A Picture Book a Day for a Year: Day 363

Dynamic Duo: Book 1

Picture Book: Emmanuel’s Dream: The True Story of Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah 

Author: Laurie Anne Thomson

Illustrator: Sean Qualls

Summary: Emmanuel, born in Ghana with only one fully developed leg, was not cast out as tradition would have it. Instead his mother, Comfort, named him “God is with Us” and told him he must do common tasks on his own. He learned to do what typical African boys do, like climb trees and fetch water. He earned money for the family by shining shoes. Comfort carried Emmanuel the two miles to school until she could carry him no longer; then he hopped to and from school. At school, he wanted to play soccer (“football” in Africa), but the boys wouldn’t let him so he saved his money, purchased a real ball, took it to school, and required them to let him play. When his mother became ill, Emmanuel went to the city to work to support his family. He worked at a food stand, but he continually dealt with prejudice. Before his mother died, she encouraged him to “never beg and never give up”. He decided to honor her by demonstrating to his country that “being disabled does not mean being unable.” The Challenged Athletes Foundation in California sent him a bicycle, helmet, shorts, socks, and gloves. After training, going door to door for support, and receiving a royal blessing from the king, he tied his handicapped leg to the bike frame and pedaled with the other leg nearly 400 miles in 10 days! When he stopped to rest, he spoke about the unfair plight of disabled people. As he pedaled, he wore the colors of his country and the words, “The Pozo” which means “The Disabled Person.” He gained attention from his fellow citizens, both disabled and able-bodied, and people from around the world, becoming a national and international hero who had changed the world.

Hanna’s Comments: This is the first in a PBT Dynamic Duo about heroes who have changed the world. In this book you’ll find a Note from the Author and information about Emmanuel’s charitable organization. Appropriately, religious lessons for children often focus on characters from scripture. It is my position that children will benefit greatly from lessons about contemporary heroes as well, especially if those heroes have faith-based reasons for their significant work. In today’s and tomorrow’s book, children can hear how the seeds of these changes began in childhood. Let these and other stories of contemporary heroes inspire the children in your family of faith to make positive changes in the world.

Original Publisher & Date of Publication: Random House, 2015

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

# of Pages: 40 

Available in Spanish? Not at present 

Formats other than Book: Tablet, There are several videos about Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah on Youtube.com including a trailer for the feature length film that shares the title of this picture book. 

PBT Category: Fresh off the Press, Biography, Non-fiction  

PBT Topics this Book connects with:  abilities, acceptance, action, adaptation/assimilation, Africa, aspiration/dreams, bravery/courage, challenges, commitment, confidence, difficulties, disabilities/handicaps/limitations, heroes, journeys/migrations/pilgrimages/quests, labor/work, leadership/servant leadership, mission, mothers, parents/parental love, participation, perseverance, power, steadfastness, strength/strength in God, underdogs, wisdom

Scripture Connections: We rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character… (Romans 5:3-4); count it all joy when you meet trials of various kinds (James 1:2); blessed is the one who remains steadfast under trial (James 1:12)

Idea(s) for Application: Read this book to a group of children in your faith family to inspire them to make positive changes in the world. 

A Picture Book a Day for a Year: Day 332

Picture Book: The Hare and the Tortoise

Author: Based on a fable by La Fontaine

Illustrator: Brian Wildsmith

Summary: This is a classic version of a well-known fable. In this version, the tortoise challenges the hare to a race. Other animals gather round to see the race. They expect it to be over quickly with the hare winning easily. Only the wise owl suspects they might be surprised. Once the rooster starts the race, the hare takes off and the tortoise moves slowly and steadily. The hare becomes too confident and is easily side-tracked by stuffing himself with food and then taking a nap. The tortoise is steadfast and committed, despite being worn out, and passes the sleeping hare. The hare wakes just as the tortoise is about to cross the finish line. Once he wins, the tortoise explains how his slow and steady pace had won the race despite the hare’s superior speed.  

Hanna’s Comments: There are multiple versions of this fable in picture book form. I like this book because it is big and illustrations are vibrant. If you need to choose another version, note that sometimes the tortoise is listed first in the title. How does this relate to spirituality or our Holy Scriptures? Think of verses about patience or perseverance. Another angle is to use this book to help your children explore how we each have individual strengths that are blessed by God and intended for good work. You could also use this book in a lesson on Paul, focusing on the race he writes about it 2^nd Timothy 4:7.

Original Publisher & Date of Publication: Oxford University Press, 1966 

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

# of Pages: 32

Available in Spanish? There are Spanish versions of this fable, but I couldn’t find any of this particular picture book.

Formats other than Book: There are videos of this fable, but I couldn’t find any of this particular picture book.

PBT Category: Traditional Tale and Classic

PBT Topics this Book connects with: abilities, challenges, commitment, competition, confidence, differences, difficulties, hope, individuality/uniqueness, labor/work, patience, perseverance, steadfastness, surprise, underdogs

Scripture Connections: Suffering produces endurance and endurance produces character… (Romans 5: 3-5); rejoice in hope; be patient in tribulation… (Romans 12:12); let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. (Galatians 6:9); I have fought the good fight. I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. (2 Timothy 4:7); blessed is the one who remains steadfast under trial (James 1:12)

Idea(s) for Application: Read this book to a group of children who are learning about patience, perseverance, being steadfast, or human individuality.

A Picture Book a Day for a Year: Day 233

Picture Book: Giraffes Can’t Dance

Author: Giles Andreae

Illustrator: Guy Parker-Rees

Summary: Gerald, a giraffe, wants nothing more than to join in the dancing at the annual Jungle Dance, but his knees are crooked and his legs are thin, both of which make his dancing clumsy and awkward. He approaches the dance floor anyway, but he is quickly teased so he slinks off, ashamed. Along the way home, Gerald is encouraged by a cricket who says, “Sometimes when you’re different you just need a different song.” Then he tells him to imagine the moon is playing just for Gerald because everything makes music. Gerald begins to shuffle, sway, and swish. His dancing becomes glorious. Soon the animals from the party arrive and become entranced by Gerald’s moves. They declare Gerald the best dancer ever! When asked to explain his sudden grace, Gerald says that we all can dance when we find music that we love.

Hanna’s Comments: This is such great book about encouraging others and finding your bliss! Many of Gerald’s admirable attributes could be talked about with children in your faith community such as his ability to persevere, be authentic, and listen. The cricket would be a great character to explore in a children’s discussion too. Both of these characters can be connected to characters in the scriptures who acted in similar ways such as Barnabus, Paul’s encourager, and Paul himself, who was an outsider among Christians until he proved himself a valuable preacher of the Gospel.  

Publisher & Date of Publication: Orchard Books, 1999

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

# of Pages: 32

Available in Spanish? Yes

Formats other than Book: Video, Audio download/CD

PBT Category: Pre 2K

PBT Topics this Book Connects with: abilities, action, Africa, aspirations/dreams, authenticity, celebration/party, choir/music/singing/songs, dance/dancing, diversity, doubt, encouragement, exclusion/inclusion, gifts/talents, gladness/happiness, God’s presence, goodness, helping, individuality/uniqueness, joy, judgment/judges/judging, listening, loss of faith, mentors/teachers, moon/space/stars/sun, participation, prejudice, reassurance, response to God, self-discovery, underdogs

Scripture Connections: Then Miriam took a tambourine in her hand, and all the women went out after her with tambourines and dancing. (Exodus 15:20); You have turned my mourning into dancing (Psalm 30:11); let them praise his name with dancing (Psalm 149:3)

Idea(s) for Application: Use this book to talk with children about different styles of worship and the purposes of worship including to authentically praise God. Or Connect these main characters to Bible characters with similar attributes.

A Picture Book a Day for a Year: Day 208

Picture Book:  Bully B.E.A.N.S.

Author: Julia Cook

Illustrator: Anita DuFalla

Summary: Bobbette is the big bad bully in this book, an expert at intimidating her elementary peers, especially Winston, the smartest kid in school. The unnamed female protagonist is invited to Bobbette’s house. There she meets Bobbette’s brother who bullies Bobbette in the same way Bobbette bullies everyone at her school. At home that night, the protagonist explains the bullying to her mom. Her mom gets out a bag of jelly beans and labels them “Bully BEANS” to remind those who eat them that they already have the power to stop bullies. Then she explains that to stop a bully you have to take away their power which requires working and standing together as a group. She suggests that the next time Bobbette bullies Winston, they should all stand beside him and look Bobbette in the eyes. Eat a Bully Bean beforehand. Another tactic is to ignore Bobbette or don’t look her in the eyes. When forced to look in her eyes, together they should loudly say, “Back off!” Telling a teacher or writing a note to a teacher is another suggestion. Lastly, she says that it is important to remember that Bobbette is just kid on the inside who deserves another chance if she starts to act like a friend, not a bully. The next day when the instructions are given and the Bully Beans are passed out, the strategies are tried successfully though with many Bully Beans and much courage. Eventually Bobbette becomes a friend who they armor with Bully Beans for her home situation.

Hanna’s Comments: This book about bullying is written with humor and at a lower level than others I have offered so that it is appropriate for older preschoolers. Also available is Bully B.E.A.N.S.: Activity and Idea Book. Using candy to solve social problems might be a problem for you. It might depend on the degree to which your bullying problem is disrupting your environment. Healthier options might be considered, but Bully Beans does have a nice ring to it. There is an acronym to support the idea: Bullies Everywhere Are Now Stopped.

Publisher & Date of Publication: National Center for Youth Issues, 2009

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: Post 2k

PBT Topics this Book Connects with: abilities, abuse/abuse of power, action, anger, anxiety/worry, armor, bravery/courage, brokenness, bullying/martyrs/persecution/oppression, challenges, communication, community, conflict, danger, dependence/interdependence, difficulties, discord, education/learning/school, emotions/feelings, encouragement, fear, forgiveness/mercy/redemption, friends/friendship, injustice, intercession, mentors/teachers, partners/teamwork, parents/parental love, power, presence, problems/problem solving, underdogs, victims

Scripture Connections: Be strong and courageous (Joshua 1:9); for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

Idea(s) for Application:  Read this book to children if you have a bullying situation within your faith community. Attribute the courage found to be a gift from God and emphasize loving kindness and mercy to all bullies.  

A Picture Book a Day for a Year: Day 202

Picture Book: Helen Keller’s Best Friend Belle

Author: Holly M. Barry

Illustrator: Jennifer Thermes

Summary: The story of Helen Keller’s birth, illness, disabilities, lessons to communicate again thanks to Anne Sullivan, and even Helen’s adult years are all told in a very child-friendly way in this picture book. Dogs are explained as a life-long comfort for Helen. One particular dog, Belle, is introduced as being a particularly important companion during her crucial years when she learned to finger spell. Sign language and Braille are described as well.

Hanna’s Comments: Being a life-long Alabamian, I’ve known the story of Helen Keller all my life and visited her home several times. I don’t remember hearing about her pets though. This is a nice way to present a troubling and complex story to children. It is an amazing story of resilience and perseverance that would benefit and inspire any child who had to struggle or had compassion for those who do.

Publisher & Date of Publication: Albert Whitman and Co., 2013

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

# of Pages: 40

Available in Spanish? Not at present

Formats other than Book: Tablet, There is a great deal of information and video on the internet about Helen Keller.

PBT Category: Fresh off the Press, Post 2K

PBT Topics this Book Connects with: abilities, adaptation/assimilation, affection, America, animals, bravery/courage, brokenness, challenges, comfort, communication, companionship, darkness/evening/night, death/loss/grief, dependence/interdependence, difficulties, disabilities/handicaps/limitations, education/learning/school, emotions/feelings, helping, heroes, leadership/servant leadership, loneliness, mentors/teachers, perseverance, perspective, pets, reassurance, renewal/restoration, time/timing/over time, transformation, underdogs

Scripture Connections: Comfort, O comfort my people says your God. (Isaiah 40:1-2)

Idea(s) for Application: Read this story to a group of children when you are talking about the many ways we comfort ourselves when we are experiencing difficult times. Talk about why pets can be very comforting and compare this to the comfort that prayer and God’s presence can also give.  

A Picture Book a Day for a Year: Day 198

Picture Book: Fu Finds the Way

Author & Illustrator: John Rocco

Summary: Fu is an inattentive and apathetic Chinese boy. While planting rice, he imagines himself battling dragons. His father tells him to re-plant the crooked rows and exhorts him to care more because that is ”the way.” Fu’s anger and impulsivity causes him to insult a Chinese warrior who then challenges Fu to a duel the next morning. Frantic, Fu grabs his father’s sword and goes to the Master, but he is confused by the Master’s methods. Instead of teaching Fu how to battle, he teaches him how to serve tea. The instructive tea ceremony is slow-paced, repetitive, and leads Fu into imaginative dreams that teach him to have purpose, flow, and patience. When morning comes, Fu grabs the tea set rather than the sword, meets the warrior, and serves him tea. The warrior is so moved by the beauty of Fu’s tea ceremony that he does not want to fight. Instead he says, “You have the way.”

Hanna’s Comments: This book reminds me of the movie, Karate Kid except for its setting and pace. Fu has only an evening to prepare for his confrontation. His anxiety lessens as he allows the Master to help him become more contemplative and fully present in the moment. This is a good lesson for all of us, particularly when caught up in the fast-pace of modern life or the inner world of our imaginations. Neither allows for self-contemplation and being fully present with others in our community who need us. I was also struck with the use of the phrase, “the way.” Early on, Christianity was referred to as “The Way.” Early Christians were “People of the Way.” Consider finding the connections between the 3 goals of the Master’s teaching (to acquire purpose, flow, and patience) and the ways of early Christians. See the Author’s Note for the inspiration for this book.

Publisher & Date of Publication: Hyperion Books, 2009

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

# of Pages: 40

Available in Spanish? Not at present

Formats other than Book: None at present

PBT Category: Post 2K

PBT Topics this Book Connects with: abilities, anxiety/worry, Asia, bravery/courage, challenges, commitment, conflict, consequences/punishment, disputes/fighting/opposition, doubt, drink/thirst, education/learning/school, encouragement, fear, gentleness/meekness, humility, mentors/teachers, mistakes, non-violence/peaceful resistance, pacifism/peace/peacemakers, patience, power, preparation, presence, pride, purpose, quiet/silence, reverence, risking, safety, at table, transformation, underdogs, waiting, water, wisdom

Scripture Connections: David and Goliath (1 Samuel 17:1-58)

Idea(s) for Application: Consider reading this book to a group of older kids when you are presenting a lesson on David and Goliath. Then talk about how David might have acted differently. 

A Picture Book a Day for a Year: Day 121

Picture Book: The Lion and the Mouse

Author & Illustrator: Jerry Pinkney

Summary: In this traditional Aesop fable, Jerry Pinkney’s exquisite watercolors detail and complete this wordless picture book. A fierce lion spares the life of a mouse that has many babies at home to care for. Later the lion is netted by poachers. His roar is heard by the mother mouse who comes to his rescue by chewing the netting in several places. No words are necessary to see the gratitude in the lion and the delight in the baby mice when they get to chew on the netting knots that mom has brought home.  Mr. Pinkney’s long admiration for this tale is explained in the Author’s Note.

Hanna’s Comments: Because this is a wordless book, I would recommend having several copies or using the video version (see below). If this is not possible, then I recommend another version of this traditional tale that has words: The Lion and the Mouse by Bernadette Watts. In either case, gratitude and paying it forward are concepts easily tied to spiritual values and religious community.

Prefer a book with words? There is a series of picture book of Aesop's Fables that I like. The illustrations are very different. The authors vary, but the illustrator for both is Nahta Noj. The Lion and the Mouse by Jenny Bloom is shown above. You'll also find The Tortoise and the Hare, authored by Alison Ritchie. 

Publisher & Date of Publication: Little, Brown, & Company, 2009

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

# of Pages: 40

Available in Spanish? This is a wordless book. There are Spanish editions of this traditional tale.

Formats other than Book: There is a video of this book in The Curious Garden and Other Stories which is a video collection and includes 3 other picture books some of which are PBT offerings in August and September. There are several different versions of this traditional tale on Youtube.com as well as a short video of Jerry Pinkney about the creation of this book. 

PBT Category: Traditional Tale, Award Winner (Caldecott Medal), Post 2K

PBT Topics this Book Connects with: abilities, action, Africa, bonds/connections, brokenness, choices/decisions, consequences/punishment, dependence/interdependence, difference, enemies, golden rule/great commandment, goodness, grace, gratitude/thankfulness/thanksgiving, helping, heroes, kindness, parables/stories, poaching/stealing/theft, power, problems/problem solving, rescue, risking, savior/saving, survival, underdogs, victims, wilderness

Scripture Connections: Love your neighbor as yourself (Matthew 22:39); love does no wrong to a neighbor and is the fulfilling of the law (Romans 13:10)

Idea(s) for Application: Consider using this book or video when you want to explore the personal benefits of loving each other in your religious community or while celebrating your interdependence.