PBT Series: God Book #13

This is a repeat of a post from the first year of PBT when I offered 1 picture book a day for a year. Spring has sprung here in Alabama so animals and plants are singing God’s praise all about me! Most of the 700 or so books at PBT are secular, but I have over 80 God books! This series has the best of them. I include God Books because they are treasures that would be hard for you to find if you didn’t know about them already. They are generally about the nature of God so applications in ministry are obvious. This one is particularly beautiful and perfect for young children. Enjoy!

Picture Book: Let the Whole Earth Sing Praise

Author & Illustrator: Tomie de Paola

Summary: Here is the text of this beautiful book:

Sun and Moon, Stars and Comets in the Heavens.

Praise God.

Light and Darkness, Day and Night, 

Showers and Frost, Ice and snow.

Bless God.

Fire, Heat, Lightning and Clouds, 

Mountains, Hills, Seas, Rivers, and Fountains,

Praise God.

Fruitful Trees, Cedars, and all that Sprout upon the Earth,

Whales, Fish, and all Creatures that Move in the Waters,

Bless God.

Birds, Everything that Flies in the Air,

Dogs, Cats, All Animals and Creeping Things on Earth,

Praise God.

All People, Young and Old, Let Everything in Heaven and on Earth

Bless and Praise God.

Hanna’s Comments: In the Authors Note, de Paola explains that his book was inspired by two pieces of Old Testament scripture: The Canticle of the Three Young Men from the Book of Daniel and Psalm 148. He has purposefully made it like a children’s song. The illustrations are inspired by folk art designs of the Otomi people of Puebla, Mexico. When presenting this book, consider the question of non-human entities being able to praise God. Have fun with the movement and sounds in nature. Delight in all the diversity God displays on our great Earth. Most importantly, have your kiddos engage in lots of praising of God during your lesson. 

Original Publisher & Date: G. P. Putnam’s Sons, 2011

Age & Grade Appropriateness: 3 and up, Pre and up

Formats other than Book: Tablet

Scripture Connections: Praise the Lord…Praise him, sun and moon… (Psalm 148); let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name (Hebrews 13:15)

Idea(s) for Application: Read this book to children when teaching them about worship and praise to God. Consider presenting the ideas of this book to older children to consider in a lesson on praise in nature.

PBT God Book #12

Picture Book: What Does the Sky Say?

Author: Nancy White Carlstrom

Illustrator: Tim Ladwig

Summary: “What does the sky say on a winter day when snow is falling and a mother is calling her little girl to dinner?” Thus begins this lovely book. The question is answered, “Remember. Go in and be fed and loved, but don’t forget to look out the window.” Other questions follow, asking what the sky says in different weather and seasons. Each time a possible answer is offered that encourages the young girl to embrace the joy and learning that each day can bring. Between the lines is a subtle message that God is the provider of these varied and beautiful sky messages.

Hanna’s Comments: This is what I call a contemplative book which encourages readers (children & adults) to attend to and consider the beauty and life-giving messages of God’s creation. God is not mentioned in this text, but the possibility of God as the creator of the skies and the encourager of the young girl's contemplation is throughout. The questions, tone, and affirming answers celebrate God’s presence and our potential to discern meaning and joy from what we may experience. You’ll find Psalm 19:1-4 (The heavens are telling the glory of God…) in the back of the book.

Publisher & Date of Publication: Eerdmans Books, 2001

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

Formats other than Book: None at present

Scripture Connections: In the beginning, God created the heavens (Genesis 1:1); when I look at Your heavens, the work of Your fingers (Psalm 8:3); the heavens are telling the glory of God (Psalm 19:1-4)

Idea(s) for Application: Use this book at a church family retreat while you are gathered outside. If possible, have a couple of young girls dramatically represent the ideas in the book. Then encourage your audience to offer their own meanings to each kind of sky.

Obsession and Friendship

If your church uses The Revised Common Lectionary for planning your messages, you’ll find that today’s simple story perfectly illustrates verses from one of the selected scriptures for this week, Philippians 2.

Picture Book: We Found a Hat

Author & Illustrator: Jon Klassen

Summary: Two friends on a journey, who happen to be turtles, find a hat -  one hat, two turtles. 

Each tries on the hat, 

and each declares it looks good on the other. 

They know it would be wrong for only one turtle to have the hat. 

Solution: They must leave the hat behind. 

They don't go far. The hat is still in plain site which proves to be really hard for one turtle. 

The two turtles watch the sunset together. 

It is clear that their company is important and this daily event worth their attention. 

But once the sun is down, that one turtle's eyes look back... 

to the hat, a new obsession. 

Both turtles turn and prepare to sleep, one turtle sleepier than the other. 

After a while, a night time excursion is inevitable. 

The sleeping friend is neither far in distance nor far from the thoughts of the secretive turtle. 

Next is a sort of confession. Dreams of owning the hat are declared. But... 

quickly that dream expands to both turtles owning hats and wearing them very well. 

The hat is considered again. What's this hat worth? An important friendship? 

No. 

The turtle returns to the more important relationship and settles in for a good night's sleep. 

Still there is the dream.

Hanna’s Comments: Be sure to point out the eyes as you read to your audience for they are crucial to the story. Klassen is known for his simple but profound books. This book is part of Klassen’s Hat Trilogy, but the stories are not connected - different hats, different animals. This is Not My Hat is about a fish stealing a hat. A great PBT option if you are looking for a book about “Thou shalt not steal.”  I Want My Hat Back offers another great PBT experience for exploring The Parable of the Lost Coin.

Original Publisher & Date: Candlewick, 2016

Age & Grade Appropriateness: 3 and up, Pre and up

Formats other than Book: None at present

Scripture Connections: The story of Lot's wife (Genesis 19:15-26); Be of one mind; don’t do anything out of selfishness. (Philippians 2:2-5)

Idea(s) for Application: Read this book to a group of people of any age and then explore ideas of obsession, selfishness, or greed and how these can harm important friendships and be obstacles to spiritual formation.

A Picture Book a Day for a Year: Day 343

Picture Book: Let the Whole Earth Sing Praise

Author & Illustrator: Tomie de Paola

Summary: Here is the text of this beautiful book:

Sun and Moon, Stars and Comets in the Heavens.

Praise God.

Light and Darkness, Day and Night, 
Showers and Frost, Ice and snow.

Bless God.

Fire, Heat, Lightning and Clouds, 
Mountains, Hills, Seas, Rivers, and Fountains,

Praise God.

Fruitful Trees, Cedars, and all that Sprout upon the Earth,

Whales, Fish, and all Creatures that Move in the Waters,

Bless God.

Birds, Everything that Flies in the Air,

Dogs, Cats, All Animals and Creeping Things on Earth,

Praise God.

All People, Young and Old, Let Everything in Heaven and on Earth

Bless and Praise God.

Hanna’s Comments: In the Authors Note, Tomie de Paola explains that this book was inspired by two pieces of Old Testament scripture: The Canticle of the Three Young Men from the Book of Daniel and Psalm 148. He has purposefully made it like a children’s song. The illustrations are inspired by folk art designs of the Otomi people of Puebla, Mexico.  

Original Publisher & Date of Publication: G. P. Putnam’s Sons, 2011

Age & Grade Appropriateness: 3 and up, Pre and up

# of Pages: 32

Available in Spanish? Not at present 

Formats other than Book: Tablet

PBT Category: God Book, Post 2K

PBT Topics this Book connects with: abundance/bounty, adoration, animals, awe, Bible/scripture, blessings, creation, diversity, the environment/nature, heaven/sky, humanity, moon/space/stars/sun, pleasing God/the Shema, prayer, response to God, unity, variety, weather, worship

Scripture Connections: Praise the Lord…Praise him, sun and moon… (Psalm 148); let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name (Hebrews 13:15)

Idea(s) for Application: Read this book to children when teaching them about worship and praise to God.  

A Picture Book a Day for a Year: Day 334

Dynamic Duo: Book 2

Picture Book: You are My Sunshine

Author: Jimmie Davis

Illustrator: Caroline Jayne Church 

Summary: This is a board book with the lyrics of the chorus to this fun song. In case you don’t know it, here are those lyrics:

You are my sunshine,

My only sunshine.

You make me happy when skies are gray.

You’ll never know, dear, how much I love you.

Please don’t take my sunshine away.

Hanna’s Comments: This is a 2^nd PBT Dynamic Duo offering. The subtitle of yesterday’s book is the title of today’s book and a popular American song. Long ago, I learned this fun song at church camp where we loved to sing it in a variety of silly renditions. The song was first recorded in the 1930s as a country song, but it has been covered by so many singers and sung in various contexts that it is more like an American folk song now. The verses are a little more mature than the chorus and are about romantic love so it makes sense that only the chorus would be offered for young children, but don’t limit the application of this idea to just young children. If a board book is inappropriate, simply offer the song via a different method. We sang the first verse at my church camp. It was a fun, non-threatening way to sing about romantic love with fellow adolescents in an environment awash with Christ’s love. Check out the verses by watching one of the many versions you’ll find on Youtube.com.

I don’t say this often enough: Many of the books I offer and conversations I encourage here at PBT can be enjoyed at home with a parent/grandparent and child. This is a perfect example. Read the Toot and Puddle Book offered yesterday. Sing You are My Sunshine, if you have the book or not. Then talk about how God’s love shines on and through all of us when the skies outside are gray or blue and whether we are feeling blue (or even a little gray).

Original Publisher & Date of Publication: Cartwheel Books, 2011

Age & Grade Appropriateness: 2 and up, Toddler and up 

# of Pages: 12 

Available in Spanish? Not at present but there is a nice video of the song being sung in Spanish on Youtube.com.  

Formats other than Book: There are many videos of this song on Youtube.com though they are not related to this book.

PBT Category: Song Book, Post 2K 

PBT Topics this Book connects with: affirmation, bonds/connections, choir/music/singing/songs, commitment, dependence/interdependence, gladness/happiness, joy, love, moon/space/stars/sun, parents/parental love    

Scripture Connections: The Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you (Numbers 6:1b); arise, shine, for you light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. (Isaiah 60:1); Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. (John 8:12a); …now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light. (Ephesians 5:8b);   

Idea(s) for Application: Read this book when doing a young children’s lesson on how God’s light shines through us, Jesus is the light of the world, or how love between people can be like a sunshine.

A Picture Book a Day for a Year: Day 242

Picture Book: Brother Sun, Sister Moon: Saint Francis of Assisi’s Canticle of the Creatures

Author: Saint Francis of Assisi

Adaptor: Katherine Paterson

Illustrator: Pamela Dalton

Summary: This is a reimagining of the beautiful hymn of praise to God called Canticle of the Creatures or Canticle of the Sun, written by Saint Francis of Assisi in 1224. The text is a prayer of gratitude for various aspects of God’s creation such as the sun and moon in the title. Also, lauded are fire, water, weather, etc. The illustrations are extraordinary scherenschnitte, the art of paper cutting.

Hanna’s Comments: Reading this book is a doubly wonderful experience. The verse is refreshing as it praises some of God's blessings in a unique sort of phrasing. A complete translation of the canticle in English is in the back of the book. You’ll find comments from the author and illustrator in the back as well. I was especially intrigued by this Katherine Paterson comment about her experience of adapting the canticle: “It was such a wonderful exercise to see myself as close kin to all the rest of the natural world… even to look death in the face and call her my sister.” Also, the visual artistry is stunning. Be sure to point out to young audiences that the illustrations are detailed paper cuts. Do give them some biographical information on Saint Francis beforehand, and you might want to mention that the current Pope Francis is inspired and named after Saint Francis, a name he chose.

Publisher & Date of Publication: Chronicle Books, 2011

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

# of Pages: 36

Available in Spanish? Not at present

Formats other than Book: Tablet, There is a video on Youtube that is this song as presented in a movie with the same title. I’ve not seen the movie so I can’t recommend it, but you might want to check it out.  

PBT Category: God book, Post 2K

PBT Topics this Book Connects with: abundance/bounty, adoration, awe, beauty, blessings, choir/music/singing/songs, contemplation, creation, Earth/world, the environment/nature, gratitude/thanksgiving, moon/space/stars/sun, prayer, response to God, reverence, wonder, worship

Scripture Connections: In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1:1); the universe was created by the word of God (Hebrews 11:3); worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created. (Revelation 4:11)

Idea(s) for Application: This book could be read to a group of children when studying Saint Francis, songs of praise, prayers of thanksgiving, or when focusing on the natural world of God’s creation. 

A Picture Book a Day for a Year: Day 176

Picture Book: What Does the Sky Say?

Author: Nancy White Carlstrom

Illustrator: Tim Ladwig

Summary: “What does the sky say on a winter day when snow is falling and a mother is calling her little girl to dinner?” Thus begins this lovely book. The question is answered, “Remember. Go in and be fed and loved, but don’t forget to look out the window.” Other questions follow, asking what the sky says in different weather and seasons. Each time a possible answer is offered that encourages the young girl to embrace the joy and learning that each day can bring. Between the lines is a subtle message that God is the provider of these varied and beautiful sky messages.  

Hanna’s Comments: This is what I call a contemplative book which encourages readers, children and adults, to attend to and consider the beauty and life-giving messages of God’s creation. God is not mentioned in this text, but the possibility of God is all over this writing, in the questions and tone and in the affirming answers. God’s creative nature is celebrated in here as is our potential to discern meaning and joy from what we may experience. You’ll find Psalm 19:1-4 (The heavens are telling the glory of God…) in the back of the book. 

Publisher & Date of Publication: Eerdmans Books, 2001

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: God Book, Post 2K

PBT Topics this Book Connects with: abundance/bounty, awe, beauty, creativity/imagination/ingenuity, the environment/nature, heaven/sky, moon/space/stars/sun, pacifism/peace/peacemakers, wonder

Scripture Connections: In the beginning, God created the heavens (Genesis 1:1); when I look at Your heavens, the work of Your fingers (Psalm 8:3); the heavens are telling the glory of God (Psalm 19:1-4)

Idea(s) for Application: Use this book at a church family retreat while you are gathered outside. If possible, have a couple of young girls dramatically represent the ideas in the book. Then encourage your audience to offer their own meanings to each kind of sky.

A Picture Book a Day for a Year: Day 102

Picture Book: Tell Me, Tree: All about Trees for Kids

Author & Illustrator: Gail Gibbons

Summary: Like so many of this author’s books, Tell Me, Tree is filled with fun facts and illustrated with beautifully simple drawings, some quite instructive. It includes a guide to various trees, their anatomy, the science of photosynthesis, uses for trees, and how to make a tree identification book.

Hanna’s Comments: Gail Gibbons has more than 100 well-designed factual books for children. Many are likely in your local library. Keep her in mind whenever you want more information on a particular subject in natural history and science. Her information will probably be in a more accessible form than content you might find on the internet. She has great books on everything from apples to zoos that cover scientific concepts, cultural events, and even literary phenomena. My husband leads a design team at our church for our summer arts camp. He writes the Bible Story experiences based on a theme which is sometimes a natural history concept. One of Gibbon’s books on that concept would be a great place to start planning. When you need to fill in the gaps of a lesson or program for children, a Gibbons' book is a great place to start.

Here is a list of just a few of the great books available to you about trees. Some are a story and some are factual. You’ll find summaries on Amazon.com.

If You Hold a Seed by Elly MacKay

Someday a Tree by Ronald Himler                

The Busy Tree by Jennifer Ward                                

Who Will Plant a Tree by Jerry Pallotta               

As an Oak Tree Grows by G. Brian Karas               

The Whistling Tree by Audrey Penn                 

The Tree by Dana Lyons

Sequoia by Tony Johnston

Publisher & Date of Publication: Little, Brown, & Company, 2002

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: Non-fiction

PBT Topics this Book Connects with: abundance/bounty, beauty, blessings, care of creation, creation, diversity, Earth/world, the environment/nature, fruit/fruit of the Spirit, gardening/planting/pruning/sowing, light/morning, moon/space/stars/sun, protecting/protection, steadfastness, strength/strength in God, variety, water

Scripture Connections: He is like a tree planted by water (Psalm 1:3, Jeremiah 17:8); every healthy tree bears good fruit (Matthew 7:17); being rooted and grounded in love (Ephesians 3:17)

Idea(s) for Application: Use this book when designing learning stations for children about the Fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23).