A Multi-Media Experience

Picture Book: The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind

Authors: William Kamkwamba

Illustrator: Elizabeth Zunon

Summary: This is a true story of 14 year old William, whose village in Malawi suffers a crippling drought. It begins with an explanation that William's village is a farming community with no electricity for lights or irrigation. 

But William loves the dark because he can dream of building things from scraps he collects. He does build many things.  

William works in the fields and attends school when his family can afford the fees. 

As the burning sun and lack of ran burns fields to dust,  

William's family has no fees for school.

One meal a day is all they can afford. Others in their village have even less.   

William is a determined learner so he goes to the village library and reads science books, but they are in English. Thanks to an English dictionary, William feeds his desire for learning. 

When he sees a book about how a windmill can produce electricity, creating light and pumping water, 

 

William imagines the good such a machine can bring his family and village. 

He is determined to build the "electric wheel" with the scraps he finds. Others think he's crazy, 

but his friends soon want to help. 

The windmill is built, 

and electricity is generated, but "Light could not fill empty bellies" so a water pump is built next. 

Later, other windmills are built, once the community sees the "magic" of William's inventions and their power to feed their community and their entire country. 

Hanna’s Comments: Picture books are great resources for all ages, but when you can supplement them with other media experience such as video, the learning will be even more meaningful. I was thrilled to learn that there is a new Netflix film based on this story. It stars Chiwetel Ejiofor from the movie 12 Years a Slave. I watched and was very pleased by how closely it corresponds to this book. It was beautifully done, but some death scenes and violence are present so be sure to preview with your audience in mind. Other versions of this story are available as well, one a chapter book for children, another is appropriate for teens and adults, and you'll find a book about William in a series for elementary-aged students called Remarkable Lives Revealed. This last book would likely have many photographs. For both the film and the picture book, you'll need to address the meaning behind the mystical costumed figures. These are ghost dancers, an aspect of William's culture that gives him inspiration and comfort. The power of this story is multi-faceted. Themes such as vocation (William has a scientific mind he seems called to use) and science vs magic vs faith are rich subjects for conversation with teens and young adults in your churches. You can also focus on the wind as a metaphor for God’s power, God’s inspiration, or The Holy Spirit which is inside William giving him agency to change his family’s (and community’s) quality of life. The movie ends with this line: God is as the wind which touches everything. I recently heard a news story about solar panels decreasing in cost and being used all over Africa. More modern versions of evolving tech or updates on William might be included in your program. Anytime you can challenge your audience, no matter their age, to connect their faith with current events, especially global issues, then you’ve added great meaning and potential for spiritual growth.

Original Publisher & Date: Scholastic, 2012

Age & Grade Appropriateness: 6 and up, 1^st and up

Formats other than Book: None at present but the other books are available in other formats.

Scripture Connections: Scriptures about wind such as the story of Pentecost in Acts 2, scriptures of prophets leading their communities such as those of Elijah, and Bible stories about young leaders such as in the story of David & Goliath

Idea(s) for Application: Read this book to a group of teens and explore the themes above. Beforehand, invite the teens to watch the Netflix movie or watch it together. 

Favorite Posts: Highlighting Shelly Rotner

When we think of picture books, we often think only of fiction. As I’ve delved into the treasure trove that is my local library’s picture book shelves, I’ve discovered a vast range of subjects in the non-fiction section. So many of them offer great soil for growing a garden of lessons for children in religious communities, in private schools, homeschools, or in therapeutic situations. 

As I’ve demonstrated many times here at PBT, picture books can encourage spiritual conversations and important social-emotional growth in children and adults. They can be particularly helpful when crises occur or difficult issues arise in faith communities. 

Using books (of stories, facts, or poetry) as therapeutic tools is called bibliotherapy. I learned this extraordinary word in my training as a school psychologist. I was already a lover of picture books. Because they are non-threatening, familiar, and imaginative objects, picture books can promote journeys of self-reflection and personal growth. 

Bibliotherapy is traditionally used in child therapy, but I suggest that a well-selected picture book and rich conversation with a skilled therapist or spiritual director can open a door to healing and/or better skills in adults as well. Here’s a couple of links if you want to know more about bibliotherapy:

http://www.best-childrens-books.com/bibliotherapy.html

http://www.carnegielibrary.org/research/parentseducators/parents/bibliotherapy/

Today’s featured author, Shelly Rotner, has such a wonderful array of books, each with her delightful photographs! Children love looking at photographs so these books are very appealing. You can supplement a lesson or even build a series of lessons around one or more of her books. You might want to consider taking similar photos of your children as a part of your lesson. The kids (and their parents) would love that!

Here's a partial list of Shelly Rotner's books. She is either the author, photographer, or both. The first is a PBT book with the post link:

Shades of People - check out that post [here]

Sometimes Bad Things Happen   by Ellen Jackson

The A.D.D. book for Kids

Changes    with Marjorie N. Allen

Every Season   with Anne Love Woodhull

Feeling Thankful   with Sheila Kelly (Spanish version available)

Different Kinds of Good-Byes   with Sheila Kelly

What’s Love?   By Deborah Carlin

Home   with Amy Goldbas

Lots of Feelings

Lots of Grandparents
Nature Spy    with Ken Kreisler

Many Ways: How Families Practice Their Beliefs and Religions              with Shelia Kelly

What Can You Do? A Book about Discovering What You Do Well             with Sheila Kelly

December Holiday Books 1 & 2

As we approach the December holidays, I’ve decided to break with PBT tradition and offer some sacred picture books along with my usual secular stories. There are so many beautiful Christmas and Hanukkah books so on my usual post days, Mondays and Fridays, I’ll briefly feature 2 books, a secular first and then a sacred. 

Picture Book: A Hat for Mrs. Goldman: A Story about Knitting and Love

Author: Michelle Edwards

Illustrator: G. Brian Karas 

Summary: Sophia’s neighbor, Mrs. Goldman, taught her how to knit and regularly demonstrates the Jewish practice of mitzvah (doing a good deed) by knitting and giving hats. Sophia enjoys making the pom-poms for these gifts. While walking with her neighbor on a series of blustery days, Sophia worries that Mrs. Goldman has no hat for her own keppie (head) so Sophia decides to remember her lessons and knit a hat for Mrs. Goldman. Sophia struggles with the task but perseveres. Unhappy with the result, she adds 20 pom-poms to cover her mistakes. Mrs. Goldman gratefully exclaims that each pom-pom has been made with love.

Hanna’s Comments:  Sometimes a title tells me when I’ve found a PBT book! The loving generosity in this title is on every page of this book. I also very much liked the cross-cultural interaction of a Hispanic child (Sophia mentions her abuela) with a Jewish adult. The Jewish concept of mitzvah is an idea all of us would be enriched to know. Sophie’s creative problem solving, which I believe is a gift from God, is another aspect of this book that offers you rich material for conversation and activities in your family or faith community. A pattern for knitting the “Sophia hat” is in the back of this book.

Original Publisher & Date: Schwartz & Wade, 2016

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

Formats other than Book: Tablet

Scripture Connections: Any scripture that involves generosity to neighbor or patient perseverance through difficult work would connect with this story. In December, this story connects with religious practices of gift-giving and compassion.

Idea(s) for Application: Read this book to a group of children who are learning about God-inspired good deeds or creative problem-solving. Making pom-poms would be a fun activity to supplement this book.

Picture Book: December

Author: Eve Bunting

Illustrator: David Diaz

Summary: Simon and his mom live in a cardboard house on the street. They have managed to create a simple Christmas tree and decorate with a paper angel named December from a calendar. Christmas eve brings to their makeshift door an elderly woman, poorer even than Simon and his mother. They welcome her and give her a coat and food. Simon gives his guest his one cookie. Early Christmas morning, Simon is awakened by the old woman’s exit. When he gets up to close the door, he sees December, the Christmas angel instead of the old woman. She sings quietly to him as she disappears. The next Christmas eve finds Simon in a much better place. His mom has a job and they live in an apartment. Their decorations are still meager; December still smiles down at them. Simon remembers.

Hanna’s Comments:  Putting it simply, some Christmas picture books are joyous, but others are about suffering. Some might call the second kind depressing or dark and avoid reading them to children. I propose that stories of suffering harken back to the nativity. Jesus was poor and homeless. He and his parents were refugees. Children were murdered. Many of your children know the darkness of these stories already. The Christmas story is about hardship, emboldened by hope, and wrapped in love. All good stories are. Usually children can handle dark stories if you consider the age guidelines and are sensitive to who they are, how they will likely respond, and their reactions as they listen. Giving parents fair warning is a good idea too. If themes of homelessness are too harsh for your young audience, consider a similar story in Christmas Soup by Alice Faye Duncan (illustrator Phyllis Dooley).

Original Publisher & Date: Harcourt, 1997

Age & Grade Appropriateness: 6 and up, 1^st and up

Formats other than Book: None at present

Scripture Connections: Matthew 2:1-18; Luke 2:1-20

Idea(s) for Application: Read this book to a group of children who are learning and exploring the Nativity stories. 

Water, Come Closer!

Picture Book: The Water Princess

Author: Susan Verde

Illustrator: Peter H. Reynolds

Summary: This story is based on the childhood experiences of Georgie Badiel, fashion model born in Burkina Faso.

A young African girl, Gie Gie, who is called Princess by her parents, longs for the ability to summon water. 

Despite her dancing, contorting, and pleas for the water to come closer, no water comes. 

Instead, every morning she reluctantly gets out of bed 

and walks with her mother a very long way to get water. 

Half way there, they stop for some nuts under a gorgeous tree. Upon arrival, she plays with her friends, while her mother stands in line. When they fill their containers, they can’t drink the water because it is dirty.

Finally, heavy pots are placed on their heads for the long and careful trek back. Once home, the water is boiled. Then Gie Gie gulps a refreshing and energizing drink of water. 

When her beloved father returns from the fields, their evening meal has been cooked thanks to the water they gathered. 

Later, clothes and body are washed so that Gie Gie can delight in her cleanliness. 

Dreading the next early morning rise to walk for water, Gie Gie asks her mother why getting water is so hard. 

Her mother replies, “Someday you will find a way, my Princess. Someday.”

Hanna’s Comments: Perhaps through her success and in collaboration with a charity called Ryan’s Well, Georgie Badiel has fulfilled her mother’s prophesy. Badiel is finding a way to bring water to the drought-ridden villages of her home country. 

More details and photos are found in the back along with links to Ryan’s Well and the Georgie Badiel Foundation who are working together to encourage better access to clean water in Burkina Faso and beyond. 

This book reminds me of another PBT offering that you might like as well. Find my post about Come On Rain! by Karen Hesse [here].

Original Publisher & Date: G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 2016

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

Formats other than Book: Tablet

Scripture Connections: They shall not hunger or thirst…, for one who has pity on them will lead them by springs of water (Isaiah 49:10); Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied (Matthew 5:6); Whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of water will not lose a reward (Matthew 10:42); Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer (Romans 12:12)

Idea(s) for Application: Read this book to a group of children, youth, or adults who are learning about issues of access to clean water, activists who improve access to water, “thirsting for righteousness” through activism, or Biblical concepts of prophesy and vocation. 

PBT Author Focus - Shelley Rotner and Some Thoughts on Bibliotherapy

When we think of picture books, we often think only of fiction. As I’ve delved into the treasure trove that is my local library’s picture book shelves, I’ve discovered a vast range of subjects in the non-fiction section. So many of them offer great soil for growing a garden of lessons for children in religious communities, in private schools, homeschools, or in therapeutic situations. 

As I’ve demonstrated many times here at PBT, picture books can encourage spiritual conversations and important social-emotional growth in children and adults. They can be particularly helpful when crises occur or difficult issues arise in faith communities. 

Using books (of stories, facts, or poetry) as therapeutic tools is called bibliotherapy. I learned this extraordinary word in my training as a school psychologist. I was already a lover of picture books. Because they are non-threatening, familiar, and imaginative objects, picture books can promote journeys of self-reflection and personal growth. 

Bibliotherapy is traditionally used in child therapy, but I suggest that a well-selected picture book and rich conversation with a skilled therapist or spiritual director can open a door to healing and/or better skills in adults as well. Here’s a couple of links if you want to know more about bibliotherapy:

http://www.best-childrens-books.com/bibliotherapy.html

http://www.carnegielibrary.org/research/parentseducators/parents/bibliotherapy/

Today’s featured author, Shelly Rotner, has such a wonderful array of books, each with her delightful photographs! You can supplement a lesson or even build a series of lessons around one or more of her books. You might want to consider taking similar photos of your children as a part of your lesson. The kids (and their parents) would love that!

Below is a partial list of books in which Shelley Rotner is author, photographer, or both. The first entry is a PBT book with a link to my post:

Shades of People - check out that post [here]

Sometimes Bad Things Happen   by Ellen Jackson
The A.D.D. book for Kids

Changes    with Marjorie N. Allen
Every Season   with Anne Love Woodhull
Feeling Thankful   with Sheila Kelly (Spanish version available)
Different Kinds of Good-Byes   with Sheila Kelly
What’s Love?   By Deborah Carlin
Home   with Amy Goldbas
Lots of Feelings 

Lots of Grandparents 

Many Ways: How Families Practice Their Beliefs and Religions   with Shelia Kelly  
Nature Spy    with Ken Kreisler 

What Can You Do? A Book about Discovering What You Do Well   with Sheila Kelly