A Heroic Hummingbird

Picture Book: The Little Hummingbird

Author/ Illustrator: Michael Nicoll Yahgulanaas

Summary: Based on an indigenous story, this book begins with a group of forest animals. When “the great fire” starts, animals huddle at the edge of a forest. 

They wonder what they can do, but they are afraid and feel helpless. As the forest burns, Little Hummingbird flies between the stream and the forest, carrying one drop of water per trip and dropping it onto the ferocious blaze. 

The other animals watch in amazement and offer excuses. Eventually, Big Bird asks Little Hummingbird, what she is doing. She responds, “I’m doing everything I can.”   

Hanna’s Comments: This very short book offers a straightforward message and lots to explore! Primarily there is the message of taking responsibility for what is happening in your world by doing the best you can. How do you talk to children and adults about taking responsibility? By helping them identify and emulate the heroes in pop culture and the more elusive heroes in their midst. Then find connections between ALL those heroes and your audience. Next make connections to heroes in Bible stories. Below I list a few standouts in categories I call traditional and nontraditional biblical heroes. Nontraditional biblical heroes, like the Little Hummingbird, are doing small acts, often over a long period of time. Sometimes these nontraditional are noticed and honored, but often they are not. Look at the biblical stories of the unnamed, the less dramatic acts, the people on the margins that Jesus so clearly saw. My favorite Bible hero is the woman who touches Jesus' hem. She is quiet in her courage, but nevertheless her courage is very big. Already shunned, she risks even more by entering the crowd and touching the man of the moment. She was seen and healed by Jesus because of her faith, but the healing would have never happened had she not been courageous!  

Notice that the Little Hummingbird is a female. This is a great chance for your females to hear a female hero story in this book and in scripture. Don't use the word "heroine." It implies a weaker, softer sort of hero. The word hero is big enough for all genders!

 

There are 2 enlightening Afterwards in this book. The first is by the author who explores the amazing abilities of hummingbirds. He says they often represent beauty, agility, and hope in traditional stories throughout the Western hemisphere. The 2nd Afterward is by Nobel Laureate Wangari Maathai, who taught southern Africa and later the world, that planting one tree at a time until you’ve planted millions can make a huge difference in land damaged by chronic abuse! I have 2 books about her posted at PBT. Click HERE   

and HERE TOO! There are many picture books about this great hero!

Original Publisher: Greystone Books, 2010

Age Appropriateness: 5 and up

Formats other than Book: Tablet

Scripture Connections: Any scripture about heroes in the traditional sense (David in the Goliath story - 1 Samuel 17) and nontraditional heroes who made a difference with small gestures (the woman who touched Jesus' hem - Luke 8:43-48 & the boy who shared his food - John: 6:5-14) and heroes with long term commitment (Ruth's entire story & Priscilla and Aquilla - in Romans 16:3 Paul calls them his co-workers in the ministry of Christ Jesus who “risked their necks”).   

PBT Applications: Read this book to a group of tweens or teens who you hope will become passionate about a social justice issue. Make connections to other heroes as described above. You may choose to tell this story as a parable. Then have each choose an animal and offer a plausible excuse or whine of resignation. Make connections to people who give excuses and don’t act. Tell stories of local heroes and heroes in your church family. Allow this story to motivate them to make specific plans to act responsibly and "do all they can" regarding the issue. Compel but also inspire! 

Bullying Happens!

I've been thinking about bullying these days. There are too many news stories of people in power and their bullying ways. It would be nice if this was never an issue in faith communities or religious schools, but it is. We are comfortable talking about the importance of hospitality, but addressing dysfunctional power dynamics is more difficult and perhaps more important. Picture books are a great tool for difficult subjects. Yes, bullying happens, even among those who talk a lot about God, but what better place to explore the idea that we are all equally God's beloved children, even the bullies.

Picture Book: The Recess Queen

Author: Alexis O’Neill

Illustrator: Laura Huliska-Beith

Summary:  The title character in this original take on bullying is Mean Jean. No one gets to swing or kick or bounce until after Mean Jean. 

If anyone tries, she gets physical. Mean Jean growls 

and howls when there are complaints.

Then new student teeny, tiny Katie Sue arrives. 

No one warns Katie Sue about Mean Jean so Katie Sue swings, kicks, and jumps with abandon. 

The other kids are amazed! Mean Jean is furious. She charges through the playground, grabs Katie Sue, and explains her rules. 

 

What does Katie Sue do? She talks back! "How did you get so bossy?" Then she continues her play. 

Mean Jean becomes even more furious and chases after Katie Sue. The children continue to be riveted. 

Then Katie Sue pulls out of her backpack a jump rope and invites Jean to play. 

Jean is as shocked as the rest of the children. No one has ever dared ask Jean to play! 

 

So Katie Sue jumps while rhyming more invitations:
I like popcorn,
I like tea,
I want Jean 
to jump with me! (She doesn't call her Mean Jean.)
When a bystander encourages Jean to jump in, she does. 

Fearless jumping and giggling ensue. 

That encounter makes all the difference for the whole community. The playground is a fun place for everyone. 

Hanna’s Comments: I like this book because the author has great fun with words (my summary above doesn't do it justice):

If kids ever crossed her,
she'd push 'em and smoosh 'em
Lollapaloosh ‘em, 
hammer’em, slammer ‘em, 
kitz and kajammer ‘em. 

This keeps the tone light so you can tip toe into the deep of this serious subject. This book resolves the issue of bullying with such joy that I think your audience won't mind talking about it. Ignoring a difficult subject and dysfunctional dynamics in a faith community can not only do harm but turn individuals against religion and even faith for the rest of their lives. A community that touts God’s love can’t afford to hide hate or cruelty. In 2014 at PBT, I featured a series of books about bullying which were mostly dark. Check out the first in the series [here]. In contrast, The Recess Queen is fun and still gets to the heart of the issue, resolving the problem with kindness and hospitality. 

Original Publisher & Date: Scholastic, 2002

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

Formats other than Book: Tablet

Scripture Connections: Because of so many bystanders in this story, highlight the concept of witness with verses such as "Let your light shine before others so that they may see your good works..." (Matthew 5:16).  There is obvious application here for The Great Commandment: "Love your neighbor as yourself." (Leviticus 19:18; Mark 12:31) 

Idea(s) for Application: Read this book to a group of children in your faith community if you have a bully or bully victims. This book or other books about bullying can also be great tools for preventing bullying problems. 

A Picture Book a Day for a Year: Day 350

Picture Book: The World is Waiting for You

Author: Barbara Kerley

Photographers: various 

Summary: Beautiful photos from around the world make connections here between fun children’s activities of exploration, adventure, and discovery to adult passions and professions. The book begins with a promise that right outside a child’s window or around the bend of a path possibilities in the natural world abound. Those experiences might awaken a passion that carries a child into adulthood and beyond. Scanning the night sky might be the first step to becoming an astronaut. Tree climbing could lead to scaling a mountain. Hands in the mud are how many budding archeologists begin. The book ends in this way: “The whole wide world is waiting for you. Ready. Set. Go.”

Hanna’s Comments: True of all of Barbara Kerley’s wonderful National Geographic books for children, end papers detail the photos, giving places, names, and explanations. Along with a Bible, this would be a great book to give children in your faith community who are transitioning to a higher level. The day the books are given, read this one in a lesson that focuses on how exploring the Bible can lead to adventures as well. Give examples such as missionary work, biblical archeology, or inventing green technology.

Original Publisher & Date of Publication: National Geographic, 2013

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

# of Pages: 48

Available in Spanish? Not at present

Formats other than Book: None at present

PBT Category: Fresh off the Press, Non-fiction

PBT Topics this Book connects with: abundance/bounty, attentiveness/observation/seeing, awe, beauty, blessings, body/body of Christ, creation, culture, diversity, Earth/world, the environment/nature, exploration, geography, gladness/happiness, humanity, joy, legacies, preparation, presence, renewal, restoration, variety, witness, wonder

Scripture Connections: This book connects to Bible stories that involve adventure, discovery, or exploration such as when Jacob left his parents’ home, when Joseph is sold into slavery and then discovers his new life in Egypt, or Paul’s three missionary journeys.  

Idea(s) for Application: Read this book to a group of children in a lesson on how exploring the Bible can lead to future passions that linger throughout adulthood.  

A Picture Book a Day for a Year: Day 288

Picture Book: Max’s Magic Seeds

Author: Geraldine Elschner

Illustrator: Jean-Pierre Corderoch

Summary: At his birthday party, Max is anxiously awaiting his uncle’s arrival. His uncle is always late, but Max doesn’t mind since he receives the funniest gift from Uncle Bill who is a botanist. Upon arrival, Uncle Bill sneaks a huge bag of seeds out of his vehicle and tells Max to secretly scatter the seeds as he walks to and from school so that Max’s walk to school will become more interesting. Max, who doesn’t like going to school, does as Uncle Bill suggests. Soon Max’s path to school, classroom, attitude toward school, and even his town are transformed. Max assumes his role in the town’s beautification is unknown, until then the town wins “The Power of Flowers” contest. Everyone gathers for the celebration, and Max is surprised to be honored as the town’s flower magician. How was his role discovered? The officials simply followed the path of beautiful flowers to Max’s house.

Hanna’s Comments: Seeds offer such rich potential for theological conversation, especially with children who are growing and changing themselves. In this story, seeds transform not only a town but Max’s attitude toward school and his relationships there. Talk about transformation as you read this story and encourage your listeners to consider how they might secretly encourage some transformation along their daily paths or engage in random acts of kindness and watch for the results. This book could also connect with ideas of incidental evangelism or subtle witnessing with the good that we do.

Original Publisher & Date of Publication: Penguin, 2007

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: abundance/bounty, action, beauty, blessings, change, eggs/seeds, encouragement, the environment/nature, evangelism, flowers/leaves/trees, gardening/planting/pruning/sowing, gifts/giftedness/talents, harvest, mystery, neighborhood, power, secrets, surprise, transformation, witness

Scripture Connections: Parable of the Sower/Four soils (Luke 8:4-15); it is more blessed to give then to receive (Acts 20:35)

Idea(s) for Application: Read this book to children and talk about how God encourages our random acts of kindness and how they can be transformative to the receivers and the giver.

A Picture Book a Day for a Year: Day 148

Picture Book: Chicken Little

Illustrator: Laura Rader

Summary: “The sky is falling! The sky is falling!” These are the dire warnings Chicken Little gives her neighbors who believe her as soon as she claims to have seen it with her own eyes and heard it with her own ears. Then she tells each of them that a piece of the sky hit her tail. Chicken Little and a growing number of neighbors make their way to the king to warn him. Only their wise king investigates Chicken Little’s tail and finds a simple acorn.   

Hanna’s Comments: There are many versions of this traditional tale about poor assumptions, fear laced with panic, the fast pace of ideas, and the wisdom of a king. How might you use this story in a lesson for children? How about as an example of wisdom when talking about one of God’s gifts?  You might use this story when talking about how children might struggle with fear and how their faith (and their intelligence) can counteract such fears. One of the fruits of the Spirit is self-control. This book is a perfect example of a lack of self-control. You could even use this story when your faith community has big changes ahead. For children who have relatively little control, having faith in loving adults and dealing with situations as they come rather than ruminating over worrisome possibilities is always a good strategy. When big changes are ahead, share your personal beliefs that your community leaders will make loving and wise decisions.  

Publisher & Date of Publication: Harper Collins, 1998

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

# of Pages: 24

Available in Spanish? Yes, in another version of this story

Formats other than Book: There are several videos of this tale though they are different from this picture book.

PBT Category: Traditional

PBT Topics this Book Connects with: acceptance, action, anxiety/worry, change, disaster, doubt, faith/faithfulness, fear, fruit/fruit of the Spirit, heaven/sky, mistakes, neighbors, safety, self-control, sin, truth, wisdom, witness

Scripture Connections: King Solomon asks for wisdom (1 Kings 3:5-15); fear not, for I am with you (Isaiah 41:10 & Matthew 28:20); fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23); God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control (2 Timothy 1:7); there is not fear in love, perfect love casts out fear (1 John 4:18)

Idea(s) for Application: Wisdom is an abstract concept that is often difficult for young children to understand. Consider using this book when talking about Solomon’s request that God bless him with wisdom.