PBT Redux Series #10 - Yo! Yes?

It’s time for another repeated post about 1 of the 600 or so picture books I’ve featured here at PBT the last 3 years. Yo! Yes? was featured in the early days of this PBT website when I offered A Picture Book a Day for a Year. This book is amazing for its mass appeal. Because it has so few words, young children will understand it. And the subtleties of language (verbal & especially nonverbal) and focus on hospitality make it worthy of a spiritual conversation for children of any age.

I’m not including it in my PBT Grab & Go Series because using it in ministry will require you to spend some time deciding what aspects of the spiritual practice of hospitality you will want to highlight and how to connect them to the words and illustrations. This book is one of many PBT books in which I’ve written lessons suitable for age 4 through 11. Let me know via a comment if you’re interested in purchasing that lesson or seeing a list of other books with lessons. I charge only $4 per lesson (sent electronically).

Picture Book: Yo! Yes?

Author & Illustrator: Chris Raschka

Summary: A light-skinned boy, who is dressed up, passes a dark-skinned boy who is willing to risk a conversation. “Yo!” he says. The passing boy says, “Yes?” and their relationship begins. Cleverly, their conversation is rich in meaning even though it is comprised of only 1 or 2 word interactions, only 34 unique words in all!

Hanna’s Comments: The risks of initial interaction and the building of friendship are the themes here. The professional video of this book (check your library) is particularly appealing because music and a basketball are added. Also, the gestures of the two characters and their intonation help you interpret the simple conversation. It’s amazing how so few words can evoke hospitality, timidity, trust, and satisfaction leading to a budding friendship. Note that despite their different races, postures, and dress, their relationship blossoms. You might want to consider having the children act out the story several times since the conversation is so simple and fun. If you’re looking for a Spanish language book, this book could be easily translated because it has so few words. Consider having two languages in your reading, the dark-skinned character speaking English and the lighter-skinned character speaking Spanish. Homeschool or private school teachers, pay attention to the end marks of each sentence. There’s potential for a basic punctuation lesson here.

PBT Lesson Available: I've written a church lesson for children based on this book. Contact me via a comment if you're interested in purchasing it for just $4!

Original Publisher & Date: Scholastic, 1993

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

Formats other than Book: Video, Audible, Audio CD

Scripture Connections: Jesus and the bent-over woman (Luke 13:10-17); Jesus and Zacchaeus (Luke 19:1-10)

Idea(s) for Application: I think this book connects well with 2 gospel stories (listed above) in which Jesus initiates interactions with outsiders. Use this book when considering themes of initiating relationships in your faith community, especially with those who are different or on the outside. 

A Picture Book a Day for a Year: Day 145

Picture Book: Yo! Yes?

Author & Illustrator: Chris Raschka

Summary: A light skinned boy who is dressed up passes a dark skinned boy who is willing to risk a conversation. “Yo!” he says. The passing boy says, “Yes?” and their relationship begins. Cleverly, their conversation is rich in meaning even though it is comprised of only 1 or 2 word interactions, only 34 unique words in all!

Hanna’s Comments: The risks of initial interaction and the building of friendship are the themes here. The video of this book is particularly appealing because music and a basketball are added. Also, the gestures of the two characters and their intonation help you interpret the simple conversation. It’s amazing how so few words can evoke hospitality, timidity, trust, and satisfaction leading to a budding friendship. Note that despite their different races, postures, and dress, their relationship blossoms. You might want to consider having the children act out the story several times since the conversation is so simple and fun. I've written a lesson for children based on this book. Contact me via a comment if you're interested in purchasing it for just $4!

Publisher & Date of Publication: Scholastic, 1993

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

# of Pages: 32

Available in Spanish? Not at present but this book could be easily translated because it has so few words. Consider having two languages in your reading, the dark-skinned character speaking English and the lighter-skinned character speaking Spanish or another language.

Formats other than Book: Video on Youtube.com, Audible, Audio CD

PBT Category: Award Winner (Caldecott Honor) Pre 2K

PBT Topics this Book Connects with: acceptance, beginnings/morning, chosen, communication, community, companionship, differences, emotions/feelings, encouragement, evangelism, exclusion/inclusion, friends/friendship, gentleness/meekness, golden rule/great commandment, hospitality, insecurity, integration, kindness, language/literacy/reading, openness, outreach, outsiders, play, prevenient grace, race relations/racism, relationships, risking, shyness, sports/sports stars

Scripture Connections: Jesus and the bent over woman (Luke 13:10-17); Jesus and Zacchaeus (Luke 19:1-10)

Idea(s) for Application: I think this book connects well with 2 gospel stories (listed above) in which Jesus initiates interactions with outsiders. Use this book when considering with children themes of initiating relationships, especially with those who are different or on the outside. 

A Picture Book a Day for a Year: Day 104

Picture Book: I Believe in Genevieve

Author: Jenny Craig

Illustrator: Wendy Edelson

Summary: Genevieve, aka Jenny, has decided to attend a horse riding camp so she works with the horses to earn tuition and use of a horse. She names the horse Candy Ride and hopes to compete well in the end of summer horse show. However, she and Candy Ride must get stronger and healthier. Jenny becomes inspired by an older girl, Olivia, who is a great rider and has a strong horse. She notices that Olivia doesn’t indulge in the junk food that is provided to the campers nor does she give her horse sugar cubes. Instead Olivia gives him grains, vegetables, and fruits, the same food Olivia prefers. Olivia motivates Jenny to eat more healthily and enjoy working hard at the barn. The girls even create an “ob-stable course” for working out. When Jenny does compete in the horse show, she and her horse win “Most Improved.”

Hanna’s Comments: From the diet, health, and fitness guru comes a story that seems to be somewhat autobiographical about her discovery that eating healthily and staying active can be fun and beneficial. Read the note from the author at the beginning of the book. In the back, you’ll find instructions for creating an “ob-stable course,” several healthy recipes, a list of healthy snacks to grab and go, and “Ten Fun Ways to Get Up and Go.”

Publisher & Date of Publication: Regnery Kids, 2013

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

# of Pages: 40

Available in Spanish? Not at present

Formats other than Book: Tablet

PBT Category: Fresh off the Press

PBT Topics this Book Connects with: animals, beginnings/morning, care of creation, change, choices/decisions, competition, change, consumerism/consumption/riches, feasting/food/hunger/nutrition, labor/work, perseverance, pets, preparation/preparing, righteousness, satisfaction, self-discovery, siblings/sibling rivalry, sports/sport stars, strength/strength in God, at table, transformation, wisdom

Scripture Connections: Daniel’s diet (Daniel 10:3); your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19)

Idea(s) for Application: The Justice & Mercy Team at my church chose to focus for 1 year on food issues in our community, particularly the food desert that surrounds our urban church. This book was used as part of a program for the children on healthy eating and the difficulty for some families in Birmingham to have access to healthy foods. 

A Picture Book a Day for a Year: Day 93

Picture Book: Roberto Clemente: Pride of the Pittsburgh Pirates

Author: Jonah Winter

Illustrator: Raul Colon

Summary: Baseball hero, Roberto Clemente, was a Puerto Rican boy who made it to the Major Leagues despite the poverty of his childhood and the racism he encountered in professional baseball. Known for his fast feet, skilled moves, and 3000 hits, he was nicknamed “The Great One.” Along with his baseball success, he was notorious for his charitable work, especially work which benefited his home island. Sadly, in 1972 Roberto Clemente died in a plane crash at the height of his baseball career while on a humanitarian flight to Central America to help victims of an earthquake. The Great One was the first Latino to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Hanna’s Comments: Modern children need to hear about sports heroes like Roberto Clemente, who worked tirelessly and gave much because of his love for baseball and fellow human beings. His legacy remains and is a great tool for inspiring future generations to be generous with their time, money, and talents. Be sure to read the Author’s Note in the back.

Publisher & Date of Publication: Atheneum, 2005

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: Biography

PBT Topics this Book Connects with: abilities, acceptance, America, awe, body of Christ, call/calling/vocation, caring/tending, Central America, commitment, confidence, death/loss/grief, difficulties, diversity, dreams/aspiration, equality/inequality, generosity/giving/offering/stewardship, gifts/giftedness/talents, growing up/growth, heroes, home, injustice, integration, journeys/pilgrimages/migration/quests, judgment/judges/judging, justice, obstacles, outreach, outsiders, passion, perseverance, play, poverty, prejudice, race relations/racism, sacrifice, sports/sports stars, steadfastness, time/timing/over time, tragedy 

Scripture Connections: David and Goliath (1 Samuel 17); the strong must bear the failings of the weak… building up our neighbors (Romans 15:1-2)

Idea(s) for Application: This book could be part of a series of lessons on heroes of the modern era and their connections with your religious heroes.

A Picture Book a Day for a Year: Day 75

Picture Book: Randy Riley’s Really Big Hit

Author & Illustrator: Chris Van Dusen

Summary: The main character of this picture book in verse is Randy Riley who loves 3 things: space, robots, and baseball. He’s no good at hitting baseballs, but his search of the night sky warns him of a large fireball plummeting to Earth, to his town no less. He tells his parents. When they don't respond, Randy's determination is unwavering. He has just enough time to perform his calculations and build a giant robot that, you guessed it, swings and doesn’t miss. The fireball leaves the Earth’s atmosphere, and Randy is the hero.

Hanna’s Comments: This is such a fun picture book! The poetic verse is delightful, and the illustrations of 1960’s America are hilarious. Kids will love it so much that it will be easy to sneak in meaningful connections with scriptural subjects such as giftedness, heroism, or even prophets.

Publisher & Date of Publication: Candlewick Press, 2012

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

# of Pages: 32

Available in Spanish? Not at present

Formats other than Book: Amateur videos on Youtube

PBT Category: Post 2K

PBT Topics this Book Connects with: abilities, acceptance, action, America, body of Christ, bravery/courage, call/calling/vocation, confidence, creativity/imagination/ingenuity, gifts/giftedness/talents, heroes, hope, individuality/uniqueness, intercession, labor/work, mission, moon/space/stars/sun, passion, preparation/preparing, problems/problem solving, prophesy/prophets, purpose, risking, sacrifice, savior/saving, servant hood/service/serving, sports/sports stars, wisdom

Scripture Connections: Book of Jeremiah

Idea(s) for Application: as part of a children’s lesson on the prophet Jeremiah