Picture Book: Mandy
Author: Barbara
D. Booth
Illustrator: Jim
Lamarche
Summary:
This story is from the point of view of Mandy who is visiting her grandmother. Mandy’s
deafness becomes apparent as she reflects on what the world must be like for
those who can hear. After enjoying a dance, the cookies, and a family photo
album, Mandy and her grandmother go for a walk through a nearby woods and into
a grassy field. Suddenly, Mandy’s grandmother realizes that her treasured pin,
a piece of jewelry from Mandy’s late grandfather, has
fallen off. They search desperately, but the pin isn’t found. At dark, they
return home. Mandy, aware of her grandmother’s crying, wants to help so she
considers how the silver of the pin might reflect the light of a flashlight in
the dark. Mandy hates darkness; it limits her senses even more, but for her
Grandmother to be reunited to this family treasure, Mandy is willing to search in
the darkness. She grabs a flashlight and leaves. As a storm brews, Mandy
carefully retraces their route. Lightning flashes, but Mandy continues her search.
Eventually, she trips and falls. Lying on the grass, she sees the pin, picks it
up, gets up, and runs to her grandmother who is coming out to look for her.
Mandy presents the pin to her grandmother, and they hug affectionately. All is well.
Hanna’s Comments: Recently I lost a precious piece of jewelry that was
miraculously found. Perhaps that’s why I was so moved by this story. As I read,
I thought of connections to scriptures like the parable of the lost coin. I also thought of scriptural allusions to darkness and having the courage to bring in the
light. Children will respond to Mandy’s heroic story. Emphasize her connections
to the lost pin and the pain she feels in seeing her grandmother suffer. Talk
about empathy versus sympathy and how sometimes we are lucky enough to
alleviate someone’s suffering through our own courage and skill. It is a myth
that those who can’t hear have improved vision. What they actually have is
better visual focus and less distraction from sound. Use this book to talk
about listening with your eyes as Mandy does when she imagines her grandmother’s
favored music, love for her grandfather, and then her grandmother’s heartbreak.
Publisher & Date of Publication: Lothrop, Lee & Shepard Books, 1991
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:
Pre 2K
PBT Topics this Book Connects with: abilities, action, affection, artifacts, attentiveness/observation/seeing,
bonds/connections, bravery/courage, brokenness, communication,
darkness/evening/night, disabilities/handicaps/limitations, family, fear,
found, grandparents, helping, heritage, heroes, intercession, journeys/migrations/pilgrimages/quests,
light/morning, noise/sounds/voice, possessions, power, quiet/silence, risking,
searching, storms
Scripture Connections: Fear not, for I am with you… I will help you
(Isaiah 41:10); the lost parables (Luke 15); the light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness has not overcome it. (John 1:5)
Idea(s) for Application: Read this book to a group of children when
learning about the parable of the lost coin or sheep. Be sure to relate this to
its metaphorical meanings of God’s desire to be in relationship with us and for
us to bring light into the darkness of the world, particularly to help the lost
be lovingly found.
