A Picture Book a Day for a Year: Day 355

Picture Book: Above My Head, Beneath My Feet

Author & Illustrator: K. D. Plum

Summary: This is a cleverly designed book that demonstrates in several situations what can be found above a young boy’s head and beneath his feet. Each page has a flap to flip, revealing the boy’s discoveries. Some are cut-away illustrations and some are wide expanses in space. For example, he awakens and sees curtains, his window, and the sun above his head. His lost slipper and kitty are found underneath his feet in the bed covers. He goes outside and sees the city’s clock tower, flags, and leaves above his head while beneath his feet are sidewalk, grass, dirt, anthills, and ant tunnels.

Hanna’s Comments: There’s some great science in this fun flap book, but even better, you’ll be encouraging young children to be more observant and discover new aspects of God’s creation. While reading this book, be sure to ask them about other discoveries they can make on each page. Help them identify which of those discoveries are made by God and which are human-made. With observation comes wonder, and with wonder comes gratitude to God for making such an amazing world and giving humans the abilities to use our minds to invent things. All are celebrated here! Consider this book an invitation to go out and explore God’s world with a sense of wonder and gratitude.

Original Publisher & Date of Publication: Price, Stern, Sloan, Inc., 1997

Age & Grade Appropriateness: Toddler and up 

# of Pages: 14

Available in Spanish? Not at present

Formats other than Book: None at present

PBT Category: Rare but Worth the Search, Pre 2K

PBT Topics this Book connects with: abundance/bounty, animals, attentiveness/observation/seeing, awe, beauty, blessings, creation, discovery/invention, diversity, Earth/world, the environment/nature, exploration, found, gratitude/thanksgiving, heaven/sky, land/mountains/soil, moon/space/stars/sun, reverence, variety, wonder

Scripture Connections: In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1:1); for by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible (Colossians 1:16); you, Lord, laid the foundations of the earth in the beginning, and the heavens are the work of your hands (Hebrews 1:10)

Idea(s) for Application: Read this book to a group of young children who are learning to explore and be grateful for God’s amazing world. 

A Picture Book a Day for a Year: Day 352

Dynamic Duo: Book 1

Picture Book: A Seed is Sleepy

Author: Dianna Hutts Aston

Illustrator: Sylvia Long

Summary: This informative and striking picture book offers pictorial details and fun facts about a wide variety of seeds in a range of sizes, textures, structures, colors, idiosyncrasies, transport methods, and habitats. You’ll find the anatomy of a seed and the life cycles of several common seeds. There are some anecdotes such as the story of an ancient seed, unearthed in an archeological dig, that surprised the scientists by sprouting! The title comes from the fact that most seeds are dormant for a season or more.  

Hanna’s Comments: This picture book is one of a beautiful series of 6. Each offers gorgeous details and facts about its subject, even on the end papers. More books may follow. Here are the other titles, all of which have central subjects that are often spiritual or religious themes:

A Nest is Noisy

A Butterfly is Patient

A Rock is Lively

An Egg is Quiet
A Beetle is Shy

Remember, this type of non-fiction book is perfect for doing some creative program planning around a particular scriptural theme.This is the first offering in a PBT Dynamic Duo about seeds. Tomorrow’s book is a narrative from the point of view of a moonflower seed.

Original Publisher & Date of Publication: Chronicle Books, 2007

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

# of Pages: 40 

Available in Spanish? Not at present

Formats other than Book: Tablet 

PBT Category: Non-fiction, Post 2K

PBT Topics this Book connects with: abundance/bounty, awe, beauty, beginnings/morning, blessing, breath/breathing/wind, caring/tending, dependence/interdependence, diversity, dying, eggs/seeds, the environment/nature, evangelism, faith/faithfulness, flowers/leaves/trees, fruit/fruit of the Spirit, gardening/planting/pruning/sowing, growing up/growth, hope, land/mountains/soil, patience, perseverance, purpose, quiet/rest/silence/sleep, transformation, variety, waiting, wonder

Scripture Connections: I have given you every plant yielding seed… and every tree with seed in its fruit. (Genesis 1:29); the seed parables (Matthew 13); unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone, but if it dies, it bears much fruit. (John 12:24); whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully (2 Corinthians 9:6)

Idea(s) for Application: Use this picture book when researching and planning lessons about how seeds are viewed symbolically in the Holy Scriptures or in a personal faith journey. 

A Picture Book a Day for a Year: Day 277

Picture Book: Sam and Dave Dig a Hole

Author: Mac Barnett

Illustrator: Jon Klassen

Summary: Sam and Dave begin their mission. They won’t stop digging until they find “something spectacular”. They dig straight down, but find nothing. They decide to dig in another direction, to the side. They dig in that direction for a while and then decide to split up and dig in two different directions. Each time, they find nothing so again they start digging together and straight down. Eventually they rest. Meanwhile, the dog, who all along has been giving hints as to what they are missing, begins digging straight down for a bone. All 3 characters fall through air to another home, an alternative reality of sorts. It looks very similar to the home they left. Upon landing, Sam and Dave declare, “That was pretty spectacular.”  Each illustration offers a cutaway view of Sam and Dave’s digging. Every time they change their direction, it is just before they are about to dig up a huge gem! Again and again in comical fashion, they miss a “spectacular something.” However, the characters are wise enough to realize that the journey in itself was spectacular.

Hanna’s Comments: The illustrations in this book are crucial to the enjoyment. I’m not just referring to where the huge gems are located, but also the dog’s behavior and the subtle differences between Sam and Dave’s location at the start and where they land. It will be important for your audience to be able to see these details so consider projecting the book on a screen or having multiple books with designated page turners who turn each page just as you do. Pacing is crucial in the delivery of this story. If you are reading to young children, you’ll need to explain beforehand that this is not a story based in our reality, although it seems to start that way. The ending is mysterious and up to interpretation. Encourage them all to interpret and discuss. There are many possibilities. You may want to read the book again after you have talked about it. If you plan to do this, don’t point out things the first time you read it, but do read slowly so that people have time to notice the details. Encourage them to be silent and attentive. Then the story becomes an individual journey, perhaps even “something spectacular” for each audience member.

Publisher & Date of Publication: Candlewick Press, 2014

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

# of Pages: 40

Available in Spanish? Not at present

Formats other than Book: None at present

PBT Category: Fresh off the Press

PBT Topics this Book Connects with: action, adventure, blessings, choices/decisions, commitment, companionship, disappointment, doubt, exploration, friends/friendship, God’s will, grace, gratitude/thanksgiving, humanity, journeys/migrations/pilgrimages/quests, labor/work, land/mountains/soil, life, mission, mistakes, partners/teamwork, patience, perseverance, perspective, pets, purpose, satisfaction, searching, steadfastness, treasure, waiting, wisdom

Scripture Connections: Scripture stories of wandering (i.e. the Israelites in the wilderness), scripture stories of surprisingly good results (i.e. Joseph in Egypt), or scripture stories of realizing your priorities have changed (i.e. Paul on the road to Damascus)

Idea(s) for Application: Read this book to a group of adults when you are talking about the idea of individual spiritual journeys, particularly the value of process over product.

A Picture Book a Day for a Year: Day 190

Picture Book: Dave the Potter: Artist, Poet, Slave

Author: Laban Carrick Hill

Illustrator: Bryan Collier

Summary: This is a beautiful story of an actual American slave, known only because of his beautiful poetry carved onto his equally exquisite pottery which is now prized and in art museums. The text details Dave’s artistry with clay and wheel, pots and words.  His poetry is brief but striking, like Haiku. Within this book are also stunning depictions of the phases of throwing a pot on a wheel. The book ends with more information about Dave, a photograph of 5 of his pots, and his poems as they appear on the pots. An Author’s Note, Illustrator’s Note, Bibliography, and list of websites are also included.

Hanna’s Comments: This is a very moving book because of the oppression Dave endured and the artistry he shared despite his circumstances. It’s a powerful book for it demonstrates the creative drive of this man who, unlike so many slaves who had comparable creative drive, is able to receive some credit for his highly skilled work. Too many slaves did inspired work that was never attributed to them. I use the word “inspired” purposely for I believe all humans are called by God to be artists and creators. Perhaps this creative instinct is an aspect of the “Image of God” we hear of in Genesis 1:27.

Publisher & Date of Publication: Little, Brown, & Co., 2010

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

# of Pages: 40

Available in Spanish? Not at present

Formats other than Book: Audio download, There is a short informative video on Youtube.com about Dave the Potter.

PBT Category: Biography, Award Winner, Post 2K

PBT Topics this Book Connects with: abilities, abuse/abuse of power, America, art, artifacts, beauty, call/calling/vocation, communication, creativity/imagination/ingenuity, freedom, gifts/talents, heritage, identity/names, individuality/uniqueness, labor/work, land/mountains/soil, language/literacy/reading, mystery, North America, power, preparation, purpose, race relations/racism, slavery/slaves, social justice, strength/strength in God, time/timing/over time, treasure, wisdom

Scripture Connections: Made in the image of God (Genesis 1:27); blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness for they will be filled (Matthew 5:6)

Idea(s) for Application: Use this book in a homeschool, private school, or church arts camp where you can talk about being made in God’s image and inspired to create even under difficult circumstances. Use this also in a lesson on American slavery or African-American artistry/history.

A Picture Book a Day for a Year: Day 139

Dynamic Duo: Book 1

Picture Book: Planting a Rainbow

Author & Illustrator: Lois Ehlert

Summary: This book begins, “Every year Mom and I plant a rainbow.” At first the reader sees the flower bulbs. Each bulb is labeled with the common plant name and color. For each planting, there is a side view that depicts the underground perspective as well as the above ground. Seeds are ordered from catalogs, but they have to be planted later. Once the bulbs start to sprout in spring, it’s time to go to the garden center for seedlings. The seeds and seedlings are planted with their colorful labels displayed. Once the plants have grown to their rainbow beauty, Ms. Ehlert offers one of her trademarks. She uses varying sizes of pages to depict the rainbow of plants that has bloomed. Each color category offers the labeled plants. The book ends with, “All summer long we pick them and bring them home. (A beautiful bouquet is shown.) And when summer is over, we know we can grow our rainbow again next year.”  

Hanna’s Comments: Although Ms. Ehlert’s illustrations are simplistic, they are vibrant and educational. You’ll see a similar style in tomorrow’s PBT offering, another book from this author/illustrator. Here she explicitly teaches by conveying the general form of each kind of bulb, blossom, leaf, and even seed. I wish I had this book when I was a child because my knowledge of flowers is so limited. Consider using this book in a botany lesson for young children. In a homeschool or private school, use this book to start a conversation about God’s creative diversity or the rainbow as a sign of God’s covenant with us. I've written a children's Sunday school lesson about Diversity that incorporates this book. Let me know if you want to purchase it for just $5. 

Publisher & Date of Publication: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1988

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

# of Pages: 40

Available in Spanish? Yes

Formats other than Book: Tablet, in the video collection: The Curious Garden and more Stories about Nature, Audible

PBT Category: Pre 2K

PBT Topics this Book Connects with: abundance/bounty, awe, beauty, beginnings/morning, blessings, body of Christ, change, covenant/promises/vows, creation, differences, diversity, eggs/seeds, the environment/nature, faith/faithfulness, flowers/leaves/trees, gardening/planting/pruning/sowing, God’s nature, growing up/growth, hope, land/mountains/soil, life, rainbows, time/over time, transformation, treasure, variety

Scripture Connections: This (rainbow) is the sign of the covenant that I make between me and you and every living creature (Genesis 9:12-13)

Idea(s) for Application: With God’s promise of covenant comes assurance that certain scientific laws will always hold true. When we plant a seed, whether literal or metaphorical, we expect and hope for good things to happen while we wait. Tie this idea to the good we do for others and how our faith, hope, and tender care builds relationships that create a more loving faith community and beautiful world. The Carrot Seed by Ruth Krauss (PBT offering on Day 130) is another book you might want to use for this lesson.