Hope for the Future via a Media Star

 

Picture Book: The World Needs Who You Were Made to Be

Author: Joanna Gaines

Illustrator: Julianna Swaney

Summary: In this beautiful book, life is explored as a metaphor, a hot balloon festival. A dozen or so children prepare to design, build, and launch their distinctive balloons into the great unknown of their future. First, Gaines emphasizes how the children do work differently. I especially like her point that some are teachers and all are learners. As the various balloons are launched into a crowded sky, Gaines points out it is their differences that make the sky (life) beautiful and interesting! The focus changes to what all the balloonists should do. She urges kindness, compassion, and courage, just to name a few. She urges each child to not hold back nor forget each is unique, needed, and gifted.

Hanna’s Comments: Like many of you, I met Joanna Gaines via the Fixer Upper TV show. Since then, she and her husband have built the influential Magnolia media empire. This book is a nice addition to her work. There are many connections to scripture since it is about the great hopes and possibilities of one person and a group of individuals. This would be a great book for a Sunday school teacher to read on the last day of teaching a group of children. Use it as a sort of exhortation and prayer that they each have agency in a better future for themselves and for the whole world. Call it their work for God's Kingdom/Kindom or the Reign of God, whichever language you prefer. Point out that it is this work that Jesus talked about most. For an OT reference, point out that it was for being this kind of blessing to the world that Abraham & Sarah were launched into their unknowns.

Original Publisher & Date: Thomas Nelson, 2020

Age Appropriateness: preschool and up

Scripture Connections: any scripture about being uniquely blessed for contribution (the boy who shared loaves & fishes, the Body of Christ) or trial (OT Joseph), being part of a beloved community (descriptions of the early church), and being oriented to love, commitment, and compassion (Jesus’ orientation)

PBT Applications: Read this book to a group of tweens who are about to start middle school. Connect it to Biblical heroes who face the unknown and are afraid and uncertain such as Ruth & Naomi, Jacob, and those walking to Emmaus.

Goodbye to 2 Giants in Picture Books

Recently, I was sorry to learn of the deaths of 2 beloved picture book author/illustrators. They died within a couple of days of each other: Eric Carle (see some of his books above)

and Lois Ehlert (see some of her books above)

Their books have been part of PBT since the beginning (2014). Check out the PBT links at the end of this post to 8 or so treasured books and their applications!

What was striking to me was the similarity of their work. Both artists were innovative in how they structured some of their books, inserting mechanisms (Carle), using foldouts and cutouts (Ehlert). Both used bold collage and both celebrated nature: Carle’s characters were mostly from the animal kingdom. Ehlert’s books were about plants, animals, and humans. Both wrote simply and empathically to young children, but their books were full of loving wisdom that could be meaningful at any age.

One of my bucket list items is to go to The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art. I hope some of you will check it out when you are in or near Amhurst, MA, USA. Here’s the website: https://www.carlemuseum.org/. If you have been already, tell us about it via a comment below.

Before you click on the PBT links below, here is 1 more from each author.

Picture Book: The Very Clumsy Click Beetle

Author & Illustrator: Eric Carle

Summary: A young and inexperienced click beetle jumps from a tree and lands on his back, legs up. Fortunately, wise old click beetle comes along and begins teaching the young bug how to “click and flip through the air and land on your feet.” Young click beetle is not successful at first, but patient teaching continues. Meanwhile, other creatures pass by and encourage the trials. When a human boy approaches, the little click beetle is so afraid that he is finally and dramatically successful! The wise old click beetle watches and affirms.   

Hanna’s Comments: This is a great story about growing up and learning to do new and hard things. Such stories are what children live continually so they will relate! The young beetle’s struggles easily connect to the inconsistent growth of spiritual formation. For a child that might translate to relying on God while afraid or becoming more disciplined in faith habits. An obvious connection to the Bible for me was how Jesus consistently taught the disciples, despite their not seeming to get his teachings until after the resurrection. Another connection is the mentor/mentee relationship of Elijah and Elisha: 2 biblical heroes that children need to know, especially children who share their names.

Original Publisher & Date: Philomel Books, 1999

Age Appropriateness: Preschool & up

Formats other than Book: Audio

Note: Some books come with a mechanism that makes a clicking sound.

Scripture Connections: Elijah mentors Elisha (2^nd Kings); any scripture in which Jesus is teaching his disciples (i.e. Mark 9:14-29)

PBT Applications: Teach connections to this book by having your children learn and do a novel but doable activity, like playing with Tidily Winks, shooting marbles, or going through a challenging obstacle course. Then talk about the importance of striving through difficult lessons.

Picture Book: Hands: Growing Up to Be an Artist

Author & Illustrator: Lois Ehlert

Summary: From the point of view of a child with artistic parents, this book is visually striking. Carpentry (father), various handiworks (mother), and gardening (whole family) are covered here in some nice detail. The illustrations include tools and results of difficult work. The parents include the child in their work. “Extra hands” are needed, they say. They even create a work space for the child so that the child recognizes the importance of work for busy hands.

Hanna’s Comments: This is a fabulous book that few people know! One aspect of this story that I really like is the mystery of the child’s gender. That means all of your children will be able to relate without stereotypical gender boundaries. The range of work for hands is a nice plus and the structure is so colorful and unusual. There are lots of unusual cutouts!

Original Publisher & Date: Harcourt, 1997

Age Appropriateness: Preschool & up

Formats other than Book: none

Scripture Connections: Any scriptures about work, art, tender touching, or busy hands during worship (in praise or via music); For we are what God has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works... (Ephesian 2:10)

Connections to The Revised Common Lectionary: In my Trinity Treasures curriculum, I recommend this book for a lesson based on the Ephesians scripture above (RCL: Year B, Lent 4). The theme of the lesson is Created for Good Work.

PBT Applications: There are many ways to talk about hands in a religious  context. Hands love in many ways. They do good work, give comfort, show tenderness, and are part of The Body of Christ. All are important life applications for a child of faith. 

Links to other Eric Carle’s PBT Books:

The Tiny Seed

Panda Bear, Panda Bear: What Do You See? and 1 more

A House for Hermit Crab

The Very Lonely Firefly

Links to other Lois Ehlert’s PBT Books:

Planting a Rainbow

Waiting for Wings

Red Leaf, Yellow Leaf 

Rain Fish and Leaf Man

Journeying with an Idea

 Picture Book: What Do You Do with an Idea?

Author: Kobi Yamada

Illustrator: Mae Besom

Summary: “One day I had an idea,” begins this intriguing book. 

The idea, represented by this character, is fun to watch. 

The child struggles with what to do with the idea. 

Avoid it? Deny its existence? 

Be confused by it? Worry about what others will think? 

Feel ashamed of it? Risk feeding it? Play with it? 

Give it lots of attention? Show it to others? Claim it?

Give up on it? Abandon it? 

With each possibility, an illustration gives you much to consider. 

As the child attends to the idea, it grows and transforms. 

It’s influence on the child becomes obvious. The child says, “I couldn’t imagine my life without it.” 

Eventually the idea transforms in a big way. 

Taking flight, its no longer just a part of the child but a part of everything. 

Hanna’s Comments: I see 2 different approaches when using this book in ministry. The 1st is inspired by Anne Lamott’s conversion experience described in Traveling Mercies. In her gritty writing, Lamott describes Jesus as a little kitten that follows her for days. Eventually with very colorful language, she tells the cat it can enter her home. In this context “the idea” is a new step in faith. 

Biblical connections abound; think Abraham, Hannah, or Paul.  My 2nd approach is inspired by Elizabeth Gilbert in Big Magic in which she personifies her creative ideas (& fears). How does this connect with scripture? There are numerous stories in which characters’ inspirations grow (Esther, The Magi),

some more other-worldly than others (The Men Walking to Emmaus, Philip & the Ethiopian, Peter’s Tablecloth Dream). This book is so rich with meaning; look for it in my PBT Grab & Go Series eventually. First have your audience think of an idea they once had. 

Read the book without showing the illustrations. Then discuss personal connections. Read it again, while showing and relating the illustrations to their own idea journeys. 

If they don’t give their comments a spiritual framing, you do that. Relate the book and/or their comments to one of the Bible stories listed below or ask for their own connections to scripture. There is now a sequel to this fun book, What Do You Do with a Problem? I’ll post about it after the holidays. Yay!

Original Publisher & Date: Compendium, 2013

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

Formats other than Book: None at present

Scripture Connections:  Abraham’s conversion, Hannah’s prayer for a child, Esther’s choice to approach the king, The Magi's journey to Bethlehem, Men Walking to Emmaus, Paul’s conversion, Philip & the Ethiopian, Peter’s Tablecloth Dream, etc.

Idea(s) for Application: Read the story to a group of teenagers who are trying to discern post-high school decisions or a group of entrepreneurs who are exploring a vocation.