PBT Techniques Series #2 - Choosing Portions

Choosing Portions of a Picture Book 

Today I offer the 2^nd post in a new PBT series about atypical methods for using picture books in ministry. I hope to stretch possibilities for you. If you have other ideas, please share them in a comment!

Using only portions of a picture book story or illustration is what I’m proposing today. When might you do this?

-When a picture book is too long. That is the case of the book I feature below.

-When you are in the midst of a lesson and you’re about to run out of time.

-When a small portion of a picture book (a sub story, a particular scene, or an amazing illustration) is significantly better than the rest of the book.

 Picture Book: One Thousand Tracings: Healing the Wounds of WWII

Author & Illustrator: Lita Judge

Summary: This beautiful book is about the author-illustrator’s family who responded to suffering in Europe after WWII. Judge learned of this story after discovering hundreds of tracings of feet in her grandparents’ attic. The old story, from a young girl’s point of view, begins with a letter from friends in Germany who are starving. 

Judge’s family sends food, clothes, and shoes. In another letter, the recipients thank them, urge them to help others, and include tracings of feet from 10 families. 

More letters follow with tracings of feet enclosed. Judge’s family asks others to help. They translate and mail the letters to friends who also respond generously with shoes that will fit, sometimes going without shoes for the summer. 

Meanwhile, socks are knitted and a rag doll is sewn and sent. 

The doll’s new owner sends a thank you with a photo of herself. Other photos appear throughout this book as does beautiful collage. 

The text is divided into many small chapters highlighting themes that describe the poignancy of many stories and the sacrifice of Judge’s family, friends, and neighbors.

Hanna’s Comments: This picture book would be too much information for a group to hear all at once. Read the first few pages and then pre-select the chapters and illustrations that your audience will most likely respond to. I like to use Post-it Notes and paper clips to mark pages. Consider inviting someone in your family of faith who remembers WWII to come and be interviewed by you. Steer your questions to emphasize the Biblical theme you have chosen to connect with this book. There are many possibilities. It's best to give your guest the questions ahead of time. After the book is presented and your friend is interviewed, read your chosen scripture. Then close with a prayer.

Original Publisher & Date: Hyperion, 2007

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

Formats other than Book: None at present

Scripture Connections: Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord (Proverbs 19:17); when you serve the least, you serve Jesus (Matthew 25); give to the needy (Luke 12: 33); Jesus washes his disciples’ feet (John 13:4-14).

Idea(s) for Application: Read portions of this book during a lesson on generosity, responses to poverty, or Jesus washing his disciples’ feet.

Sandals, Blankets, Umbrellas, and Cartwheels

         

On January 15^th of this year, I offered 3 picture books about various refugee experiences. I just found a couple more jewels about this subject with wonderful possibilities for ministry. 

Four Feet, Two Sandals takes place entirely in a refugee camp. After 2 years with no shoes, 10-year-old Lina finds in a pile of donated items only 1 of a pair of perfect-fitting sandals. She is puzzled and disheartened, but then she sees across the crowd Feroza, an unknown girl her age who is holding the other sandal. They make eye contact, but Feroza walks away. Eventually they become friends and take turns wearing the pair. Their friendship progresses as they share what they have in common besides the sandals, particularly the loss of family members.

When Lina hears that she and her mother are to immigrate to America, she receives new shoes so she gives her one sandal to Feroza. As Lina is leaving, Feroza gives back the one sandal and suggests that the sandals serve as reminders of their friendship and the hope that they will “share again in America.”

You’ll find in the story this sentence: “As-salaam alaykum.” (Peace be with you.), which is commonly heard among Muslims who also worship the God of Abraham. My favorite scene is when the girls creep up to the school window where only the boys are inside learning. They begin practicing writing their names in the dirt. Lots to talk about here. 

This story is based on Khadra’s experiences with refugees in Pakistan near the border of Afghanistan. An author’s note in the back is a must read for better understanding of refugees and camps. 

It would be easy to just talk about the plot elements of this story and the next. Instead pull your conversation towards more foundational issues such as lack of basic needs in these camps, fear of violence, anxiety, and how vulnerability builds relationships.

Picture Book: Four Feet, Two Sandals

Author: Karen Lynn Williams & Khadra Mohammed

Illustrator: Doug Chayka

Original Publisher & Date: Erdman’s, 2007

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

Formats other than Book: None at present

Today’s second PBT book about refugees is primarily about a later stage of immigration, becoming acclimated to a new home and culture. The young girl in this book is called Cartwheel. That was what she loved to do before she and her auntie left their war-torn home.

Everything is strange for Cartwheel, particularly the language, which seems like a waterfall of strange sounds and shapes. Look for this in the illustrations. Cartwheel often feels alone and not like herself. Kobald represents Cartwheel’s first language as an “old blanket’ of her own words and sounds. Adorned with familiar items, she wraps herself in the beautiful orange blanket when overwhelmed by all the changes and new words & sounds.

 A friendship begins when Cartwheel sees a smile and a wave from a girl her age who is playing at a distance in the park. At first Cartwheel shies away, but later trips to the park have her looking for the girl. Eventually they meet. 

Despite the barriers of language, Cartwheel begins learning her new language a few words at a time. These are visually represented by light-colored shapes that are later incorporated into a growing white blanket that Cartwheel expands block by block just as a language would grow concept by concept.

The girls enjoy each other and soon Cartwheel’s new blanket becomes comfortable, allowing her to feel like herself no matter which blanket she uses. Help your audience see the first blanket as perhaps real but also symbolic. Then they will better understand the growing size of the second blanket, symbolic of her new language and how Cartwheel integrates it into her first blanket.

Also, look for the umbrella and the boat in this story. These are powerful symbols that are not explained. Encourage your audience to consider possibilities. Don’t shy away from these kinds of abstractions. Much of spirituality is loaded with abstract and symbolic content. These books offer good practice for children and adults that might be inclined to take stories only at their surface level. Great picture books offer much richer experiences if you are willing to look and listen a little deeper. 

Picture Book: My Two Blankets

Author: Irena Kobald

Illustrator: Freya Blackwood

Original Publisher & Date: HMH, 2014

Age & Grade Appropriateness: 

Formats other than Book: Tablet

As described in my earlier post about refugees [here], these books remind us of our scriptural charge to “welcome the stranger.” Understanding the struggles of immigrants helps in that process. Another possibility for ministry is to connect these stories to Bible stories or Bible characters.

I can see how one or both of these books connects with the sharing of the loaves and fishes, Joseph, Mary, and Jesus immigrating to Egypt, Ruth and Naomi, Jonathan and David’s relationship, and even Jesus and the woman at the well. Don’t see the connections? Let me know in a comment and I’ll explain. 

A Picture Book a Day for a Year: Day 345

Picture Book: Those Shoes

Author: Maribeth Boelts

Illustrator: Nah Z. Jones 

Summary: Jeremy longs for “those shoes”, the ones featured on the big billboard, the ones many other boys are wearing. He especially yearns for them when one of his shoes falls apart at school and he is given a pair of kiddie shoes from the guidance counselor’s box. His classmates laugh at him, but not Antonio. When Jeremy and his grandmother go shoe shopping, they discover the price is too steep. They search at local thrift shops and find a pair. They are tight, but Jeremy is thrilled anyway and takes them home, hoping they will stretch. They don’t stretch, and he gets sores on his feet. He has to resort to wearing the kiddie shoes again. Meanwhile, Jeremy and Antonio become friends. Jeremy notices that Antonio has duct tape holding his shoes together. When Antonio visits Jeremy’s house, he sees “those shoes” and asks Jeremy why he doesn’t wear them. Jeremy shrugs. The next morning Jeremy tries on the too tight shoes one more time and then secretly leaves them on Antonio’s stoop. At school, Jeremy has mixed feelings when Antonio shows up with those shoes on until Antonio quietly thanks Jeremy.   

Hanna’s Comments: This story gets to the heart of issues that many children and teens struggle with, consumerism, brand consciousness, and desiring what peers have. Usually, the crux of these matters are coveting, idolatry, and gluttony, all very human and very common problems that are addressed directly in scripture. I believe it’s good to talk with children directly about these issues, but be honest, not preachy. Confess that these issues don’t go away in childhood. In fact, they often get bigger, more expensive, and more damaging. Share honestly with the children in your faith family about how you personally struggle with status items, coveting, or consumerism. Then talk about confession and repentance. Give them hope for an abundant life that doesn’t involve jealousy, obsession, or being manipulated by marketing.  

Original Publisher & Date of Publication: Candlewick Press, 2007

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

# of Pages: 40

Available in Spanish? Not at present

Formats other than Book: Video

PBT Category: Post 2K

PBT Topics this Book connects with: acceptance, adaptations/assimilation, choices/decisions, clothes/shoes, conformity, consumerism/consumption/riches, coveting/envy/jealousy, friends/friendship, generosity/giving/offering/stewardship, God’s will, grandparents, gratitude/thanksgiving, humility, idolatry, possessions, poverty, pride, sin, wisdom  

Scripture Connections: You shall not covet anything that is your neighbor’s (Exodus 20:17); you ask and do not receive because you ask wrongly to spend it on your passions (James 4:3); little children, keep yourselves from idols (1 John 5:21)

Idea(s) for Application: Read this book to a group of children who are learning about the struggles of coveting, idolatry, and consumerism.  

A Picture Book a Day for a Year: Day 240

Picture Book: Shoebox Sam

Author: Mary Brigid Barrett

Illustrator: Frank Morrison

Summary: Delia and Jessie spend their Saturdays with Shoebox Sam at his shoe repair shop. There old shoes become like new and anyone in need finds a warm welcome. On the wall are prized ballet shoes, worn by Lucratia Lavidia and repaired by Shoebox Sam years before. After a typical customer, two separate individuals, likely homeless, come in worn and wet from the rain. They are greeted with food and offered new shoes. The latter one, an older lady, asks for prettier shoes than those first offered. Sam has none so she is fitted with some that are “serviceable and warm.” She puts them on and then sees the beautiful ballet shoes. Sam explains who they belonged to and how they are toe shoes for a dancer. She is lured to them and touches them lovingly. Sam is moved and places the shoes in her hands. She wraps them tenderly and exits after expressing her gratitude.

Hanna’s Comments: The summary above may seem sad and poignant, but this is actually a delightful book. Sam and the children’s enthusiasm for the customers and their delight in sharing the food and shoes allow this book to be a perfect demonstration of godly hospitality and generosity.  

Publisher & Date of Publication: Zonderkidz, 2011

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

# of Pages: 32

Available in Spanish? Not at present

Formats other than Book: Tablet

PBT Category: Post 2K

PBT Topics this Book Connects with: abundance/bounty, acceptance of others, aliens/immigrants/refugees/strangers, blessings, brokenness, call/calling/vocation, choices/decisions, clothes/shoes, comfort, dance/dancing, difficulties, encouragement, fruit/fruit of the Spirit, generosity/giving/offering/stewardship, gifts/talents, God’s nature, God’s will, goodness, helping, homelessness, hospitality, image of God, joy, kindness, nurturing, openness, outreach, passion, pleasing God, possessions, poverty, rain, sacrifice, satisfaction, servant/service/serving, treasure

Scripture Connections: One gives freely, yet grows all the richer (Proverbs 11:24); Jesus washes his disciples’ feet (John 13:3-11); we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus: “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” (Acts 20:35)        

Idea(s) for Application: Read this book to children in a lesson on Jesus washing his disciples’ feet or how God wants us to delight in hospitality and generosity.

A Picture Book a Day for a Year: Day 74

Picture Book: The Fisherwoman

Author: Anne Carter

Illustrator: Louise Brierley

Summary: Maud, a fisherwoman, has a simple life earning her living from the sea, but her dream is to be adorned in beautiful clothes among the rich in the nearby village. When she hauls in an old pink vase, she brings it home. Eventually the vase gives her the dream she desires, a beautiful hat, shoes, and dress. Soon she is invited to feast among the rich. At first she is delighted, but when she overhears a fellow diner ridicule the common people, she is revolted. Realizing she belongs in her former world with her friends and work, she returns home, re-purposes her dress for a sail, and drops the vase into the sea.

Hanna’s Comments: This modern fairy tale has a keen lesson for those of us in religious communities who worry about how we look, rather than being content with the riches that our friends, family, work, and faith offer us.

Publisher & Date of Publication: Lothrop, Lee & Shepard, 1990

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

# of Pages: 26

Available in Spanish? Not at present

Formats other than Book: None at present

PBT Category: Pre 2K

PBT Topics this Book Connects with: beach/ocean/seashore, call/calling/vocation, choices/decisions, clothes/shoes, consumerism/consumption/riches, coveting/envy/jealousy, dreams/aspirations, exclusion/inclusion, fish/fishing, flowers/leaves/tree, found, greed/selfishness, guilt, humility, judgment/judges/judging, labor/work, perspective, possessions,  prejudice, pride, regret/repentance, resisting evil, righteousness, satisfaction, self-acceptance/self-image/self-esteem, sin, at table, temptations, wishes

Scripture Connections: Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things (Psalm 119:37); When pride comes, then comes disgrace (Proverbs 11:2); the Publican in the temple (Luke 18:9-12); do nothing from rivalry or conceit (Philippians 2:3) 

Idea(s) for Application: Read this book as part of a lesson on the sins of pride and vanity.