A Picture Book a Day for a Year: Day 257

Picture Book: Faith

Authors: Maya Ajmera, Magda Nakassis, Cynthia Pon

Photographers: various

Summary: This book is a photographic essay with some explanatory text perfect for children and youth. It offers a panoramic view of young people engaged in religious or spiritual practices that are across our globe. All photographs are captioned with the name of the religion and the geographic location. Some offer more detailed explanation. What is celebrated here is the diversity and beauty of religious devotion and tradition throughout our world. Some religions are well known and ancient; others are more modern and obscure. This beautiful book highlights the connection humans have when demonstrating reverence and engaging in worship. Specific elements of faith are highlighted such as prayer, reading holy books, chanting, going to holy places, and building peace.

Hanna’s Comments: This would be a perfect book to read and discuss in a private school or homeschool setting where you can offer a broad context to your own religious traditions while studying others. Portions of the sale of this book support The Global Fund for Children. For more information on this organization go to www.globalfundforchildren.org. In the back, find a map locating the places where the featured children live. Also, check out the glossary and an explanation of the elements of faith in which this book is organized.

Publisher & Date of Publication: Charlesbridge, 2009

Age & Grade Appropriateness: 7 and up, 2^nd and up

# of Pages: 48

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, action, adoration, art, awe, baptism/cleansing/washing, beauty, Bible/scripture, choir/music/singing/songs, communion/Eucharist, community, differences, diversity, faith/faithfulness, feasting/food/hunger/nutrition, heritage, holiness, memories/remembering/ritual/tradition, prayer, religious differences, response to God, reverence, at table, variety, worship

Idea(s) for Application: Read this book when exploring the world’s various religions as well as their commonalities with and differences from your own religious tradition. 

A Picture Book a Day for a Year: Day 95

Picture Book: Washing the Willow Loon

Author: Jacqueline Briggs Martin

Illustrator: Nancy Carpenter

Summary: This is a beautiful story about one willow loon who becomes covered in oil from an oil spill. A driver notices the loon in the shallows but thinks, “What’s one bird? It’s not my worry,” and drives past. A house painter tries to net her, but she swims away. Eventually a baker gently nets her and takes her to a place where a series of trained workers, including a barber, a teen, an old woman, and an artist, carefully clean her. Ultimately she is released into the wild. Throughout the book, there is a refrain from the volunteers, “I have work to do.” The detailed regimens of these important tasks are described with reverence for the birds and the work. 

Hanna’s Comments: I especially like the contrast the author draws between the rationalizing driver who passes by the loon and the volunteers who have obviously invested time and training to learn how to deal with this unusual need. The focus on the one loon gives this story a great deal of emotional heft. Also, the many steps of the rehabilitation process for the bird are enlightening.

Publisher & Date of Publication: Simon & Schuster, 1995

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

# of Pages: 32

Available in Spanish? Not at present

Formats other than Book: None at present

PBT Category: Pre 2K

PBT Topics this Book Connects with: action, animals, attentiveness/observation/seeing, baptism/washing, beach/ocean/sea/shore, body of Christ, brokenness, caring/tending, care of creation, dependence/interdependence, disaster, the environment/nature, fear, found, fruit/fruit of the Spirit, generosity/giving/offering/stewardship, gentleness/meekness, gift/giftedness/talents, God’s care/providence, God’s nature, God’s will, goodness, helping, healing/healthcare, heroes, hiding/isolation/walls, holiness, humanity, image of God, intercession, kindness, labor/work, nurturing, outreach, partners/teamwork, pollution, power, prayer, problems/problem-solving, renewal/restoration, rescue, safe place/sanctuary, searching, servant hood/service/serving, sin, survival, transformation, trust/trustworthiness, underdogs, unity, victims, water, wisdom, works vs. faith/grace

Scripture Connections: the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:30-37); washing Jesus’ feet (John 12:1-8) or head (Matthew 26:6-13)

Idea(s) for Application: Use this in a lesson or sermon on healing or transformation.  

A Picture Book a Day for a Year: Day 53

Picture Book: Dolphins on the Sand

Author & Illustrator: Jim Arnosky

Summary: A pod of dolphins are stranded on a beach. When a kayaker spots them, he brings help, a diverse group of ordinary people who work hard to save the dolphins. Because of the dolphins' weakness and hungry sharks that are waiting for their return to the ocean, the dolphins are moved to a nearby lagoon where they grow stronger. Once each dolphin is deemed strong enough, it is released back to the ocean. A mother dolphin and her youngster offer the dolphins’ point of view.

Hanna’s Comments: This author is known for his beautiful books about nature that are filled with scientific details. This is an idealized account of an event the author witnessed. See his note in the back of the book. I was struck by the way the human community responded to this crisis, demonstrating swift determination and efficiency in saving their fellow mammals. 

Publisher & Date of Publication: Scholastic, 2012 

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

# of Pages: 32 

Available in Spanish? Not at present 

Formats other than Book: None at present

PBT Category: Non-fiction, Post 2K

PBT Topics this Book Connects with: baptism/washing, beach/ocean/sea/shore, danger, dependence/interdependence, dying, the environment/nature, mothers, rescue, safe place/sanctuary, savior/saving, survival, water

Scripture Connections: Good Samaritan (Luke 10:30-37), Jesus washes feet (John 13:1-38), baptism

Idea(s) for Application: Use this book as part of a lesson on the importance of water in our lives, the lives of other animals, and our religious rituals.