N. Allen

Every Season   with Anne Love Woodhull

Feeling Thankful   with Sheila Kelly (Spanish version available)

Different Kinds of Good-Byes   with Sheila Kelly

What’s Love?   By Deborah Carlin

Home   with Amy Goldbas

Lots of Feelings

Lots of Grandparents
Nature Spy    with Ken Kreisler

Many Ways: How Families Practice Their Beliefs and Religions              with Shelia Kelly

What Can You Do? A Book about Discovering What You Do Well             with Sheila Kelly

Three Spiritual Practices

Picture Book: Lilla’s Sunflowers

Author & Illustrator: Colleen Rowan Kosinski

Summary: Lilla and her father especially enjoy the time they spend in her sunflower patch. 

When Papa leaves for a tour in the military, Lilla gives him a single sunflower seed to remember her. 

The coming days without her father are very hard for Lilla. She uses the sunflowers to remind her of her papa. 

As the sunflowers droop in their season, Lilla’s faith that her father will return also wanes. 

When birds attack the flowers, she is especially distraught. 

Then she receives a letter from Papa with a photo of the sunflower he grew and a message of coming home. 

He does come home, and together they plant more sunflowers. In spring, Lilla’s sunflowers bloom and many letters are received. 

Papa explains how the sunflower was such a “bright spot for everyone” that his friends are sending photos from their homes with their families and the sunflowers they had grown thanks to the seeds of Lilla’s sunflower.

The photo above finds Lilla satisfied to have her papa home and pleased that one seed that she offered then grew to bring so much joy. 

Hanna’s Comments: Today is Veteran’s Day in the USA so I offer this book as a personal thank you and reminder of the costs and difficult journeys we require of those in the military and their families. Read this book to a group of children, teens, or adults in your faith community who are choosing to remember the sacrifices of veterans. 

You can also use this book to illustrate important spiritual practices such as affirmation, gratitude, and remembering. Remembrance is not just for those who have died but for those whose stories we find valuable during their lifetimes. Strong connections across generations and congregations are built on such storytelling, affirmation, and gratitude for lives well-spent in service. 

A highlight of this book is its focus on Lilla’s feelings. Anytime you can talk about the feelings of a character, you offer the possibility of connecting to feelings in your audience. If these feelings are then connected to faith, they are even more meaningful.

Original Publisher & Date: Sky Pony Express, 2016

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

Formats other than Book: Tablet

Scripture Connections:  All things work together for good (Romans 8:28); I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers (Ephesians 1:16); be thankful as you are called in one body (Colossians 3:15); every good gift and every perfect gift is from above (James 1:17); The Passover and Last Supper rituals are rituals of remembering and thanksgiving.

Idea(s) for Application: Read this book during a time of remembrance for those in the military and their families who have sacrificed for you. Then teach the importance of spiritual practices such as affirmation, gratitude, and remembering. 

BIG DEAL Anger

Picture Book: Come Home Angus

Author: Patrick Downs

Illustrator: Boris Kulikov

Summary: Kulikov's illustrations are crucial to the power of this story, even on the first page. 

Angus is a young child who wakes up with the kind of anger that is big, huge even. No reason is given for his anger. 

He responds badly to his “slow” dog, his “loud” canary & cat, and his mom who expects and apology.  

Great line here, “In this house, being angry doesn’t let you be rude.” 

After a verbal tug of war, Angus packs a full bag and heads out the door. His mother says, “I’ll miss you.” Angus replies, “No, you won’t.” 

As he walks away, his size diminishes while buildings grow so that eventually he is little, lost, and afraid. 

Angus sits on a bench and realizes he’s forgotten his lunch. 

Just as strangers surround him, his mom brings his lunch (and pets) and asks if he’s ready to come home. 

Is he ever!

Hanna’s Comments: This book reminds me of Sendak’s classic Where the Wild Things Are and 2 PBT books by Molly Bang: When Sophie Gets Angry, Really, Really Angry and her sequel When Sophie’s Feelings Are Really, Really Hurt. See a post about those last 2 [here]. What does this book have to offer ministry more than Bang’s books? First, you have a beautiful maternal image of God, God as provider & comforter and God as one who is expecting more from us than we offer. 

Secondly, you have a perfect visual representation of our human tendency to think we are big deals and shove God away. Daniel Erlander in his brilliant book for adults Manna and Mercy, calls sin “trying to become a BIG DEAL.” See more about this book and the children’s curriculum I’ve written based on it in Other Resources by Hanna, a tab above. It is when Angus realizes he is not such a big deal, that he becomes lost, afraid, and wanting his mom. 

Thirdly, Angus thinks all his “stuff” will comfort him, but it doesn’t. 

Instead, he needs his important relationships with his mom and his pets, all of whom love him unconditionally.

Original Publisher & Date: Orchard Books, 2016

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

Formats other than Book: Tablet

Scripture Connections: In Your presence there is fullness of joy (Psalm 16:11); for me it is good to be near God, my refuge (Psalm 73:28); where shall I flee from Your presence (Psalm 139: 7); neither death nor life… shall separate us from the love of God… (Romans 8: 38-39)

Idea(s) for Application: Read this book to children or adults and talk about these human inclinations: our tendency to separate from God although God is always present, our tendency to try to be BIG DEALS, or our tendency to be oriented to our “stuff” rather than our loving relationships. 

Absence, Comfort, and Connection

Picture Book: Life Without Nico

Author: Andrea Maturana

Illustrator: Francisco Javier Olea

Summary: Niko and Maia are best friends who are often together having fun.

Even when they aren’t together, they seem connected. There is surprise and a big adjustment following the announcement that Niko’s family is moving to Australia. When it’s time to say goodbye, Nico gives Maia a globe ornament to remember him. 

Maia's sorrow is beautifully expressed and her grief is given space:

Now time passes slowly,

and the emptiness follows Maia

everywhere she goes.

It’s boring. She can’t play with it,

and it won’t let other children near.

Maia is sad at first, but healing comes little by little, particularly when she discovers a kitten, 

makes a new friend at school, and explores a new passion playing the piano. 

On the day of Nico’s return, Maia worries that her new life is too full for him to have room, but when they are reunited, Maia understands that Nico has always been with her. 

Time and distance has not changed that.

Hanna’s Comments: This is a simple story, but it has such depth and is beautifully told and rendered via the illustrations. Recent events in my church family have reminded me how important it is to help children process their feelings about sudden goodbyes, no matter the circumstances. This story, unlike some about loss, offers a return. When such separations are painful, it is very valuable to offer lessons to children about the comfort God can give, hope that strengthens us, and how human connections can endure, especially when those lessons are grounded in faith or scripture.  

Publisher (in English) & Date: Kids Can Press, 2016

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

Formats other than Book: Tablet

Scripture Connections: Relate this story to any Bible story where someone who is loved has to say goodbye. If hope for a reunion is evident all the better. This works well with the story of Jesus’ death and resurrection or ascension and return.
Idea(s) for Application: Read this book to a group of children who are feeling a loss or the absence of a friend or key figure in your faith family. Relate the return of Niko to concepts of hope and/or eternal life. 

PBT Author Focus - Shelley Rotner and Some Thoughts on Bibliotherapy

When we think of picture books, we often think only of fiction. As I’ve delved into the treasure trove that is my local library’s picture book shelves, I’ve discovered a vast range of subjects in the non-fiction section. So many of them offer great soil for growing a garden of lessons for children in religious communities, in private schools, homeschools, or in therapeutic situations. 

As I’ve demonstrated many times here at PBT, picture books can encourage spiritual conversations and important social-emotional growth in children and adults. They can be particularly helpful when crises occur or difficult issues arise in faith communities. 

Using books (of stories, facts, or poetry) as therapeutic tools is called bibliotherapy. I learned this extraordinary word in my training as a school psychologist. I was already a lover of picture books. Because they are non-threatening, familiar, and imaginative objects, picture books can promote journeys of self-reflection and personal growth. 

Bibliotherapy is traditionally used in child therapy, but I suggest that a well-selected picture book and rich conversation with a skilled therapist or spiritual director can open a door to healing and/or better skills in adults as well. Here’s a couple of links if you want to know more about bibliotherapy:

http://www.best-childrens-books.com/bibliotherapy.html

http://www.carnegielibrary.org/research/parentseducators/parents/bibliotherapy/

Today’s featured author, Shelly Rotner, has such a wonderful array of books, each with her delightful photographs! You can supplement a lesson or even build a series of lessons around one or more of her books. You might want to consider taking similar photos of your children as a part of your lesson. The kids (and their parents) would love that!

Below is a partial list of books in which Shelley Rotner is author, photographer, or both. The first entry is a PBT book with a link to my post:

Shades of People - check out that post [here]

Sometimes Bad Things Happen   by Ellen Jackson
The A.D.D. book for Kids

Changes    with Marjorie N. Allen
Every Season   with Anne Love Woodhull
Feeling Thankful   with Sheila Kelly (Spanish version available)
Different Kinds of Good-Byes   with Sheila Kelly
What’s Love?   By Deborah Carlin
Home   with Amy Goldbas
Lots of Feelings 

Lots of Grandparents 

Many Ways: How Families Practice Their Beliefs and Religions   with Shelia Kelly  
Nature Spy    with Ken Kreisler 

What Can You Do? A Book about Discovering What You Do Well   with Sheila Kelly

A Picture Book a Day for a Year: Day 327

Picture Book: I Have an Olive Tree

Author: Eve Bunting

Illustrator: Karen Barbour

Summary: Sophia, age 7, is puzzled that her grandfather has given her an olive tree for her birthday. Even more puzzling, the tree is on an island in Greece, where the family lived before coming to California. Her grandfather explains that those who purchased their house let them keep the tree as a symbol of their family’s rootedness to Greece. When Sophia’s grandfather dies, he gives Sophia her grandmother’s string of pearls and asks her to go to Greece and hang the pearls on the olive tree. Upon arrival, they are dazzled by the strangeness of Greece as they wait for the ferry to take them to the island. As they approach the family home and tree, Sophia begins to have strange feelings. The tree was not as Sophia imagined, but it moves her emotionally. She pulls the pearls out of her backpack and her mother lifts her up so that she can hang the beads on a high branch. Sophia realizes that the trip is not just about the beads. It is also about her mother’s memories and Sophia gaining an understanding of her roots. As Sophia considers coming back someday, she says, ”I have an olive tree.”

Hanna’s Comments: This is a rich story of family heritage and origin. Because our Holy Scriptures are often about these same themes, you should have no problem connecting this story to a variety of religious topics such as memory, the power of place, altars, reverence, family bonds, or inheritance. Besides connections to scripture, tie this story and a scripture to an aspect or person in your local family of faith as well. Creating strong connections to the people and place where you worship is invaluable and important for the future of your spiritual community. Another direction you could take is to consider the spiritual symbolism of trees in general. 

Original Publisher & Date of Publication: Harper Collins Publishers, 1999

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

# of Pages: 32 

Available in Spanish? Not at present

Formats other than Book: Audio Cassette

PBT Category:  Pre 2K

PBT Topics this Book connects with: acceptance, action, adventure, ancestors/patriarchs & matriarchs, babies/children, belonging, birth/birthday, bonds/connections, change, death/loss/grief, Europe, exile/separation/walls, family, fruit/fruit of the spirit, grandparents, heritage, home, identity/names, journeys/migrations/pilgrimages/quests, land/mountains/soil, love, memories/remembering/ritual/tradition, reverence, self-discovery, travel, worship

Scripture Connections: I am like a green olive tree in the house of God, I trust in the steadfast love of God (Psalm 52:8); your children will be like olive shoots around you (Psalm 128:3b); a good person leaves an inheritance (Proverbs 13:22); the word of God’s grace is able to give you your inheritance (Acts 20:32); so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith – that you may be rooted and grounded in love (Ephesians 3:17); rooted and built up in him and established in the faith (Colossians 2:7); work heartily as for the Lord, knowing that you will receive the inheritance as your reward (Colossians 3:23)

Idea(s) for Application: Read this book to a group of children or teens who are learning about their religious or spiritual heritage or origins. 

A Picture Book a Day for a Year: Day 291

Terrific Trio: Book 2

Picture Book: Sorry

Author: Jean Van Leeuwen

Illustrator: Brad Sneed

Summary: Brothers Ebenezer and Obadiah are farmers who live happily together until Obadiah complains of lumps in the oatmeal that Ebenezer made. Ebenezer responds by putting his bowl of oatmeal over Obadiah’s head. The brothers never speak again. Obadiah moves half of the house to a nearby hill and starts a new farm. Each of the brothers marry and begin a family. Each family member learns not to speak to those neighbors though they are unsure why. Generations come and reasons for the feud are created. Eventually, great-grandsons from each family, Nathaniel and Luther, are sent to the shared fence to investigate missing crops. When Nathaniel begins to eat an apple that has fallen to his side, Luther accuses him of stealing apples. Nathaniel accuses his cousin of stealing corn. Then Nathaniel says a peculiar thing, perhaps because of loneliness, “Sorry.” Luther is astonished, but responds with a smile and a suggestion that they trade. Together the boys laugh and eat apples.

Hanna’s Comments: This second book in this PBT Terrific Trio of books with the same title is a little more complicated than yesterday’s offering. Here you have emphasized the sin of pride and its potential for long-term harm. Be sure to talk with your listeners about what these families have lost over the years because the two brothers refused to apologize. Talk about their loneliness and how awkward it must have been to live so long next to each other without speaking. Be sure to mention not only apologizing and confession, but the importance of forgiveness too. Tomorrow’s book emphasizes being authentic when you say you’re sorry.

Original Publisher & Date of Publication: Phyllis Fogelman Books, 2001

Age & Grade Appropriateness: 4 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: anger, belonging, bonds/connections, brokenness, choices/decisions, communication, confession, conflict, death/loss/grief, discord, disputes/fighting/opposition, enemies, exile/separation, family, forgiveness/mercy/redemption, greed/selfishness, guilt, hatred, heritage, intolerance, legacies, loneliness, neighbors, pride, relationships, rocks/shells/stones, siblings/sibling rivalry

Scripture Connections: Cain and Abel (Genesis 4); how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity (Psalm 133:1); be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another (Ephesians 4:32); let brotherly love continue (Hebrews 13:1)

Idea(s) for Application: Read this book to a group of children who are learning about Cain and Abel or the importance of humility and forgiveness in relationships.